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cherr-22 · 4 months

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TNGDH 35

“Spread your feet shoulder-width apart, aim at the target, and pull the string. Align your arms horizontally. Yeah, just like that.”

I pulled the bowstring as Kyle instructed. I focused on trying to stabilize my trembling arms.

Of course, the result was a failure.

[~(>―<~)]

“Are you concentrating enough?”

I grumbled in response to Kyle’s strict question.

“The problem isn’t about my concentration. My arms won’t stay still no matter how much strength I put in.”

Maybe this is a defective. As I complained, Kyle chuckled.

“As if.”

He came a little closer to me and lightly held my wrist holding the bow. He put his other hand on my shoulder and began to put pressure onto it.

“Keep your back and shoulders straight.”

The hand that was once on my shoulders went down to my elbow. As my upper body trembled again, he frowned and came closer, supporting my back with his own upper body. Wait, this posture……

“……Umm.”

I slightly raised my head. Perhaps I spoke too quietly, because Kyle bent his waist to bring his face closer to mine. Our faces were so close that words wouldn’t come out of my mouth. It felt like I was being hugged from behind.

“Can you teach me with a little more distance between us?”

I felt embarrassed, so I cleared my throat. However, Kyle cut down my suggestion with a sharp answer.

“You weren’t able to even pull the bowstring properly just earlier.”

“Yes, well…… that’s true.”

“Stop talking and look straight ahead. Breathe slowly. Feel the tension going to your fingertips. It is better to hold your breath just before releasing the string.”

The trembling of my arms stopped as if it never happened. As he put in more strength, the more stable my body became.

With the tense tension of the bowstring, the arrowhead aimed exactly at the target. The arrow flew beautifully into the center of the target for the first time.

“Ah.”

I knew this was only possible due to Kyle’s help, but I couldn’t help but feel happy. When I looked up at him with a smile, Kyle also looked back with the corners of his mouth raised.

“You did well.”

In the quiet surrounding area, his joy was conveyed…… wait a minute. Quiet surrounding? I only now realized that people moved away to give space for the two of us.

It was definitely comfortable to use all this space to ourselves, but this felt as if…… they carefully prepared a space for us to go on a date.

[Currently Possessing Hearts ｜ ❤×60]

Cashew wasn’t here, nor was Kyle thinking about Cashew. Yet the number of Hearts went up little by little.

“…….”

Our gazes collided with each other again. He stared at me as if he was longing for something. It was a calm and passionate gaze. I knew what he wanted to ask me, but I stayed silent.

Not yet. I turned my head and lowered my bow. After clearing my throat, I spoke.

“Since there’s some time left, do you want to go on a walk?”

Kyle laughed as if he knew what I was thinking.

“It seems your arms are sore. You’ve only had one successful shot.”

“You should look at the process, not the result.”

“You’re right. Then, shall we go horseback riding? You need to learn to ride a horse too.”

I checked the system window before responding.

“Let’s go with an hour long course.”

“You are busier than the Grand Duke himself.”

“Sadly, that seems to be the case.”

I chuckled. He also seemed to be enjoying himself.

Despite his pretext of teaching me how to ride the horse, he picked me up, sat me down on the saddle, and rode along with me. My body definitely wasn’t small, yet he lifted me up so lightly.

It was a little cold but bearable thanks to Kyle. He foresaw it and wrapped a cape around my shoulders before we took off.

“It may be the end of winter, but the wind is still chilly. The cold weather in Blake tends to last until spring, so it’ll take time to get used to it.”

“How did you know it hasn’t been long since I’ve come to the estate?”

“Simple.”

He wrapped my slightly tilted shoulders and straightened them.

“If you’ve been here for so long, there’s no way I wouldn’t have recognized you.”

“There’s nothing you don’t know about Blake.”

“Because that is my duty.”

Who takes on such duties so willingly? Well, that’s what makes him Kyle Blake.

“Besides that, did you look into the attack on Belial?”

“……Yes. I couldn’t tell.”

It was a puzzling answer. So what’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying you do know or don’t know who’s behind it? Thankfully, Kyle explained right away.

“All three corpses were unidentified soldiers. They were found at a short distance away from the attack.”

“But you found out that they were ‘soldiers’.”

“That’s right.”

It meant that the mastermind used other people to carry out their plan. Well, that was an obvious fact. The target was Belial or Kyle. Who would be crazy enough to make a move themselves? In the case of failure, they wouldn’t get a simple death.

“We’re first investigating a mercenary group near the capital. If there are anyone who moved under the orders of a high-ranking noble or had any parties with three or more deaths, they will be under suspicion.”

“It seems you’ll be busy for a while.”

“Yes. It’s a task that requires quite a bit of manpower. And Cashew has been on my mind for a while too…….”

Hm? Cashew? Me? ……Why? He continued in a deep voice.

“I tried injecting mana into it, but it bounced back. Do you perhaps know anything about it?”

Of course I knew. The problem was that I couldn’t say it. Normally, he should’ve gotten suspicious of his hamster, but Kyle’s face was full of genuine concern. What should I say to resolve this?

“I’m not too sure, perhaps it has a special constitution…….”

I hesitated and then added quickly.

“That being said, please don’t try to inject mana into it again. What if it ends up having a negative effect on the hamster?”

Kyle’s expression became grave upon hearing the words ‘negative effect’.

“Are you saying there could be some sort of…… collision… inside?”

He was quite sharp. Of course, he didn’t know about the existence of the system.

“Yes. So leave it alone for now. Time will resolve it all eventually.”

Don’t bother the hamster. Even if nothing happens, I still think it wouldn’t be a good idea to keep trying to inject mana.

If the system is affected, who knows if another incident like the swamp goat might happen. Let’s be careful. Although this wasn’t the world I was born and raised, it was still a precious place for others.

We continued to talk about this and that until my ‘Summon’ time was over. Kyle gave me a curious look as I urged him to return quickly, but I couldn’t tell him that I was going back to the hamster house.

Truthfully, this was also a concern of mine. No secrets can remain a secret forever. Yet how would I tell him that I’m his pet hamster? Haa…… I should’ve finished my words back then. This damned life.

‘I suppose I could stay silent for a while.’

After Kyle’s life is extended a bit more. Besides, I want to enjoy this calm and ordinary life while I can.

“It’s an attack, Your Highness! Please evacuate now!”

“The northern tower has fallen!”

“……F-fire! Flames have been spotted in the west!”

The incident happened suddenly. When the North was struck without any warning, the castle became devastated in an instant.

It was late at night when I first heard the commotion and didn’t realize the urgency of the situation due to being in the Grand Duke’s office in the hamster house, the safest place in the castle.

I didn’t know why Kyle, who was in the middle of playing with me, turned pale all of the sudden. It took a whole hour before I realized the situation.

“There is a hideout in the basement. Stay there until I give you the order that you can leave.”

I used ‘Summon’, hoping I’d be of some use for him, but that was all he said when I met up with him. I sullenly watched him climb up the stairs and asked him.

“Are you hiding me in the basement in the fear that I might die again?”

“…….”

Kyle furrowed his brows. He seemed irritated and smiled bitterly.

“Yes.”

“Then why did you teach me how to use the bow? Was it not to erase such thoughts?”

“It was to increase your chances of survival.”

He said firmly.

“That doesn’t mean you should jump into any dangerous situation and fight.”

“……I do not want to send you to fight alone.”

“I am thankful for your concern, but there is nothing you can do in this situation.”

“Still…….”

“Still?”

Kyle’s voice rang coldly.

“Admit that you are weak. There is nothing more important than saving your own life.”

I was speechless. He was right. There was nothing more ridiculous than me, who couldn’t even shoot a single arrow properly, worrying about Kyle Blake, the ruler of the North.

But our destiny was intertwined. Wasn’t it only right that we fight together even if it becomes dangerous?

“I will not tolerate disobedience against my orders.”

I forced my head down upon hearing that. I didn’t want to admit it, but I did. That I couldn’t be of any help for him.

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#tngdh

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myf00djournal · 22 days

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A chronological post run post.

Iiiiiii had a hard hard time man. In hindsight, I always knew our race was at 4pm so perhaps doing long runs at 6am was never going to help but I was so optimistic for cool weather in April. Nope 31 degrees. My worst fear. I was on pace and on the game plan up until around 8km which is when the course went from some shade to full sun. Told my running partner to push on without me which I had to say 5 times before he did listen 😛 I hate holding people back. The rest was an absolute slog. I thought about a DNF. I found a second wind around 13km and settled back into consistent trotting. Got through. They told us at the start the course was 20.5 which was a shame as it was advertised as a HM and then I saw a girl who was about a km ahead of me usually (because everyone we snaked past each other we did cute girl high fives) going in an opposite direction and I said don’t we turn left again? And she said nope the course was actually 18km. What the heck. Look my performance was not my best but I would’ve dragged myself another bit. Crossed the line and kept going with some other die hards who were also trying to make up km but I got to 19.8 and called it. The water station people were like oh we have cleared the course how much longer will you be and I was like you know what I’m done.

I’m annoyed because the organizers have a whole calendar of events and yet they were so shambolic. They delayed the start time, changed the course and then cut off a considerable distance for everyone. Also WHO KNOWS why the run was at 4/4:30pm in western Sydney but that’ll do me.

The 10km started an hour after us and then 5km after that so there was people always out on course but for a big event there was seriously maybe 60 people in each. So many DNS because we are legit flooded at the moment so I guess people couldn’t make it. A few people DNF. I saw the 5km fun run and wish I went in that because the first woman was 28:10 🥹 but I know it’s not about that.

My average km was around 7:30 which isn’t too bad considering I did a lot of walk/jog intervals for about 6km all up but Runna had me working at 6:25-6:30 as my goal which I was on but it really did fall away. My running partner did a great job and held around 6:40 which I am so happy for him.

Maybe next time I should do more than an 8 week training block. What am I saying with next time 🤦🏽‍♀️ haha never let me again please!!!! I just want to be a parkrun girly and maybe 10km???

Best of all Josh surprised me at the start line to see me off ❤️❤️❤️

The end. Also yes enjoy my post run glow - day ones will recognize the mirror. @taoistimmortal thank you for telling me to increase my cals by 500 cos yeah it’s going noice 👌🏻

#gymlife #training #strength and conditioning #nutrition #personal #Runna #running #endurance

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t3a-tan · 8 months

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I could totally see James saying 5 to Oliver.

From this!

5). "You possess a lot of power for someone as small as yourself."

---

"James."

At the sound of his friend's voice coming from directly in front of him, James jolted, starting to choke on his marmite and peanut butter sandwich from the surprise of it. James had been distracted scrolling through his phone, not noticing the borrower man had snuck up onto his table whilst he wasn't paying attention.

He hit his chest a couple times before swallowing again, hard this time, and finally he stopped choking. As he did so, taking a few moments to catch his breath he saw that Oliver was still stood there, unfazed as usual.

"You almost killed me, Oliver..!" He declared, a little miffed. Oliver folded his arms.

"Well I hardly think it's my fault you didn't notice my approach. If you weren't on that phone you would have seen me coming…" He retorted. James let out a small huff, resting his chin in his hand.

"You sound like an old man." He pointed out, before very lightly poking Oliver in the chest. Although he was a little frustrated after the fright of very nearly choking, he wasn't so lost in anger that he'd hurt Oliver. He was a bit rougher than usual though, causing the borrower to stumble back, bristling.

"What does an old man sound like..?" He asked, confused. James was stricken by the realization that Oliver had probably never met someone above the age of 60 because he had no grandparents, parents, or aunts and uncles to speak of. That got rid of his annoyance pretty quickly.

James sighed.

"Nevermind. Are you just stopping by or do you need something?" He picked up his sandwich after asking that question, taking another bite and making sure to chew thoroughly this time. Oliver perked up, clearing his throat before smiling.

"I would like to show you something. We'll have to go outside though. Do you wish to finish your sandwich first?" James could tell that Oliver was excited in the way he only was when he was talking about a new book or when showing James some of his sketches. His enthusiasm was infectious, even when it was about things James usually had no interest in.

"Nah. I'll finish it in a sec." James assured, placing the sandwich back down on his plate and wiping the crumbs off on his trousers. Oliver gave him a disapproving look for that, but otherwise didn't comment.

Once James had offered his hand onto the table, Oliver climbed on, remaining stood up whilst holding onto James's thumb. James curled his fingers inward as a precaution before walking to the door, stepping into a pair of slippers before leaving into his front garden.

"Put me down on the grass over there, please." Oliver was quick to direct James, pointing down at a patch of shorter grass. Moving his other hand up to keep Oliver stable, James crouched down before lowering his hand to the ground, letting his friend climb off.

Oliver always managed to make his movements seem graceful and practiced. He walked into the center of the patch of grass, a twinkle apparent in his eye. He brought his hand to his mouth, whistling…

It sounded like a slightly different pitch than usual. James wasn't sure exactly what that meant until he turned to his right. In the distance he could see dozens of crows flying in their direction. James instinctively shuffled a little closer to Oliver, his hands hovering close by in case he needed to protect him… But part of him knew this was Oliver's doing in the first place.

His theory was proven true as about 30 birds, all towering over the little borrower, gathered around Oliver obediently. Even James, who was much bigger than the crows, felt intimidated by the sheer amount of them. His mouth was agape, unsure of what to do or say.

Oliver beamed, fussing over a few of the nearby crows like one might do with a dog… only, if the dog could swallow you whole and was also a fucking bird.

After a few moments of giving the many crows his attention, Oliver looked over his shoulder back up at James.

"Gail and I have been raising them since they were chicks, and now most of them understand my signals. This could mean big things for borrower travel— more safety going long distances… not to mention they would be helpful for scaring bad humans." He explained, before tilting his head, gently stroking a particularly touch-hungry crow that was pressing its head into his chest.. "What do you think?"

James was quiet, unable to formulate words as he took everything his friend was saying in. It was…incredible. That was the only way he could really describe it… but even that didn't feel adequate.

"I think you possess a lot of power for someone as small as yourself." He remarked, awed. Oliver chuckled lightly, taking it as a compliment— which was what James intended in the first place.

"Well, you need power to cause change after all, my friend."

#g/t community #ocs #g/t #g/t artist #ask box #borrowers #giant/tiny #borrower au #g/t au #g/t writer #g/t fluff #g/t writing #giant/tiny writing #oc asks #ask

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roses-for-rosalyn · 10 months

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The Patrol Tower

Chapter 4

read on archive of our own

other chapters (ao3)

Up to this point you and Abby had gotten lucky weather-wise. It was spring and for the first few days of patrol it was a temperate 60 degrees with a soft breeze. You had solid visibility and the added benefit of the comforting warmth from the sunshine. The city was growing greener by the day, the vibrant foliage taking over the drab ruins of Seattle, it was beautiful. Spring always breathed life into those around you, hope blossomed along with the flowers. The worry for food significantly dissipated, kids got to run around outside reminding people of the hope for the future, and best of all, patrols were a hell of a lot easier.

As soon as you and Abby cleared the distance from the field to the edge of the city clouds rolled in. Muted thunder started to echo across the landscape and lightning crackled within the dark clouds. Rain wouldn’t be far behind.

Abby starts cursing under her breath and sighing as she leads the way into the city. You and Abby start walking a bit faster to make it to the city edge in hopes of using some of the buildings for shelter. You each had raincoats, but they would easily get soaked through. From Abby’s reaction to the rainclouds you had assumed that she, like you, had also almost contracted hypothermia because of the thin ass raincoats.

“If the rain gets to be too much, we’ll figure out somewhere to make camp.” Abby is walking slightly ahead of you, but she doesn’t bother to turn back to talk to you.

“I would disagree with you and say we should just keep going, but I don’t want to get hypothermia again.” Agreeing with her creates this ache inside of you, it’s almost physically painful. It causes you to grit your teeth and take a breath before continuing. As you are trying to repair your sense of dignity Abby laughs. She actually fucking laughs. It’s brief, but it’s genuine, it’s not at you either, it’s at what you had said.

“Of course you got hypothermia from rain, but I can’t poke too much fun, I’ve come close a few times myself.” She’s… carrying on the conversation? Jesus she must be as bored as you.

You try not to overthink it and add, “It’s these useless fucking raincoats.” Abby laughs a little again and the pleasant conversation ends there.

You and Abby had officially made it into the city, you start walking past old businesses and corporate buildings and you can’t help but marvel at it. Your mind tended to wander when you were in the city, something in you yearned for the normalcy of before. You wanted to know what it was like to go shopping for clothes and jewelry, you imagined what it would be like to be in college. You had been told by older people at base that you were about college age. They said it came after high school, and you got to make friends and go to parties. They said it was like a taste test of adulthood before you were launched head first into a fully independent life. You think it would be nice to have some sort of preamble to independence, you really had no one to rely on for most of your life. You were fortunate enough to live where there were only a few infected scattered around at any given time. You were able to sneak past them most of the time, which was helpful. As a thirteen year old you didn’t have much of a chance against any infected. Once you got older you learned how to kill them if you needed to, but you honestly weren’t sure how you made it as long as you did. You survived practically alone for six years, occasionally bumping into groups of people, some good, some bad. The good ones always seemed to leave you in the worst ways.

Raindrops cause you to snap out of your train of thought. You switch your backpack from your back to your front to take out the flimsy raincoat. Abby does the same, still a few paces ahead of you. It was kind of odd how she wouldn’t walk alongside you, but you chalked it down for a need for control. If she felt like she needed to lead, you weren’t going to put in the energy to argue. This part of the city didn’t have much shelter from the rain in terms of overhangs or canopies, so if the rain got any worse you and Abby would have to find someplace to wait it out.

Of course soon enough the light sprinkle turned into a steady downpour. The raindrops collected on your bodies, quickly soaking through the thin raincoats, then your clothes. Abby is trudging on through the cold rain, her sheer determination propelling her forward. It wasn’t until she turned back to check on you and saw your teeth chattering that she started to consider stopping. You wouldn’t dare start to complain, you wanted to get back just as much as she did, but Abby saw you were starting to weaken. Your shivering was taking over your whole body, slowing you down. The way Abby looked at you was revolting. The pity on her face was clear as day, no way you were going to be the reason it took an extra day to get back to base.

Abby stops in her tracks, turns around to face you and sighs “I think…we’re going to have to find a place to stop.” She hesitates, predicting your stubborn nature.

“D-don’t be ridiculous, w-we can keep going.” Abby gives you a look, silently telling you to stop lying.

“You’re shaking so hard you can barely walk. You’re allowed to get cold, you know, you’re only human.” When she says this it makes you realize she isn’t shivering at all, in fact she looks fine.

“How the f-fuck are you not cold?” You ask accusingly, the fact that she seemed unaffected by the rain was pissing you off.

Abby just shrugs “I don’t get cold much. Now cut the bullshit and help me find a place for us to set up camp.” She starts to walk away expecting you to follow, but you stay rooted in place.

“A-Abby I told you I’m fine. Let’s keep going please.” Abby turns back around and sighs. She begins to walk towards you, only stopping when she’s inches away from you. You can see every one of her muscles outlined perfectly through her soaked clothing. She towered over you, but you stood your ground, remaining stubbornly in place.

“Look sweetheart, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way we end up setting up camp. Your choice.” She isn’t even phased by your difficult behavior.

Abby was about ready to scoop you up off your feet and carry you to shelter, until you caved. “Alright,” you sigh in defeat, “Looks like there’s a good spot over there.” You gesture to a small, stand alone building. The smaller the building, the less potential for being overpowered by infected. Abby nods and begins to walk over, you hobble behind her, weakening by the minute. She was right, you wouldn’t have made it, but you would never admit that. You’d sooner collapse on the pavement than admit Abby Anderson was right.

Eventually you and Abby end up at the front door. The blonde reaches for the door handle and pushes, and of course it doesn’t budge. Almost every door in the city has a blockade of furniture behind it. She begins using brute force, putting her weight against the door, her muscles straining against the wood. It moves about an inch and Abby huffs in frustration.

She turns around, scanning the building, eventually her eyes landing on a small window near the front door. “We’ll have to try that window.” She suggests, you nod vigorously, desperate to rest. Abby peers through the window trying to see if there’s any life inside. When she doesn’t see any movement she uses the butt of her gun to break open the window. Thankfully the sound was muffled significantly by the rain, making loud noises in the middle of the city was a death sentence.

Abby crawls in first, careful not to cut herself on the glass. You follow not far behind, it takes you a bit longer due to your weakening state. Abby offers her hand as support and you’re so tired you take it without question and jump down into the house, your feet crunching against the glass.

The building is obviously an apartment, this room is the ghost of what once was a living room and dining room. An old couch sits in the middle of the room, a few chairs scattered around it. There’s a small hallway leading to another part of the apartment, probably the kitchen. The blonde moves towards the tall china cabinet sitting in the corner of the room and gets into position to move it to block the window. Before she could start pushing a screech echoes through the building. It came from down the hallway, it was close. Abby immediately halts her movements and ushers you over to her side. You move quickly and quietly across the room, huddling against the wall. You were positioned so if anything were to come down the hallway you and Abby would see it first. Soon enough a clicker stumbles into the room, you’ll never get used to their unsettling movements no matter how many times you see them. You try to breathe, but it’s like you can’t get enough air into your lungs. The creature is darting around making unholy, hollow clicking noises and Abby is just watching, waiting. You’re frozen in fear, feeling pathetic, you can’t even get your shit together, you should be used to this by now. Your breath becomes loud, too loud. Abby looks over at you, annoyed at first, but when she sees your wide eyes and flushed face she softens. Your eyes are glued to the mindless beast, terror taking over your whole body.

Suddenly you feel a large hand grab yours. You whip your head around and watch Abby guide your hand to her chest, letting you feel her steady breaths. Her warm skin almost shocks your ice cold hand, but the feeling of her strong, solid body against your hand almost immediately grounds you. She moves her head up and down in sync with her breathing to help you find a rhythm, her expression remaining almost neutral. She wasn’t angry or frustrated, her expression made it seem like she didn’t mind helping you, or maybe that’s just what you wanted to see. Your breathing begins to slow and Abby starts watching the clicker’s movements, your hand still on her chest.

Abby pulls out a makeshift shiv as soon as the creature turns around and nods at you before slowly moving away from your hand and towards the clicker. You watch as she quickly impales the monster in the neck, one last chilling sound escaping from its lips. It falls backwards into Abby and she catches it under its arms. She drags it over to the window, a trail of blood marking their path. The blonde awkwardly pushes the corpse out the window before jumping out and grabbing it once again, dragging the lifeless body to the street. You watch through the window as she washes her hands clean of the blood using the steady flow of water from the gutters.

The entire action was extraordinarily considerate, but you’re sure it couldn’t have all been for your benefit. No one wants to sleep next to a rotting corpse.

She crawls back inside and drags the china cabinet across the room to block the window. Once it’s in its place she slides down the wall, a relieved sigh escaping from her lips. After a few seconds she manages to catch her breath. You still haven’t moved an inch, you’re just staring at Abby completely lost in your own mind, shaking like a leaf.

“Hey,” Abby waves her hand to get your attention, you realize she has probably been trying to get your attention for a hot minute. “You okay?” she asks earnestly.

“Yeah I’ll be fine.” You still don’t move and Abby can’t hide her concerned expression.

“Okay.” Abby gives in, she’s not your friend so why even bother? Why should she care? Maybe it was the petrified look on your face. An all too familiar look that she has had plastered on her face throughout multiple occasions. She wasn’t always this composed, this unphased. It took years of incomparable, horrific events to make her this way, it was like calluses had formed around her being, protecting her while also keeping her from feeling.

You remove your backpack agonizingly slowly, exhaustion taking over your body. You begin to unzip your backpack and it’s almost like you’re moving in slow motion. Suddenly a hand comes into your line of vision, snatching away the backpack.

“What-” Your words barely come out as a whisper. If this happened under normal circumstances you would have already snatched the bag out of Abby’s hands, but currently your body could barely hold itself up.

You watch as she quickly unzips the bag and grabs out your sleeping bag. You’re immediately confused as to what she’s doing. Is she… helping you right now? She kneels down, rolls out the sleeping bag and unzips it. Abby looks at you and back at the puffy, inviting sleeping bag, indicating for you to crawl into it and fall asleep. With your eyes half closed you still manage an eyebrow raise, suspicious of her intentions.

“Seriously?” Abby scoffs. “You can barely keep your eyes open and you're fighting me? Come lay down sweetheart, before I regret helping you out.” You sigh and reluctantly crawl into the sleeping bag. Immediately collapsing upon your body hitting the plushy fabric. Your eyes are closed, but you feel Abby gently zip up the sleeping bag. You’re too tired to consider the fact that this small action could mean she might not hate you anymore, instead you promptly fall asleep, sinking into a peaceful oblivion.

I know it's been like a month since I last updated this, but I hope you enjoyed <3

#abby anderson #the last of us #abby x you #abby tlou #abby x fem!reader #abby the last of us #abby anderson enemies to lovers #enemies to friends to lovers

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2cmtall · 2 years

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Kaeya x y/n Ice Bridge Gone Wrong

context: you and kaeya are to retrieve an item on a distant island. With no boat at your disposal, kaeya uses his cryo vision to make an ice bridge! But wait. . . Why do you get a bad feeling at this? 🤔😣

A/n: when I made this tumblr account, I was convinced it was never going to even be seen, but to my pleasant surprise. . . My story (kaeya x y/n only one bed) gained 60 notes! Which to me is a lot. 😅The fact that people have seen and read my story, and 60 of them even heart/liked it is very exciting. I made this story around the time I gained my first two followers. Hope whoever reads this enjoys! 🤗

Content Warning: y/n drowns (but lives don't worry), mentions of alcohol but no actual drinking, worried kaeya (more towards the end)

I'd consider this a fluff with the slightest bit of somber angst.

==================================================

"So. . . How are we gonna get across?" I stood next to Kaeya while staring out into the vast expanse of sparkling ocean. We needed to retrieve an item lost somewhere on a distant island, but we didn't prepare any boats, so I was left to wait for Kaeya's answer. I turned my head to face Kaeya's, whose eyes were still trained on the island in the distance. Skillfully swishing out his sword-the blade cutting through the air- Kaeya turned to face me, smiling in a reassuring manner.

"A fine predicament we're in, no? Though there's no need to worry, y/n, I have a solution." Stepping forward into the shore, he swung his sword strong and true, and applied cryo to the water, creating a path of ice. "An ice bridge." I said in realization and awe. "Precisely. Now come on, let's get moving. you're not frozen in place, after all." His eye twinkled in playful teasing, no doubt proud of his corny pun.

But damn it, something about the way he smiles so teasingly towards me makes my lips match his.

Wanting to waste no extra time, I stepped on the ice, but was surprised to find that yes, ice is indeed slippery. And yes, I did slip. "Haha, careful now! The ice is slippery."

"Really now? Who would've thought? Also, oooowwwwww that hurt!" I grimaced as I rubbed my poor butt, growing embarrassed by Kaeya's laughter. At first his laughter felt mocking but quickly after I joined in, infected by his joyful voice. "Haha, you are indeed the most amusing partner I've ever met! Here, you can grab onto my hand if walking on the ice is too difficult. I wouldn't want my dear partner getting injured, now do I?" He offered his gloved hand in the same way a gentleman would offer a dance at a ball. He winked, though with only one eye it looked nearly identical to his blinking, except for the purposeful tilt of his head and flirtatious nature. He gazed at me expectantly, his hand still outstretched towards me.

I huffed in disbelief at his antics, my eyes averting his as to not melt from his piercing gaze. While I could've gone without hand holding, I humored him and took his hand in mine, careful not to reveal my growing blush. Holding my hand firm, he looked onward at the task at hand and created another patch of ice. We carefully walked onto the new patch while I looked back, just in time to see the ice from before melting away along the shore. This put unease in my stomach, though the reason being is not quite clear. Shaking my head lightly, I decided to focus my efforts on moving forward alongside Kaeya and retrieving that item.

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We continue on our icy path across the ocean and everything is going smooth. Ice, walk, wait. Rinse and repeat. Patterns and repetition have a way of calming the mind, such as knitting. The repeated process and calm atmosphere are supposed to calm my mind and heart, if not for the way Kaeya's large hand encases mine securely, his thumb caressing my skin. This action is also repeating, but it does no good to my rapidly beating heart and screaming mind. I do everything I can to diverge my attention away from his gentle yet firm touch, but his thumb always seems to lull me back.

"Oof." Suddenly my head hit Kaeya's back, surprised that he stopped. "Umm kaeya, why'd you stop? You're not frozen in place, are you? We're halfway there." I smiled smugly and pointed at the island, noting that it is now bigger and the details clearer. Kaeya's eyebrow shot up at my use of his own words and scoffed. "That's thanks to my hardwork and skill. If you weren't so impatient, you'd allow me to rest my poor, overworked arm. And besides, the view at this time is absolutely breathtaking, isn't it y/n?"

He closed his eye and smiled contentedly, his face facing the sun much the same way a sunflower soaks up its energy. The light made his bronzed skin look radiant and warm, and his hair shine brilliantly. "You look breathtaki-" 'shit.'

"Did you say something dear?" He stopped facing the sky and looked at me questioningly. "NO." I looked away quickly, hoping to the Archons he does not press further. "I see. . . Well would you like to take in the sun with me? I promise it'll be worth it~"

I looked at him with wary eyes, unsure if it's all that wise to close my eyes near kaeya, but his insistence and delighted gaze made me think otherwise. "S-sure, but isn't it a bit. . . Embarrassing?" My voice was meek and small due to my growing embarrassment, both from my slip up and his offer.

"My, what's embarrassing about closing your eyes and soaking up the sun for a bit? It's good to get a bit of color in you, unless you want to be as pale as Diluc?" His eyebrow and smirk were raised in a playful yet taunting manner.

"Hey! Diluc's not that pale. . . . Ok maybe you're right." He laughed merrily at my realization and I laughed along with him, finding myself enjoying his presence more than I initially thought. It was nice. "Ok fine, I'll do it with you. All I need to do is close my eyes and face the sun, right?"

"Precisely. Now listen to my instructions and follow my voice," he was behind me now, his voice a mere whisper in the breeze. Gentle and soft. "Close your eyes and begin to imagine your favourite places, people, things. Breathe in the sweet aroma of summer, and the gentle breeze flowing around us." We stayed like that for a few minutes, taking in the sounds, smells, and our imagination.

It was more peaceful then I initially thought. It was embarrassing at first, finding it hard to concentrate and think seriously when he was so near me, whispering about all these sappy, typical things in my ear. But when I calmed myself down enough to let my mind wander freely, it led me all around mondstadt. To springvale, the statue of the sevens, the taverns, and cathedral. With each location I met the people I've led to care about. Faces flashed through my mind, sifting through the fond interactions involving each person, until my mind led me to a cliff overlooking mondstadt. It was breathtaking, almost as if i was there right now. My mind was fully engrossed in my imagination until I felt a presence behind me. I did not turn, not in real life nor imagination, and kept looking at the sight in front of me. But the presence felt more closer, so close I felt a flutter of a hand on my waist and another on my cheek. "You think I'm breathtaking, y/n?"

Suddenly I'm ripped from the overlook of mondstadt to find Kaeya's face only inches away from mine, his smile devilish but there was something honest underneath his signature smile. A certain eagerness in his question, unlike what I've heard or seen from him before. Perhaps I was still in a daze from my powerful imagination or maybe I felt in awe by his expression, but I found myself speaking honestly and truthfully. Like speaking a blatant fact, one that is obvious to everyone. I did not push away from him, instead I looked at him closer, my eyes trained on his as I spoke, "I do think of you as breathtaking, especially in moments like this where it's clear you are truly enjoying yourself. In moments like these I find your smile and laugh to be contagious. Our time together has been better than I'd first imagined and I'm grateful I was able to meet someone as cunning, strategic, but also funny, kind, and well. . . Beautiful."

He was stunned, speechless in fact. But his sincere surprise and widened eye only lasted for a second before he remembered who he was. Back was the cool, fox-like expression and bright smile, though even his silver tongue and eye can't hold back from his surprise. Or maybe embarrassment. "My, y/n, you really had me surprised there. I only wanted to tease a little and wasn't expecting such a . . . big statement. It seems my plan has backfired and I was the one to get embarrassed. . ." His words drifted off, but his averting gaze and covered mouth were prominent and easy to understand. It made me smile. "Don't think I'm not embarrassed as well, Kaeya. But I think despite all the teasing and trouble you give me, you at least need to hear what I actually think of you. You deserve at least thi-" crack. "Did you hear that?" Craaaaaack. It was louder, more noticable this time, and we both looked down to the source of the sound. But we were too late. "Kaeya! The ice is-" before I could finish, we both plummet into the ocean, our ice path completely melted and washed away by the waves.

That same feeling of unease hit me and now I know the reason why. I thrash in the water, trying my best to stay afloat, but the realization of how deep the ocean is and the feeling of my body sinking further in the dark depths only made me panic further. I wanted to scream and call for help but my head was already underwater, making me thrash even harder.

I was starting to lose hope until my hand grazed against something. I wanted to see what I touched but by then I had succumbed to my need for air and quickly lost conciousness, the world a blurry haze of blue.

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"Y/n. . ." My mind was still drifting through the darkness that is my conscience, but I faintly registered the sound of my name, though it sounded muffled and clogged. As if I was underwater. . . "Y/n. . ." I heard my name again, the person uttering it sounding more urgent. Slowly, I registered more. I heard waves crashing and seagulls screeching in the distance. My skin felt hot and rough like I was lying on a bed of scorching sandpaper. I was able to feel light even though my eyes were closed. Slowly but surely, my senses became less muddled and more clear cut, like rising from the depths of the ocean and breaking through the surface. It was as if my mind and body snapped back into reality, and in an instant I was sitting up. It felt like being born again, taking in a huge gulp of air while my eyes , but the feeling of water rushing up to the back of my throat had me coughing uncontrollably.

"Y/n! You're finally awake." He was beside me, patting my back and combing my wet hair away from my face. Everything ached, from my head and throat to the rest of my body. It was as if my head was both light and heavy at the same time, prompting me to lay back down and close my eyes, but I couldn't let that happen. Once I managed to stop coughing up water, I shakily hoisted myself up and looked at our surroundings. Kaeya was by my side, his arms holding me up in support. "You shouldn't be getting up, you're body is still weak from nearly drowning! You look as if you're about to pass out again." He raises some good points, my hand subconsciously going to my throat, attempting to rub the soreness away.

I felt him staring at me, so I looked at him back, surprised to see genuine concern on his face. It threw me off considerably, having only really known his flirty, laid back smiles. He did not smile this time, and the teasing humor I'm so used to has vanished completely amidst his worry. In an odd way, it was refreshing to see him so serious, to see an expression different from the ones he always shows. "What is it? You're staring y/n."

"Oh, sorry it's nothing. It's just that. . ." I paused, unsure of what to say for there is a plethora of things I wished to tell him. Such as somberness, the way he carries me with such care and worry. I wanted to soothe his nerves and tell him I'm fine, to worry about himself seeing as how his body shakes in exhaustion. For now, I decided to settle for a thank you, "thank you for saving me, kaeya. I really appreciate it."

"Why didn't you tell me you couldn't swim? If I'd known, I would have never made you go on the ice bridge with me." Is he blaming himself? Why, when he was the one to save me? "I'm sorry. I myself forgot that I couldn't swim. Normally I would've been wary of going across the ocean like this, but with you I didn't feel that worrying was necessary. . . In any case, I'm still alive and well. You saved me from near death, and now that I am awake we can continue our job." He stayed silent, his arms holding me closer as if worried I might fall. He was in a daze for a moment before he set me down gently in some shade nearby. He then sat down next to me, his shoulder supporting my head while his hands travelled across my skin, cooling it. He sighed heavily with his eye closed and eyebrows scrunched together. He looked tired.

"That won't be necessary. I can always look for it another time. What needs to be done now is getting you back to mondstadt, preferably with Barbara." I huffed, unhappy by this new objective. "Kaeya, I'm fine, really. I'm sorry I caused such a hindrance to you and we ended up not been able to retrieve the item like we were supposed to. How about we go back, change our clothes," I pointed at our clothes, though semi-dry, they were covered in sand and salt, "and head to the tavern for a drink? I think we both need a treat after this slightly bad event." I laughed a little, thinking about the absurdity of our original plan. I mean really? Ice bridge our way across an ocean? Luckily, my offer seemed to have lightened Kaeya's mood slightly and he looked more like he usually does.

"I suppose we should. Nothing like a cold drink of death after noon to wash away our misfortune. And it will serve me well for my poor, aching body," he hissed as he stretched his muscles, and I sent him an apologetic smile. We talked for a bit, enjoying the island and ocean views as we shared opinions on alcohol, whether or not I even drink. Kaeya ranted about his favourite drinks, giving tips on how best to mix different flavors, and of course, told the delight of being able to drink such delicious wine. "If strong flavors are not to your tastes, I strongly recommend dandelion wine mixed with fruity beverages. The alcohol content is lower than most, but the citrus flavors make up for it. If you'd like, in the afternoon we can go to Angel's share and try out all their wines! And don't worry about the price, I've got it covered. . . Or rather, a certain redhead does~" I laughed at his sly plan, happy to see kaeya talking about the things he likes, even if I can't personally relate. "Sorry kaeya, that sounds great but you know I'll have to stick with non-alcoholic drinks. Maybe I'll get grape juice this time around."

Kaeya scoffed openly, his expression twisted in disgust and disbelief, as if I said something punishable by death (after noon). He faced away from me, eye closed in annoyance, and arms crossed. He looked like a child who was refused his favorite toy, and it made it hard for me to keep a straight face. "You're starting to sound more like diluc. Hah, I can't believe some people actually drink. . . Grape juice," he pushed out those words in disgust, as if the very words tainted his tastebuds with the oh so terrible drink, "if they had a little more patience, they would find it ferments into the most exquisite wine. Hmph. So unromantic." He rolled his eye, clearly only putting up a playful front, but it truly left me speechless. He smirked as I was left trying to piece together any tangible response, mouth opening and closing for the umpteenth time. After a while, all I could think of doing was reciprocate the same pettiness in response. "Grape juice is better than wine. At least I'm not drinking expired juice that's been sitting in a barrel for years."

And with that, chaos ensued, with us taunting each other with insults and small chides, giving our reasonings for which drink is the superior one. Our conversations lasted until dawn, us having completely forgotten of where we were, only focusing on besting the other. It wasn't until the sky darkened and the sun left that we snapped out of our talk. "Damn, how long have we been here? Shouldn't we be heading back now? Won't the knights of favonious be worried their captain hasn't come back from a seemingly easy trip?" Kaeya looked thoughtfully at the emerging stars, the moon illuminating his figure in an ethereal glow. He turned to me with a carefree smile.

"I'm sure they are panicking at this moment and sending out a team to find their beloved captain, but while they're doing that, how about we go back to our conversation? I still need to convince you of the beauty of wine tasting, don't I? I won't stop until you admit grape juice to be far more inferior to wine. At the very least, you could try mondstadt's apple cider vinegar. oho~ are interested? Then allow me to tell you all about it. . ."

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whatdoesshedotothem · 2 years

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Wednesday 28 May 1834

7 10

12 ¼

fine 56° at 8 ½ - breakfast at 8 ½ a little sucking of her breasts last night otherwise perfectly quiet off at 10 ¼ and at Newby Hall in ½ hour and ¾ hour there - some handsome Gobelins’ tapestry in the drawing room, but nothing worth going to see except the statue gallery in 3 rooms domed and lightened from the top - several good antiques collected in Italy by Mr Weddell - said to be the finest private collection in England - a fine statue of Brutus, as also of a sitting nurse, but the finest the Barberini Venus, in the attitude of the Venus de Medicis - 3 fine busts, of Minerva, Jupiter and Hercules - the house merely a good substantial 3 story brick mansion with 2 wings (one the statue gallery) projecting forwards in and from the front of the house - a handsome broad avenue-sort-of approach - passed thro’ Ripon alighted at Studley in 55 minutes at 12 25 – brought the guide book and off with guide at 12 35 - the laurel bank (common laurel cut into one even uninterrupted surface about 18in. high) and the waters kept within borders ‘shaven with the scythe and levelled with the roller’ and prim temples and all the smooth-cut peeps are far too artificial for me - the little Skell, too, is tortured out of nature save where it steals away and amid the ruins and brushes under and behind the abbey to the mill - a carriage road from the house (Studley Royal) to the Abbey, certainly the largest, most perfect and most beautiful ruin I ever saw - said and probably truly said to be the largest and most perfect abbey remain in England – the river flows thro’ 4 arches under the end of a cloister over which the dormitory counting 40 cells – the Refectory and reading gallery on one side (from which the scriptures were read aloud during dinner) wanting little but the rood - the church part, too, wanting little else - not even all the yellowish white wash yet off the pillars and arches - the great tower gutted, but perfect exteriority - singular placed, at the end of the north transept - chapter house - kitchen buttery, abbots’ house etc very large remains – this is the only abbey-remain that ever gave me a clear idea of what a monastery used to be - Miss W- sketching the interior of the church part (from the gallery behind the high alter) from 1 ½ to 5 ½ - I read and slept and walked about and read and slept again - went to Fountains’ Hall and the old house built out of the ruins of the abbey and bought from the messenger family about 60 years ago for £18000 the wood on the estate being at that time worth £20,000 - part of the house occupied by the farmer and part by H.P. from some regiment who looks after the grounds and takes all that is given for shewing them (makes with salary and perquisites £700 per annum) and is younger brother to the steward who has £1000 a year and lives close to Ripon - a family is to pay ½ a crown not more for seeing the grounds and single people often give as much - a queer set of names in the visiting book in which we entered our own names at the lodge on alighting – some people had been eating there and on our return the man seeing we had had a small basket of sandwiches said it was against the rule – the estate said our old guide is let all alike , good land and bad, so that some of the tenants who have the bad are too high rented and some too low – some have been reduced of late - the fine meadow that was the monks’ garden just above the 7 old yews, producing 2 to 3 tons of nay per acre - that ‘never fails of a crop’ and is worth £3 per acre pays 25/. like the rest - went to Fountains Hall – Mrs Marton very civil came out and shewed me the drawing room (on account of its old tapestry) and what used to be used as the chapel tho’ a large fireplace in it - several great many coats of arms in the middle large window - off from Studley at 6 20 – for some distance a fine long vista terminated a by Ripon minister - this struck us very much - passed thro’ Ripon and back (10 miles) to dinner here at Boroughbridge at 7 20 - dinner at 7 ½ almost immediately afterwards coffee – everything very good and comfortable – till 10 ½ wrote the above of today – very fine day and evening – F59° in our sitting room now at 10 ½ - paid the bill and the waiter, went upstairs at 11 1/4

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mygainyear2024 · 3 days

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Day 25 Carnation Revolution - 50th Anniversary

Today Portugal celebrated their 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, which put an end to the longest-running dictatorship in Europe.

And to mark the occasion I participated in the local 10km Freedom Run (Corridada da Liberdade). A late 10am start, with 305 runners, we set off. About one minute in I regretted drinking those couple of glasses of vinho verde last night and also not bringing some water. Lots of runners overtook me and I was beginning to wonder whether I might be last. This thought crossed my mind a few times, but I didn't turn around, telling myself the only thing that mattered was finishing and to get some water, which came a bit late at the 6km mark! There were slippery cobblestones, a few hills, a bit of wind to contend with and the crappier songs coming up on my playlist, but luckily it was not too hot. I ran all the way, and was faster than my usual time, at 58:14! I placed no. 186, and I came first in my gendered age range (55-60), there were six of us. I have to say it was quite exciting and I don't usually like running with anyone near me.

With the remainder of the day free, and my growing confidence in driving, I tossed around a few ideas and decided to head to the inland village of Monchique.

The narrow streets were a bit tricky, but I found a park not too far from my first stop, Ochalá, a lovely tea room. I had carob cake and admired their art. A young man at the bar asked me if I was digital. He wanted to engage in conversation and show me something he was studying. I think he was a gamer, but his strong accent was hard to understand and I had a feeling I wouldn't get a way in a hurry, and I had a list!

I found Studio Bongard Ceramics and walked through their garden. The artist is half Portuguese/English and has quite an interesting style.

I then walked up to the very ruined Convento de Nossa Senhora do Desterro. On the path I got abused by a disheveled male busker, who swore at my for quite a while (I heard lots of mother fucking, probably the only english he could speak!!). I can only assume it's because I didn't put any money in the guitar case which was strewn across the middle of the path, while he was some distance away under a tree. I did wonder whether he would stone me on the way back (as loose cobblestones were plentiful). But I got my big girl pants on, walked cautiously and calmly past, as this time he'd moved closer down the hill, and was preparing for an attack! A Tripadvisor recommendation to visit the church is a desperate recommendation in my opinion. Two other disheveled older men were waiting to guide me through their makeshift kitchen, out towards some chickens to view two rooms that were accessible.

I then went in search for the local spirit / firewater Medronho, a traditional fruit brandy, obtained from arbutus berries - the fruit of the Medronho tree, also called strawberry tree. And it was pretty fiery. Thankfully I only ordered a thimble at €1. To be honest the liquor chocolate I purchased next door for €1 was definitely better value.

Last stop - elevation of 902 metres, Fóia is the highest mountain of Algarve. It is part of the Serra de Monchique range. On a clear day the Atlantic Ocean is visible, but sadly not today. Although towards the bottom of the decent the skies cleared up, but I wasn't that excited to go back up again.

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iggysmice · 5 months

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Welcome! Here is my info under the cute picrew and cut! (link for picrew incoming I am writing this initially in bed on my phone)

So you are more curious about me?

Basically, I'm a college student living in the Pacific Northwest. I was born in the Seattle area and I live there to this day! The mountain is going to claim us all someday, but the weather is mild and we have great scenery!

I love mice. I've kept them as pets since I was a little kid of 5 and insisted to my parents "I'm almost old enough to go to school, I can handle a pet!"

I used to want to be a veterinarian, but I can't really do the higher math involved in getting educated that way. I want to have and work with animals but I'm in psychology now.

In 2018 I had a bad lapse in my mental health that would last a long time. In 2020 my wisdom teeth started to hurt and they assured me I would have them out before May.

That was in early March 2020.

When I finally got my teeth out in August that year, I saw a new doctor shortly after who gave me some new medications to try and diagnosed the skin condition I'd put off to being unhygenic in my depression and chronic pain.

I'm deathly allergic to one of the medications I was given and it is the sickest I've ever been. I've never had COVID, shockingly, so that might change. The problem with me being so sick was that it was November 2020, so hospitals were where COVID patients were and you did not want to go there and risk exposure if you didn't have COVID.

I'm vaccinated now and stay up to date on my boosters. My Nonna had a baby sister who died of the measles in the 60s, a disease a vaccine can prevent now. Therefore in my family we get all our vaccines, so that baby is the last one to die of something preventable.

Didn't work out, my Nonna's little brother the COVID denier did die of the illness in the end.

But I did not die of my illness and recovered quickly from death's door once I stopped taking the bad medication. I have lasting damage thats altered my metabolism and I have scars on my hands and feet, but I'm fine.

In 2022 I managed to see a dermatologist about my persistant acne. I was 23 by that point so I knew I wasn't going to grow out of it. The dermatologist had me take isotrentin, colloquially known as Accutane, a brand that used to distribute it. It cleared up my face significantly! Along the way the dermatologist noticed I am extremely prone to infections in part because my other condition makes me heal really slow so any wound I have is vulnerable longer.

The fact I have a skin picking compulsion doesn't help, but I keep my nails as short as I can and treat my face and chest with neosporin and bandages and I am usually healthy. I do need antibiotics a lot though.

I have a partner called Aly and she is the best! She has a dog called Lucky who simultaneously looks like a goblin, a muppet, a sad child and an old man. He is a sweet dog most of the time, very affectionate and relaxed, but he is also very clever and food motivated.

Aly has ADHD which means sometimes she moves too fast for my autistic brain, but in the end we usually work through it. We both like video games and animals and junk food after all! I met Aly when we joined the same after school club in high school, I was about 15 and she was 17 and lived within walking distance of the school, so I hung out at her house a lot! Our buddy Venus was also in school with us, me and her are the same age!

We now all regularly hang out at Venus's apartment which is not far from where we grew up, and often we include my younger brother!

My brother is about 2 and a half years younger than me and in college for computer science. Right now he is working as a systems engineer (programmer) for a company that makes games on Roblox, a platform my brother grew up using. We are all really proud of him!

I'm unsure what else to talk about, so ask if you got this far and think of anything! Otherwise have fun on the blog!!

#iggy rambles nonsense #pinned post

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christmascocos2023 · 8 months

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Saturday 19th August

Woke to clear skies, no rain and less wind. Not exactly a breeze but still down. Bodes well for my water based activities in the next 2 days.🤞No specific plans today but might go to Trannies Beach for a swim later. After having the pleasure for 2 weeks, I am going to miss sitting on my verandah having breakfast looking at the sea every morning. Another thing I have noticed is the noise. Not man made noise, natures noise. The sound of the waves rolling and crashing is relentless day and night as is the sound of the wind in the coconut palms and the calls of birds and especially roosters! The overriding sound however is that of the sea! None of it is really background noise it is an in your face dominating presence.

Discovered yesterday that in my unit with the wifi working I can use wifi calling which means if I want to use my mobile for calls or txts I can from here only. Tested the txt and works! Who knew😁.

Have discovered that the first John Clunies Ross was born on the island of Shetland in the Scottish Hebrides. Might explain why he didn’t seem too fazed by the isolation of Cocos. Shetland is likewise a very isolated place. Mind you weather wise they are chalk and cheese. You are isolated and cold on one and on the other isolated and hot 🤣.

Am currently at Trannies beach a lovely 6km drive from my place. I did see a couple of couples riding bikes here on my way which I thought was brave😁.Got here about 10ish on with the rashie top and reef shoes(only needed if you plan to walk on the reef bit but worth wearing also as stairs to beach a bit hard on the feet and walking along the beach plenty of shells😁). This place is my idea of beach heaven. Easy to get to, quiet, beautiful clear water, reefs for those who fancy a snorkel,shade and beautiful surroundings,beach and toilet and kids playground. Also the beach is littered with shells that if you look start to walk! There are a surprising number of hermit crabs running around if you look in all sizes of shells. Also what I think are called spider crabs scamper. The rocks and shells are so varied and haven’t been crushed by peoples feet! As I was standing out in the water less than waist deep 2 fish about 20-30cm long just casually swam by. I didn’t see anymore but apparently according to a couple who were here snorkelling there are all sorts of fish and even a ray hiding here today. I am going to go walking on a bit of the reef to see what I can find. Truely this would be a perfect spot for kids and parents and all protected by the reef.

I have walked all over bits reef near the shore and there are so many fish etc to see just looking down! I saw small silvery ones, an eel looking thing with a frill in its back the length of its body darting from under one rock to the other. A few little striped and coloured fish and one black fish about 20-30cm long with tail that has a vertical orange strip on it and seem to be diving ?for food a bit like a sea bird,what I think were sea cucumbers(big fat things) and all by standing on a reef area ankle deep and standing still. I also walked around part of the beach and there are lots of secluded bits with shade. I have learned that knowing the tides means getting the best time to swim. Now I know why they leave a tide chart in the unit! Of course I didn’t consult it so it was just my usual good fortune kicking in that I timed it perfectly. Seems I was there as it was going from high to low. High was about 0630 and low 1300. As I was there about 1000hrs and stayed until 1230 I did well. At low tide it is so shallow you can’t snorkel. Walking out it was chest height when I arrived and same distance when I left was about bit above knee height. At high tide there is not much beach and can be a bit more swell.

The temp at at 8am 25 with feels like as 20 and 1330 it is 26 with feels like 24 and humidity consistent in very low 60%. Breeze now light. This was the weather I was hoping for or expecting 😁.

I am very happy that I finally got a swim and what a beautiful swim and place. Worth the wait😁

COMMENT

Just out of town I saw what looked like it is or was a RAAF facility. Couple red brick buildings typical RAAF design and only brick buildings I have seen! Also what looks like typical RAAF house but no obvious signs of action.All in good condition but gates open no people I can see and all the signs have just worn or faded so can’t see what it is.

Photos Trannies Beach. Including one of the hundreds of hermit crabs. The boat you may notice the other side reef in one photo is the Border Force boat

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boltonhan · 2 years

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What You Did not Realize About Technology Is Powerful - But Very simple

The incredible beauty of this fish is highlighted by the little yellow Mr. Rapidan fly. This is one such fly. Arriving there I spotted a familiar truck, one that's used by Mass. There are creatures who live within the waters of these tiny streams. 카지노사이트 주소 choose places like these for reasons I have stated, but there are much more. “IPSY is the preeminent beauty subscription that inspires self-expression and strives to make beauty more inclusive and welcoming to all,” said Emine ErSelcuk, senior vice president of merchandising at IPSY. We also make suggestions derived from this model for the infusion of tech-nology into schools. Will Electronic Bag Tags Make Air Travel Less Chaotic? The bright smells will be those of pine and hemlock. The odd smells will be those of decaying wood, and vegetation. These will make transporting the 38-pound speaker much easier to carry around than its predecessor. But I'll tell you the dries were easier to fish. Water temps checked at 58-60. Thoughts were to fish soft-hackles and dries.

It became quite clear in my mind that the reason for the beauty of this place and the wild jewels that call it home is the water. It's boulders create back eddys which provide sanctuaries for the wild brook trout which call places like this home. They have been pushed back into these streams by known sources, sources I'll leave for you to decide. Strong southerly flow that pushed warm air into the region. In 2014, the commission overhauled the E-rate, raising the program’s annual spending cap from $2.4 billion to $3.9 billion and prioritizing support for broadband service and wireless networks. I had not been here in about a year and a half and as I drove down the service road to where I normally park I noticed the state had made some improvements. Walking down to check it here saw biologist Steve Hurley and several of his crew doing a survey. Serious shortfalls, and NOW they’re staring down the real possibility of a brutal winter, all the while having not regained wind and solar power generation to any extent. To the extent permitted by applicable laws, This is Technology shall not be liable for the Comments or for any liability, damages or expenses caused and/or suffered as a result of any use of and/or posting of and/or appearance of the Comments on this website.

Award-winning in its first edition, this book is an essential guide to the use of technology in flexible and distance learning, weighing up the pros and cons of different media. I thought this would be the perfect lesson to use an infographic tool with and after talking with Janelle she agreed. Whether you need to make a stew or a loaf of bread, you can get it done in the cast iron tool. It’s good to be aware of issues that women face in these activities so that you can get the maximum benefits and avoid injuries. The government’s Equality Ministry launched a summer campaign Thursday encouraging women to reject “stereotypes” and “aesthetical violence” - a reference to social pressure some women feel to conform to beauty ideals. I have been going around checking on some blue lines to see how they are and how the residents of those blue lines have fared over the summer. You are going to work on bringing their classic looks up to today’s standards.

It is a place where certain flies are created. This time of year one can see some subtle changes taking place. Each season has its own beauty, and while I prefer seasons without cold and snow, I can find something special in all of them. A special spot on this stream, not for the fish caught but for the absolute beauty of the location. Well I managed to find a high spot and fit my Honda in. What a promising looking spot. So before I made my first cast of the day I found what I was looking for and that was what you see in the first photo. The brookies for some reason found the fly to much to resist. The fly selection proved to be right and the brookies responded to both. A slow intermittent rain also puts the brookies at ease. Naturally, the pressure applied when shaping the cups puts stress on the metal.

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scmg11 · 3 years

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hi :D can u write a story where florence and reader went to the same school for a while but they werent really close, they just knew about each other from a distance and then years later they’re both famous (flo as an actress and reader as a musician) and they meet again at a party or something and theyre like oh faith and destiny really works in funny ways

FLORENCE PUGH x READER

FATE AND ITS FUNNY WAYS

A/N: HELLO PEOPLE! I’m sorry for this terrible delay with writing your requests but my exams are kicking my ass 😫 Anyway I had fun writing this! Let me know what you guys think!

Thank you for being so supportive, it means a lot 🥺❤️

Sending love ❤️

Summary: Florence and Y/N went to the same high school and reunited after a few years later at the Grammys afterparty.

Warnings: just a tad bit of derogatory words and bullying.

Word count: 2297 words.

Y/N was walking down the hallways of her high school with an exhausted face on, dark circles under her eyes and an overall tired appearance. She stayed up until late the night prior to finish up her bio project for Mrs. Kith. It wasn’t because she started the project last minute, quite the contrary. She was the top of her class, finishing homework weeks before their deadline, always respectful to teachers and on time in class. She just wanted this project to be perfect, needing an high score since it took 60% of the final grade of the class. She needed all her grades to be perfect because she needed to get out of this hellhole as soon as possible to pursue her biggest dream, becoming a singer.

In her tiredness she was too distracted and didn’t see the body that seconds later collided with hers, leading her to fall on the ground with her books and papers scattering on the hallway floor. "I’m so sorry! I was too much in my head that I wasn’t looking where I was going!"

Y/N was quick to apologize, not wanting to have troubles, hastily looking up to the person she bumped into when air left her lungs at the hypnotizing green orbs staring at her with regret. "No I should be the one apologizing. I was in a hurry." Florence crouched down to help the now really flustered girl collect the papers and books on the ground. Their hands touched a brief moment when Florence passed a couple of Y/N’s things to her, now on her feet, and they ignored the spark of electricity running from their hands and down their spines, spreading throughout their bodies like wildfire.

The two didn’t know each other, how could they? Y/N liked to call herself a no one, just one of the thousand faces walking down these hallways, the nerd, the one that people failing classes plead to to help with their homework. Florence, instead, was the queen bee of the school, also top of her classes, a cheerleader, the popular girl everyone envied and was jealous of, incredibly beautiful and everyone had a crush on her, boys and girls. She was smart, incredibly beautiful and the opposite of Y/N’s high school status, popular.

Y/N went to thank the blonde once again, clearing her throat to get rid her nerves and lifting her glasses up her nose that fell down a bit in her crash on the floor, but a loud, deep voice interrupted her, making her face fall in fear and cold sweat to form on her forehead. "Hey, looser. Why do you wear glasses if you can’t even watch where you’re going?! You almost hurt my girlfriend."

"I already apologized to her." Y/N lowered her head down and flinched when Tom crouched down at her eye level, his breath hitting her left cheek, and she closed her eyes in fear. "Please, I’m sorry. It was a mistake."

"Babe, it’s okay, leave her alone." Florence interjected, pulling on his arm to help the poor girl out, but he wasn’t budging.

"I’m just making sure she learned the lesson." In a second Y/N found herself being lifted up from her black sweater and slammed forcefully on the lockers on her right, her books and papers falling once again on the floor, while a little audience collected around them to watch the football player and Y/N, Florence staring at the two with shock and regret swimming around her green orbs, "did you learn your lesson, nerd?"

"Yes."

"Good. Oh and you won’t lay an eye on my girlfriend ever again, understood dyke?"

"Loud and clear."

"Good." He slammed Y/N once again on the lockers then suddenly let go of her, making the girl crash on the floor. "Let’s go babe." He put a possessive arm around Florence shoulder and started walking down the hallway with her, the blonde looking over her shoulder at the girl crouched down to collect her things once again with sadness and sorrow.

Yup. I can’t wait to get out of this hellhole.

To say things worked out really good was the understatement of the year. After graduating, Y/N moved to New York and worked her ass off to make herself a name in the music industry. After a lot of failures and nights spent in crappy old bars performing her songs, finally something huge happened. A famous producer listened her perform one night in one of the few fancy bar she got a gig for and was entranced by her voice, so much that he invited her in his studio to talk about a future in music the next day. After an audition for Capitol Records, she got a deal with the record company and in less than 10 months her EP went out, climbing the charts in a jiffy. Now she was an award-winning, worldwide famous pop star and she was so happy that she never gave up on her dream.

Tonight was a special night. She was currently walking down the red carpet of the Vanity Fair’s Grammys after party, posing for a few pictures and smiling so hard her cheeks began to hurt. She was over the moon, she won 3 Grammys for her new album, not even expecting to win given the people she was nominated with, but she did and she still had to process the whole thing.

She smiled at the paparazzi before walking into the venue where the party was being hosted, literally bouncing on her really high heels from too much happiness.

She was too much caught up in her gleeful state that she wasn’t completely careful with her movements and crashed into a solid body, closing her eyes ready to fall right on her ass, preparing herself for the embarrassment that was ready to come, but a pair of strong arms prevented her to humiliate herself in front of friends and stars from all over the industry.

She opened her eyes and almost fainted when her Y/E/C irises mixed with powerful green ones. "Well well well, it seems we have an habit of bumping into each other."

That strong English accent, that the girl, despite moving from England at the age of 12, never lost, if possibile it became stronger and sexier, that Y/N would recognize anywhere reverberated through her ears making butterflies to fly around in her stomach. "I-uhm- hi?"

"Wow how eloquent. I thought you were good with words, given your 3 Grammy winning album. Congrats by the way." Florence quipped and let go of the girl, Y/N scolding herself for shivering pathetically for a brief moment at the loss of the blonde’s touch.

Y/N was still frozen in her spot for seeing the girl after so many years. She was mesmerized by her beauty, her eyes popping out with the bold make up she was wearing and with the forest green dress she had on - a dress that was struggling to hold her breasts in, but Y/N tried not to focus on that -, her smile beautiful as ever that was literally lighting up the whole room.

Y/N mentally slapped herself and forced her stupid brain to get a fucking grip on itself. "I’m so sorry! I was too much in my head that I wasn’t looking where I was going!" Y/N repeated the same words she said all those years ago without noticing. It’s like her brain did that on purpose without the girl having a say to that.

Florence let out the cutest giggle Y/N ever heard and she was sure she right about melted in front of her. "Yeah, I noticed. Just like noticed all those years ago. Oh wait! That’s not my line…" Florence cleared her throat and stared deeply into Y/N’s eyes, the girl swallowing hard at the intense eye contact. "No I should be the one apologizing. I was in a hurry."

"You remember?" Y/N asked in disbelief at the blonde, her eyes slightly widened and her mouth fell open just a bit.

"Of course." Florence smiled earnestly. "Well it seems like fate really works in funny ways."

Y/N chuckled at the actress’ words, hearing a melodious laugh mixing with her own, "I agree."

"I think it’s trying to tell me something." Florence told Y/N with a serious expression and the girl looked at her curiously with a sweet smile on her lips.

"Really?"

"Yup, I never had the opportunity to apologize to you for what Tom did that day, or during all high school years."

"You shouldn’t be the one apologizing."

"I know, but I don’t think he will ever do that."

"He actually did." Y/N told Florence with a knowing smirk and the blond gaped at her in shock.

"You’re kidding."

"Nope. He apologized when I won my first Grammy. I told him that it was too easy apologizing for being an asshole only when the girl you used to bully became famous, but I accepted his apology. So we both moved on."

"Yes! That asshole needed a taste of his own medicine."

"You were the one dating him." Y/N joked and Florence grimaced with a groan.

"Ugh don’t remind me. I was stupid at the time and I was following a stupid trope."

"The cheerleader and the jock. How cliché." They both giggled at Y/N’s words.

"I was too much of a coward to change that trope into a cheerleader dating a girl at the time."

"What?" Y/N asked in disbelief, not believing what Florence just told her.

"I’m gay. But I came out to my family and friends not too long ago."

"I- I don’t know what to say. Congrats tho!" Y/N lifted her hand up to caress Florence’s arm in comfort.

"How about I offer you a drink and we catch up a bit?" The blonde asked expectantly, gazing into Y/N eyes with hope swimming in her green irises and held her breath in anticipation.

"I would love nothing more."

"Okay I need to confess you this!" Y/N giggled out, still trying to subside her laughs after an hilarious story Florence told her. “I- I used to have the biggest crush on you in high school!” Another fit of giggles fell out of Y/N’s mouth and Florence couldn’t help smile sweetly at the girl.

“You did?”

“How could I not? You were the popular chick everyone had a crush on. But me? I was a mess when you were around. That time we bumped into each other, I was too much gay panicking to fully comprehend what was happening around me.”

“Oh my god!” Florence leaned her head back to let a loud laugh to tumble out of her lips.

“It’s true!”

“Can you imagine if I wasn’t that much of a coward and dated you in high school?” Florence asked out of nowhere after their giggles subsided, staring down at Y/N with fondness in her green irises.

The question caught Y/N off guard and made her choke on the drink she was sipping from, her widened eyes meeting the actress’ ones, “what?”

“You weren’t the only one who had a big crush in high school.”

“Wait really?”

“Of course! Even if I was with that dick of my ex-boyfriend that treated you like shit, I had a crush on you. I was sitting right behind you in bio, math and literature. I was mesmerized by your intelligence and your beauty! You were always so nice, even if a lot of people treated you like shit. How could I not have a crush on you?”

“But I was a looser.”

“No my ex-boyfriend made you think that. He just tricked you into thinking that.” They stayed quiet after that, nursing their drinks and surveying the dance floor from their stools on the venue’s bar.

“So…” Y/N trailed off to clear her throat and waited for the girl to lay her eyes on her, “I don’t know if it’s the alcohol talking or I’m just being brave, but what do you say if I take you out on a date? I owe it to my younger self.” Y/N quipped at the end of her sentence. She always do that, using sarcasms as a coping mechanism. She was just putting her walls up in case Florence turned her down.

“Well-“ Florence stood up from her stool and Y/N got ready for rejection, “how about we leave this party and we start our first official date?” The blonde got impossibly closer to the Y/H/C girl, placing a strand of her hair that fell on the singer’s face behind her ear, smiling widely at her, while Y/N was trying to wrap her head round Florence’s question and to just calm the fuck down at her gesture, her breath stuck in her throat.

“Really?”

“Yeah… I also owe it to my younger self that is still beating herself up for not kissing you in that hallway after bumping into you all those years ago.” The blonde confessed and Y/N shivered at that, licking her now sudden dry lips and looking into that intoxicating pools of green, that were shifting from her lips to her eyes rapidly.

“You can do that now.” Y/N didn’t know where this boldness was coming from but she was liking it.

“Mh, let’s see where this date go and maybe our younger selves will get their yearned kiss.” Florence leaned down to plant a soft peck on the girl’s left cheek and grabbed her hand to help her stand up and dragged her out of the venue, their hands intertwined softly.

“Fate really works in a funny way.” Y/N mumbled on Florence lips later that night on the couch of her apartment, the blonde letting out a soft giggle and resumed their kissing.

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velvetcloxds · 3 years

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AND WHATEVER COMES AFTER THAT| K.M.

Pairing: Klaus x Fem!Reader

Word count: 1991 words

Warnings: none

Summary: Klaus has been trying to convince the reader to be with him for years, but has always failed. At the end of one of Elijah's peace parties, Y/n finally gives in.

“For the lady…” Rebecca says with a smile, holding out my glass of wine for me.

“Thank you,” I say, taking the glass in my hand before refocusing my gaze on the dancefloor where the last few people are still keeping up with the silly beat of the current 60’s song. “You’d think they would have given up by now.” I say, laughing softly as I point down to where Hailey and Elijah are dancing, attempting to keep a somewhat respectable distance between them. Rebecca smiles and moves to rest her glass on the banister of the balcony.

“You’d also think he’d have officially made a move by now, but my big brother does things in his own little way.” She tells me, smiling still as her eyes linger for a sweet second on Marcel Gerard who is making quite the show of the way he’s twirling around his date, her dress shifting higher up her thigh with every turn. Rebecca scoffs softly, taking another large sip of her drink.

“He’s not the only one.” I say with a raised brow, her glass making a soft clinking noise against her ring when she grips onto her glass tighter, eyes drawn tight to show me she’s not exactly pleased with my statement.

“I don’t know what you’re implying, Y/N, but I’d remind you to think very carefully about what you’re going to say next,” She says and turns to face me, leaning forward to make sure I could hear her. “You may very well be my dearest friend and my brother may very well be completely smitten with you, but I’m not above kicking your ass.” She tells me and though her words would prompt a serious tone, I catch the little smile that slips onto her lips when our eyes meet.

“I have yet to see you try, Rebecca,” I offer in reply, laughing lightly as she shakes her head. “Besides,” I start, taking a sip of wine before handing her my glass. “I’d have to remind you that you’d be ruining your own clothing in the process.” I tell her as I move to do a slow twirl and she gasps softly, taking in the Audrey Hepburn inspired ensemble, the black dress and gloves being something that Rebecca had kept from her time spent in the actual decade. Her shock sinks into a small grin as she looks me over, eyes lingering on the pearl necklace we brought at a secondhand boutique last week.

“You look perfectly in place,” She tells me and nods towards the hallway behind us. “Maybe you could convince my brother to step out of his hole long enough to save you a dance.” She says and squeezes my arm softly as she passes by me, losing the glasses on her way down the stairs where she calmly clears the last few guest from the dancefloor and out the door, waving quickly as she closes the door of the ballroom behind her.

I smile, the music seeming louder somehow now that I’m alone in here and I find myself almost drifting down the stairs. I hum to myself, dancing towards the drink table. Swaying to the rhythm as I start pilling empty platters and used plates together.

“You missed the party,” I say softly, not stopping what I’m doing as I hear him still on the balcony above. “It was quite the turnout.” I add, stepping back from the table to look up at him, his lips tilting into a lopsided grin when he sees me.

“My apologies, love,” He shrugs eyes darkening as they slowly make their way from my lips downwards, lingering for a second on the pearls around my neck before slipping lower and lower, until he clears his throat softly, meeting my gaze in an instant. “I clearly had no idea what I’d be missing out on.” He tells me, voice low as he pulls a hand through his hair.

“Maybe you should come down here and get a better look.” I offer, tone matching his as I step back even more, slowly making my way to the dancefloor where he meets me in mere seconds, hands carefully resting on my waist as I move slowly to sway to the gentle melody, eyes glued to his as he lets out a soft breath.

“You are…” He starts, moving a hand to carefully take hold of mine. “Ravishing,” He whispers, the sound sending an almost electric shiver down my spine as he lifts my hand to his mouth where he places a delicate kiss to my palm, not once breaking eye contact. “Tell me..” He begins, using his teeth to carefully pull the glove away, holding my bare hand tightly in his own as he leads me into a dance. “Why won’t you be mine, Y/n?” He asks, holding me against him as he dips me backwards slowly, carefully turning us together before pulling me up to be but inches from his face. “Why won’t you let me love you?” He asks, keeping hold of my waist as he turns me around in his arms where he nimbly lifts my hand in the air, removing the other glove as he attentively traces the length of my arm until I can feel his skin against mine, the glove dropping soundlessly to the floor as I tilt my head to the side to see him.

“We’re dangerous together,” I tell him, carelessly letting him guide my hands to where he needs them and numbly allowing him to spin me out and then in before once again coming face to face with him. “We’d hurt each other,” I say, moving with him as we move one step forward and one step back, twirling and then repeating. “You’d hurt me.” I say, momentarily leaning back against him halfway through the twirl.

“I would never,” He offers and pauses as well, risking the loss of the rhythm to touch my cheek and gain my attention. “I could never.” He adds and I turn around in his hold.

“That’s what they always say,” I say and move my hands to his shoulders where I lead him into the same steps as earlier. “They always promise me forever,” He holds my waist delicately. “They never mean it.” I tell him, his eyes darkening as he tries to read my emotions.

“I am not them, my love,” His eyebrows knit together as he looks me over. “I will gladly give you forever and always and whatever comes after that. I love you. I burn for you,” He announces simply and I let out a shaky breath. “Can you truly say that you don’t feel the same? Tell me you don’t feel anything at all for me?” He asks, voice raw as he waits for a reply and I shake my head, dropping my hands to the side when he suddenly released me from his hold, looking to the sky as he shakes his head as well.

“Klaus,” I begin, pulling at the pearls to release the necklace from my neck, it along with the very obvious tension in the room making me feel like I’m suffocating. “I do feel the same. I feel everything and more, but it doesn’t change the fact that I can’t do this. I can’t possibly give you the power to hurt me.” I drop the pearls to the floor as I fold my arms around me, the playlist coming to an abrupt stop when the slow song ends.

“I understand,” He says after a moment, looking around the room, eyes scattering through the mess of dirty glasses and plates and coats that were left behind. “We should probably allow the staff to clean this place,” He tells me and forces a slight smile when our eyes meet. “Give me a moment to retrieve your things from upstairs and I’ll walk you home.”

“You don’t have to do that.” I say, guilt filling my heart as I see the hurt in his eyes that he couldn’t possibly hide from me even if he had attempted to do so.

“I know,” He says, picking up the fallen gloves and carefully handing them to me. “I want to.” He says, giving me a soft wink before walking up the stairs.

I let out a shaky breath as I pick up the pearls as well, folding them into the gloves to keep them safe and before my mind could even process the thought, I’m walking up the stairs, following the sound of his heartbeat that leads me to the room he spent the night in hiding away from the guests.

I use my foot to carefully push open the slightly ajar door, Klaus’s silhouette visible at the end of the room where he pushes handfuls of paintbrushes into cups of water as an overturned painting rests against the dresser.

“I couldn’t leave them uncleaned,” He informs me, my own heartbeat probably giving me away. “I got distracted downstairs is all, completely slipped my mind.”

“It’s okay,” I say and he looks at me quickly to nod before going back to his brushes and I walk to the center of the room, pulling at the string to turn on the light and get a better view of everything. “You were painting?” I ask, now noticing not just the one canvas, but a whole collection of them, all scattered and resting against multiple pieces of furniture.

“I felt remarkably inspired.” He comments shyly and I smile.

“By what?” I ask, mindfully reaching to turn around the largest of the canvases, the one I saw first and I can’t prevent the audible gasp that leaves my lips when I see the beautiful medley of colors that he’s somehow managed to create my face with.

“You.” He answers absentmindedly, shrugging slightly as he waves my coat and purse in the air to show me that he’s found it amongst everything in here. I smile, bending down to take it all in, every brushstroke and color, every piece of himself that he used to create every stroke of me.

“This is beautiful, Klaus.” I laugh softly, holding the hand with the gloves to my heart as a sudden rush of emotions run though me.

“The painting is only as beautiful as the muse who inspired it,” He comments simply, looking at me sweetly. “I don’t think I could ever verbally explain how much you mean to me, how much I care, how much you’ve changed me purely my existing. I don’t think I could ever completely fathom how remarkable you are and how extremely lucky I am that by some strange twist of faith I’ve been lucky enough to know you,” He laughs softly as well, smiling sheepishly as he catches my gaze. “I want to live my life with you, and I’d wait however long it takes for you to feel the same.”

“Forever?” I ask, standing up and placing the gloves onto the dresser beside me. He nods.

“And always.” He adds and I smile, the dreadful and fearful feeling in my stomach slowly dissolving.

“What about just one more minute?” I ask and he tilts his head, smiling as I slowly make my way towards him, pausing only for a second before cupping his face in mine. “Thirty seconds,” I say and he holds onto my arms. “Ten seconds,” I whisper, his forehead against mine. I breathe out slowly, nodding when our eyes meet, silently asking for permission before his lips delicately meet mine. My entire body filling with butterflies as he pulls away and I smile. “Let’s get married…” I say and his chest vibrates lightly as a happy laugh fills the air, pulling back slightly just to see me.

“Are you sure?” He asks carefully and I nod, pulling him closer to me again.

“I am yours, Niklaus Mikealson. Forever and always.”

“And whatever comes after that.”

Hi there, more of my work can be found on Wattpad under @mjoubertt. Mxx.

Masterlist

#klaus mikaelson #klaus mikaleson imagine #klaus mikealson x reader #klaus x reader #the originals #the originals x reader

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sugarstickery · 3 years

Text

An Allegory Within the Dark

This is an unofficial fan translation of chapter 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen’s first light novel, Departing Summer and Returning Autumn by Gege Akutami and Ballad Kitaguni.

Summary: Mahito stumbles across an unusual human in his search for a place to call ‘home’.

Featured characters: Primarily Mahito, with brief appearances from Hanami and Jogo, along with an unnamed novel-only character

Timeline: An undefined time prior to the events of the Vs. Mahito arc

An Allegory Within the Dark

If you want to hide a tree, you go to the middle of a forest.

So if you’re looking to hide a person, you should go to the middle of a city.

Following that logic, it makes sense for curses worthy of being the true humans to set up their hideout in the city center.

Cursed spirits would actually have it much easier if they spent their time in places crammed with fear where humans and the like can’t live: deep in the mountains or in densely wooded areas, for example.

But for a group of curses plotting to overturn the current era, a base in the heart of the city is crucial for invasion and seeking refuge. That being the case, it’s also better to try aiming for a location with a high concentration of negativity.

Anyway, that’s how some employees from a scam business ended up massacred.

“This really is the simplest way to handle it. All of them nest together up here away from the public eye, so clean-up is a cinch.”

Jogo laughed while trampling the burning remains of a corpse underfoot.

Roughly two minutes ago, there were about six humans in the office.

The curses considered a few ways to handle dispatching them but ultimately decided that burning was the fastest, so Jogo quickly turned them to ash.

“But humans used this building, didn’t they? Won’t it be a problem if there’s property management or something?” Mahito asked, poking at an ostentatious vase displayed on a shelf.

Apparently the concern was unnecessary. Jogo tried to answer with a grin, but a nonsensical language cut into their conversation.

“⏁⊑⟒⟟⍀ ⎎⍜⋏⏁ ⟟⌇ ☊⎍⌇⏁⍜⋔”

“Oi, bastard—! Stop talking, Hanami! It makes my head itch!”

Though Hanami spoke in nothing but meaningless sounds, the intention behind it was somehow transmitted directly into the minds of others. This was usually unpleasant and it irritated Jogo.

When he noticed Mahito still looking his way, Jogo continued to explain despite his frustration.

“Hmph... What? There’s no need to worry. I asked Geto what his aim was, and it looks like these were the kind of underhanded humans who got involved in plenty of unethical things.”

“Hm. So basically, other humans won’t actually come close if they get that curse stuff happens here.”

“Exactly. Any respectable, straight-laced human would never come near this place under normal circumstances. It’s the perfect city-center hideout.”

“Is it really?”

“...What is it, Mahito? You don’t seem satisfied. What’s there to worry about? It would put us in a great position to start preparing our plans for the city, and it’s great for a quick escape if we need one.”

“Mm... No, you’re right, but...”

“But what? Spit it out.”

“It’s just... This room is really tacky.”

“Huh?”

With a pop, a small eruption burst forth from Jogo’s head. His narrowed eye looked like a painting of a gently sloping mountain.

“It’s tasteless, isn’t it? Stuff like that gaudy gold lion in the sparkly jar or this cheap-looking sideboard.”

“What are you even saying?! I have no idea what’s gotten into you lately, but you’ve been so annoying!”

“Movies.”

“Movies? Are those overly-embellished portrayals of humans really that interesting?”

“They’re references for my studies on the structure of a soul,” Mahito replied with an ambiguous smile.

If humans could see him, they might be reminded of a proud elementary schooler discussing the knowledge they gained from a book report.

“If I’m being honest, I don’t find the stories that interesting either, but I don’t hate the sense of visual aesthetics that humans have. That said, this room has too many useless colors and really hurts the eyes.”

“Such bratty, selfish complaints... We can just burn or toss anything that’s an eyesore.”

“No need, I’m going to look for a place to settle down on my own.”

“What? Ah, hey— Where are you going?”

Not waiting for Jogo’s response, Mahito waved over his shoulder and vanished like smoke or a gentle breeze, off to who-knows-where.

“Geez… Maybe it’s because he was born from human fear, but even knowing he’s a curse, he tends to be way too frivolous. Watching movies and all…”

While grumbling out his complaints, Jogo took a pipe from his shirt pocket to put in his mouth.

Unlike human cigarettes, this wooden pipe somehow imitated a screaming face when smoked.

“But that Mahito...”

Jogo spun around to survey the room with his one eye.

“...He says that, but it doesn’t seem tacky to me.”

“⊑⏃⋏⏃⋔⟟”

“I already said shut up!!”

You can only find a hideaway that suits you by looking for it on your own.

Mahito wandered through the city with this in mind. He alternated left and right turns on a whim any time he happened across a traffic light, walked alongside stray cats, or sometimes simply went in the direction of clouds that he liked the shape of.

While traveling along his chosen path like this, he keenly felt just how laughable humans were.

Though the city belongs to them, no one walking in and out of it was more free than Mahito.

Everyone seemed constrained. They were captured by ties of obligation and vanity, living in a wide, deep, big city with such narrow outlooks.

Unaffected by the enormous sky sprawling out endlessly overhead, they box themselves into their concrete city with their own hands and limited perception of souls, passing the time by whittling their lives down further and further.

Mahito even learned the words for some of these human concepts to study later.

For example, they call it “morals”. They call it “common sense”. They call it “emotion”.

But a human soul isn’t anything more than the resulting mechanical movement that comes from external stimuli.

And so they let go of freedom and live tightly controlled lives, fearing the judgmental stares of others, stooping to flattery for society’s approval.

“...What a waste.”

Everyone is bound by ostentatious shackles of their own making.

That’s why these curses know there has to be a change, as far as humans go. Those who cannot do anything but crawl in such an unsightly way under the magnificent sky must hand over the world.

Mahito thinks. He ponders over any topic his soul turns toward. He walks wherever the wind blows him.

Before long, the time had come for the sun to descend in the western sky. He could hear the burbling of a river.

“Not bad.”

The hideaway Mahito found was under a bridge, across the river.

It was a tunnel, vacant and huge like a temple.

Pipes ran along the inside, clear water flowing from them and into the river. It looked like wastewater was drained here after being purified, so there wasn’t much discomfort.

Apart from the humid air and the moss that emitted a peculiar grassy smell, it seemed wide enough to splash and jump around in, and the concrete’s cool texture provided a refreshing welcome.

There’s a season that curses are partial to.

Negative human emotions accumulate from the end of winter to spring, and it could be said that the rainy season served as the so-called peak of their ripening.

The inside of the damp tunnel held the same atmosphere. There was a gloominess there in the dim lighting that could easily nurture fear. It gently moistened Mahito’s skin; he felt cozy.

“Yeah, let’s stay here.”

When choosing a place to live, it’s best to trust your instincts.

Perhaps humans should do the same, but what they can’t readily do, Mahito can decide without hesitation. If he’s free when he wanders, then he’s free when he settles down, too.

Mahito stepped into the tunnel in good spirits, knocking solidly on the concrete floor.

The soul’s metabolism smooths out in comforting spaces. But…

“Huh?”

After walking a short distance, Mahito discovered “that”.

He initially thought it was some garbage or something that a human illegally dumped. But before long, it became clear that it was a sack-like silhouette leaning against a wall.

At first glance, it perhaps looked like a mere collection of rags.

But the shape of a soul was there.

—Ah, it’s alive.

Yes, just as Mahito had realized, it was a human.

The tattered clothing and wildly overgrown hair and beard hid his shape, but it was undoubtedly a human.

His exact age wasn’t clear from his outward appearance, but whether he was 60 or over 80, he looked elderly.

Mahito thought it was a bit of a pain.

There was already a visitor living in his precious hideaway.

Of course, taking care of this issue would be an easy matter for him. But he felt the same discomfort as a homeowner finding a stain on the wall of their new house.

‘Anyway, if I’m gonna deal with this, let’s get it done,’ Mahito thought, reaching out toward the old man with a little sigh.

Whereupon, unexpectedly, the old man spoke.

“...I’m sorry if you’re displeased.”

“Hm?”

“I don’t know what you came here to do, but... I’m sure your mood has soured after stumbling across the home of an old fool. But I have nowhere to go, either.”

Mahito was a little taken aback.

The old man was clearly aware of Mahito and turned toward him to speak. This wouldn’t be surprising at all if he was talking to a fellow human.

But Mahito is a curse.

The eyes of a mere human can’t clearly perceive cursed spirits.

It isn’t impossible, though. If humans are born with cursed energy, it isn’t unusual for them to be aware of the existence of curses.

What caught Mahito’s attention was this old man’s lack of ‘eyes’.

As in, he had no eyes in the physical sense. Instead, in the empty sockets that once held them, there was a burn scar that was painful just to look at.

Even sorcerers rely on their eyes to view the world.

They depend on their field of vision to spot cursed spirits. That’s why so many of them use sunglasses and the like to conceal their line of sight, as it helps them remain unaffected. It also helps them maintain a balanced mind when their daily life overflows with curses.

However, that was not the case for this old man.

“Can you see me?”

When Mahito asked, the old man answered with a gentle nod.

“At the very least, I can feel you.”

“But you can’t see the world?”

“Naturally. That includes the scenery, what you look like, what color your skin is, and even your gender. Even so... I know you’re there.”

“...Are you a sorcerer?”

“Most likely not.”

“You’re being pretty vague, even though you’re talking about yourself.”

“For a long time, that’s what I’ve been the most vague about.”

Mahito began to notice something strange.

He can feel the shape of a human’s soul.

He knows the movement of a soul’s metabolism, whether it takes on a harsh form, withers weakly, or flickers with liveliness.

However, this old man’s soul was hardly metabolizing.

It was like a meadow with no wind, or a still sea, or the blue sky on a cloudless day.

No, it would be most appropriate to compare it to a stone.

His soul was like a stone on the side of the road.

No fancy ornamentation, no polishing. Unmoving, unwavering.

Calmly passing the time while growing moss.

That was the shape this old man’s soul had.

No matter how calm or how old a person is, the human soul always flickers.

As the years stack up, common sense doesn’t disappear, selfishness isn’t eliminated, and fear isn’t conquered.

But this old man was different.

The old man’s soul was at peace. He had sincerely accepted that everything would decay with time, but that didn’t mean he would throw his life away. It was truly similar to the way in which nature existed.

It was Mahito’s first time meeting anyone like this.

For a while, the tunnel became something of a den for Mahito.

He had gotten a hammock from somewhere, which he hung up between the pipes. He lounged in it and read, passing the time in comfort.

In a movie about life on a deserted island, a human who was desperate to survive made a hammock. Through it, he was able to regain a little peace of mind.

Since it looked surprisingly comfortable, Mahito gave it a try and it worked out nicely.

The arguments and fights of the outside world didn’t reach the inside of the tunnel, where only the burble of the small stream could be heard.

It provided a good environment for soothing the soul.

While leisurely absorbing new knowledge from his books, Mahito would sometimes absentmindedly gaze up toward the ceiling, or glance down at the corner where the old man squatted, looking as he always did.

“How do you live like this? It’s pretty mysterious...”

In the end, Mahito didn’t kill the old man.

It’s important to note that the old man wasn’t much of a hindrance for him. If it would make no difference whether he was there or gone, then Mahito figured getting rid of him would be more of a hassle.

The old man was just there, even quieter and more carefree than a stray cat.

Mahito knew the phrase: ‘man is only a reed, but he is a thinking reed’.

He found it hilarious and also genuinely liked it. It simultaneously boasted about being trapped in thoughts of the soul, while also showing that humans were frail as weeds.

It could be said that the old man was an unthinking reed, then.

No – he was even quieter than that; more like grass or some type of moss. In any case, the old man said nothing and simply carried on living.

Every now and then, the old man would suddenly shuffle off elsewhere, but he would be back to sleep before Mahito knew it. He was surely getting food from somewhere, but he never seemed to gain weight. If he lost any while in the tunnel, he would eat just enough to gain it back when he left, and no more.

It was a style of living so close to nature that it seemed more like a phenomenon than a life.

“That’s why I seriously wonder if you can see me.”

The suspicion was uttered suddenly.

Mahito wasn’t exactly speaking to the old man. Rather, his tone was that of someone talking to themselves.

But when he noticed that the old man’s soul didn’t waver even after hearing him speak, Mahito finally addressed him directly.

“How long have you been here?”

“Let’s see… I think a few winters have passed, but I’m not sure,” the old man muttered, his reply quiet.

Since they were two beings with souls who were aware of each other’s existence, Mahito felt it would be more natural to chat every now and then.

“Don’t you get bored?”

When spoken to in a soft tone, the old man also responded softly.

“I’ve forgotten how to be bored.”

“How do you usually pass the time here?”

“I don’t do anything, really. I just listen to the sounds.”

“The sounds?”

“The sounds of the water flowing.”

“...Is it fun?”

“It’s not. But I forgot how to have fun a long time ago, too, so it’s not an issue.”

So it was like that. Mahito nodded.

If this old man could no longer even feel the pain of boredom, perhaps his soul was worn down.

Humans of the city gasp and struggle through the hurt of not having enough, yet always wish for more even when they get what they wanted. Their souls grew fat and tattered through the rich accumulation of these negative feelings.

So in that regard, from Mahito’s point of view, the old man had a thin soul – but it could be said that was clever of him.

A fat and full human soul leads to a fear of losing the gratifying present moment, which in turn gives birth to curses.

“It’s hard to get your attention. What’s your name?”

When Mahito asked, the old man looked into the air for just a second.

“I left that behind. You can call me whatever you like.”

“There are humans without names? Even curses have them.”

“If you don’t meet other people, you don’t need a name.”

“Isn’t it a problem if you don’t have one?”

“When is it a problem?”

“When it’s time to be buried.”

“I don’t need a gravestone with a name. I can just be stuffed into a common grave, or maybe I’ll rot undiscovered and return to the earth that way.”

“Can’t you take a joke?”

“…Was that a joke?”

The old man didn’t laugh. Neither did Mahito.

But Mahito had the feeling that this old man was childish, contrary to his appearance. His lack of attachments created an unsullied disposition that might make him younger than he looked.

His interest in the old man simmered and surged.

It was his first time seeing this type of human, his first time feeling a soul with this form. For Mahito, this was a rare specimen.

What kind of path must life take to make this kind of human? What would be the most intriguing shape to make with a soul like that? What uses could one plan for such a person?

And what kind of curse would be born from them?

With these questions fueling his curiosity, Mahito started to chat with the old man.

“Why are you here?”

“…Why?”

The old man looked up toward the ceiling through his unruly bangs.

His eye sockets were empty, but it seems like even without sight, humans tended to stare into nothing when they were thinking. One curiosity of Mahito’s was satisfied.

“You weren’t born and raised in this tunnel, right? As a human, you must have been in that noisy city.”

“Ah, that. I lived a fairly busy life a long time ago. I inherited the house, worked, made money and supported my family.”

“So you were a human in a pretty good position.”

“In human society, yes. Looking back on it now, it was all meaningless.”

“So... what, you basically started living in a hole like a mouse, then?”

“I did that because I lost everything that I needed up to then. I lost my social status, my money, and a place where I belonged.”

“You lost it all?”

“I was tricked. That’s when my eyes were burned, so I lost my sight then, too.”

Mahito incidentally recalled the company Jogo attacked.

“You got tricked, huh? You seem pretty good-natured about it.”

“That’s because I didn’t care much about being tricked.”

“You’re a weird old man. Is this some kind of hobby where you get your kicks when people deceive you or something?”

“I’m just saying, that’s the kind of person I was back then. The ones who tricked me were my old friend and my wife. My eyes were burned in that so-called “accident”¹; they claimed I wasn’t of sound mind and body after that, and under the guise of caring for me, they stole everything I worked for before I knew it.”

“That’s a pretty flashy way to trick someone, isn’t it? You’re talking like it’s someone else’s problem.”

“Those two loved each other, and I was loved by no one. Knowing that was more monumental to me than being tricked.”

It was hard for Mahito to interpret what the old man said.

Love. Is it really such an important word?

It’s said that curses born from love exist in the world. It seems there are tremendously powerful ones among them, too. But Mahito doesn’t understand how the mechanism by which people love each other is any different from a cat’s attachment to a blanket.

Still, Mahito knows for a fact that people are obsessed with it.

“Didn’t you curse them? The ones who tricked you.”

“Not really.”

“’Not really’, huh. You know, normally a human in that situation would get angry and hold grudges, and it would make the shape of their soul deteriorate.”

“It’s true, though. I don’t think I had the energy to even consider seeking revenge or hurting them.”

“...I get it.”

Mahito nodded, filling in the blanks.

Regardless of whether or not he can guess the trends in human emotion, Mahito has studied many movies, novels and poetry so far.

Then there were the humans he tinkered with. Mahito could put together the pieces he gleaned from those things and use them to break down the old man’s story.

“So basically, you were in despair. So much despair that it was like your soul was about to die. That’s how you broke through the creation of grudges and curses and ended up like this.”

The old man slowly shook his head.

“I may have been disappointed, but I don’t believe I felt the intense despair you’re thinking of.”

“Are ‘disappointment’ and ‘despair’ different?”

“They are; this is just my personal experience.”

The old man raised his face, following the memories.

“There was no burning resentment or turbulent sorrow. It’s just... I was tired, I guess. Between work, assets, reputation, my life situation and duties, dealing with others, caring about the family name... I think I was probably just tired and worn out because of it all.”

“And that’s why you didn’t get mad even after being tricked?”

“I was at peace. They say the soul gets lighter after going through disappointments.”

The old man’s voice was calm.

It had a cool quality to it, like muddy water that had been filtered clean.

“I couldn’t see, I had no money, I had no love... But as I was walking through the city with nothing to my name, it all suddenly became inconsequential. And then, as I looked around, I saw the city in a new light.”

“Even though you can’t see?”

“Yes. When you can’t see anything, it’s just sound and wind that goes on forever anywhere you are. I couldn’t even see the walls blocking the city in. It was just endless darkness spreading out forever, like a starless night. For the first time, I understood how wide the world was. And I thought to myself... ah, I’m free, aren’t I?”

Mahito blinked rapidly.

This old man’s thinking didn’t fit any other case he had gathered so far.

Even hearing about his past, he couldn’t understand the old man’s thoughts.

But even from Mahito’s point of view, the old man was certainly free.

Without so much as leaving the middle of this tunnel, he knew that the sky was vast.

Perhaps he knew it better than any member of high society walking around freely in the city. He knew the wide spread of the sky, the soft caress of the wind, the gentle sounds of the water.

This old man, who looked like a simple rakugoka², had no property or social standing. He even lost his connection to other humans... And maybe that’s precisely why he could uncover the elusive meaning of the word ‘freedom’.

He was just existing, just being alive, without attachments, grudges or curses.

“So basically ‘not all those who wander are lost’?”

“Yes, though quoting Tolkien’s works might be a little tedious.”

Mahito smiled when the man immediately caught the reference to a book he just happened to read.

“Were you a bookworm?”

“All I did was cram a lot of information in.”

“It’s good to be well-read.”

If curses are born from the fear that humans feel, could this old man even be considered human?

As Mahito is, he struggles with the expression of human emotions.

But he was calm.

For the first time since coming into contact with humans, he had a feeling of peace.

“I think if everyone in the world was like you, I wouldn’t have been born.”

Mahito looked back at his book.

The old man, staring into nothing as always, fell silent again.

Curses are born from humans, but they also kill humans. There is no way for the two to coexist.

But in this tunnel, a curse and a human were doing exactly that.

Though distorted, this peaceful period of time flowed by gently.

It’s only natural for humans to hate and fear other humans.

Since they can’t see souls, they can only make guesses about the feelings of others, and they’re swayed by their own emotions.

They don’t understand that these things are just a reflection of the soul’s metabolism. They don’t even know where their soul is.

Mahito investigated the matter.

This blind man lost his sight and his connection to others, so his soul received less stimulation.

And so, no longer influenced by unnecessary things in the physical world, he spent a lot of time facing his inner world and reflecting.

“It’s kind of like a monk’s training. Through strong introversion, a person looks at their soul more often.”

Mahito walked around the city, skimming through a beaten-up copy of the Heart Sutra.

It was a sutra handbook that focused on controlling the soul. It looked like humans of the past did their own research into freeing the soul from the material world.

The old man’s life ended up in a similar state without him setting out to do it on purpose.

That was likely how he learned to feel other souls through the darkness he lived in. Mahito concluded this was the reason he was aware of curses.

“I think he was already predisposed, but... seems like it’s easier for introverted humans to show promise.”

If he gave the old man’s situation even deeper consideration, he could probably make a lot of guesses about a sorcerer’s training. There’s even a way to encourage the first manifestation of cursed energy.

In that case, it should also be possible to take a talented person and ‘make’ them into a sorcerer or curse-user.

Unleashing a curse-user made by a curse onto a sorcerer...

That might be a fun experiment. It’s easier to shake up a human’s soul by having them fight other humans, rather than just exorcising curses. Sukuna’s vessel should be no exception.

Although...

—Maybe it’s fine to do that a little later?

Yes, Mahito thought it over at his leisure.

He is free. When it’s time to move, he moves. When it’s time to rest, he rests.

And he was not in the mood to launch that plan into action.

Rather, for the time being, he just wanted to gather knowledge and indulge in thought. He also got some new books and wanted to read fantasy novels while basking in the quiet comfort of the tunnel.

Mahito’s gait became lighter. While walking alongside the throng of people, he even began to hum.

Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from between two buildings.

“—so damn annoying, yeah?”

Looking over that way, he saw two young humans: a man with long, thin hair, and a muscular skinhead. They were undoubtedly people who looked like trouble.

The long-haired man listened as the skinhead rambled on with his complaints, seemingly in some kind of sullen mood.

“Damn, it’s seriously freezing. Anyway, every last one of ‘em just puts on shitty airs, but it’s all just talk. Nothin’ but excuses. Ah, I wanna kill ‘em all...”

“You say that, but come on. You talk big about wanting to beat these guys to death when you’re pissed, but could you actually kill someone?”

“Sure. Ain’t like killing’s hard.”

“Seriously?”

Mahito squinted and listened, the conversation going in one ear and out the other.

It’s not that he disliked the way they acted or how they spoke bluntly about their heart’s desires. But Mahito knew people like this were all talk.

“Yeah– seriously, anyone’s fine, I just wanna kill someone.”

Then maybe you should do it without saying anything.

Better yet, he thought about practicing some killing methods on them. But Mahito felt the light weight of the book in his hand as he reached out, and he stopped.

Rather than sparing any consideration for this, he just wanted to go back to the comfort of the tunnel and read.

“I’ll kill ‘em.”

The skinhead’s grumbling voice sounded like a spell.

But the words would find no power or heart to shelter in. Shut away between these buildings, the most a person can do is talk to themselves. It’s best for humans like this to stick to the narrow back alleys, foolishly thinking they’re enjoying a wide world.

Mahito averted his gaze and made his way back home.

“Why did Gregor become a bug?”

Mahito suddenly asked the old man, not taking his eyes off the novel.

It was a famous book by Franz Kafka.

A story in which a human unexpectedly turns into a poisonous insect.

“The most popular theory is that the bug is a metaphor.”

“Metaphor?”

“It means he was a person who was hated and oppressed within society, treated the same way a human would treat a bug. Kind of like an old man who was suddenly blinded and tricked one day.”

“Is that a joke?”

“Not exactly.”

It was detached and dispassionate, but an answer would come back any time Mahito said something. When conversing with the old man, it felt like talking to a dictionary. He had a lot of information.

He knew about things like the inner workings of the mind and human culture, and he was smart enough to explain it simply in discussions.

For Mahito, who analyzed human souls through books and movies, this old man’s knowledge and conversation helped in its own way.

When do humans get angry? Why do they grieve?

How do they trust and in what ways are they betrayed?

Mahito lived with a different sense of ethics when compared to humans, so there were many things he struggled to interpret. The old man explained them and helped him understand.

He had a strong interest in the experiences of the old man, who had once lived among humans but didn’t act like them.

“After becoming a bug, Gregor eventually hid away like he was told to, but he still ended up being spotted and it led to his death. Jii-san³, why do you think that is?”

“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.”

“That’s a quote from Virginia Woolf, right?”

When Mahito immediately and correctly guessed the source, the old man raised a brow slightly.

“You’re a pretty avid reader, too. Conversations with you are really stress-free.”

“Do you have to go back to living with other humans, then?”

“If you don’t have any attachment to the human world, there’s no need to run from it or stand against it⁴.”

“I see,” Mahito murmured to let the other know he was listening, eyes still on the book.

Even if he wasn’t looking at it, the old man’s perpetually calm soul was aglow in the dark like always.

Mahito read his book in the dim room lit by the brilliance of that soul instead of a candle.

Time quietly flowed through the darkness.

Outside of the tunnel, signs indicating the end of summer crept up.

The end came abruptly.

One day, when Mahito was heading back to the tunnel with an abandoned poetry anthology that he picked up on an aimless walk through the city, he felt a noisiness that shouldn’t have been there.

There were one, two, three swaying souls.

One had a very familiar shape, but it was terribly frail. It was like the dying flame of a candle weakened by the wind.

With the same unchanging gait as always, Mahito stepped into the tunnel.

As expected, the old man was there.

But the unusual thing was the crumpled, strange position that he was in.

He was also sandwiched between two younger men who were looking down at him.

“Oooi, isn’t this bad? Did this guy seriously die?”

A man with long, thin hair spoke in a tone that was not particularly anxious.

“Didn’t I say it? I said I could kill,” a muscular skinhead replied, his voice casual.

“But ain’t this just impulsive?”

“Yeah, well, the old man had some real cheek, looking down on us when he’s this weak. So why not just kick him?”

The skinhead likely played sports, given that his legs were as thick around as logs. Kicking an old man to death would be easier than crushing a can.

The two didn’t seem to have a single scrap of interest in the old man, his life or his soul.

There was no reason, no grudge, no clear murderous intent.

It seemed like they simply arrived at the tunnel somehow. They took the opportunity to do as much violence as they wanted. They beat him on a whim.

It could be said that this way of being is freedom for humans.

Mahito crouched down, peeking at the old man’s face.

The beaten visage of the man with burned eyes came into view. But even at a time like this, his expression was as calm as always.

“Are you going to die?”

Mahito searched for even a mumbled word or two in response.

“...Seems so...”

The old man answered in a hoarse voice. He likely barely had the power left to speak now. It appeared as though the two men didn’t hear him over their loud conversation.

He intently inspected the old man’s soul.

The peaceful soul was not flickering, nor did it hold anger or grief; it was simply coming to an unhurried end.

Mahito was impressed.

This old man had found the true meaning of freedom. He really was released from every tie of obligation in this world. Even on the verge of death, that didn’t change.

Being able to make sure of that with his own two eyes, Mahito felt considerably relieved. In the same way he would watch a flower wither and fall, he observed the old man’s death.

Nevertheless...

“Jii-san?”

He had a feeling.

It’s like seeing a plot twist you don’t want to see if you keep turning the pages of a book.

Or like knowing the contents of a present before you open it.

That kind of buzz spread through Mahito’s chest.

While he puzzled over the instinctive alarm bells screaming at him to stop watching, everything was heading toward its end.

“...I thought I would die alone.”

The old man’s soul dimly flickered.

A smile was on his swollen face.

“...To have someone... here to witness this old fool’s last moments...”

The flicker might have been insignificant, like a single drop breaking the water’s surface. Even so, for an instant near death, at the end of it all...

The old man’s soul ‘metabolized’.

“...Tha...nk... y...”

The old man died smiling.

“. . .”

Mahito’s eyes opened wide, and for a moment, he was frozen.

He thought the old man was different when compared to other humans. To Mahito, he seemed unfettered.

Mahito thought the unique philosophical views stemming from such an extraordinary state of mind had freed him from all the shackles of this world.

But despite all of that, the old man was still captured right in his last moments.

On the brink of death, he clung to someone else so he could avoid a lonely end.

The old man was only human.

For a human, it was likely satisfying enough. Perhaps it was even the proper way for one to die.

“. . .”

Mahito said nothing.

But what felt like a dry wind blew through his chest, leaving him cold.

He didn’t know the name humans gave that emotion. But his consciousness was like yarn tangling in on itself, wriggling around like a worm—

And suddenly, it all cut off at once.

The only thing left behind was the sensation of standing in a dry and barren wasteland.

“—So basically,” the skinhead’s voice echoed. “Police probably won’t do a proper investigation. Not for this old nobody.”

“Hey, hey, hey; that’s still a person,” the long haired man answered lightly.

“Yeah, well, that guy started it.”

“He shoulda looked at who he was talking to before he picked a fight.”

“Anyway, my pants are dirty from all that kicking... That’s a problem.”

“So fussy. That’s what you’re worried about when you just killed a guy? How funny.”

“That ain’t a person. Anyway, don’t you know I like being clean? Ahh, the blood won’t come off... Water doesn’t do any good, right?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t – but more importantly, if you’ve settled down, I’m hungry. Let’s stop by a convenience store.”

“I dunno. If you’re gonna look, buy a bento and let’s get outta here.”

Mahito quickly stood up in the same way one would when they finished looking for something in a store.

A sense of fatigue was deeply ingrained in his body.

Their incoherent voices persisted, reverberating through the tunnel, smeared with excuses and attempts to escape reality. He couldn’t hear the soft burble of the stream.

With deep-seated listlessness, Mahito approached the skinhead as one would move to pick up fallen trash.

Idle Transfiguration. The technique spreads quickly.

And thus, the moment he tapped the man’s back, its shape was no longer human.

“Ee—!!”

If he just killed them, it would create a nuisance in the form of a corpse, so he simply folded it up into something palm-sized and kept it alive.

Then, with a careless sweep⁵ of his hand, he folded up the other man as well.

“Begh—”

It fell silent.

Mahito gathered up the two, now no bigger than chess pieces, and turned his attention down toward the remaining corpse of the old man.

It was now just a bag of meat full of bones. Not even the soul remained, so he couldn’t use Idle Transfiguration to fiddle with it.

He was briefly troubled by its disposal, which served as the biggest inconvenience.

In the tunnel, there nothing but the sound of running water.

It was a day where the sky seemed farther away than usual.

Clouds peeked out from around the buildings and a good feeling was carried in on the wind.

Mahito aimlessly walked about the city.

“Maybe I’ll catch a movie. It’s been ages.”

He picked a tiny, somewhat old-looking theater and snuck in.

He’s had high motivation lately, and it seemed like some unnecessary things had peeled away from his soul, leaving him more carefree than ever.

Thanks to that, he had also begun to toy with humans more often.

If he can fold a person up and make them small, he wanted to test out inflating one instead, but he slept on the idea overnight. It was pretty fun, but he knew that he was getting too absorbed. He also felt that carrying on with too much persistence wasn’t a good thing.

A change of pace every now and then was fine, too.

He hadn’t closely checked to see what was being screened. It was mostly just plain and obscure movies, but if one went in with no expectations, they might come across a surprisingly interesting tale.

Curiously, he had that kind of a feeling.

While walking through the hall of the theater, he casually felt through his pocket, which had grown bulky with the ‘small humans’ that he had touched.

—Speaking of which, he thought that was a nuisance.

He carelessly tossed some of them away.

Opening the door, he stepped into the theater.

Perhaps because it was a weekday, there weren’t many customers. The silhouettes of what appeared to be students filled out a few seats here and there.

From where Mahito stood in the corner, he had a good view of the screen.

Soon, instead of a curtain raising, the theater was engulfed in darkness.

T/N: [1] In this sentence, the implication is that the “accident” was very much orchestrated by the old man’s friend and wife, who burned his eyes somehow and then merely made it look like an accident [2] The rakugoka is the storyteller in rakugo, a form of (often) comedic theater that relies solely on spoken word from the rakugoka, who only uses a fan and hand towel as props [3] A way of referring to old men in general, basically like “gramps/grandpa”; Mahito never calls him by an actual name [4] Essentially, the old man’s saying that he (or anyone) can exist parallel to human society without interacting if they have no attachments to it and can still find peace, contrary to the Woolf quote [5] Kanji reads sweep, furigana reads cleanse (the same word for exorcism that sorcerers use)

Thanks as well to Pixi for help with editing and tl checks! If an officially translated version of the novel becomes available in your country, please consider purchasing it, or consider buying a copy of the original novel in Japanese if possible!

#jujutsu kaisen #mahito #mahito jujutsu kaisen #mahito jjk #jogo jjk #hanami jjk #jujutsu kaisen light novel #translation #departing summer and returning autumn

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