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sparklekitteh · 3 years

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Prom Night

SFW, inspired by this imagine from @jeanslove

Jean Kirschtein x fem!Reader

Word count: 1998 -- LOL, ironically the year of my senior prom

Warnings: None, this is all SFW cotton candy fluff

“Y/N, will you come take one more picture before Jean arrives, dear?” Mrs. Kirschtein asked sweetly, her professional grade Nikon camera dangling from her neck. You adore Jean’s mother -- this woman who might as well be your own mom, as much time as you’ve spent at her house with your best friend Jean. She thinks the world of you and was delighted when Jean asked you to be his date to senior prom. She was over the moon when your parents invited her over to take pictures of the big moment when Jean whisked you away to the dance. In the two hours it has taken Jean to secure his rental tuxedo and your corsage, your mother and Mrs. Kirschtein -- Mama K as she likes you to call her -- have probably snapped hundreds of pictures of you from every angle. She was posing your hand on the waist of your red satin gown in front of the old upright piano where your father gave you and Jean lessons for years when you heard the cheery tones of your front door bell.

“Honey, he’s here!” your father calls to you from the door. “And he looks real sharp, like a fine young gentleman. Come on in, Jean,” he beckons to your date, and your father is not wrong. Jean is dressed to the nines in a black tux with a red vest and red bowtie matched to your dress, his shiny patent leather shoes gleaming in the light of your living room. Despite his attempt to sound suave in his text to you earlier, now his face is almost as scarlet as his outfit. He manages to find the words to say thanks and shake your dad’s hand nervously, who claps Jean’s shoulder with such a heavy hand that he has to take a step to the side to catch himself from stumbling.

“Oh Jeanboy, you’re here! Come in here by the piano so I can take pictures of you two dressed up,” his mother calls and you are surprised to learn that Jean’s face can turn an even deeper shade of red. “Look at my handsome boy!”

“Mother, please!” he groans as she drags him by his elbow and you follow trying to suppress a laugh at Jean’s protests at his mother publicly doting on him. She fusses over your dress for a few moments, straightening the hem while she instructs you to angle your shoulders just a little this way and tilt your chin up. She grabs Jean’s wrist and pulls him to stand behind you, then places his hands on your waist. “Sorry about this,” he mutters to you as she continues adjusting his stance.

“It’s ok,” you smile reassuringly, and it really is. You’ve had a crush on Jean for the longest time but didn’t want to do anything to endanger your friendship, especially since he’s your next door neighbor and it would be awkward as hell if it went sour. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t enjoy having his hands resting lightly on your waist as his mother flits about. She takes a few steps back and peeks through the camera lens to frame the shot and then steps over again to nudge Jean closer to you, closer, closer still, until he’s standing so near that you can smell the minty gum he’s chewing mixed with the cologne he bought for the occasion, a light botanical scent that reminds you of rain and freshly cut grass. His hands are trembling slightly, probably from the fact that he’s practically standing on top of you with your parents right there. His mother, finally satisfied with the shot, begins snapping pictures. Jean relaxes a little as your mom and dad crack jokes and tell stories about their own prom adventures, though the tremor in his featherlight touch near your hips betrays his nerves. After what seems like an eternity, his mother decides she has enough pictures and begins to shoo you and her son to the door.

“Mom, wait a second, will you? I have something for you, Y/N.” He strides to the table next to the front door where a plastic clamshell holds a delicate white rose fastened to an elastic band. He pops open the box and pulls the bud out, then slips the elastic around your wrist -- you note to yourself to thank him later for opting for this corsage and not one that would be pinned to the front of your dress; considering what a jittery mess he is he’d probably stab you with the pin.

“Thank you, Jean. It’s lovely,” you say as you bring the bloom to your nose. The scent blends perfectly with your vanilla rose lotion and you close your eyes as you inhale deeply. As you open your eyes, you see Jean is watching you with a dopy smile and it evaporates as soon as he realizes you saw it. He looks down at his feet, then runs his hand over his fresh undercut.

“You are lovely,” he whispers, then looks around the room with a sheepish grin. What a relief -- all of the adults are reminiscing about their high school days and are blessedly unaware of the two of you. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah,” you breathe, thankful that this stage of the night is coming to a close.

“It’s getting close to seven, it’s time to see you two off,” your mother smiles and walks you to the front door. “Have fun and remember, curfew is midnight.”

“Thanks, Mom,” you nod. Jean is whisking you out the door, eager to leave before his mother can stop him for another round of photographs. As you stumble over the threshold, you are shocked to find a black limousine parked in front of your house. The chauffeur, leaning against the passenger door and dressed in a black tuxedo himself, sees you approaching and moves to open the door for you. You stop in your tracks and gape at Jean. “Is this for us?”

“Yeah, silly… who else would it be for?” he laughs. “Cinderella went to the ball in a carriage, right? Every princess needs to arrive in style.” He pulls a pair of aviator sunglasses from his pocket and puts them on, then flashes you that crooked smile that makes your heart feel like it’s going to race out of your chest. He takes your hand and turns to wave to his mom who has followed you outside, the shutter of her camera snapping as she takes another hundred or so photos. Jean looks dashing in his tux and shades and you feel like you’re getting a glimpse of the man he’ll become -- handsome, confident, cool as hell. He helps you into the limo and as if the universe couldn’t miss an opportunity to humble him, Jean bonks his head on the doorframe and yelps a curse.

“Jean Kirschtein!” his mother scolds him, then rushes over to examine his injury. He holds her at arm’s length and rubs his head, the aviators sitting askew on his face now and for the second time you have to hold back a giggle -- you can tell he’s not physically hurt too badly but his pride certainly is. He mumbles an apology to his mom for the profanity and slides into the limo with you, taking the sunglasses off. You lean over and peer at his forehead.

“I think you’ll survive but you might have a bruise tomorrow.”

“Oh good. I knew everything was going too well,” he complains and you laugh out loud this time.

You’re still a little confused why he would go to such an expense -- it wasn’t like you were actually dating, and in fact the reason Jean is your date tonight is because you made a promise to each other that if the two of you didn’t have a date to senior prom that you’d go with each other. He probably feels sorry for me, you think to yourself. You wonder why he wasn’t able to secure someone else as his date, though. You know for a fact there are several girls and even a couple of guys in your graduating class that have turned their attention on Jean but he never seems to be aware of their interest. He turns to you as the limo pulls away from the curb and you’re grateful to finally be out of the glaring attention of your family and just relax with your friend.

“Jean, thanks for this,” you gesture around you at the limo’s interior. “This was unexpected but very sweet.”

He scoots a little closer and your breath catches in your throat as his knee bumps into yours, the black satin stripe on his tuxedo pants brushing against the red satin of your dress. “Of course, Y/N. I wanted to make tonight special for you,” he smiles shyly. “I hope you don’t think I went overboard or anything -- mom actually suggested this.”

“Oh,” you reply, a little let down that the thoughtfulness came from his mother and not himself.

“She said I owed you after chasing away everyone else who wanted to ask you to be their date tonight,” he chuckled, turning red again. You stare at him dumbfounded at what he just dropped so casually.

“What?” is all you can manage to squeak out and he shows that lopsided grin you’ve come to cherish.

“I know we said we’d be each other’s date if no one else asked… but I kind of cheated. Mina Carolina asked me but I turned her down, and I … uh… I might have warned every guy in our class that I’d kick their asses if they asked you to prom.” His grin faded into a sheepish look as he looked into your wide eyes and fumbled over his words. “I hope you’re not mad. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you that I like you. A lot. More than best friends. For a long time now.”

“Jean, I like you too. Way more than best friends,” you whisper and feeling an impulse of bravery, you thread your fingers with his and squeeze his hand.

“Would you … um… would you be my girlfriend, Y/N?”

“Oh my god, I thought you’d never ask. Yes!” you breathe and he tilts your chin up to look into your beaming face. The look of relief and adoration in his eyes melts your heart as he softly kisses you -- your first kiss, and his as well. He goes to lean his forehead to yours and then swears quietly, feeling the bump he received earlier. You giggle and gently kiss the sore knot on his forehead, and he laughs too. He’s warm and wonderful sitting so close to you and you feel like you’re dreaming, enchanted by this sweet clumsy boy.

The limo pulls up to the entrance of the school gym and Jean, more carefully this time, leads you out of the vehicle into the school. Sasha greets you at the door, both of you gushing about how pretty you look in your gowns and Connie fist bumps Jean when he sees you’re still holding his hand. Jean opens the door for you and ushers you into the dimly lit gymnasium, decorated with silver and blue balloons and streamers, fairy lights strung along the walls to resemble constellations, and leads you through a tinsel-curtained archway that reads A Night Among the Stars. There are certainly stars in his eyes as he leads you onto the dance floor and you fall into a comfortable swaying rhythm as you wrap your arms around his neck, his hands resting on your hips with just enough distance between you not to alarm any of the teachers and chaperones. What you thought was going to be an awkward night of goofing off with your friends has become the night you’ve dreamed of -- the night you finally get to hold Jean and call him yours.

#jean kirstein #jean kirschtein #jean kirstein x reader #jean kirschtein x reader #tooth rotting fluff

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aizawaorkuroo · 4 years

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on the house (chapter 2) - maple soy latte

Ship: Yagi Toshinori x reader

Rated: T+

Word Count: 2.4k

Summary: Toshinori finally introduces himself, and you fumble your way through a conversation. But maybe it's not one-sided?

Warnings: some language and mentions of sex

AN: still trying to vibe with this writing style, but i just wanna write this haha

OTH Masterlist

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Yes, you had fumbled your entire conversation with the man with piercing eyes and sunflower hair. Yes, you had embarrassingly ranted to Suga after. Yes, you had overwatered a tea plant or two the first night because you were thinking about how his hair bloomed behind him so nicely. And you may have gotten an order or two wrong, but it doesn’t matter, you’re fine now. You can now amicably chat with the UA faculty and students who pop in without nervously looking for him, and other customers are just customers. No sense of attachment. You’re back to normal now.

However, the way Aiko’s palm hits her forehead after looking at the tea leaves you’ve brought for her today tells you otherwise.

“Y/N, you promised you were gonna bring the spices I needed. I’ve already got tea leaves here”, she groans, her horns shifting into a bright red out of frustration. You grimace at the thought of the bulk bags that were sitting on your counter at home. You had set them out as a reminder to bring them in today. Why had you brought more leaves instead?

You shut your eyes and pinch the bridge of your nose. You had been thinking about that dumb, tall stranger and left the bags at home. You exhale and open your eyes, giving Aiko a pointed look.

“Alright, alright. It’s fine,” she chirps. “I’ll make do, boss. We shall experiment another day,” she mumbles in a far off tone. You offer her an apologetic grimace before making preparations to open the cafe. Now, you swear you’ll be fine.

____________________

The sky’s a warm, deep orange, rippled with pinks and yellows. You reach your arms above your head and stretch from behind the coffee bar, exhaustion beginning to creep up on you. But on the weekend you stay open late, and today was no exception. Your face screws up in what’s sure to be an unpleasant sight as you glance at the clock. The second Suga gives Hizashi Yamada his fried chicken sandwich, he’s out the door. And Aiko would be right behind him.

As the sun continues to dip down, the bell above your door rings and Aiko is practically buzzing.

“Hello, Sweet Bean!” A loud, clear voice rings out in the cafe. Hizashi Yamada, otherwise known as the Pro Hero Present Mic. He comes in every Friday before his radio show to get a caffeine boost and a hot sandwich made by Suga and only Suga. Why did he want a fried chicken sandwich of all things, you may never know. But Aiko, your excitable friend, had taken a shine to Yamada. They seemed to feed off of each other's energy.

You smile at Yamada as he bounds over to giggle at something with Aiko. When you turn your gaze forward, your mind goes blank. He’s back. The man who had been living in your thoughts the past two weeks was back. Your stomach is practically in your throat, but there’s a light at the end of this tunnel: redemption. The chance at a normal conversation, or maybe something even better. But for now, you turn to Yamada.

“Your usual sweet monstrosity, Yamada?” you ask playfully.

“You know it, baby girl,” he sings at you. “Y’know, I never go anywhere else but here. I swear nothing makes me feel as happy as the coffee you make.” You bark out a laugh as you flush. But this game isn’t over yet.

“Well, I’m sure I could do some other things that would make you happy too,” you purr and bat your eyelids. Aiko doubles over in laughter, and you hear Suga groan from the kitchen. Yamada gives you a nod of approval, and you grin.

You stick your tongue out at him before forcing yourself to look up at the other man. A pretty red color blooms all over his face, and he looks mildly uncomfortable at best. You take a sharp breath and steel yourself before leaning into your customer service voice.

“It’s nice to see you again. I never got your name,” you prompt, in what’s hopefully an innocent voice. His eyes widen slightly, and he sheepishly rubs the back of his head.

“Toshinori. Yagi Toshinori,” he rumbles. Toshinori. You tilt your head as his name bounces around in your head. Finally, a name to go with the face that’s been plaguing you.

“Oh, so you’ve been here before, Toshinori?” A mischievous smirk slips onto Yamada’s face. The blush on the man’s - on Toshinori’s - face deepens. His slouch dips even lower, and he shifts uncomfortably.

“Right, Aizawa brought me a few weeks ago.” Yamada’s eyes open in surprise as if he knows something no one else does. His lips pull into a smirk, and he turns to look you up and down in a new light. Your face burns and you shift your gaze towards the counter in front of you.

“Anyways,” Aiko chimes in to your relief, “Yamada, how are your students?” You let out a small breath as Yamada and Aiko begin to chatter away. A large, calloused hand enters your field of view, and you look up. Toshinori stands a little straighter, and there’s a gleam in his eye.

You stare at his hand dumbly before realizing what he meant. Wiping your palms on your apron, you accept his handshake before offering your name shyly. He grins lazily at you, and something warm bursts from your chest.

“Well, what do you recommend this time?” One of his eyebrows quirks up, as he waits for your response.

“Oh, well our weekend special is a maple soy latte!” Your voice feels too loud, too forced, and you wince. “But if you’re allergic to soy we’ve got plenty of other milk options. Or if you don’t like maple-” His small chuckle cuts you off, and you flush.

“I’ll try the special.” You nod and fidget with a stray coffee stirrer.

“And if you’re hungry,” you rush out, “Suga is a pretty decent cook, and our kitchen has a whole assortment of ingredients. I’m sure he’d be happy to make you anything.”

With perfect timing, Suga comes to the front to give Present Mic his neatly wrapped sandwich. He’s smiling, but he turns to face you, and Aiko snorts at how pained he looks. Ah right, they’re both about to leave. When you turn back to Toshinori, he’s got a knowing look on his face, and he lightly shakes his head.

“Thanks for the offer. I think I’ll be happy with just the drink.” You nod, and you swear Suga’s about to cry from relief.

“Alright, I’m gonna head out. Are you good here?” His offer is just a courtesy, and you roll your eyes.

“Get out of here, kiddo. And Aiko, you’re good too. I’ll clean and close up.” Suga’s face scrunches up unpleasantly at the nickname, but he’s gone almost immediately. Aiko nods, but tilts her up and taps her chin.

“I’m gonna go check on the tea blends, and then I’ll head out,” she says carefully. You nod, as she skips back to the kitchen. When you hand Yamada his double-shot caramel, mocha chip frappuccino, he practically swoons.

“Y/N, you absolute goddess. Truly, I have never had a sweeter drink from a sweeter lady,” he croons. You roll your eyes, but can’t help the warmth that rises to your cheeks.

“You have the palette of a child,” you deadpan, and Aiko lets out a resounding laugh from the kitchen.

“But you make it so well.”

“Only for you baby.” You wink at him before dropping the act. “Now pay up!” Once he’s got his receipt in his hand, you turn to quickly make Toshinori his drink. And it’s only when you set down the in-house mug in front of him that you realize your error.

“Oh wait, did you want this to-go? I can absolutely make you one to-go. I just have only been making these in-house today, and I just blanked. Sorry about that!” you apologize. He shakes his head at your offer.

“That’s fine, don't worry about it. I can drink it here. How much?” He looks at you intensely, and you flush, your stomach twisting into knots.

“Oh! It’s on the house.”

He reddens and looks away, and you can’t help but feel like this was maybe a mistake again. You can practically feel Aiko’s stare from the kitchen. Before you spiral and curl up into a ball, a loud yell snaps you back to reality.

“Hey! How come I never get anything on the house?” Yamada slurps at his drink as he waits for an answer. You turn to look at him and put your hands on your hips.

“First of all, you never bring in your rewards card. Second of all, we play your goddamn radio show every Friday night until we close. Because you asked me to. That’s gotta be worth something.” You raise a brow at him, and he tilts his head as he ponders your words.

“Alright, that’s fair enough for now, but this discussion isn’t over! I’ll see you next week Sweet Bean! And I’ll see you later, Toshinori!” he calls over his shoulder as he runs out the door. Aiko steps back into the storefront, and she’s looking at you funny, but she grants you the small mercy of not bringing anything up.

“Y/N, I’ve gotta head out too.” She says in a calm, far off tone, making your eyebrows crease, but you nod. She looks back at you as she goes to clock out, and you almost miss the small wink she gives you.

The door slams behind her, and you turn back to face Toshinori. Your eyes trace the lines of his face, and your stomach flips when he cocks his head to the side and stares right back at you.

“Enjoy your drink!” you blurt out. “I’ll be in the kitchen starting to clean up if you need anything.” He nods before taking his drink to a free table. There are only a few other regulars in the cafe, so you figure you’d be safe to do the dishes and put some things away.

About thirty minutes later, you step back into the front, expecting everyone to be gone. To your surprise, Toshinori is still there. His cup’s empty, and he’s reading over a few papers that he had with him.

You watch him from behind the counter. He’s deeply focused on whatever he’s reading, and the way his face twists makes you smile. He’s sharp, all angles and hard lines. You barely know this man, but fuck, you were infatuated. You bite the inside of your cheek as you make a spur of the moment decision.

“Mind if I join you?” Toshinori’s head snaps up to see you standing in front of him, and his eyes widen, but he gestures to the seat across from him.

“Not at all.”

You smile graciously and pull the chair out. His eyes try to refocus on his paper, but they continuously flutter up to your face, as if checking to make sure you're still there. You lean forward and rest your head in your palm.

“What are you doing?” you murmur. The tips of his ears heat up, and you know then and there, that you’re going to eat him alive.

“Just some paperwork. Nothing too interesting.” You hum at his words. He sounds honest enough, but something in his eye tells you to not believe him.

“Do you work with Aizawa and Yamada?” He nods and one of his hands moves to scratch the back of his head.

“Yes, though I feel they’re more suited to teaching.” His voice is distant, and worry pulls his face tight. You tap your fingers against your face, as you think of what to say.

“I know I don’t know you all too well,” you murmur, “but don’t be so hard on yourself.” You purse your lips in thought. You had never seen him before. Was he even a Pro? Wasn’t that a requirement to teach at UA? Or maybe it wasn’t? Is that why he’s worried?

“The way I see it, as long as you’re doing your best, watching out for your students, and looking for ways to improve, you shouldn’t stress too much. As long as you choose to do the next right thing, one step at a time, I think you can get through anything. Even teaching the next generation of heroes,” you conclude.

Your eyes drift back down to Toshinori, and you flush at how intently he’s looking at you. He’s mirrored your position, resting his face in one palm, while his other hand is on the table, dangerously close to yours. “But, like, what do I know? I’m not a hero, and I don’t teach,” you backtrack in a panic.

His gaze is too, well, too something. It stirs up a swirl of emotions and thoughts in you, and butterflies fly free in your stomach. You tilt your head down, looking at the proximity between your hands. You swallow past the lump in your throat; you're particularly struck by how large and rough his hands are. His fingers are thick and long, and your blood heats up. He’s lean and gangly, all sharp angles and intense looks, but your thoughts drift to darker places against your will.

You do everything in your power to not squeeze your thighs together. When you look up at him, your eyes are half-lidded, and you can’t help but lick your lips. You don’t miss the way his eyes jump down to watch the action. The cafe is way too warm now; you feel like you're on fire.

“Good evening listeners!” You flinch as a loud, familiar voice blares through the sound system of the cafe. Looking down at your arms, you realize you’re faintly glowing. You slam the metaphorical brakes on your quirk, and the cafe feels bearable again.

“I’m Present Mic, and this is Put Your Hands Up On The Radio!” You roll your eyes before pinching the bridge of your nose.

“Well, Toshinori. I don’t think you’ll be able to get work done here in peace.” He hums in agreement, nose scrunching as Yamada chatters away. “And it’s been a long day, so I may just close early tonight,” you softly say, mostly to yourself. Toshinori nods anyways, and he slowly moves to pack his things up.

You shakily rise and smooth down your apron. You quickly turn around and get to work bussing the tables from previous customers. The entire time, you feel a white-hot gaze on your back, making your hands fumble. After dumping the dishes in the sink and promising to do them tomorrow, you move back to the front to put away the chairs. Toshinori’s still there, but he rises when he sees you working.

“Would you like any help?” You look over at him, eyeing him up and down before nodding.

“Sure, but don’t feel pressured to help. I can get it done.” He chuckles lightly, and your stomach flips.

“I don’t doubt that.”

With his help, you finish quickly. He watches you silently as you run around turning things off and locking doors. Once you have your things, you meet him at the front of the store. He holds the door open for you, and you thank him shyly, trying to not think of the things you want to do to him. As you fumble with the lock, he looks around the street.

“Do you want me to walk you home?” Putting your keys in your pocket, you smile softly before shaking your head.

“Oh, no it's okay. I’ll be fine. I live just a few blocks that way.” You jerk your head behind you in emphasis. He nods but continues to just look at you. Warmth seeps into the pit of your stomach, and the tension is tangible. He runs a hand through his hair, and you admire the way the yellow strands pop right back up again.

“Well, have a good night,” he rumbles. Part of you wants to drag him home with you, and your gaze snaps back to his hands. Arousal pools in the pit of your stomach, but you force your eyes to move up and look him in his eyes.

“You too.” Your voice is soft, and you feel an overwhelming sense of fondness and want growing rapidly in your chest. You turn to start walking, but before you take a step, you pause and turn around.

“Toshinori?” He cocks his head to the side, waiting for you to continue. “You know, you don’t have to come with Aizawa or Yamada? You’re welcome whenever.” The blush that had been adorning his face all night returns, and he nods at your words. You give him a small wave, before turning to walk to your apartment, doing your best to ignore the throbbing in between your legs.

____________________

When Toshinori makes it home, he exhales. That was … different. But it wasn’t bad. He kicks off his shoes and rubs his face. He could maybe do this. Maybe. Aizawa and Yamada, and plenty of his students at that, liked you well enough. When Yamada had mentioned he was going, he had practically jumped at the opportunity. Aizawa shot Yamada a look, one that Toshinori pretended to not see.

So what? You intrigue him, and he finds you attractive. His face heats up at the thought, and he exhales shakily.

But a thousand questions plagued his mind. Would you be okay seeing a Pro Hero? Fuck, is he going to have to tell you he’s All Might? How would you even react? Would you get disappointed? Is there a chance you’re already seeing someone? He pales at the thought. Were you even interested? There’s a chance he’s misreading all the signals.

But he saw how you looked at his hands, the way your eyes trail over his face, he felt the tension that wouldn’t dissipate no matter how much he wanted it to. But it’s hard to believe anyone, let alone you would be interested in him while he looks like this.

He sinks down into his mattress and runs a hand through his hair. It’s impossible to know the answers to anything. And worrying about them isn’t going to accomplish anything. So he lets them slip from his mind. Turning his thoughts to other things. But as sleep overtakes him, there’s only one thing he’s sure of.

He should’ve walked you home.

#yagi toshinori #yagi toshinori x reader #yagi toshinori x you #toshinori yagi x you #toshinori yagi x reader #toshinori x reader #toshinori x you #on the house #my writing #bnha x reader #bnha fanfiction #bnha x you #toshinori content #💫.yagi

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dokidokivisual · 3 years

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Gochiusa BLOOM episode 6 impressions

Previously: 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1

Oh no, we are already halfway through the season! Time sure flies fast, doesn’t it? Anyway, let’s see what the episode 6 had to offer.

The episode opens with the titular “fluffle of rabbits” (which supposedly is an actual term for a group of rabbits in parts of Northern Canada, but honestly that just sounds completely made-up. I mean rabbits don’t even live in Nothern Canada, or are they? but I digress) surrounding Sharo.

Sharo’s costume and her holding a flyer is a direct callback to a scene from season 1 episode 7 “Call me Sister” where Sharo has encountered Wildgeese while distributing fliers for Fleur du Lapin. It’s not really explained in the episode, but this time Sharo is on the job to pass out fliers as well, but is tolerating the rabbits for the sake of Chino.

The fact that rabbits (other than Tippy, Anko and Wildgeese) kind of avoid Chino is also a previously established trait, namely in season 1 episode 6, but it’s not mentioned very often. However it’s interesting to rewatch that part of season 1 episode (06:00 - 06:30 and 08:20 - 09:00), because it establishes a metaphor which is crucial for understanding the current one.

Basically the rabbits rejecting Chino symbolize her lack of sociability (called komyusho コミュ障 or “communication disorder” in Japanese). While Chino thinks that the fact that the rabbits don’t run away has to do with Sharo being present, it’s actually explained by her personal growth over the last year or so.

In fact the theme for the entire episode can be summarized as “growth”. It’s fitting that rabbits are also a symbol of growth... in numbers at least.

After the OP, the story suddenly switches to Chimame’s middle school as they decide on a natural look for their graduation photo album. It’s another reminder of the passage of time, and the fact that Chimame-tai are about to become high schoolers in a few months. But it’s still October, and at least the manga takes its sweet time to get there.

By the way this pose is similar to Chimame “victory pose” from season 1 episode 5.

Megu decides that her hair type resembles Sharo’s and decides to ask her for advice. It might be hard to notice with their usual hairstyles, but if you look at Clockwork Rabbit Sharo you can see the resemblance. Coincidentally Sharo is getting a haircut right outside her home, so Megu hides behind a fire hydrant. In the manga she hides behind the corner of a building which I guess didn’t make sense given the geometry of the location. Then again, how large is this fire hydrant that Megu can easily hide behind it?

Sharo and Chiya eventually do spot her, and start fighting over who gets to do Megu’s hair. It turns out that they both cut each other’s hair, even though they’re not particularly satisfied with the result. The point of contention seems to be them cutting the bangs in a straight line, which is called pattsun ぱっつん in Japanese. Koi has previously mentioned this concept in volume 3 chapter 2 titled “Pattun Horizon”, which was adapted as part of season 1 episode 10. In that chapter Cocoa has a sleepover with Chiya and Sharo, and gets a matching pattsun to commemorate the occasion.

By the way there is an entire character song about Sharo having her hair cut by Chiya and it’s called 空色サロン (”Sky-colored salon”). It’s a really good song from the recent Blend of Letters album so check it out.

In the end, Megu gets her hair styled by Chiya’s grandma, using the same “thing” (probably a brush) she grooms Anko with. This also includes perming her curls straight. Unfortunately we don’t get to see how it went, and the scene switches to Maya right after. By the way, this manga chapter is called “Megu loses her tornado” (メグ、トルネードを失う).

Meanwhile Maya goes to a hair accessory shop to cover up her ahoge (”idiot hair”). Rize also happens to be there (implying that she might also be preparing for a graduation album photo) and tries to help Maya. She seems to carry some sort of hair conditioner with herself, although Maya’s ahoge is too strong for it. In the end they decide to buy matching hairpins.

Even though Rize holds a yellow hairpin and Maya a purple one, the back of the packaging is identical for both and indicates yellow color (黄). This is probably a mistake. The barcode number 8/08 140 2/14 160 indicates Maya and Rize’s birthday and height respectively (similar to Aoyama’s bounty in episode 3). I wasn’t able to read the QR code but maybe it encodes something as well.

Later when Rize scolds Maya she flicks a finger at her forehead (called dekopin でこピン in Japanese) while calling her DekoMaya (でこマヤ). Rize is basically implying that Maya has a big forehead, however it only got exposed because of the hair decoration she put on.

Finally it’s Chino’s turn. Apparently Chino usually cuts her hair herself. However this time she notices Tippy looking unusually fluffy and it turns out it was Cocoa who trimmed his fur (which is normally also done by Chino). Since angora rabbits were bred for their wool, it grows very fast, so unlike most other rabbit breeds it’s necessary to regularly trim it.

Chino becomes resolved to let Cocoa cut her hair, which makes her quite surprised and happy. Like Sharo and Chiya before, Chino is willing to put her trust in Cocoa, which shows how much their relationship has progressed. Cocoa tries to imitate a hair salon beautician, in particular the phrase “kayui tokoro wa gozaimasen ka?” (”does it itch somewhere?”) seems to be a staple phrase among Japanese hair stylists. This might be how Mocha used to cut her hair back home. Chino comments that Cocoa’s hair has grown longer, however it doesn’t look much longer than in previous episodes when in manga it was obviously longer:

The theme of growing hair corresponding to growth of a person is explored here. Mocha has very long hair, and Cocoa is thinking of growing her hair just as long to overcome her sense of inferiority. However regardless of hair length, we still see Cocoa being as immature as ever. For example she offers to hit her with a pico-pico hammer (pikohan) in case she makes a mistake. This toy is commonly featured in Japanese variety shows, and even in videogames, in fact it was invented in Japan by Masudaya toy company in 1968.

As I mentioned in episode 4 review, in the manga Cocoa only finds out that Chino has decided to go to her school at the end of this chapter. In this scene Cocoa doesn’t know it yet, and Chino when asked about it says she thought about joining Megu and Maya in Sharo’s school. This causes Cocoa to inadvertently cut Chino’s hair wrong. In the anime the dialogue is changed completely, but the end result is still the same. Chino learns that it’s inappropriate to joke around in certain situations, and Cocoa learns that longer hair doesn’t necessarily make you a good oneechan.

In the end Cocoa and Chino cut each other’s hair and Takahiro reassures them they did a good job after all. In the manga this hairstyle was labeled as つるてーん (tsuruten) which I think comes from the expression つんつるてん　tsuntsuruten which is used for clothing which is too short, for example pants being so short that lower legs are exposed. Perhaps it’s implied that they cut their bangs too short and too much of forehead is exposed.

In the end we get to see Chimame-tai’s final form. Megu’s change is the most radical as she did get a straight perm after all.

Now onto part B. It’s based on the same chapter as the opening scene with rabbits and Chino, namely volume 6 chapter 4. In the manga this scene follows directly after, which explains why Sharo is still wearing Fleur uniform there.

The original bread festival happened in season 1 episode 7 and was also advertised via distribution of leaflets. Here’s the original poster for comparison:

Compared to the original poster, Rabbit House is now spelled correctly, and “Welcome come on” is now written in English. Also Tippy is now singing a weird jingle (papan-pan-pan-pan-matsuri) which brings to mind Cocoa’s bread-themed Rabbit House theme song from Sing For You as well as Cocoa’s character song パンパカパンのパンのパーティー which features “welcome come on” and I guess was inspired by Cocoa’s bread festivals.

Soon, Aoyama and Rin turn up, still chasing each other since the previous episode. However the previous episode omitted an important detail about Rin from the manga chapter, which is that she doesn’t really like coffee. In the anime it’s revealed later, but it explains why nobody seems to care about Chino’s “special blend”. In response Chino turns into delinquent mode, with Wildgeese on her head instead of Tippy.

The way Chino speaks changes too. Normally Chino always speaks in polite register, using desu and -masu verb forms at the end of the sentence. This is one of the defining characteristics of Chino since she’s the only character in the series to do this even in informal situations.

In this scene Chino switches to plain register, ending her sentence with da ze, which is a plain copula da followed by ending particle ze indicating forcefulness. This sentence ending is well known from the catchphrase yare yare da ze of Jotaro Kujo from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.

When Wildgeese is replaced with Anko, Chino goes into a stupor. In the end it turns out Chino was playing along, and it was another of her “pranks”. Rize comments that Chino became just like Cocoa, perhaps recalling Cocoa’s breakdown in season 2 episode 10.

The bread festival is about to begin, and Chino still seems to be upset, even though Cocoa praises her (too late). Cocoa herself also seems to be unsure of her bread’s quality (especially compared to her sister).

For some reason, Sharo is in the mood for some coffee and orders Chino’s special blend. This causes everyone else to order it too. Maybe Sharo felt bad for Chino in the earlier scene and took one for the team?

Anyway, Chino’s coffee is very pretty and features a flower made from whipped cream (for which there’s an official tutorial how to make it). I guess this ties into the theme of BLOOM, however in the manga it was also a flower and it was probably written before the season 3 title was decided.

Sharo tastes Chino’s coffee and ends up in “paradise��. You might notice, with the field of flowers and flower wreaths it also fits into the BLOOM theme.

Seeing this reaction, Rin also decides to order coffee. Rize responds with “but you said you don’t like coffee”, but she never says this in anime. Unless it was supposed to be an off-screen conversation? Anyway, Rin also enjoys Chino’s coffee, and the “warmth” she put into it. Chino, who originally had a rather cold personality takes this praise to heart.

It turns out that there were many customers other than the regular characters (which doesn’t happen often in Rabbit House). Lots of children too, who seem to particularly like Chino as has been previously established. Chino shows them how to make latte art, promising to make a “fluffy rabbit” which might be a reference to the rabbit she draws in the ED of this episode.

Cocoa also has a self-reflection moment when she decides she doesn’t have to be like her sister because Chino looks up to Cocoa anyway. Cocoa explains that can’t distinguish Chino’s blends of coffee because they’re all similarly delicious to her. Considering she misidentifies one of Chino’s blends as instant coffee in the first episode there are reasons to doubt this confession. It works on Chino though who can hardly contain her happiness.

Despite all the praise heaped on her, Chino is still not sure if she’s changed. However as she comes out to take down the signboard, a lone rabbit approaches Chino and doesn’t run away.

Under the warm sunset colors, Chino gives a “warm” welcome to the rabbit, referencing the episode’s title (though it was just one rabbit, not a “fluffle” of them) and giving a conclusion to this arc. As I explained in the beginning, the rabbit is a symbol of Chino becoming more approachable over the past few episodes. She is also now seen as a grownup by those who are smaller than her, such as children and, well, rabbits.

So that was a “growth” episode of Gochiusa BLOOM, and the next episode (which is Halloween-themed) promises to be quite important as well.

Oh, and poor Rize’s pasta... Nobody seem to have ordered or even mentioned it. I’m sure it was delicious as well. Can we get a Rize appreciation episode please?

#gochiusa #gochuumon wa usagi desu ka?#is the order a rabbit?#review

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ciphers-error · 4 years

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Intro to: Error (stylized as Intro to: ERRØR) is the first studio album released on November 25, 2014. With a total of ten tracks, this album contains a variety of sounds blended into one album to showcase the group’s talent as well as to delve into what may suit each member best.

Tracklist

01. FERMATA 02. 태풍 (The Eye) 03. Stealer 04. Ribbon in the Sky 05. Bad 06. KILLER 07. Boxer 08. Pretty U (예쁘다) 09. I GUESS I NEED U 10. Ghost

Music Videos

태풍 (The Eye) was released on November 25, 2014 at noon, marking it as the group’s official debut. The album was released the following day, and the dance practice was released on the twenty-ninth.

⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ watch the eye here !

Bad made its release on December 12, 2014, a full music video much like The Eye, as a continuance of the cinematic storyline brought along by previous releases. Despite having choreography of its own, Bad was only performed once during the group’s promotional period, as companion to The Eye’s goodbye stage.

⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ watch bad here!

Pretty U (예쁘다) was released after the promotional period made its conclusion, on December 30th, with three following dance practices serving as gifts to the fans of the blooming group all labeled ‘love ver’, ‘letter ver’, and ‘dear cipher ver’.

⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ watch pretty u here!

Concept ⤻ Virus

While Pretty U has a vibe that matches along with Vision, the title track and Bad are nestled within the Virus concept. In both songs, the lyrics suggest chasing after a bad girl, and in the other, finding the courage to leave a poor relationship despite having lovelorn feelings.

Code ⤻ Story

[ The Eye ] ‘ We are met again with Kiha, the previous last man standing in the Error music video. His body is whole, so it assumed the ending of the prior music video was instead a deconstruction on something unseen by the human eye. While standing alone, Kiha appears to be in reflection of a night previous, where he’d been unwillingly dragged across a dirt path, kicking and screaming until being left abandoned amongst nothing but rubble and a packaged box, his clothes grimy and bloody from an unseen ordeal. He pulls a paper bag over his head and returns to the ground, falling unconscious.

In the next few scenes, we see an abandoned structure, in great detail—filled with furniture, though ragged, a sign of life. The package is brought into focus, and the members are found together at a table as the lyrics bring up forgetting about someone, letting go of their memory. The lyrics suggest that thinking of the memories with this unseen loved one brings them great agony, with Ezra seeking to cover Jin’s eyes in one shot, and Jaebeom fighting with Leishen in another, showing that with one duo, they want to hide from these painful memories and run from them, and Jaebeom seeks to fight against them. Realizing that he is instead hurting his fellows by fighting it, Jaebeom backs away, fear chilling at him, as he is pulled into a closet labeled as such by another member, Ace, who has already succumbed to this fear. From there, they watch Kiha stagger from where he had been attacked, as if he was the source of this terror.

The following scenes show each member in small groups going separate directions, always wanting to stay together, but going their separate ways regardless. We’re brought back to Kiha alone, the loss of his members a terrible shock to him, leaving him isolated in the large structure, looking back on the events that unfolded and only being able to shed tears when thinking of their departure. As much as he would like to, he can not to stand on his own and move forward by himself. He’s alone, and he feels trapped.

We find the other members elsewhere, together, yet still in the same building. Jin is at the forefront, holding a device that appears akin to a light. The members are all huddled together, as if they cannot meet up with Kiha. The light switches on, and from outside the stone building, in the midst of a storm, we see the floor from where the golden glow was unleashed. At the very same time, we return to the Kiha who lay unconscious. As soon as the light-switch is sounded, awakens, face to face with a street-light overhead. He pulls the paper bag off his head, as if he’s dumbfounded by the ‘dream’ he’d awoken from. Near his body, the final shot is a wallet, assuming to belong to him, with a picture jutting out with nine boys present in the picture.

[ Bad ] ‘ From the start of the MV, we see Jin sprinting from an unseen individual. In some shots, they appear to be gaining on him, but with each step, we only see colored fog, and no person behind him, hinting that the one chasing him cannot be seen by the naked eye, or possibly, that they are shrouded in the fog and darkness of the scenery around him. We’re then cut to a shot of a blonde woman, standing alone in a colored room, a clue that this may be who Jin runs from.

Each of the other members appear to be alone in a room including a mirror. One of which room we see is mostly made up of tiles, including a sink and the mirror is shattered but we still eye their reflection. The room is dirty, and the members have a hand wrapped up as if each one of them had tried to punch through the mirror and shatter it completely. The first difference in each mirrored room is with Jem, sitting in a purple-colored room on a chair, surrounded sparsely by plants and mirrors in different sizes, sitting in front of a mirror where he is staring at his own reflection. The next different scene we find Sol sitting in a bedroom under swinging lights, again, in front of a mirror. He looks to his right into his reflection, and the member looking back at him is Leishen.

Throughout, we see Jin running away in darkness, and the woman making chase by way of going through the mirrors, making the allusion that these reflectors are actually portals, or doorways, to different areas. There is a pink hallway full of them however, covered up by paper, thus she cannot seem to gain access. Ezra and Ace appear in two matching rooms, with the looking glass all over the walls, ceiling and floors, to which they sit, trapped, and hiding from the woman who tries to enter.

Jin finally stops running, and the person chasing him catches up with him. He turns to face them, but he is not met with the blonde woman seen before, but instead, a vision of himself. Turns out, what had been behind him the entire time, was a mirror, and looking back at him was his own face. He takes slow strides from the object to which he had run from, finally braving the courage to face this truth, and closed the gap between himself and the mirror. The Jin looking back at him smiles, we see a glitch, and it’s suddenly Kiha looking back at him, and stepping away, out of focus. The other members inch closer to their own mirrors, as if to check their reflection for its’ audacity, and disappear from where they had been sitting or standing, being pulled inside, and through the mirror to an unknown place. The video ends with Jin, staring into an empty doorway, reflecting everything around him but himself.

[ Pretty U ] ‘ Welcome to Vision! A dark, very sizeable brick building is met with light as Leishen and Eli pull open the doors allowing sunlight to stream through the brick building, and immediately upon the light reaching the ground, a packed vehicle spills inside, driven by Jin. Immediately, Jem and Ezra are found inside a building similar to that of a school with spray paint and posters. While Jin, Leishen and Eli unpack the car and prep the dark building, Ace, Kiha, Jaebeom and Sol are found at a restaurant, eating lunch. This shows each member in a lighter setting than previous MVs, so it stands to reason, they are in a similar world to that of Adore U, untouched by the pain and misery of the Virus.

A food fight is brought on by Jem between his group and Ace’s, and the members engage in a very messy battle, unbothered by the other residents of the restaurant—and of course, why would they be, when this is a world where anything goes, and any broken rules from joy and well-good fun are not to be looked upon with disgrace. Noting the mess they started, Ezra and Jem make a run for it, and their members coated with table condiments give chase. Chaos ensues throughout the city, with Ezra and Kiha spray-painting an abandoned structure, and the others of the two groups going to a bowling alley and playing in the absence of all over-head lights.

The following morning, the members continue their train of chaos by vandalizing public properties with their own made stickers, even taking a mostly empty bus around town while the other half of the group decorates the brick building in preparation for a great party. Another day well-wasted, the boys can be seen running and jumping in joy and glee under a night of celebration with fireworks lighting up the sky. Finally, the party starts with Jaebeom and Sol running through the sliding wooden door of the brick building with their car, and the members hold their party all in good fun, blissfully ignorant of their Virus side and what terror may come with the truth of it.

Promotions

Starting on the evening of November 27th, stages can be seen throughout three weeks of the following month, complete with three presences on stage, once each week. Unfortunately, through three weeks and three stages, Error has not recieved their first win with The Eye.

Stage Outfits

11.27, M Countdown

12.7, SBS Inkigayo

12.13, Show! Music Core

Trivia

𝄞 For this era, each member stayed with their natural hair-color and style, though Sol was the first to mention in a VLive after their official debut that he wouldn’t mind dyeing his hair next time around, curious about what color would fit him the best.

𝄞 Pretty U was originally filmed in the late summer, shortly after the release of Adore U, but its release was initially delayed until December because Jin and Sol agreed it would make a precious gift to fans during the cold holiday season.

𝄞 Ribbon in the Sky saw the birth of song-writer Jaebeom. Working closely with Sol, Kiha and the company’s staff, Jaebeom wanted to bring forth a song calling out corruption in day to day life with the relation of the social system and media.

𝄞 Boxer was originally talked about to be the group’s title track, but after much discussion, The Eye ended up being chosen.

𝄞 There weren’t very many solo lives during this era, however, members Kiha and Sol often had duo lives, talking about working on the music videos and the interpretations of the lyrics and storyline. Starting out as awkward as one would expect, the two grew very confident in front of the camera that separated them from fans very quickly over time, showcasing bright and giddy personalities on screen as the direct result of finally debuting.

𝄞 Unexpectedly, Jin was the member with the most solo lives through the group’s promotional period, and after the goodbye stage. Often joined for a short time by Jaebeom and Leishen, the oldest member of Error spent a lot of time talking with fans about working towards their debut and everything in between.

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teababe27 · 3 years

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Notes From the 2020 Myanimelist.net Challenges - Part 2: Manga

Time for Part 2 of the Thoughts on the Challenge posts; this one talking about the manga side.

A lot of the executive dysfunction and side effects of the chemo kinda took away my desire to read sometimes. As such, I didn’t get as far into the challenge as I had hoped, only getting about halfway through the required amount I had chosen for myself. There were even a few manga I was reading for the challenge that I have unfortunately not yet finished (Billy Bat, Battle Angel Alita, Meteor Methuselah), so I reluctantly won’t be including them on here. However, I did still read and finish some decent manga and some pretty good ones, too.

Like the anime post, I will mention some honorable mentions/one I had thoughts on, followed by my favorites that I read for the challenge this year.

Let’s do this.

Honorable Mentions/Other Notables:

Scumbag Loser (aka Saiteihen no Otoko) - completed for the task “Read a manga series you can finish in one day”

Masahiko is a fat, perverted loser who has a smell fetish and thinks everyone is beneath him. He takes solace in the fact that he’s not the Class Loser. However, when the Class Loser gets a girlfriend, Masahiko becomes the new Class Loser. Desperate to get out of this position, he lies and says he has a girlfriend: his childhood friend Haruka, who transfers to his class the next day. But there’s a problem that only Masahiko knows: Haruka died several years before.

This wins Worst of the Challenge, but I didn’t hate it entirely. Masahiko is not a good person, which is usually a negative in my book. This manga basically goes from 0 to 100 real fast. It takes a couple unexpected turns and I couldn’t help but wonder how the problem would be stopped. Ends on a bit of a downer.

Dragon Head - completed for the task “Read a manga that started serialization in the 90s”

While on a school field trip, the train carrying the students crashes after a natural disaster. Teru is the only survivor in his class. While trying to find a way out, he finds two other survivors, Ako and Nobuo. The three survivors try to escape while dealing with lack of food and light, earthquakes, cults, and the freaking apocalypse happening outside.

This manga was quite the ride. Creepy and scary at times. The artwork was really good, definitely adding to the atmosphere. I liked the characters. The story did kinda drag a bit in the middle and I felt the ending was kinda rushed and stopped inconclusively, but I liked this one.

Omukae Desu - completed for the task “Read a manga that started publishing the same month and year as one of your listed favorites” (Azumanga Daioh, in this case)

Madoka is a college student who has the power to see lost souls, kinda like the Ghost Whisperer. He is recruited by Nabeshima (the guy in the bunny suit on the manga cover) to work for the GSG, an organization that helps transport wandering souls to the afterlife. In order to help, Madoka often lets the souls briefly take over his body to do various things that they always wanted to do before passing on.

This manga was actually pretty adorable at times. Lighthearted and fun. Characters are kinda hit-and-miss, though their interactions are very amusing. I liked it.

Deathtopia - completed for the task “Read a manga that got cancelled/axed”

Kou Fujimura is an average guy. One day, he gets into an accident and is severely injured, leaving him blind and on the brink of death. He gets surgery and survives, but he now has psychic abilities and can see weird monsters. A mysterious woman appears, and she recruits him to help her and her fellow hot assassins who work for the police department. He helps the ladies take out the aforementioned weird monsters called Cheaters, people who come back from the dead with special abilities and blend in with normal people.

I liked the story/concept a lot. Kinda gave me Parasyte vibes at times. A little bit too fanservice-y at times. Very good in the beginning, but took a lot of lapses in logic (pointed out in the scanlations I read) near the end, and the ending felt rushed, though I can blame that on the manga being prematurely cancelled. I still recommend this one, as the story is interesting and the action is good.

The!! Beach Stars - completed for the task “Read a manga with a symbol in the title”

The sequel to the manga Beach Stars that I read for last year’s challenge.

Iruka and the rest of the team are back, getting ready for and competing in the Madonna Cup. Iruka’s goal is still the same: to beat the local volleyball champ Sanae Kayakawa.

Everything I liked about the prequel is here. The action/sports scenes are great, and the camaraderie between the ladies is cool, too. Though it is disappointing that this sequel is only 12 or 13 chapters, as some things could have used more buildup and fleshing out, especially the final match. Still a fun read, though.

Favorites from the Challenge:

Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan (aka Our Happy Time) - completed for the task “Read a featured manga” (Article: https://myanimelist.net/featured/1561/11_Epic_Manga_That_Deserve_to_Be_Adapted_into_Anime)

Juri is a former pianist who has gone down a dark path after a traumatic event in her life. She has grown to hate her mother, who was once a famous pianist herself. Juri has since attempted suicide multiple times. Yuu is a convict on death row charged with murder, and he has tried to kill himself as well. When Juri’s aunt Monica, a nun, invites her to visit Yuu, their lives both change forever.

This manga makes me think of how a friend told me they recently saw the movie Collateral Beauty for the first time. They said it was melodramatic, but they cried and enjoyed the movie all the same. This pretty much sums up how I felt about this manga.

This one honestly made me tear up a bit, as melodramatic as it was. A little dark, but I was still invested in the characters and the situations. The art is really good, too. It’s one volume, so it doesn’t take that long to read.

Kingyosou - completed for the task “Read a manga that includes a character with a disability”

One day, a girl, Asuka, falls in love with a boy, Manami, after hearing him play the taiko drums at a school festival. Manami is deaf, however, and has closed his heart to love. Asuka and Manami get to know each other and face various obstacles in their relationship, both relating and not relating to Manami’s deafness.

I thought this manga was really sweet. I also liked that there was deaf representation here, though I can’t really speak on how accurate it is because I’m not deaf myself. You don’t see many manga where the characters have disabilities. The relationship felt a little more realistic in this one because it took some time (as proportional as time can take in a 2-volume manga) for Manami and Asuka to get into the relationship. Another manga that was short, sweet, and to the point, at only 2 volumes.

Babel - completed for the task “Read a manga that appears when putting in your username in the Myanimelist search bar”

Kouta is a hotel waiter dissatisfied with his job serving rich clientele on New Year’s Eve at the Babel Hotel. On New Year’s Day, a worldwide terrorist attack occurs, with bombs going off everywhere. Kouta then meets someone who gives him the ability to go back in time. Kouta has to use this ability to stop the terrorist attack from happening and pretty much causing WW3.

I liked this manga a lot. A lot of unexpected plot twists. A fascinating mystery, keeps you hooked. I’ve always found time travel plots to be interesting as well.

Bloom Into You (aka Yagate Kimi ni Naru) - completed for the task “Read a Shounen Ai or Shoujo Ai manga” (tagged Shoujo Ai)

Yuu is a new high school freshman who loves romance manga and wants to experience a love story of her own. But when a classmate confesses his feelings to her, Yuu finds she feels nothing. Yuu sees the student council president, Nanami, turning down a love confession herself. Yuu joins the student council and she and Nanami become friends. Nanami soon confesses her feelings for Yuu, and Yuu is confused.

This one is tied with the next entry in this post for Best of the Challenge.

I loved this manga. So sweet and adorable. Made me tear up at times. Great, well-written character development. Doesn’t rely on bad/problematic tropes like certain other yuri I’ve read and watched recently. I loved watching this complex and realistic relationship between Yuu and Nanami develop. Some of Yuu’s feelings are pretty relatable. Read this one if you’re looking for a great yuri manga.

Inside Mari (aka Boku wa Mari no Naka) - completed for the task “Read a Psychological or Thriller manga” (tagged Psychological)

Isao Komori is a shut-in who spends his time after dropping out of college fapping, playing video games, and visiting a local convenience store every night to see a high school girl named Mari, who he admires from afar. One day, Isao finds that he is in Mari’s body! Isao-as-Mari continues to live her life and tries to find out how to switch back.

I know I mentioned this earlier, but I’ll be giving Best of the Challenge to both Bloom Into You and Inside Mari. I honestly couldn’t decide between the two, as they are from two different subgenres and two different styles. Kinda like how I couldn’t decide between Hereditary and Into the Spiderverse as my favorite movie of 2018 because they were so different form each other that I couldn’t really compare them.

This manga threw me for a loop multiple times. A subversion and deconstruction of the usual body-swap plots. A darker take on one, if you will. A couple of interesting plot twists, and the manga often takes a different direction than you expect, especially about halfway through the manga, where it switches to different characters’ points of view.

Highly recommended, though not for everyone.

#manga #myanimelist #myanimelist.net #scumbag loser #saiteihen no otoko #dragon head #omukae desu #deathtopia #the!! beach stars #the beach stars #Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan #kingyosou #babel #bloom into you #yagate kimi ni naru #inside mari #boku wa mari no naka #thoughts of the day

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crystallinecrimsonmoth · 4 years

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Chapter 31

Read on Ao3 and donate to my Ko-fi if you can :3

Michonne and Carl wandered through the gardens at Hilltop in silence for what felt like forever, nothing but the sound of buzzing insects and the conversations of a few adults invading the air. The surrounding flowers were in bloom now, much like the ones back at the Sanctuary, and the entire garden smelled of that sharp, sweet scent that was always present at the start of Spring.

Carl ran his fingers along a few of the fresh flower petals, thinking about everything he wanted to rant about and feeling like the only thing he really needed was a good scream. His adoptive mother walked beside him in the silence, one hand on his shoulder as they passed by multiple Hilltop citizens, all of whom Carl glared at with the signature blend of Negan’s darkness and Rick’s psychotic genes burning in his eye. He didn’t like this settlement anymore, he couldn’t trust anybody there other than Michonne, and in a tough spot, he knew even she would turn against him to protect the place she and Rick called home.

He was the enemy in this community, with only his men a hundred feet away that could protect him. Suddenly, as they approached more Hilltop residents and they all glared back at him, Carl really wished Negan was there to hold his hand.

But he tried to focus on Michonne, turning to her when she squeezed his shoulder and owning up to what had been eating him alive since Negan started teaching the Sanctuary kids about gardening and coming to bed with far too many stories about the little people being cute.

‘I don’t know that I want to raise a kid, and I think Negan does.’ He admitted under his breath, watching Michonne’s reaction with confusion when all she did was nod and squeeze around his shoulders as they walked, rubbing up and down his arm to comfort him.

‘You don’t want to raise a kid because of what happened to Judith, right?’

Carl took a moment before he managed to nod, leaning his head on her shoulder when she offered it to him. A million thoughts ran through his head, all about whether he could handle raising a kid, whether Negan would love the kid more than he loved him, and if everything they had built as King and Queen of the Sanctuary would fall if they became parents and over-stressed about every little thing. He didn’t want to become complacent because of a child, and he didn’t want to lose the leadership style they had just because Negan was too afraid to spill blood in front of their baby.

He liked their life the way it was now, not the way it would be with a child involved.

‘I just don’t want our lives to change for a baby. We’re safe the way we are now, we’re happy, and what if he loves it more than me? What if he sacrifices my life before the baby’s? I don’t know what to do with that idea, Michonne. If we have a kid, he’ll just drop me in the dust and take care of it all on his own if I’m not supportive.’ He sighed, sitting down on the bench she gestured to and leaning back against it.

‘Negan is not going to drop you for a child, Carl. He loves you, he married you, he named you his Queen. I’ve seen the way he looks at you when you’re both here, there’s no way that man will leave you in the dirt for a child.’ Michonne reassured him, stroking the hair away from his eye as they sat and talked it out.

Carl’s eyebrows furrowed at her reply, his mind still irrationally thinking about how much less attention he would get from Negan if they had a baby. The man was so smitten with Judith when he first met her that Carl barely got any attention. Granted, he didn’t want any at that time in their relationship, but still, he was abandoned for a cute baby. Find Negan his own baby and god knows how little of his attention he would receive. He might lose sex completely if they became parents.

‘I just don’t want our lives to change.’ He murmured in response to the woman beside him, picking at his nail beds like he had become accustomed to doing when he was nervous about shit.

The King had noticed the nervous tick a few weeks previously, pointing it out and smacking Carl’s wrists whenever he did it. At least he wasn’t getting smacked at Hilltop.

‘Ow!’

Scratch that, he was getting smacked at Hilltop.

‘You’re hurting yourself, stop it!’ Michonne scolded, making him huff like the teenager he was and cross his arms, looking off into the distance at the rest of the community who milled about around them, doing whatever their duties were while a few of them helped Heather and Oliver put things in the truck.

Carl was grateful for the help, regretting bringing Heather already after she had informed him of her pregnancy with Rory. She shouldn't have come, he knew that and she knew it too, but she had insisted that she wasn’t pregnant enough to be unable to work yet so he should let her work until she couldn’t. The teen couldn’t argue with that.

Her pregnancy had only made him feel worse about the baby situation, reminding him of what happened to his mother all those years ago in the prison. He didn’t want to lose Heather like that; he didn’t want a nutrient-sucking demon making her bleed to death and killing his friend. He knew that Doc had more than satisfactory medical supplies to help her in a situation like that, but it didn’t make him any less anxious.

When Negan had found out about Heather and Rory, it was even worse. He looked so happy but so sad at the same time. He’d whispered to Carl in the dark later that night and asked him if he wanted to try to find an orphan to raise, and it was all Carl could do to stay still and act like he was sleeping. He hadn’t wanted to face that conversation, he never wanted to face that conversation. The idea of his little sister being ripped apart gave him enough nightmares without having to worry about his own child too, so he pretended that he hadn’t heard the question the next morning, acting as if he really had been asleep when Negan asked it, and the man never brought it up again.

That was a week ago, and now he still didn’t know what to do.

‘You don’t have to want kids, Carl, they’re not a necessary part of life, especially not in our world, but if you find a child to take in or someone at the Sanctuary dies in childbirth, it won’t be a burden on your life. You know you’re safe there. Hell, you have that gigantic ass wall up around it now. You have the capacity for so much compassion, and so does Negan. It doesn’t just have to be spent on each other.’ Michonne explained, stroking his cheek and gesturing to the eyeliner on his face.

‘I like this, it suits you.’

Carl smiled, a slight red haze appearing on his cheeks at the casual compliment.

‘Negan suggested it. He thinks it makes my eye brighter, makes up for the gape in my face, apparently.’ He rolled his eye at the comment of his husband, rubbing his cheek in an attempt at getting the blush to go away.

Michonne laughed at his attempts to hide his embarrassment, batting away his hand and squishing his cheek between her fingers to embarrass him even more.

‘I think it looks very pretty, such a cute little boy.’

‘Shut up!’ The teen whined, turning his head away from her as they both laughed.

His heart and mind felt so at ease when he talked to Michonne, totally contrasting with the short, sharp conversations he had with his dad once in a blue moon. She was like a best friend and a mother all wrapped up in one, much like every friend he had in his life, but with a knowledge of his life before the Sanctuary to help him understand his reactions to certain things. It was refreshing to talk to her when he came to Hilltop, and despite the evil shadow he cast on the rest of the community, he acted like a complete angel around the older woman.

‘My Queen, we’ve finished loading the truck.’ The sarcastic tone of Heather’s voice and her red leather boot tapping on the gravel of the path distracted Carl from his thoughts and he looked up to see her smirking, arms crossed over her chest.

Carl just mimicked her in a quiet voice before standing up, getting enveloped in one last hug by Michonne once he was upright. She squeezed him tight like he would disintegrate in her arms if she let go, the way she always hugged him when he came to visit, and the teen squeezed her back just as tightly.

��I’ll be back in two weeks, don’t die while I’m gone.’

‘The same goes for you, kid. Remember to talk to Negan about your feelings, I doubt he’ll be angry if you say you don’t want to have kids. He’ll still have his teaching job, after all.’ Michonne reassured, kissing his cheek when she let go - a gesture which Carl returned before following Heather to the truck.

He was back in his Negan mindset by the time they were walking past Rick and Michonne’s house, and he sent a wave to his dad who was standing in the front doorway.

‘Bye, Ricky. Be good to your wife or I’ll kill you.’

The older Grimes said nothing, simply staring back at Carl and giving him the slightest wave as Michonne stood beside him again, wrapping her arm around his middle and whispering something to him to make his shoulders sag. His son watched with amusement as the woman placated him before he climbed up into the truck with Oliver in the driver’s seat this time.

He drank from his water bottle that sat in the cup holder on the dash as Oliver started backing out of the Hilltop gate, waving to Rick with a smirk as they disappeared from sight.

Tags (if you’d like to be added or removed from this list, please let me know): @carl-sweet-serial-killer @carlnegan

#cegan #carl x negan #cegan ao3 #ao3 fanfic #ao3 update

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lallemcnt · 5 years

Text

go ahead and watch my heart burn (part five/final)

can be read on ao3

"It's impossible." said pride. "It's risky." said experience. "It's pointless." said reason. "Give it a try." whispered the heart.

What am I doing?

Lucas brushes down the front of his blue long-sleeved shirt with agitated hands. He doesn’t know what to wear, is he overdressed or underdressed? When he asked what he should wear all Eliott said was semi-casual, but Lucas didn’t have a clue what that meant. Could he still wear his trainers and jeans if he wore this shirt? It was ridiculous, really, how worked up he was getting but he doesn't want to embarrass Eliott. He wants to be the perfect supportive boyfriend this evening. Boyfriend. Just that simple word makes the butterflies in his stomach fluctuate.

Smoothing back his hair he wishes he owned gel or something to style it. He checks himself out once more in the mirror: blue shirt with the first two buttons undone — not as daring as Eliott, black slim-fitting jeans and black adidas he’s owned for years, but has become adept at keeping in good condition. This will have to do, he thinks. He snaps a photo and sends it to Yann for approval before slipping on his blue bomber, wrapping his scarf around his neck and entering the chilly October evening of Paris.

The lamps are lit, leaves dust the streets in piles of oranges and browns, signs that Autumn is in full bloom. Bicycles zoom past him, adults sit outside cafes, bundled up in thick jumpers and boots, and he’s breathing in that cool air and basking in the dusk of eight p.m. There is something about Autumn that sings of fresh starts, layering up against the brisk wind and bitter air, the tang of hot chocolate and burnt tongues, cold fingers, the excitement of the spooky season, gearing up for pumpkin carving and house parties full of wasted teens.

Burying his hands in his pockets his breaths puff out visibly before him, sinking into the air like steam off a hot drink, and he is thankful that he wore a scarf at least. Thankful that in and amongst his anxiety and paranoia about the evening, he had enough brain cells left to protect himself against the cold.

Today at 20:15

yann: hot stuff lulu

Lucas rolls his eyes before pocketing his phone and looking up at the building before him. It’s nothing overtly artistic, it blends in with the shops on either side of it. Weirdly, it reminds Lucas of Grimmauld Place in Harry Potter, throwing him back to times spent at Yann’s watching all seven films straight without breaks. That thought, at least, calms him somewhat. He stands in the shadows not daring to step into the light just yet. He takes several deep breaths in, reassuring himself that he will be fine, he’s here for Eliott and his love for him can eclipse his anxiety for the night. He can do this.

He ponders texting Eliott to tell him he’s arrived but stops because Eliott is probably talking to other people, engaging in conversations with kindred spirits who know art. Lucas doesn’t know shit about art. He can look at a photo, a painting or sculpture and appreciate its beauty or vulgarity and deduce his own interpretations, but that’s it. He decides that he will not speak to anyone about the exhibition because he will undoubtedly make a complete idiot of himself. So when he steps inside from the night into a brightly lit room, the contrast to the night outside dazzling him for a second, he unwraps his scarf and takes his jacket off, moving towards the table of mini bites. Eating he can do, and well, but interacting with people, let alone those from completely different stratospheres, is not his forte. He wishes he had invited Arthur along with him, someone he could be comfortably uncomfortable with until Eliott is less busy.

He accepts an offer of champagne from an inscrutable looking man in all black, tucking his coat and scarf in his elbow. He glances around noticing painted portraits and landscapes set against bleach-white walls, a wall has been erected in the middle of the space, and children race round it, trailing their coats behind them to shrieks of laughter which melt into the background of the music filtering in through small speakers. Lucas doesn’t recognise it, the music that is, but it fits the scene: artists and art and educated people knowing what they’re talking about. He can decipher a light piano melody and the strings of a guitar, it must be something indie he concludes.

Already he feels negative thoughts clouding his mind: Why are you even here? You don’t know shit. Everyone knows you’re a fraud. Everyone is looking at you and laughing. Normally these thought spirals last for a while, he will reassure himself, tell himself that he’s being irrational, that no one is looking at him, that they are more interested in the art. He will be fine for five minutes then the thoughts will attack again like a vicious viper, poisoning his thoughts and no antidote is strong enough to stave off the anxiety for long. But, this evening is not about him, and he is really trying to be more positive. He keeps Eliott in his mind and his breathless excitement over the phone when he called to confirm with Lucas, to ensure Lucas would definitely be there. Lucas bottles that voice and plays it on repeat, tucking it against his heart in the little nook Eliott has carved for himself there.

Out of the corner of his eye, Lucas notices someone looking over at him and he debates engaging in inane conversation or turning away and pretending to be interested in the food. He goes with option two, picking up a vegan sausage roll and biting into it, but he’s miscalculated and his glass testers out of his hand and he’s imagining the fantastic shatter and the heads turning and the silence and his stomach is dropping, but the glass never meets the floor.

“Fuck-”

“Here you go.”

Lucas looks into deep brown eyes, framed by tortoise-shell glasses and light-brown hair. “Thank you.”

“I saw you struggling a bit there...you know there’s a cloakroom, right?”

“Um. Apparently not.”

Laughter and then, “Follow me. I’ll show you where it is.”

Lucas puts down his glasses, shoves the rest of the sausage roll and follows the retreating back of the girl who saved his ass tonight.

They end up in a room just off the main one, and Lucas notices it is a lot cooler out here, what is it about museums and no air conditioning? He swears he could sweat a foundation within the hour. The girl gestures to a row of coats and jackets hanging suspended from seemingly nothing until Lucas hangs his own one up with his scarf and feels a metal bar holding them in place.

“Thanks again. Seriously. Eternally grateful.”

She’s smiling, the girl, hands clasped behind her back. “So, who are you?”

Lucas’ eyebrows drawn together in confusion. “Is there some guest list or something because no one was out the front-”

The girl is laughing now, hair falling forward into her face. “No, I didn’t mean that. Are you a fellow artist or?”

“Oh,” Lucas feels his cheeks grow warm. “Definitely not. You?”

“No, just here for the free booze and food, and my sister’s work is being shown so there’s also that.”

Lucas can’t help but smile. “Yeah, there’s that.”

“Wanna get some more bubbly?”

He learns her name is Ashley, that she studies at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, that she is boisterous and is incredible at impressions. They begin by eating some of the nibbles followed by a glass of cheap bubbly that is decidedly not champagne. They drift around the room, beginning at the far wall on the right observing black-white portraits both painted and photographed; they read the labels affixed to the wall on the right-side of each art piece, noting the artists, the name of the piece and the description of what is being shown. They stand up straight, perfect postures, and move onto the next piece which rings familiar to Lucas, reminding him of impressionist paintings which he quite likes. See, while Lucas is not an expert, he knows Monet, because Manon has a rendition of his water lilies on her bedroom wall — this recognition lifts his confidence a bit. They stop at a sculpture, a body encased in a cage, almost serpent-like, limbs extended and curved in an oval shape — made from clay. Lucas drops his head on Ashley’s shoulder and they stare at this body for a while until she is called away by her sister, they hug and say goodbye. This is where Lucas is when he sees him.

The atmosphere instantly changes for Lucas; he feels less alone, less like an idiot, he feels the room brighten infinitesimally and wonders if that’s some affect of the exhibition, but soon knows, viscerally, that that’s just the affect Eliott has on him. He is a work of art all in himself; Lucas could stare at him all day.

Eliott is in a green turtle neck and black slacks, rolled and cuffed just above the ankles. Hair artfully messy, un-styled.

Lucas turns away as if that will stop Eliott from noticing him, as if Eliott wouldn’t recognise him in a crowd of short white boys with long brown hair.

“Hey!”

“Hi.” Lucas says shyly.

In an alternative reality he would run up and jump into Eliott’s arms, squeezing him to his chest, sigh into his warmth and kiss him right on the lips. Alas, this is not another universe, this is theirs all messy and twisted and perverse, but within this volume of space, on this planet being destroyed by human insolence, there is a pocket they have created for themselves, and when Lucas looks back at Eliott, he knows that they are both imagining themselves else where, without public scrutiny. There is also the case of the glass in his hand and, at this moment, Lucas doesn’t trust himself not to drop it.

Eliott meets him halfway and kisses Lucas on the lips, it’s short and sweet and Lucas would die for more, but he’s aware of where they are and isn’t the biggest fan of public displays of affection anyway. Eliott cups Lucas’ face and pulls him forward, encircling him in warmth and a musky scent. Lucas breathes him in before letting go reluctantly.

“How long have you been here?”

“Forty minutes or so, I think.”

Eliott looks at Lucas in disbelief. “You should have come and found me, you goose.” He brushes their noses together.

I don’t know anything about art; I don’t know why you would want me here. But he’s learning that some of his thoughts are ridiculous and it’s just his anxiety screwing him over so he tries to not think of that, and instead, absorb the absolute joy on Eliott’s face instead. He wants you here.

“You looked busy,” Lucas shrugs. “I didn’t want to interrupt the magic.”

Eliott is shaking his head, pulling Lucas in for another quick kiss. “You interrupt nothing, my love.”

Terms of endearment: Lucas has never been the biggest fan of them, finding them cringey but this- my love it awakens his soul, his spirit, it lights the desire in him to boiling point. Eliott in that turtle neck, calling him my love, is not helping Lucas’ need to rip his clothes off. But he holds himself together: cheeks turning rosy and biting his lip as Eliott turns him around and guides him to his own piece, Lucas can feel the nervous energy bouncing off of him.

Lucas is excited, mainly for Eliott, and how much he wants Lucas to see his work after weeks of it being kept secret. He wants to be properly introduced to this other side of Eliott whom he has only seen in brief glimpses of drawings as they materialise on Eliott’s wall or are folded carefully into the pocket of his own jacket. Though they have been dating, officially, for the past month, together for three, he doesn’t know the ambitious side of his boyfriend that well. He could tell you Eliott’s favourite author: Virginia Woolf, his favourite food: bacon and cheese omelette, how he likes his coffee: black, no milk or sugar, and that he is seemingly late to most things except when it comes to their one-on-one time. He could tell you that Eliott prefers paperbacks to hardbacks and folds back the cover whenever he’s reading and that it hurts Lucas’ soul just a bit whenever he sees that. However, Lucas could not tell you, just yet, what Eliott’s passion project has been for the past five months, one month before they met.

Built into one of the many white walls is a screen on which either side are a pair of black headphones. Lucas throws a quick glance at Eliott who is biting his thumb nervously before slipping the headphones on and standing directly in the middle, a few paces back from the screen.

It’s on loop; Lucas sees the credits first before it begins again. A new beginning, a fresh start. It’s a film. Lucas recognises the old railway track that circles the city walls of Paris where they once stood at the time of Napoleon III’s reign. He looks over at Eliott in surprise to see him smiling at Lucas. A few weeks back Eliott talked about going to La Petite Ceinture with Lucas and here it is, right there before him. There is a bridge engulfed in shadows and there is music, relatively loud: a soft beat, violins, maybe? The music is what catches Lucas’ attention the most, he has always had an ear for it, especially the classical, owed to his mother’s appreciation for it, leading to it become the sound Lucas would wake up to every morning before school. The beginnings of a new symphony trickling beneath his door at seven a.m.

If he knows anything about Eliott he can prophesise that there will be something romantic about this film. A shadow materialises from the right holding shining a torch beneath the bridge which appears at first, impenetrable, however, a shape emerges from the shadows; the dense black around it lightens slightly illuminating the shape into a figure. Lucas’ heart starts picking up its beat, hardly noticeable at all, as a story of fear and courage, of light and dark, is borne; he’s sure there is an even deeper meaning there, one he is missing, but as the two characters meet across the bridge of their differences, sharing in their similarities, Lucas can’t help but wonder if the juxtaposition of light and dark reflects the two people who are sharing their darkest fears and greatest dreams with each other, ones they were scared to admit to themselves. The music picks up in a crescendo as their lips touch and they cross the barrier into the other’s world and Lucas’ heart is in his throat at the utter tenderness which is very Eliott. He reaches out his hand behind him and feels long fingers slip into the gaps between his own, he squeezes their hands together and continues staring at the screen while the credits roll, revelling in the experience of this creation he has had the privilege to be privy to.

POLARIS written and directed by eliott demaury

Letting go of Eliott’s hand while he hangs up his headphones, Lucas is in awe of his boyfriend. Eliott often spoke about the pieces he worked on, but Lucas didn’t no it culminated into this. He turns to face him and is met with a nervous smile. Lucas steps right in front of him, reaches up to cup his face and shakes his head on a laugh.

“Who the hell are you?”

Eliott’s face pinches together and his eyebrows draw down in question.

“Amazing.” Lucas throws his arms around Eliott’s neck and affixes himself to his chest, tucking his head into the space where Eliott’s neck meets his shoulder.

“Did you like it?” Eliott whispers as he circles his arms around Lucas’ waist.

Jerking back, Lucas clutches Eliott’s biceps. “I have no words that would do it justice. How do I have the most beautiful boyfriend in the world?”

Eliott ducks his head in response, shy and self-conscious at Lucas’ praise, he glances at Lucas through his eyelashes and asks, “So, you liked it?”

Kissing his nose, Lucas pecks Eliott on the lips and whispers against them, “My heart is weeping tears. I loved it. Of course, I did.”

The smile he receives is beatific. Only then does he realise the extent of Eliott’s nerves and how Lucas is the one who got him all tied up, he hugs Eliott once more, tightly, in reassurance. “I loved it.”

When they finally part, Eliott checks his phone and asks Lucas, “When are we meeting the guys?”

“Around 9:30, I think. We don’t have to go, though.”

“No, I want to.”

“But what about this?” Lucas gestures to the screen — where Eliott’s film has begun to roll again —and the space around him. “This is your night.”

Eliott shoves his hands into the front pockets of his slacks and shrugs his shoulders. “I’ve been here since seven, it’s too much, even for me — all the attention.”

It is scary how much Lucas gets that, gets Eliott, how he must be drained from speaking to numerous people all evening about his work and theirs. Though, he does look happy, just tired and in need of some down time, which, Lucas thinks, is the exact opposite of the energy his friends exude.

Lucas nods his head, gesturing with his thumb to the cloakroom. “Yeah, we can go. I just need to get my jacket.”

“YES!” Yann is raising his controller in the air, grinning with satisfaction.

“Yann! What the fuck, man! Arthur, stop! Lucas, come on, back me here!” Basile is yelling, his eyes fixated on the TV screen, divided in two, his half decorated in big red letters: YOU LOSE.

Lucas is laughing along with Yann, Arthur and Eliott, because it was sabotage but also hilarious. He clutches at his sides as Baz gets increasingly more annoyed. He is criminally competitive, and with Arthur dancing in front of Baz’s side of the screen and messing up his hair in an attempt to distract him and make him lose to Yann, Basile’s temper is rising, his face reddening — a feat they execute every time they play video games.

Arthur is cackling and robbing Baz of his remote.

“You promised you wouldn’t do this again!”

“You gotta stop trusting us, man.” Yann responds, already choosing his team for his next match against Arthur.

Baz sighs and gets up to find another beer.

“I’m assuming you do this every time, huh?” Eliott is biting his lips, trying to keep his laughter in because he feels bad.

The other three all look at each other with shit-eating grins on their faces, but when they turn to meet Eliott’s gaze, their smiles turn sheepish. Then they are back to playing Fifa and British rap music blunts from Yann’s speaker, Arthur raps along to it and when Baz returns, already cooled down — his annoyance forgotten, he joins in and hops down next to Lucas on a beanbag. When Baz passes both Eliott and Lucas a beer each, Lucas rests his head on Baz’s shoulder in apology, looking up at him, and they exchange smiles. He knows they’re okay, that Baz is not mad.

After a few games, Eliott retreats into the kitchen and after fifteen minutes of no return, Lucas trails after, curious.

Lucas peaks into the kitchen then leans against the doorway, observing Eliott cutting a grapefruit into small chunks before dropping them into a jug full of ice. He stands before a window, the street lamps from outside shining through the glass and lightening Eliott’s hair to a golden-brown.

“What are you doing?”

Eliott looks up briefly and returns to his task of cutting fruit. “Making sangria.”

“Mmm,” Lucas licks his lips. “Can I help?”

“Um, yeah. Pour in the wine?”

“That I can do.”

Lucas hears rather than sees Eliott saunter in his direction. Placing an elbow on the kitchen counter he leans against it with his body and...proceeds to knock over the open bottle of champagne. It appears to happen in slow motion: Eliott reaching out to steady the bottle, his reflexes failing him, Lucas reaches out at the same time and they both become funnels for the wine as it slips throw their hands and slides down their arms like they’re in a fucking Carrie film, soaking Lucas’ shirt. He gasps at the shock of cold, staring down at his shirt for a second.

When he eventually looks up at Eliott, his back is turned and his shoulders are shaking as he clears up the spillage with a sponge, as much as he, ineffectively, as it continues to drip on the ground from his own wine-drenched arms.

Lucas throws his head back and groans, causing Eliott to sputter out a laugh which turns into loud gasps of air and occasional breaks of laughter. Lucas looks down at his blue shirt again, which sticks to his chest, and begins laughing too. Shoulders shaking in communion with Eliott’s, he bumps his him against Eliott’s hip, almost slipping in the wine on the floor and is caught by the biceps in a firm grip. Their laughter silenced until they lock eyes and Eliott’s rolled his lips inwards, his eyes entirely unapologetic and mischievous as he slides his hands down Lucas’ sides, joining them at the small of his back, but Lucas is still caught up in the vision of Eliott trying to clean the surface while he was soaked in wine, making his attempts futile, and he knows that look in Eliott’s eyes, that he was about to kiss him, but he can’t help it. Lucas’ head falls forward against Eliott’s chest and his ribs ache as he begins laughing again. Helpless against it.

After a few tries, Lucas manages to gasp out — between laughs — that they need to clean themselves up. He directs Eliott to Yann’s bathroom and washes down his arms for him in what must be freezing cold water because Eliott is yelling in protest while Lucas refuses to adjust the temperature because this is his payback to Eliott for ruining his shirt. He can be petty like it. He’s laughing all the way through it and Eliott’s eyes narrow down at him in suspicion.

Once Eliott is all cleaned up, he returns to try and salvage what’s left of his sangria ingredients, meanwhile, Lucas slips into one of Yann’s t-shirts, bundling his own shirt up into a ball and dumping it by his shoes at the door. When he returns to the scene of the crime, Eliott looks over at him and smirks, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed, he gives Lucas a once over.

Of course Lucas knows why he’s getting that look; Yann’s t-shirt reaches to below his bum, but he chooses to ignore Eliott’s look and raises his chin slightly.

“Yes?” He asks, as he reaches for the bottle with the remaining red wine in it and downs the liquid in seconds.

“Nothing.” Eliott responds, but he is inching closer to Lucas, slowly and steadily.

They are both a bit tipsy curtesy of the three beers and then the bottle of cider they shared (disgusting in Lucas’ opinion). At least, Lucas is. He only felt it hit him when he stood in the doorway in Yann’s shirt and Eliott’s gaze fell upon him, slightly teasing and incredibly enticing. He can’t quite look him in the eye, feeling a bit nervous, so he plants his eyes on Eliott’s chest. This does not help remotely because now Lucas’ is thinking about Eliott’s tattoo there and his smooth chest and he is really starting to believe that Eliott is some otherworldly creature who has been sent to Earth to rob Lucas of his sensibilities.

He stands there, and brushes Lucas’ lips slowly with his thumb, saying: “They’re all rosy now.”

Raising his own fingers to his lips, Lucas brushes them too, only to have this hand snatched away by Eliott who brings them to his own lips and kisses each finger individually, like they each deserve his undivided attention.

“You can’t do that here.” Lucas almost gasps out.

“Hm?” Eliott asks, holding Lucas’ hand now, grey-green eyes searching Lucas’, as if Lucas’ voice hadn’t completely given him away.

“I definitely have a semi.”

Eliott bites his lip in amusement, raising Lucas’ fingers to his mouth once more, but Lucas rips his hand out of Eliott’s grasp and takes a couple steps back which Eliott seems thoroughly enthralled by as he counters Lucas’ steps until Lucas is flush against the kitchen counter and Eliott is lifting him onto the marble surface, planting his hands on either side of Lucas as he leans forward and captures his lips in a blazing kiss that defuses any nervousness in Lucas’ brain about his friends walking in, because he really couldn’t give less of a fuck right now.

In between the first kiss and the next, Lucas whispers fuck and before he can emit an embarrassingly loud groan, Eliott is sweeping him into another fiery kiss that lights him up from the inside out, incandescent. Lucas swears that in the vacuum of space there is no star that shines quite like Eliott, that can evoke such happiness or hope in another person.

Lucas is being tugged forward until he is chest to chest to Eliott while his own hands are making a mess of his boyfriend’s hair, and trailing down his neck and cupping his jaw to deepen the kiss.

“Lucas! Lulu!”

“Get your ass in here! It’s time to PLAY!”

“Luuuuuucas!”

“I’m coming to find you!” Baz.

That comment makes them jerk apart. Resting their foreheads on each other’s shoulders, waiting for their breaths to slow down, return to some semblance of normal before they rejoin le gang. God knows Lucas will not hear the end of this but he is flush with desire and with love. Sliding down to the floor, he intertwines his fingers with Eliott’s, resting his head on Eliott’s shoulder for a second before they go back to the living room and have to face the music.

He is feeling nervous because this is a big deal but he doesn’t want it to be a big thing; it is a step forward in what he hopes is the right direction. A step forward into trying to take care of himself and being a better person for himself and everyone he loves. He wants to explore the world more, be less afraid of the everyday things that do not warrant his constant fear and anguish, he doesn’t want to be second guessing himself or the kindness people show him. He doesn’t want to be thinking that people are pretending to like him, that pity motives them to hang out with him. He wishes to be free of these burdens, and he knows, he knows that it won’t all be magically fixed with a sprinkle of fairy dust, he knows he has this for life, but when he thinks back on the days where he would cancel plans to stay at home or lie in bed and read comics, the days where he was exhausted beyond comprehension and become lax with personal hygiene, when he thinks back on those dark days, he knows he would do anything to reduce their frequency.

So, when he brings it up to Eliott, he’s trying to be casual about it, just drop it into the conversation like it’s no big deal. He doesn’t look at Eliott, pretends to be scanning for a book Eliott has been begging him to read almost since the time they met to add to the illusion of nonchalance he has going.

“I’m gonna be going to therapy, but since I’m doing it for free, I’m on the waitlist so I probably won’t have my first appointment till the end of March.” Lucas is chill. He is cool. To emphasise this, he flops down on Eliott’s sofa, one of his favourite places — all soft, like a cocoon that molds to his body, familiar with his shape after hours and hours spent lounging in its warmth.

“Lucas?”

Lucas remains where he’s lying down, book held above his head, pretending to read and his arms are already beginning to ache, but he’s going for casual remember.

“Yeah?”

“Lucas.”

The boy in question can’t decipher the tone of his boyfriend’s voice. He can feel the butterflies beginning their familiar swirl deep in his belly, so he thinks of that quote Eliott recently stuck up above his bed: “I begin to long for some little language such as lovers use, broken words, inarticulate words, like the shuffling of feet on pavement.”

“Uh huh?”

The book is snatched from his hands, revealing a wide-eyed Eliott. He dumps the book beside Lucas’ head and stares down at him in askance.

“Therapy? When did this happen?” Why didn’t you tell me, he doesn’t say. Eliott is in shock, Lucas concludes. Well, maybe not shock but he looks almost disbelieving and confused, maybe, as to why Lucas didn’t tell him his plan. But the thing with Lucas is, he likes to get things done without telling people because he doesn’t want to disappoint them in case he reneges. The look on Eliott’s face tells him it was worth it.

“Yesterday.”

“And you waited until now,” Eliott checks his phone before staring Lucas down once more. “Three in the afternoon to tell me this?” He is smiling, proud. Lucas feels it in his bones.

He is proud of himself too. Eliott’s expression softens, as though he can read Lucas’ mind. He leans down and kisses Lucas’ forehead, then, as though that is not enough contact, not enough to show his pride, he circles himself around Lucas, lying down on his chest, elbow resting on the sofa by Lucas’ head. They are eye to eye now, cerulean eyes meeting misty grey ones: a mosaic of the ocean seas, calm and settled. The weight of Eliott’s body against him as he looks at Lucas with admiration, grounds Lucas in the moment, he feels it like a new beginning, a fresh start: beginning his journey of learning that his feelings and needs are important as much as everyone else’s in the world.

Lucas shrugs in response. “I didn’t want to disappoint you, because if I had told you and I didn’t go through with it I wouldn’t have been able to handle breaking a promise. Especially to you.”

“Lucas-”

“I know you’re going to say that I could never disappoint you, but that’s not true, and I would have been disappointed in myself, and it would’ve all been made even worse, because I’d have your disappointment on top of my own guilt. But I did it, I’ve done it. And…yeah.”

Eliott’s face went through a myriad of emotions while Lucas was walking, but, now, he brushes Lucas hair in tender strokes, kisses his forehead once more, trailing his nose down to Lucas’ and hovering there. On the precipice of something.

“Can I take you there?”

“To therapy?” Lucas inquires.

“Yeah.”

March is four months away. That will be eight months with Eliott. Lucas mulls over his question, even closes his eyes and hums for a second.

“I guess so.” He concedes, lifting his head up a fraction of an inch, just so he can brush his lips against Eliott’s. Their noses slide passed each other, like two puzzle pieces finally fitted together, like when the sun and moon finally cross paths, and the probability of an eclipse increases exponentially, blotting out the star-speckled night and snow-white January mornings, the blazing heat of a summer’s afternoon and the tear-stained watercolour sky of early spring as it creeps towards dusk.

“I don’t remember where but I think I read somewhere that taking things a day at a time can really help, for people like me, who deal with anxious and constant worries about the future; trying to think in the now, focusing on what you have to do on that day and that day only, which isn’t always possible, but it really stuck with me. I’m trying to be more positive, and take things as they come, to stop trying to control everything by taking the day as it is and focusing on it instead of what’s to come later. Like focusing on what I’m doing now, in that hour, you know?”

Eliott nods in understanding, eyes bare on Lucas’, giving him his full undivided attention, wanting him to know that he is listening, that what he is saying is being heard.

“Taking things minute by minute?”

Lucas nods his head, licking his lips as a small tear slips from his eye. “Exactly.”

“Well that sounds like a plan. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, with Lucas Lallemant. Sounds like my kind of thing.”

Eliott’s lips tick up at the side in a small smile as he brushes away Lucas’ tear, kissing the patch of wet skin. He sits up, pulling Lucas up with him, cupping his face as he feels arms circle his own waist. Tight. Eliott’s eyes-crinkle as he rests his forehead against Lucas’ in something akin to prayer.

Minute by minute.

#thank u for reading <33 #so much <33 #elu fic #go ahead and watch my heart burn #elu #skam france #lucas lallemant #eliott demaury #mine

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365daysofsasuhina · 5 years

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[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Two Hundred Thirty-One: An Accessory ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura ] [ SasuHina, NaruSaku ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

When it comes to her appearance, Hinata has always stuck to the basics. Never has she been the sort of girl to dress up or look flashy. If anything, she’s more comfortable and content to blend into the background. Whether it’s her no-effort hair (unless she gets a wild hare to put it up in a ponytail), baggy clothes (she’s not keen on being too straightforward given her body shape), or her lack of accessories, she simply keeps herself low-maintenance.

In a way, she envies the other girls her age. Ino has always been so fashion conscious. With hardly any effort, she can put together an ensemble that sweeps people off their feet. Glamor without going overboard. Even her hair is more lustrous than Hinata’s own: the long golden tail is far more eye-catching than Hinata’s plain dark locks. Sakura’s choppy, rosy strands get more attention despite their lack of upkeep, too.

Sometimes, she wishes she could be pretty. Be out there. But between her self-conscious nature, and shyness at being noticed, she’s not sure she could ever actually handle putting any more effort into her appearance. The dual feelings of wanting attention and yet being leery of it can be rather...depressing.

But, in the end, she keeps to her typical habits. She’s been this way all her life, after all. Why change? It’s not like there’s anyone she wants to attract, anyway. Naruto, after all, has always set his gaze elsewhere...and her actions never swayed that. Not enough, at least. Already it’s evident he and his female teammate are romantically involved...even if neither has the heart to tell her.

She remembers the rosette offering the possibility of seeking companionship with her own teammates: Kiba, or maybe Shino. And yet, that idea wrinkled the Hyūga’s nose. For quite some time, the pair have been far more like family...like older brothers that both tease and bolster her, snapping at anyone who gives her trouble. She’s not sure she could ever set that aside and attempt to have something...more with either of them. It just wouldn’t feel right.

Beyond that...she really has no clue.

But Fate has different ideas...and starts placing someone specific in front of her.

It started with the whole of team seven. Sasuke, newly returned for his brother’s reappearance, begrudgingly spent time with them...even if that meant mostly being a third wheel as Naruto and Sakura get a bit involved with one another’s company.

And given her friendship with the pair, that often left Hinata as wheel number four. At first, she thought little of it. Having been made privy to Sasuke’s circumstances due to mutual acquaintances, she already knew much of what had transpired in his past...and how it still affected his present. In the same vein, she was one of the few able to understand...and willing to move on. True, the pair had been relative strangers before he left, but if anything that served in her favor. Sasuke held no ill will against her. They had a fresh slate from which to start.

And then came the alliance with the Hyūga. As Itachi’s future hung in the balance with his prior convictions held over his head, it was the other dōjutsu clan that was called for help. But her bloodline have always been shrewd...and then arranged for an alliance. Sasuke had rebelled against the idea, but eventually acquiesced at Itachi’s urging.

Thus, Hinata and Sasuke seemed almost unable to get away from each other. She served as the liaison between the two clans...mostly because it was she the Uchiha knew (and tolerated) best.

With that, Hinata conceded, and accepted that she and Sasuke were simply apt to bump into each other more often than not.

Like today, for example.

Yet again, Naruto and Sakura have invited them both out for a day of catching up. Naruto has been busy learning under both Tsunade and Kakashi. Sakura has been gearing up to take a leading position in the hospital. Hinata’s work with her clan and the Uchiha has kept her busy, as it has Sasuke. So the four have had little time left over to simply spend together.

So, they’ve taken to wandering an outdoor market. The weather is fine, not too hot yet, and they peruse the goods alongside a small crowd of people. The more boisterous pair are at the front, Sakura openly ogling as Naruto looks sadly to his frog wallet. Behind them, the others aren’t really as interested, mostly just taking in the sights. Sasuke isn’t one much for stuff, and Hinata’s frugal habits mean avoiding most anything not terribly necessary.

“Ooh, Hinata! Look at this!”

Attention caught as Sakura waves her over, Hinata steps up and takes a peek.

“Isn’t it beautiful? It looks just your style!”

An ornate hair clip - silver adorned with white doves - rests atop a small stand, gleaming in the light. Hinata’s eyes go a little wide. It is extremely pretty...and also very expensive. “Oh, well...I-I’ve never really worn hair a clip before…”

“Don’t you have that dove print kimono? You could wear it to the matsuri next month! It would be so perfect, Hinata! Don’t you think?”

“W-well, I…”

“You should get it.”

At once, all three of the others turn to look at Sasuke. Blank-faced, he looks back. “...what?”

“Didn’t think you’d have an opinion about hair clips, Sasuke,” Naruto muses, a brow perking.

“Am I not allowed to?”

“Well, no, but…”

“I-I’m not sure if I should spend the money,” Hinata quickly cuts in, not wanting to spark one of the boys’ many arguments. “It is very pretty, but...I don’t really need it.”

“Aww, boo,” Sakura replies, lips pursing in a pout. “It would go so well with that outfit!”

“Yeah, well...m-maybe next time.”

With that, Sakura shrugs and moves to the next booth, Naruto right on her tail. Hinata can’t help a small sigh of relief.

“...do you like it?”

“Eh?” Turning as Sasuke speaks, Hinata blinks at him. “W...what?”

“The hair clip. Do you like it?”

“Well, I...I guess I do, but -”

“I could get it for you.”

Flustered color quickly blooms in Hinata’s face. “Oh, n-no! Sasuke-kun, please don’t. It’s so expensive, and -”

“But you want it.”

“I...I said I like it, not that...I want it.”

The Uchiha perks a brow. “...what’s the difference?”

“Well...I can like something but not want to get it. I don’t, um...I don’t really wear hair clips, anyway. I wouldn’t use it enough to justify the cost.”

That doesn’t seem to clarify much for him, but Sasuke doesn’t push the issue. “...all right then.” With that said, he keeps walking, Hinata following suit...with just one last little backward glance to the clip.

No, Hinata...you don’t need it. Leave it alone.

By the end of the day, it completely slips her mind. There’s far more important things to worry about, after all. Embroiled back into her work, she forgets about the little exchange entirely, and life goes on.

And then, the matsuri arrives.

As per usual, the four of them agree to go together. By then, it’s long since been accepted (and explained) that Naruto and Sakura are, indeed, an official couple. Though a bit somber about it at first, Hinata quickly finds herself glad for them. Happy that Naruto’s affections are finally returned, and that her friends have someone to rely on.

Though it does make for the typical arrangement of Hinata and Sasuke feeling more like tagalongs than part of a group…

Sighing lightly to herself, Hinata brushes back hair behind her ear as they wait in line at a food stall. Naruto is having difficulty choosing, which is holding up the queue.

“...Hyūga.”

“Hm?” Turning, she startles a bit as Sasuke holds out a piece of folded cloth. “...um -?”

“Here.”

Blinking, she accepts, feeling something within the fabric. A few tugs later, she brightens. “...Sasuke-kun, you…?”

“I knew you wanted it, so I got it. Figured I’d just make it a matsuri present.”

Going a bit pink, Hinata carefully retrieves the dove clip. “...you didn’t have to do that…”

“I wanted to.”

Moving to use it, Hinata fumbles for a moment before stilling as he urges it from her hand, able to see what he’s doing. Carefully, he pins back her hair. “...there. It really does match your kimono.”

Still pink, her head bows shyly. “...thank you…”

“...you’re welcome.”

When the other two are finally finished in line, Sakura quickly notices the change. “Oh, you got it?”

“Um, well…actually, I -”

“Looks good,” Sasuke offers, cutting off her explanation.

After a pause, she realizes his intention. “...thanks.”

“You should wear your hair like that more often, Hinata,” Naruto offers, mouth full of food.

A small smile pulls at her lips. “...maybe I will.”

.oOo.

I won’t lie...this one took some thinking, lol - neither Hinata nor Sasuke really seem the sort to indulge in accessories, but...well, maybe they would if the other gets something for them x3 Sneaky Sasuke, picking up that clip...! Pretty smooth there, guy...even if maybe he doesn’t quite fully realize what he just did, haha! Buuut yeah, that’ll do it from me tonight! Thanks for reading n_n

#sasuhina #narusaku #uchiha sasuke #hyūga hinata #uzumaki naruto #haruno sakura #a light amongst shadows [ canon verse ]#365daysofsasuhina

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jademarperez-blog · 4 years

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Infant showers can lamentably be so equation based, we've all been to one or even tossed one that has comparable beautifications, plays comparable games (generally joined by numerous moans), and gives all the visitors comparative customized child shower favors that were given at the last one we as a whole joined in. So why not escape from the "standard thing" and have a go at something other than what's expected that everybody will recall - particularly the mother to-be!

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youtube

Take a Deep Breath...it's Spa time! This is an awesome time to support Mommy-to-be fully expecting the personal time she's probably going to lose soon! Make a spa day at home for mother and her visitors. Be as lavish as acquiring a few back rub advisors for neck and shoulder, or hand and foot rubs for the individuals who might want them or have a masseuse (or you perusing from a book) offer guidance to all the visitors while showing on mother to-be. (Along these lines all of you can take the information home with you as well.) You can rehearse on each other while quiet spa music plays and you taste on home grown tea, shimmering waters or a reviving mint julep. Have a couple of companions or as lady, set up a mama blessing that she can use later on to prop the unwinding up - a decent air pocket shower, a reflective CD (extraordinary additionally for taking care of infant) - quieting shower items for child (that will take a shot at mother also when she slips into the tub with the little one) or maybe mom and infant hooded terry robes to be comfortable in. You can improve with mitigating hues, blossoms and candles and serve light and solid spa cooking. Customized infant shower favors could be spa candles modified with a rousing expression rather than simply the customary mother's name and date of the shower. It tends to be a young lady's day for spoiling all together.

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therealjammy · 5 years

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Thanks for such a nice reply! Ep 2 left me with many feels so my prompt idea was heavily influenced by that. So here it is: Eve somehow manages to answer V's phone call and gets to her before she kills Julian. She takes V away from the house and reluctantly accepts to take care of V until she gets well without anyone knowing. I wanna see bratty V and Eve helping her cause she feels bad about the stabbing. Thanks for reading even if you decide not to write it in the end. Hope you have a nice day!

I changed a few things but I hope you like it regardless!

–

A Congregation of Birds

I’m doing this foryou, more than you could ever know

Fenne Lily, More Than You Know

—

Quick, be quick, Villanelletells herself, rushing to the pathetically old-fashioned phone on the wall. Shedials Eve’s MI6 number. Gets a secretary on the other end who thinks she’s aprank caller.

“I get calls like this all the time, youknow,” says the secretary.

“Tell themI’ll blow up the Houses of Parliament.”

It does thetrick.

The linerings.

A robotanswers next. “Please give the name ofthe agent you wish to speak to.”

“Eve Polastri.”

“I’m sorry, that didn’t register. Please tryagain.”

“Eve. Polastri.”

—

Eve is in the middle of a presentation on psychopaths whenher phone, tucked away in her purse, blares Kids in America. Embarrassed, shesteps out of the projector’s light and leaves the room. The number is from theMI6 desk.

“Is this Eve Polastri?” asks thesecretary. A new woman, by the sound of her voice.

“This isshe,” Eve replies, chewing a fingernail.

“Someone wants to talk to you; I’m patchingyou through.” There’s static, and then someone breathing. Before she evenspeaks Eve knows it’s Villanelle.

“Eve?”

She swallows. “I’mhere.”

“Trace this call.” The bang! of Villanelle’s phone hanging upstartles her; her own mobile jumps from her hand and onto the floor, almostlike a desperate fish would after being caught. Eve picks it back up, goesthrough the calls to see the area code. It’s from London. Maybe not even farfrom here. She shoots a quick text to Kenny, telling him something personalcame up and that the presentation would resume either sometime in the eveningor during the week, then makes her way to her car, pulling up the phone numberand a map from the secure network, using what Kenny taught her on tracing calls.

It camefrom a house in the suburbs.

“Oh my god,”Eve says.

She speedsthere, the SATNAV voice robotically annoying. It takes about half an hourbefore she turns into the lane and finds herself faced with houses moreluxurious and larger than her own, with blooming trees and lush lawns outfront, picaresque things of people trapped in the same monotony of married lifeshe is. She hardly pays them mind; they’re not what she’s looking for. Shepasses an old lady walking the sidewalk in her nightgown, looking dreamy as shetakes in the world around her.

“The destination is on your right.”

It’s a brickhouse, looking almost Victorian in style, with white trim. The front door iswide open.

Evestumbles from her car, leaving it running. Someone’s drumming in her chest andher ears and even though the weather is just starting to get warmer she’ssweating underneath her work shirt.

Uponentering there’s an army of dolls and their houses, their faces expressionless,their eyes black and dead, staring listlessly ahead. What sort of freaky person…?

There’s a deadman around the corner. Slumped in a chair, dressed in ordinary clothes that’resoaked red, a hole in the side of his neck. A silver knitting needle sits nottoo far away, four inches of it covered in blood. She picks it up withoutthinking, carries it around the house while she looks for Villanelle. There’s signsof a struggle in the hallway, more in the parlor; she’d apparently wrestledwith the man before fatally stabbing him in the neck.

Upstairs isempty save for a still-humid bathroom and a guest bedroom that looks recentlyslept in.

Backdownstairs, Eve hears rustling in the front yard. She freezes, listens. Pokesher head around the doorframe. Catches a glimpse of powder blue nightgownbehind a large shrubbery.

“Villanelle?”she says.

It’s her.Winded, sagging, her hair greasy with sweat, rust staining her stomach, buther.

“Oh god.Oksana.” She kneels, touches Villanelle’s face, still holding onto the knittingneedle.

“I thoughtyou were… going to make me spend the night in a shrub,” Villanelle says. Shejerks her chin to the knitting needle. “You’ll want to bury that.”

It takes afew minutes. They smooth the dirt so that it’ll blend with the rest. Abovethem, two crows flutter their wings and take off.

“Are yougetting me out of here?” Villanelle asks.

“Yes,” Evesays. “Yes. Come on.”

They hobbleto Eve’s car, where Villanelle collapses heavily into the passenger seat, herleft hand pressing against her wound. She smells like powder and salt andunwashed hair and rust.

The carpulls away from the house and out of sight just as a red Volvo rounds thecorner.

Edit: Like the work? Read more on Ao3: alicekittridge

You can also support me on Ko-Fi, if you’re feeling so inclined: ko-fi.com/alicekittridge

#ke prompts #villaneve #killing eve #tumblr fic #prompts #if it feels rushed i'm sorry #also i probably don't have the phone convo dialogue right but that's okay #it gets the point across lol #it's eve!#a most expressive face

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capricious-writes · 5 years

Text

21 Questions Tag Game

Rules: Answer 21 Questions (they do not have to be the same questions) and tag [21] people (Don’t know who to tag right now, so I’m gonna leave this one open ended)

Tagged by @quilloftheclouds

>>> There, I finally got this all filled out! There was no way I was gonna just give this one up, because there were one or two questions that I REALLY wanted to answer ... <<<

1. Height?

I’m 5′7″. Not 5′6″. NOT 5′6″ (I will go to my grave with this) [Excuse me I have a taller younger sister]

2. Eye Color?

Medium Light Brown (Glorious) Idk

3. Hair Color?

Chocolate Brown (Equally GLORIOUS)

4. Favorite Color?

Brown. (See it’s all falling together)

I actually have an incredibly complex system of favorite colors for different reasons, the explanation alone of which would take multiple paragraphs, but -

- Brown

- Pink

- Purple

- Orange

- Green

(in that order... why am I like this?) I don’t care, it’s fun

5. Favorite IceCream?

Default Chocolate, but sometimes I need a mix-up.

6. Favorite Music Genre?

EDM. I didn’t used to know edm ~existed~ so I thought I liked pop-music. But what I really loved was the strong beats, the electric syncronicity, and the strong technic sort of sound. Yeah - that’s EDM apparently.

7. Favorite Song?

Default - Party In My Head by September

8. Following How Many Blogs?

wow, 95 apparently. I’ve never looked at that till today, and I’m certain it’s increased within the last week or two from slipping into Writerblr territory.

9. Favorite way to procastinate from writing (Besides Tumblr)?

My Favorite? Probably laying on my bed and staring at the ceiling while I wonder if I’m gonna take a nap. I like it because a) it’s mind decluttering time, and b) maybe I get bored and try to write. I don’t do it TOO often though.

10. Favorite way to get inspired for writing?

Just think about what’ll be interesting about the next scene I write. Or focus on what scene I want to get to. Otherwise, not sure really.

11. Favorite Live action movie?

Knight and Day. Whatever its issues - it’s my default ‘favorite,’ even if I’ve seen a better movie. It’s got tons of action and humour and I LOVE that. AND I’ve rewatched it several times - rewatch value is always a big one. It’s a tad lackluster, story-wise, but it still entertains every time.

12. Favorite Non-Disney cartoon

There are way too many good ones, so I’m going to have to default to all the animated Justice League cartoons. Mainly because their batman is my FAVORITE batman, despite even them not blending the Bruce IS Batman idea together. I think Gotham got the closest to that, but I haven’t watched more than a season of it I think.

13. Favorite Disney cartoon

So hard to say! Cars 3 was particularly satisfying because I knew the movie was going to be fantastic the moment the trailer took my breath away. On the other hand, there’s also the fantastic DuckTales reboot - but then there’s always the Milo Murphy show that tied in with Phineas and Ferb during its finale and -

Guys there’s too many!

14. Favorite Book character

I really liked Artemis Fowl. Him being a protagonist good guy as a villian slowly reforming himself without knowing was SUCH an amazing characterization. There was always something missing from it though. I could never quite pinpoint what, but it got SO close that it was still the most brilliant and fantastic thing I’d read up to that point.

15. Favorite Fanfiction

Very difficult. “Flowey Isn’t a Good Life Coach” had me hooked for two days until I finished it (leaving me empty, disorientated, and lost). But there was also tons of Gravity Falls fanfic that I adored (I made a rec list on my mainblog a while back too actually). And I think there was another fandom that I just had to look at ... but I don’t remember it right now.

16. First Original Story

I have these spiral notebooks with words in them from when I was 12. Half ready and rumbling to write, half seventh grade writing project - I think my MC was named Jane? No more than 20,000 words at most.

- Girl goes to different world where danger threatens to destroy it. She is 'chosen one' in a line of 'chosen ones' and her best friend is actually from there. He's basically been her guardian all the while, and he's sort of half lizard mutant.

- Along the way they meet a useless mad old man. An angsty but suave, but irritable dude named shadow. And a more sensible local guy who leaves his 'tribe' to help save his world.

I just ... I love how - to use a euphamism - how 'classic' it is.

But you know what, there are some good parts. Just starting out, tropes, cliches, and plenty of mistakes sure. But it’s also telling of my style even just beginning. For instance, the main MC and her friend that’s a Guy have these moments that are really close and build their relationship - but it’s not romantic. Everyone’s ‘friends,’ and it’s really telling of where my priorities aren’t, ha.

17. Favorite Book

I DON’T KNOW. HOW DOES ANYONE CHOOSE?

18. Favorite Book Genre

Action, adventure, but also with magic-is-science I guess?

19. Favorite Trope?

I love funny tropes I guess. Subverted tropes. Oh! I recently saw a drabbled post about a villian and hero’s friendly, but still antagonistic relationship. I ADORE that. Think Doofenshmirts and Perry the Platypus's relationship. Or Megamind and Metroman. It’s fantastic.

20. 5 skills/interests you have other than writing

1. Amateur-Intermediate Origami

2. Amateur-Intermediate Piano

3. Amateur-Intermediate Lollygagging

I don’t really know what else. My interests leap from place to place.

21. 5 Fav Mythology Creatures

1. Dragons are cool

2. Phoenixes are GREAT

3. Kitsune and or Foxes with lots of tails are just - Stunning

4. Three-headed doggies are thrice the fun, adorableness and blood curdling terror

And I’m required to say Gargoyle, because I have another WIP named the same after the MC. I’m completely ignoring it until Blooming Under Night is finished (or I decide to be a fickle beast), but it does have a few thousand words to its credit, sitting in a file just waiting for me to figure out how to give it proper TCL.

#long post #Gargoyle #Tag Game #Nobody's gonna understand this but #'Butterfly Whiskey'#I'm almost embarressed #Except I'm really not that much better still

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recentanimenews · 3 years

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FEATURE: Looking For Romance? Check Out These Top Anime Meet-Cutes

Part of what defines a good romance is the build-up to the big confession and the character's journeys to get there. Along that journey, you may find yourself stressing over all those near kiss moments and love triangles. Maybe you find yourself coming to appreciate the couple's support for each other, their playful banter, and even their opposite personalities. All of this is great, but you know what no one really talks about? The meet-cute! You know, the moment two characters meet for the first time, sparking the development of their epic love story. It's one of the most important aspects of the relationship, because, without it, there wouldn't be a couple to ship or a romance to pursue! Whether they were short and sweet, or dramatic and electric, the meet-cute is the significant moment where we are introduced to our leading love interests and shows us what we can look forward to. Here are some of the best meet-cutes in romance anime!

Mitsuha and Taki

Your Name is a remarkable film for many reasons. One of them being how its protagonists Mitsuha and Taki's paths continuously cross in various ways, resulting in the ultimate meet-cute! The first time Mitsuha and Taki "meet," it's not exactly face to face. The two come to learn about each other when, for reasons unknown to them at the time, they were switching bodies. The two have no way to communicate with each other other than to leave reports on their phones about the day's events so the other isn't completely oblivious to what happened. Because there's not much Mitsuha or Taki can do about the switching, the two decide to do their best navigating the situation and this whole encounter becomes very entertaining to watch.

via FUNimation

Wanting answers to this strange phenomenon, Mitsuha and Taki's search leads them to an unexpected run-in and our second meet-cute. This meet-cute is equal parts romantic with Mitsuha and Taki breaking the boundaries of time to see one another and gut-wrenching as we've learned the truth behind Mitsuha's fate. Because of all the switching, Mitsuha and Taki became well acquainted with each other, and that's apparent in the teaseful banter between the two as they take in the fact they finally found each other. With its accompanying music and animation, this scene is beautiful and all the missed opportunities throughout the film don't even matter anymore.

via FUNimation

After the events of the climax of the movie, it seems that Mitsuha and Taki's memories have faded, and they're living their lives normally. As adults, Mitsuha and Taki spot each other on a train one day and despite not remembering the journey they shared, it's clear to each other that all this time they knew they were searching for someone. Motivated by that feeling, Mitsuha and Taki immediately look for each other, and in that one final moment by the stairs, that last meet cute, they'll finally remember their names.

via FUNimation

Rika and Yuta

I could write novels about how amazingly adorable Love Chunibyo & Other Delusions is as a series, and the relationship between Rika and Yuta is just too cute for words … but here I go!

Yuta is hungry for a fresh start at a new school where no one knows about his past and his embarrassing chunibyo (a term in the Japanese language used to describe a person who manifests delusional behavior, particularly thinking that one has special powers that no other person has) ways, but then he has a chance encounter with his upstairs neighbor, a girl with a wicked eye. Yuta is moving some boxes onto his balcony when he sees a girl scaling down the side of the building. She’s having some trouble finding her footing, so Yuta helps to catch her feet. The foot catching actually becomes a really cute aspect of their relationship later on in the series.

Rika and Yuta’s very first encounter is short and sweet, but then comes the first day of school and their official introduction becomes comically chaotic. At first, Yuta is impressed seeing Rika “open” the automatic train doors with one swish of her hand, but that intriguing first impression turns to fear and some playful taunting when Rika expresses to Yuta she knows about his past chunibyo delusions. From here on out, Rika and Yuta often find themselves together, growing closer as the series goes on, partly because they’re neighbors and classmates, but also because whether Yuta wants to admit it or not, once a chunibyo, always a chunibyo!

Sakura and Syaoran

Okay, I'm going to cheat a little on this one because Sakura and Syaoran's first introduction is a little more tense than endearing, and it's actually when they reunite in Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card that gives you all the warm fuzzies. Sakura Kinomoto just started middle school and her first day is going pretty well. As she's walking home with the cherry blossoms in full bloom, Sakura sees Syaoran waiting with the Sakura bear in hand. Sakura and Syaoran didn't really get their happy ending at the end of the Sakura Card Arc because Syaoran had to go back to Hong Kong, so this meetup is filled with sweet emotions as they finally get to be together in person. Of course, what makes the moment even more lovable is the fact that Tomoyo is close by capturing the enchanting meet-cute on video. This moment also shows just how much Sakura and Syaoron have grown.

When Syaoron is introduced as a transfer student, he couldn't take his eyes off of Sakura, although, the encounter was less goo-goo eyes and more of a menacing stare down. They had never met, but there was so much tension. Over time, both Sakura and Syaoran better understood their feelings, and their second "introduction," if you will, is a complete 180 from where they started.

Kaori and Kousei

Your Lie in April is an emotional series, but it does a great job of blending its sincerity with comedy, and that's abundantly clear when Kaori and Kousei meet for the first time. Kousei agrees to accompany his friend Tsubaki who is setting up their mutual friend Watari with a classmate, Kaori Miyazono. When Kousei arrives early at the meet-up spot, he meets Kaori who's putting on a performance. Although he attempts to take a picture capturing the musical moment, Kaori thinks he's trying to sneak a sexy pic and Kousei soon becomes well-versed in Kaori's dueling personalities. One minute she's beating up on Kousei and the next she is loving up on Watari.

At first, Kousei just assumes Kaori is this free spirit, but then he hears her play the violin. Much of Kousei and Kaori's first introduction centers around Kaori's music, and it's the music that makes their first meeting more than just cute and comical, it also makes it influential. Kousei was captivated by Koari's unstructured style of music, a style in which he had no experience. Their first day was precious and the characters are precious in how they inspire each other.

Nagisa and Tomoya

Ah yes ... Clannad! Anyone who has seen Clannad knows exactly what I mean when I say how ridiculously cute and heartbreakingly sad this anime is. A big part of that has to do with Nagisa and Tomoya, whose first encounter is genuine, encouraging and wastes no time introducing the lovable relationship between the two. Tomoya has a pessimistic attitude about the way his life is going, but it's sweet how on the way to school, Tomoya shares some motivating words to Nagisa, a girl he just met. Tomoya ends up offering some good advice about an issue that's been bothering her. This moment immediately sets up the sweet dynamic between the two, and while this instance appears simple on the surface, knowing what I know now from watching the entire series, this moment is powerful. It truly gives insight into their relationship, supporting and uplifting one another throughout their journeys.

Rinko and Takeo

My Love Story!! is a unique series that is caring, tender, and overall filled with sweetness, and I'm not just talking desserts. The relationship that blossoms between Rinko Yamato and Takeo Gouda is just too pure for this world! Unlike some of the other meet-cutes where the first encounter may be awkward, comical, or playful in demeanor, Takeo literally swoops in like a knight in shining armor the first time he sees Rinko. While riding the train, Rinko is being bothered by a scummy individual. Takeo notices the despicable behavior and immediately intervenes. Rinko is not only grateful for Takeo intervening but for also not allowing the perpetrator to talk ill of her. Takeo is someone who is introduced as having no luck with girls, and although the event leading up to how Rinko and Takeo meet is wrong, what's special about their first encounter is for the first time, someone appreciates and respects Takeo's kind heart instead of just taking advantage of his caring personality. As I said, Rinko and Takeo's relationship is pure and innocent and their first meeting is all about heart and compassion.

Tsukasa and Nasa

I'll admit, Tsukasa and Nasa's actual first meeting is incredibly wacky, seeing as the first time they acknowledge each other's existence in TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You, was by Tsukasa lessening the blow Nasa took when getting hit by a car and then Nasa running on pure adrenaline to find Tsukasa even though he was on the edge of passing out from blood loss. Yeah, it's pretty kooky but oddly adorable? Okay, it's just all kooky but what IS adorable is when Tsukasa and Nasa meet again a few years later and Nasa tries his best to make his new wife happy.

Nasa's never had a girl over to his apartment, let alone a girl who is now his wife. The first night they spend together, Nasa follows Tsukasa's lead, doing what he can to make the new nuptials and living arrangement more welcoming and comfortable for his adoring wife. Nasa also has no problems expressing his emotions and his feelings toward Tsukasa, and even the smallest gesture like holding hands sends him 'over the moon.' Tsukasa and Nasa's relationship moves pretty quickly, but it's charming to watch them fully embrace the relationship.

Usagi and Mamoru

Usagi and Mamoru have one of the most iconic relationships among romance anime. While the two fight side by side for love and justice in Sailor Moon, they didn't always see eye to eye, and their first meet up is the perfect example of that playful, teasing relationship we come to see and adore. Usagi is pretty down in the dumps after performing poorly on an exam and tosses the disappointing test to the side. Instead of hitting the ground, it hits this oh so charming guy in the head. Depending on which version of the series you watch, you'll witness their love-at-first-sight, butterflies-in-your-stomach moment, or Usagi taking shots at Mamoru's iconic purple pleated pants, and of course the birth of the meatball head/bunhead nickname!

via Hulu

What are some of your favorite anime meet-cutes? Let us know in the comments!

Pro hero Veronica Valencia is an anime-loving hot sauce enthusiast! You can follow more of her work as a host, writer, and producer on Twitter and Instagram.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: Veronica Valencia

#Anime #News #Latest in Anime News by Crunchyroll!

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hannahsfanficsforyou · 4 years

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A Whole New World Pt. 8

Me and Aaliyah get up and I get ready for the job. “You sure you can do this? I mean you are going to have to use magic to heal and restore nature and fertile ground to the whole village, I hope you have enough stored up to do it.” Aaliyah says while getting reading. “Yeah yeah I think I’ll be fine, let’s go, no time like the present!” I grab the flyer and we both head out.

After checking out of hotel room we find the village leader who posted the job, “my my you are both quite young, I hope you can do it” I just smile “I’m sure I can don’t worry ma’am, I’ll come back after I’m done, and I’m sure you’ll know when I finish.” Me and Aaliyah walk to the center of the village. I sigh and stretch a bit and crack my neck to hype myself up.

“Okay here goes nothing” I say as I kneel down putting both my hands on the ground and feeling the earth beneath my fingertips. I can definitely feel the dead- ness of this area, but I think I can fix it, it’s gonna cost a lot of magic for this whole village but, no going back now. I breathe in and out and close my eyes and begin the spell of regrowth “Bring back life to this earth, take the soil and nature and bring life back to this once green town, incrementum!” (Latin for regrowth im not creative) as I feel magic flow through my body after a bit I realize how truly taxing this spell is, but I keep pushing. After a bit I start to sweat and my body really starts to take the toll of the spell, ah come on Hannah you can do this you are almost there I can feel it

I keep pushing myself as the spell is almost complete on the whole village I’m panting and feel my body going almost numb. I almost pass out but manage to complete the spell and I open my eyes and the village is flush green with new flowers in bloom all around us. I smile as I fall over on what feels like the verge of death but I manage to laugh as Aaliyah quickly rushes to me and shakes me “I’m okay, just need some rest, I can’t really move my body right now”

As I say that laying there on the rejuvenated dirt I feel a rumbling coming deep from the Earth under us. “What the hell is happening” Aaliyah says as she gets up, I can barely turn my head to look as a giant creature burst from the ground near the edge of the village. My eyes go wide but I still can’t move my body “Oh fuck!” Aaliyah shouts “Hannah just stay here I’ll go try to fight it off” she says as she runs towards it.

“Aaliyah wait” I say trying to move my arm weakly, shit Hannah, you did this didn’t you? Doing the spell that healed the Earth here must have awakened this monster. Aaliyah can’t take it on by herself, oh god help us. I try to move again but still can’t find any energy in my body, “shit come on move you stupid body help your friend!” I say with tears pricking my eyes but my body stays still. All I can do is look as Aaliyah does fire magic on the monster but it seems almost resilient to it.

It grabs her and starts to squeeze her “No stop! Aaliyah!” I try to scream as I move my arm a bit but I start panicking and my brain gets dizzy from trying to move around too much. Suddenly over the panic of people running around I see a huge blast of lightning hit the monster and I see it go down almost immediately. My eyes widen again “could it be...” and I see a large figure walking towards me and “oh shit” I say as Laxus towers over me while I’m laying down. He looks angry beyond belief but he also looks... worried?

He sighs and picks me up carrying me bridal style, and if I wasn’t on the verge of passing out I would have probably blushed like crazy being so close to him, and him carrying me, but I’m way to tired to care. “Aaliyah..” i say barely able to get her name out and he looks down at me “Shes fine, Freed is getting her.” I smile “thank you god” I whisper before passing out in Laxus’s arms.

When I wake up I look around and sit up in a bed “where..Oww crap” I say holding my head, “God I feel hungover again’ I groan before all my memories come back from when I passed out and I look around before my eyes land on a glaring Laxus sitting in a chair next to my bed. I gulp and look away unable to keep eye contact with him “s-so, why are you here” I wait but he doesn’t say anything so I slowly turn my head and meet his intense gaze.

He sighs loudly “really? That’s what you have to say not thank you Laxus for saving me, my teammate and a whole village? Not, I shouldn’t have stole that S class job?”

I sigh and flop back down onto the bed “Look, arg okay yes, thank you, I appreciate the help but to be fair I did the job, that monster wasn’t in the description, it just, happened.” I say grumbling and rolling over.

I can feel his eyes burning a hole into my back “that’s another reason, if you were an S class you could have handled that monster, when you are an S class wizard you need to be prepared for the unexpected, it’s a tough job and you weren’t ready to take it, you have to earn that right. Luckily no one was hurt” Laxus said surprisingly sounding levelheaded.

I sigh and roll back over clutching a pillow and give him a downcast look “I know... I really am sorry I just, wanted to see if I could handle it, I had trained a lot in the month you were gone and I’ve gotten a lot stronger, I just wanted to push my limits, I mean I have to, I need to save...Er just never mind.” I say pushing my face into the pillow I was holding for a second before peaking back out of it “did we at least get the money for the job” I ask timidly and he glares again.

“Yes, but I feel like I shouldn’t even give it to you.” He says but he puts it on the nightstand next to me anyways. “You can have half of it if you want, you did help after all.” I comment.

He rolls his eyes “No I don’t want or need any of that money, besides” a smirk forms on his face “It’s enough to see whatever punishment the master has planned for you and Aaliyah when you get back for breaking a rule.” at his words my eyes widen and a chill runs down my spine. “I’m not getting kicked out am I...” I say feeling the anxiety in the pit of my stomach.

He chuckles “no, but you better not break anymore rules or who knows.” I sigh in relief but the ‘punishment’ whatever it’s going to be is still in the back of my mind. I sit up again “so where is Aaliyah and Freed” I ask.

“They went ahead and took a train back together since I told them I would stay with you until you woke up and were alright.” He says and I snicker a bit “oohh alone on a long train ride together hmmm interesting hehe”

Laxus just raises an eyebrow at my ambiguous words but I just grin at him, “oh it’s nothing” I say before sliding to the edge of the bed and standing up. Laxus stands up with me, probably in case I was going to fall but I stood on my own. “Hmm, that nap helped a lot, thanks for taking me here, I guess we should hurry and buy the next train ticket back to Magnolia.” I say grabbing my bag.

Laxus chuckles deeply “oh, no no we aren’t taking a train, we are walking back, my own little punishment for making me come out here on a train to get you, I have motion sickness didn’t you know” I make a face at him “Umm, no? Big bad Laxus gets motion sickness..Wait I thought only dragon slayers got sick from vehicles?” I say and he shrugs “I am a dragon slayer” and my mouth drops.

“WHAT? Since when? You weren’t raised by a dragon, the fuck?” I say in shock and he rolls his eyes “I had a lightning dragon slayer lacrima implanted in me as a kid alright, so I’m like an artificial one.” My mouth is still agape and eye squinted thinking about his words and then it clicks “ohhhhhh, that’s how you heard me those time, and you did sense me when I was sneaking up to get the S class job! You looked right at me and honestly it was terrifying.”

He smirked “yeah I could smell you but I didn’t go up there because I couldn’t see you, just thought it was your sent left from where you were earlier, should have known to go up there and try to grab you, would have saved me the trouble of having to come all this way. How come I couldn’t see you anyways? What other tricks are up your sleeve? I thought you just had nature magic” and I shrug “I mean it kinda is, I just camouflage or blend in with my surroundings, like a nature defense mechanism. Impressive huh.” I say smirking with my hands behind my back as I lean forward toward him in a playful manner. He leans down close to me and I blush before he says in his deep husky voice “maybe a little impressive” before backing off again.

I clear my throat and grab the money I earned and put it in my bag “well it’s like a long ass walk right so we should probably get going.” I say as I put my bag on my shoulder. “Ready when you are.” he says throwing his bag over his shoulder before and strolling out of the room. I follow behind him trying to keep up with his pace as he checks out of the room and we head out.

___________________________________________________

*POV change*

Meanwhile Aaliyah and Freed are sitting next to each other on a train ride back to Magnolia. “You know this was a reckless thing to do, even if you did the job successfully Mira still would have known a job was taken without going through her first especially an S class job.” Freed says with a concerned look in his eyes.

Aaliyah sighs “I know I tried to tell Hannah it was dumb but she really wanted to test how far she had trained and she probably would have gone without me so I agreed to come to try and keep an eye on her at least.”

Freed hums in agreement “Well I’m glad you are both safe and we arrived in time to fend off that monster and you both are alright in the end. Hm, but Hannah really did heal the village despite that, her magic has grown considerably, yours too, you did some good damage to that monster, it was just unlucky it was resistant to fire or you might have had a chance of defeating it.” He says giving her a smile.

Aaliyah returns it “thank you, yeah that monster really wasn’t part of the job, I don’t even think the villagers knew it was hiding down there, we sure as hell didn’t, I mean Hannah did the job and I was surprised she pulled it off, even though she passed out after I’m glad shes okay too, and getting squeezed by that monster was not fun that’s for sure, I owe you and Laxus one.”

Freed chuckles “yes well, Master also has a punishment for you both breaking a rule when you get back which I’m sure won’t be too bad, since you and Hannah haven’t broken any rules other than that and it’s just your first offence I’m sure he’ll go easy on you. Just try not to make it a habit, for your own sake.”

Aaliyah looks at him with a worried look “oh great a punishment, just what I’m looking forward to. At least we still got the money for the job, so it wasn’t all bad.” She yawns and Freed looks down to see her head rested against his arm and that she’s fallen a sleep. He smiles down at her and makes sure not to move as to not wake her up.

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imaginethebeautifulworld · 6 years

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71- and what was ur fave thing about each of them? and for the us, can you do states??

71: Countries you’ve visited?

United States

PennsylvaniaI love the fact that in PA, you just can’t escape the trees. The forest is everywhere. Deal with it.

New YorkI’ve only been to New York a couple of times, and each of those times was to the Big Apple. My favorite thing about NYC I think is how no one bats an eye your way. No one asks questions, and it’s kind of great. (That’s the image I got anyway).

New JerseyNew Jersey is kind of one of those layover states for me- a place that I’m only passing through to get somewhere else. But I did have the chance to stay at my roommate’s house when we were getting ready to head to Newark to fly to London. She’s the granddaughter of some really rich dude- Her house is big enough to fit my entire village in, no lie. She took us to her local mall, and I was faced with the blooming reality that there are actually people out there that can spend $3785 on a single pair of shoes and not bat an eye. She is among those. But she also now knows how to thrift shop like a boss, and I think we really balanced each other out in that end.

MarylandI’ve only driven through Maryland, sadly. But as it stands now, my favorite part is probably that it’s the state where one of my homies lives. Oh! And the Baltimore Barnes and Noble! They had a kickass train set in their children’s section, and I spent a good portion of my afternoon there. Got a full set of Shakespeare there~

VirginiaI’ve been to Virginia once in my life, and that was for my high school senior class trip. We hit up Busch Gardens (where I rode my first upside down roller coaster ever), Virginia Beach (my first time seeing the ocean, where I decided to run as far in as physically possible while wearing jeans and all my outer layers), and Norfolk (where I and my best friend hopped aboard a wedding cruise, were mistaken as wedding guests, and basically completely avoided our classmates as we danced with the wedding party and shared stories under the stars with the bridesmaids.) For Virginia- it was the memories. Good, good memories. But mostly Busch Gardens. I love the way that park is set up; each section is based off another country. Highly recommend the pretzels in their Germany, by the way. And check out the Loch Ness Monster- it goes into a tower and- Yes. Terrifying. Love it.

United Kingdom

EnglandMy beautiful, precious England. Lived in the centre of Westminster for about six months, and I had never been happier. I did get to visit a few places outside of London- Rochester, Nottingham, Sherwood, Bath, Dover, Canterbury, Stonehenge- but not as many as I would have liked. For England as a whole, I adored how easy it was to travel around the country- the public transportation there is leagues beyond anything the US could hope to find within the next decade. As for London- I feel I’m a bit more of an expert on this from living there. London- Despite being one of the bigger cities in the world, it never felt crowded? I only was overwhelmed by the size in my first week (then I explored a bit and realised it’s honestly one of the easiest cities I’ve ever had to navigate), My favorite part about England was that, no matter where I was in the country, despite being completely different soil (sometimes brick red, sometimes white chalk), it always felt like I was home. I’ve never fallen in love with a human, but the emotions I feel in regards to London- I find it’s comparible. I didn’t want to leave. I’ve been stateside for over 2 years now, and every day my heart still pangs in longing for the Belgian waffles outside Baker Street station, the roasted chestnuts that are floating around between Tate Modern and the Millenium Bridge, the annoying voice of the lady at Charing Cross always reminding you to “mind the gap,” the houseboats of the Romani in Regent’s canal, Little Venice, the way the hot cocoa from Pret a Manger is so rich that it just melts in your mouth, the peppercorn sauce from Garfunkle’s, the secret gardens in Regent’s Park, the divine massages that come with every new hair style, the salt in the air, the brilliant colours alligning the Queen’s Walk (whether you’re heading towards Southwark or Victoria), and the constant, spontaneous hailstorms that go totally vertical if you’re on Westiminster Bridge.London- London was honestly a dream come true, and as the real world creeps ever closer, I’m becoming more resigned to never having the opportunity to go there again.

ScotlandI only got to spend a couple of days in Aberdeen. We three (my roommate, her boyfriend, and myself) were going to visit Edinborough, but after comparing costs, we realised it was way cheaper to rent an apartment in the coastal city than it was to rent individual beds in the latter. We explored the coast, found a mall, saw a film, I flirted with a cop, befriended a couple of cats, discovered an abandoned castle- Scotland was the most peaceful place I have ever been. I would be entirely content with a small flat somewhere in Aberdeen- The library was very much like one in one of our coal towns, the theatre is active, the shopping district is lively, Primark of course has wonderful selections, and there is a lovely deli/cafe hidden away that makes the best homemade lollis I have ever tasted.

France

I think I would have enjoyed France a lot more if I hadn’t gone in the spring. As it was, I visited Paris (and Versailles!) during my Easter Break, and for the first two days, I was extremely disappointed. Paris itself is amazing; the food at any pop-up stand is to die for (totally recommend the Croque Monsieur served at the open-air stands in Jardins de Tuileries!), you can buy really fucking good wine at any grocery store for less than 10 quid, and there are little secret nooks and crannies you would never expect. However, the city itself smells like shit, and the homeless population is almost overwhelming. It was by far not the cleanest city I toured while in Europe, but it was definitely the… There is gold in most of the buildings, and a certain romanticism that is purely French in itself. My third day, the sun was out, and I did most of my exploration then. If you abandon the Metro, you’ll find gold (literally). You just have to… Learn to ignore the negatives and appreciate the positives. Perhaps one day I’ll return, and give her another chance. When that happens, I’ll take someone with me.

Belgium

Belgium was quiet, there were swans everywhere, I met at least four cats in each of the three cities I explored, and it’s the perfect blend of Germanic architecture and French linguistics to make my heart skip a beat. In Ypres, I found some really cool looking in-ground huts, and a giant wooden cat sculpture in the town square (all cobblestones, by the way). My afternoon was complete when I saw a tractor just roll on through the main streets like it was a normal thing. In Oostende, I was nearly blown into the sea by a squall and found the most romantic little park I’ve ever come across. In Brugge, I danced with an older gentleman playing an accordian, sampled more chocolate than should be tolerated, threw a bottle of beer at a party I wasn’t even invited to, and accidentally found a thrift store and befriended the elderly couple who managed it. I also purchased a watercolor from a local artist and his fiance, both of whom I’m still penpals with to this day. Belgium was quiet, peaceful, and perhaps the most genuinely friendly of countries I’ve wandered.

Netherlands

Another in which I went with my roomie and her boyfriend. We stayed in Amsterdam, and oooh boy there were some moments. At one store, I was mistaken for a local and had a gentleman start talking to me in Dutch. We toured the Jewish Historical Museum; it was the first time I had seen my roomie brought to tears simply by being in a room. There was a carnival in the Red Light District, and we bought a cotton candy that was bigger than our three heads combined. I loved Amsterdam because it was probably one of the most laid-back, cleanest places I have ever seen.

Italy

Spent my birthday in Rome, took a train to Venice. Rome is easily walkable, but be warned that it’s mostly cobblestones and there are a lot of hilly spots; don’t wear shoes you haven’t broken in yet, no matter how cute they are. Don’t take pictures with the guys dressed up; they’ll try to charge you about 5 quid per photo. If you’re craving pizza, there is a tiny, almost invisible pizzeria just across the road from the Spanish Steps. Buy yourself a whole pie; it’s worth the 8 quid. I liked Rome for the mere fact that it felt like a foreign city. It had distinctly contemporary aspects to it, but the orange trees, the heat, the dry air- that was all a new experience for me. I honestly wish I had been there for more than a day. As for Venice- we (my roomie’s bf and me- We scored a deal on Groupon for flights, hotes, train ride for Rome and Venice for two, and we met up with my roomie in Venice with her folks, who had taken her to Florence and Naples) splurged on 1 euro gelato, the best damn apples I have ever found, really bad films- That was just the first night. Our train ride had us sitting across two glorious lads from Brighton- I don’t think they actually had any luggage; their sacks were filled with at least five bottles of wine and half the breakfast buffet. The second day in Venice, we toured the city, moved from our hotel to a private apartment that my roomie’s parents rented, and I discovered the joys of premade toast with nutella, Italian bridal showers, and befriending the local fishermen. The food, the culture, the drinks- well, the wine. I will never do limoncello again in this lifetime. The absynthe in Paris was leagues better, and that��s saying something.- Venice is- There’s something almost mystical about the place. The water trickles all around you, and the wind whispers in old dusty walls. It’s a complete maze, and some corners you turn into have no ending, no life. And’s almost completely walking, which only adds to the whimsy. I- Venice was magical, and I hope I can return to explore on my own before she succumbs to the sea.

Vatican City

Stopped by while in Rome, and I was super disappointed by the hellishly long queue waiting to go into the Chapel. My traveling buddy and I instead opted to explore the mini city within the tiny nation. We found the ATM that has Latin as an option, and played a small round of catch with a young Swiss boy who was there with his grandparents. I feel bad as I don’t really have much feedback on Vatican City, but I can say at least the exterior architecture is ace.

Spain

Oh Spain. Where to begin? Barcelona houses the best gelato out of all the cities I toured (with a small exception to the Gelati Leche I found in Rome, but it still dominates in Vanilla and Chocolate.) The beach is wonderful, the waters were so blue it was almost like looking at the sky again. Our Irish buddy was with us, and it was the first time someone taunted me enough to swim out into the sea deep enough that I could no longer touch the bottom. Again, I always underestimate how much I like being in water, so I didn’t pack a change of clothes that first day. We did do some exploring and some shopping, but the best part after the hours spent on the beach was finding an Italian restaurant that was playing Spice Girls’ music videos in the background, while the owners spoke in French. Spain was the last trip I did while abroad, and the flight home was to Finals Week, and my last week in London. Our flight home brought with it the sunrise over France, knowledge that I was coming to a new chapter of my life, one I still haven’t written yet. But the greatest and most transformative moment came after we had returned.Traffic was fucking shite man. I didn’t get back to school until about halfway through my one history final, so late that I didn’t even go to my room. I hauled ass in with my big backpack, my notes in my free hand, panic written on my face, desperation in my words. Unofrtunately, the professor could not by contract allow me to take the exam. However, in a private meeting later, he asked me to confide what grade I needed to earn full credits back in the States. On account of my earlier performance, he gave me the grade, assured me that I “would have gotten an A anyway; I know you know your history,” and only gave me a brief chiding on poorly timed scheduling.Somehow though, I didn’t mind. I should have been more upset about missing an exam- a Final, no less!- but in comparison to everything I had done that weekend-Spain taught me that sometimes in life, there will be conflicting paths. Both will give you an opportunity, but it’s up to you to decide which one to take. I chose the path that gave me more stories to tell, gave me memories of soft sand and amazing french fries and complimenting strangers over breakfast, gave me a hat and a hand-painted fan that I couldn’t have found anywhere else. I chose to follow my heart, and while I may not have gained the A I wanted for that module, I earned something that can never be replaced.Spain taught me that life is short, and while there are goals you will want to reach, don’t push aside those chances to live a little.In The EndI miss traveling. I want to see more of the US, I want to visit friends and family in Ukraine, Phillipines, Louisiana, Madagascar, Russia, Germany, and Brazil. But for now, I’m here. For now, I’m bettering myself in the small ways. The world is so much bigger and far more wonderful than you could even begin to imagine. I may never see Nepal or Alaska, I might never get a chance to explore the Amazon or wander Kenya. But what I can do is keep collecting each memory, every moment, keep it all close to my heart. Because those little moments?

Those are what make the adventure truly amazing.

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