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itsmealaiah · 3 months

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Hiii I'm a huge fan of ur works ❤️❤️❤️

I was wondering could u make a 2023 to 2024 tom and bill x reader the used to all be best friends but when tom got married hidei klum tells tom to cut reader off because she's jealous of her now so he did making reader go mia and hide from social media now in 2024 they rekindle and if u can could it be smut ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Once again I'm a huge fan

aww ❤️

Missing some action

tags/ warnings: author being a forgetful bitch and not putting bill in here, cheating/ adultery, multiple rounds of smut, getting caught in the act

Not proofread at all!

MDNI ⚠️ don't like don't read or leave hate

Disclaimer: nothing against heidi yall

pairing: tom x fem

may and will not be used in any other capacity besides this blog, do not translate, copy and paste, or claim as your own. we've had many issues with this in the past three months.

It had been four long years since the last time I had seen Tom Kaulitz. He used to be my best friend, the one person who understood me like no other. But then he married Heidi Klum, and everything changed. She grew jealous of our friendship, of the time we spent together, of the closeness we shared. So, she demanded that Tom choose between her and me. Of course, he chose her. I wasn't surprised, but it still hurt. A lot.

She made it clear that she didn't want me in their lives anymore, and Tom seemed to agree. I was heartbroken, but I had no choice but to leave them alone. I went off grid, deleted all my social media accounts, and tried to move on with my life. I focused on my career, my friends, and family. Time passed, and the pain eased a little, but it never truly went away.

Four years later, I received an invitation to Tom and Heidi's anniversary party. I didn't want to go, but my mom insisted. "You need to face your past and move on, sweetheart," she said, handing me the crumpled piece of paper with the address on it. As I got dressed for the event, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and dread. What if Tom didn't even want to see me after all this time?

When I arrived at the party, I immediately felt out of place. The atmosphere was so different from the ones we used to share. The guests were all dressed to the nines, sipping expensive champagne, and laughing too loudly. I searched the crowd for Tom, hoping to avoid him for as long as possible. But then, I heard a familiar voice calling my name.

It was him. Tom looked different somehow, more grown up and self-assured. He was still as handsome as ever, with those piercing brown eyes that used to make my heart race. He was standing there with Heidi at his side, her arm looped through his, a smug smile playing on her lips. They both looked so happy together.

I hesitated for a moment, my heart thudding in my chest. Should I go over and say hello? Or should I just turn around and walk away? Before I could make a decision, Tom broke away from Heidi and walked towards me. His steps were slow and deliberate, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia as I remembered the countless times we used to run into each other's arms and hug.

When he finally reached me, he took my hands in his and smiled warmly. "It's good to see you, y/n. I've missed you." His voice was soft and sincere, and it sent a shiver down my spine. "I'm sorry for the way things ended between us. I never meant for it to happen that way." He looked at me with those eyes, and it was like he was seeing right through me.

"It's okay, Tom. I understand." I forced a smile, trying to hide the ache in my heart. "It's good to see you too." I glanced around, feeling the need to break the awkward silence. "Heidi is looking lovely tonight."

He chuckled softly. "She is, isn't she? Well, come on. Let me introduce you to some people." He took my hand and led me through the crowd. As we walked, I couldn't help but notice how his touch sent tingles up my spine, how his presence still made my heart skip a beat.

"So, what have you been up to?" he asked, his voice low and intimate. "How's work? How's your family?" I told him about my latest project, my parents, my sister. He listened attentively, nodding along, occasionally asking questions. It felt so natural, like we were picking up right where we left off.

"I've been meaning to ask you," I said, hesitating for a moment. "How are things with you and Heidi?"

He smiled, but there was a sadness in his eyes. "We're doing well, I suppose. But things aren't always as perfect as they seem." He looked away, lost in thought. "I can't help but wonder sometimes what might have been, you know?"

I nodded, my heart aching for him. I knew exactly what he meant. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Heidi glaring at us from across the room. Her expression was a mixture of anger and jealousy, and it made me feel guilty all over again.

"Well," I said, trying to change the subject. "I should probably find my mom and thank her for bringing me here. It was nice seeing you, Tom." I reached up and kissed his cheek, feeling his skin warm beneath my lips.

He took my hand in his and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you for coming, y/n. I'm glad we could talk. Maybe we could do this again, when Heidi's not around." His voice was barely a whisper, but I could tell he meant it.

As I made my way through the crowd, I couldn't help but think about our conversation. Despite being married to Heidi, there was still a spark between us. A part of me wondered if we could ever find our way back to each other. But then again, Heidi was his wife, and they seemed happy enough together.

A few weeks passed, and I received an unexpected invitation from Tom. He wanted me to come over while Heidi was away on business. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was a good idea. After all, we had both moved on with our lives. But something about his words, the way he'd looked at me that night at the party, made me feel like I couldn't say no.

When the day finally arrived, I found myself nervously pacing in front of my mirror, trying to decide what to wear. I wanted to look nice, but not too nice. After all, I didn't want Tom to get the wrong idea. I eventually settled on a casual blouse and a pair of comfortable jeans. I didn't want to seem desperate or overeager, but I also didn't want to appear indifferent. It was a delicate balancing act.

As I drove to his house, my stomach was in knots. What would we talk about? Would we end up arguing about Heidi? Or would we be able to find some common ground, some semblance of the connection we'd once shared? I didn't know the answers to these questions, but I felt compelled to find out.

When I arrived at Tom's house, I found him sitting on the patio, a glass of wine in hand. He looked up as I approached, and the smile that spread across his face warmed me to my core. He stood, taking my hand in his, and pulled me into a gentle embrace. The touch of his skin against mine sent shivers down my spine, and for a moment, it felt like no time had passed at all.

"You look beautiful," he whispered into my ear. "Just like you did that night at the party." He let go of me, stepping back to take in my appearance.

"Well, thank you," I replied, feeling my cheeks flush. "You don't look so bad yourself." I gestured toward the chair opposite him. "Can I sit?"

He nodded, motioning for me to sit down. "Please, make yourself comfortable." As he sat back down across from me, I couldn't help but notice the slight awkwardness between us. We both seemed to be searching for something to say, something to break the silence.

"So," I began, trying to find my footing. "How have you been? How's the band?"

He smiled, shrugging nonchalantly. "Oh, you know, same old, same old. Heidi's been busy with her show, so I've been taking care of things at home. It's actually been kind of nice, having some time to myself. We've been doing alright, you know?" His eyes met mine, and there was a question in them. A question that I couldn't quite answer.

The silence that fell between us was thick, almost palpable. I could feel my cheeks flush as I wondered what he was thinking. Had I read too much into his words at the party? Was he truly happy with Heidi, or was there still a part of him that longed for something more? I wanted to believe the latter, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was just fooling myself.

As if sensing my discomfort, Tom reached out, taking my hand in his. His skin was warm against mine, sending shivers up my spine. "I'm glad you came over tonight," he said softly. "It's been�� difficult, you know? Being so close to you, but not being able to…" His voice trailed off, his gaze searching mine for some sign of understanding.

I wanted to reassure him, to tell him that I felt the same way. That the connection we'd shared wasn't something that could be so easily forgotten. But instead, I found myself leaning in closer, pressing my lips against his. The kiss was slow, gentle at first, but as it deepened, so did the passion between us. His hand moved up my thigh, and I gasped against his mouth.

The sound seemed to fuel his desire, and he pulled me closer, his other hand tangled in my hair. I could feel the heat of his body pressed against mine, and it sent a shiver through me. The air around us seemed to crackle with anticipation, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing. We needed this. We needed each other.

With a growl, he lifted me up onto his arms. I gasped as I felt his lips brush against my neck, and then lower, sucking gently on the skin there. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and my heart raced in my chest. As if it were a reflex, my hands found their way under his shirt, tracing the hard planes of his stomach before moving higher, to cup his firm chest. He moaned into the kiss, pressing me harder against him.

He carried me toward the bedroom, kicking the bedroom door open with his foot. I giggled, feeling giddy with desire as he threw me onto the bed. My heart hammered in my chest as he stripped off his shirt, revealing his toned, muscular chest. He crawled on top of me, his weight pressing me into the mattress. His lips found mine again, and he kissed me hungrily, his tongue thrusting deep into my mouth.

His hands moved lower, tugging at my clothes, desperate to feel my skin against his. In a frenzy of need, he ripped my blouse open, sending buttons flying across the room. I arched my back, offering him easier access, as he pulled my bra free, releasing my breasts from their confines. He groaned, his hot breath fanning across my nipples, and then lowered his head, taking one of them into his mouth. I cried out, my hips bucking off the bed as he sucked and teased.

My own hands wandered over his body, exploring the defined muscles of his back and shoulders. I reached down between us, tugging at his belt, unfastening his pants. His erection sprang free, and I reached out, wrapping my hand around it, feeling the heat and the strength in my palm. He groaned again, arching his back into my touch.

"God, you're so fucking beautiful," he breathed against my skin. "I've missed this." He rolled onto his side, pressing his body against mine. His lips found my earlobe, and he nipped at it gently before moving lower, kissing his way down my neck and across my collarbone. I gasped, feeling his hot breath on my skin, as he pushed two fingers into me, slowly and deliberately. I cried out, my hips arching off the bed in response to the intrusion.

He smiled against my skin, his fingers moving deeper, curling inside me. His other hand found its way up, cupping my breast, his thumb rubbing roughly over my nipple. I mewled, feeling the delicious ache building inside me. I wanted more, and I knew he could give it to me. I reached down between us, wrapping my hand around his erection, stroking him in time with his movements inside me. His breath hitched, his fingers thrusting deeper, faster.

The bed creaked beneath us as he rolled us over, me now on top. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, there was a flicker of uncertainty there. But then it was gone, replaced by a fierce determination that only served to fuel my own desire. His hands moved to my hips, and he urged me down onto him, his erection pressing against my entrance.

I groaned, the sensation sending a wave of pleasure through me. I lowered myself further, feeling the head of his cock nudge against my opening. With a growl, he thrust upward, piercing me with his length. I cried out, my hips rocking in a frenzy off the bed as he filled me completely. His hands moved to my shoulders, holding me in place as he began to move, his body sliding against mine in a rhythm that was both familiar and exhilarating.

He kissed me roughly, his tongue thrusting deep into my mouth, as if he couldn't get close enough. His hips rose and fell, each thrust driving him deeper inside me. I arched my back, meeting his movements with equal fervor, my nails digging into his shoulders. The sound of our breaths and skin slapping together filled the room, drowning out everything else.

His pace quickened, and I felt myself on the edge of orgasm. I tightened my grip on him, urging him on, begging for more. With a growl, he pulled out of me and rolled me onto my stomach. I felt his hot breath on my neck as he spanked my ass, once, twice. The stinging sensation only served to heighten my arousal, and I moaned loudly.

His fingers pressed against me, slipping easily inside. He thrust them deep, curling them in a way that sent waves of pleasure through me. "That's it," he groaned, his voice rough with desire. "Give it all to me." His other hand moved to my breast, tweaking my nipple roughly as he continued to pump his fingers inside me.

I arched my back, moaning in ecstasy as I felt him fill me, felt the strength and heat of his body against mine. I reached down between us, taking his erection in my hand, stroking it in time with his movements inside me. He growled, thrusting harder, deeper, as if he couldn't get close enough.

His fingers moved to my clit, circling it expertly, and I cried out, my hips bucking wildly against his touch. The sensation was overwhelming, exquisite, and I felt myself on the brink of orgasm. He smiled against my neck, his lips moving to my ear. "That's it, baby. Let it go."

With a final thrust, he buried himself inside me, his body trembling as he came, his hot seed spilling into me. I felt my own orgasm crash over me, waves of pleasure washing through my body as I cried out his name. Our sweat-slicked bodies moved together in perfect rhythm, each breath, each moan, echoing in the room.

Finally, he collapsed on top of me, his weight pressing me into the mattress. I could feel his heart racing against my back, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. I wrapped my legs around him, holding him close, savoring the feel of his skin against mine.

"God, y/n," he murmured into my hair. "I didn't think you'd be so… so responsive." His hips rocked slowly against mine, and I felt him grow harder inside me. It was as if he hadn't just filled me to the brim with his seed, as if he were still hungry for more.

His hands moved up my sides, cupping my breasts. He rolled my nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, sending a shiver through my entire body. I arched my back, pressing myself deeper into his touch. "Please," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Don't stop."

He smiled against my skin and began to move faster, harder. His breath came in ragged gasps, and I could feel his muscles tense beneath my fingers. I wrapped my legs around his waist, feeling the strength and power of his body as he drove into me. He was relentless, driving me higher and higher with each thrust.

My head tilted back, and I let out a moan of pure pleasure as he found my sweet spot. His name fell from my lips in a plea, a demand. He answered with a growl, his hips slamming against mine in a frenzy. I felt my own orgasm building, growing more intense with each passing second.

With one final thrust, he buried himself deep inside me, his body shuddering as he came. My orgasm crashed over me in a wave of bliss, and I cried out his name, my body arching off the bed as my pleasure consumed me.

He collapsed on top of me, his weight pressing me into the mattress, his breath coming in ragged gasps. For a moment, we lay entwined, his heart racing against my back, our sweat-slicked skin sticking together. It was as if time had stopped, as if the world outside this room didn't exist.

He rolled to his side, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at me. His eyes roamed over my flushed face and heated skin, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Well," he said with a grin, "I guess I'm not the only one who needed this."

I reached up, tracing a finger along his jawline. "No, I don't think you are," I replied, my voice still breathless from our passion. "But I don't regret it. Not for a second."

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. "Good," he whispered. "Because I think… I think we might need to do this again." His hand moved down between my legs, and I gasped as his fingers found their way back to my swollen, sensitive flesh.

His fingers moved over me in a familiar rhythm, and I arched my back, pressing myself against his touch. The pleasure coursing through my body was almost overwhelming, and I could feel my orgasm building once more. "Oh, God, yes," I moaned, my hips moving in time with his hand.

Tom watched me intently, his eyes dark with desire. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. He leaned in, capturing my lips with his, his tongue tracing their shape. I could feel the strength of him pressed against me, his heart racing wildly beneath my fingertips. Heat spread through my body like a wildfire, and with each thrust, he drove deeper inside me, claiming me in a way that felt both possessive and tender.

"what the actual fuck" I looked up, my eyes barely opening.

Heidi

#tokio hotel #tokio hotel x reader #tokio hotel x you #tom kaulitz #tom kaulitz imagines #tom kaulitz x reader #tom kaulitz fluff #tom kaulitz angst #tom kaulitz smut #tom kaulitz x y/n #tom kaulitz x you

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honestlyspookytyphoon · 10 months

Text

Moving In And Moving On

Summary: After months of being for sale, the house across Pascale’s is sold to a young woman, Y/N. When summer comes, both women have grown close and Pascale tries to set her up with her son, Charles. However, unbeknownst to Pascale, Y/N happens to be the woman who broke Charles’ heart not so long ago…

Pairing: Charles Leclerc x female reader, but Pascale turned out to be the main character lol

Warnings: Angst (fed by a cruel thing called reality) – Brief mentions of loved ones passing away – The ending sucks, but I could not come up with anything better for now

Word count: +/- 2.5k

Author’s note: This piece was initially written as part 2 to ‘Cake, coffee and…Charles’, but it can also be read as a standalone. English is not my first language, so please forgive me any grammar mistakes and incoherent writing.

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Pascale was surprised when the ‘For Sale’-sign disappeared out of the front garden from the house across hers. The house had been empty since the elderly owners – Philippe and Lydia, two 80-plussers who had been together for over 65 years - moved to a care home several years ago and after both of them passed away, the family decided to sell it.

For the entire 15 years Pascale has been living in the neighbourhood, the house has been there. She warmed up to the elderly couple living across her quite soon and since then, Pascale had been there many times to chat or to help Philippe and Lydia with gardening or housekeeping when they were having health issues. In a way, the house was a part of her life. That is why, in a fit of nostalgia and melancholy, she decided to get the spare key and cross the street to visit the house one last time, before it would be teared down.

Pascale starts her tour in the small garden at the back, in which rare flowers used to blossom. She lively remembered the times when Philippe and Lydia brought her a small bouquet of these flowers to thank her, just because. Now, these flowers are all gone, overgrown by weed. From the garden, Pascale spots the small balcony at the side of the house, from which you have an amazing view of the surroundings. Philippe would sometimes serenade Lydia from below, knowing these romantic things riled her up the wall. Another fond memory of ancient times.

When Pascale enters the house, it is pitch black and musty. She tries to open the blinds but they are rusted. The power is out as well, so she uses the flashlight of her phone to get one last look of the interior. Despite the deck of dust and the fact that it surely is outdated – the house was built somewhere in the 1960’s –, the interior still creates a feeling of coming home, a safe haven. This feeling also appealed to Pascale’s three sons, who visited Philippe and Lydia from to time when they were young as the house looked like their grandparents’, who passed away too soon. When reminiscing the fond memories of her sons with ‘Phi and Ly’, she spots a picture of the five of them on the dresser. She remembers taking the picture during one of the many cookie-baking sprees on Wednesday afternoon: Lorenzo’s eyes were shooting daggers at Arthur for eating all the cookies, Charles was nickering and Philippe and Lydia were looking fondly at the three menaces in front of them. She gifted them the picture on their 60th anniversary and she never forgot their heartfelt reactions. Feeling tears welling up in her eyes, Pascale decides to take the picture with her before exiting via the back door. It was a house full of memories and history and Pascale hoped that the new owners could feel that too.

A few days after Pascale’s visit, the new owner arrived: Y/N, a 26-year-old woman. Since the house Y/N bought was old, much work needed to be done to meet current requirements and increase the comfort. As Y/N is just at the start of her career and many of Y/N’s savings were used to buy the house, she could not afford professional contractors to renovate the house; with the help of her parents and family, she is doing it all by herself. However, as she has a full-time job, all work needs to be done during the weekends and after work, disturbing the peace in the otherwise quiet neighbourhood. Hence, to make sure her neighbours do not hate her already, she decides to visit them all to inform them on the upcoming works and to discuss planning.

Pascale was the last neighbour she visited. Y/N had knocked on Pascale’s front door a couple of time during the past weeks, but to no avail. The other neighbours had told Y/N about the special bond between Pascale and the previous owners, so she knew that this talk could be hard; she had to be delicate. Not that she held any accountability to Pascale – Y/N bought the house after all – but she had felt similarly when her grandmother’s house was sold; it takes time to accept that a place one grew accustomed is no longer there. Hence, Y/N wanted to show Pascale what the house would look like in the end and ensure her that she did not expect Pascale to accept her immediately. Taking one deep breath, Y/N rang the doorbell of Avenue Paul Doumer 5.

--- Three months later ----

The construction works were in full swing. The facade stones were taken away, cleaned and reused, the house’s insulation was improved and the windows were replaced. Today, Y/N and her nephew were removing the roof tiles to check and repair the underlying woodwork. Pascale watches both of them through her window. In the past months, she and Y/N have grown close. Pascale needed some time to get used to the new situation, but Y/N had been very understanding and an absolute sweetheart. The construction works never started before 7 a.m. and always ended at 10:30 p.m. sharp as agreed upon with the neighbourhood, she informed everybody upfront when there were any changes in the schedules, and she insisted to pay for the water, electricity and utensils she used. Pascale and Y/N always had a small chat when they saw each other and Lorenzo and Arthur, who visited their mom every month, also grew fond of her. Y/N was yet to meet Charles though, Pascale’s middle son, due to his busy racing schedule.

If he only met her, Pascale thought, she is the type of girl he needs. With the F1 summer break just around the corner and the final phase of the construction works nearing, an idea popped up in Pascale’s head.

---- August -----

The day of the street BBQ had come. Pascale had been preparing this event for weeks: doing a tour around the neighbourhood to fix a date, visiting the town hall to get permission to close the street, rent the tables, seats and parasols, making decorations and, of course, preparing the food and drinks – it has been hectic, but she was determined to make this day perfect.

It was now 3 p.m. Charles parked his Ferrari at the small parking lot at the church and jogged his way over to his mother’s house. He knew he was running a bit late - something that his mother always told him was disrespectful - but he was met with a little fan on his way to the BBQ and he just could not refuse the small boy’s request to sign his drawing. When he spotted Pascale on the street, a small smile grew on his face; he loved his mom so dearly and it has been way to long since the last time they saw each other.

Pascale has been chatting with Y/N for almost 30 minutes now, only interrupted by her two sons – who told her that Charles would arrive a little later – and some other neighbours. Y/N was dressed in a loose floral dress that came a little above the knees, paired with white sneakers. She was wearing very little make-up and, much to Pascale’s relief, no wedding or engagement ring. Together with the fact that she had never seen any men at the site except for family members and never saw another car in the driveway than Y/N’s, Pascale was convinced that Y/N was single. She knew Charles was too but not wanting to be too intrusive, she decided to just plant a seed between Charles and her new neighbour today and see it from there.

When she heard the deep sound of Charles’ Ferrari, Pascale told Y/N that her third son had arrived and that she would be right back. Y/N’s hands became sweaty. Ever since she found out Pascale was Charles’ mom, she had been dreading this moment. There was no turning back now though.

---- Flashback ----

When Y/N visited Pascale for the first time last winter, her eyes quickly landed on all the family portraits hanging on the wall. It were paintings of a family of five, probably made by her sons in preschool, and pictures of Lorenzo, Arthur and Charles in different periods of their lives. In the middle hung a beautiful black-and-white picture of her husband, Hervé, who sadly passed away when the kids were still little. “There has been no other man in my life ever since”, Pascale said, the love for her deceased husband still evident in her voice. Looking at the paintings and pictures, Pascale could not help but be proud of where her family was now. Arthur and Charles were professional athletes and Lorenzo was active in finance. Both Lorenzo and Arthur had a lovely girlfriend, the eldest already thinking about children. Charles, however, was less steady when it came to love. After two long-term relationships, Charles got a bit lost; it was not easy for Charles to maintain a relationship given his hectic and public life. Although Pascale was sceptical and warned her son many times – as there are always people who try to surf on other’s success –, it hurt her to see him like this, trying to erase the loneliness inside him with alcohol and volatile love. At the end of last season though, a little spark returned in Charles’ eyes. He did not disclose much to his mom, apart from that he met a girl in France whilst being out with Pierre and some other friends and that they were texting each other very often. She had not heard him talk about her since the new season started, so she assumed that she was just another fling.

“That’s Lorenzo, this is Arthur and that’s Charles. Aren’t they beautiful young men, Y/N?” Pascale asked.

“They are, Pascale, they are”, Y/N replied. She was still looking at the picture of Charles, all memories of last winter hitting her like a truck.

It was almost a year ago when Charles and Y/N met each other in a small café in the south of France. Charles was out with his friends, unwinding from the previous season and enjoying a short get-away to prepare for the upcoming winter testing. Y/N happened to be in Nîmes that week for work and that is how they met. She had been quite bold that afternoon, handing her number to Charles when she left the café, fully well knowing who he was. She never expected him to do something with it – he was one of world’s eligible bachelors after all – so she almost fainted when he called her the next day, saying how much he liked talking to her. They kept texting from that day onwards, throwing in the occasional FaceTime-call late at night. Despite the fact that they were both busy and lived in other countries, not a day passed without contact. Long story short, Y/N and Charles were falling for each other, hard.

Pierre did not stop teasing Charles about it, relieved to see his best friend happy again. The people at Ferrari knew that there was something going on, sensing that the fast laps Charles was setting were not only due to the changes to the car. His brothers noticed he was mentally somewhere else when he did no longer weep the floor with Arthur during their weekly tennis matches. The presence of Y/N in Charles’ life changed him, but in a good way. He was glowing.

Y/N grew fonder of Charles by the second; he was such a sweetheart. While she was not into F1 that much before she met him, she was learning about the sport and following the testing sessions in Bahrein, such that they could talk about it without her sounding like a complete and utter fool. She found a renewed motivation in her work, supported by Charles who was amazed by both her beauty and brains – and he told her that, every day. She got back into learning French such that she could – or, at least, try – to talk to Charles in his mother tongue. In return, he gave her cute, French nicknames that made her blush, which Charles found incredibly endearing. She was glowing.

However, when it hit Y/N that the F1 season would be starting soon, she started to think. She loved Charles, she was sure of that, but a long-term relationship would not work. She had her responsibilities at home and Charles would be busy travelling, training and racing - she had been in a similar relationship before and things ended badly. The media would focus more on him too after he finished 2nd in last year's championship, attracting the attention from (new) female fans. Not that Y/N was the jealous type or that she did not trust him, but she knew there are women out there who are better suited for Charles, beautiful women who are willing to make sacrificies. Women Charles deserves. Therefore, before Y/N would move to her new home and Charles would start the season, they met in Turin to talk about it all. Y/N told Charles about her sorrows and although he wanted to deny it, despite him wanting all her reasoning to be wrong, despite him wanting to tell her to listen to her heart instead of her head, he knew she was right. Therefore, Charles and Y/N used the rest of that week in Turin to feel what it could have been; they had date nights in cosy restaurants, strolled through the city, went on hikes together and made the sweetest love. After sharing one last kiss at the airport and promising each other to never forget what they shared, Charles and Y/N parted ways.

For good.

---- Present -----

Pascale swiftly disappeared to find her son. The local cover band Pascale hired was giving it all on the small stage and people were chatting away and enjoying the delicious pastries from the local bakery shop just a few blocks away. Y/N started mingling with Sebastien and Amélie, a young couple that was also relatively new to the neighbourhood.

Once he greeted everybody at the party, Charles was finally able to give his mom a proper hug. After a preach on how she does not see him enough and once made sure that he does take care of himself and eating enough, Pascale started updating him on all the latest gossip. Charles loves to gossip, especially with his mom because he loves how invested she is in it. After 20 minutes or so, when she decided she told Charles everything he needed to know, Pascale started to look around. She spotted Y/N a few tables further away, entertaining little Kasper. “I want you to meet our new neighbour, Charles. She is there with Kasper and Amélie. Come on.”

Although Charles did not know his mom’s new neighbour, he felt like he already did based on the stories Lorenzo and Arthur had been telling. From what he heard, she seems to be a lovely young woman. When he looked into the direction of little Kasper, he spotted her. She was wearing a white dress, which contrasted nicely against her bronzed skinned. Her hair was up in a messy bun, showing the delicate skin of her neck and shoulders. When he heard that the neighbours’ name was Y/N, his thoughts instinctively drifted back to his Y/N, his lost love, the woman whom he shared to best week of his life with. However, he never thought it would actually be her but now that he sees her, her petite frame, he knows it is her. The woman whose body he knows like the circuit of Monaco. The woman who still owns his heart. The woman he said goodbye to in Turin.

For good.

At least, that is what they both thought. Pascale gently taps Y/N on her shoulder. She turns around. “Y/N, I want you to meet my son Charles. Charles, this is Y/N, the new neighbour I told you about”.

Their eyes meet, for the first time in months.

Should they act as if they never met?

Should she tell him that she moved on?

Should he tell her that he has not?

---------------------------------------------------

#f1 x reader #charles leclerc imagine #charles leclerc x reader #f1 imagine #charles leclerc angst

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kentopedia · 4 months

Text

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ SHADES OF RED — nanami kento

summary . . . kento tries to move on, but he sees you in every shade of red

contents . . . ex-boyfriend nanami, nanami pov, f!reader, reader is only mentioned but she loves the color red, suggestive part at the end, kento has a new gf but :/ he wants you bad — 700 words

notes . . . erm this is so self indulgent btw ! everyone around me laughs at me for only getting my nails done the color red and this was born bc i got my nails done today. in my yearning!kento era ig <33 he can miss us instead of the other way around smh

kento had never considered himself a sentimental man.

he’d always had the keen ability to let go of things easily—or, at least, to let go of them without too much regret. he’d never been overly emotional about things that served as reminders to his past. kento could’ve passed his childhood home and, sure, he’d feel a twinge of nostalgia. but it was one that he’d get over once he was out of the neighborhood, on his way to something different, somewhere better.

perhaps, it was a lack of sentimentality, or perhaps his future orientation was just a mechanism to help him cope with the ever-changing thing he called life.

too bad that approach never worked when it came to you.

even after you broke up with him, kento saw you everywhere he went. four years together was too much time, and time wasn’t enough to wash away the smell of your perfume, the love letters you’d written that he’d shoved away. kento still had a few of your belongings you’d never come back for. pieces of jewelry you’d left behind, and he’d never been able to get rid of.

your pretty red lipstick still stained the corner of his sofa, the tiny little smear where you’d accidentally dropped the tube.

you’d apologized, embarrassed, so flustered he thought you might cry. but he’d only laughed instead, pushed the cap back on, and kissed the lipstick right back off your face.

it had been his fault anyways.

your golden bracelet still hung with his watches, interlaced with rubies and diamonds. an anniversary gift he’d gotten you, and one that you’d thrown at him angrily when you finally left him.

there was a red ribbon in the center console of his car, one that he’d left there in case you ever forgot a hair tie.

there were reminders of you everywhere, there was red everywhere. the color of the passion, and the color of the fiery love that had burned bright between you.

he saw you everywhere…

even in his new girlfriend.

the first time gojo met her, he told kento how much she looked like you. maybe a little bit taller, her hair a little bit different. her lips were wider, eyes a slightly different shade.

still, the similarities were striking. and she’d never know.

besides all of the red, kento had erased whatever traces of you he could find, kept them locked up in a pretty burgundy box that was tucked away in his closet.

and maybe she was similar to you in appearance, but she was gentler, softer, and she had an affinity for shades of pink. a light rose color was her favorite.

she probably thought that it bothered him, the obvious sign of femininity taking over his apartment. but kento appreciated that the lacy ribbons she left lying around, the lingerie sets, were much lighter than the color you’d tended towards.

“kento,” she interrupted his stream of thought, as he stared at the splotch of maroon on his sofa, remembering how you’d stained his cheeks the same color.

he hummed. it’d been nearly six months since he’d seen you last. it’d seemed like longer.

he shouldn’t miss you this much.

he did, though.

“i’m thinking of getting my nails done.” his new girlfriend—the one that looked like you but wasn’t you—stretched her hands out, looking at the chipped pastel pink at the end of her nails. half of the paint was gone.

“okay,” he said, shrugging. shades of pink, she lived in. it’d be a shade of pink again.

she looked at her fingers, scrutinizing them like she wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. “i’m not sure it’d suit me, but… what do you think of red?”

kento’s eyes had drifted over, and for a moment, he contemplated a protest. it didn’t suit her. she was a gentle, sweet soul. her voice soft, words loving—she was pink.

then, he remembered the softness of your palm over his thigh, your fingers threaded in his hair. nails longer, filed perfectly, a beautiful red color painted onto them.

he missed you.

he felt guilty for his answer.

“sure, honey,” kento said, smiling. “that’s pretty.”

when she came home later, kento had pulled her into the bedroom, turned off the lights, the room dark already with the sun that had set. her hands were smaller than yours, fingers more slender, but the color of her nails was the same.

he could imagine your hands between his legs, stroking him lovingly. and kento had to seal his lips tightly to keep your name from spilling from them when he imagined you instead of her.

“mmm,” his new girlfriend had muttered, snuggling into his side. kento stared at the ceiling, sick with longing. “i love you. night, kento.”

he didn’t answer.

when she was asleep, kento climbed out of bed, padded to the kitchen with his phone in his hand. it was past midnight, but you tended to stay up later, a book on your lap, with some form of red on the cover.

his finger hovered over your name; there used to be a red heart next to it, and he wanted to put it back.

he wondered if this would just be another one of those times where his calls went unanswered. or, maybe, this time, you’d pick up.

kento didn’t care anyway.

he pressed the call button.

#idk it's long enough so i guess i'll add tags #i’m sorry #kento nanami x reader #jjk x reader #nanami kento x reader #nanami kento x you #nanami kento x y/n #kento nanami x you #nanami x reader #jjk x fem!reader #jujutsu kaisen x you #jujutsu kaisen x reader #xoxo rylie 💌 ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆#beloved kento 💋 ୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

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earthtoharlow · 6 days

Text

Don’t Like The Lights

Sequel to Flashing Lights series, must read Flashing Lights first to understand.

Series Masterlist

1. Jungle

Don't know where we stand, I used to hit you 'bout everything. Are we still good? Are we still good?

Maryse let out a nervous sigh as she fluffed her hair in the mirror. The air was thick with anticipation and slight nostalgia. Tonight was the Grammys and she was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album, to say she was nervous was an understatement.

Tonight also marked the anniversary of the day Jack and her met for the first time…or rather the anniversary of when he saved her from falling on her face in front of everyone. Maryse couldn’t help but still long for Jack, who was and will probably always be her greatest muse.

She hadn’t heard or seen Jack since the night he left her house. He had even been silent on social media so she couldn’t even stalk him if she wanted to. Maryse’s thoughts were cut short when her manager, CoCo, spoke up from the door behind her.

“You ready? The car is outside.”

Maryse looked at herself in the mirror one more time, and noticed the missing spark from her eyes. She closed her eyes and made another silent promise to herself that she would one day reignite that spark, to find happiness and fulfillment once more, whether with Jack or on her own.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

***

Jack strode confidently down the red carpet with PG. Despite the flurry of activity around him, he remained focused on the task at hand, his mind consumed with thoughts of the upcoming awards ceremony.

His stride came to a halt when an interviewer called out to him, their words causing him to pause in his tracks. “Hey, Jack, did you hear? Maryse mentioned she’s rooting for you to win tonight,” the interviewer exclaimed, a hint of excitement evident in their voice.

Jack’s initial stoic demeanor softened at his words, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before being replaced by a subtle warmth. Turning towards the interviewer, he offered a grateful nod, his gratitude evident in his face.

“Really? That means a lot,” he replied, his voice tinged with a mix of appreciation and sincerity. Despite the way they ended, Jack couldn’t deny the swell of pride that washed over him at the knowledge that Maryse still held him in such high regard. “I’m rooting for her as well.”

As Jack made his way inside, his thoughts drifted back to a year ago when he crossed paths with Maryse for the first time. The memory of them first locking eyes as he helped her up the stairs to get her award tugged at his heartstrings and their history started to weigh heavy on his shoulders as he saw the very stages he climbed to “save her.”

Glancing around the venue from his seat, he immediately noticed the familiar silhouette of Maryse, he couldn’t miss those curls even if he wanted to. In that moment, he silently wished she would turn her head and meet his gaze. Jack was sure he would always yearn for her.

He didn’t realize how hard it was going to be seeing Maryse again. For months he wanted to reach out but he didn’t want to reopen old wounds. Jack’s gaze remained on Maryse as he watched her mingle with the celebrities at her table, her laughter could be heard from across the room.

He couldn’t shake the feeling of insecurity creeping into his thoughts as he watched her. Was Maryse feeling the same way he did, he wondered, her demeanor showed no hint of being as heartbroken as he was. Did she realize what today meant? Jack continued these thoughts as the award show started, but as he watched Maryse, the distance between them seemed to stretch further, and it drove him crazy.

***

Maryse's heart pounded in her chest as the announcer listed off the nominees for Best R&B Album. She gave a nervous smile to the camera when her name and album was mentioned. She closed her eyes, and grabbed a hold of CoCo’s hand who squeezed it in support.

“And the Grammy goes to…”-Ugh, Those Feelings Again, Maryse Monet!”

Maryse gasped in her seat, eyes wide with tears of joy streaming down her face. She stood up and gave CoCo a hug and thanked her in her ear. As she was making her way up the aisle, Doja stopped her and quickly pulled her into a tight embrace, and congratulated her.

She made sure to take the steps one foot at a time so that she didn’t have a repeat of last year. With a wistful smile, Maryse spoke into the microphone, her voice carrying across the hushed auditorium. “You know, I was a little worried I might trip on my way up here again,” she quipped, drawing a chuckle from the audience. “But thankfully, I made it in one piece this time!”

As the laughter subsided, Maryse took a deep breath, her eyes shimmering with emotion. “But in all seriousness, I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey,” she continued, her voice tinged with sincerity. “From the amazing team who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this album a reality, to the fans who have supported me every step of the way – this Grammy belongs to all of you.”

Maryse took a pause, and her eyes shifted towards Jack in the crowd. “And to the person who has been my biggest inspiration and my greatest supporter,” she said, her voice catching slightly. “Thank you for believing in me, for pushing me to be the best version of myself, and for sharing your incredible talent and creativity with me. This album would not have been possible without you, and I am forever grateful for the love and the music we have shared.”

With that, Maryse raised the Grammy high above her head. Her heart was overflowing with love and joy. She knew that no matter what the future held, Jack was always going to be her muse.

As Maryse delivered her speech, Jack's eyes fixed her with a mix of pride, love and disbelief. As he watched her bask in the spotlight, her talent and dedication recognized by the industry, any lingering feelings of envy or regret faded into the background.

When she mentioned her muse his heart skipped a beat, and a lump formed in his throat. Despite not saying his name, he knew, deep down, that she was referring to him.

In that moment, Jack realized that Maryse’s victory was their victory, her success brought him a sense of fulfillment and validation that surpassed any accolades or awards he could have received himself.

Tears welled up in Jack’s eyes as he listened to her words, overcome by the unexpectedness of her acknowledgment and the flood of emotions it stirred within him.

Even though he had braced himself for the evening, he didn’t expect the intensity of his feelings upon hearing her speech. As Maryse left the stage he knew in the back of his mind that they would get back together again sooner rather than later. He would make sure of it.

LIFEOFMONET

liked by urbanwyatt, chloebailey, druski, choycebrown, torikelly, jackharlow, saweetie, dojacat and 678,086 others

lifeofmonet: Big hair, two toned lips, and my fav glasses…I was looking real cute before my tears ruined my makeup!

view all 9,467 comments

user: omg that dress!!

user: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

user: anyone catch how she thanked Jack?

saweetie: so proud of you ❤️

urbanwyatt: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

***

Maryse got comfortable in her bed and pulled out her headphones. She was busy all day in the studio when she caught news that Jack had surprise dropped an album. She couldn’t help but notice how buff he looked on the cover, Maryse had to shake her head at the thoughts that popped up in her head before pressing play on the album.

She closed her eyes as the beats filled the room, she loved how honest he got with each track. Maryse couldn’t help but feel guilt when Denver started playing, wishing she had known the depth of how he was feeling at the time. She was sure that the added weight of her hesitation to move in with him added to the stress he was already facing.

Perhaps if she had opened up sooner, they could have faced those challenges together, instead of allowing her doubts to drive them apart. Regret washed over her as Maryse realized the impact of her actions, and she vowed to learn from her mistakes. These past few months apart helped her realize that she needed to be more open, more honest, and more willing to confront her fears, not just for her own sake, but for the sake of her love for Jack.

***

Maryse rushed through the lobby of the recording studio in Kentucky, she was there to record a song with Bryson and because of traffic she was running late. Having never been to that particular studio before Maryse hurriedly asked the person at the front desk where his studio room was located, as she waited for the front desk to look it up, she heard a familiar laugh. Maryse turned to her left and there stood Jack engrossed in conversation with Urban and Bryson.

She hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. Just as she considered slipping back out unnoticed, their eyes met, and time seemed to freeze for a heartbeat. Jack’s expression mirrored her surprise, his eyes widening, before a flicker of something else passed through them.

Maryse walked towards the group, giving Bryson and Urban a hug first. “Hey,” Maryse finally said, breaking the silence as she offered Jack a small smile.

Jack returned the smile, his features softening. “Hey,” he replied, his voice warm but with a hint of hesitation.

The air began to fill with awkwardness as they stared at each other.

“Hey, Urb can you come help me with that thing?” Bryson said, turning towards Urban. “What thing?” Urban asked him, confused.

Bryson punched Urban in the arm and gave him a pointed look. “That thing that just suddenly came up. So come on!” and dragged Urban away but not before telling Maryse that he’d see her in the studio.

Jack stood there with a sigh and his checks turned red slightly from embarrassment. All Maryse could do was smile.

“Sorry about them.” Jack apologized running a hand through her messy curls, Maryse couldn’t help but notice he was letting it grow out, a bit unkempt compared to how she remembered.

“You’ve let your curls run wild,” Maryse remarked with a gentle smile, her tone teasing yet filled with fondness.

Jack chuckled softly, a hint of sheepishness in his expression. “Yeah, I've been too caught up with everything to keep up with them,” he admitted, running another hand through his tousled hair.

The familiarity of their banter brought a sense of comfort to the both of them. Happy that despite the time apart some things remained unchanged between them.

With a bittersweet smile, Jack stepped closer to her. “Congratulations on the Grammy, by the way.” he said, his voice genuine. “You deserve it.”

Maryse returned the smile, feeling a sense of warmth wash over her despite the lingering tension between them. “Thank you,” she replied softly. “And congrats on your album too. I listened to it, and… it’s really good.”

There was a flicker of gratitude in his eyes as he nodded. “Thanks,” he murmured, a hint of emotion in his voice. “Means a lot coming from you.”

It became quiet again before Maryse spoke up. “I wouldn’t have come to the studio if I knew you were going to be here,” Maryse confessed, her tone filled with uncertainty.

“Why not?” Jack questioned, his gaze searching hers.

“Because I didn’t know if you would want to see me,” she admitted softly, her words heavy with the weight of their past.

“There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t want to see you,” Jack confessed, his voice vulnerable yet sincere.

Tears welled up in Maryse's eyes as she heard his words, a mix of sadness and longing washing over her.

Maryse nods and starts walking backwards, “Well, I’m going to go. I don’t want to keep Bryson waiting any longer.” She turns around and quickly walks down the long hallway, she had no idea where she was going but she needed to escape. Just as she was about to disappear from view, she heard Jack calling out her name. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hesitated for a moment before slowly turning around to face him.

Jack stood there, looking at her with hope in his eyes. “Hey,” he said softly, almost as if he still couldn’t believe she was really there. “How long are you gonna be in town?”

Maryse swallowed, feeling a lump form in her throat. “Just a couple of days,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

There was a brief pause before he spoke again, his words hanging in the air between them. “Would you… would you want to hang out? Maybe we could actually talk.” His tone was nervous, as if he was afraid of her answer.

She met his gaze, feeling a rush of emotions flood over her. Despite everything that had happened between them, she couldn’t deny the longing she felt to spend time with him again. With a nod, she managed to reply, “I’d love that.”

***

an: aaaaaand we back!!!

Tag List:

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#jack harlow #jack harlow x reader #jack harlow x y/n #jack harlow reader #social media au #jack harlow x oc #jack Harlow black oc #black reader #black oc #jack harlow fluff #jack harlow fanfic #flashing lights

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peachywritess · 1 year

Text

happiness looks good on you ー knj

☁️ genre: long-term lovers, estabilished relationship, fluff, kind of domestic!au, namjoon being a supportive husband.

☁️ pairings: husband!kim namjoon x artist!female!reader

☁️ warnings: there aren't any, just joonie being husband material, use of pet names such as jagiya, baby, love.

☁️ word count: 1,7k

☁️ author's note: just a small little thing i had in mind, not my best but i really liked writing this, i hope you like it bubs!!<3

Feedbacks are welcomed !

The brush plopped into the water jar, and a few drops of coloured liquid spilt on the wooden surface. Some ended up on your phone which lit up, the lock screen displaying your favourite picture: you and Namjoon holding a white teddy bear he had won at an amusement park. You remembered that day clearly: it was your first anniversary.

You had captured the moment with a polaroid camera Namjoon had bought as a gift, and you still hadn’t figured out how it worked so the shot came out far too bright. However, looking at that picture years later still brought a sense of warmth and nostalgia: you were both so young, inexperienced, and still seeking to understand each other. Seven years had passed since that day, and so many things had happened: your trip to Bali, rescuing two calico cats and naming them Zelda and Esme, your tour of Europe, and then your marriage.

Your house was full of memories and pictures from your numerous adventures like the one in the Italian Alps where you were too scared to cross a suspended bridge, and Namjoon had to carry you for more than a mile. Or the one in the french Blue Coast when he had mistaken tanning oil for sunscreen so you both had pretty bad sunburns for the entire week.

“I told you to buy sunscreen, Joonie - sunscreen!”

“It is! See, huile de bronzage.” He had panicked showing you the little brown bottle.

“It literally means tanning oil, Namjoon Kim!”

A smile shone on your lips ー reminiscing all of the wonderful memories you had made together. You missed his buzz cut, and how his short hair used to tingle your palms: when you were younger, Namjoon let you dye it in different colours. One time, you had opted for pretty pink flowers, and the dye had stayed on for months.

You loved that he couldn't give a damn about other people's judgement - in fact - he would always brag to his hyungs how talented his girlfriend was. Surely, he would let you know.

"Jagiya, you are so talented. Please dye my hair forever!"

You had majored in arts whereas Namjoon had chosen to open up a travel agency. Initially, it was not easy for either of you: you had only each other's support and getting through the month was always difficult.

Namjoon stayed out late to advertise his shop, but despite this he would always stay up all night watching you finalise one of your paintings, making sure to bring you a glass of water about every half hour because "it's important to stay hydrated when you are working hard."

He would try his best to stay awake by telling you about his day, showering you with compliments and then attempting to analyse what you were painting. You would quietly listen to him, some mhmh's and mhh's in response and occasionally interrupt his chatter to tell him to get some rest. Yet each time he reiterated the same phrase: 'I'll stay awake as long as you do, love'.

And so within minutes he would fall asleep on the couch and you would bring a blanket and a pillow for him to be comfortable.

But now, his hair had grown out and you had practically lost the sparks you usually felt when you painted. Finishing a canvas was now something you had to do - and really didn't enjoy at all.

“You have one month, Y/N. Then I will shred the contract to pieces, understood?”

You listened in silence as your boss complained over the phone, her voice a few octaves higher.

“I mean, what happened to you? Do you think I pay lazy and unmotivated people? Our company seeks talent and commitment, and I’m afraid you no longer have any of these requirements.”

You sharply inhaled pinching the bridge of your nose, back resting against the chair as Namjoon stood right behind you, he too in silence. His hands were placed on your shoulders, which he stroked softly.

“I understand, Mrs Han. I am working on a piece at the moment, and I swear that it will be done in less than a month-”

You took all of your courage to speak - that woman truly scared you. Ms Han was the director of the agency you worked for, whose aim was to sell artwork at a premium price. She was a fifty-year-old woman with a passion for belittling her employees and underpaying them.

“No more promises, I don’t care. I just want that piece at the end of this month.” She interrupted you, and you sighed.

Just know that this is your last chance.”

And just like that she hung up, leaving you lost in a limbo of disbelief and terror: you could not afford to lose this job.

Yes, it probably wasn't the best job on the planet, but you hadn't yet realised your dream of opening your own atelier, and this company - although not particularly ethical - was a sure ticket to gaining a small amount of notoriety in the industry.

“Wow, what a bitch.” Namjoon proclaimed breaking the silence and bringing a small smile to your lips.

“Damn right she is.”

You groaned, squinting your eyes shut, before running your hands down your face - in a gesture of sheer exasperation. “I could end her whole career if I wanted to.”

“Then do that, baby. You have nothing to lose, she does.”

You let your head fall back, resting it on the chair, finally meeting your boyfriend's gaze. He was smiling, and his dimples looked so adorable you wanted to squeeze his cheeks.

“Um, probably my job, Joonie?”

“Yeah, that’s a good point.”

Namjoon leaned forward until you were close enough to look directly into his eyes, then left a soft kiss on your forehead. You closed your eyes, savouring that brief moment of tranquillity. His attention then shifted to the canvas in front of you - a few lines of red paint already starting to dry up - and observed it thoroughly without saying a word.

"Do you remember when you accepted the job offer?" He questioned.

"Mhmh, what about it?"

"And do you also remember what you told me?"

You bit your lower lip, scratching your chin with your index finger.

You had said a million, no, a billion things to Namjoon before you signed that contract.

"Um, wish me luck?" You said in a slightly questioning tone, and your husband facepalmed.

With a swift movement, he turned the chair you were sitting on allowing you to look him directly in the eyes. That gesture made you blush and you stared at him with doe eyes.

"No, jagi, not the correct answer." He tilted his head, soft jet-black locks brushing his forehead. "You promised me you wouldn't let them change you."

You were struggling, and that broke his heart.

Namjoon knew you were desperately trying to paint something, anything that would please your boss. He had examined the shift in your brushstrokes from time to time, and they didn’t seem to belong to you. They were abrupt and quick, whereas you always directed them with gentle movements.

He was not seeing you on that canvas, instead, he was seeing a version you had been forced to become.

"Is it worth it, love? Do you want to become a machine for them to make more money?"

You sighed. He was right ー Namjoon was so right.

You had completely forgotten how it felt to make art, you had forgotten how it felt to be free. You had submitted to their rules because they had made empty promises from the start and you had believed them.

Namjoon crouched down, resting his hands on your knees. In that position, the light coming from the window illuminated his face as you gazed at him with pure admiration. He was glowing.

His brown eyes seemed to light up, turning a honey-like amber colour.

"Joonie..." You murmured as your hands gently grabbed his. "I can't lose this job, I just cannot."

"Y/N, you are the best thing to ever happen to me, you know that right?"

His thumbs softly rubbed the back of your hands, something he always did to comfort you. As he stroked he gently drew imaginary shapes like circles, flowers or hearts.

You hummed in response locking eyes with him.

"That's why I want the best for you. I want you to be happy because I can't bear the thought of you ever suffering. And what I truly wish for, is for you to find your love for art again, and-"

"Baby..."

"I don't want you to feel obligated because I swear to you Y/N, I will always support you no matter what," he then grabbed both your hands in his, and brought them to his lips. "but I wish you just left this job."

You smiled when Namjoon placed a gentle kiss on your knuckles. Despite all these years, he had never changed: he was still the same old romantic and you couldn't complain.

"I know, Joonie, but what if I can't find anything? What if... I don't make enough money to open the atelier?"

Namjoon lightly squeezed your hands, his eyes never leaving yours as one hand cupped your cheek, delicately caressing it.

"Jagiya, you are the most talented woman I've ever known, and you can do whatever you wish to do. You inspire me every day."

"I wouldn't even know where to start." You relaxed in his touch, letting out a breath.

The warmth of his hand unexpectedly left your cheek, and that's when you saw him searching for something in the pocket of his jeans.

"Perhaps, you could start with these."

You blinked quickly observing the object your husband was holding before your eyes. You raised your eyebrows in confusion, not understanding why he was showing you a pair of rusty keys.

Then, a wave of realisation hit you.

Namjoon immediately noticed your eyes turning glazy and your mouth opening slightly in an expression of pure wonder. You grabbed the keys with trembling hands and clutched them to your chest, heart racing.

"The place is a bit run down, but I am sure that in a few months, we will manage to make it perfect."

Without wasting a second you threw your arms around his neck, and tears of happiness fell from your eyes. You couldn't believe it: your dream had just come true.

"I love you so much, Joon, I- I can't believe it. I love you!"

Namjoon stroked your hair, unable to resist tearing up with you, holding you close to him. At that moment, all he wished was for time to stand still and remain like that forever.

"I love you too, princess."

Happiness looked so good on you.

Please consider reblogging my works if you like them! <3

#namjoon x reader #kim namjoon x reader #namjoon x female reader #kim namjoon x female reader #namjoon fluff #kim namjoon fluff #kim namjoon imagine #kim namjoon fic #kim namjoon one shot #bts x reader #bts x female reader #bts fanfic #bts fic #bts imagine

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crowfootwrites · 5 months

Text

Diel

I am definitely not capable of writing a fic every day in the month of December, but today I came across @creativepromptsforwriting's December Prompt List and was immediately struck with an idea, so I picked a handful of prompts for the month of December and am going to try to put out some fics inspired by them!

Diel (adj): of or relating to a 24-hour period, especially a regular daily cycle, as of the physiology or behavior of an organism.

December 1: Starry Night (Taurik x Fem!Reader)

Warnings: none; not beta'd we die like men. | Words: ~870

One of the things you missed the most about Earth was night. On the Enterprise, drifting through space for long stretches of time, there was no day or night. Only the inky vacuum between pinpricks of distant stars.

You weren’t really one for being homesick. Your exploratory nature made every new discovery, every new command to explore some previously unknown area of space, a reason for excitement. Nebulas, anomalies, first contacts – they all made your heart race in a way that stopped you from dwelling on what you might be missing out on back home.

But sometimes, when all was quiet and you were between missions, or there was some occasion that needed remembering (birthdays, holidays, anniversaries), it tugged at your heart that there was no sunrise to greet you. That you couldn’t really remember what dusk was like. That the Terran moon was lightyears away.

You’d mentioned it once, to Taurik, who merely reminded you that it was illogical to dwell on what was missing and to instead focus your attentions on the present circumstances. And you’d sighed and rolled your eyes, affectionately damning his Vulcan logic, before moving on to other topics.

You supposed he was right after all, but you were Human, not Vulcan, and you couldn’t really help the occasional bouts of nostalgia that filled your mind with memories of camping beneath starry night skies, or watching shooting stars fall over the horizon, or mapping constellations on your very first telescope.

---

Your days had been busy recently, and you didn’t notice how Taurik watched you, far more observant than he’d allowed you to think when you first spoke to him about missing “night”. Taurik had always valued your resilience and, although he didn’t particularly understand your current plight, it was apparent to him that your discomfort was lingering more than was customary for you. And so he did as any dutiful mate would, and sought a solution to your distress.

“I think it should be just about ready,” Geordi announced, handing Taurik the isolinear chip as he rushed around the central console in engineering. “You might need to tweak a few of the parameters for the environmental controls, but other than that, you’re all set.”

“Thank you for your assistance, Commander LaForge,” Taurik replied, standing at attention. He’d given his commanding officer little information when he’d first approached him about creating a holodeck program to a very specific set of criteria.

“Happy to help, Taurik.” Geordi glanced up at the Ensign from where he’d busied himself making long-overdue adjustments to the EPS. “I think she’ll love it.”

With that, he strode toward the warp core, leaving Taurik standing alone in Engineering with an eyebrow raised in surprise. It seemed that his commander was more perceptive than he’d previously given him credit for.

---

You smoothed your sweater nervously as you arrived outside the doors to Holodeck 3. You weren’t sure what you were walking into; you only knew that Taurik had requested your presence via combadge for an outing he’d called a “courtship event”. Supposing that meant “date”, you’d changed out of your uniform once your shift had ended and made your way to the holodeck, wondering all the while what Taurik could possibly have planned.

You pressed the control to open the doors and as they slid quietly open, your jaw dropped.

Taurik, dressed down in casual pants and a soft-looking shirt, stood before you in front of a sky bursting with color – deep oranges blazed across a backdrop of dark blue that plunged into black night overhead. His stoic expression gave way to the barest hint of a smile as he observed your response to the holodeck program.

He held a hand out toward you as you stepped into the holodeck, still speechless. The prickle of tears pressed behind your eyes.

“I was hoping,” Taurik offered quietly as you slipped your hand into his, “that you might enjoy experiencing a Terran night with me.” He guided you carefully through the tall grass that covered the hillside he’d chosen. A lone tree, its limbs heavy with green, presided over the hillside, stretching its branches toward the darkening sky, and Taurik led you to a blanket laid out at its base.

Lying on your back on the blanket, you could just make out the sparkle of the emerging stars between tree branches. It was strikingly similar to a childhood memory of yours – you gasped as realization dawned on you, before staring slack-jawed at Taurik, who was settling himself beside you.

“You saw it?” you asked softly.

Taurik nodded as he reclined, his arm pressed against yours in his closeness. He turned to look at you.

“I have seen this memory many times in your mind, ashayam,” he murmured. “It would seem to be very important to you… When you expressed that you missed experiencing the Terran cycles of day and night, I was able to perceive the depth of your longing. And as your mate, it is my duty to protect your well-being.”

At your side, you felt Taurik’s fingers brush against yours, and you returned the gentle caress, the ozh’esta sparking a warmth that flooded your limbs. Overhead, the sky settled into a gentle black, flecked with the stars you now called home.

#star trek #star trek tng #star trek the next generation #ensign taurik #taurik #taurik x reader #taurik x fem!reader #vulcan #vulcans

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silenzahra · 24 days

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Today's the anniversary for me! ✨

I know the Mario Movie was released on April 5th 2023, but back then I was seeing the Holy Week processions with my dad, so I didn't get to go to the cinema until April 8th, which was a Saturday, and that was when everything changed for me 😌💚❤️

This is going to get a bit long, personal and emotional, so it's totally fine if you'd rather not read it! 💖

As I've mentioned, this movie saved my life simply because I was in a terrible place when it came out. Admittedly, I had been feeling a bit better that week thanks to the fact I was going out every day and was distracted and such, but my mind was still not totally... fine.

Until, at 8PM, the Mario Movie finally started and I spent the next hour and a half with a silly smile on my face, feeling like a little kid again and experimenting lots of feelings and emotions I hadn't felt in many months. Happiness. Joy. Laughter. A warm heart. Tension. Pure emotion. Excitement. Nostalgia. The urge to cry, though not from sadness.

And the need to get those cute brothers off the screen and give them each a big bear hug.

(Posted this edit on my Instagram account last Friday.)

Mario and Luigi did really save my life. I had already fallen for them long ago, when I was 13 and played Superstar Saga on my GBA, since that was the very first game that made me see these two as endearing and charming characters with a beautiful sibling bond based not only on love, but also trust, laughter and comfort.

And, in all honesty, seeing this movie, seeing that bond translated into it, was totally a dream come true. Aside from the M&L games, we don't really get to see much of these two taking care of each other (please correct me if I'm mistaken!). Also, I'm a 90s girl, so I had been wanting a good animated Mario movie since... I honestly can't remember. All I know is I used to watch the cartoons (specifically the one based on Super Mario Bros 3), and then I ran into the live action movie from 1993 and... Welp. Let's just say I'd rather forget it 😬 (Sorry if you did like it, it simply was NOT my cup of tea.)

And then this movie was announced, and every new trailer made me feel more and more hyped, and reminded me of my love for the Super Mario franchise. I had already been hyperfixated on it back in 2013-2016, when I played Dream Team and fell even harder for them (especially Luigi), and when I finally got to see this movie, that obsession came back stronger than ever.

I felt like a little child again. I went back to play my old favorite games. I listened to the ost on loop for months, and it ended up becoming my most listened album on Spotify last year.

And I also felt the urge to write again.

Writing has always been an important part of my life. I started at 8 and I simply couldn't stop. To me, it is like breathing, so when I spend some time away from writing, I'm not exaggerating when I say I feel a physical pain on my chest. And due to the bad place I was in, I had been away from it for way too many months.

It turns out all I needed was a dose of brotherly love in order to feel my fingertips tingling again with the urgent need to start writing.

So yeah. There are many things I have to celebrate today and to be thankful for. First of all: I'm alive, and happy, and better than ever, still struggling with anxiety and fears but feeling way better than I'd felt in the years before this film came out. I feel emotion, and joy, and will to continue living and enjoying life and fangirling and being myself. I feel connected to Mario and Luigi and my heart simply warms up every single time I think about them (which is 24/7 tbh).

And I'm writing again! 2023 was the year I've written the most in my entire life, and I owe it to this wonderful movie, and so far I've continued to write this year too, and that's also thanks to Mario and Luigi.

And of course, and more importantly, this film has led me to meet all of you, beautiful people, and I honestly couldn't be more grateful 🥹🫂💖 With you I can fangirl and scream and cry and be myself, and that's why I felt like sharing this with you guys, because I know you understand and share the feelings I've experimented these months since I first saw this movie. I love each and one of you with all my heart 💖💖💖

And after talking non-stop, I believe I kinda feel like finally showing my face here (the real one, not this one 😂), so... Here I go! 🤭👇

This is me today! 🤭 With lots of Mario stuff as you can see, and I even painted my nails to match the main characters! 💅

The blue is for Toad, the pink is for Peach, green and red for Luigi and Mario (obviously) and black for Bowser since he was played by Jack Black! 😁

Admittedly, I'm not very good at painting my nails because I'm not into makeup and such, but I do like to see them all painted, I think they look beautiful 🥰 Last year I used to paint them red and green all the time since I went not once, not twice, but thirteen times to see this movie, and every time wearing a different shirt 🤭 Though the one I'm wearing today is the one I wore exactly one year ago, as you can see here! 😁

I literally cannot remember when or where I bought it, but it was simply PERFECT to wear to go see this movie 😁 And you bet, when the Toad guard said that quote from the first Super Mario game, I went all silly in the cinema: "OMG my shirt!!!!!" 😂😂😂

And here are some pics from some of the other twelve times I went, and you can get a look at some of the Mario shirts I own! I may go and show them all together in a different post, and maybe also the earrings since I own a lot: red shrooms, superstars, fire flowers, green shrooms... Would you like that? 🥰

Now that I see it, I look a bit scared on the first one 😂 The green shirt I'm wearing on the second one is pure GOLD, and on the third one I kinda felt like I was taking a picture with Mario himself 😂😂😂

I did own some Mario merch before the movie came out, but last year I went and bought tons of it, including shirts, earrings, and of course plushies! 🤭

They look like a cute little family OMG aren't they ADORABLE I love them all so so much 😭❤️💚✨

So this is it! This is my little celebration of the first year since I saw for the first time the movie that saved my life 🥰 In all honestly, I would've liked to bring a fic or something, but as you all know, I went through a very hard Holy Week and I'm still not feeling totally ready to get back to writing (even though I've gotten a couple new ideas, for which I'm deeply grateful).

But I hope sharing my experience and feelings (and my face! 😂) is enough for this year, and let's hope I can bring a new Mario story to share with you guys very soon! 🥰

I love you all so so so so so so so so so so much!!!!! 💖💖💖💖💖

#super mario bros #mario movie #mario movie anniversary #face reveal #this is me!

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frostandflamesfanfic · 2 years

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Driving Down Memory Lane (Strange x Reader)

Driving Down Memory Lane (Rated T)

Request?: NO

Pairing: Stephen Strange x Spouse!Reader; Parent!Stephen & America Chavez

Word Count: 1.9k+

Warnings: Mentions of PTSD, few swear words, NO MoM SPOILERS!!

Summary: To celebrate a momentous occasion, you have the genius idea for you and your husband to take America out driving for the first time. What happens when there's a bit of painful nostalgia during the otherwise normal chaos?

“This is a terrible idea.”

“Stephen, it’s going to be fine.”

“No, it really isn’t,” your husband’s voice sounded nervous as he spoke. “We’re going to die. She’s going to kill us.”

“You know, I am right here,” you could barely see America from your position in the backseat of your car. You watched as her hands flailed about while she went on a rant to husband in Spanish. Although you weren’t fluent in the language yourself, you were able to pick up a few key words: “worry-wart” and “fun killer.”

It was a few days after your unofficial ward’s sixteenth birthday. To celebrate the occasion and the two year anniversary of her coming to stay with you and Stephen in the Sanctum, you had a genius idea. What better milestone was there than to teach America how to drive? At first, Stephen was against the idea. He could think of a million other activities that would be far better suited for the situation.

“What happened to taking her to go mini-golfing?” he had protested. “Or taking her to see Niagara Falls? You know, things that won’t involve us being in a moving vehicle driven by a kid?”

You countered his argument with one of your own. If you were both bent on giving the multiversal traveller a normal life experience, there were some things that needed to happen. Getting behind the wheel of a car was one of those things. It had taken a lot of convincing, but somehow you had managed to get your husband to agree to sit in the front passenger’s seat – a choice he was now regretting once again.

When you brought up the idea to America, the young student could hardly contain herself. “Driving?” she asked, practically bouncing around. “Like a real car? On the road? All by myself?”

“Whoa there, tiger.” A nervous chuckle escaped you as you shook your head. “You won’t be going by yourself. Stephen and I are going to be there to show you the ropes.”

“Yeah, but like, I’ll be behind the wheel and everything, right?!”

“As long as you don’t kill us all,” Stephen had shouted as he strode towards the library.

Now, your husband fidgeted in his seat while shaky hands idly fiddled with the seat belt. You started kicking yourself immediately after noticing his nervous habits. Stephen hadn’t been in a car in years, not since before his accident. The same accident which ended his previous relationship and ruined his chance at having a successful career as a neurosurgeon. It had rendered his hands useless for months, leading him to venture out and find Kamar-Taj in hopes of a treatment. You had felt rather sad when you and Mordo first met Stephen in the alley, yet you were glad about the situation because, without it, your paths may never have crossed.

“So, which one’s the gas?” America asked anxiously.

“You don’t know what it looks like?” you drawled your question out, hoping you wouldn’t completely regret this decision. After passing her written test with Wong, you would have thought America would have been given some training with a car. That was apparently not the case.

“Well, I think it’s on the right…” America leaned forward in her seat with anticipation. You couldn’t help but smile at her curiosity.

“Why don’t you give it a try since we’re parked?” you suggested, reaching over to place a reassuring hand on Stephen’s shoulder. Your hope was to ease his anxieties over the situation, but you knew trauma is never rewritten overnight – especially when you Blip for five years.

The rev of the engine startled you both. You hadn’t expected America to find the pedal so easily…or apply that much force to it. “Holy shit,” the young girl shouted from the front seat. “That’s amazing!”

“Language,” you chided. “And you need to ease up on gas. If you go that fast on the road, you’re going to end up impaling us all up on a tree.”

“That’s not how-”

“Doesn’t matter, kiddo,” you wagged your index finger at the rearview mirror. “My car, my rules.”

You couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on your lips as an exasperated sigh flooded the car’s interior. As excited as you were about taking America out for her first lesson, you knew it was important to set the ground rules early. Her (and yours and Stephen’s) safety were the top priority. You may have been able to survive trips throughout the multiverse and battle evil beings on a daily basis, but you weren’t sure how likely it was that you would be getting out of this car without experiencing a mild cardiac event.

“It’s going to take some time, kiddo,” you tried again. “We just have to start you out with one thing at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be able to go out on the open road by yourself. The only thing we ask is that you have patience and take it slow when you’re getting started.”

You watched as her head bobbed up and down in agreement. “Alright, fine. What’s next?”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After nearly an hour of practicing use of the gas and brake in the parked car, you and Stephen agreed to let America drive around an empty parking lot. Well, it was more like you agreed while Stephen shook his head and started to turn green at the thought. Since you were in the city, it was hard to find a proper place without any other cars around. So to make things easier, you had Stephen create a portal while you drove the car to a more isolated part of town where you could enter the Mirror Dimension.

“You have to slow down.” As your life flashed before your eyes, you started to feel bad for your parents when they were teaching you how to drive on your grandparents’ farm. Sure, the constant nagging and reaching for the steering wheel as you attempted your first go at real independence will forever haunt your memory. However, as you now sat in the front passenger’s seat with knuckles as white as a Midwestern Christmas, you were starting to see how right they may have actually been to help you. “You need to ease up on the gas as you’re making those turns.”

“I’m trying to, but it’s just-”

“Difficult, I know.” You reached over to gently rub her right forearm. “You will get this, though. I promise.”

It took some time, but America was finally starting to relax with the thought of being behind the wheel. Now it was time for the big test. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest as you asked her to pull out of the lot and onto the road. She started out a bit dodgy, having a bit of difficulty positioning the car itself. As she went on, though, the ride became a lot smoother and the two of you were beaming as you lowered the windows down.

You guided her through some of the turns, though most of the decisions fell to her. There was some comfort in knowing that even if things did get out of hand, you still had a modicum of control. The mirror dimension had seemed to be the safest call as you found yourself thanking Vishanti for your movements through trees and road barriers when America lost her grip on the steering.

Right, Stephen?” The only response you received was silence. “Stephen?” you asked again before shifting in your seat.

Your husband wasn’t paying attention to you. His eyes were focused on the window, his gaze telling you his mind was millions of miles away. There were days you’d find him like this. Usually it happened when he’d be lost in thought or there was a heavy toll on his mind. Since his return from the Blip, Stephen has had more time than usual on his hands – not the best activity for someone with obvious PTSD.

You gestured to America to go out and stretch her legs in order to give the two of you a moment. Without a second thought, you unclipped your seatbelt and squirmed your way into the backseat next to your husband. You reached a timid hand to gently squeeze his shoulder. “Stephen?” you asked quietly.

“This is close to where it happened.” Stephen’s voice sounded distant. He lifted a shaky finger up to the glass. It was pointed toward a strip of highway, curved in all directions and giving a nice view of the harbour below. “Right over that ridge. This is really the first time I’ve seen it since-”

Your hand instinctively launched itself toward your husband’s. The moment your fingers intertwined, you smiled at the sound of your wedding bands clinking together. That clink was enough to bring a small smile to Stephen’s lips. “Honey, I didn’t think-” you started to apologize profusely, “if I had known that this was where it- I should have remembered about the car-” Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes.

You felt awful for putting Stephen through the memories again – especially when you knew what it was like to suffer just as much. When he returned from being Blipped, you were terrified to visit the rebuilt Avengers compound after the final battle. You tried to just return to the Sanctum, but it was clear Stephen didn’t want to spend a second not by your side. It was hard to fight the memories. Everywhere you went on that compound lot was a trigger for you. The landing strip where Tony told you Stephen was dead, the control room where Stephen’s picture had been hung in memorial. . . it had been a challenge to not break down, but you only managed to do it with the strength of the man beside you.

“Hey, hey it’s okay.” Almost instantly, Stephen’s entire demeanor changed. You felt his arms wrap around your form and he pressed a kiss to your temple. “It doesn’t bother me anymore. Do you know why?”

When you shook your head, a small sad smile toyed on his lips. “Because if I didn’t have that accident- if I didn’t lose use of my hands for God knows how long- I would never have come to Kamar-Taj. I never would have learned the Mystic Arts and I never would have found you, my true happiness.”

Overcome with emotion, you surged forward to capture Stephen’s lips with your own. Words could never express to him how much he meant to you, but you hoped your actions would suffice. A shaky hand reached up to rest against your cheek while the other pulled you closer by your waist. You held onto the grey cardigan shirt he was wearing like it was a lifeline. For just that moment, it was like the both of you were the only two people on Earth, determined to remind the other just how much love you shared.

“Hey, I hate to break up the happy moment,” your young apprentice said as she poked her head in through the driver’s side, “but it’s getting late and I’m hungry. Can we stop for pizza?”

“Whatever you want, kid,” Stephen relented with a sigh, allowing his hand to clasp yours once more. “Just don’t eat too much at once again. You don’t need a stomachache.”

She nodded. “Can I drive us there?”

“Don’t push your luck,” you reached to grab the keys from their place in her palm as Stephen created a portal to help you escape the Mirror Dimension. “Remember, my car, my rules.”

There was a snort from your husband as the young girl before you gave a small pout. You shook your head as you sighed. “Maybe we can let you drive back home. But for now,” you turned the keys in the ignition, “get in, losers. We’re getting pizza.”

----------------------

Author's Note: So, is it that obvious I fell in love with Parent!Strange/Reader and America fics? I totally didn't base any of these interactions based off of my own driving experiences (absolutely not, nope, no siree). I just had this idea and thought it was adorable. Yes, I know America can multiverse jump, but hey-- multiverse jumping can't get you around a single earth's New York now, can it?

I have a few ideas for a couple of additional found family Strange, Reader, and America fics that I want to write...including a potential sequel to July 19th., if anyone's interesting. Make sure to leave a like, comment, and a cheeky reblog to help me out with the algorithm and let me know if you want to see more content like this on my blog. Until next time, little sparks <3

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project-sekai-facts · 5 months

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THREE CHEERS FOR NIIGO TEASER HOORAY!!!

anyway so while it HAS to be a kanade focus bc just look at it, out of the 6 characters left that need focuses, only 2 (rui and ena) need 2dmvs. the tsukasa event song rn is a 3dmv and toya's is a 3dmv bc the teaser said so, but the n25 teaser didn't say "3dmv new stage!" or anything like that. so is it a possibility that the n25 event is an ena focus bc she needs a 2dmv and they can't do three 3dmvs in a row, or that it is a kanade focus but they're giving her another 2dmv, or the teaser doesn't actually mean anything and it's a kanade focus with a 3dmv. and either way how are they gonna handle the focus event lineup if more characters need 3dmvs than 2dmvs and they can't alternate

oh it's definitely kanade and definitely 3DMV. for starters, like yeah just look at the PV; Carnations, Kanzaki Iori saying it's about nostalgia, no way it's not Kanade. and for the MV, they've been evening out how many of each type every character has, so that they will have 2 of each as of their 4th event (obviously this is not the case for Toya due to Mirai, and they're giving out both types to all 3DMVs now but you get the point). Kanade only has 1 3DMV so she'll be getting one with this event.

The reason Kanade's teaser didn't say "new stage" was because the new N25 stage was added with Twilight Light, niigo's song from the 3rd anni image song campaign. also the VBS teaser isn't for Toya's event, it was for their entry in the campaign, and will later be used as the song for their World Link event. Toya isn't getting an event next month.

To be honest, now I think about it, Kanade 3DMV being the sole event next month actually does balance things out. earlier this year they did two 2DMVs back to back for plot reasons (Light Up the Fire and STEP by STEP + Minori and An coincidentally both needing 2DMVs), so b2b 3DMVs was going to happen eventually (also they get 2DMVs now so does it matter?).

so kanade 3dmv leaves you with honami, toya and haruka for 3DMVs and Rui and Ena for 2DMVs, pair Rui and Ena with two of the 3DMV charas and then the leftover one will pair with whoever kicks off 5th rotation. However.

My assumption is that they're gonna try and end the rotation at the event before the half anniversary again, and this almost works but it does require at least one unit lim banner, otherwise you end up going over by 1 event. as someone pointed out to me in a comment earlier the next one isn't really due until april/may but the only way you can get this to work is by having one out of the december/january/february lim slots be a unit lim event. due to vday and wday coming as a pair i think new years might be the one to go (considering the L/n plot new years could work for them. yknow changes and new beginnings).

as an example something like

December: N25 Kanade (3D) -> Minori perm mixed -> L/n Honami lims (3D)

January: VBS WL -> WxS Rui (2D) -> Mizuki Vday lims

February: VBS Toya (3D) -> N25 Ena (2D) -> Akito White Day lims

March: WxS WL -> MMJ Haruka (3D) -> Kanade 3.5th Anni lims

then you have idk saki and an to kick off the 5th rotation

this is by no means accurate i just threw this together as an example and didn't really put any thought into it

this probably doesn't make sense but. kanade 3dmv event in december.

#sorry for late response i'm really busy this weekend #asks #mod talks #speculation

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silverxcristal · 6 months

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a question! what is the best artistic works you have done ,in your opinion?

Ooo interesting question! I think 2023 had been a good year for me when it comes to art. Slower than usual but in a steady and happy pace

ArtFight was fun this year! I like to draw multiple characters in one place and I got to do it with two Splatoon attacks (First beans are from @msmoon-and-the-cyberdemon and the second ones from @d0llyrat)

I drew the Fanverse anniversary, that one was fun!! I love the end result and makes me happy how many people liked it too! Feels nice

(I actually have a Halloween CPU illustration ready since September, I think it looks amazing in my opinion. I'll post it soon, probably on the 30th)

Speaking of halloween- I love Tails doll and I love that I got to do 2 patreon exclusive illustrations with her. Sadly I can't show them here because they are not public, but I think they look pretty nice. The 2022 one has a lot of perspective angles and 2023 is the shadows and textures

I discover I can do (?) this "experimental" type of illustration that remind me a lot of how I used to fill sketchbooks in every space I had and color it no matter if the drawings clashed with each other. I've done 3 of this so far, the Springtrap one and two patreon exclusives (splatoon and animal crossing)... I like the Splatoon one a lot, is still not public but DAMN I hope it ages well

Ohh and crab island... that thing was in wip hell for a WHOLE YEAR due drama and low motivation to draw the AR, but im happy I got to finish it before hitting the hiatus

Recently I updated my carrd and added a Portfolio section where I show some illustrations I really like, Im trying to update it with new art every 2 months with newer art!!!

Im trying to keep the art as recent as possible on purpose jkalshdkjsadsa I have favorite pieces Ive done that are WAAAAY old that didnt age well, but I like them over nostalgia or bc im sentimental

But yeahh- good year this year so far

#ask #arte

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ghenry · 8 months

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No More Heroes 3, and my Summer of 2021

I was recently playing through the PC port of No More Heroes 3 again to help a friend get some footage. And I found myself lost in a lot of nostalgic feelings while playing through the game again. The visuals, the sound effects, the cutscenes, everything was hitting me again almost like the first time I got to play the game back in August 2021.

I know it sounds weird to have nostalgia for a game that's only 2 years old, but I have my reasons. Not only was I really hype to finally play this game (I even managed to snag an early review code from one of GHM's PR reps), but a lot of 2021 was also a period where my life would change significantly in a lot of ways. In fact, I received my review code just two days before me and a very special someone made a life-changing decision.

I've been talking to someone for a while, and she expressed that she was looking to move somewhere new in order to get out of this cycle she was stuck in. I initially offered moving to my neck of the woods in Jersey. I was adamant about it being a platonic offer, but perhaps I was fooling myself trying to deny developing strong feelings for her, unaware that this would blossom into an amazing relationship.

We did admit feelings towards one-another after months of talking online daily, but were finally marking August for her to come here! It was a big risk we were both taking, frankly, but I couldn't be more excited! On my way to see her, I made a few stops as plans kept getting delayed for the day, but I couldn't be more content at the moment because I was playing my most anticipated game right on my Switch! Being able to play the new No More Heroes so conveniently added so much to my enjoyment. Especially with its summer vibes in the middle of August!

I was a nervous wreck the second we finally met face-to-face, but she didn't hesitate for even a moment to embrace me, ready to turn a new chapter of her life. I shared the sentiment, as we spent hours driving back to Jersey with an SUV full of her stuff, and the cutest cat in the world!

As we were getting accustomed to sharing this living space, we got to share the experience of playing No More Heroes III for the first time ever, and it was enthralling. What I'm trying to say is No More Heroes III houses my sweetest summer memories of 2021, finally meeting this girl whom I'd end up loving more than I could have possibly imagined before.

So with that all said, happy 2-year anniversary to No More Heroes III! It's almost as special to me as the anniversary I just got to celebrate and share with my true love. She's helped me get through some of the toughest times I've ever had to face these past two years, and all I want to do is love and support her in any way I could!

#grasshopper manufacture #no more heroes #no more heroes 3 #travis touchdown #nmh3 #suda51

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kylesvariouslistsandstuff · 16 days

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SHREK 2, approaching its 20th anniversary, took in around $1.3 million this past weekend... In its first theatrical run since its original release.

I have a movie theater job, and I worked this past Friday. Spring break for many schools was this past week, and this week too. Those screenings on Friday at my cinema were often packed, and a lot of them were packed with kids. As in, kids who were born well after this movie originally hit theaters. And *after* SHREK FOREVER AFTER was released, at that.

Yeah, there's some multi-generational appeal there with SHREK and SHREK 2.

Some animation fans jeered at the SHREK movies back in the day, feeling that their early 2000s attitude and pop culture references-aplenty scripts would date them, ditto their art direction and design... But no, nostalgia is very strong, especially when it's passed down. These movies appeal to little kids today. The second PUSS IN BOOTS movie being more recent also helps.

It goes to show that at the end of the day, the characters and what the movie does with them can make something a long-lasting flavor.

And I'm saying this, as someone who is not the biggest fan of those movies myself. As a kid, I did *love* SHREK and SHREK 2. I was the perfect age for them, you could argue - I was 8 1/2 when SHREK came out, 11 1/2 when SHREK 2 hit. I could probably quote whole sections of them verbatim. I know it's sacrilege to say these things, but to me, the SHREK movies are basically the animated equivalent of late '90s/early '00s live-action comedies that were usually made for adults, but in PG-rated form. Set in a fractured fairy tale world with ogres and talking donkeys and dragons and such. If not for those fantastical elements, these movies could've been some '00s live-action comedies with hot stars. They just have that vibe to them, right down to their contemporary soundtracks.

I don't see the first two SHREK movies as the high-water marks of the animation medium that they were sometimes made out to be by critics who didn't see animation as anything other than babysitter fluff. In addition to feeling that MONSTERS, INC. deserved the inaugural Best Animated Feature Oscar over this film, I also never bought that the first two SHREKs were these "revolutionary" "adult" alternatives to whatever Disney had out at the time. There's a roughly 2-second scene in Ralph Bakshi's X-rated FRITZ THE CAT - from 1972 - that's a way better satire of Disney than this movie is said to be, haha. I know at least one person who doesn't really like animation, but they will admit that they liked SHREK. That tells me a lot... SHREK was an animated movie that managed to appeal to just about everybody, including folks who would otherwise not bother with cartoons. It just has that zazz to it... Their core appeal, well specifically, SHREK 1 & 2, is undeniable. How many other relatively chill, less formal comedies like this did you see in mainstream feature animation at the time? It's not zany like, say, Disney's similarly irreverent buddy comedy THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE from five months earlier, nor is it like Pixar's clever, tightly-plotted movies.

The first SHREK movie hit a sweet spot with a lot of American audiences at the right time. Adult audiences who were burnt out on Disney's Renaissance formula being repeated for each movie after THE LION KING, and especially all the movies made at other studios following their lead. Like ANASTASIA and QUEST FOR CAMELOT. Even DreamWorks' own THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, for that matter. These big, grandiose musical pictures... Certain young film fans nowadays will say "those movies went SO HARD", but back in the late '90s/early '00s, the attitude towards them was "Okay, enough of that already." They were often called things like "politically correct", that era's version of "woke". Audiences wanted an animated film that they could just laugh and have a fun time with, without the moral messaged in a specific way.

Adults had also avoided the slew of edgy action-adventure animated movies aimed at a demographic that would never be there, films like DreamWorks' THE ROAD TO EL DORADO, along with Disney's ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE and Fox's TITAN A.E.

So you have this particular landscape of animated features, circa early 2001... Big grandiose family-friendly musicals that have become rather traditional, and these action-adventures for preteen boys that few were interested in seeing in theaters. Few exceptions are in-between, like THE IRON GIANT, but those were ignored because of other circumstances. IRON GIANT by all means should've been a small respectable success back in 1999 at the very least, if not a sleeper hit/blockbuster, but distributor Warner Bros. didn't believe in it. That's the animated movie landscape of early 2001... and then this chill comedy with dick jokes and a gross-out factor to it comes along... Right place, right time, planets aligned... One person put it this way: SHREK was an animated movie that "you could have a beer with."

And to think that SHREK was at one point shaping up to be a cursed, troubled production. Something that animators were punished with. An impending bomberoo, a film that was stopped and restarted, that lurched through a tumultuous 5-year journey...

Then the sequel went on to break records in the spring/summer of 2004, a high that the later films in the franchise couldn't rekindle.

SHREK THE THIRD certainly made a lot of money back in 2007, it was the highest-grossing animated movie of that calendar year, beating out the likes of THE SIMPSONS MOVIE and RATATOUILLE... but I don't remember it landing the way SHREK 2 did. I remember seeing it opening weekend with my dad, my good friend, and his family... and... largely forgetting about it afterwards! I was in high school at the time, and had mentioned one day that a fourth one was coming. This was around late 2007, by the time SHREK 3 was out of theaters and close to DVD release. (And HD-DVD as well, remember that?) One of my classmates responded, "Ugh, they're making another one?" A new SHREK movie wasn't as novel and fresh by then, and when SHREK FOREVER AFTER came out in the spring of 2010, I remember everyone being hyped about TOY STORY 3 - opening less than a month later... Not a word on the fourth green ogre movie. SHREK 4 still made plenty of dough though, it was bigger worldwide than here. Then DreamWorks pumped the breaks on the green ogre, as FOREVER AFTER was billed as "The Final Chapter".

It's interesting to note that DreamWorks' original plan was to make five SHREK movies, and PUSS IN BOOTS would be a direct-to-video movie with the subtitle THE STORY OF AN OGRE KILLER. The fifth SHREK movie would've been a prequel, interestingly enough. But over time, as PUSS IN BOOTS graduated to theatrical feature film and was given to SHREK 3 director Chris Miller, the plans slightly changed...

PUSS IN BOOTS had a rather blah opening in fall 2011, no doubt fueled by franchise fatigue and arriving just a little over a year after SHREK 4... but the cat legged it up something fierce. Because it was pretty good, and for some, a return to form after two lackluster SHREK sequels. It was right for the time, too. An old-school swashbuckling adventure for the family, featuring a fan favorite character from the SHREK sequels. I'm not sure a Donkey or Gingy spin-off would've landed the same way, lol. I remember the early 2010s being a time of more sincere animated movies, a country mile from the ironic early 2000s attitude of the first SHREK movie and all of its imitators. PUSS IN BOOTS Uno was more in line with those kinds of movies, and some of the classic-style adventure movies that DreamWorks had out at the time, like HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and the first two KUNG FU PANDA films. Their then-recent comedies, like MONSTERS VS. ALIENS and THE CROODS, leaned in a more cartoony and wacky direction. The early 2010s, to reiterate, were way different from the early 2000s in terms of animated movie output. What goes on in the world moves the needle as much as the pop culture does, indeed.

So then, some 11 years and at least one period in limbo later, PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH comes out. An exciting reinvention of the whole franchise, and arriving after a decade-long void where SHREK became something of a meme. Add in nostalgia, word-of-mouth, THE LAST WISH was a gradual trip back into the world of SHREK for many audiences. A big hit in the end, and a beloved movie. It's certainly my favorite movie in this series, for sure. I still find it neat how they didn't just do the safe thing and simply make a SHREK 5 after Comcast acquired them, no. They stuck to that long-gestating PUSS IN BOOTS sequel and saw it through first, as a sort-of lead in to new SHREK movies... And still did something amazing with it, when it could've just been another typical-style SHREK universe movie. It could've also been the movie that it was initially planned to be.

I have no doubt that SHREK PLEADS THE FIFTH, when it hits in a few years, probably makes a good run at highest-grossing animated movie of all-time. SHREK 2 was just that for six years. $919m back in 2004 - without 3D, IMAX, and other such premium formats - was **massive**. TOY STORY 3 took the crown thereafter, and held onto that for three years. SHREK 5's target to beat is the 2019 CG remake of THE LION KING, $1.6 billion. If you don't count that, FROZEN II with $1.4 billion.

I wonder if this re-release of SHREK 2 sparks Universal and DreamWorks to re-release other older films of theirs. Maybe even one that didn't do so hot back in the day? This year also happens to be SHARK TALE's 20th, and MONSTERS VS. ALIENS' 15th. 2014 saw the release of three movies: MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2, and PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR. 2019 saw the arrival of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD and ABOMINABLE.

Who knows...

I think they should re-release animated movies more often, no matter the studio. The SHREK 2 re-release opened wider than the three recent Pixar first-time ever theatrical runs of movies that went straight to Disney+, and people turned out for it. It also helps that the movie is that old, whereas those three Pixars aren't that old. SOUL, the oldest of that trio, came out Christmas 2020. Not even four years ago.

Now, if Disney re-released a Pixar film wide like - say - THE INCREDIBLES this year, I'd imagine it'd get *some* traction like this SHREK 2 re-release did. Or if Disney did the same to an animated feature like LILO & STITCH. Remember those 3D re-releases of various Disney Animation and Pixar films? THE LION KING did quite well in 2011, while everything else barely made half of that... But still quite a bit nonetheless. $40m+ for, say, FINDING NEMO in 2012 is something a new animated feature would fight for today.

Every year, my cinema does the Studio Ghibli fest. Most of the beloved movies... Ya know, little tiny unheard-of movies like SPIRITED AWAY and PRINCESS MONONOKE? Always sold out to the front row.

The original KUNG FU PANDA ran for a few weeks earlier this year in the lead-up to KUNG FU PANDA 4, and a few people showed up for those screenings.

Yeah... More re-release of animated movies, please. Plus, they're great to experience on the big screen again.

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wind-becomes-lightning · 1 year

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The future is ours to own.

Welcome to Obito week Day 1 :) This little fic today is mostly just me being whiny about this hc that I hate which is so prominent about Gai and Obito not getting along. I don't like it I don't want it. So here is my take on their post war relationship.

Obito lives Au

Might Gai & Uchiha Obito

Rated G

2777 words

Ao3 link [x]

for @obito-week: childhood, nostalgia & anniversary.

Gai visits Obito in prison

He didn’t recognise the footsteps approaching the cell. Heavy, with purpose, but lopsided, as if only one leg was working correctly. Obito couldn’t see because a seal had been placed on his eyes and he could not use his hands to feel because they had been bound, but he often understood who was approaching by the way the floor moved.

Kakashi, for example, slouched a little, so he dragged his feet. Obito would know Kakashi as soon as he entered the cellar in which his cell was located. He talked very little until he made it to where Obito was.

The guards had heavy armour and even heavier to carry with their special shuriken bags. Only in Hozuki were people allowed to wear these chakra suppression materials that were not only very effective, but also forbidden elsewhere.

Even in that one case, when Sasuke had visited him, his steps had been smaller, more muted, as if he was trying not to gain too much attention.

So the person that was coming now was neither of them for one, and hadn’t visited Obito before for another. It made him feel tense and worried. Kakashi had told him that the war anniversary was around the corner, which surprised Obito. In this darkness that he was kept in now every day seemed the same and so he had thought it was much longer since then. That someone new was coming now meant clearly that it was someone who was looking for some revenge.

And it wasn’t like Obito minded people who wanted revenge against him, he just didn’t want to cause Kakashi and Naruto, who had so extraordinarily vouched for him, any more trouble by dying.

Though it seemed unlikely that the approaching stranger was up for revenge. He seemed rather cheerful, chatting with guards now and then in a low voice, though Obito could not hear what he talked about with them. That was until the person reached the cell door and had it opened for him. “I am happy to see so much is being done for the inmates in this place,” the voice said excitedly. “I think reintegration is the right step forward for criminals. Help them understand their youth again.”

The guard laughed quietly as if he was a little embarrassed by the words spoken, then the door squeaked and swung open and the visitor stepped inside.

Gai.

Obito could barely believe it. Gai had not spoken a word to him since they had been very young, not even in the war had he looked at him. Gai who had been so much of what Obito wished he had been, a fighter, naturally talented, a person that could make friends easily and retain them. Obito’s whole body tensed up and he pushed himself against the wall behind him. Gai, who’s student Obito had killed during the war in a needless display of hatred and violence.

“Hello Obito,” Gai said in his usual cheerful voice. “My rival's rival.”

Obito pushed himself flat against the back wall. “Hello Gai. I didn’t expect you to visit.”

All these months Obito had waited for someone who had been close to the Hyuuga boy to come and scream at him in frustration. His teammates, his uncle or his cousins- but nobody had come until now. There was only him sitting in his own regrets for weeks on end, thinking of the boy that had been killed so young. What he had wanted was to create a better world for everybody, especially children plagued by war, and in the end he had just become what he always hated.

“Ha, yes, I thought it was time to see you.” Gai walked forward and Obito guessed that he stopped about an arms length away from where he was. “Kakashi allowed me. I know he comes here all the time.”

Obito grumbled: “Too often.”

Kakashi was determined to show Obito that nothing in their relationship had changed. That Kakashi, despite all, still admired Obito as the hero he saw him to be. Obito of course knew that was a farce and that he wasn’t like that anymore, that that version of him had died a long time ago, still Kakashi was stubborn.

Gai laughed, the sound echoed off the walls and filled the room. “You are both so much older now but you still behave like you did around each other when you were teenagers. Feels almost nostalgic. I remember easily locating your team in the Chuunin exams because you couldn’t stop arguing with each other.”

“I remember you kicked me so hard in the face that I needed to get treated for a concussion,” Obito replied and laughed now too. Back then Obito’s pride had gotten beat up so thoroughly that he had exclusively trained taijutsu for the next three months, completely neglecting his Ninjutsu training, which Kakashi had not been too tired to point out.

“Right, you said you would knock me out in five minutes,” Gai remembered. “I took that as a challenge.”

Obito grinned. “Clearly, I was full of shit.”

“No,” Gai said, “you were just young. Youthful passion does that to a person.”

In a way Obito had always admired Gai for his unwavering optimism. He had also hated it to equal measure. In the years that Obito had spent watching Kakashi he had often thought that the only reason Kakashi was still holding on was Gai’s unrelenting optimism. While the wood boy Tenzo was also a big part of what kept Kakashi going, Gai definitely had the biggest hand in it. And as much as it ashamed him now, Obito had really wanted Kakashi to throw in the towel. Give up on the world, just like Obito had.

He had tried the same strategy with Naruto. Had wanted to make him feel despair and pain so he would give up on the world. But Naruto was stronger than that. Even when his mentor died, he carried on. Obito’s internal envy had burned hot and angry. Why wasn’t this boy as desperate as he was? Why wouldn’t he give up on the world like he did? Maybe somewhere he had wanted to excuse himself from his deeds, show that everyone would fall as deeply as he had fallen. So Obito had killed one of Naruto’s friends right in front of him just to see how he would react.

But Naruto still didn’t fall into despair. Neither did Gai when he saw his student die. They had both carried on with hope in their hearts. It was a quality that Obito wished he still had, but somewhere along the way the optimistic and driven version of him had died and this more angry, more cynical version had taken its place. Buried deep under stone.

“I…” Obito started but Gai cut him off immediately. “He was really a good kid, you know? Neji.”

Ah, so he really did come to talk about that. “I can believe that,” Obito murmured.

“He was born into the side branch, a nasty business thing the Hyuuga do where one child is deemed less important than the other. And though he had a good childhood in general he hardened his heart when his father died so as to not be hurt again.” Gai sighed. Obito of course knew that the Hyuuga clan separated their members in main branch and side branch and how it affected those family members. Each of the major clans had their issues somewhere. They couldn’t stay in power for so many decades if they weren’t ruling with an iron fist.

“Even when he entered my team, he did not trust me or his teammates.” Gai tapped with his finger on the cold stone ground. “I think he thought he needed to do it all alone. Become strong, reform his family, avenge his father, bear the burden of being marked for life. He warmed up to the others though eventually and listened to me, but I think it was only Naruto that taught him to be different.

Obito smiled: “Naruto tends to have that quality.”

“Once Neji realised that the future wasn’t set, that he could do as he pleased, he quickly became the most reliable shinobi in Konoha. Not only for missions, not only for our team, but also for his family. I think he really cherished the friendships he had made and the new sibling-like bond he had with his cousins. You could basically feel the real effort that had been made to improve the clan. I used to talk to Kurenai all the time about how much better both our Hyuuga students were doing since they were getting along,” Gai continued.

The pit of despair that Obito always felt when Hyuuga Neji was mentioned opened again in Obito’s stomach. “That is very good,” he said weakly.

Gai moved a little as if he was shifting his weight beneath him. “There were many times I told him that despite what their old traditions say, it was not his responsibility to die for a main branch member. Protecting them, yes. Working with them, yes. Helping them, absolutely. But dying for them? It was not what he was forced to do. It was his choice.”

He paused for a moment and Obito could feel his body tensing up. “And then he did. He made the choice. He sacrificed himself out of his own free will,” Gai’s words were pressed now as if continuing was causing him physical harm. “I am happy for him. He fulfilled what he believed to be destiny by defying destiny and still….. I wish…” His voice died.

Obito had never heard Gai sad like that, not when they were young and not later when he watched Kakashi. Gai was always cheerful and excited, Gai went on and on about youth and love and passion even so much that others got annoyed. So hearing him suffer like this almost felt unbearable. Obito could feel tears run down his cheeks before he really realised that he was in fact crying.

“I’m sorry..” He said with lips quivering. “I should not have tried to force my own twisted view on others. Neji.. probably was not part of that world that I hated so much, but a victim of it. I was so blinded by my envy and rage that I couldn’t see that there were many children like that. He would have deserved to make his own future, he would have deserved to grow and see the world change, his clan change, around him. He… he had so much left to do and… well.. He was just a kid and I…”

He sniffed, but the tears kept coming. Obito had envisioned this encounter many times before. How he would react if one of Neji’s family members would come and talk to him. Kakashi had asked him why it was this specific death that haunted him so much, when he had killed so many people in his quest for the Tsukuyomi. At first Obito hadn’t been able to explain that either. Maybe it was because he was so young and so hopeful, maybe because the reason he had died had been so unnecessarily evil or maybe it was because Neji, unlike Obito, had seen injustice in the world and then tried to correct it as much as he could, while Obito had just given up on himself.

Obito gasped as suddenly two big arms threw themselves around him. Gai was hugging him close, tears streaming down his face too. “He was a kid, yes,” he said between sobs, “but so were you. Kakashi told me what happened to you, about Madara and the manipulation, about Rin and your desperation. You were just a child. You weren’t meant to bear such a heavy burden on your shoulders.”

“Come…come on…,” Obito winced a little as Gai pressed him even closer. They remained like this for another moment, just two grown men crying over childhoods lost. The scene must have been very odd for onlookers, but none of them cared. It felt strangely relieving to sit here and just cry together.

After a while Obito regained his composure. “You should not forgive me for what I did,” he said and wiped his cheeks beneath the seal. “My circumstances don’t excuse the crimes I committed. At least that is also what the judge that sent me here told me.”

Gai let go of Obito. “I won’t forgive you,” Gai said, now suddenly sounding very serious. “I don’t think I will ever be able to forgive you. But I wanted to express my understanding. Despite the anger I feel towards you at the moment I can’t say I would have been any different if all of what happened to you would have happened to me…”

“Nonsense,” Obito laughed, “You were always stronger than me. You will continue to be stronger than me.”

A hand grabbed Obito’s shoulder and pressed it. “It shows how strong your will is that you are still here with us. You tried to sacrifice yourself for the good of the youth of this world because you once again believed there was a future to sacrifice yourself for. Strength shows in many different ways, Obito, not only in optimism or muscle mass.“ Gai shook Obito a little. “You took Neji’s future from him a year ago and you can never give it back, that much is true, but what you do with the future you have been given, what we do with the future we both have given by surviving, is our own choice.”

Obito lifted his hands and pressed them against Gai’s arms on his shoulders. He could feel his lips shaking again. One of the things he struggled most with was the fact that he had survived this war. It would have been so much easier just to die there, become nothing but a distant memory. He was also convinced that it would have made Kakashi’s life much easier.

He now realised why Gai’s steps had created such odd vibrations when he had walked. During his fight with Madara, when Obito was largely under control of black Zetsu, Gai had also tried to sacrifice himself for the future of the world by opening the Gate of Death. Just like Obito, however, Gai had been saved by Naruto and the power that was gifted to him from the Sage of Six Paths. Still, he lost a leg that had since been replaced by a prosthetic one, at least according to what Kakashi had said.

Now they both lived in a future that they tried to preserve and though their setups were completely different, for good reason, they were oddly similar. Maybe Gai was right.

“I don’t think with all that has happened that we can ever be friends,” Gai continued. “I don’t think I will be able to look at you and not feel pain in my chest…” Obito nodded. “... but I think we should try to get to know each other from the very beginning, like we are just young kids meeting for the first time. Start building an understanding between us with the smallest piece first.”

Obito let his hands fall down again. “You mean for Kakashi’s sake?” Though Kakashi had never talked about it, Obito knew he feared that a future animosity between Obito and Gai could cause him constant heartache.

Gai grabbed Obito’s shoulder a little tighter: “No, for us. To show that we know how to use this time that has been given to us.” He finally let Obito go and then stepped back. The air moved as if Gai was ripping his arms around and his voice was suddenly louder than it had been before. “My name is Might Gai,” he roared, “My dream is still to become a splendid ninja and to use the power of my own youth!”

His hand found Obito’s and shook it. Obito laughed a little. So that was what Gai had meant when he had said that they should get to know each other like kids again. “I’m Uchiha Obito,” Obito said weakly and realised how long it had been since he had introduced himself like that. “My dream used to be to become Hokage, but now I guess Bakashi got that role, well, I guess my new dream will be to support him if I can.”

They shook again. “Nice to meet you,” Gai said.

“Nice to meet you,” Obito replied.

Obito had thought that the anniversary of the war would bring him waves of guilt and regret, but instead it had become the first day of the rest of his life.

#fanfiction things #obito week 2023 #obito week #uchiha obito #might gai

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