ok. tijd om te emigreren 🥲

ya boi is back with a new niche character played by hayden christensen for yall to enjoy.

CW: blood, wounds, cursing, piercings, tattoos, guns, fighting, deaths of unnamed characters

AJ x gn!reader - Takers (2010). the stupid hat grew on me.

dedicated as always to @haydens-moles and @iscariot-rising for being my friends and for appreciating hayden as much as I do

The story of your life, as you loved to explain it, boiled down to a little math joke. Excited five, you called it, or it’s official terminology- five factorial. Written as “5!”, hence the awful pun.

“Factorials,” you’d say, “for those that don’t remember, are a multiplication of every number up to the one that’s being discussed. As such, five factorial is five, times four, times three, times two, times one.”

Your life, your excited five, was as follows: five major scars, four tattoos, three piercings, two eyebrow slits.

“The one is usually ignored,” you’d say, “as it makes no multiplicative difference. That’s why I don’t have a ‘one’.”

In August, 2009, you got your ‘one’. Its a doozy. But we’re not there yet.

~~~

Five major scars.

December 25, 1983. It’s your first Christmas. Your parents think you’re just being a cranky infant, but something way more serious is going on- they find out the next day that you’ve got RSV, a respiratory virus that’s especially dangerous for infants. You spend the next three years periodically using a ventilator whenever the coughing acts up. You don’t remember much of it, other than the vaguely crayon-looking piece of the machine, but you can’t forget that it happened, due to the pretty white scar over the bridge of your nose. It’s not such a gnarly wound as it is a reminder- not of the ventilator that wore through your skin thanks to frequent use, but of the virus that almost took your life only a few months after it had begun.

July 28, 1993. You’re seven years old, staying at your grandmother’s house with your cousin, who’s six months older than you. You’re playing cops and robbers- he’s the cop. The forest streaks by as you run the length of the property, slightly faster than him, but he catches you and throws you down. You land on your back on a jagged rock, not only painfully impacting your spine but digging deeply into your muscles beside it. It was the first hospital visit you remember, and the dark, long scar halfway between your tailbone and your shoulders reminds you never to fall without controlling it.

January 15, 1998. You’re in sophomore year of high school, and not the most popular. You like to play by the rules, and some asshole junior decides that he doesn’t like the way you won’t let him cheat off of your trigonometry homework, and decides that a knife is the best way to settle the problem. Those homework answers weren’t worth the long white line over all four of the knuckles of your left hand, but it is a pretty little reminder that lowlifes do what they want. And law enforcement, or whatever your school called the ‘anti-bullying league’, does jack shit about it.

October 30, 2002. You’re almost done with your certification to become a cop- thank god. You couldn’t stand the people who were to become your graduate class. They were so ready to become cops just to bully people, just to get to weild an iron fist and hide their bloodlust behind the law. Not you- you’re here to do some real good. That’s what they don’t like about you. And that’s why Fred Young splits open your cheek when just he’s supposed to be practicing his sparring. It’s an ugly scar, needed six stitches, but it’s a reminder that even the cops aren’t always the good guys.

May 14, 2004. You’re a new cop, working under detective Wells. There’s a robbery of a jewelry store a few blocks from where you’re patrolling, and as you’re making your way to the scene, a man in a fedora runs smack into you, taking you both to the ground. Broken glass digs into your shoulder, but he apologizes, and his blue eyes look so genuine. He’s afraid. You’d not realize until a month later that he wasn’t a scared bystander, but in fact one of the thieves. The fifth of your scars matches your first meeting with AJ- who would, by the end of the summer, become one of the most important people in your life.

~~~

Four tattoos.

August 4, 1999- Left wrist, inside knob of the bone. The little symbol had represented something to you when you were sixteen, but it had long lost whatever meaning you’d given it. Now, it was just a pattern to pass your thumb over whenever you got restless.

February 16, 2002- The cap of the right shoulder. It was your bunk number, from when you were training to be a cop. Nothing extravagant, but it was supposed to represent the beginning of the rest of your life- it was supposed to represent your calling.

June 1, 2004- Left arm, the outside of the forearm. Bleeding from your first tattoo was a new one, the largest one on your body. It was geometrical and high contrast, black lines loosely following your veins up toward your elbow, as though that left hand was bringing darkness into your body. It did- you shot with your left hand.

July 17, 2004- Right collarbone. A single, circular monogram, made up of six letters.

T A K E R S.

~~~

Three piercings.

April 7, 1989. Your father took you to get your ears pierced, but insisted upon arrival that it was too expensive to get both done, so you only got your left. The assymetrical style would have to grow on you- at six years old, you hated it.

May 19, 2003. You couldn’t have piercings at the academy, they were unprofessional, they were dangerous. So the night of graduation, you went out and got a hole punched into your nostril- the pain made tears well up, but more than anything, it was the satisfaction of giving a pretty little ‘fuck you’ to your superiors, who you’d never see again.

July 18, 2006. AJ takes you to a fancy beauty salon for an eyebrow bar after hearing maybe once that you’d wanted another piercing. You knew you were in love with him- who else in your life had ever paid such close attention to you?

~~~

Two eyebrow slits.

June 23, 2004. You leave the police force. You tell Wells that it’s because you’re pissed you can’t find the guys that robbed the jewelry store, but that’s not even close to the truth. You’ve found them- hell, you got a good look at one of them on the very day of the robbery. But you’ve done the looking, and didn’t have the heart to bring them in. They had families. They donated ten percent of every heist to a charity. They did more for the community than the police you worked for, and they did it clean- they didn’t hurt anybody, if they didn’t have to. They did what you’d hoped to do, when you joined the force. What you’d never gotten to do. Eyebrow slits were considered extremely unprofessional, so the moment you were free of your two week notice, you split open your right eyebrow. It would give a good balance to the bar piercing you hoped to put through your left someday.

March 4, 2007. You’re cleaning up your slit when AJ walks into the room and stands behind you so that you can see him through the mirror. You keep your eyes on the trimmer you’re so delicately running over your skin, but when he opens up a little felt box with a pretty ring inside, you whirl around with such panic that you make the slit approximately half an inch wider than it should’ve been. Lilli helped you fill in the gap for the engagement photos, but you decided to keep a second slit on the other end of the unfortunate shave- a little reminder of the evening in which he proposed to you.

~~~

“The one is usually ignored,” you’d say, “as it makes no multiplicative difference. That’s why I don’t have a ‘one’.”

On August 27, 2009, you got your ‘one’.

You’d been out of the game for two years, choosing not to take a cut of the winnings. You’d advise, you’d plan, you’d set up, but you did not want to be on site when the heist went down. The boys had it taken care of, and you butted heads with Jesse far too often for anyone’s comfort.

You especially couldn’t work on this project, thanks to a little fucker named Ghost- he didn’t trust you, as a member of the Takers he’d never met, and you didn’t trust him, as a criminal you’d never grown to respect.

You knew that most of them didn’t trust Ghost either, but everything he brought forward checked out- AJ must’ve mumbled the plan thirty times in his sleep in the five days from its suggestion to its fruition. There were no holes. Knowing Gordon and John, they had some ‘insurance’ for Ghost, anyway. In case it went wrong.

Still, you stayed at the Hotel Roosevelt through it all. You were their sitter, keeping the hotel room warm and ready for their arrival. They arrived back one by one- and like usual, AJ got there first. He, Gordon, and John were usually the first to get out, but he always made it back to the room first, because that way he could get some time with you. That way, he could have a private reunion, fresh off of a job.

“Hey, baby,” he said as he closed the door, and you waited for him to turn his eyes to you before you gave him a smile. He threw down his bag onto one of the chairs, and it landed with a heavy thump, but you’d long grown used to the sound of the score. However much he pulled, good for him. You were just happy to slip your arms around his neck and feel him kiss the scar on your cheekbone before sliding his lips to yours.

He always kissed different right after a job- before the boys had all gotten back, before the total was counted. He had a confidence to his movement, but there was fear, insecurity, just a tinge. He wasn’t just a taker, he was a man, who had worries and risks just like every other man.

You were out of the game for a few reasons. They had it taken care of. You butted heads with Jesse. You didn’t trust Ghost. But you knew that you were AJ’s biggest fear- you knew that if you got hurt on a job, he’d never forgive himself.

So he kissed you, he held you close, he reminded himself that you were here, you were fine. His long fingers seems to take up half your back, and his hair was already in his face, as though you’d tugged it there yourself.

With just one more pass of your lips over his, you pulled away.

“How’d it go?” You asked with a soft voice, rolling your first finger through the curls at the back of his neck.

“Could’ve gone better,” he said with a chuckle, “but we got it done.” You heard a knock at the door, and Gordon was the next arrival- then John, then Jake, then Ghost. Jesse came last, and with him, a whole host of new problems.

A bullet splintered the door and caught AJ somewhere under the ribcage. Everyone hit the floor, diving behind couches, and you popped your head up long enough to see AJ launch over the kitchen island. The room shattered into gunfire and feathers from expensive pillows, glass shards littering the ground like raindrops. It all moved so fast, and the air exploded into noise. You could barely track AJ through it all, he was so far away, all the way across the room. And you wanted to keep your eye straight down the barrel of your gun.

“AJ!” Jesse called from beside you, hidden behind a brown leather couch, “You okay?” You looked around the side of it, and saw him ten feet from you, the longest ten feet of your life, behind the kitchen island. He was struggling, on his hands and knees.

“Get up,” you snarled, knowing he’d already taken a hit.

“Out the back!” John ordered from the doorway behind you, and you started to realize the moment, the dangerous, heavy moment. AJ was all the way across the room- he couldn’t cross it. Not with these mobsters holding ground.

“Let’s go!” Gordon shouted, and your eyes connected with AJ’s. He saw the same thing you did.

“Go,” he said, voice calm, and it cut through the chaos of the room, cut through every hardened lesson ever pounded into you, cut through every wall you’d ever built around you, around your heart. “I’m coming.”

AJ was a good liar. But he couldn’t lie to you.

“No,” you growled through gritted teeth, and you made a rash decision.

You’d always been good at gymnastics. You had strong control over the movement of your body, and had, ever since you’d learned from your cousin throwing you down onto that stone that split open your back. You could move and slink and roll and dive in ways that would keep you not only from falling, but even from being noticed.

Using the chaos as your cover, you did a tight diving roll across the room to him, slipping between shelters unscathed. This brought you just a bit closer to the mobsters, but further from the back door exit that Gordon had been trying to guide you toward. You’d chose AJ over your safety any day- the surprise and the fear in his eyes said that he wished you wouldn’t.

Making sure you had enough ammo, you considered your final move- this didn’t end until these mobsters did. There were five of them left, after all this commotion: four in the room, one in the hall. You couldn’t take all five, not with their guns being so much more than yours, but you could take out a few. You could shift attention, you could buy time.

And hopefully, you could stay breathing, too. That’d be nice.

“Stay down,” you hissed, leaving AJ behind the island where he’d be forgotten about, or assumed dead. Then, you rounded the corner and rolled to the feet of the closest mobster. As you came out of the roll you caught his legs in yours, wrenching them from under him and taking him to the ground with one of the first moves you’d learned in basic training. He hit the wall hard, and was unconscious by the time he landed- the same could not be said for his friends.

From your right, you could see Gordon, still firing, still hopeful for your and AJ’s escape. Your shoulders were above the couch, so you knew he saw as you turned your weapon to the second mobster before he could turn to you, and stopped his heart.

Your commotion had caught the attention of the other three who still remained. You whirled around and raised your gun to one of them, but they managed it first.

Gordon had to swallow back his horror as he saw a bullet enter the front of your side profile, and blood explode from the back. He took out the mobster who still had his attention on you- but your shoulders smacked to the ground outside of his view, and he closed the door.

Luckily, their aim was spotty. You now had a useless left arm, but you were still breathing. Not that you’d let the one remaining mobster notice that.

You and AJ played dead, only a few feet from each other, but the kitchen island becoming a thicker wall than any you’d ever been split by. As you stared blankly at the ceiling, taking shallow breaths hidden by the folds of your shirt, you hoped he didn’t think you were dead. You hoped he wasn’t bleeding out.

After what felt like agonizingly long minutes, the shooting finally stopped, and the door opened again. Gordon was the first to enter the room, and rounded the couch to you, grief in his eyes, expecting the worst.

But you could give him a smile.

“Surprise,” you groaned, and he lit up in relief, helping you sit up with your good arm.

“Look at you, playing dirty,” he said with a laugh, “I thought you were gone for sure.”

“AJ,” you heard Jake say from across the room, and finally AJ could sit up from where you’d forced him down. The two of you had both bled straight through your shirts, but there wasn’t any time for sweet reunions- everyone had to get out, and fast.

AJ left his car wherever it was. John gave the two of you a ride to the airstrip where Gordon was going to disappear for a while, and on the way you and AJ attempted to give each other first aid until the personnel on the plane could take care of it.

Eventually, you leaned against his left, and he against your right, your wounds still stinging and sticky with blood, but manageable, for as long as they needed to be.

The night didn’t get any easier, but that didn’t matter- you were home free, they’d managed the job, and Ghost was out of the picture, and neither of you were going to die.

And someday, when you felt brave enough to recount your near-death, near-loss, near-jailed experience, you’d say:

Five major scars, four tattoos, three piercings, two eyebrow slits. And one gun shot wound.

-🦌 Roe

Article: Ashton Edwards Is Breaking Down Gender Barriers in Ballet

Date: July 1, 2021

By: Marcie Sillman

When Ashton Edwards was 3 years old, the Edwards family went to see a holiday production of The Nutcracker in their hometown, Flint, MI.

For the young child, it was love at first sight.

"I saw a beautiful, black Clara," Ashton says, "and I wanted to be just like her."

Ashton has dedicated 14 years of ballet training in pursuit of that childhood dream. But all the technical prowess in the world can't help Ashton surmount the biggest hurdle—this aspiring dancer was born male, and for the vast majority of boys and men, performing in pointe shoes hasn't been a career option. But Ashton Edwards, who uses the pronouns "he" and "they," says it's high time to break down ballet's gender barrier, and their teachers and mentors believe this passionate dancer is just the person to lead the charge.

A Childhood in Motion

Ashton's mother, Latisha Edwards, says for as long as she can remember, Ashton, the sixth of seven Edwards siblings, has been in constant motion, dancing on any flat surface in the house. "He'd crash into plates in the kitchen," she laughs. She knew she had to find something to focus all that energy.

The year after the family trip to Nutcracker, when Ashton was just 4 years old, Latisha signed them up for a dance class offered through Flint's Head Start program. Karen Jennings, now chair of the dance division at the Flint School of Performing Arts, ran the Saturday program at the time.

"There was this little guy out in the hallway," Jennings remembers. It was Ashton, and Jennings saw the child was copying the students in her intermediate class.

"I was afraid he was going to fall and crack his head open," she says. "So, I invited him into the studio."

Jennings recognized Ashton's natural flexibility, rotation and body proportions, the physical assets that often propel a hopeful ballet dancer to success. Beyond these gifts, Ashton had what Jennings calls a "spark": the enthusiasm and self-discipline to devote to regular ballet classes. Once the Edwards family decided Ashton would continue ballet training, Jennings was happy to place them in her classes with the more advanced students. She kept a close eye on the aspiring dancer throughout their 12 years in the Flint School of Performing Arts program—though Ashton's journey there wasn't always easy.

Ashton was one of only a handful of boys in the school, and one of very few Black students. And though Ashton never felt treated differently, their keen awareness of being Black in a room full of white dancers created a pressure to excel.

"I've had to be 12 times better than everyone else my whole life," Ashton says. "We have no choice but to be the best if we want to be treated equally."

Finding a Dance Home in Seattle

By the time Ashton was 11 or 12, it became clear they had the raw skills to pursue ballet seriously, and Jennings met with the Edwards family to spell out what that would mean: leaving Flint for more rigorous pre-professional training. Latisha Edwards worried about sending her child out of town, but she supported their decision to enroll in summer classes at both Chicago's Joffrey Ballet and then at Houston Ballet.

Although Jennings believed the Joffrey would be a good long-term fit, at age 16 Ashton decided to audition for Pacific Northwest Ballet's summer intensive. They traveled to Chicago where the Seattle-based dance company was holding a large, regional audition. PNB artistic director Peter Boal says managing director Denise Bolstad spotted Ashton before he did.

"Her eyes got bigger, then she pointed to the name and audition number on the card." Boal immediately saw what Bolstad had noticed in Ashton. "His lines, his energy, his placement."

But something even more special struck Boal: This teenager had the kind of stage presence that's difficult to teach. "There are dancers that you just look at them, and they have their own special spotlight."

Boal offered Ashton a summer spot; despite their mother's qualms about the distance from Flint to Seattle, she let her son travel west, where they fell in love with both PNB and Seattle. After the summer, Boal accepted Ashton into the company's Professional Division training program.

Chasing the Dream of Dancing On Pointe

While the move to PNB made sense in terms of preparation for a professional ballet career, it didn't ensure that Ashton could immediately pursue gender-blind ballet training. In fact, the teenager didn't even consider it at first.

"Growing up I always knew all the choreography for the female roles," Ashton says. "I learned everything, but those were unreachable dreams, just insane fantasies." So, when Ashton first arrived at PNB, they focused on traditional men's classes, and on building strength, to develop into what they call a "man's man."

But the pandemic hit midway through Ashton's first year at PNB. When the ballet school shut down, Ashton had time to reflect on their efforts to fit the male ballet dancer stereotype. At 5' 6" with long, slender limbs and androgynous facial features, they didn't necessarily resemble a Romeo or an Albrecht. And deep down, they still harbored the dream of dancing Juliet or Giselle.

So, during quarantine in the spring and summer of 2020, Ashton embarked on a rigorous self-directed training program. They sought out online pointe technique videos, studying them carefully. A friend gave Ashton her old pointe shoes, and every day they'd go outside to the patio to practice what they'd seen in the videos.

"I was out there for six hours a day, as soon as the sun came out," says Ashton. "And I realized, maybe this dream is possible."

So, last fall Ashton approached Boal and Bolstad with a proposition: The dancer would continue with the official men's curriculum if the school would allow them to pursue pointe classes, as well. And they showed the teachers what they'd learned over the summer.

"I had no hesitation," Boal remembers. "If anyone had said to me 'This student has danced on pointe for just nine months and this is what they're able to do,' I wouldn't believe it!"

The Lewis and Clark of the Ballet World

Since classes resumed last September, Ashton has juggled a rigorous schedule: two days a week they take pointe class with their Professional Division female colleagues; the other three days they're working with the male students, although sometimes they take that class in pointe shoes as well.

Former PNB principal dancer Jonathan Porretta, one of Ashton's instructors, says he never knew his student wanted to dance on pointe until last fall, when Ashton started posting photos to their Instagram account.

Porretta says he has always approached teaching his classes outside male and female roles. For him, ballet is about working toward technique and developing the artist.

For his part, Porretta calls Ashton a "star," someone he believes can help pave a new future for men, and women, in ballet. Porretta says it's time for the art form to loosen its hide-bound gender roles.

"There will be some companies very ready to be thrust into the future of dance, while others are more set in their ways," Porretta says. "But art is here to push boundaries and possibilities."

PNB soloist Joshua Grant agrees. Years ago, when he was a young student, Grant's ballet teacher suggested he take pointe classes to help strengthen his ankles. He loved dancing on pointe, but professionally it didn't seem like an option for him. In 2006, after stints with both PNB and National Ballet of Canada, Grant auditioned for, and was hired by, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the all-male troupe known for its campy send-ups of classic ballets.

"I was told it would be career suicide," Grant recalls, because "men on pointe? That's either drag or comedy."

After five years as a principal dancer with the Trocks, Grant returned to PNB, where he's back to performing traditional male roles and developing his own choreographic career. He's currently creating a dance for Ashton and some of their fellow students, for Next Step, PNB's choreographers' showcase. Ashton will be on pointe. Like Porretta, Grant is excited that a young dancer like Ashton is eager to push to transform a centuries-old art form.

"I told Ashton, 'You're like Lewis and Clark, making your own path,'" Grant says. "'There's no precedent, so do what you want to do.'"

Looking Ahead

Ashton is hoping to embark on a career dancing with companies that will cast them not only in gender-blind contemporary work, but in the traditional roles from ballet's classical canon, everything from Odette/Odile in Swan Lake to the long-coveted Clara in The Nutcracker.

"I want to be part of changing, evolving those traditions to modern day life," says Ashton. "We can preserve those ballets, those classic works, but also make them reflect our modern world."

Boal believes in Ashton's ability to be a ballet change-maker; more than that, he's convinced that ballet has to welcome gender-blind casting and men performing on pointe as more than a novelty act.

"We're not going to laugh at this or point at it," Boal says. "We're going to admire it, and eventually we're not even going to talk about it as something out of the ordinary, as it continues to evolve."

Despite the support Ashton has received in their quest to be a nonbinary professional dancer, landing a job is tough for any ballet student, let alone for a Black dancer. But Ashton professes faith that they can make their dreams come true.

"I just decided, my entire life, this is what I'm going to do. This makes me happy, so I have to do it," Ashton says. "There is no other way I can exist."

Chapter 4

Written in the Stars (Lucifer x Angel!Reader)

Four thousand years is a long time. In the absence of your most cherished friend, it feels even longer. But when a certain student exchange program in the Devildom reunites you and Lucifer, things aren't the same. Because four thousand years of separation is a long time. And the love you once felt for Lucifer has changed into something different—something forbidden. But that might not even be your biggest problem, because with each passing day, your holy wings are turning blacker and blacker.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | ✔

MASTERLIST

Your D.D.D has an awful battery life.

That, or you're using it too much.

In fact, the latter is much more likely—given that, over this past weekend, you haven't gone over two hours without video calling one of the brothers—but that's hardly your fault.

The entire Devildom is in a frenzy right now, every demon going wild with anticipation.

The time has finally come for people to properly prepare for school, either mentally or physically, and the countdown has officially begun: not even twenty-four full hours remain before the first bell will ring, and everyone you know is buzzing about doing last-minute shopping. Neither the House of Lamentation nor Purgatory Hall are exempt from that, and the only reason you're not out of the dorm right now is because Simeon took pity on you and sent you home ahead of him, agreeing to buy the last of the items on the school supply list himself.

Such an angel, you think with a giggle, entering your room.

You waste no time in flopping onto your bed and plugging your D.D.D into its charger, flitting to Lucifer's number.

You don't even bother to take your Celestial cloak off, too preoccupied with the device's ringing to do anything other than use the garment as a blanket while you roll onto your stomach and place the device on your pillow.

This isn't quite your best angle, but Lucifer won't mind, right?

A smile blossoms on your face when you see the video call go through.

"MC, how many times have I asked you to text me in advance if you need me?" Lucifer sighs, acting stoic as he speaks. You can tell he doesn't mean the words, though.

"Aw, what kind of best friends are we if I need to set up an appointment to see you?" You laugh, biting back the sick feeling you get when you say that. Best friends. You still haven't forgotten how Lucifer almost kissed you two days ago when you came to him, crying. And you're certain you'll always remember how he chose not to.

Perhaps, if you hadn't been so focused on your own sorrow, you might have noticed the way Lucifer's eyebrows furrowed momentarily at the words, the demon disliking the label as much as you.

"Very well, then. What need have you of me this time, MC?" Lucifer leans back in his chair, angling his own D.D.D on his desk such that he doesn't need to hold it up.

"Um, just wanted to chat?"

Lucifer groans. "You said the same thing this morning, MC. And at four in the morning, when you called me saying you couldn't sleep—"

"Hey!" You protest. "It's not my fault that the Celestial Realm and the Devildom are in different time zones—"

"And the night before that," Lucifer continues, ignoring you entirely. "And in the afternoon before that, when you called me asking if I thought chairs had feelings."

"It's just such a tragic life, you know?" You ask, heart heavy at the thoughts that had run through your head yesterday afternoon. "They spend their entire lives serving, and people just sit on them. No one even says thank you!"

Lucifer massages his temple with one hand, closing his eyes in frustration. "We are not getting into this again."

"Fine, fine," You agree, pouting. "I just wanted to talk. What's up, Luci? Has Mammon caused any trouble for you since we last spoke?"

"Surprisingly, it's been Levi who's been an issue. Apparently, he ordered all his school supplies online, and they've still yet to come, so he's dragged the entire household out with him to buy the required goods in-person."

You laugh lightly. Even in the Celestial Realm, Levi had always preferred the indoors; imagining him braving the demon crowds of last-minute shoppers is quite the picture.

"Moreover, no one has seen Belphie awake since the last time you came over, so we're not sure if he even has everything he needs, but…"

"They'll manage," You say, interrupting Lucifer with a smile. "Don't stress—your brothers can handle themselves better than you think."

"Maybe so," Lucifer murmurs. "But what about you? How are you faring in all of this?"

You sigh.

Every single time you've called Lucifer these past two days, that's been the one question he's never failed to ask. He does it out of love, you know. He cares, and he simply wants to make sure that things haven't gotten worse.

But in truth…

"I haven't even looked at my wings, Luci." You laugh drily, staring at your pillow instead of Lucifer. You can already see the crestfallen look on his face. "I've been bathing in the dark and switching to my human form as often as I can so that I don't need to see them."

"MC…" He murmurs. You know that if he were here right now, he wouldn't hesitate to wrap you in a warm embrace and kiss your forehead between soft whispers that everything is going to be alright.

"No, you don't need to tell me. I know it's not the right thing to do." You put a hand up, halting him from starting whatever lecture is flitting around through his mind. "It's just...easier, this way."

Lucifer sighs.

"Let me see them," He murmurs. "We have to know if it's gotten worse."

"That's…" That's the reason why you don't want to look at them.

You swallow, suddenly acutely aware of how readily your tears had sprung forth the last time you stared at your reflection. The sight of your wings turning black at the root was too much to bear, and you doubt it's gotten any easier. At the same time, though, you don't want to cry to Lucifer. Not again.

"MC," The demon begins, voice gentle. "You don't have to look. But I need to know if it's gotten worse. Satan had some...theories, but I can't be sure about any of them until I look at the pattern of the growth."

It's a moment before you respond, but his words finally win you over in the end. You release some of your magical power, shifting back into the form you were born in. Burying your head face-down into the bed, you don't watch as your wings spread on your back, so great and majestic that they even push your Celestial cloak away as they rise to their full form.

You feel them flap once, then twice, as they stretch.

Staying silent yourself, you wait for Lucifer to make a comment, for him to say something about them. You just want him to look at them, take whatever notes he needs to, and then tell you you're good to shift back into your human form. You don't even care what they look like at this point; you just don't want to see them.

But when the demon continues to remain quiet, you can't deny that your curiosity is piqued.

"Lucifer?" You ask, peeking up with one eye. You avoid looking at the bottom left circle where your own reflection is, opting instead to stare at the shell-shocked expression on Lucifer's face. "What's wrong, Lucifer? Luci?"

You shift, moving your face up so that you can stare at him entirely, fear beginning to set in as you wonder what your wings could look like to have shocked him into such silence. "Are they…" Your voice trembles as you speak, terrified that you might have the truth of it. "Are they completely black?"

Your question startles Lucifer into alertness, and he blinks before a bewildered smile appears on his face. "No!" He responds, almost too quickly. He double taps on the screen, zooming in on your image. "MC, your…" He hesitates, as if he himself doesn't believe what he's seeing. "Your wings are completely white."

Your eyes widen, darting down to the small bubble where your own camera mirrors yourself back at you and, sure enough, the feathers on your back have turned snowy once more—all the places that were once pitch-black now looking as fluffy and pristine as the clouds of your homeland's sky.

"Let me…Let me check," You murmur to Lucifer, stumbling out of bed to your full-length mirror. It's uncomfortable, because your Celestial cloak is still awkwardly bunched around your shoulders, but there's no doubting it: your wings are white.

You hear a relieved sound come from your phone, bordering on laughter as a wide smile spreads across Lucifer's face. And that same smile comes to your own lips as you twist your body around, even the feathers closest to your back turned whiter than the pearls of your teeth: divine, holy, and angelic.

"We have to celebrate," You say, turning to Lucifer with a beaming grin. "I'm coming over, and don't tell me not to! This is amazing!"

Lucifer chuckles, folding his arms in contentment. "I wouldn't dream of it. My brothers will be delighted to hear this news," He taps on the screen, checking the time. "Meet you in ten minutes?"

"Perfect! I'll see you soon!" You exclaim, practically pouncing on the bed to end the call so that you can run over to the House of Lamentation.

Instantly, you revert to your human form, knowing that it'll offend the demons passing by if you leave the house with your holy wings on display, but you don't waste a moment in yanking your D.D.D from its charger and darting out of the doors, giddy with excitement.

All the pain you felt at learning your wings had turned black is converted to excitement, and you feel like you're floating on the clouds as you skip to where you know Lucifer is. You feel like this is what it must be like to be high, to be so unabashedly happy that nothing feels like it can ever compare—as if nothing can turn your mood sour.

But the universe has never been kind, has it?

Rather, the world loves to give you happiness and then steal it; just like it gave you the Morningstar and then banished him, casting your one source of joy out of reach.

You should have known when your D.D.D began ringing that it wouldn't be good news. Heck, if the fact that someone is calling isn't enough to let you know something is up, you should be doubly on edge when you realize that it's Lucifer's contact who's lighting up your screen.

But in the end, it's the utterly defeated voice of Lucifer that brings you down from your high, halting you in your tracks as he tells you to stop.

"What?" You ask, suddenly concerned.

"Stop, MC." His words come out slow, as if it brings him pain each time he speaks. "Don't come over."

"W-why?" You stammer out, not understanding. The House of Lamentation is within eyesight, you can literally see it in the distance. "Lucifer, what's wrong?"

"You can't come over," He mumbles, and you hear a light clanging over the phone—as if the demon kicked something and it came crashing down. "Just…" He almost chokes, voice thick with emotion. With anger. With sadness. And with something else you can't quite place. "Just don't come."

With that, he hangs up the phone, probably expecting that you'll heed his words and return to Purgatory Hall. But when have you been one to mindlessly follow the orders of others, when your heart is screaming to disobey?

Your footsteps as they bring you to the House of Lamentation are a lot of things: slow, concerned, distressed. But they're not hesitant. There's not a single flicker of indecision in your feet as they move forward, growing faster and faster as Lucifer's drained voice replays in your head.

Never have you heard the demon sound so miserable, so upset, so frustrated.

And you're not going to leave him alone.

It takes nearly a minute of banging on the front door before he finally opens it, trying his hardest to maintain a frown as he looks down at you.

"I told you not to come," He mutters, stepping back. It's not an invitation inside, though. You can't help but feel like it's a strange attempt to create distance between the two of you, but enter regardless.

"Well?"

You remain silent, your lack of words a very question in itself. Rather, it's an inquiry that demands a response, and you won't say a thing until Lucifer explains what has caused his sudden mood shift.

It must be an entire minute before he finally speaks, voice low as he stares at the ground.

"It's me."

You gaze at Lucifer in confusion, not quite understanding. "What?"

"It's me," He repeats, crossing his arms. "I'm…" He hesitates, dark red eyes flitting up to yours, two rubies that never fail to leave you entranced. "I'm the reason your wings are turning black."

"What are you talking about, Lucifer? That's nonsense." The words leave your mouth as soon as you process his words, not even waiting a second to contemplate the truth of them. At your blatant denial, Lucifer chuckles, but it's a sad sound.

"MC." He says your name slowly, as if he's holding onto it. "Your wings turned black for the first time when you came to me, and they've returned to being white after a weekend of separation."

You scoff at his words. "That's so circumstantial, Lucifer. You, of all people, should know that—"

"No." Lucifer's voice is firm. Dejected, despondent, and melancholic, but firm. "MC, this is how it's always been. You're the only angel in all the realms who absorbs light instead of giving it off. You're...you're the child of light. Light nurtures you."

Lucifer pauses, waiting for you to say something, but he continues when you're silent. "My light used to be positive. I could always feel you pulling at it in the Celestial Realm—absorbing it, equalizing it. I forgot what it felt like, but you've been doing it here as well. But I'm…" He clenches his fist. "I'm a demon, now. The light I give off is dark, and it's been corrupting you."

"No," You murmur, the same pain painted on Lucifer's face spreading across your own. "You're wrong, Lucifer. You're wrong!"

With a trembling lip, you let your angel form manifest, trying to show him that your wings are white, but he won't even look at you.

"Leave," He whispers, gesturing to the door that's still open. "Leave now, MC. Before I turn your wings black a second time."

"No!" You exclaim, slamming the door with your foot, moving forward. "It's not true. It's not!"

"Stop," Lucifer warns, a flicker of anger lighting in his dark red eyes. Every footstep you take forward is met by himself retreating, desperate to maintain the distance between you two. "Do not come closer," He cautions you, and you can feel the rage building up as you blatantly ignore his words, dead set on marching forward until he's forced to acknowledge you. "This is for your own good—leave me!"

But you keep walking forward, trying to get closer to him, drawing nearer and nearer to his figure until the deep red eyes are lit aflame with wrath and the man has turned into his own true form, wings and horns sprouting in an attempt to intimidate you.

"Get out," He seethes, hands clenched into fists.

But all you do is reach forward for his hand.

"Stop!" He shouts, angling his body away in a desperate attempt to stop you from touching. "Don't you see?" He roars. "Your wings—they're already turning black!"

But you don't care about that anymore. With that single comment, you remember—you have wings—and all it takes is one flap for them to send you flying forward, wrapping your arms tightly around Lucifer as he breaks your fall.

The two of you collapse on the ground on in a tangle of limbs and feathers, Lucifer continuing to try to push you off of him when all your efforts are directed towards holding onto the demon as tight as you can.

"Your wings," He chokes out, watching as the feathers change colors before his very eyes. It was different before, when one of you were always masking your true appearance with your human form. But now that you're both in your natural states?

There's nothing to obstruct the flow of magic as it flows through your bodies, out of your bodies and into each other. You can feel Lucifer's darkness pumping through your veins, tainting everything from your wings to your halo black with his aura.

"I'm ruining you," He hisses, still trying to shrink away.

"I don't care," You whisper, burying your neck in his shoulder. You hold him tighter when he finally gives up on pushing you off, allowing you to cling to him as closely as you want. "I...I thought my wings were turning black because I was turning into a monster. But if I'm not changing, if this is just my body absorbing your light—then I don't care, Lucifer. I don't want to leave you."

"You're a fool," He spits, ignoring the way you laugh his words off. "You're an angel. You—you don't belong here. Go back to Simeon and Luke. Their light is still pure."

"And then what?" You ask, pulling back so that you can look Lucifer in the eye. You hate the troubled gaze, the raw anguish that spreads across his face as he glances behind you to stare at your wings. From your peripheral vision, you can already see the blackness spreading, but you're true to your words.

You don't care.

"I'm surrounded by demons. If I don't absorb your light, then my wings will turn black because of them, all the same."

"MC," Lucifer chuckles mirthlessly. "None of these other demons were born to be harbingers of light. You forget, I'm the Morningstar. The energy I give off is enough to throw an entire realm out of balance. Other demons can't sully your purity, but I...I defile you with my mere presence."

You're quiet, still holding Lucifer tightly as you remain collapsed on top of him. His hands still rest on the floor, unwilling to taint you with his touch any more than is necessary, but you can see the way his fingers twitch.

He wants to hold you the way you're holding him.

"What if I'm okay with that?" You whisper, gazing hesitantly into Lucifer's eyes. They widen briefly before he masks the surprise.

"You're too much of an angel, MC." He glances away, and this time, you notice the way his throat bobs as he swallows thickly. "You do not understand the meaning of your words. A demon hears them differently."

"What if I do?" You repeat, gently cupping Lucifer's cheek and bringing his gaze back to you. "What if I do understand what I'm saying?"

"You do not." You cannot, he means. Lucifer hasn't been in the Celestial Realm for four thousand years. He doesn't know that angels are no longer the sort of beings to innocently go about, unaware of the effect they have on others. Eons ago, you may not have understood the loaded connotation behind everything you're telling the man. But now?

You know exactly what your words mean.

"You're wrong, Lucifer. I know what I'm saying." You let your head lower, bowing low until your lips are mere inches away from Lucifer. You gaze at his lips, making sure he can see the way you're looking at them before you finally lift your eyes to his own. "I'm okay with being corrupted, Lucifer. As long as it's you."

"You…" His voice shifts, the demonic urges he's been trying so long to resist finally surfacing at your words. You can't be any clearer than that, and the demon finally understands that his feelings aren't one-sided. That you don't look at him as a mere brother. That you want this as much as he does. "You don't know what you're asking for," He whispers, but now his own eyes are locked onto the plumpness of your lips, unable to look away.

"Then show me," You whisper.

That's all it takes for the last of his restraint to vanish, the palms that were once pressed against the floor lifting to hold you close as he captures your lips with his own, connecting your bodies in the most intimate way either of you have ever known.

You can feel everything in him, as your lips meet.

The beating of his heart, growing faster when you wrap your arms around his neck.

The tensing of his shoulders as he shifts upward, sitting up and pulling you onto his lap, ever closer to him.

The rhythmic pulse of his light as it floods into you—and despite having your eyes closed, you know that the edges of your wings have turned fully black, filled to the brim with the essence of the Lucifer.

As your body continues to absorb the waves of light and power radiating off his body, you feel your back burst with power, the Celestial cloak you had on breaking and being ripped off your shoulders as your wings spread even wider, shining the richest shade of black you've ever seen.

"Your wings," He mutters against your lips, leaning his forehead against yours as he slides a hand onto your cheek, rubbing soft circles into the skin. "I've corrupted them."

"No," You murmur, smiling softly. For the first time, you don't hate the ebony color of the feathers, smiling as you gaze upon them. "They're beautiful." You let them flap, entranced. Your eyes dart between your wings and his, pulling his body closer until your wings are touching. "They match with yours."

They match with yours.

Those had been your first words of surprise when Lucifer showed you your reflection in a mirror, on your second day alive in the Celestial Realm. You'd spent nearly every waking moment gazing at the six glorious wings on Lucifer's back, vaguely aware that you had feathers to match but never realizing that yours were just as beautiful.

You slide your hand down to Lucifer's, beaming at him as you intertwine your fingers in his. At last, the two of you are matching once more—no longer separated by the visual differences of angel and demon.

"Are you certain you want this, MC?" He asks. He brings a hand to your hair, a gesture of comfort that he doesn't forget even in the heat of this passion. "I don't want you to feel pressured to do anything with me. It's not too late to take back what you've said."

But you shake your head, an assured smile appearing on your lips.

"I told you, didn't I?" You ask, a light giggle slipping out. "I'm okay with being corrupted, as long as it's you."

And this time, you don't just mean your wings. You're truly okay with every demonic thought flitting through Lucifer's mind as he stares at you, mouth agape in awe of your sweet confidence. 

He chuckles, wrapping his arms around your waist, pressing a kiss to your jaw.

For the moment, he doesn't even need any of that. You've given him permission, but all he wants is to continue locking your lips with his own, kissing you over and over again until you're both lost in the sensation of each other.

He can feel you pulling on his light, reveling in it the way he's basking in your affection. It's a feeling so blissful only an angel as perfect as you could ever give him such a sensation, and Lucifer feels that there's nothing he needs from the world but you.

Perfection.

For the first time, you're both perfectly in sync, giving in to the emotions that have been hidden in your heart for millennia. It matters not that your wings are black, that your halo is shrouded in shadow, that you're both making out on the floor, of all places.

If anything, it feels like all those little things are what has made this moment so infinitely perfect: like the stars have finally aligned, and nothing can pull you apart now.

MASTERLIST

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | ✔

Word count: 4.0k

Notes: I was on my run this morning and i saw a deer and i just casually glanced behind me and it was just like. really ominously walking in my direction >.> i screamed and began sprinting away (like holy SHIT i did not know i still had that energy in me, i had already run like 2 miles and i was p tired but that was wild). anyway, looking back, i dont think the deer was actually walking toward me i think it just happened to be vaguely coming in my direction, but still that gave me heart palpitations wow im still a mess over it

Comment & Like

Next Update: 6/02/20

I do not own the rights to Obey Me! or any of the characters within it.

The Green Book (Thorin’s Company x Reader, Part 1)

Hello all! This is something of a rewrite for an idea that I had when I was like, 13, but I started it and it was a hot pile of ass, so we’re taking another crack at it. Basically, sort of like how Bilbo and Fordo recorded everything in the Red Book of Westmarch, this is a book where (y/n) records all of her adventures after falling into Middle Earth.

I have no idea how long this is going to be, nor if there’s going to be any more specific pairings, so feel free to shoot me one if you’d like to see something play out!

A quick note! This story is in first person, not in second person, but it is still about the reader. It is the reader’s later account of their adventures. I’m sure you’re all smart people and can figure this out, but I wanted to make that clear. 

Summary: (Y/n) falls into Middle Earth. Shocker. Somehow, she gets recruited to join a party of dwarves on their kinda crazy mission to reclaim their home of Erebor. 

Part: 1

Words: 1593

Warnings: Plot clichés, getting lost, fainting

To whom it may concern: This book is a project by myself, (f/n) (l/n), to record an official account of both my voyage through the land of Middle Earth, how it intertwined with the quest to reclaim Erebor, and what happened in between. All information here has been directly experienced by me and has been corroborated by other living peoples in Middle Earth, which shall be credited in the after section if any reader seeks to verify.

I write you, the person reading my Green Book, this letter at the beginning of the book because I want to make clear my intention. While this book shall certainly be used for historical record, and I am honored to have it serve that purpose, that is not my primary intention in writing it. I feel that, in the case of historical record, we tend to miss out on a very important element in the stories of our ancestors. Their humanity. 

Or dwarf-manity. Or hobbit-manity. Or wizard-manity. 

The point is that I have scoured many manuscripts in my years, and all of them treat those of the past as though they are sculptures created purely of dates, epithets, and conquest, and that is simply not the case. The deeds of this company are not going to be forgotten for a long time, but their personality, individual quirks, fears, loves, hopes, dreams, and heart, may fade into obscurity as their time comes to an end. 

That it what I wish to eliminate with this book. Above all else, I want you, the reader, not to remember them as historical icons, but as the caring, brave group of adventurers that I have come to love. 

No, I cannot completely fix a disconnected view of the past, but I can sure try.

***********

I got my start in adventuring at the same time I got my start in Middle Earth. And both of them were complete accidents. 

The land that I come from, just Earth, is wholly different from its Middle counterpart. There are no species besides that of the human race, which have ruled the planet for many centuries and divided into their own cultures with individual languages, practices, religions, and such. As humans are quite non-magical, however, this does also mean that there is no magic in this world. Instead, humans have conquered it through different applications of knowledge, through which they have created many a valuable devices that replace the need for magic. These devices may do things such as heal the sick, communicate over long distances, defend oneself, light up dark rooms, and so on. 

The only common trait that it shared with its counterpart was that it had no idea that there was any Earth besides itself. 

So, you can imagine that my stumble into Middle Earth was by no means intentional. 

I was a dreamy young lady of (your age) years. I had things to do that would take up most of my day’s energy, but when I did have a minute of downtime or two, I could always be found wandering in the woods. Something in its peaceful nature, in which I could not hear the hustle and bustle of the rest of society, was very relaxing to me. 

More often than not, I would recline on a large, flat rock deeper into the forest and go about leisure activities such as reading or drawing. Such leisure activities were exactly what I was occupied with on that very day that would change my life. 

I looked up from the pages of a very gripping read at an odd sound coming from the woods. Now, the woods are full of odd sounds, and to try to put a name on all of them would do the terrain a disservice, but something in particular about this sound woke up something in me. My curiosity could only be quenched by an exploration.

The sound itself mirrored that of language, as though some mysterious force were whispering words but were hidden from sight, however, the words were not from any language that I understood or recognized. Even after I had come to learn of languages particular to the land of Middle Earth, such as Elvish and Khuzdul, I still cannot specifically attribute any one of them to this whispering. 

I shoved everything that I was doing into my bright red backpack (or just pack, as they are more commonly called) and slid off my rock, walking towards the sound. One could almost say I was hypnotized, as it just dragged me in. Deeper and deeper I trailed into the woods.

At some point the whispering stopped, and I was snapped back to reality. I had completely lost track of time. I peered around, and realized that I could not recognize where I was. I whipped out my phone (a cellular device used for communication which I will expand on in later chapters) to check what time it was, only to be confronted with the fact that five hours had passed. 

This news was even more distressing, because, if five hours had passed, then the sky should be occupied by the moon and not the sun. I ran the numbers in my head. I had been on the rock at about six, and my phone now read that it was eleven at night. But the birds still tweeted, and it was still sunny, as though it was but a pleasant afternoon. 

I attempted to use my phone to possibly communicate with someone, or find out my location, but the technology failed. Resolving to save battery, I put it away and continued to observe my location. It did seem like this part of the world had been completely claimed by nature, with no sign of any sort of civilization in sight. I would’ve found it beautiful it it did not signal my possible demise. 

In my world, a common piece of advice for those who are lost is to wait in one place. This advice is most commonly given when one is traveling with a group, which makes sense, as a group would not only quickly realize that you were lost, but could easily fan out to search for you, which would only be made easier if you were prevented from getting any farther from where you had strayed from. 

However, I was not traveling with a group. I was alone. I quickly weighed the pros and cons of staying in once place, before deciding that, when combined with how big this forest apparently was, to how long it would take someone to realize I was gone, to how long it would take them to conclude that I was in the forest, to how long that it would take them to search the forest, to the fact that I had no concept of time anyway, that I would surely die before this technique yielded any results. 

No, my best bet was to continue forward and hope to come across something eventually. If not civilization, then food or water. Either way, I would not die in the forest.

Gathering all my resolve, I continued to trek forward. 

Slowly, but surely, night overtook this strange forest-land as well, and there was no sign of any civilization in sight. I had no food or water with me, which was only made clearer by my parched throat and growling stomach. 

Against my terrible luck, a heavenly smell (or perhaps a nasty smell that simply came to me when I was hungry) wafted over the trees and to my location. I had no choice but to follow it. 

It wasn’t something that I recognized, like beef or chicken, but was definitely a sort of meat. Regardless, I would eat anything at this point. My hope was only increased when I heard what sounded like conversations passing around a campfire. Perhaps, I thought, it was a group of campers that would be able to help out a very lost and confused traveller. 

I grew more desperate. I pulled leaves and branches out of the way and nearly tripped over rocks. Though I still couldn’t make out the words that were being said, they sounded oddly aggressive and simplistic. It was intermixed with the neighing of horses, sounding very distressed, though my animalistic impulses at the time elected to ignore that. 

“...and if it don’t look like mutton tomorra!” So that’s what the meat was. Mutton. That sounded delicious.

Finally, I could see the campfire peaking through the trees. I hopped out into the clearing, not even taking the time to think of what I would say or do, just following the food. 

In front of me were three of the biggest and ugliest creatures that I had ever seen in my life. You and I now understand them as trolls, but I had never seen a troll before, though, if you had told me at the time that that’s what they were called, I would not be surprised. Their bodies were large and their heads were tiny, with layers and layers of fat making up their bulging stomachs, around which was a loosely tied loincloth. Whatever was under that, I didn’t want to think about. Their faces had crooked teeth, large noses, sloping foreheads, and very stupid looks plastered on them, though as it happened, all of those stupid looks were looking directly at me. 

“Lads, we’re eating human tonight!” The middle one shouted gleefully, raising his arms and looking at me menacingly while getting up out of his chair. 

I fainted on sight.

******

Ahhh, I just negged y’all. We’ll see the gang in the next chapter, don’t worry, but I gotta tease it first. 

Next chapter will be out soon, by the way, because that’s what quarantine is for.

Also, if you’re interested, shoot me an ask/suggestion for what the reader has in her bag! I have a few ideas, but I’m really open to anything, whether it’s a specific book, a cool trinket, a sentimental object, whatever you guys have!

You can also shoot me pairings if you’d like though I may or may not have a very unpopular one in mind already

Yours, Mine and Ours

Day 1 of Dousy Week! Crazy how a drabble I intended to be short and sweet turned out to be nearly 2,000 words but when I go to write my multi chapter fic I can't crank out 3 coherent sentences. Anyways please enjoy another variation on Daniel gets hurt and Daisy doesn't handle it well. Hopefully with a little twist. :) 

*Story has nothing to do with the movie of the same name

Summary: After spending the day in recovery with no sign of Daisy, Daniel goes in search of her in their room, only to find that its her room now and he lives next door. Dousy Week 2020 Prompt Close Calls (and New Horizons - Kinda).

ao3

Its cold. That’s the first thing he really notices. The second is that he can barely pry his eyes open and that lifting his hands to his face to clear them isn’t going to happen. Its drugs again. What an awful feeling. But he’s not on a battlefield or on the floor of some dingy barn. There is something soft beneath him and something warm holding his wrist.

As his senses slowly return, he manages to turn towards the source of that warmth. There is blurry dark hair and dark eyes staring back at him. He blinks a few times, excited to see her face but realizes soon something’s not right.

“I’m sorry, I know I’m not the sister you were hoping to see.”

Kora is standing next to his bed, there is a chair across the room she likely jumped up from when he started to stir.

“What happened?”

“Attacked on a supply run.”

“I thought we were on a non-hostile planet.”

“We were but getting a whole planet to agree on whether the giant ship full of humans with their extremely powerful inhuman director is not a threat is never going to happen.”

“So it was rebels?”

“They hit you with some sort of toxin, its out of your system now but it sent your vitals crazy, people in charge gave us an antidote to try to smooth things over but they didn’t know how effective it would be on a human.”

“Was anyone else hurt?”

“We’re all fine.”

He relaxes back onto the bed. He’s still groggy but if the poison is out of his system than its probably just a side effect of being asleep and stationary so long.

“That’s odd they didn’t try to take out more of us, we were unarmed.”

“Daisy and I are never unarmed and when you didn’t answer your coms, well needless to say they scattered when she came to find you.” That probably didn’t help tensions, but he was thankful. The reason their team was as safe as it was traveling through space was because no one really wanted to risk crossing Daisy and Kora and that gave them time to prove they were only there to make peace. “She was here, the whole time you were out, medics couldn’t get her to wait outside, she only just left a few hours ago, asked me to be here so you wouldn’t be alone when you woke up.”

“Where is she now?”

“Her room.” Kora answers. “She put us back on track for earth, no more stops now that we’re refueled, you’ve got an appointment with Simmons when we get there by the way.”

That was a given. Simmons was the expert on alien biology, whether she was officially working for SHIELD or not. “Did she say when she was coming back?”

Kora looked uncomfortable. “She didn’t say, I’m sure soon though.”

When the day passes with no sign of her he can’t take it anymore. Its late in the evening and most of the crew is turned in for the night. He knows he shouldn’t be out of medical yet, but he thinks if he gets caught, he can just say he’s gone to get a change of clothes or a sweater from their room.

He slides open the door, relieved to see a light on. She wasn’t asleep yet.

Daisy is just sitting up when he steps inside. She’s clearly startled to see him, her eyes are wide and worried. “What are you doing here, you shouldn’t be up yet!”

She looks a mess and that’s saying something seeing as he’d spent time with her shortly after she had literally died. She obviously hasn’t slept but that wasn’t unusual. Her eyes are red, her hair looks unwashed and she dressed in an oversized t-shirt and shorts. She may have been trying to sleep or at least lying down because there is no work spilled across their bed like it often was.

“I wanted to – “ He wanted to see her. Her tone is full of worry though and he thinks she probably wants to hear a better excuse. “I needed a sweater, its freezing in those recovery rooms.”

“Oh.” She shifts uncomfortably. This was not at all the reaction he had expected. As the number one rule breaker on the ship he thought he'd get a earful of teasing for leaving without doctor approval or maybe at least she'd look happy to see him. “You should have just asked for an extra blanket.”

He steps over to their dresser thinking he might as well grab one for when she hauls him back down there. “I wanted to stretch my legs too and wanted to see you of course.” She stays quiet. He pulls open the top drawer of the dresser to find it empty. He opens the next one down. Also empty.

“Daisy where are all of my things.”

“They’re next door, in your room.”

This stops him.

He does in fact have a room next door, though it’s never been used. It’s really just for show; they are an official branch of SHIELD and every agent was required a bunk. Just the same, Daisy’s bunk was bigger simply because she was in charge. Not because it had been designed to accommodate two people.

He had thought the room had felt different when he walked in and a second glance around tells him his things have vanished. He’s not a messy person but his belongings that are always out, his books from the nightstand and his typewriter Daisy had given him that sat on their desk, were gone.

It hits him quickly what’s happening. He’d been warned, not once, not twice but three times that this would happen. That if he got hurt, she was going to pull away. Mack had warned him, Simmons had elaborated on why and May, thank god, had advised him on how to handle it.

She’s stubborn and the only way to get through to her is to be even more stubborn.

“So this is your solution, to put a wall between us, literally.” He asks but she doesn’t answer, just sits cross legged in the middle of their bed looking thoroughly unsure what to do or say. “Daisy, what happened wasn’t your fault.”

“Yes, it was, they attacked you because they don’t trust me.”

“That’s not your fault, you didn’t give them any reason not to trust you.”

This he realizes doesn’t make her feel any better.

“Please go.” She lays back down. Turns her back to him and faces the wall. He needs to get closer to her and make her look at him. It's the only way to get through to her. He crosses the room to the bed and lowers himself carefully to the edge.

“Please just go.” She whispers and curls farther in on herself.

“I’m going, but you want me and all my stuff out.”

“I already moved all your things.”

He reaches out to tug on her sleeve. Though she probably wore the old t-shirt more, it was technically his. It was the first thing the team had given him to change into and ever since he had kept it to sleep in. “This is mine.”

She sits up and glares at him and maybe it’s the resemblance but May’s word ring through his head again. How was anyone supposed to be more stubborn than she was? He tugs at her sleeve again and she jerks away. Whatever anger she has built up she can’t maintain and it leaves her with a heavy sigh. She pulls the shirt off but rather than hand it over she inspects the thread bare fabric and the faded SHIELD logo. Goose bumps run up her arms and back as the chill hits her, now dressed only in her sports bra and shorts. His instinct is to reach out and warm her up, pull the t-shirt back over her and wrap her in the thick quilt at the end of the bed. 

But he has to be stubborn, he reminds himself again. So instead he reaches out to take the t-shirt and it does the trick. He pulls at it but she refuses to let go, her fingers gripping it like a lifeline. He uses it to pull her to him and she comes willingly. It’s an overwhelming relief as she sinks into his arms but her sniffling and the wet tears soaking into his shirt doesn’t let him enjoy the victory long.

“It was different this time.” She mumbles.

“What do you mean?”

“It hurt so much, but you’re still here.” Not like Lincoln or Trip or even her parents. “All those times before I lost what I had, I’ve always lived in the moment, day to day, too much going on to think ahead, but now, with you, I was – I was losing a future too.”

He'll admit that takes him by surprise. “You think about our future?”

She nods. “I’ve never really done that before, not far into the future anyways.”

He supposes that’s where they differ most; maybe it’s the generational thing but he’s been thinking about their future practically since the day they met. “What do you think about?”

“I don’t know,” she starts to sit back up, embarrassed or scared to say. He lets her rearrange herself but doesn’t let her move too far away. She’s leaning into him but her face its still turned away. “Just us being older together, after our space adventures or whatever, maybe working at SHIELD to help Inhumans together, I think you’d like to work at the academy, maybe getting married, maybe a family.”

As she speaks, she gets quieter and quieter until he can only barely hear her, but he does. He holds her tighter trying to express how much he would like that to be their future without saying it out loud. He knows Daisy well enough that actions are sometimes better than words. And sometimes the necessary words were for breaking the tension. “Well I’m flattered that I’m apart of it, but I think sticking me in a different room might be a step back.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“We’ve had this conversation before, we’re both prone to running head first into danger, I thought we agreed that that was going to be a regular thing and that staying together was just our selfish reward for being so damn self-sacrificing 99% of the time.”

She laughs and sits up again, finally, really looking at him. “We did agree to that.”

“Good, so I can move my stuff back in?”

“No.” She says climbing out of the bed. “But you can march yourself back down to medical and just as soon as we’re back on earth you are getting an earful from Simmons on proper bed rest and wandering around after literally be pois – “ He cuts her off with a kiss and he feels her smiling against his lips.

“And after all that?”

“After that you can move back in.”

"Good." He kisses her again and in her distracted state he manages to steal back the t-shirt. He pulls away enough to slip it back over her head. "This can be yours until then." 

The Research Paper ✎

Chapter: The Final Stretch

Word Count: 2.7k

Warnings: I think theres one curse word, procrastination, panicking, crying, cute Bucky, getting distracted.

A/N: Wow, heres the second chapter of my secret Santa fic! This started as just a fun little story to write, and now its turned into a multi chapter story that I'm having a great time writing, and people are actually liking it? Amazing! This chapter may be a little choppy because of the small time jumps, but I hope its not too bad. Also, I feel like there may not be enough Bucky, if you want more, please let me know! :) thank you all again for reading and sharing your thoughts, I love you all 💖

Series Masterlist

On the first night they met, they set up the details and Y/N gave Bucky the rundown on the assignment. In two weeks, the Friday night before finals week, she has to have a 20 page research paper finished and turned in. It was supposed to be focused on World War 2, she decided to focus on the effects that World War 2 had on the economy and workforce, absolutely the most boring topic she could have chosen. But when you’re faced with a deadline speeding at you full force, you panic and make bad decisions.

After airing all of the unfortunate details of this huge project she’s throwing onto him, he stares at her. He’s got this zoned out look to him, and she’s worried he either wasn’t paying attention, or is thinking of all the ways he can kill Steve for asking this of him.

Suddenly, he gets up. Looks around, and walks away.

‘Oh my god’ y/n thinks to herself. ‘He’s really just up and left. Of course he wouldn’t want to help me with this. I mean, I’m asking for 8 hours of his week, he’s not getting paid, he'd have to help me with a basically impossible task, he'd even have to be spend time with me. God now I have no idea what I’m going to do, I’m gonna fail, and flunk out of college, and have to move home with my parents, and live there forever, and end up dying alo-‘

Her spiraling thoughts were interrupted by Bucky coming back with an overwhelmingly large stack of books. He slams them on the table and gives her a proud smile, unaware of her internal meltdown just seconds before.

“Okay, so here are some books that I know will help us with this. This one is about the rise of Market Competition since World War Two, this one is about the globalization of the world economy, this one is about…”

As Bucky continues to talk about all of his findings she can’t help but to focus on him and not his words. She notices how excited he gets when talking about history, how much knowledge he holds not only about these books themselves but the general subject as a whole. And don’t even get her started about how well he must know the library to know exactly where to go. She focuses in on the sparkle in his eyes, the way the lines coming from the corners only grow as he continues to smile about what he knows. Her eyes move down his smile, the way his pink lips perfectly frame his perfect teeth, lips that look so-

“Does that sound okay?” Bucky asks her, looking at her and waiting for an answer.

The pause in him talking and the feel of his stare pulls him out of her wandering thoughts. It quickly runs through her mind that she really needs to get her brain together and focus more, this is the second time she’s done this in like 10 minutes. And then she realizes she has no idea what he just told her.

“I’m sorry can you repeat that?” She inquired, hoping with all of her might that he doesn’t think she’s past the point of helping.

“I was asking if you’d be able to read at least a skim some of these before we meet tomorrow? Just so you can have a small foundation before we get into the fine details of the books later.” He repeats himself.

“Of course, thank you again James. I can’t even begin to explain how much you are saving me. Really, I wouldn’t even know where to start if it wasn’t for your help.” She tells him genuinely, picking up the books, and putting some in her bag.

“Please, call me Bucky. And it’s no problem. Any time I get to talk about history and have people actually listen is a good time to me.” He reassures her gently.

“Bucky,” she says the name and smiles “I like that. Thank you again, I’ll see you tomorrow night. I’ll read as much of these as I can.”

As she walks away, she peeks one last look over her shoulder at Bucky, both giving each other shy smiles.

After one official meeting, their relationship entered a new stage. Under the pretense of “if you have any questions during the times we’re not together, go ahead and text me..” they exchanged numbers. Bucky's heart was racing for about an hour after he asked successfully without stuttering. Steve would be so proud.

She would text him when she was on her way, or ask if he wanted anything extra from the coffee shop, saying that just a black coffee is gross and he MUST have something to counterbalance the dirt. He would ask her to text when she got home safely, worrying about her walking home in the dark. It was nice. It was becoming a routine neither want to end.

Then, after two more meetings, worried about her progress, and only having about a week left, he suggests meeting every day. Not at the same set times, just whenever they can, in order to make sure she gets the best grade possible. Which is what he convinces himself is why he asks, it’s not that he wants to see her more. Absolutely not. Well… maybe just a little.

The first day of their new schedule they meet at a different time. They both have a break in their classes and work, and they decide to meet in the quad. It’s a nice day out, and according to her, she won’t be able to spend every day in the library without feeling restless.

While waiting at an empty bench, Bucky sees Y/N walk across the lawn. She’s practically being haloed by the sun, Bucky thinks it’s cliche to say she looks kind of ethereal…but it’s not a wrong statement. And he looks a bit further down to see surprisingly that in her hand she carries two bags of food. When she finally reaches him and sets one down in front of him, he thinks he might have fallen in love right then and there.

With that bag of food, a new tradition is created for the next week. Every day, at whatever time of day they can, when they meet, one of them brings food. They both try to convince themselves it strictly a study date, and they both try not to focus too hard on the word “date”.

The fastest way to the heart is through the stomach they say.

It’s 3 days before the paper is due, and Y/N is losing concentration, motivation, and most importantly the ability to not be distracted by the enigma that is Bucky Barnes.

They’re in the library, books sprawled out in front of them. Y/N is typing, while Bucky looks over her notes, making sure what she’s saying is accurate. They sit in a comfortable silence until...

“Alright, I’m done for the night, my ability to withhold anymore information is gone.” Y/N states as she frantically shuts her laptop. Leaning on the table to focus on Bucky.

“Y/N… it’s been 20 minutes.” Bucky chides

“Exactly! Too long, tell me about yourself?”

“Y/N, I really want you to get a good grade on this. My reputation is on the line too you know?” He smirks at her.

She sighs “...fine, how about an hour in, we take a break and you answer my questions!” She tries to bargain.

“You know pretty much everything. You always ask me questions when you’re bored. Besides, there’s not much to know, I’m boring anyways.” He says, getting quieter towards the end.

She stares at him for a second, feeling a small pinch in her heart hearing him say that, “You’re not boring, I think you’re really interesting Bucky. Coolest guy I’ve ever been lucky enough to meet.” She says with a small smile.

Bucky blushes and looks away, “yeah, yeah, just get back to work. No need to butter me up, I’m already helping you.” He jokes, but she can still see the dorky smile he’s trying to hide. He’s not as stealthy as he thinks.

It’s 1 day before the paper is due and Y/N is stressed out. It’s one of those times where the full weight of the situation doesn’t hit you until it’s too late. This is her last year, and if she doesn’t pass this class? She’s screwed. She’s scared. She’s terrified that her lack of planning will lead to her academic downfall. Being one step away from full blown panic, she goes to the person she trusts most. And right now? That’s Bucky. Her knight in shining history books.

She knows he’s working, but she can’t help it. She needs him.

Walking into the library, she sees him. Sitting there, reading at his desk, looking as calm as she’s ever seen him. And she realizes that all she’s done in the past two weeks is stress him out, she can’t do it again, not now. Not when he looks like that, She’s ready to turn around and go have a good cry at home, it helps...honestly, when the man of the hour looks up.

Bucky smiles at her, excited to see her again, when he notices the tears in her eyes. He gets up immediately and walks around his desk to reach her.

When he puts his hands on her shoulders, she breaks. It’s like every mental wall she’s out up to stop herself from losing it just vanishes. She leans into his chest, with her hands covering her face, and he wraps his arms around her and pulls her behind his desk to set her in his chair. While kneeling in front of her, he takes her hands in his, and urges her to look at him

“Hey, sweetheart, what’s wrong. You gotta tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it.” He pleads, hating seeing her like this.

“I can’t do it Bucky. It’s too much, it’s never gonna get done, and I can’t do it. I’m just not capable! Even with your help there’s no way I can be saved. I’m hopeless.” She cried through hiccups.

His heart hurt for her. In these past weeks he’s gotten to know her well, he knows how much she cares about her school, and he knows how much this project is worth. He’s not letting this get the best of her. Over his dead body.

“Hey, now you listen to me. You are not hopeless, you are one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, and this paper is not gonna bring you down. We’re almost done, all we need to do is edit and finalize it. That’s it. We have a little over 24 hours, that is completely doable. Don’t doubt yourself. You can do this.” He says while running his thumb over her knuckles soothingly “I’ll tell you what. I get off in 20 minutes, and I don’t have classes tomorrow, so let’s sit down and just blow through this editing. We can knock it out tonight, however long it takes, and then you won’t have to worry about it anymore.”

“I can’t ask you to do that Bucky, it’s not fair to ask even more of you.” She says softly.

“Well, it’s a good thing you’re not asking. Now, I don’t know why you’re sitting there, you still haven’t gotten our ceremonial coffee, and we’re definitely going to need it tonight.” He says with a wink, while walking away to finish all he needs to do before clocking out.

She stands there for a second, smiling to herself, wondering how she got so lucky to be able to know a guy like Bucky Barnes. She needs to thank Steve.

It’s late into the night, morning technically, and the duo are I the 24 hour study room. They’re not alone, there are many other students considering it’s right before finals week. But somehow, in their little corner with coffee, snacks, and a big blanket from Y/Ns car, it feels like they’re the only ones around.

They both have their laptops open, and are going the the document paragraph by paragraph, editing, rewriting, and making sure it flows.

Bucky looks over, getting ready to ask if the sentence should contain a semicolon or a comma when he sees her, cheek against the table, sleeping like she has no care in the world.

He should be mad, irritated that she isn’t up and working like he is. But all he can think is that she looks so beautiful when she’s sleeping. He wonders if they had more time, if they would end up sleeping together…IN A BED, he yells at himself internally. He’s glad she’s not awake, or else she’d see the blush rise on his face, and she wouldn’t let it go unless she knew why it was there.

After staring at her for a few moments longer, trying to memorize her features, he decides to keep working. He’ll work through the night any day if it kept her happy and stress free. It’s only a small price to pay to see her smile.

So he straightens up, steals her coffee, and gets to work. She’s gonna get this A if it kills him.

At 5:37 am Bucky is finished. He’s read that paper at least 3 times, and it’s the best he can get it to be. He hopes that’s enough.

He taps Y/Ns shoulder, and she wakes with a start.

“Wha-what’s up, sorry, fell asleep there for a second. Sorry.” She mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

“Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal. But it’s finished, your paper is officially ready to be turned in.” He says to her with a proud, albeit sleepy smile.

She stares at him in shock “h-how long was I asleep? Bucky you should have woken me up! I feel terrible now!” She exclaims, panicking about him doing so much work while she slept.

“Hey,” he puts his hand on her arm reassuringly, “it’s okay, I chose to do this, and it wasn’t even that much work. All it was, was editing. Besides, you need sleep more than I do. Now, no more apologies, no more feeling bad, let’s turn this baby in and go home and get some real sleep!”

She smiles so large, he can feel it in his own cheeks, and in that moment he knew it was worth it. To see her smile like that, he’d make the same decision every day of his life.

She goes onto her submission portal, drops the file, and presses submit. They both breath a huge sigh of relief. It’s done. Now they can focus on their other classes. Now, now they don’t have to hang out every day. Both deflate a little at the thought.

As she packs up she says, “Thank you so much for helping me Bucky. I owe you so much, I wouldn’t have been able to get this done without you, not by a long shot.”

“You would have been able to do it no problem, you’re not giving yourself enough credit. I just have reassurance, you did all of the work.” He says with a smile as they come to a stop at the door.

As they stand there staring at each other, she takes a deep breath, steeling herself for the next sentence she doesn’t want to say. “Well, thank you again Bucky. You can’t convince me that you didn’t save me… I guess this is it. I won’t need to bother you every day anymore.” She says with a sad smile.

“What if I like you bothering me every day?” He mumbles while looking anywhere but her.

“Well, then expect to see me here Monday on your lunch break, I need someone to make me study for all of my other finals.” She smiles, trying to keep her smile from taking up her whole face, but failing miserably.

“Goodbye Y/N.” He says with a laugh while walking out the door. Smiling like an idiot. He can’t wait for Monday. 

A/N: Thank you all for reading!! This is going to have about 2-3 more chapters, and in that time we will learn a little more about Bucky, and maybe even see some....angst? we shall see!

Tags: @bucky-smiles @thebookwormslytherin @rogvewitch​ @itsametaphorbriansblog​ @93generation​

Haven meets Sybil

A drabble that i ended up working on for the day, it ended up being longer than i thought it would (3493 words) but I’m super happy with the result!

CW for blood, body horror, and medical grossness

Applying for nursing jobs was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I wasn’t expecting to have a job right away, but with my rent, bills, and student loans cropping up, it’d be nice to get a higher paying job than door dash and Walmart. Sure, I was getting by, but it felt almost as though I had wasted those years studying. It was getting more and more disheartening with every email stating I wasn’t “quite what they were looking for”, if I even got an email or phone call back at all.

I was lying in bed, scrolling through social media, and trying not to let the weight of the last rejection email I had gotten suffocate me when a notification popped up.

 1 new email.

 I sat up a little, clicking on the notification and being taken to my inbox. I refreshed, and refreshed again, but nothing popped up. That’s when I noticed that there was a 1 next to the spam folder.

“Thank you for your application!” the title read, and I could feel my heart start to flutter with nervous excitement as I opened it up.

“Hello Miranda Havis, thank you for submitting your application. We here at Mending Collective have looked over your application and would love to interview you in person. Please give us a call at…”

I barely read the rest as I looked over the number, typing it into my phone and waiting with bated breath for an answer. After a long bout of ringing, it cut off suddenly.

“Mending Collective, Sybil speaking.”

The woman’s voice on the other end was low, in both volume and tone. It took me a second to speak up, nerves getting the best of me for a moment.

“Yes, this is Miranda Havis. I had gotten an email about the position?”

“Oh, Ms. Havis!” The voice sounded more sing song at that. “I’ve been waiting for your call; you’re wanting an interview, right? How about this, I have a client I’m going to meet tomorrow, so why don’t you come with me and show me just how good of an assistant you can be? It beats sitting in my office and asking a bunch of questions.”

“err…” I stammered, unsure what to think. This was in no way professional; I wasn’t sure how to react. “I could always meet you after, if you’re busy.”

“Well, if you’re there, you can show me how well you preform under pressure. If not, I can go alone and consider other applications.” She replied bluntly. “Meet me at the address listed on the email by 3:00 pm. If you come early with some coffee, that might warm me up to you more!” She cackled a bit at that. “Hope to see you then!”

Sybil hung up before I could even reply, and I was left stunned, mouth gaping. Did I really call the right number? I looked over the number listed again and again, even clicked through to the official site linked, only to be greeted with a very early 90s looking site. It had the same number, the address, and a little about the head and seemingly only doctor, Dr. Sybil. There was a picture of what looked to be an almost generic woman in a doctors’ uniform, face framed in grey hair and smiling a pearly white grin. The description of services was vague at best, things like “surgery, pharmaceuticals, and cleansing.” I sat back, eyebrows furrowed, and phone still clutched in my hand as the picture stared up at me. This couldn’t be real. To have a practice so small, to have such a strange doctor with an even stranger idea of an interview, it all seemed too crazy. But I did need the money, maybe Sybil was just getting started, as bizarre a start that would be.

I went through the rest of the day in a haze, flipping from going, or not going, or reasoning behind why someone would pull such an elaborate trick. Kidnapping? Murder? From sundown to sunup the next day, my mind was racing.

Yet I found myself getting dressed, and ready to go by 1:30. I wasn’t completely stupid, I texted a couple friends the address, a vague sense of what was going on, and what I was wearing to the ‘interview’. I didn’t tell them of the odd phone call, just that I felt safer letting them know where I was, since it was in the town over. I could tell they thought it was odd, but they assured me the interview would go well and to not be so nervous.

So, I drove, and picked up coffee on the way while I was at it. The office ended up being in a building consisting of different offices and clinics. If it wasn’t for her office being pushed into a back corner, the black out curtains covering the glass front along with the sign “by appointment only” being plastered on the door would have made it stick out like a sore thumb.

I shifted one of the coffees into the crook of my elbow and tapped twice on the door waiting for a response moment trying the door. It swung open, and the first thing I could smell was potpourri. Its strong scent in comparison to the slightly sterilized smell of the outside hallway made my nose itch, but I shook it off as I walked in. It wasn’t as dark as I thought it would be, the fluorescent lights overhead buzzing as I took in the room.

There were shelves of books, jars, knickknacks that made the whole area look eclectic. There were only a couple chairs in this, what I could only assume to be a waiting room. The plush carpet seemed to hold on to the scent of the potpourri on a couple of the shelves, though there were some petals and plants in there that I just couldn’t identify. The door on the other side of the room had the plaque for Sybil’s practice, though it still only listed the name “Dr. Sybil”. No first name or indication that she had any other surnames. Before I could go to knock on that door, it swung open.

I wasn’t expecting the doctor to be so tall, or to look so different from the picture online.

If I had to guess, Dr. Sybil is easily 6’0”, give or take. Her skin is a pale grey, oddly shiny in the fluorescent light as though she was drenched in water. Her hair was a pale, almost grey purple, her wild hair tied in two loose pigtails on either side of her face. Though the first thing I noticed after her height was the scowl on her face.

She had many sharp teeth, too many for a human to have. Her yellow sclera made her white eyes even more piercing, before her expression changed to a strange crooked smile.

“Oh, look who showed up! Ms. Haven, right?”

“uhm, M…Ms. Havis, ma’am.”

“I didn’t expect you to actually bring coffee! I can already tell we’re going to get along great.” She took the coffee cup from the crook of my arm. As she spoke, I could see glints of even more teeth peeking from the sides of her lips. She took a long swig of the coffee before looking to me again. “Follow me, I’ve got what we’ll need for the house call, and I think I have an extra mask for you.”

“extra mask? Wait-!” I finally bring myself to speak. “Who are you? I mean, what are you? What kind of practice is this?”

Sybil stopped at the door, turning back to me before shaking her head.

“Ah, I forgot I pulled from some human candidates. I didn’t realize I pulled from ones that are unfamiliar with less… mainstream practices.” She turned fully to look at me, tilting her head.

“you already know my name, but as for what I am… well, best way I can put this…” she furrowed her brows for a moment. “You know what a vampire is right?” I nod, taking a step back. “Christ, calm down, if I wanted to bite you I would. I’m sort of something like that, but not in the traditional way. I don’t turn other creatures to vampires, I don’t burn in the sunlight, I’m more akin to a leech, I suppose.”

Sybil pulled her lip back, revealing what I thought I had seen: Her teeth seemed to circle her mouth, and there were a few more hiding behind the from teeth.

“I’ve been around humans for centuries, long enough to learn about you, the way you work, and what shouldn’t be there. Including more supernatural things. That’s what we’re dealing with today.” Sybil put her hand on the handle of the door, looking at me expectantly. “I may have pulled resumes from places other than my usual, I forgot that humans don’t always want to dabble in this sort of environment. If you don’t want to come with me, that’s fine, I don’t even mind if you tell people, because who would believe you? I will say I pay handsomely, but this is ultimately your choice.”

“Handsomely? How much would the payment be?” I blurted out. As unsettling as Sybil herself was, and the idea there was more out there like her, I did still have rent to pay. Sybil’s grin crept back onto her face as she chuckled.

“There’s not exactly co-pay for the visits I do, usually I get to keep the money for myself. But I don’t really need a lot of money, just enough for upkeep and I get my meals as payment from the client as well.” She must have seen the horrified look on my face because she waved me off. “Its nothing deadly, I promise. The most the client has after is a bite mark. My point is, I don’t mind doing a fifty-fifty split with you. These sort of jobs are high demand, there’s very few people who can do it, and my services can range from 3,000-5,000. So, half of that at least 3 times a week if not more.”

I opened my mouth to speak, before closing again. That sounded like an amazing opportunity, almost too good to be true. But if there was even a chance… I nodded before speaking again.

“I’d like to try and see how this first day goes.” I replied, and Sybil gave me a firm pat on the shoulder.

“Atta girl, you’re a brave one Ms. Haven! Let’s get going.”

             The ride there went without a hitch, Sybil asking small questions and I asking small questions in return. Ones like “how was your day? what was college like? Man, the weather outside is too hot isn’t it?” It was almost like I wasn’t sitting next to a vampire leech. It wasn’t long before we pulled up outside of a residential house, a cookie cutter house that looked like the ones surrounding it, save for the tacky flamingo lawn ornaments outside. Sybil reached into the backseat, pulling out a bird mask before fishing out what looked like a gas mask. She measured the band between her fingers, looking from it, to me, before handing it over.

“Here. It’s good practice to have your face covered, and for a human like you, its best for creatures like these to not be able to recognize you later.”

I was about to ask, but she put her mask on and opened the car door, and I just went along with it. It fit fairly smug over my mouth and nose, my eyes the only thing really visible. I followed tentatively behind after Sybil retrieved a bag from the trunk. She knocked on the door, and I could hear the sound of multiple locks being slid open before it opened. A face of a man peeked out from the door, looking the two of us over before opening the door completely. He looked to be in his 50s, haggard, his T shirt drenched in sweat down the collar and pits. I shoot a glance to Sybil before she clears her throat.

“Good evening, Mr. Paisley, I take it Mrs. Paisley still isn’t feeling well?” She asked, a lilt of concern in her voice.

“Feeling well? She’s torn up the whole basement, she looks like a fucking nightmare!” He snapped, a tremble in his voice. Sybil lifted a hand.

“Language, sir. That’s why me and my assistant are here. Did you mix the sleeping medicine into her food like we discussed?”

“Y…yes… she fell asleep twenty minutes ago. She actually looked peaceful, and…” He trailed off, swallowing the knot in his throat before continuing. “Please help her, Doctor. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

Sybil nodded, walking past him as I followed after.

“So, what it sounds like is a possession, but not the usual demon kind. From what it sounds like, something implanted into her, maybe she ate something, on their last camping trip that’s been driving her to animalistic tendencies. My thoughts are that whatever it is, it’s using her like a skin suit. Its not too late to save her, though.” Sybil explained as we walked down the hallway, to the staircase that lead to the basement. She stopped, looking to me as I had very obviously paled at the thought. “Your job, quite simply, is to assist me in this surgery. Be alert: this is a live creature, and you’ll have me by your side. And this.”

She stepped down a couple steps, grabbing a baseball bat leaning on the stone wall and handing it to me. “your resume said you were quick on your feet, Ms. Haven, we’re putting that to the test.”

My stomach churned as I thought of turning back, but I felt I couldn’t just leave, not after entering this house. I followed after Sybil, closing the door behind me. The lights in the basement were dim, torn up cardboard boxes and the contents inside were strewn around the room, the stench of rotting meat mixed with the musty smell of the basement and made me gag. In the middle of the room was a woman, lying on her side. Red liquid was dried on her face, and her fingers looked caked in pieces of ground meat. Sybil pointed me to a knocked over ping pong table in the corner, and as quietly as I could I set it back upright. Sybil set the woman on the table, handing me plastic gloves, and putting on ones of her own. I swore I could see movement under the woman’s skin.

“Alright, lets start with the scalpel.”

For a bit, I was simply helping Sybil with tools, watching as blood pooled, cuts were cauterized, flesh was moved away, and her chest cavity revealed. Except, there wasn’t natural.

If you’ve never seen a teratoma before, it looks like a lump of flesh with teeth, eyes, but is ultimately benign. This, however, looked more like a large bone growth. I wouldn’t have thought it was alive if it didn’t have eyes that immediately snapped to me. It was nestled just below the ribs, the woman’s’ organs pushed out of the way enough to accommodate the boney mass as tendrils of flesh twisted into each other and were trailed out to keep it anchored in the body. It clicked and writhed in the light, making the woman’s skin undulate in different areas. I couldn’t see Sybils face, but I could hear a steely resolve in her voice.

“Be ready.” Is all she said, before grabbing the pair of forceps she had laying on the table and clamping it around the creature. There was a loud wail, muffled but still audible, as it tried desperately to get its hosts’ arms to move. One of its tendrils ripped through the skin of her forearm, bringing muscle with it before letting it fall back and shooting out at me on its own. It wrapped around the front of the gas mask with surprising force, pulling me forward and making me stumble nearly face first into the wound. I clawed at it as I started to coil around my neck, trying to get a grip on it but the mixture of blood and whatever other fluids it secreted made it hard to get any sort of hold. I looked to Sybil for help, but she was too busy dealing with the creature herself, fighting against a few of the tendrils as she pulled the creature with the forceps. As my vision started to get fuzzy, I spotted a scalpel on the table. I snatched it, using the last of my strength to plunge the blade into the creature. Another muffled shriek escaped the core as I stabbed, it pulled tighter around my neck until I sawed through the flesh, an off-white ooze bursting from the middle and smelling distinctly of sulfur and rotting flesh.

“Get the bat!” Sybil yelled, yanking the forceps back and falling flat on her back as the creature was pulled from the body with sickening pops and squelches. It wriggled, the full length of its tendrils finally on display, tall enough to easily pull away from Sybil. I could see now why the screeches were so muffled: teeth clattered on the top of its form, stained red from having been buried in the flesh surrounding it for so long. It attacked Sybil head on, ripping into her now held up arm to protect her face and mask. Quick as I could I wound up with the bat, smacking it hard enough to launch it across the room. The force of the hit and how hard it slammed into the wall caused it to crack open, grey brain matter oozing with that same off-white fluid pouring onto the floor. It twitched and gurgled, still trying to crawl towards us before the extent of its injuries finally caught up to it, curling into itself and going still.

“good work, Ms. Haven.” Sybil panted, a rivulet of blood staining her sleeve. “Take this jar and this solution, scoop some of that creature into the jar and whatever else is there, dissolve it in the solution. I’m going to fix Mrs. Paisley up.”

How she was so nonchalant about what just happened, I don’t know, but the rest of that procedure was a blur. I vaguely remember scooping the remains into the jar, tightening the lid, and cleaning up the excess. My body felt shaky with adrenaline, and I remember Sybil telling me to take the bag and jar to the car while she discussed payment with Mr. Paisley. I heard the front door open after what felt like hours, but what could have only been a few minutes, with Sybil walking out to the car while Mr. Paisley waved, looking relieved and less haggard than before. I couldn’t help but stare at the wound on his shoulder, ringed teeth marks threatening to bleed again until Sybil blocked my view by leaning on my door.

“Ms. Haven, hand me the gauze, I didn’t even realize I was bleeding until now.”

I nodded, reaching into the back, and grabbing the gauze, passing it through the window. She wrapped her arm as she walked to the driver’s side, sliding in, and tearing the gauze with her fingernails before tucking the excess in.

“M…my name is Ms. Havis.” Was the only thing I could think to blurt out.

“Oh. Do you mind if I call you Haven? It rolls off the tongue a little better.” She smiled at me, and I couldn’t help but notice the red tint. I nodded and sat back in my seat. “You did wonderful, by the way. You’re stronger than I thought! You handled it like a professional, so I guess college is good for something!” She laughed. “Listen, you’re going to see and deal with a lot of dangerous things working with me, but on the bright side, we got 4,000 for that arrangement. So, 2,000 in one day isn’t so bad, right?”

I nod, smiling a little up at her as she started the car, taking off her face mask. I pulled mine off as well, feeling how sore my throat was after that ordeal. It felt like that surgery should have taken the whole night, but it was only an hour and a half tops. Maybe it was the adrenaline, but it was just as exciting as it was frightening, and the money was great already.

“I think I would like to work with you again, Doctor.” I said, and Sybil cracked a genuine smile.

“I’d hope so! Let’s get some booze, and some food in you, and we can discuss if you want it in cash or not.”

An odd start, for sure, but I was starting to get used to strangeness already.

Chapter Four: Classes.

Summary: Gedonelune, the prestigious royal magic academy is waiting just for you! The door has opened a whole new world of possibilities for your future. For the next thirteen days you’ll be undergoing the provisional trial to see if you have what it takes to become an official student. Along the way you’ll be meeting new faces and going on exciting new adventures. But be warned, shadows are being cast on the land, if you dive to deep, you may find yourself being swallowed up by the chaos. Your journey begins now, will you be able to banish the darkness?

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

My body moved sluggishly as I made my way to what I hoped was where my first class of the day was taking place. Despite having followed directions that were given me, I had been second-guessing myself all morning. Perhaps staying up all night writing letters to Lily back and forth was a bad idea, especially since today was my first day of classes and I desperately wanted to leave a good impression. I checked over my direction list once more before putting it away, this was definitely the room.

Inside I could already see people rushing to pick their seats, others were chatting with friends without a care in the world, while at least a couple had their heads lying down on the desk. I took a deep breath before walking in, hoping to not draw any attention. I was already feeling nervous enough, I didn’t need any staring to be placed upon me. 

As I navigated my way through the class, I found a nice spot near one of the corners in the middle. There weren’t a lot of people there, so I chose a seat next to the wall where there was no one else sitting near. I placed my stuff on the desk, prepping myself for whatever it was that was about to happen. Just then I heard a small pop and a piece of paper came floating down onto my desk. I read the contents, a smile on my face when I realized it was from Lily.

                                  ‘Hey, today’s your first day of classes right? I want to wish you good luck! Oh yeah, that reminds me, Willem should be teaching one of your classes at some point, tell me how it goes! Actually, scratch that, tell me how every day goes! I can’t wait to hear back from you.’ 

                                                                   I quickly stashed the note away, putting it in my bag. I would have written her back, but with only a few minutes before class, it wouldn’t exactly be the wisest decision. Still, I couldn’t for when I had a chance to write back. Her words, even though I couldn’t hear them, oddly made me feel warm. A few minutes later the bell for classes began to ring out and everyone began to scurry to their seats. The door opened about a minute later and in stepped a man with gray hair. He had a kind face as he stepped to the podium in the center of class. His eyes scanned the room and when they fell onto me he smiled.

“Ah, I see you’re the new student. Would you please introduce yourself to the class?”

Standing up slowly, I cleared my throat. “Hello, my name is …” after giving my name, I slowly sat back down in my seat.

“Thank you. I’m happy to have you attend my class. My name is professor Merkulova and I hope you’ll find the academy life enjoyable. Now, let’s begin today’s lesson will be about potions, today we’ll be making different potions, each one with healing properties. I’ll be having ingredients for all three appear on your table, along with recipes for each one. You’ll be able to choose one which will be used on an Umbra near the end of class. You’ll be graded based on the effectiveness of it. Oh, one more thing, after preparing the potion, you must use the incantation ‘Eliminate that which plagues, Bono malum superate!’. Now, let us begin. Aperio!”

With the swish of his wand, a number of ingredients appeared on our desks, my eyes scanned over each one. I wasn’t the most confident in my ability to make potions, so I went with the most simple one on the list; a potion that would diminish the pain from headaches and migraines. I looked at the paper in my hand and grabbed what I needed which was one ginger root, a bundle of peppermint and a lemon wedge. I read over the steps carefully, grabbing my jar, making sure to layer the pieces of peppermint neatly. Once I was satisfied with it, I grabbed my wand and held it up, rolling up my sleeves as I did so.

“Eliminate that which plagues, Bono malum superate!” 

A small light began to build at the tip of my wand before shooting out in the form of a small ribbon which nestled itself into the jar before turning to liquid. I wasn’t sure what colour the potion itself was supposed to be, but here before me was a jar with lavender colored liquid. I put my wand away and at that very moment professor Merkulova came over to me. He looked with interest at my potion but said nothing as he continued making his way around the class. For some reason, I was overcome with nervousness that stayed with me until the end of class when we started coming to the front to test our potions.

I watched with interest as one by one, everyone began coming to the podium. A new Umbra was summoned every time and although no one had failed their potion, there were some who had weaker effects than others. When it was my turn to come to the front, I almost tripped over my chair. I calmly recollected myself and navigated my way up there. Merkulova was waiting with a smile and with a swish of his hand a new Umbra had appeared. A bright red pulsating light at the top of its head indicated that it was in severe pain. I handed the potion to the Umbra, who quickly took it in their own hands and drank it rapidly.

I watched with bated breath as the light began to grow dimmer and dimmer until it was gone completely. I looked over to Merkulova who nodded in approval. 

“Well done. Your potion has completely healed the Umbra, you’ve earned a perfect score for this assignment. If I may add though, next time, try to be more confident in yourself. You have great magical potential.”

Hearing his words made me practically grin from ear to ear. The smile on my face hadn’t left for a good amount of time, even after classes for the day was over, I was still overcome with joy. I practically had a skip in my step as I made my way back to my dorm, eager to write and tell Lily how classes had been. 

                      ‘Classes went well today, I got a perfect score for my potions class and I attained high marks for my others. I will admit, some of the classes are a bit challenging and there are times where I wonder if I’ll be able to pass the assignments for the day. I’m excited to see how it keeps going and I promise to keep you updated for the others.’

Once I finished writing, I gently folded the paper and watched as it disappeared in a puff of smoke. While waiting for a reply, I decided to work on the assignments that were given for us to work on back at the dorms. I was nearly done when I heard a small pop, noticing a small paper unfold on my desk. I quickly opened it and began to read.

                  ‘I knew you would be able to do it! Don’t worry too much about what could happen, focus on doing your absolute best. At the end of the day, you should be proud of your accomplishments. I believe you’re going to pass all your classes and make it as an official student. That was your goal, right? Keep it up and you’ll get there. I can’t wait to hear more about the academy life. I’m kind of sad I can’t be there to experience it too.’

I chuckled as I began writing another letter. This continued for the next couple of hours until it was time to call it a night. 

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

The next couple of days of classes went well, I had another class with Merlkulova and I even attended Willem’s class, which I excitedly told Lily about. She seemed rather surprised that Willem was teaching a lesson regarding rare species of plants, considering that wasn’t one of his strong suits. Regardless, she was thrilled to hear more about my day and was even more excited to hear about what would happen tomorrow. I was about to write another note when I heard a knock on my door. When I opened it, I was surprised at who it was.

“Persephone? What are you doing here?”

“I came to see how things were going. Can I come in?”

“Sure.” I opened the door all the way, allowing Persephone to come in before shutting it. She took a seat on the sofa near the wardrobe, crossing her legs over each other while looking at the stack of letters I had that were piling up.

“Who in the world are those letters from?”

“Huh? Oh, a friend. We met at the tea party a couple of days back.”

“You know, there’s an easier way to communicate so that you’re not wasting all those magic letters, you know.”

“There is?”

Persephone gave a small nod. “Yeah, have you ever heard of a magic phone? As long as you and the person you want to talk to have one, you’ll be able to ‘call and talk.”

My heart seemed to race a little as I listened intently to what she was saying. Just the thought of hearing Lily’s voice again was making my cheeks feel warm. 

“Where can I get one?” I asked.

“There’s a shop in town that sells them.”

“Oh….”

“No need to look all gloom and doom.” Persephone sighed. “That look doesn’t suit you at all. Besides, one day I promise to take you into town sometime soon. You can go look for one then.”

“Wait, are you being serious?”

“I’m not going to sit here and be dishonest with you. I mean what I say. Anyways, I’ll let you go on about your evening. I need to get things ready for the first class of the night that I have to teach. I’ll catch up with you later.”

Without another word, Persephone got up from the sofa and left the room, shutting the door behind her. I looked over at the nearby clock, it was well into the evening and quite honestly now would be a good time to try and get some rest. I changed out of my school uniform and into some comfortable nightwear before slipping into bed. It only took me a few minutes to fall into a deep slumber, but despite all the sleep I got, I still felt relatively tired. I would have loved to just crawl deeper in the covers and fall into another blissful trip into dreamland, but alas, I had earlier classes than usual today. 

I took a shower, got dressed, and took the marker I had for my calendar, crossing off another day. It’s been four days since my trial started. 

“So far so good. I hope I can keep this up.”

I only had nine days left, well six if I didn’t count the weekends when there were no classes. At the rate the days were going, I was sure that the final day of my trial would be here in the blink of an eye. Which was a little worrying. Would I even make it? No, I had to shake my mind of such thoughts and push forward.

I walked into the classroom with confidence this time, sitting down where I usually was for classes. I kept reassuring myself that today was going to be just like all the other days, I had to believe in myself. I had built my courage up with small pep talks to myself, but it all went tumbling down when I saw who walked into the classroom. It was Schuyler…

I gave a small gulp as I watched him make his way up to the board. He had his arms crossed as another person cam in. He had blonde hair and was wearing a Ministry uniform, one that was taught to us in one of the previous classes. He had a stern look about him and for some reason, he seemed almost….regal. I had the color drain from my face though when I saw the two of them standing in the front of the room, side by side. 

“Everyone to your seats, now.” Schuyler’s voice was sharp as he watched everyone retreat to their seats if they weren’t already there. “Classes for today will be held outside, so I ask that everyone follow me in an orderly fashion as we head out to the courtyard.”

After speaking, both Schuyler and the man beside him led the way to the courtyard. I had only been here briefly a couple of times, but staying here for the amount of time that we would be, was somehow relaxing. 

“Today for class we’ll be practicing offensive magic spells. We’ll be using the four major elements and use them to dispel the Umbra. Now, can anyone tell me the four elements?”

Not a single person raised their hand, so Schuyler decided to call on someone, that someone in particular...was me.

“Go ahead and tell us what the elements are.”

“Earth, air, fire and water.”

“Well done. It appears you know basic knowledge.”

I don’t know whether I should take that as a praise or not…..

“Everyone please grab out your wands. Apareo Umbra!”

Just like Merkulova had done in potions class a few days ago, Schuyler waved his wand, producing an incredible number of Umbras. But unlike the Umbra that Merkulova produced, these ones were able to attack. I forced myself to stay calm and collected as I went after a small group of Umbra that strayed from the rest. I pointed my wand at the group and shouted. 

“O great wind, become a blade! Acies Ventos!” 

A bright light shot off from my wand as blades of winds slashed through the Umbras. With loud cries, they began to fade into nothingness. After watching them dissipate, I looked over to see that the numbers of the Umbras were dwindling drastically. I knew I had to act fast if I wanted to amass enough points to get a good grade in the class. I took a deep breath, not knowing if it would work, and held up my wand. 

“O great power, dwell within mine hand and form a shield, Magia Terra!”

Though it was pretty weak, I had managed to successfully cast a barrier of the earth element to surround me. It was probably only strong enough to hold back a couple of attacks at most, but it was much better than nothing and at the very least it would give me a little bit of time to cast a flurry of different spells. 

I chased after another group, focusing on casting larger spells to attack bigger groups. I had done a pretty decent job at eliminating a good number of them, but I was feeling extremely sluggish by the end of it all. I dropped my barrier as I slowly made my way to where Schuyler was. With the flick of his wand, a scoreboard appeared before us. I was a little saddened to see that I wasn’t at the very top, I thought I had given it all…

“You’re the new student, right?”

The man that had been standing over by Schuyler had made his way over to where I was.

“Ah, yes sir, I am.”

“This is your first time dealing with this kind of magic, right?”

“Well, no sir. But it is my first time actually using it for offensive stuff like this. I’ve never used it fighting…”

“You did relatively well considering your skill right now. But you still have a lot of room for improvement. Keep that in mind when you practice at home. If you want to become a student here officially, slacking off will not be tolerated. Especially when I’m the one teaching furthermore…” 

Even though it was only a few minutes, it felt like hours had passed by before the man had finished his lecture and left the area. I let out a sigh as I watched the other students making their way back to the Academy, except for one, who looked back at me before heading back my way.

“What in the world just happened? I saw the other professor come and talk with you. He wasn’t too hard on you was he?

One of my classmates, a girl who I had become friends with in the class that Lars had been teaching that day, came up to me with slight worry.

“Not really, but he’s uh, rather confusing.”

“I’ve heard he’s always been like that though.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, hard to imagine that the second eldest Goldstein is this awkward.”

“Oh that’s -- wait….did you say Goldstein?”

I watched as she let out a chuckle. “Yeah, that’s professor Goldstein. Klaus Goldstein to be precise. I guess he was seen as some prodigy or something like that. But I’ve also heard some stories about how scary he was back in his days as a prefect.”

I could see the whole ‘being scary’ bit...

“Anyways, I’m heading back to the dorms, I’ll see you in class tomorrow.”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

I watched as she left and I put my wand away before going back to the classroom to grab my things and head to the remaining classes before heading back to the dorms for the day. The walk back seemed longer than usual today, maybe it was because I had a lot to think about. My magic wasn’t bad, but this is the second time that someone has told me to be more confident in my powers. Perhaps some afterschool practice would be helpful. I sighed as I entered the area of the Night Class dormitories and found Persephone leaning against the wall. When she noticed me, she began to speak.

“Perfect timing. I was just about to look for you before heading to class. We need to discuss something.”

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

Nadia: Hm….

Persephone: Something up? You’re not being so annoyingly happy today.

Nadia: *Smiles* I’ll pretend that was a compliment. Anyways, what was it you wanted to talk with them about?

Persephone: You’ll find out in the next chapter ‘A Day Out and Meeting The Potions Master’.

Nadia: Huh? Potion master? Who in the world is that?

Persephone: Find out for yourself.

I’ll Help You

PART 2

Summary: Carlton Drake has officially crossed the line in terms of morale and humanity. He’s threatened your boss, Dr. Skirth, to manipulate her into staying with the project just as he’s manipulated all the victims he’s putting at risk to further his own twisted research. And once you witness a man die right in front of you because of it, you couldn’t continue on. Shamefully enough, you’re too scared to leave, you know how Carlton is and it terrified you to no end so when Dr. Skirth comes up with the idea to involve and ex investigative journalist, your desperation get the better of you and you agree to tag him along. You find yourself spending more and more time with him until it seems like you can’t pry yourself away and he grows increasingly protective of you when you vulnerably express your fears to him.

Warnings: Swearing . . . that’s about it for now

Word Count: 3,259

Part 1

  After receiving the call from Eddie you immediately called Dora, letting her know of his decision. He’d told you to meet him at his place and you would go from there. 

   You hopped out of bed and threw on a pair of leggings, black, a long sleeved t-shirt, again, black, and your shoes, wow, even more black. If you were being honest with yourself, adrenaline was starting to coarse through you and you liked it. This scandalous, technical, breaking and entering past hours with intentions to make Carlton Drake crash and burn was thrilling. 

   You pulled your phone out of your jacket pocket and sent Dora the address to Eddie’s apartment before heading there yourself. You’d only lived a few blocks down but BOY the difference in neighborhood those blocks made. Your apartment was decent, cozy cottage-like feeling to it and the outside wasn’t too shabby either. It was in a pretty good neighborhood with relatively happy people. You knew most of your neighbors and weren’t afraid to speak to them when you saw them in the halls. 

   You walked the distance from your place to Eddie’s letting the cold of the wind settle into your bones by the time you got there. Your teeth clattered against each other and the loose strands of your hair flailed and slapped against your face. You turned your back towards the wind and hugged yourself for additional warmth. It’d been significantly warmer earlier in the day when you’d asked Eddie for help but now, hours later, the temperature must have dropped almost twenty degrees. 

   You checked your surroundings before pulling out your phone and dialing Dora’s number again. 

   “Hey, are you almost here?” you asked once she’d picked up.

   “I’m still sneaking out of the house, I’ll try to be there as soon as possible,” she responded.

    You told her it was fine and hung up then kept your hands tucked in your pockets, trying to avoid exposing them to the freezing wind. You lightly bounced in your spot, moving just enough to hopefully produce more warmth and fight off the cold making its way to the core of your being. Your arms stiffened and your body tightened once the tips of your fingers began to go numb.

   Would it be awkward to wait for Dr. Skirth in Eddie’s apartment? Would he even invite you in if you asked? You didn’t think he was a bad guy but you would gladly freeze to death before facing the awkward tension of strangers conversing for the first time. 

   So you stayed put in your spot right outside his doorway. Hoping, more like praying, that Dr. Skirth would show up any second and offer you the warmth of her car. 

   But when you could barley move your fingers due to their stiffness, you tapped out. Your heels dug into your shoes as you rushed over to the door and looked for Eddie’s apartment number before pressing it with the backside of your wrist.

   “Hello?” You heard a gruffy voice speak after the buzz sounded.

   “Mr. Brock?” You asked but didn’t wait for confirmation, “It’s (Y/N), Dr. Skirth’s running a little late and I didn’t bring a car so I was wondering if I could.. um... come up for a second?” 

   You stood there, in the cold, waiting for him to make up his mind and after a few seconds, the front door buzzed open and you grabbed the handle through your jacket and slung the door open. The first thing this shabby looking place offered you was mediocre warmth, and you were gladly taking it in. The tips of your nose, ears and fingers ached with pain as they regained feeling and you ignored it as much as you could as you ascended the elevator up to Eddie’s apartment.

   The ding of the elevator and the sound of the doors sliding to reveal a dimly lit hallway made your heart catch in your throat. Why? You weren’t sure but taking those first few steps out and reading the numbers on the doors made your stomach drop the closer you became.

   You were almost at the end of the hallway when a door practically flew off its hinges and a girl, half dressed, like, literally she was still putting some of her clothes on, walked out. A man with what you could only describe as a beer belly and shaggy, somewhat majestic hair slapped her ass as she exited.

   You stepped to the side as she practically crawled past you and stuck as close to the opposing wall as you could. You kept your gaze glued on the floor, already knowing that Eddie’s apartment was across this guy’s own and slithered towards his door.

   Please don’t talk to me, please don’t talk to me, please don’t talk to me.

   “You’re new,” the shaggy-haired man hiccupped.

   Fuck.

   You nodded your head softly and peered up, “Just visiting,”

   The drunk man scoffed a bit, “I didn’t know he had any friends, let alone a piece of ass like you,” 

   Your eyes widened and your knuckles almost punched against the door with Eddie’s apartment number on it, letting him know you had arrived.

   “Y’know,” he started, his breath vomit-inducing even with the few feet between you and his voice obnoxiously loud enough to make dogs down the street howl, “if he doesn’t get the job done you can head on over here and I’ll finish you for him,”

   You gulped and spun around, no longer wanting your exposed side to be facing this asshole. Now, if it hadn’t been for the fact that you thought, in his ridiculously drunken state, that he might actually harm you, you wouldn’t chewed this guy out left and right. You probably would’ve thrown in a few fuck off’s and shrimp dick every now and then but this dude was getting closer to you and you were already as plastered to Eddie’s door as you could get.

   You opened your mouth to respond when the solid frame of the door gave way and you tumbled backwards. Luckily, you made contact with another solid frame before you could fall on your ass. His chest was firm against your back and his hand holding your waist to keep you in place was supportive. But overall, he was warm and you couldn’t help but slink towards its source.

   You almost fluttered your eyes closed at the comfort the man behind you provided but the tension between the two neighbors kept you alert. Eddie’s hand slithered away from your waist and gripped onto your elbow, his breath blew a few strands of hair into your face but how warm it was against your ear and cheek caused you to accept it instead of fight it. 

   “You okay?” He whispered to you and you could swear you felt his lips graze your ear.

   You nodded slowly, pressing against him a little more just to create some distance between you and the drunken asshole. “Fine,” you responded.

   Eddie slowly took a step back and you almost whimpered when the warmth of his chest was no longer available for you, “Get inside,” he huffed and once you entered his apartment, he shut the door behind the two of you.

   “What a douche,” he whispered under his breath before eyeing you up and down, “Sorry about him, he doesn’t usually cause me too many problems but he’s never been a problem for guests.” He brought his hand up to scratch the back of his neck and with a meager smile muttered, “Probably because you’re the first,” 

   You put on a weak smile and nodded, “It’s okay, that’s probably the last time I’m gonna see that asshole,” (It’s not), “so hopefully no more situations like that,” (There will be).

   Eddie lightly chuckled and motioned you towards a seat at the island, “Sit, please.” He pulled out a chair for you to sit on and stood on the opposite side of the island.

   You trudged towards the seat and took your place before peering up at him. He seemed skittish, his hands rubbing together and his gaze everywhere except you.

   Aannnddd here’s the awkward silence that you were previously dreading.

   “So, it’s cold,” Eddie chirped up, seeing your nose and how red it still was.

   “As hell,” you responded then cocked your head to the side a bit, “which doesn’t make very much sense but you get what I mean,”

   He chuckled weakly but nodded all the same.

   “So,” you spoke up after a few more seconds of tension, “what made you give us a call?”

   His skittish behavior stopped and he stared down at the countertop, almost lost in a thought, “I had to check something first,”

   “And what did you have to check?” You asked, noticing his hesitation to continue but prying anyway.

   “I had to check with an old friend of mine.” he scoffed, “She was just reminding me that I had nothing left to lose,” the words dripped out of his mouth with a weight that you felt as though you had to hold.

   “I’m sorry,” you looked down at his folded hands on the countertop.

   “Nah, it’s fine. I had to make sure that chapter of my life was closed anyway, I wanted to see if I was ready for the next one,” his fingertips twitched and you looked up at him, noticing how he was watching you before awkwardly focusing back on his hands.

   “I mean about what Carlton did to you,” you said, “About what we’re doing to you,” you trailed off. 

   “Let’s get one thing straight,” his voice grew exponentially in volume, “no one’s forcing me to do this. This is what I do. I investigate. I call people out and report on wrongdoings. It’s who I am. I’m doing this because . . .” 

   You sat there, eyebrows raised and waiting for him to continue.

   “Because this is where the next chapter is taking me,” he finally finished.

   “So are you?” You asked, catching his attention.

   “Am I what?” 

   “Are you ready for the next chapter?” you unzipped the thin jacket and shimmied out of it once you felt warm enough. 

   Eddie stood up straight and just watched you. Watched as you slipped your arm out of each sleeve and tucked your hair behind your ear to get it out of the way, “Yeah,” he said, a soft smile on his face as he held his hand out to take the coat from you and hang it up, “I am,”

   He hung your coat up by the door and turned back towards you, “Now let’s talk about this Mr. Brock thing,” 

-

   Dr. Skirth called your cell phone about twenty minutes later. She was pulled up in front of the apartment and asking where you were.

   “We’re heading downstairs now.” You motioned towards Eddie, who had a stern talking with you about calling him Eddie and not Mr. Brock, and grabbed your coat off the rack.

   “We?” You heard Dr. Skirth ask incredulously over the phone.

   You broke out a false smile, as if she could see it, not wanting to repeat yourself because if you had it would sound like a big deal and it wasn’t. “Yes,” you drawled out.

   “(Y/N),” Dr. Skirth teased, making kissy noises over the phone as if we weren’t about to potentially die over letting Eddie into the Life Foundation.

   “We’ll see you down there,” you quickly said and hung up the phone. 

   “She’s outside?” Eddie asked.

   You nodded and walked over to the door, opening it slowly and hoping that one dude wasn’t there still. After checking if the coast was clear, you headed towards the elevator and waited ‘til Eddie locked everything up. He entered with you and you left the warm confines of the building momentarily to replace it with the warmth in Dora’s car. 

   Once in, you greeted Dora and she greeted Eddie, explaining that the plan was a simple ‘in and out’. Get Eddie in, let him take photos and then get him the fuck out without being caught, for all our sakes.

   You nodded in unison and put your seatbelt on before looking over at Dora and wondering why she hadn’t pulled away yet.

   “We?” she mouthed.

   You rolled your eyes jokingly, “Shut up,” you mouthed back.

-

   A few minutes later you were at the security gate of the Life Foundation. You checked in with Dora, giving the security guard your badge passes and without hesitation, he motioned for the two of you to be on your way. 

   The reality of what you were doing, and its potential consequences, were starting to get the better of you. What if you guys were discovered giving Eddie a front row seat to the inhumane things Drake was doing? You were sure a slap on the wrist wasn’t the worst he would do to you and knowing him, he’d make it slow and painful. 

   Your stomach dropped and the nerves building up in your jittering frame were hard to ignore. Dora noticed immediately and parked in the nearest spot and turned towards you.

   “You don’t have to come,” she whispered, and suddenly threw her door open and hopped out of the car, not waiting for a response from you.

   But you knew she was trying to spare you, trying to keep your hands clean of the matter. And by leaving before you could respond, she was attempting to not allow you a choice.

   It was only when you’d stayed glued to your seat in fear that Eddie opened your door slowly and bent over a bit, his arms sprawled on the frame of the door. 

   “What’s going on?” His gruffy but gentle voice spoke.

   You almost didn’t hear it, too submerged in your fears of the ‘what ifs’ to get out of your head. “What if we get caught?” You asked under your breath. “I mean, he will kill Dora if he finds out and he won’t hesitate to get rid of me, he’s wanted me gone since I first got here,” 

   The knot in your throat tightened and physical pain emerged from your chest as tears began to well up in your eyes, “What if he kills me?” you accidentally voiced. 

   Eddie ducked his head a little so he was in your line of view and you couldn’t ignore him, “Hey.” His hand hesitated to reach for you and he decided against it, “Nothing’s gonna happen to you, I promise.” His body blocked your view from Dr. Skirth, “If you don’t want to come I’m not gonna force you,”

   You stifled a sob that would’ve racked your body and shook your head, “I have to.” You attempted to look over Eddie’s frame at Dr. Skirth but failed, “She’s just as scared as I am, she’s only better at hiding it,” 

   Eddie looked over his shoulder at the doctor and nodded, “She obviously doesn’t want you involved in whatever is about to happen,”

   “She doesn’t want to be involved in whatever is about to happen.” You took a shaky breath in and out then shifted in your seat to get out of the car, “But if we don’t do something then no one else will,” 

   Eddie took a step back and allowed you  to leave then closed the door behind you. You walked past Dr. Skirth, hoping she didn’t notice the redness in your eyes, and scanned the lock with your pass.

   Here we go.

   Dr. Skirth explained the reason Carlton was doing the atrocities he was. She told him everything from the mission failure, which Eddie already knew about and lost his job over, to the symbiotes in the lab waiting human trial. 

   Your heart tightened and your breath hitched when steps echoed throughout the place, obviously getting closer. A security guard was making his rounds. Your eyes widened and you looked up at Dora, noting the fear lingering in her eyes too. 

   “Go!” She motioned to the two of you, scanning the lock with her key card and pushing you both in the room, “Let me handle this,” 

   You stumbled back but watched as the doors closed in front of you and took Dora out of your sight. You reached out to the door, almost opening and coming up with the excuse that Dora should’ve waited for you before she left if the security guard were to ask but a tight grip on your arm pulled you back.

   “Have some faith in her,” Eddie reassured, “She knows what she’s doing,”

   You pried your eyes away from the door and looked at him, “Do we really?”

   Eddie’s hard gaze softened as did his grip on your arm. You sighed and walked past him, leading him directly to the ‘experiments’ that were happening and you observed as he took picture after picture.

   You twisted around and walked back towards the door to keep a lookout, the hairs on your neck standing straight up as you tried to listen to everything happening around you. 

   And that’s when it happened, a loud crash emitted from the last place you left Eddie and your heart skipped a beat as it rose into your throat. You hurried over to see what was happening when you heard yelling and shouting.

   They sounded desperate.

   “I don’t know how!” You heard Eddie scream.

   “Eddie don’t open the door!” You shouted back once he came into view.

   “I have to!” he shouted, slamming what looked like a fire distinguisher against the glass panel.

   “Eddie!” You ran over to him, trying to reach him before he succeeded, “She’s got the symbiote!” 

   But it was too late. Eddie smashed the glass to pieces and the woman, Maria, pounced on him like prey. You saw the symbiote enter him and your body went rigid. You weren’t sure how he was going to react to the symbiote, if he was going to be uncontrollable or have some sense. Either way, your biggest fear was him rejecting the symbiote and dying because of it. 

   You were so engulfed in Eddie’s well being that you hadn’t noticed the sirens and alarms go off. The room flashed red and the intercom stated there was a breach in your section.

   Shit.

   “Eddie!” You shouted, grabbing him by his hand and desperately trying to pull him up, “We have to go!”

   Eddie took a second to try and piece together what was happening, the puzzled look on his face slowly turned to concern.

   “Go!” Eddie shouted, pushing you away from him. “Get out of here! I promised nothing was going to happen to you and I meant it, now go!”

   “B-But-”

   “(Y/N), hide NOW!” he shouted at you, jolting you out of your daze and running towards the bathroom by Dr. Skirth’s office.

   Just as you managed to shut the door behind you, the sound of another one opening followed by multiple shouting, arose. It didn’t take long before the gunfire started.

   You locked the door and crash against the cold tile on the floor, bringing your knees up to your chest at the same time.

   Eddie.

   Christ, you couldn’t believe you’d left him out there, he should’ve hid with you. But he knew. He knew that if they didn’t find anyone in this section then they were just going to search until they did. And it was going to look really bad if they found you with him. 

   A tear trickled down your cheek as you sat in the dark bathroom, waiting until the coast was clear.

   Please be okay.

~~~~~

Tags: @lunalustrix @marvelgirl7 @tomhardy41

Hey so I know some people didn’t ask to be tagged but asked about a part 2 so I’m just letting you guys know that it’s here and waiting for you! 

An Introduction to Book 4 of the Nampō Roku:  Shoin [書院], Part 2 -- Sōami’s O-kazari Ki [御飾記], and the O-kazari Sho [御飾書].

      The O-kazari Ki [御飾記] of Sōami is known from two different versions.  The illustrations that were included in Part 1 of this introduction were taken from a manuscript version of the text that was passed down in the Imai family.  However, the version that was more widely influential -- it was published as a block-printed facsimile edition¹ -- was titled O-kazari Sho [御飾書].  It was this version that was used by the officials in charge of the arrangement of the Tokugawa Shōgunate’s shoin (and so also adopted for use by the daimyō households during the first century of the Edo period).

    From the partial translation of the O-kazari Ki that follows, I have left out the descriptions of the rooms, since these mostly point to their locations within the shōgun’s mansion, as well as descriptions of various irrelevant utensils, since neither of these sets of information have any bearing on the contents of Book Four of the Nampō Roku.  As for the O-kazari Sho, I have only attempted to relate its set of sketches to those of the O-kazari Ki, while keeping the text to a minimum.

——————————————–———-—————————————————

◎ O-kazari Ki [御飾記] was written by Sōami [相阿彌; 1472 ~ 1525] in 1523.

  Sōami seems to have taken his inspiration from his grandfather’s work², though he has expanded the number of settings included (probably as the residence for the shōgun underwent changes).  The twelve relevant sketches below are reproduced from a manuscript copy of this book (probably made by someone other than Sōami himself) that was preserved by the Imai family.

    Many of these sketches are accompanied by comments that indicate where the particular oshi-ita or chigai-dana were located in Ashikaga Yoshimasa’s mansion (presumably the Muromachi-dono [室町殿], Muramachi palace -- popularly known as the Hana-no-gosho [花 之 御所], shown above).  However, this information is not particularly helpful (with respect to interpreting the arrangements shown in the sketches), since the mansion, which was located northeast of the Kyōto Imperial Palace, was destroyed during the Ōnin wars (all that remains are several marker stones).  The comments do suggest, however, that these arrangements were displayed regularly -- rather than being created for one specific occasion and then studiously never repeated again, as is the practice in modern day chanoyu.

1) An arrangement for a (built-in³) oshi-ita [押板], with four pictorial scrolls and three flower vases.  The text reads: naka ha sukoshi oki ni te shikarubeku, mata kōro wo mo okareruru [中ハ少シ大キニテ可然く、又香爐ヲモヲカルヽ], which means “with respect to the central [vase], it is appropriate for it to be a little larger [than the other two]; or, on the other hand, a kōro [rather than a vase] may be placed [in the middle position].”  It is also important to notice how the four scrolls are oriented.

    In his commentary, Sōami expanded upon the ideas expressed above:  “when four scrolls are displayed at the same time, it is inappropriate to place the mitsu-gusoku [三具足] (the three objects originally arranged on an altar:  a flower vase, a candlestick, and, in the middle, an incense burner) in front.  On both sides, a pair of ka-bin [花瓶] (flower-vases), as shown, while in the middle of these another, somewhat larger, ka-bin may be arranged thus.  Otherwise, you should put a rather large incense burner [in the center, rather than a third ka-bin].  With four scrolls, this is the true arrangement.”

    The scrolls should be hung up in order -- that is, the right-most scroll is hung first, then the second, the third, and finally the scroll on the left (which is where the artist’s signature and name-seals are found).  This imitates the way that a horizontal picture scroll is opened up for viewing⁴.

2) An arrangement for the chigai-dana.  The writing on the sketch reads:  (above) kamo kōro ・ kodō⁵ [鴨香爐・コトウ] (a black-bronze incense burner in the shape of a duck), on a kanban [翰盤] (a low writing-table); ko-bon noseru⁶ katatsuki-tsubo⁷ [小盆載肩衝壺] (a katatsuki, placed on a small tray); dai ni suwaru ・ yu-teki [臺ニスハル・油滴] (sitting on a temmoku-dai, a yu-teki temmoku), bon noseru [盆載] (which has, in turn, been placed on a tray); (below) jikirō [食籠] (a lidded box for sweets or side-dishes).

3) The ordinary way to arrange the oshi-ita when a triptych is hung.

    The kaki-ire [書入] in the upper right corner of the sketch reads:  oshi-ita to chigai-dana no sumi [押板とちかひたなの角], “the corner where the oshi-ita [adjoins] the chigai-dana.”

    The scrolls are marked hidari [左] (“left” -- the image to the left of the principal), hon-zon [本尊] (the principal image), and migi [右] ( “right” -- the image to the right of the principal):  the positions are determined (as on a Buddhist altar) from the perspective of the central image.  (And when the scrolls are hung up, first the hon-zon is hung, then the scroll to its left, and then the one to its right.  Note that right and left here should be reversed from our perspective.)

    The words joku ni suwaru [卓ニスハル], which are repeated twice, mean “[these objects] should sit on stands [or tables].”  In other words, both the pair of flower containers on the right and left, and the collection of objects in the middle⁸, should all be raised up on tables or stands of appropriate sizes.

    And, finally, the word kōgō [香合] refers to the object in the front-center position on the middle joku.

    About arrangements of this sort, Sōami wrote:  “when three paintings are displayed at the same time, [the above sketch shows] the usual way it is done.  The mitsu-gusoku [三具足] (a flower vase, a candlestick, and an incense burner) should sit on a table, and on the sides of this a pair of ka-bin, sitting on stands (should be set up); and above, a fūrin [風鈴] (wind-bell) should be suspended.”

4) The arrangement of the o-chanoyu-dana [御茶湯棚].  The writing reads (above, right to left) ukai-chawan [ウカイ茶ハン] (chawan for passing around -- used when sharing a single bowl of usucha)⁹, dai-shō futatsu [大小二ツ] (large and small -- two sizes of ukai-chawan), dai ni suwaru [臺ニスハル] (the ukai-chawan are sitting on dai); jikirō [食籠] (stacked set of boxes for sweets and side-dishes), hō-bon ni nose [方盆ニ載] (resting on a square tray)¹⁰; (immediately below the shelf, right to left) kenzan mutsu kaku-dai ni suwaru [建山六ツ各臺ニスハル]¹¹ (six Kenzan[-temmoku], each sitting on a dai); naka ko-taikai, mae ni chasen [中小大海 前ニ茶セン] (in the middle is a small-sized taikai, in front of which is the chasen [in a kae-chawan, together with the chakin, and possibly the chashaku]); and below (referring to the kaigu) juro-no-habōki [ジユロノ羽ホウキ] (a type of habōki made with hemp-palm fiber)¹², hi-kaki [火カキ = 火掻き] (a took for raking the fire)¹³.

    The phrase chashaku ari [茶杓有], above the shaku-tate, actually refers to the hishaku (which is standing in the shaku-tate together with the hibashi).

    The object in front of the shaku-tate seems to have been misdrawn¹⁴.  It should be a futaoki -- specifically a kakure-ka [隠れ家] (what is now known as a go-toku [五德] -- that is, a ring with three supporting legs).  The mizu-koboshi is shown in the compartment located below the jikirō.

    In the compartment below the jikirō (which, in Nōami’s version of this sketch, is fitted with doors -- to hide this unclean object from sight until it was needed), is the mizu-koboshi [水下] -- which Sōami explains should be something like a (probably large) sometsuke-chawan (sometsuke-chawan no te [染付茶ハンノテ]).

    Below the sketch are the sumi-tori [炭斗], and what (though unlabeled) seems to be the koboshi (probably to indicate where these things would be placed during the service of tea)¹⁵.

5) The arrangement of objects on the dashi-fuzukue (tsuke-shoin), and its associated chigai-dana¹⁶.

    On the side of the sketch showing the chigai-dana, the writing on the sketch reads (from right to left):  kuji-zutsu [鬮筒] (a vessel intended to hold the bamboo slips used for one system of Chinese divination¹⁷), below which is written kuji irete [クシ入], which means that “the kuji should be put into" the kuji-zutsu (when it is displayed on the chigai-dana -- the small lines extending upwards from the kuji-zutsu are supposed to represent the kuji); and on the tray, on the upper shelf of the chigai-dana, a kō-saji dai [香匙臺]¹⁸ (a small, vase-like stand in which the incense implements are stood), a kōgō [香合]; and a kiki-kōro [聞香爐] (a small censer that is held in the hand when sniffing incense); and below, a chaki [茶器] (the traditional Korean word for a chaire -- as cha-tsubo [茶壺] is the Chinese word).

    On the dashi-fuzukue (the tsuke-shoin, or built-in writing desk):  (hanging on the right pillar) shumoku [シユモク = 撞木] (a wooden hammer-like striker with which the hanging kanshō is sounded); katana [刀], sumi [墨], fude [筆] (the three implements -- a paper-knife, an ink-stick, and a writing brush -- leaning against the hitsu-ga [筆駕], brush rest, which is shaped like a kirin [麒麟], a mythical beast resembling a cross between a deer and a giraffe); a mizu-ire [水入] (shaped like a rabbit); a kenbyō [硯屛] (a miniature standing screen, usually made of pottery, that keeps dust from blowing onto the suzuri -- inkstone); (above) kanshō [喚鐘] (a hanging bell); suzuri [硯] (inkstone); kesan [卦サン = 卦算] (metal paperweights), with the comment hitotsu i [一ツイ], “just one [will suffice];” an inrō [印籠] (a lacquered case for carved name seals and seal-ink); a sui-bin [水瓶]¹⁹, with the comments (on the right) bon ni suwaru [盆ニスハル花立ヘシ] (sitting on a tray), and (on the left) hana tatsu-beshi [花立ヘシ] (it is best if a flower is stood [in the sui-bin]²⁰); (and suspended from the pillar on the left) hashira kazari-kyō [柱飾鏡] (a decorative mirror²¹ displayed on the pillar).

    Regarding the arrangement of the objects on the shoin, Sōami wrote:  “with respect to the way to decorate the shoin, first the ken-byō [硯屛] (a small screen that protects the ink stone from dust), and second the suzuri [硯] (ink stone) should be placed out.  Then, carefully considering the distance between them, the fude-kake [筆架] (brush rest) is placed, and next the mizu-ire [水入] (water dropper); next, the jiku-mono [軸物] (scroll); then the inrō [印籠] (box of name-seals and ink); next the kesan [卦算] (paperweights); next the sui-bin [水瓶] (a water bottle, here used as a flower vase):  in every case, whether front to back or side to side, these things should be placed in the middle of the [space available on the] oshi-ita²²; only the suzuri is correctly placed in front of the ken-byō (that is, centered between the ken-byō and the front of the desk).”

6) Another arrangement for the chigai-dana.  From the right, the writing reads:  inrō chūseki [印籠 鍮鉐] (an inrō [印籠] made of Mogul brass)²³; a kyūrō [毬籠] (a ball-like incense burner), beside which is written mawari-kōro [マハリカウロ] (a censer that perfumes the air in the room), and the comment dai ni suwaru [臺ニスハル] (sitting on a stand)²⁴; a sō-kabin [双花瓶] (a flower-vase for a more formal flower arrangement -- as opposed to a single flower), with the comment kanban ni suwaru [翰盤] (sitting on a kanban [カンハンニスワル], which is a sort of lap-table used for writing). 

7) A fourth arrangement for the chigai-dana.  The objects displayed are:  (above, from right to left) a yu-bin [湯瓶] (a usually bronze handled pitcher for hot water -- this object was used when serving usucha in the Chinese manner²⁵); a sakazuki [盃]²⁶ resting on a dai [臺], which assembly was then displayed on a tray (bon [盆]).

     (Below) a jikirō [食籠] (a lidded box for sweets or side-dishes -- this one may consist of several layers that stack one on top of the other).

8) Here a portable chigai-dana (which the commentary states was made of shi-dan [紫檀], red sandalwood) has been placed on the oshi-ita, located in the north-west corner of the room, and on the wall above it a pair of small scrolls have been hung.

   The shōji [障子]²⁷ featured a painting of autumnal flowers.

    The objects displayed on the tana are:  (above) a kabin [花瓶] (flower vase) on a small tray²⁸; (in the middle compartment, from right to left) a kagami [鏡] (bronze mirror), and a kōgō [香合] on a small tray; (and below) a cha-ki [茶器] (tea container)²⁹ [decorated with] zōgan [象眼] (mother-of-pearl and ivory inlay), and (on the shelf) the “Kaeri-bana” chaki [歸花茶器]³⁰, in its fukuro, and [resting] on a small tray.

9) Another arrangement for the chigai-dana.  A Kantō-mizuhiki [カンタウノ水ヒキカヽル] (an embroidered valance from China)³¹ is hung (across the top of the opening).

    The objects displayed on the chigai-dana are (from the right) a yu-bin [湯瓶] (a bronze pitcher for hot water), and a sakazuki [盃] (saucer for drinking sake) on a dai [臺]; and (below) a pair of hone-haki [骨吐]³², tsui-kō horimono [堆紅彫物] (of carved tsui-kō lacquer).

    Sōami also notes that the shōji (the sliding doors of the cupboard beneath the lower shelf of the chigai-dana) bore a painting of the scenery to the southeast of Kyōto (“from Ishiyama [石山] to Seta [勢田], and onward to Ōtsu [大津]” at the southern end of Lake Biwa)

10) This is an arrangement of objects on the dashi-fuzukue (tsuke-shoin).  From right to left, a hossu [拂子]  (a sort of horse-hair whisk with which monks -- usually of high status, since these tended to be expensive objects -- brushed away insects rather than killing them; and which became a sort of status symbol among the members of the monastic communities) is hung on the right-hand pillar; above is a tsuri-kōro [釣香爐] (a hanging censer)³³, while below on the writing desk are three ishi-bachi [石鉢] (“viewing stones” -- natural stones whose shape suggests scenes from nature -- arranged in basins of granite sand); and, suspended from the left pillar, a Dōjaku-dai to-iu kagami [銅雀臺ト云鏡] (a bronze mirror that is said to have a scene of the “Dōjaku-dai” -- “the Bronze Sparrow Terrace” -- on the back side)³⁴.

11) This chigai-dana featured a pair of small shōji in the upper wall (for ventilation).

    The objects on the shelves are, from right to left, a tsui-kō jin-bako [堆紅沈箱] (a carved lacquer box in which a selection of pieces of wood incense were kept)³⁵; and a kōsaji-dai [香匙臺] (a small, vase-like container in which an incense-spoon and a pair of ebony incense chopsticks were stood), kōgō [香合] (in this case, the kōgō probably contained only the gin-yō [銀葉] -- mica squares on which the pieces of incense wood were burned), and kōro [香爐] were arranged, with the accompanying note san-shoku bon ni suwaru [三色盆ニスハル] (which means “the three objects all are sitting on the tray [together]”)³⁶; and below is placed a cha-ki [茶器]³⁷.

    The painting on the shōji featured a scene of a summer landscape, according to Sōami’s notes³⁸.

12) An arrangement for the table placed on the oshi-ita in front of a triptych.  This arrangement of the full set of objects is referred to as moro-kazari [もろかざり = 諸飾]³⁹.

    The following kaki-ire [書入] was appended to the sketch (perhaps by the original author, Sōami):  yo no tsune no kyaku kuru nado ni ha kazarazu; o-nari ha mochiron nari; ika ni mo shōgan⁴⁰ no koto nari; kono soto ni ittsui hana waki ni aru-beshi [よの常の客来るなどにはかさらす。御成は勿論なり。いかにもしやうくわんの事なり。此外に一對花わきにあるへし]:  in the case of the more ordinary guests and the like, [the oshi-ita] should not be decorated in this way⁴¹.  But when one receives a visit from ones lord, naturally [this arrangement should be employed]. Indeed, the purpose [of this arrangement] it to show [ones] appreciation [for the lord's visit].  A pair of flower [arrangements] should be placed outside [of this table]⁴².

__________________________

¹The date of publication of the block-printed facsimile edition, while clearly of early Edo period vintage, is unknown.  The copy is preserved in the Waseda University collection, along with a second manuscript version of the text (which is dated 1762).  This subsequent document is titled Higashiyama-dono O-kazari Sho [東山殿御飾書], with the authorship ascribed to Sōami.  While generally similar to the block-printed version, the modifications (especially the kaki-ire [書入] additions to the original text) seen in this second edition reflect Edo period preferences and practices.  The block-printed edition will be discussed below.

    The material included in Book Four of the Nampō Roku shows a closer connection with the O-kazari Ki / O-kazari Sho than to Nōami’s treatise.

²A convincing case could be made for the argument that Sōami's purpose was simply to produce an edited (and updated) version of the Kun-dai Kan Sa-u Chō Ki.

³In other words, this is a permanent oshi-ita, the immediate precursor to the tokonoma (which combined the functions of the oshi-ita with that of the nobleman's mi-chōdai [御帳臺]).  An “old style” oshi-ita (made from a Korean table with the legs folded into the box-like top) is considered in the last illustration.

⁴These four scrolls were either originally a single large painting that was cut into parts (to make conservation easier and safer), or a set that was always intended to be hung together (whether by the artist who created the works, or by the dōbō [同朋] who collected them together in Japan).  In any case, they are hung up as if they were a single work, starting with the scroll on the side where the painting begins, and ending with the painting (which includes the principal colophon, and the artist's signature and name seals).

    In the corresponding plate in the O-kazari Sho [御飾書], the four thumbnail sketches are replaced with the numbers “一 二 三 四” (1, 2, 3, 4), to indicate the order in which the scrolls should be hung.

⁵Kodō [コトウ] means kodō [胡銅], a form of bronze that turns nearly black with age.  It is found among both Chinese and old Korean pieces.

⁶Ko-bon nose [小盆載].  The verb noseru [載せる] means to place on (something).

    The question here, however, is concerned with the small tray.  Jōō is said to have created the small tray for the chaire (according to Rikyū's account, by “dividing the naga-bon in half”); but, since Sōami wrote the O-kazari Ki in 1523 (when Jōō was only 21 years old, and had not really commenced with his study of chanoyu yet), this idea of arranging a chaire on a small tray (when displayed as a decorative object in the shoin) clearly predates Jōō's usage.

    What Jōō actually did was:  fix the size of the small tray as a function of the size of the chaire that would be placed on it; and, use the small tray as the base for the chaire (and chashaku) during the service of tea.  In Sōami's day (and, of course, before), while the chaire was sometimes displayed on a small tray on the chigai-dana, as here*, during the temae it was placed on a naga-bon.  In chanoyu very few things are ever truly original:  most things are variations of things that were done before, modified toward new ends. __________ *The display of the temmoku and the chaire on the chigai-dana is similar to arranging these things side by side on the naga-bon, but with an important difference:  here the chaire is clearly shown to be inferior to the dai-temmoku (in which tea will be served to the shōkyaku) by displaying it on a lower level.

    In the gokushin-temae, too, this difference is underscored.  The temae begins with the host concentrating his attention on the temmoku-chawan, and it is while the bowl is being warmed (with the chasen resting in it) that the host removes the shifuku from the chaire, cleans the naga-bon and then it, and places it on the naga-bon; after which the chashaku is also cleaned and rested on the tray.  This is followed by the chasen-tōshi.  While this procedure can be understood as a way to protect the tea as long as possible (the tension is not released from the lid of the chaire until much later in the temae than we would find usual), the fact is that the chaire was always considered inferior to the chawan until the advent of wabi-no-chanoyu, and its focus on showing respect to the utensils.

    In the early days, a chawan was used only until it began to be stained by the tea.  Once stains became apparent (such as by darkening the crackles in the glaze), the bowl was discarded and replaced by a new one.  The chaire, on the other hand -- like the cha-tsubo -- became “better” the longer it was used, since the volatile components of the tea infiltrated into the clay, meaning that, over time, the jar had less and less of a negative impact on the taste and aroma of the tea that it contained (this, however, is why the rule was that the host should always use the same blend of tea -- since shifting blends would result in cross-contamination of the new tea with elements from the old that volatilized from the inside of the jar:  in the early days, both the cha-tsubo, and the chaire, were not glazed on the inside).

    This idea of “better,” however, while understood in the early days, did not figure into the aesthetic assessment of the chaire:  when viewed as art-objects, the classical chaire were simply not in the same class as the yō-hen [窯變] and yu-teki [油滴] bowls selected for use as chawan (which, in addition to their inherent aesthetic appeal, usually sported a fukurin [覆輪] of gold around the rim of the bowl).

⁷Katatsuki-tsubo [肩衝壺].  The word “chaire” [茶入] was used primarily by the machi-shū practitioners of wabi-chanoyu (probably so as to avoid confusion between the small tea container and the large storage jars for leaf tea).

    Sōami follows the continental practice of referring to the tea container as a “cha-tsubo” [茶壺].  This is the term used in the Hyakujō Shin-gi [百丈清規] (the first Chinese treatise that mentions the drinking of matcha, and which some scholars claim -- apparently ignorant of the actual contents of this book -- is the origin of chanoyu):  this work sets out the set of monastery regulations (including those related to the drinking of tea by the monks on special occasions, such as the Emperor's birthday*) said to have been proposed by the great Chán master Baizhang Huaihai [百丈懐海; 720 ~ 814] (his name is pronounced Hyakujō Ekai in Japanese). __________ *Tea apparently was given to the monks as a sort of treat -- though it was prepared for them by the kitchen staff who set up a table behind the altar in the Buddha Hall of the temple, bringing a pitcher of hot water from the kitchen for this purpose.  The book details how the monks rise from their seats and proceed to enter the space behind the altar from one side, where they drink their tea perfunctorily, and then return to their seats by emerging from the other side.  There are no rules about how the tea is made -- though apparently this was done assembly-line style, in the same way that food was given to them in the dining hall -- nor is anything said about how it is to be drunk.

    Drinking matcha does not mean -- and must not be equated with -- chanoyu, except for those people who wish to predate the appearance of chanoyu in Japan to some point before 1403 (which is when the practice was introduced to the court of the shōgun by the nobles escaping from the collapsing Koryeo dynasty).

⁸These things are (in back, from right to left) a candlestick, a kyōji-tate [香筋建] (a vase-like container for the implements used when placing incense into the censer), and a flower vase; and (in front) a kōgō [香合] (incense container).

⁹See footnote 8 in the part of the previous post dedicated to the Kun-dai Kan Sa-u Chō Ki [君臺觀左右帳記] for a discussion of the ukai-chawan [迂回茶碗].

¹⁰Hō-bon ni nose [方盆ニ載].  This sentence seems to have been miscopied here.  The pair of ukai-chawan are placed on a square (or rectangular) tray, not the jikirō.  This sketch reproduces one found in the Kun-dai Kan Sa-u Chō Ki.

¹¹Kenzan mutsu kaku-dai ni suwaru [建山六ツ各臺ニスハル].  The first word in this phrase is Kenzan [建盞], which means sakazuki [盞] (conical cups for drinking heated “rice-wine”) from Fujian (abbreviated Ken [建]).  The kanji san [山] should be understood as a hentai-gana (for the sound san/zan).

¹²Juro-no-habōki [ジユロノ羽ホウキ].  Juro [棕櫚] is the hemp-palm, and in the modern tea world, one version of the broom used to sweep the roji is made from several dried palm fronds tied to a handle of green bamboo (this kind of broom is called a juro-bōki [棕櫚箒]).

    Juro-no-habōki could either mean that the habōki is made from a dried palm frond that has been trimmed and combed into fibers (possibly the kanji ha [羽] was added by mistake when the sketch was copied); or, possibility this means a habōki made not from one or three feathers, like nowadays, but from the entire wing of a small bird.  Today this kind of habōki (which is usually made from the wing of a swan or crane) is usually known as a haki-komi [掃込]:  this kind of feather-duster resembles a broom made from a dried palm frond.  In Furuta Sōshitsu’s writings, however, it seems that a smaller version was still being used as a temae-habōki in his day.

    In Nōami's sketch, the “juro-no-habōki” looks like a small haki-komi (though whether it was actually made from a hemp-palm frond, or from the wing of a bird, is not specified -- and the kaki-ire stating the name is missing).

¹³Hi-kaki [火カキ = 火掻き] is a sort of spoon-shaped fire-iron used to rake the ashes in the furo.  Once again, since the kama on the o-chanoyu-dana was kept boiling all day, as the charcoal burned down the ashes would have to be raked flat so that fresh fuel could be added, and this is the implement that was used.

    The hi-kaki seems to have been a combination of a hai-saji [灰匙] and a soko-tori [底取] (while modern furo-yō soko-tori [風爐用底取] is shaped like a shallow soup ladle, Rikyū's soko-tori was shaped like a large hai-saji).  In Nōami's sketch, the hi-kaki resembles a large hai-saji.

¹⁴The source of the sketches is a manuscript that was passed down in the Imai family, and probably hand-copied by a member of that house.  (Sōami's original is not known to exist.)  Since the Imai family was prominent among the teamen of the sixteenth century, it seems likely that, when confronted by sketches of things that did not really make sense, they were interpreted through the eyes of a machi-shū chajin.  This could also account for the similarity of the juno-no-habōki with an ordinary temae-habōki.

¹⁵The placement of the sumi-tori on the right, and the koboshi on the left may be an anachronistic emendation.  Neither of these things are shown in Nōami's sketch.

¹⁶Note that the original sketch extends across two pages in the Imai manuscript (which was copied into a notebook), with a break in the middle.  I have digitally removed the space that separated the two halves of the sketch from each other so that the sketch now resembles the presumed original (which was most likely written on a horizontal roll of paper).

¹⁷The modern equivalent, called mikuji [御籤, or 神鬮], are small strips of paper bought at Shintō shrines, with a fortune written on them.  They are usually sold from a vending machine.

    In the Chinese practice, however, the tube containing the bamboo strips (which are known as qiān [籤]*) was held almost horizontally by the querent and shaken until one slip falls out, thereby revealing the answer to the user's question. __________ *While it seems that in ancient times a brief augury was written on each bamboo slip, more recently each of the slips is numbered, the number pointing to a specific text recorded in a book of prognostications (the statements are usually ambiguous -- often in verse -- and generally require the help of an expert to relate the meaning to the specific question that was asked).

    This form of divination is known as Qiú-qiān [求籤] in Chinese.  The qiān-tong [簽筒] (the tube out of which the bamboo slip is shaken) is equivalent to what Sōami calls the kuji-zutsu [鬮筒] here.

¹⁸This vessel is called a kyōji-tate [香筋建] today.

    A kō-saji [香匙] is a long-handled spoon used to pick up pieces of incense wood, when moving them from the cutting block to the kō-zutsumi [香包み] (a small cloth envelope lined with gilt paper), which is, in turn, put inside the kōgō.  The kyōji [香筋, or 香箸] (ebony chopsticks) are used when transferring the incense wood from the kō-zutsumi into the kōro.

    The idea is that the incense wood should never be touched with the fingers -- since the skin oils could effect the smell of the incense.

    In the sketch, the kō-saji and kyōji are shown standing in the kō-saji dai (kyōji-tate).

¹⁹Sui-bin [水瓶].  This kanji compound can also be pronounced mizu-kame.

²⁰Hana tatsu-beshi [花立ヘシ]:  a flower should be stood [in the sui-bin] -- perhaps so that the guests do not mistakenly suppose the water is a refreshment, and drink it.

²¹These were imported bronze pieces, usually from China, and probably antiques.  Though they could be used for looking at oneself, the primary purpose here is decorative.  This is what the kaki-ire implies.

²²Perhaps a miscopying.  The objects are to be centered, front to back and side to side, on the surface of the writing desk.

²³Inrō chūseki [印籠 鍮鉐] means an inrō (a set of boxes in which carved name-seals and seal-ink were kept), made from chūseki [鍮鉐], which seems to be the kind of brass produced in Mogul India.  Thus, a set of stacking brass boxes imported from India (probably via China or Southeast Asia), that were used as an inrō in Japan.

    Chūseki is usually known as ōdō [黄銅] today, and the classical term has been lost from the East Asian languages.

²⁴Kyūrō ・ mawari-kōro ・ dai ni suwaru [毬籠 ・ マハリカウロ ・ 臺ニスハル].

    A kyūrō [毬籠] would be a kind of hanging incense burner, made of openwork metal, usually made with a series of concentric brackets inside, attached to each other at 90°, and with a cup in the middle.  The brackets allow the cup to remain upright even when the kyūrō is shaken by the breeze.  A pinch of crushed incense wood was placed in the cup, and set to smoldering with a taper.  This kind of censer was used to perfume the often fetid inner-city air blowing into the upper story windows from the street.  Both Chinese and Mogul examples exist. 

     The word kyūrō, as it is written here, could also mean a basket in which a gauze bag of dry aromatics was kept, for the purpose of perfuming the air in the room.  In either case, when not suspended from the ceiling, this kind of kōro could be provided with a base (as shown above*), allowing it to be placed on a shelf (as in sketch 6).

    Mawari-kōro [マハリカウロ = 周り香爐] seems to mean a censer that is intended to perfume the air in the room (mawari [周り] means “in the vicinity”). 

    In addition to the more elaborate system explained above, which was intended to facilitate the burning of crushed incense wood, some commentators state that a cloth bag, in which a blend of aromatic herbs and fragrant wood chips were tied, was placed inside the censer, to perfume the air of the room passively (in other words, without the incense being burned), and over a long period of time†.  The point here was to perfume the air of the room without the source of the fragrance being obvious.

    Dai ni suwaru [臺ニスハル = 臺に座る] means that the kyūrō is sitting on a specially made stand (rather than being suspended from the ceiling, which was the other way such censers were displayed).  In the sketch, the dai is not obvious:  the word dai does not refer to the tray on which the kōro (resting on the dai) is displayed. ___________ *Though this dai was not always as elaborate as the one shown.  Some resemble a downward-facing bottle-cap -- a metal ring that flares outward slightly at the bottom.

†While the use of such sachets (called kariroku [訶梨勒], an Edo period drawing of a rather modest example of which is shown below) had been known since the Heian period -- kariroku were often hung up to perfume the interior of the nobleman’s mi-chōdai [御帳臺] (an elevated platform usually covered with two tatami mats, with a cloth canopy above and curtains or reed blinds suspended around the four sides:  it functioned as the nobleman’s seat of estate during the daytime, and as his bed at night) -- the sachets themselves were usually made of beautiful cloth, and adorned with exquisitely tied knots, and so were decorative objects in their own right.

    In fact, have never seen any classical reference that mentions secreting these sachets inside of censors of the type that are under consideration here.

²⁵The original Chinese way of serving tea was for a scoop of matcha to be placed in the temmoku (resting on a dai).  This was then held out while the servant poured in some hot water and whisked the usucha with a chasen.

    This is the method of service that is mentioned (albeit briefly) in the Bǎizhàng Qīng-guī [百丈清規] (Hyakujō Shin-gi, in Japanese -- which is also mentioned in footnote 7, above), and employed in the Kennin-ji yotsu-gashira-shiki sarei [建仁寺 四頭式茶礼] (which is performed at the Kennin-ji in Kyōto every year on April 20th, the memorial day of Myō-an Eisai Zenji [明菴榮西禪師; 1141 ~ 1215]).

²⁶The kanji is hai [盃] (this kanji can also be pronounced sakazuki), which means a shallow, saucer-like vessel, usually made of lacquered wood, from which heated sake was drunk.  This is a different word from san [盞] (which can also be read sakazuki), which means a conical ceramic cup (or “bowl”), also originally made for drinking hot sake.  Sake, usually flavored with medicinal herbs, was a popular drink in both China and Korea in ancient times.  Distilled spirits, of the sort we usually associate with those cultures today, did not appear until much later.

    The hai, resting on a dai, must not be conflated with a temmoku resting on a dai (which some scholars apparently have done, on account of the yu-bin being displayed on the lower shelf).  In general, the intention behind these arrangements seems to be to avoid anything that would resemble a smörgåsbord:  the bronze pitcher used (in China) to serve tea is displayed together with a shallow saucer used to drink sake.

²⁷In this case, the word shōji [障子] refers to the sliding doors on the tana.

²⁸Because the bottom of classical bronze pieces had to be added after the piece was cast (they were cast as cylinders, with both ends open), the weld was not always completely watertight* (though pieces that leaked badly rarely made it to market).  As a result, flower containers were placed on small trays, to prevent any leakage from damaging the shelf†. __________ *While considered great treasures in Japan, where the technology of bronze making was as yet unknown, it seems that most of these pieces were rather commonplace in their countries of origin (in both China and Korea, people of all classes worshiped their ancestors at least on certain occasions during the year, and, as this required a special set of implements, including flower vases and candlesticks, the range in prices was staggering -- and it was naturally items at the lower end of the spectrum that speculators bought for export to Japan, since the rarity of bronze of any sort in Japan meant that such things would yield the greatest profits).  As a result, minor leaks would have been found from time to time -- and apparently often enough that taking the precaution of displaying the vase on a tray was deemed prudent.

†Many of the pieces employed as mizusashi in Japan were made as containers for the alcoholic beverages that were used for libations during ancestor-worship ceremonies, and these vessels were usually lined with lead during the production process (molten lead was poured into the finished vessel, and, after rotating the piece so as to coat all sides, the excess lead was poured out), to render them completely watertight.

    It seems that a similar degree of care was not deemed necessary with respect to flower vases.

²⁹Probably a copying error.

    In the O-kazari Sho [御飾書], this object is labeled as a jikirō [食籠], a lidded container for sweets and side-dishes that were served to accompany tea or sake.

    It is unlikely that more than one chaki [茶器] would be displayed at the same time, and the famous Kaeri-bana [歸花] tea container is displayed on the shelf to the left.

³⁰In the Kun-dai Kan Sa-u Chō Ki this piece is referred to as the Kaeri-bana yakki [歸花藥器]*, and the sketch of this object (which was used as a tea container) is shown below.  It seems to have been made of carved lacquer, and, while this point is not discussed in any of the classical writings, cinnabar lacquer (tsui-shu [堆朱]) seems more likely than black.  Below the sketch from the O-kazari Ki is shown beside the kind of container that was described in that work (while this container and the tray on which it rests is referred to as a bon-kōgō today, this naturally does not preclude the likelihood of its having had a very different function in antiquity).

    The word kaeri-bana (whether written “歸花,” or “反花”) means a flower that blooms out of season -- especially spring flowers (such as the cherry) that bloom in the late autumn or early winter, before the arrival of the intensely cold weather†.  The reason why this container (which is a stylized lotus blossom, with the carpellary receptacle at the top, and several rows of petals below) was given this name is not explained in any of the classical sources. __________ *The name was also written Kaeri-bana yakki [反花藥器]; and sometimes the phonetic rendering sori-bana [ソリハナ] is found (in place of kaeri-bana) in the old writings.

†Flowers that bloom later the same year, after the season is past (especially, cherry-blossoms blooming in early summer), are usually referred to as yoka [餘花 -- usually written 余花 today].

³¹Kantō-mizuhiki kakaru [カンタウノ水ヒキカヽル]* is a miscopying for Kantan-mizuhiki kakaru [カンタンノ水ヒキカヽル], which means "a mizu-hiki (a Chinese-style valance made of heavily embroidered cloth that kept rain water from blowing in through the transom windows) from Hándān [邯鄲] (pronounced Kantan in Japanese)† is hung up."

     Today the word mizuhiki [水引] refers to the red-and-white‡ (or black-and-white**) paper cords tied around gifts and gift-envelopes; and, less commonly, to Persicaria filiformis, a wildflower with long racemes of tiny red or white flowers (that poetically resemble dew-drops scattered along the stem).  These usages have no connection with the present entry -- though they appear to have confused a number of scholars. __________ *Kantō [カンタウ] has been interpreted by certain scholars to be kantō [漢渡], “crossing over from China” (though the more natural interpretation, kantō [韓渡], meaning “crossing over from Korea,” is patently ignored), in the same way that the generic name for stripped cloth is generally understood to imply a Chinese origin for these textiles.  In fact, there is no historical evidence for such usage prior to the sixteenth century (where a Korean origin seems to have been understood) or later (when the implied source was supposed to be China).

†Hándān [邯鄲] remains a major city in Héběi [河北] province, and was the capital of the State of Zhào [趙] during the Warring States period (c 475 BC ~ c 249 BC) of Chinese history.

    In Japanese, kantan [邯鄲] is also the name of the tree cricket (Oecanthus longicauda), but this meaning is irrelevant here.

‡Used on felicitous occasions -- New Years, O-bon, birthdays, weddings, and so forth..

**Used on sad occasions, such as funerals.

³²Hone-haki ittsui  [骨吐一對] literally means “a pair of [containers for] spitting-out bones” (or, perhaps, “a pair of spittoons”), and such receptacles were probably used for such a purpose on the continent.  In Japan, however, they were used as decorative pieces (the pair in question were made of tsui-kō [堆紅]*).

    Smaller (and simpler) versions were used as mizu-koboshi (Rikyū's mon-sasu koboshi [モンサスコホシ] was a low-fired pottery version of this kind of container). __________ *These hone-haki are described as tsui-kō horimono [堆紅彫物], carved objects of tsui-kō.

    Tsui-kō [堆紅] is one of several Chinese varieties of carved lacquer.  In this case, thick layers of black and cinnabar lacquer are applied alternately, with the final layer being cinnabar.  The carving is done through the layers, and while this presents a striped effect when viewed close up, from a distance it darkens the carving dramatically (without making the decoration appear to be a solid black, and so look painted-on).

³³This basket-like hanging incense burner is recorded to have been made of silver.  While it is possible that crushed incense wood was burned in a cup in this type of censer as well, this one more likely contained a kariroku [訶梨勒], a blend of dried aromatic plants tied in a gauze bag, intended to perfume the air in the manner known as sora-daki [空薫] -- “without revealing the source of the fragrance.”

    As mentioned above, the idea of burning incense in the window well came from the continent (this usage was known from both India and China), where opening the windows on the upper stories in the densely populated urban areas would let in fetid air, which the incense was intended to mask (while still letting in the cooling breezes).

³⁴This mirror featured a bas relief of what was said to be the Dōjaku-dai [銅雀臺] (“Bronze Sparrow Terrace”), the legendary mansion of the great Chinese military strategist Cao Cao [曹操; c 155 ~ 220] of the Three Kingdoms Period (Sānguó Shídài [三國時代], c 220 ~ 280 AD).

    The type of mirror in question is shown on the right, while the scene was probably similar to the painting (of the same Tóng què tái [銅雀臺]) on the left.

³⁵A jin-bako [沈箱] is a box in which a selection of pieces of incense wood was kept:  rectangular boxes, such as the one shown in this sketch, are said to have had six small compartments inside, while round boxes typically had seven (arranged like six petals around the center).  The incense, previously cut into pieces of a size suitable for burning in a kiki-kōro [聞き香爐] (a hand-held censer used for sniffing incense), would have been kept in small kō-zutsumi [香包み] (envelopes made of donsu cloth backed by gilded paper -- the gilding helping to keep the volatile components inside the envelope, so that the different varieties of incense would not contaminate each other).

   The present box was made of tsui-kō [堆紅], a variety of carved lacquer where the piece was coated with alternating layers of cinnabar and black lacquer, with the final coat being red*.  Carving through the lacquer revealed a striped pattern. __________ *When the final coat was black, the lacquer is referred to as tsui-u [堆烏].  Both types were popular during the Ming period.

³⁶San-shoku bon ni suwaru [三色盆ニスハル].  Shoku [色] -- which literally means “color” -- was used as a counting word, in the classical period, to subdivide collections of similar things into groups.  Here, all three objects are utensils that are used when appreciating incense:  that is their common identity.

    In Book One of the Nampō Roku, the expression is used to differentiate flowers into their two logical groups -- herbaceous flowers (which bloom near the ground), and the flowers of trees (which bloom above eye-level).

    I am mentioning this once again here because it seems many Japanese scholars take the word shoku literally, and try to make it mean “colors.”

    In the present instance this would clearly be nonsensical; but in the example in Book One, doing so leads to the enunciation of a false teaching -- that only one or two colors of flowers are permitted in the tearoom at the same time (what Rikyū was actually saying there is that, in the small room, only one type of flower -- herbaceous flowers*, or flowers cut from trees† -- should be used; but when the room is increased to 4.5 mats, then both herbaceous and the flowers from trees may be used together in the same arrangement, as they always are in the formal rikka [立華] arrangements, which he was using as his precedent). __________ *Herbaceous flowers, which naturally bloom near to the ground, should (according to him) be arranged in a vase standing on the floor of the tokonoma.

†Because the flowers of trees are encountered above eye-level in nature, the look most natural when arranged in a vase hung on the hook nailed into the back wall of the toko.  Indeed, according to the poem written by Jōō (and later modified by Rikyū) the height of this hook is decided upon relative to the height of the guests' eyes when they are seated appropriately in front of the tokonoma -- so that the flowers arranged in the hanging vase will be slightly above their eye level.  In this way they will look natural, since they will be seen in exactly the same way that one would encounter them in nature.

³⁷Chaki oite [茶器置].  This is another instance of miscopying.  The word given as chaki [茶器] should be yakki [藥器], which, in this case, means a (decorative) medicine case.

    The person who made this copy was clearly a chajin, and the result is that he saw references to tea and tea utensils even in places where they were not to intended.

³⁸O-shōji no e [御障子の繪].  Shōji here refers to the pair of sliding doors that enclose the ji-fukuro, below the chigai-dana.

    According to one source, the last word is sumi-e [墨繪], meaning a painting in black ink only.  It seems that many of these doors were covered with antique paintings from the shōgun's collection of imported works.  Perhaps these were from scrolls that had been damaged, with the ruined parts cut away, and the remainder used for purposes such as this.

³⁹Moro-kazari [もろかさり = 諸飾り].  While the tea schools have modified the meaning of this expression to a certain extent, it originally signified the arrangement of the full set of implements* -- an incense burner, a pair of vases, and a pair of candlesticks -- on a table that was placed in front of the triptych.

    This was done only for the most formal of receptions, however.  On more ordinary occasions, the things displayed on the joku [卓] were reduced in number to what is referred to as the mitsu-gusoku [三具足] -- one flower vase, one candlestick, and the censer. ___________ *In addition to the things mentioned above, a kōsaji-dai [香匙臺] and a kōgō [香合] have been added to the standard set. 

⁴⁰Shō-gwan [しやうくわん] is the actual sound that is rendered phonetically here.  In the modern language, the sound has been contracted to shōgan [賞翫].

    The word shōgan means appreciation, admiration, and enjoyment (in the sense of enjoying the honor of receiving a visit from ones lord).

⁴¹The objects on the table in front of the oshi-ita should be arranged as was shown in sketch 3, “the ordinary way to arrange the oshi-ita when a triptych is hung” -- which is a simplified version of the full arrangement shown in sketch 12.  The fact that this sketch was included at the end of the manuscript, almost as an afterthought, suggests that the full arrangement was secret, and to be used only on the rarest of occasions.

    It is worthy of note that this sketch was moved to the very front of the work when it was prepared for the officials in charge of the arrangement of the Tokugawa shōgun’s shoin.  That version of Soami’s work is what has come to be known as the O-kazari Sho [御飾書] -- and its sketches will be considered (in reference to the O-kazari Ki) next.

⁴²Kono soto ni ittsui hana waki ni aru-beshi [此外に一對花わきにあるへし].  This refers to the pair of flower arrangements (the vases are seen in sketch 3) that are placed (on their own stands) on the right and left of the central table.  The left and right arrangements were formal rikka [立華], while those on the central table were simpler (in keeping with the smaller size of their vases, and the confines of the table itself -- these smaller arrangements should not project beyond the edges of the table on which the vases stand).

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

◎ O-kazari Sho [御飾書], while also ascribed to Sōami, seems to be an Edo period revision, intended to relate this material more specifically to the arrangement of the various shoin within the Tokugawa shōgun’s residence in Edo.  As such, the order of the material has been changed, to a certain extent, while extraneous comments have also been interpolated from time to time¹.

1) The first sketch has been transposed from the end of the O-kazari Ki, to the beginning of the O-kazari Sho (indeed, it has been placed in the middle of the enumeration of the various utensils that were displayed in the shoin, being found between illustrations of the various hai-gata appropriate for the kōro, and an illustrated list of the different shapes of the classical chaire).  The text of the kaki-ire that explains the use of this arrangement (see the commentary under sketch 12 in the O-kazari Ki) has been clarified, so as to avoid any confusion².

    Notice, however, that the positions of the candlesticks and flower vases have been reversed from what was shown in the O-kazari Ki.

2) This plate corresponds to sketch 1 in the O-kazari Ki.  The commentary repeats the material translated under that entry.

3) This plate is not found in either the O-kazari Ki, or the Kun-dai Kan Sa-u Chō Ki.

    The kaki-ire appended to this sketch reads:  joku no ma mo joku no ma mo yoku sun wo torite onaji hodo oku-beshi [卓の間も卓の間もよく寸をとりて同ほとに置くへし], which seems to mean “the space between the table (and the wall?), as well as between the table (and the other wall?), should be carefully noted, so that (the table) will be placed (in such a way) that these are approximately the same.”  This would seem to mean that the space between the table and the wall at the rear of the oshi-ita (which is fixed, based on the depth of the oshi-ita, since the joku should be centered between the rear wall and the front edge of the alcove), and between the table and the side wall, should be essentially equal.

    Though this is also the text found in the Higashiyama-dono O-kazari Sho [東山殿御飾書] (which manuscript is dated 1762, and appears to have been copied from the original document that was preserved in the shōgun's household), some scholars have suggested that the second phrase should be habikori no ma mo [衍の間も], which would then mean “the space between the table (and the wall)³, and the extent to which (the arrangement) spreads beyond (the table) should be taken note of, so that these are approximately the same.”

4) Though dissociated from the picture of the dashi-fuzukue, this plate shows the arrangement of the chigai-dana found in sketch 5 of the O-kazari Ki.  There, however, seem to be several anomalies here:  the objects displayed on the tray (on the upper shelf of the chigai-dana) are labeled (from the right) kōsaji・hi-saji [香匙・火匙] (these are placed together in the vase-like holder, but it is not clear what a hi-saji might be -- the original showed a kōsaji [香匙] and a pair of kyōji [香筋], ebony chopsticks, in what Soami described as a kosaji-dai [香匙臺]), kōro [かうろ・香炉] (the name is written phonetically and then with kanji), and a kiku-kōro [きく・聞香炉] (the kana kiku are written as furigana; though this object is usually called a kiki-kōro [聞き香炉]).  However, the biggest problem is with the utensil in the middle:  in the original, this is a kōgō [香合], not a koro [香炉].  Below the upper shelf, the word bon・kata-bon [ぼん・かた盆] (with the kana bon [ぼん] as furigana showing the pronunciation of the kanji “盆”) is also confusing.  A kata-bon [方盆] is a square (or possibly rectangular) tray; but the only tray shown inthe sketch (on the upper shelf) seems to be round.

5)  Here is the o-chanoyu-dana, as in sketch 4 of the O-kazari Ki.  However, in addition to the various things shown in the earlier work, a number of other objects have been added below the tana.  From the right, these are:  hai-tori [灰取] (perhaps a sort of haiki [灰器]?), o-tefuki [御手拭] (a towel rack), Nara kami [奈良紙] (Nara paper), sumi-tori [すみとり], hō-no-mono [はうの物] (unknown), mizu-koboshi [水こほし], hansō te-arai [はんさう手洗] (unknown).

    In this sketch, the habōki is made from the wing of a bird.

6) This plate corresponds to sketches 6 and 7 in the O-kazari Ki.-- though in the O-kazari Ki (and those versions of the O-kazari Sho where they are separate⁴) there is nothing that indicates that the two chigai-dana were connected in the way shown here.

    That aside, the notations all agree with what are found in the earlier source.

7) In the O-kazari Ki, this plate is included as sketch 8.  The name of the object on the right side of the middle shelf is generally interpreted to be kagami-ya [鏡家], the meaning of which is unclear⁵.  The other notations either conform with, or elaborate upon, what is believed to have been the contents of Sōami’s original (as mentioned previously, that document has been lost, and the oldest surviving manuscript copy contains a number of copying errors, one of which is present in that version of this illustration⁶).

8) This plate corresponds to sketch 9 in the O-kazari Ki.  The details are all in agreement between these two sources (though in this sketch, the pair of hone-haki [骨吐] are not identified as being tsui-kō horimono [堆紅彫物] -- made of tsui-kō carved lacquer) .

9)  This illustration agrees, in all of its particulars, with sketch 10 in the O-kazari Ki.  It is a sketch of one arrangement for the tsuke-shoin.

10) This plate is almost identical with sketch 11 in the O-kazari Ki.  The difference is that while the O-kazari Ki shows a rectangular jin-bako [沈箱] (which had six compartments for different varieties of incense wood), the O-kazari Sho features a round jin-bako, which had compartments for seven varieties.  Nevertheless, both are described as being made from tsui-kō [堆紅] (carved red and black lacquer).

_________________________

¹I will ignore all of this superfluous material, since it postdates the things covered in Book Four of the Nampō Roku by half a century and more.

²It appears that the officials who prepared the O-kazari Sho had access to Sōami’s original manuscript.  Therefore they were able to correct many of the miscopyings that are found throughout the oldest surviving manuscript of the O-kazari Ki (which was not made by Sōami himself).

³Joku no ma mo [卓の間も] can also mean “within (the confines) of the table” -- in other words, the amount (or volume) of the table’s surface that is covered by the flower arrangement, or the mass of the arrangement above the table.

    If this is what was intended, then the revised version joku no ma mo habikori no ma mo yoku sun wo torite onaji hodo oku-beshi [卓の間も衍の間も よく寸をとりて同ほとに置くへし] would translate “the space above the table that is covered (by the arrangement), and the extent to which the arrangement spreads beyond the table, should both be observed, and (the vase) should be placed (on the table) so that they are essentially the same."

⁴The two sketches are joined together in the Higashiyama-dono O-kazari Sho, suggesting that there was some basis for doing so (since the Higashiyama-dono O-kazari Sho seems to have been copied directly from the original manuscript that was preserved in the shōgun’s household).

⁵In the O-kazari Ki, this object is labeled kagami [鏡], which means a mirror.

     In the Higashiyama-dono O-kazari Sho (the relevant sketch from which source is reproduced above), however, it appears to be labeled hikiya [挽家], which would mean the storage box for a chaire (made either of turned wood, or turned ivory, to match the shape of the chaire exactly on the inside).  The problem is that hikiya seem to date from a later period than the material contained in these books.

⁶The object on the lower right side is erroneously labeled as a chaki [茶器] in the Imai copy of the O-kazari Ki; but is, in reality, a jikirō [食籠] (a box for the sweets or side-dishes traditionally served to accompany tea or sake).

the one with the unexpected help. [1]

nakamoto yuta x reader // 3.0k words // enemies to lovers!au //university!au

summary: in which a group project causes tension between you and your partner, yuta

warnings: swearing

It was practically silent as everyone listened to the professor at the front of the large room, the PowerPoint slides switching as fast as you could blink, and you barely had enough time to type out your notes.

Everyone listened with respect, the soft sound of typing filling the room, but also the annoying tap tap tap sound of someone’s pen whacking the desk as its owner watched the presentation. Sitting two desks away from you, Nakamoto Yuta sat, his chin resting against his palm as he looked on boredly, his pen hitting the table rhythmically. You tried to focus on your notes, but it felt like the tapping sound was all you could hear. 

You’d never spoken to him before - but had heard enough rumours to realise that blowing up at him for his annoying habits would not be a good introduction - and decided to block it out. You didn’t need an enemy in the one class that you were already failing.

“And your project groups have been posted outside my office - and online -, if you would like to organise some meetings to begin your brainstorming,” your professor continued, “and which I strongly advise that you do.” He winked at the crowd of students as he began to pack up his laptop and notes.

A group of people you’d met on your first day walked past you in a hurry, excited to see the groups, but you opened up your laptop to check online instead. Upon seeing your name - or more specifically, the name directly under it - you glanced around to find your group member but he was already looking at you with narrowed eyes.

When you did nothing but stare at him, mouth agape, he rolled his eyes and grabbed his backpack from beside his seat, walking over to you. He leant down onto your desk, “Look, this is my best class and I know it’s definitely not yours, so you can just leave it to Wong and I.”

Someone called out to him, and you assumed it was Wong Yukhei, your other group member. Yuta glanced over his shoulder and looked back at your shocked face, “I’ll see you around, Y/L/N.”

You were so shocked by his attitude that you didn’t have enough time to react, and by the time you had worked up an outburst that wouldn’t get you kicked off campus, he had left the room.

“is this y/n?” Your phone buzzed in your back pocket and you pulled it out, eating your burrito one-handed (which Johnny called your hidden talent).

“yeah, who is this?” You typed back, puzzled.

“oh sorry this is yukhei, ur friend jisoo’s in my psych class and she gave me ur number,” the person typed back, and you realised it was your group member for the big project. “you can call me lucas”

“ok,, hey lucas whats up,” you laughed at the awkwardness of the conversation, causing Johnny to look over at you from the other side of the couch and raise his eyebrows in question. “It’s one of the guys from my group project,” you explained. “But I didn’t know it was him.”

“nothing much I just wanted to tell u we’re having a meeting for the project tomorrow at 4.”

“oh lit, where?”

“the cafe on the North Lawn the one with the pink fence. u know the one?”

The next day, you grabbed your laptop bag from the floor next to your cubicle in the library and headed out, walking the short distance to the North Lawn and instantly spotting the cafe Lucas had described. You’d never been there because it was on the wrong side of campus for you, and it was always really busy.

It was really busy when you walked in, too. You spotted Yuta and Lucas talking happily in a booth to the side of the restaurant, and you made your way over to them. When Lucas looked up to greet you, you pretended you hadn’t noticed Yuta’s exaggerated eye roll, a cap covering his blonde hair as he leant his head back against the booth.

Once you were seated next to Lucas, a waitress came over to take your order, “What can I get you guys?” 

You noticed that she seemed to be mainly looking at Yuta, who smiled at her warmly from his seat. 

You finished ordering your coffees, and the girl began to walk away, but Yuta sent her a quick wink, making you quietly cringe in disgust, “Ugh.”

Lucas choked on his water and playfully hit you for making him laugh, but Yuta just looked longingly outside, as though he really didn’t want to be there. “So, I was thinking that today we could just do a super quick brainstorm, like throw out a few ideas and then tomorrow we can meet at the library to research them and decide then,” Lucas explained, fiddling with one of his rings. “I have a meeting with one of my professors at 5, so I thought we could make this one quick?”

You smiled at Lucas and the unsure nature with which he concluded his sentence, “Yeah, that works for me. What ideas have you guys come up with?”

Yuta leant forward, his elbows resting on the table, “I was thinking nanotechnology, like exploring cancer treatment and such using nanotubes and other delivery systems.” 

He looked expectantly at Lucas, and Lucas just shrugged in response, “To be honest, I hadn’t really thought of anything yet, but I’m happy to go with that.”

You opened your mouth to present your idea, but Yuta had already stood up, digging around in his back pocket for change to cover his coffee, “Great, then it’s settled. We’ll do our project on nanotech. T-”

“Actually, -” Your eyes narrowed as you interrupted him, “- I was thinking about investigating a different application of nanotechnology. I mean, the theory behind cancer treatment has been explored excessively in recent journals, which you would know, I’m sure, because this class is your ‘best subject’?”

You could feel Lucas’ surprise radiating from him from beside you, but you kept eye contact with Yuta as he set his jaw and stood up straighter, “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about environmental cleanup,” you deadpanned. “Using nanotechnology to remove gases from the atmosphere, harmful substances from groundwater, bringing a little bit of international ethics into our project.”

“That’s a really good idea,” Lucas practically shouted in excitement. “We could discuss the possibilities of impacts on developing countries and health ratings, compare them to that of our own!”

Yuta turned his head towards the door before checking his watch nonchalantly, “Fine. We do Y/N’s idea. Tomorrow, library, same time?”

You nodded and he began to walk away, but Lucas immediately turned to you, “Okay, I know I just met you, but you’re officially my favourite person.”

Two weeks later and you’d been meeting up with your research group almost every night at 4 at the library to investigate your topic. Lucas had loudly named you the group leader, which you despised until you saw how annoyed Yuta became by it, and then talking about yourself as the leader in third person just to piss him off further.

You and Yuta had not gotten along well at all since being grouped together, and you chose mostly to discuss with Lucas about your group project. You’d see him during the few lectures you shared with him, but most of the time he’d just glare at you as he sat down and then ignore you for the rest of the session.

Group meetings were awkward, with the tension often being thick enough that only Lucas could break it with his positivity and loudness. You would bicker about almost every decision for the project, and often argued about one rewriting and editing another’s contribution. 

During one session at the library, Lucas informed you that he had to leave for a date, and you smiled understandingly as you bid him goodbye, leaving only yourself and Yuta at your table.

“Can you read this for me?” Yuta cleared his throat before passing you his laptop, with information stretching over thousands of words. You began reading, and at the height of your tiredness, almost burst out with laughter at the presence of many swear words in a particularly lengthy paragraph. You began to edit them out for him, knowing he would not wish to hand in his work with that many profanities. However, he took your laughter to be at his offence, and tried to snatch his laptop away, scowling. 

“No, no! Wait, I’m almost done with this paragraph,” you smiled at the laptop screen, deleting another word.

He watched you grinning at his work and felt a bit of pride, pushing thoughts of how beautiful you were to the side as he realised you were deleting parts, “Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”

Your eyes flicked to his over the laptop and you huffed, “Okay, let me read this to you, and tell me if you'd like to keep all aspects of this sentence. Dr. T.J. Edinburgh, founder and representer of the fucking science department at...fuck...Yale? I dont know-” You looked up at this and realised he was trying to hold back his laughter. “How much sleep did you get when you were writing this?”

“I don’t even know, holy shit,” he pulled his laptop towards himself and began to read. “I dont even remember writing this.”

His eyes caught yours, “I only wanted you to read the last paragraph because it sort of morphs into your point.” 

You instantly moved backwards in surprise, leaning against your chair as you began to fiddle with your hair, “Oh, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine,” Yuta dismissed your apology. “Hey, what time is it? I want to go get some dinner before the restaurant outside closes. Oh, and before I forget, who’s doing the conclusion?”

You checked your watch and saved all your documents as you began to pack up, “It’s just past nine. I’m doing the conclusion, we decided ages ago who was doing what.”

“Shouldn’t I write it, if my point is first and kind of sets up your point?”

You sighed, knowing that it was too good to be true for you guys to get along for more than two minutes, “My point is completely independent of yours, and it would make more sense for me to write the conclusion since my point concludes our reasoning for the entire thing.”

You walked to the entrance of the library with him beside you, and continued your argument all the way to your car, “I don't see how you can possibly think you’re a better writer than I am!”

“Does it fucking matter, Yuta? I got given conclusion, you got introduction, it’s basically the same thing!”

“Any idiot can write an introduction, a good conclusion can make or break a report,” he fumed, his chest rising and falling as he breathed heavily.

“Okay, you know what, fuck this. I’m going home now, so talk to Lucas about it, if he agrees with you, we can switch,” you shoved your bag into the backseat of your car and slammed the door, ignoring him as you drove away.

When you got home, and retrieved your phone from between the front seats of your car (the worst thing ever), you realised you had a text from an unknown number.

“who were you with at the library?”

“I'm sorry, your number isn't saved into my contacts. who is this?”

“wow, y/n, you deleted my number?”

“guess so :/ who is this?”

“it’s-”

As soon as you read his name, you stopped walking. It couldn’t have been him, and if it was, why did he care that you were with someone at the library? Why was he texting you? You had broken up with him months ago, and had no excuse to talk to him afterwards.

“why are you texting me?”

“I was just curious. I was walking Rose home and saw a guy walking you to your car at the library,, just wondering if you’ve finally moved on.” You rolled your eyes. This guy was an asshole, and you hated the fact that you’d ever dated him.

Of course, as soon as you’d broken up, he’d begun dating a stunning girl from one of your classes but you hadn’t dated anyone since him, just because you hadn't found anyone that interested you. But, by God, he hung that fact over you like he owned you.

“you mean my boyfriend?” You don't know why you did it, maybe you were just sick of constantly being belittled by him or maybe you just wanted to prove that he meant jack all to you, but you didn't regret saying it.

“since when do you have a boyfriend lol”

“since two weeks ago” It wasn't a total lie, that was when you had first met your group members, and yeah, you weren’t exactly dating one of them, but he didn’t have to know that.

“what's his name then?”

“okay I dont understand what you're trying to do here but this is really none of ur business so pls stop texting me” (perhaps you snapped)

Sighing, you threw your phone to the side of the room and flopped into bed, grabbing your laptop out.

The next day, after a three hour class, you met your teammates in the library for your second last session of the week, meaning after tomorrow, you wouldn’t have to see Yuta’s scowling face for four days.

You sat silently for the first hour, focussed on your individual work before having an impromptu half hour coffee break initiated by Lucas, who couldn't function after back to back classes. He insisted on buying you and Yuta coffees for interrupting your session, but explained that he felt like passing out from exhaustion.

He had left you alone with Yuta. Again.

Without a word, you returned to your open laptop and hoped on ignoring him. When he opened his mouth, you stood up, holding a book up, announcing, “I’m going to return this book.”

He raised an eyebrow at you but followed you as you stood up, unable to see you roll your eyes as you walked in front of him, “I talked to Lucas, and he said he really doesn't give, and this is a direct quote, a rats ass about who writes the conclusion, unless-”

You froze in front of him, eyeing the entrance to the library from where you were standing. Yuta, oblivious and still talking about the conclusion of your report, bumped into you, unaware that you had stopped walking.

“-with- why’d you stop?”

You watched as your ex-boyfriend looked around the library and you quickly turned to Yuta, “Look, I know we’re not the greatest of friends but my ex walked in and he’s a real dick and I mayormaynothavetoldhimwe’redating so please just go with this.”

Yuta looked confused as you put one arm around his waist and clutched your book tightly in the other hand as you walked back to your table. Instantly spotting you, your ex guided his latest conquest, a dark haired girl you’d never seen before but equally as attractive as the last girl you saw clutching his arm, over to your table with a smile on his face. Yuta stepped away from you to lean down into his backpack and retrieve his phone and you put on the fakest smile you could muster, “Hey.”

Your ex eyed Yuta for a moment before introducing himself, “I’m-.”

But Yuta stood up, tucking his phone into his jean pocket with one and slinging the other arm around you shoulders, “I know who you are.”

You shot Yuta what you hoped was a grateful smile and he tightened his grip on your shoulder in response, “Um, Yuta this Jae. Jae this Yuta.”

Yuta stuck his hand out, “Y/N’s current boyfriend.”

Jae’s eyes narrowed at his comment and he pulled his hand back as soon as Yuta had let go, motioning for his girlfriend to leave. Before exiting the library, he called out to you, “Nice to know you're finally moving on, Y/N! I thought you were going to pine after me for another six months!”

Immediately, Yuta moved to follow him, but you grabbed his hand, “I told you he’s a dick. Don’t worry about him, he’s all talk.” But as Yuta looked at your face, he could tell that you were extremely embarrassed over being called out in the library in front of god knows how many people, and you looked ashamedly down at your fidgeting hands. 

He didn’t point any of this out, instead only saying, “I can’t believe you even dated that idiot. I thought I had bad taste.”

You laughed in a self-deprecating way that made Yuta afraid for a moment thinking you were crying, “Well, I guess I still have bad taste if I’m dating you.”

“I just rescued you from that asshole ever commenting on you ‘not moving on’ ever again, I think I’m quite worthy of being called a good boyfriend,” Yuta retorted.

“Are you really trying to prove to me that you’re my best boyfriend?” You cocked an eyebrow in challenge.

“Wouldn’t be that hard,” he mumbled, pulling out his chair as Lucas happily walked up to your table with four cups of coffee.

“Oh, is someone joining us?” You asked, looking at the two extra large cups of coffee in the tray.

Lucas clapped his hands loudly, making a girl at the desk beside you jump in fright, “Nope, these two are for me.” He grinned at you as he began to open up his laptop again, “So, did I miss anything interesting?” He had meant the comment to be a joke, but you glanced at Yuta, who had looked at you at the same time, and shook your head, confirming that no, nothing of interest had happened while he was gone.

@rkevent

You are taken to the same meeting room and greeted by the same woman as before. There’s a new file on top of the table and the smile on the woman’s face is one that should make you excited for what is about to come. Once you’re seated, she starts to speak.

“It’s good to see you again, Momo. I hope you enjoyed your time in the forest and also the outcome of it.” One of her hands pushes the file in your direction for you to take it before she returns to holding her own hands. “We’ll continue onto the next step of this process now, which are the solo videos to reveal your identity as well as a photoshoot to take your official photos. To have you here, right now, means that you were chosen as the fourteenth member of KTROOKIES.” Her smile grows up to her eyes before her gaze shifts back to the table. “All and any detail that you’ll need can be find inside your file but the staff will make sure to remind you of everything.”

Once she’s done, she gives you a nod. “Good luck.”

she doesn’t want to get her hopes up, but after being called out of lessons the first time, and seeing sungho and sunwoo’s videos being released, she can’t help but walk with a bit of pep in her step, almost skipping behind the staff member that leads her to the same room she’d been to the previous time. the smile she receives from the staff member that greets her only fills her with more energy, and she practically jumps into the seat she’s offered after she’s bowed in greeting.

she fidgets in that same chair she’d sat in only weeks ago, one leg shaking as she fiddles with her fingers in her lap. she barely remembers to respond to the woman’s words, though she supposes she hadn’t really needed a response anyway. “yes!” she exclaims almost too loudly, head nodding enthusiastically. “it was a nice change of pace. thank you so much for the opportunity.”

she tries to settle down as she takes the file from the desk, but her fingers are shaking with nervous energy, but it’s different, exciting. she listens as she flips through it, and she’s dancing in her seat now, unable to keep herself from moving. she glances up in time to see the smile one the staff member’s face, one that matches the smile on her own. “thank you so much!” she says, jumping up, about ready to give the lady a hug only to immediately decide against it, thinking it unproffessional. she stands there with her arms outstretched for a split second, then raises them as she lets out an excited yelp as if that were her intention all along.

“thank you, thank you!” she says again, bowing vigorously as she backs up toward the door from which she’d entered. “i won’t let you down!”

note ! just ooc stuff under the cut

( OOC: Congratulations on being chosen as the fourteenth member of KTROOKIES! This is a long-term project, meaning your muse will continue being a member until they either debut or leave the company. On February 2nd, Momo will have her photoshoot during the afternoon, and the video shooting will be on February 4th, during the afternoon as well. When not on the shootings she should return to her regular trainee schedule.

The video starts with images in a street at sundown with loads of smoke coming up from the ground. As the shot widens, the camera picks up two race cars running their engines in place, and a lonely figure in all black standing in between them. Suddenly, the camera turns in a 180 degree motion, and the figure is revealed to be Momo, holding a piece of red cloth. She’s wearing a catsuit and her makeup is smoky and fierce, with her hair wrapped up in a ponytail. Momo smiles at the camera and waves the red cloth down, and the two cars speed up into the horizon. As she walks to the sidelines where a crowd can be seen cheering for the racers, Momo spots a simple white envelope with the four-pointed star on it. Intrigued by the golden outline, she reaches for it and reads its contents amidst the loud cheers from the audience. Without looking up again, she gives a small chuckle, and the video ends with Momo strutting as she makes way through the crowd and towards the camera, envelope in hand. After the video is edited, it’ll be uploaded on the official KTROOKIES channel on February 6th. Please refer to this post and have all requirements up by midnight at the end of Tuesday, February 5th, EST.

KTROOKIES:INTRO! (for the February 6 verification form)

[ link to process solo ] +2 CHARISMA POINTS +1 DEBUT POINTS +1 WK ACTING OR MODELING ACHIEVEMENT (NUMBER OF TIMES TAKEN AND CURRENT LEVEL) NEW DEBUT POINTS TOTAL: )

Altering Trends In Japanese Popular Culture

During the Edo period from about 1603 to 1867, those personifications resulted in monster-like characters dubbed yokai, which emerged first in local tales earlier than changing into part of Japanese folklore. They could seem as anything from a sentient broom or shoe to a completely invented creature. About 20 years later, the 1986 movie Gung Ho directed by Ron Howard reflected a very different view of Japan. 眼科診所 ’s about an American auto plant taken over by a Japanese company and the tradition clash that erupts over their differing views of labor. The Japanese characters are practically automatons, obsessed with effectivity and order, reflecting the prevailing image of Japan as a mechanized producer of cars and electronics. Japanese Popular Culture and Globalization is the only concise overview of Japan’s phenomenal impression on world pop culture obtainable in English. Surveying Japanese forms from anime and manga to monster motion pictures and Hello Kitty products, this volume is an accessible introduction to Japan’s pop creativity and its appeal worldwide. She found a live-action superhero sequence in the fashion of old Japanese monster films, called Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The show—a co-production of US-based Saban Entertainment and Japan’s Toei Co.—was a part of a combo of 1990s hits that helped cement Japan’s new reputation. Planning A Trip To Japan A search of the sub reveals that not all trips with youngsters will go as planned — and, in some cases, a baby's wants could cause a visit to finish early. Remember, "touring in Japan" just isn't as tough as "traveling in Japan with youngsters." Located in the stunning metropolis of Fukuoka, Umi no Nakamichi Kaihin Koen is a must if you’re trekking by way of the southern end of Japan. This sprawling 4 km (2.5 mile)-long park was essentially built for household getaways. The park houses an amusement park, flower backyard, zoo, a stack of sports fields and lush grassed areas for picnics making it a really versatile choice. If the little ones are susceptible to getting tired legs from strolling, you can even hire a bike on the entrance gate and explore the park via its network of biking trails. If you'll be able to stand one other theme park, Space World, a few minutes' stroll from Kokura Station, presents diversions for youths of all ages with the usual curler coasters and amusement rides primarily based on area travel. A wider selection of amusement parks and theme parks around Japan could be found on our amusement parks web page. Shokudo and other casual eating places also are usually fairly family-friendly; nevertheless, there is plenty of variation, and drinking places would possibly turn into smoky or rowdy later within the evenings. Don't plan anything strenuous the primary day, however do stroll round to soak up your new surroundings and to assist modify your body clocks. To assist get your bearings and introduce your children to Tokyo's magnitude, head for Shinjuku's 45th-floor observatory in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office for eye-popping views. Tokyo Hotel for Family of 3 – Good Location Hi David, thanks for a really helpful link. I’m touring to Singapore in two weeks and have a cease over flight in Narita. So we’re thinking to look around the town for 2 nights. What To Purchase In Tokyo Some daruma are offered with clean eyes that should be filled in when targets are set and fulfilled. Women’s yukata are often brightly patterned and made of cotton. Like kimono, you can find affordable used ones at thrift shops and flea markets, although you can get new ones from UNIQLO for about 3500 yen / $35 USD. Now, if you want to drape your self within the elegant fashions of Japanese tradition, I’m not here to cease you. Matcha is a finely-ground powder made from the dried leaves and stems of a selected inexperienced tea plant. Unlike tea luggage or free leaf, matcha is mixed with scorching water immediately within the consuming cup. It types a green, earthy brew with a slightly textured consistency, and its flavor is bound to conjure up recollections of traveling Japan. Tsuko-tegata 通行手形 or “wooden passports” symbolize an historic customized in Japan. During the Edo interval, journey between the totally different regions of the nation was strictly monitored. You can purchase a model new stamp e-book at many stationery shops, and most massive shrines and temples promote them on the goshuin counter. Between the beautiful cover and the method in which it charts your distinctive journey, goshuincho are among the many greatest souvenirs from Japan. There are entire outlets devoted to stationery, from Tokyo’s well-known and long-standing Itoya to Kyoto’s trendy ROKKAKU. Department shops and selection shops like Don Quijote additionally promote a range of notepads, letter paper, and even fancy sticky notes. Kintsugi kits, quality stationery and craft supplies, and wonder products could be purchased here, among the many long record of issues. You can discover Tokyu Hands at main places such as Shibuya, Shinjuku and beside Tokyo Station. “Omiyage” (お土産) are typically superbly wrapped meals that represent no matter area they had been purchased in. Hello Kitty and her lovable companions are in these retailers all over. And these official shops devoted solely to Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters are inclined to have the most important choice and the most restricted edition goods. There are several stores in Tokyo, as well as the store that is celebration of Hello Kityy theme park referred to as Sanrio Puroland. This is a superb place to buy a mess of souvenirs at great prices. Japanese Restaurants Close To Me (Incidentally, we crowned a slurp king ourselves once we named one of the best ramen eating places in America.) But what makes a spot stand apart? What makes it probably the greatest Japanese eating places in America? If you do not discover what you want then it's possible to order one thing. The first kind is a small counter restaurant with a few tables. The menu is broad—chicken katsu curry, salmon sashimi, maki rolls that sport various levels of flair—and friendly servers maintain water glasses stuffed and don’t dally with the verify throughout lunch hour. Sushi will be the jewel of Japanese dining, but there's much, much more to the island nation’s celebrated cuisine. The desserts aren't any less ingenious with mocha being a perennial favorite amongst diners. These conventional eating places serve Kaiseki meals, which is a multi-course dinner. Every visitor will take pleasure in a starter, a number of primary dishes, Shokuji , and a dessert. Often Kaiseki consists of greater than ten dishes and is commonly served in a Japanese type room with tatami flooring and a low table with cushions name zabuton instead of chairs. You may also discover a chair back with out legs so you probably can rest your again.

Hot Spring For a very calming experience, Yumori no Sato can’t be beat. Located in a quiet residential neighborhood near Jindaiji Temple in Chofu, there are many timber and nature surrounding the spa. Yumori no Sato presents a free hourly shuttle bus to and from Chofu Station, or it’s a few 20-minute walk from the station. As steam rises from the inky depths of the outside hot spring, I dip my hand in to watch it rapidly disappear underneath the coffee-colored water. The credit card offers that seem on the website are from credit card firms from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation could impact how and where merchandise appear on this website . Meaning “Milky White River” in the Ainu language , the realm of Noboribetsu Onsen was first found and frequented by the Ainu for its healing properties. It’s additionally known as the department retailer of the recent springs, as you can find seven various kinds of minerals, and due to this fact seven different sorts of scorching springs. 1.You can completely take pleasure in a spacious bathtub, which can make you feel rich and relaxed. You wouldn’t need to be sitting round amongst different people’s hairballs, would you? Communal bathing doesn’t precisely sound interesting to most gaijin , however in Japan it's a beloved a half of traditional tradition. Nevertheless, the foundations of etiquette are the same for each onsen and sento, so with your newfound expertise you’ll have the flexibility to tackle any bathhouse with aplomb. An precise onsen , this monumental bath and spa complex close to Arashiyama is nicely worth the trek. [newline]The baths and saunas are nice and the restaurant is amazingly good. It’s a common courtesy to look away from others when taking a public tub. Some ryokans permit you to reserve the baths for personal use upfront of your keep. Top 14 Japanese Festivals And Celebrations This colorful competition takes place on May three and 4 within the metropolis of Fukuoka in northern Kyushu. Ho-Taiko Hanami Gyoretsu" (Toyotomi Hideyoshi's cherry blossom-viewing parade) is held on the second Sunday of every April. The Atami Plum Garden Festival is annually held from mid- January to early March with hundreds of visitors attending the festivities. Dosojin Matsuri is amongst the three biggest fireplace festivals in Japan and is annually held on January 15. Please bear in mind that the gross sales deadline is usually 1 month ahead of the festival. Nada no Kenka Matsuri , Matsubara Hachiman Shrine, Himeji. 助聽器 shouldering moveable shrines jostle each other as they try to indicate their skill in balancing their heavy burdens. Anyone can join in this tug of warfare with the world's largest rope (186m/619 ft.), once held to welcome Chinese ambassadors. Mifune Matsuri, Arashiyama, on the Oigawa River outdoors Kyoto, is when the days of the Heian Period are reenacted by some 20 boats and folks in costume. This pageant extols the thrill of sex and fertility , featuring a parade of giant phalluses, some carried by transvestites. You can learn all about this, the historical past of plum blossoms, and one of the best ume festival locations in our information to Visiting Japan to View the Plum Blossom. Osaka is well accessible from a quantity of main cities utilizing a Japan Rail Pass. Festivals are sometimes primarily based around a particular occasion, with leisure, food stalls, and carnival games. Some are based around temples or shrines, others embody hanabi . There are a wide range of quite a few native festivals in Japan as a result of almost each shrine celebrates certainly one of its personal. Both festivals are equally worthwhile, showcasing the inimitable yatai, together with a magical evening procession on the first night of every festival. However, during matsuri festivals, the streets are lined with food stalls promoting special types of seasonal snacks with vary from festival to competition. 雙眼皮 , or matsuri (祭り), in Japan are common occasions. In Tokyo, there are well-known festivals that you must go to while you’re there in spring. Spring in Japan is well-known for the total bloom of sakura (桜; cherry blossoms). 9 Japanese Museums You Possibly Can Tour Nearly The headquarters for Toyota’s factories is situated in Toyota City,AichiPrefecture. The Toyota Kaikan Exhibition Hall which is also in Toyota City has exhibitions of the latest safety-conscious know-how, starting from the brand new expertise for automobiles such as hybrid cars and fuel-cell automobiles. At the Virtual Factory, you can learn about things such because the manufacturing facility manufacturing course of via videos. Though the movie portion of the museum cut up off last yr to type the National Film Center, the Crafts Gallery is still a short walk away. While the slick triad of art museums in Roppongi fills up throughout peak occasions, a visit right here tends to be way more relaxed; even on weekends, long lines are uncommon. That appears to swimsuit the guests simply fine—the works here invite leisurely contemplation. The National Art Center in Roppongi is designed by Kisho Kurokawa and is Japan's largest exhibition house. The National Art Center is built on the old site of the University of Tokyo's Institute of Solid State Physics , and is a serious presence in establishing Roppongi as Tokyo's most cutting edge area. Chichu Art MuseumThe Chichu Art Museum, designed by renowned architect Ando Tadao, is a very special modern artwork museum built mostly underground into a hillside overlooking the southern coast of Naoshima Island. Open since 2008, this modern pictures gallery runs a program of frequent common exhibitions, normally lasting a week or two, of member artists. Part of the Bunkamura art and culture complicated, the ground-floor gallery holds around thirty exhibitions a 12 months in various genres. This small two-room gallery situated subsequent to the MOMA Store focuses on modern Japanese art, and it is typically price trying out when you happen to be passing by. Japan Journey Nanbo Kokusai Mura is their lodge and seminar home, 200m from the seashore in southern Chiba. It is the house for firm retreats, children’s scouting journeys, sports activities group’s staff constructing journeys, school outside schooling actions, family or club “getaways” and much more. IZU OSHIMA is a superb place for teenagers in a very pristine location! Izu Oshima emphasizes the out of doors experince and the sporty aspect of issues. Ryoan-ji Temple is probably the most famous , and we loved the gardens at Kennin-ji and Kodai-ji . At Entoku-in we had the prospect to create our personal miniature backyard. Zen Buddhist temples often characteristic kare-sansui or dry landscape gardens produced from rocks and gravel rigorously raked into patterns that suggest rippling water. Fushimi Inari is considered one of the high vacationer attractions in Japan and will get incredibly busy, so I extremely suggest arriving before 7 am or after 8 pm to avoid the worst of the crowds. It may not be the most effective espresso on the earth, however Simon liked the comfort of being ready to decide up a can of scorching espresso anywhere, particularly on cold mornings once we had a prepare to catch. His favorite was Tully’s—he found the extra frequent Boss coffee somewhat gross. The bay is legendary for pearl cultivation, and countless oyster rafts may be seen floating on the water. There are additionally sightseeing boat cruises that provides visitors a more in-depth view of the smaller islands across the bay. There are a large number of lakes in Japan together with caldera lakes, subterranean lakes and lagoons. Lakes are inclined to have lots of lovely scenery nearby and are well-liked for hiking, especially during the autumn color season. The cruise is popularly mixed with a journey on the Sagano Scenic Railway. There are many rivers in Japan, and a few of them may be explored by river cruises. Tokyo Nightlife The most typical value for a hour was a thousand yen or about $11-$12 a individual. You could possibly be lucky and discover a place where a all-you-can-drink or eat deal is featured. Tokyo has the highest quality of meals on the planet, that's why you have to visit at least one of its many izakaya's to strive a bunch of authentic Japanese dishes, like Eihire , Sakura and Yakitori . Visit izakaya's Umiya or Sumire in Shibuya to get pleasure from these dishes. If you make new friends in Tokyo, you will ultimately be requested to be added to LINE. Various theaters are active in the evenings performing conventional Japanese music, dance and/or Noh theater, . It is home to a great variety of bars, one of the best of which appear to be located on Kiyamachi Street, which, while smaller than New York’s forty second, avenue has usually been compared to it. These bars are generally the place many of the youth population hangs out and thus, the place most of the “in crowd” would go to be able to have an excellent time. Once the shopping malls shut for the night, the various eating places and pubs in the Ginza neighborhood take their flip within the spotlight. While there are nightclubs within the area, many of those bars and pubs have a more informal ambiance. For those who want to expertise a more refined and chic tackle Japanese night time life, a trip to Tokyo’s Cotton Club might be the right answer. Another distinctive and spectacular approach to benefit from the evening surroundings is to take a helicopter experience over the city. A additional alternative could be to take a boat cruise and enjoy the waterfront scenery. 7 Finest Japanese Fish Markets Although highly seasonal , it's extensively generally identified as the most effective flea market in Tokyo, so you might consider taking a break from sakura viewing to shop. Around 200 to 300 vendors arrange shop right here, so you may definitely have your work cut out for you, whether you store valuable kintsugi or followers and different artwork from before World War II. The bidding process will begin in summer time 2018, and already a quantity of corporations have shown curiosity in forming consortiums for bidding, together with French and Spanish corporations. Sendai International Airport in Miyagi Prefecture was privatized in July 2016, and began turning a profit whereas serving a document 3.4 million passengers in the first yr. They try to higher join airport to other transportation means to make it as gate approach to Tohoku’s different regions to additional improve the airport use. [newline]Although the variety of foreign tourists in Tohoku has returned to pre-3.eleven stage in 2015, Tohoku has the least quantity of overseas vacationers in Japan. To overcome the situation, its six prefectures and local municipalities are working together to advertise the Tohoku area as entire, pooling finances and human resources to draw more overseas guests mainly from Asia. The Kyushu/Yamaguchi region of southwestern Japan consists of seven prefectures on Kyushu Island and Yamaguchi Prefecture on the southern tip of Honshu, with a combined inhabitants of about 14.5 million. The region's roughly $450 billion financial system constitutes Japan's fourth largest financial middle, representing about 10% of nationwide GDP, which makes it one of many thirty largest economies on the planet . This area is traditionally often known as Japan's gateway to Asia and enjoys intensive historical, cultural, and trade ties with continental Asia, notably South Korea, China, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan. What better method to learn about a local region than visiting its native farmers market? Browsing through the stalls, you may get an opportunity to see what sorts of produce the realm makes a speciality of, and will be able to mingle first-hand with local farmers and shoppers. Consider budgeting time during your journey to visit one of the markets beneath. Less a traditional market and extra a buying road in the vein of Nakamise, Harajuku's Takeshita-dori is nonetheless top-of-the-line places to buy in Tokyo that's not a mall or department retailer. [newline]After having fun with this insanity, cross the street to Harajuku Station, which is one of the best vantage level from which to photograph the calamity. 42 Crazy Fun Things To Do In Japan Other diversions right here embody the Solamachi Mall on the tower’s base, with 300 restaurants and outlets, together with a newly opened Pokemon Center selling character goods. This museum portrays what life was like in shitamachi more than one hundred years in the past. Traditional toys and video games are available for guests to play, and volunteer guides are keen to supply insight into the shitamachi lifestyle and stand prepared at no cost excursions. Using a spread of digital resources, you can now get plenty of journey concepts and experience some of Japan’s most enjoyable attractions on-line, which can help you plan your journey and determine what you wish to see in person. Some of the categories of data that we collect in connection with the supply of our Services or by way of the employment software process may represent special classes of private knowledge . At Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., our mission is to offer superior cruise vacations for our visitors. We encourage you to carefully read the privacy coverage of any website you visit. The tour begins in Osaka, the place there is loads of free time to explore the city. The tour then moves on to Kyoto, the historic capital of Japan and residential to thousands of temples and shrines. The Cherry Blossom and Gardens tour is operated through the restricted cherry blossom season in Japan to see Japanese gardens at their most lovely and experience the beautiful nature of Japan. The shinkansen is then used to travel to Kanazawa and expertise a unique, extra historical aspect of Japan. Kenrokuen gardens and the Higashi Chaya district are well-liked conventional sites in Kanazawa that are generally missed by excursions. Sidewalks in Japanese cities are sometimes sloped in path of the road, which might make touring a straight line troublesome for wheelchair users or people with vision impairment. LGBTQIA+ identifying vacationers are unlikely to encounter violence, outright hostility or overt discrimination in Japan. However, conservative values about queer sexuality and non-binary gender expression are widespread, particularly outside massive cities. Sex that takes place between consenting adults of the same gender is legal, though same-sex marriage isn't. For environmental causes, try to use a refillable water bottle quite than shopping for bottled water. In Japan, bathrooms vary from high-tech bidets to standard western-style flushable bogs to squat bogs, that are nonetheless frequent outside the city. Sometimes you might need to pay for toilet paper, which may normally be bought from a vending machine close by. Anderson Japanese Gardens It leads to a standard Japanese Garden gate that provides a glimpse of the wonder inside before visitors cross the brink. The Japanese Garden Society of New Orleans after a few years of effort has created an authentic Japanese Garden in the Botanical Gardens of New Orleans City Park. The backyard additionally provides elevated awareness and appreciation of Japanese tradition, aesthetics and love of nature amongst all individuals within the New Orleans area. There are eleven lanterns in the garden, all being stone aside from one which is concrete. The five-story pagoda lantern located on the north hill was donated by Lodi’s sister metropolis; Kofu, Japan. The Park has a renowned lily assortment, and is distinguished by its big transparent Tropical Dome that forms the focal point of the Park. Tottori Prefectural Flower Park presents different faces of seasonal magnificence all year spherical, and with absolutely covered walkways for enjoyment in any weather. Ritsurin-koen in Takamatsu in Shikoku is taken into account considered one of Japan's best gardens. This sixteen ha strolling backyard is laid out on a grand scale however it's also contiguous with a range of low, forested hills conveying the impression that the garden is countless. Here you’ll find lots of Tokyo’s primary museums, like the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, National Science Museum, and the National Museum for Western Art. The park is also residence to Ueno Zoo, residence to 2 lovable giant pandas. The Japanese have taken their love of rising issues and their realization of man’s union with nature and refined them in the great point about their gardens. The purpose of a Japanese Garden is to current pure forms and to create a tranquil beauty that leads the customer from everyday life to a calm, serene, reflective communion with nature. Garden Club Volunteers are vital to help maintain the botanical gardens in Point Defiance Park. Regardless of your expertise, if crops are your ardour, we’d like to have you be a part of us in nurturing ours. We are a promoter and steward of this evolving metropolis and its progressive values, which have the power to rework the vacationers who visit us. Round out your floral explorations of the Rose City with a visit to Southeast Portland’s lush Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. The park boasts more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas, with blooms from late February -June. Japan Temples & Shrines After this event, they may start disassembly of the old shrine, and can depart simply a little doghouse-sized structure in its place for the following two decades. This shrine has become a preferred place to hope for the return of your cat ever since internationally famend jazz pianist Yamashita Yosuke prayed right here for his lost feline good friend. Miraculously, some say, his beloved cat returned safely the subsequent day – after being gone a full 17 days! Even before that occurred, although, this place was meant to honor cats, who were seen as protectors for the silkworm business since they're the pure predator of the rats who threatened the worms. To today, people buy ema and hold them on the shrine to wish for his or her feline companions. This shrine dedicated to Inari is an extension of the well-known Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine in Kyoto. With so much to see and do in Japan, we’ve picked 10 of the most thrilling activities to do in your journey to experience it like a local. The shrine is a focus for the Hakata Yamakasa Gion Festival, and portable shrines that are carried as floats may be seen right here. Kushida Shrine in Hakata, Fukuoka, is a colourful and storied shrine with a 1,300-year-old historical past. Omikuji or paper fortunesIt’s price looking for out shrines in Kyoto, although most aren’t as well-known as the temples, as they're usually free, very colourful, and the rituals are fascinating to observe. Kyoto has many incredible Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples and this is among the causes it tops our record of one of the best places to visit in Japan. Buddhism was brought from India via China and Korea within the sixth century. The fundamental philosophy is that struggling is inherent in life and that one may be liberated from it by cultivating knowledge, virtue, and focus. There are so many temples in Kyoto that it may be overwhelming deciding which of them to visit. My advice is don’t attempt to do it all and to mix a few well-liked temples with quieter, less well-known ones that you can take pleasure in without the crowds.

Of Robots and Rocketships: Chapter 2

For @platonicvldweek​ day 2: Lion / Lamb

Chapter 1

Read it on Ao3 | Read it on FFN

It was Katie who texted first.

Two days after the competition (two days of Hunk not wanting to be the first one to say anything cuz would that be seen as too clingy??) his phone went off.

Katie: hey! how’ve you been? dad said he was sorry he missed you

A thousand thoughts were running through his head. He stared at the message for a long time, mentally dissecting it, trying to think of how best to respond.

The last part especially stuck out to him, since it implied two very important things: firstly, that Katie (and Matt?) had told their dad about him--and secondly, that Dr Holt actually wanted to meet him.

Hunk took a deep breath, quelling his thoughts, before starting to type out a response.

Hunk: Hi! I’ve been pretty good, you? And I’m sorry your dad couldn’t make it too; maybe next time?

Okay. That was good, right? Open, friendly, not too eager—

He was taking this too seriously.

He flopped over backwards onto his bed with a groan. Why was this so hard?

Katie: unfortunately ‘next time’ isnt until next year unless youre going to robocup

Hunk: I don’t think so :/

Katie: boo

They went on like that a little longer, making small talk about the little things, the things they already knew about each other. After about half an hour, the conversation dwindled to a stop. And it was days before it was picked up again.

It started that way at first: brief conversations, making general small talk, testing the waters. As the months went by, they got more and more comfortable with each other; by the time winter melted into spring came around, they were texting nearly every day, about the smallest things.

Katie: what about ur dad?

Hunk: Oh actually I don’t have one

Katie: oh shoot im sorry

Hunk: No that’s not what I meant XD I don’t have a dad cuz I have two moms

Katie: OH

“So who’s Katie?”

Hunk glanced up at his mom in surprise. “What?”

She gestured towards his phone, which was sitting on the table a foot away from him while he read. “You got a text message, sweetie.”

Hunk lunged for his phone, opening the message in a rush.

Katie: random question: star wars or star trek?

“It’s that girl he met at the competition back in Flagstaff,” Mama called from the next room.

“Phoenix,” Hunk corrected offhandedly. “Flagstaff is where her school was from.”

Hunk: Aw come on, you can’t make me choose!

Katie: help me win an argument against my brother

Katie: help me obi wan kenobi youre my only hope

“Oh, you made a friend?” Mom continued. “That’s great! What’s she like?”

“Um,” Hunk mumbled, still distracted. “Well, she likes peanut butter. And peanut butter cookies? But not peanuts, she says they’re too dry.”

Hunk: I’m sorry Katie, I’m going to have to go with Star Trek. The tribbles episode owns my soul

Katie: I CANT BELIEVE THIS

“Oh!” Hunk added with a smile, setting his phone down and giving his mom a starry-eyed look. “And you’ll never guess who her dad is!”

Hunk: So...what’s up?

Katie: i am eating peanut butter by the spoonful and i couldnt be happier

Hunk: Sounds like a day well spent :P

Mid-February, Katie was in class, her phone in her lap hidden under her desk. She and Hunk only had an hour difference in time zones, but that still lead to schedule conflicts. Hunk had texted her when he got out for lunch; Katie, and hour later, was already back in class after her own lunch break.

But that didn’t stop her from continuing the conversation.

(It’s not like Mr Hedrick was teaching anything new, anyways.)

Hunk: I’ve actually been looking into the garrison application process. I’ve been wanting to go there for ages and I’ll finally be old enough this fall

Katie: !!!!!!!!!

Katie: DUDE YOU TOTALLY SHOULD

Hunk: I want to!! But the application is pretty intensive

Katie: aw come on i know you can do it

Hunk: Thanks ^_^

Hunk: What about you, are you you applying?

Katie: still too young *eyeroll* its still a few more years till i turn 16

Hunk: What??

Katie: dude im like 12

Katie: i turn 13 in april

It was a couple minutes before he responded, and Katie bit her tongue to keep herself from laughing out loud in the middle of class.

Hunk: But you’re in high school?

Hunk: I’ll be honest here, I thought we were the same age O.O

Katie: yeah i skipped 7th and 8th grade

Hunk: :O

Hunk: You’re like a little child genius or something

She stifled another laugh with a cough. She glanced up to make sure that the teacher hadn’t looked over, then went right back to her phone.

Katie: yeah thats what they told me

Katie: probably explains why this class is so fucking boring

Hunk: LANGUAGE

Hunk: Wait are you in class right now??

Katie: ....quite possibly

Hunk: Get off your phone, young lady, and pay attention!!

Katie: but i already know all thiiissssss

Hunk: Respect your elders

Katie: booooooo

Hunk: (•̀o•́)ง

Katie: omg you nerd

Katie: fiiiiine

Hunk: I’ll talk to you once you get home from school ^_^ ♥

She smiled down at her phone screen before closing out of the messages app. Part of her was tempted to just pull up something else—a book, or the web browser—but she stopped herself with a sigh. She turned off the phone, stuffing it into her back pocket.

Later.

Hunk: I just thought you were really short, I didn’t realize you were a BABY

Katie: i hate u

The Garrison application process was even more daunting when he was actually filling it out. In the past, when he would look it up online to mentally prepare himself for the day when he’d finally get to fill it out, it all seemed so easy.

But now, he was starting to think he was biting off more than he could chew.

Between the GPA requirements, the essay, the mechanical skills project, the letters of recommendation, the other essay, the entrance exam, the preliminary engineering classes—

It was a lot.

And it was especially a lot when he had to juggle all that in addition to his regular schoolwork. Hunk glared at the pre-calc textbook open on his desk until the numbers all swam together.

He groaned, slamming the book shut and leaning back in his chair.

His phone vibrated, and he reached for it blindly.

Katie: maybe a rover-type probe? like what you guys did for the comp. that was pretty good

Hunk let out a long slow exhale. The physical project was causing him the most trouble at the moment, having to prove his engineering prowess by building something all on his own. It was arguably the most important part of the application, and Hunk had no clue what to do for it.

Hunk: Yeah but if I’m going to get into the garrison then my project needs to be more than just GOOD

Katie: how about a robotic turtle

Hunk: ...why?

Katie: why not

Hunk: I can probably think of a few reasons

Katie: turtles are cool bro

Hunk: Fair enough

A weary smile had managed to break through his look of frustration. Hunk glanced back at the pre-calc book, then sighed again as he slowly opened it back up.

One thing at a time.

Katie: bro u should go to bed its 1am

Hunk: Which means it’s 2am for you, right?

Katie: yeaahhh but i drank coffee mixed with redbull a couple hours ago im good

Hunk: KATIE NO

Matt and Sam made a point to come home on the weekends, and it was an occasion that Katie relished in.

She spent her days in Matt’s room, lying on his bed and keeping him company while he worked at his desk. She had her phone open to the messages app, idly relaying her conversation with Hunk to her brother.

“Yeah, Hunk has been working on his application for the Garrison.”

“Really?” Matt asked, spinning in his office chair. “That’s awesome!”

“Yeah, he’s going in for engineering,” she continued. “I’m really excited for him.”

“Does he need a letter of rec?”

“Um, lemme ask,” she replied, already typing.

Katie: matt wants to know if u need a letter of rec

It was a bit before he responded, and she watched the typing bubble appear, then disappear, then appear again. She smirked.

Hunk: Oh my god

Hunk: We only met once, does he know me well enough?

Katie rolled her eyes, reading the message out loud to Matt.

“Psh, ‘course I do,” Matt said flippantly. “I got to see his work back at the competition, and that’s the most important part, if I’m being honest.”

Katie: dude. you guys talked for ages about engineering crap

Hunk: Oh gosh. I don’t want to inconvenience him at all.

“He says he doesn’t want to inconvenience you.”

Matt let out a long groan. “Oh come on, I’m already writing them for Alec and Luca, what’s one more? I like Hunk.” He paused, thinking. “Here, ya know what, give me the phone.” He grabbed the phone from Katie’s hands without waiting for her response.

“Hey,” she protested, but Matt merely shushed her and continued to type away.

“There,” Matt said with a smirk as he hit send. A minute later, the phone vibrated, and Matt cackled, already typing a response.

“What did you say?!” Katie demanded, lunging for the phone.

Matt easily evaded her reach. “You’ll see,” he said cryptically. “But I think I’ve gotten through to him.”

When the phone went off again, Matt let out a cheer. “Alright,” he said triumphantly, tossing the phone back to Katie. “We are a go!”

Hunk: Happy birthday!!! (＾▽＾)

Katie: im officially a teenager bitch!!

Hunk: LANGUAGE!

Hunk: Jeez Katie you’re a little baby, you shouldn’t be saying stuff like that, you’re practically an infant!!

Katie: fuck

Hunk: /_(0{}0)_\

It was the middle of dinner when her phone went off.

“Katie,” her mom scolded as the girl grabbed at her phone and opened the message.

Katie ignored her, waving her hand impatiently. “Shh, it’s important!”

“Katherine, what could possibly—”

Colleen was interrupted by Katie’s sudden squeak of excitement. “He got in!!!” she squealed.

“Hunk?” Matt asked, beaming. “That’s great!”

Across the table, Sam’s eyes had lit up. “Fantastic!” he proclaimed. “Tell him congratulations for me,” he said. “I look forward to working with him.”

“Careful,” Katie warned, already typing. “You’re gonna break him.”

Katie: dad says hes looking forward to working with you. he and matt wish you congratulations

Hunk: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hunk: Thank you!!!!!!!! ＼(≧▽≦)／

Katie: hunk.exe has stopped working

It was summer when the Galaxy Garrison officially announced the Kerberos mission, naming the daring crew of astronauts who’d be going on the shuttle, and setting a predicted launch date in September.

The announcement made every headline imaginable, national and international news, NASA, a blurb in Katie’s high school’s newsletter, and just about every online publication in existence.

Katie was doing her homework at time, her phone stashed at the bottom of her backpack. With her headphones in, she didn’t hear it vibrating, too engrossed in her chemistry work.

She had ten new messages by the time she closed her textbook and fished out her phone.

Hunk: DUDE!!!!!

Hunk: I JUST SAW THE NEWS

Hunk: KERBEROS??? THAT’S SO COOL!!!

Hunk: THIS IS SO COOL

Hunk: That’s literally BILLIONS OF MILES AWAY

Hunk: And IT’S A MANNED MISSION

Hunk: THE FARTHEST MANNED MISSION FROM EARTH

Hunk: THIS IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING OH MY GOD

Hunk: I CAN’T BELIEVE YOUR DAD AND YOUR BROTHER ARE GOING TO PLUTO THIS IS SO COOL

Hunk: Sorry for spamming I’m just REALLY EXCITED

She laughed, carrying her phone and her laptop onto her bed where she could stretch out more comfortably. She flopped over onto her back, holding the phone above her face.

Katie: oh did that get announced today???

Katie: theyve been planning for months im so jealous

Hunk: Aaaaaaa this is all so exciting!

Hunk: I’m just

Hunk: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Katie: same

Katie: kerberos must be so cool

Katie: hunk lets go to outer space

Hunk: Let’s do it

Garrison cadet move-in day was in mid-August.

She got his room assignment from her dad. He’d been more than happy to check the student records for her and send her a quick message with the hall name, floor, and room number.

Katie, not even 13-and-a-half, much too young to be one of the students moving in today, walked confidently down the halls, weaving in and out of parents and students.

Presently, she heard his voice up ahead, coming out of one of the many open door. An excited grin spreading across her face, she ran the last few yards to his room. Bracing her hands on the doorframe, she stuck her head into the room, shouting, “Surprise!”

Inside the room, Hunk yelped as he whirled around in shock. As soon as he caught sight of her, his guard dropped and he broke into a smile. “Katie!” He tackled her in a bear hug, lifting her off the ground.

Katie laughed. “It’s so good to see you again!”

“What are you doing here? Wait, no, stupid question.”

She giggled. “I came in with Dad and Matt. They went to do professional officey things, like boring adult paperwork or whatever.”

“Ah, the worst part of adulthood,” Hunk said, nodding sagely. “Don’t worry, Katie, you’ll understand when you’re older.”

She elbowed him. “Shut up.”

He laughed for a moment, and Katie realized that he wasn’t the only one in the room. Standing bemusedly by the closet was a woman who looked so much like Hunk she could only be his mother. She had a gentle smile on her face as she watched the two of them.

Hunk followed Katie’s gaze, and his eyes widened. “Oh, this is my mom,” he said, gesturing to the woman. “Or, well, you know. One of them.”

“Hi,” Katie said, holding out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Garrett.”

“Please, call me Lani,” the woman said, shaking Katie’s hand. “It’s lovely to finally meet you, Katie. Hunk has told me so much about you.”

“Good things, I hope,” Katie said, casting a dry glance at Hunk. He stuck his tongue out at her, and she stuck out hers at him.

“Only the best,” Lani reassured her with a wink.

“So how have you been?” Hunk asked. “It’s so good to see you! We should, like, hang out at some point and catch up.”

“Oh!” Katie interjected. “Mom told me to invite you guys over for dinner,” she added.

Hunk gasped, and Katie could have sworn she saw stars in his eyes. “Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously,” she echoed. “Please?”

“Yes! Absolutely!” Hunk cried. He looked over to his mom. “Right? That’s okay?”

Lani smiled at her son widely. “Of course, sweetie. I’ll go find Kiana.” She squeezed Katie on the shoulder as she walked past her to head out of the room.

“Dinner,” Hunk breathed. “With Doctor Samuel Holt.”

She snorted. “I promise you, he’s a normal person. Just kind of a nerd. But hey, I mean, so are you.”

He rolled his eyes. “Thanks, Katie.”

Hunk: The Kerberos launch is only a couple weeks away, omg

Katie: i knowww im so jealous

Katie: i might just stowaway on the shuttle tbh

Hunk: That sounds potentially life-threatening, please do not

Hunk watched the Kerberos launch live on TV.

They’d only allowed family to watch from the ground, and though Katie had offered to try to sneak him in, he’d declined. Instead, he watched it on the massive projection screen that the Garrison had set up for students.

In some of the camera shots, he could make out the tiny purple-clad figure of Katie on the observation deck, standing beside her mother.

“This truly is a momentous day in human history,” the newscaster was saying. “If successful, the Kerberos Mission will mark the farthest that anyone has traveled from Earth. We’re making history here, folks.”

The launch was glorious. With a blast of fire and a cloud of smoke, the shuttle took off, the cameras trained on it all the way out of the atmosphere, until it was just a tiny speck against the blue of the sky. The crowd gathered in the Garrison commons room let out a cheer. Hunk’s roommate, an aspiring pilot named Lance, propped his elbow on Hunk’s shoulder.

“That’s gonna be us someday,” Lance told him with surprising conviction. “Seeing the stars, traveling to worlds never before seen.”

Hunk smiled. “I can’t wait.”

Hunk: Oh my god

Hunk: Katie I’m so sorry oh my god

Hunk: Are you okay?

Hunk: Sorry, stupid question

Hunk: Can I do anything to help?

Hunk: Katie?

✓ Read 11:17 PM