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no1frogfan · 8 months

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Impending, part 3

Matsukawa Issei x afab reader

Word count: ~3.4k

Tags & warnings: SMUT-MINORS & AGELESS BLOGS DO NOT INTERACT. Fingering, oral sex (f receiving), p in v. There is cum. Pubes exist in this world. A little angst, pining, guilt, and desperation (my four favorite flavors).

Note: Finally finished this mini-series. The word counts have grown too much each time, but what can I say? — I want him emotionally, spiritually, biblically.

part 1 | part 2

You can’t stay in bed forever.

Probably.

Not unless you can convince Hiro to bring you something for dinner, but that’s never going to happen.

A particularly angry gurgle from your stomach makes you roll out of bed and pick your way to the kitchen. The tackiness of your skin is proof you made the right choice to sleep the day away. Summers are always stifling, and the humidity lingers even after the sun has set, preventing the air from dropping to comfortable temperatures.

A cool gust from the fridge provides a welcome relief, though it’s unfortunate the shelves are empty. That’s the worst part of being at home — the isolation. The trees and hills are beautiful, even the warbling of the birds at 4am is nice, but grocery stores and restaurants are few and far between. You could walk to the ancient ramen place a few streets down, or the sukiyaki place a few streets up, but neither sound at all appealing in this heat.

“Did mom and dad leave us anything for dinner?” You shout toward the open basement door.

No answer.

“I know you can hear me.”

You can’t see the middle finger Makki holds up. “I’m getting pizza later.”

“Can we order now? I’m starving,” you pad downstairs with a whine.

Sprawled on the couch, Hiro is sporadically illuminated by some anime show on tv. While you don’t recognize it, you can at least pick out the white-haired guy Hiro likes landing a couple of (over)dramatic punches on a black-haired guy.

“How are you even hungry? You’ve just been sleeping all day.”

Your brother doesn’t take his eyes off the tv where the black-haired one finally managed to dodge, and now the white-haired one is strategizing (at length) about his next move.

“You’re one to talk! As if you’ve mov-”

“I’m hungry too,” a deep baritone chimes in seemingly from below you.

You leap back with a yelp, squinting into the darkness at your feet. Out of the shadows, Issei’s form slowly takes shape. Honestly, you’re shocked you didn’t step on him.

“That’s not what you said 5 minutes ago,” Makki grumbles, but picks up his phone to place the order.

Issei shrugs, reaching his arm out toward you.

You dodge beyond his fingertips and beat a hasty retreat back up the stairs, calling out over your shoulder, “order me a Hawaiian pizza.”

“No way in hell. That’s disgusting.”

Fake retching sounds follow you to the top.

The cold spray of the shower is calming, necessary even, to wash the stickiness from your skin and quiet your frazzled nerves.

That happened almost a week ago, and seeing him in your house every day has only made things more fraught. While you haven’t exactly been avoiding Issei, you haven’t tried to talk to him either. For your brother’s sake you should probably make clear that it was a mistake; one that will never happen again. You could blame it on the beer or the weed, but the truth is, Issei plagues your thoughts even while sober — his breath hot on your neck, fingertips digging into the fat of your hips, the utter fullness when he pushed into you.

Before that night, the image of him as a gawky preteen was all your mind could conjure up. But now… Your fingers aren’t enough to relieve the pressure anymore.

Your encounter unleashed some latent magnetic field, prickling your senses and hopelessly drawing you toward him at every turn. You welcome his attention more than you care to admit, so, unsurprisingly, it’s been hard not to make it weird, and harder not to second-guess every single interaction these days. Since when did he know your favorite snacks? Did he used to stare at you so much? Had he always been this touchy?

Or is he just hoping for a repeat of the other night?

The possibility stirs up both anxiety and relief. Except for the teeny, tiny detail of being your little brother’s best friend — you know, the one person outside of family that Hiro places 100% of his trust in — Issei would top your list of fuck buddies (and if you’re honest, maybe even more than that).

What’s been most confusing is that Issei doesn’t seem bothered, and you’re not sure why that irritates you so much. He’s never seemed like the kind of guy who would treat you like a notch in his bedpost, but then again, best friend’s sibling is a perennially popular porn trope for a reason. Surely he’s not immune.

None of that really matters though. Hiro’s been acting strange lately, like he knows something’s up. Half the time, he books it out of a room as soon as you walk in. God knows how he’d react if he found out what happened. Issei said he wouldn’t care, but how true is that? You try to imagine how you’d feel if one of your friends told you they’d slept with Hiro, and you can’t help but be…one, grossed out because you really don’t want to think about it. And two, well…protective, angry maybe. He might be an ass, but he’s still your brother, and you’d never do anything to actually hurt him.

A knock breaks into your anxious musings.

It’s then you notice you’re standing vacantly in the middle of your room. Somehow, you’d finished showering and walked back while lost in thought.

“Go away!”

Hiro is the last person you want to talk to right now; especially not before you can get your thoughts under control.

Footsteps shuffle away, but instead of the telltale creak of the stairs, they pause, then turn back toward the door.

The door jiggles and clicks open.

“What part of-”

Except it’s not Hiro. It’s Issei.

His audacity dumbfounds you, but only for a second.

“The hell?! Get out!”

Hesitation flickers across his face but he takes a step forward.

“Can we talk?”

“NO.” You wrap the towel tighter around yourself.

When he doesn’t move, you reiterate the point by whirling on your heels and stomping toward the dresser. The underwear drawer suddenly captures your full attention, and you rummage through it with single-minded focus.

The door shuts behind you with another click, and you let out a shaky breath.

The relief is short-lived.

“You’ve been avoiding me.” Goosebumps break out all over your skin at his words.

“That’s not true.”

The lavender scent of your shampoo tickles his nose. With you faced resolutely away, he steps closer and allows his eyes to sweep over the droplets gleaming across your shoulders.

“No?”

His lips brush against the base of your neck, and whatever retort you had fizzles on your tongue.

“Issei,” you whimper, “you said you wanted to talk.”

You lean back into his touch and feel him grin against the juncture of your neck. His hands, big and warm and firm, slide up under the towel to knead at your soft thighs, rapidly emptying your brain.

He gives you a gentle nudge toward the bed.

“I don’t think we should do this,” you protest, but your lack of conviction is apparent in how eagerly you obey, practically tripping over yourself to perch on the edge of the mattress.

He raises one thick eyebrow. “Why?”

“Hiro’s going to find out.”

Issei unbuttons his shirt with unhurried movements, unveiling the smooth musculature of his chest. Its slopes and dips are made more dramatic thanks to the yellow-orange light of the single desk lamp. You swallow thickly, eyes drawn to the sharp cut of his collarbones and the faded scar on his right hip.

“Makki knows. He doesn’t care.”

His shorts and underwear quickly land in a pile on the floor.

Even in the harsh light, his dick is nothing short of mouth-watering. A pretty flush tip sits enticingly over its thick, veiny length. Coarse hairs curl tightly at the base, trimmed short to reveal more of him.

He kneels and shuffles forward to tug the towel from your clutch, uttering an appreciative groan before he tosses it aside.

“Fuck, just look at you.”

Your objections devolve into gasping moans when he pushes you back to lay open-mouthed kisses across your collarbones and down your chest, sluggishly mouthing over your hips, down the tops of your legs and back up, licking a stripe along the tender skin of your inner thigh as he splays your legs up and out. He dives in to suck on your clit and you almost choke.

Your entire body tenses with pleasure when he starts to lap at you. But it’s the way he meets your gaze with hooded eyes — intoxicated from a single taste — that kickstarts the last ounce of resistance left in your body.

“Issei, if you- fuck that’s ahhh- you’re just looking to get your dick wet…”

That stills his tongue. Even though you’re the one protesting, you can’t help but whine now that he’s actually stopped.

“That’s not…” He frowns, a mixture of your juices and his saliva glistening on his chin. In one fluid motion, Issei slides you off the bed and onto his lap. A shudder runs through him when his erection glides against your folds, though it doesn’t distract him.

“Is that what you think this is?”

You’re not sure what answer he’s looking for, so you stay silent, head turned to avoid his eyes.

He scrutinizes you for what seems like an age. How could you not know? All the times he’s tried to impress you? All the things he’s done in the hopes you’ll notice him? All the years he’s trailed behind you — to your house, to university, and even to Sendai?

“Do you remember when your parents made you start watching us after school?”

Your face scrunches in confusion at the change in topic, but he’s insistent.

“Do you remember? Right after you started high school?”

“Ok…yeah,” you indulge, “I remember. I’d just joined photography club and had to quit like a month later. I was pissed — they’d never cared about leaving us home alone before so I didn’t understand why I had to babysit you guys.”

“They didn’t actually care. I made up some lie — I don’t even remember what it was now — to convince my parents we needed a sitter. I figured they’d make you do it, and they did.”

You look up in confusion. Is he…blushing?

“And in eighth grade, when I needed help with math… I actually bombed my tests on purpose for a month because I knew my parents would ask you.”

Wait… “Was that what your fights were about?”

Hiro and Issei were thick as thieves, the only exceptions being in your first and last years of high school. Their fights got heated too, though neither ever told you what set them off, no matter how many times you tried to pry it out of them. The second time, Issei didn’t come over for almost a month afterward (you remember because you had to go to his house to tutor him) but things always eventually went back to normal.

Issei huffs a soft chuckle. “Yeah, Makki figured it out.”

“Figured what out?”

“It’s not obvious?” Issei drops his head onto your shoulder with something between a groan and a laugh. “I liked you. A lot. I still do.”

He admits it so casually, like he’s commenting on the weather. Like he and Hiro haven’t kept this secret for over a decade. Like it’s hardly a confession at all.

For once, you’re the one struggling to keep up.

“Wait…you like me?”

You feel a muffled snort. “That’s literally what I’ve been saying this whole time.”

“And Hiro’s…not mad? But he’s been acting so weird lately,” you point out.

“Oh that. He keeps trying to ‘give us space’ or something. I told him to cool it.”

“Oh.” Huh. Maybe it was obvious. You were just too worried about Hiro to notice that every time he flew out of a room with some flimsy excuse, you were left alone with Issei. Issei, who you like more than you expected. Who’s had a crush on you for more than a decade. Whose lap you’re currently nestled in, naked.

“Does that mean we can…” You shift, jerking when your clit catches his spongy tip.

He laughs, grinding his hips up to meet you.

“We sure can.”

You’re still wet, really wet, you’re reminded when your pussy glides against him, and getting more aroused by the second as Issei stares, mesmerized by the slick trail you leave along the length of his cock.

His hands slide down to give your ass an excited squeeze before lifting you up onto the edge of the bed.

Dextrous fingers part your puffy lips as he rests his cheek against your thigh, giving him the perfect view of your dripping cunt. He thumbs lightly at your clit and heaves a sigh of contentment when your hips buck in response.

“Didn’t get to enjoy this last time.”

You bite back a moan when he slides one long finger into you. It reaches deep, and you squirm in encouragement when he sinks a second one in. He works them nimbly, curling and scissoring them while rolling your clit, breaking you down into a whiny mess in seconds, until you’re dripping down his wrists and onto the sheets.

You’re so distracted by his fingers that you don’t notice him dive in, just feel his lips wrap around your clit with a slurp. He licks and sucks at you eagerly, and you can only gasp and writhe, trying to steady yourself with a fist in his soft wavy hair. The walls echo with your cries mingled with Issei’s enthusiastic groans and the wet suction of your cunt around his fingers.

It catches you by surprise when you cum, cresting fast and hard, pulling your body taut and whiting out your vision. Before you realize it, you’re already quaking with aftershocks, trying to twist away from the overwhelming sensation of him licking and suckling dreamily as you come down.

When he finally pulls his fingers out, he makes a show of sucking them clean, stroking himself as he smirks up at you.

He pushes himself up off the floor and god, fuck. He’s irresistible, his cock bobbing heavily between his legs as he gets on his hands and knees above you.

Issei leans down, humming happily when he wraps his mouth around your right nipple. He massages your chest with one hand and grips his cock with the other to smear his tip along your sopping pussy.

It feels good, but you squirm and push at his shoulders. “Want you in my mouth,” you beg.

He placates you with a hungry kiss. “Next time, ok? Next time. I can barely- I don’t think I can last long,” he admits wryly, “but next time we’ll do anything you want.”

Your eyelids flutter shut in anticipation when he lines himself up.

He pushes in slowly, first the fat mushroom tip, then the whole thick length of him, rocking himself in, out, in, inch by inch until he’s pressed flush against you. Issei groans when your face contorts with pleasure. The stretch is incredible. He stuffs you so full, finally hitting that place you’ve been unable to reach.

He takes things slow. Too slow. He wasn’t able to savor you before, but he’s not about to make the same mistake again. His long, languid strokes are just enough to have you grinding against him in frustration with every thrust.

“Let me enjoy this for a minute,” he rasps.

His hands trail restlessly across your body, caressing and squeezing every inch of skin he can reach. He kisses his way down your neck to roll his tongue around your nipple, biting and sucking one before moving to the other, and back again.

After what feels like hours, your patience finally gives out.

You smack him hard on the ass. “Issei! Fuck me already.”

That jolts his hips into action. The length of his body is laid on top of you, pinning your legs up against your shoulders as he pistons into you with surprising force. Wet slaps alternate with the loud squeak of the mattress.

You begin to quiver, your whole body shaking as the heat builds in your core. He reaches deep, so so deep, making you wail every time he bumps your clit and his cock hits that perfect spot inside of you over and over again.

“Ohhh- fuck, Issei please I’m-”

He barely has time to blink before you’re falling apart at the seams again. Wave after blinding wave of ecstasy crash over you, relentless.

Your pussy clenches hard, gripping his cock so firmly he can barely move. Not a second later, he pulls out with a shout. Through hazy eyes, you see his mouth drop open. He fists his cock only once before his body stiffens, convulsing as jets of hot cum shoot out to land on your cheeks, shoulders, chest, stomach, dribbling out to coat your pubes, before finally leaving him twitching.

The room fills with hoarse pants.

You laugh weakly at the mess. “Wow, you came a lot.”

“I think I almost blacked out,” he croaks.

With great effort, he pushes himself off the bed and returns with the box of tissues from your desk. He cleans you up with care, just like last time.

“I wanted to last longer,” he mumbles, pressing a sheepish kiss to your sternum before collapsing on you, pinning you down with his weight.

It does something funny to your heart to witness him like this, so different from his usual confidence.

“Next time,” you assure him.

“Next time?” He looks up, almost reverent.

“Yeah.” You smile and brush the damp curls away from his eyes.

Next time. He breaks out in an obnoxious grin. There’s going to be a next time. And if there’s a next time, there might be a time after that.

“You won’t even need to introduce me to your parents.”

You snort. “Ok, pump the brakes.”

When you finally make your way back to the kitchen (with Issei practically holding you up as you wobbled), you find one Hawaiian pizza and two-thirds of a pepperoni pizza sitting on the counter.

Issei loads up a plate for you both before heading down to the basement. You grab some cold beers and follow suit, pausing in the doorway to take a few calming breaths.

You don’t hear any yelling or scuffling — a positive sign. Hopefully, that means Hiro isn’t too angry.

You take one wary step, then another.

When you reach the bottom, your eyes hesitantly find Hiro’s. There’s an uneasy moment when he frowns at you from where he’s seated on the floor before he gives you a curt nod. It’s stiff, but definitely not angry, not even upset.

Your shoulders untense.

Issei waves you over to the couch where he settles you securely in his lap, his arms encircling your waist. You cast another wary glance at Hiro who just rolls his eyes.

“Glad you’re finally done ‘getting some water,’” Makki snipes. “I’ve been waiting forever to start the next episode.”

“I’m definitely not thirsty anymore if you know what I mean.” Mattsun wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

Hiro’s face twists, revolted. “Ugh- I- ugh god, I don’t want to think about-” he sputters. His eyes flick to where Issei’s hands grope at your thighs and ass. “Whoa, ok rule number one: not when I’m right here. And rule number two-” there’s an uncomfortable pause before he mutters, “keep it down next time.”

Mattsun’s not at all chagrined. In fact, he puffs out his chest proudly.

You, on the other hand, shrink in absolutely mortification. Right when Issei opens his mouth to make another (probably vulgar) retort, you shove a slice of pizza in…with a little more force than you intended.

He chokes in surprise and your brother lets out a mean snicker. “Perfect timing! Serves you right.”

You expect him to continue bickering with Hiro, but Issei instead flashes you a dopey grin. “Thank you baby,” he says sweetly, muffled though it is by a mouthful of food.

The gleeful smirk drops right off Makki’s face and he whirls back toward the tv with a loud gag.

“You’re welcome,” you giggle. Your brain’s still playing catch-up with everything that’s happened today, but you think you like where this is heading.

#haikyuu x reader #haikyuu #haikyuu smut #matsukawa issei #matsukawa x reader #matsukawa smut #hq x reader #froggy scribbles

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firefirefruit · 3 months

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Steel in Her Veins, Chapter: Seventeen

Read On: AO3 | Table of Contents | Next Chapter

Chapter Seventeen: Onigiri

As your hand connects with his, you reluctantly trail behind Gramps, nursing a humongous grudge against him for ousting you from the workshop.

"Social interaction’s important at your age!" he insists, his stubborn furrow signalling the inevitable shift in the course of your life.

Armed with his illegally immigrated Wano connections scrawled within his logbook, Gramps engages in a series of letters with a familiar Shimotsuki contact, meticulously planning a rendezvous through extensive log pose calculations.

"Why can't we just head to their dojo?" you grumble, eyeing the island that sits perfectly equidistant from your home and the Dojo-guy’s village. At least then there would be something to actually do, and people to see. The prospect of aimlessly wandering around on a boring old island makes you even more reluctant to the thought of ‘socialisation.’

"The less people see us, the easier it is to stay safe," Gramps replies.

His words bring to mind a recent incident, just a month ago, when you both urgently had to evacuate yet again, from another workshop, on yet another island. It was the result of an attack orchestrated by those shittily-dressed CP members who always manage to track you down, no matter how many times and how far you flee.

Hidden upstairs, you could only hear the rattles and thuds following Gramps as you scrambled to pick up your emergency bags, pre-emptively prepared for such occasions before escaping to the meeting point.

Gramps would never, ever, let you fight alongside him. He had this entrenched fear of them finding out about your existence and you didn’t know why. You didn’t get what was so detrimental about them seeing a girl living along with her gramps, working regularly on her craft. But you could tell, if there was only one rule that you had to follow, it was this one.

The way Gramps demanded this from you from the very start of your immigration from Wano, with such an intense and severe resolution set across his face, made all the objections you wanted to spout out immediately die on your tongue.

The more you grew, the more dangerous it was simply to exist outside of Wano. And the rich bit was, you still didn’t know why. Gramps wouldn’t say – you didn’t know whether he actually knew the reason why, or if he was as unsure as you were, but it was always brushed off whenever you questioned him about it.

“Whatever,” you mutter lowly and roll your eyes, walking even slower behind Suki just to irritate him.

“I’ll change the locks on the studio again if you keep moping,” he cheekily says, giving you a little side-eye. And in an instant, you kick your feet up to match his pace, not wanting to have to start lockpicking through the doors again just to do your work.

“Look, they’re here,” Gramps whispers to you before turning his attention to the two figures.

From a distance, you eye a young blue-haired girl moping behind the man who seems to be her father, annoyedly swinging a sword in her hand. The sword claws at the grass in front of her feet, becoming more of a pick-axe than a fearsome blade. Your eyes light up as you pay closer attention to the type of sword she has in her fingers, a slight interest warming you from the inside.

“Sukiyaki!” The man says in greeting, tugging on his daughter’s reluctant hand as he walks toward the two of you.

Gramps grins wildly, embracing him warmly. “It’s been a while. Your old man leaving Wano’s done you some good, eh?”

The man laughs kindly, patting his back. “I can say the same thing about you, ex-Shogun.”

“You can thank this little rascal for that,” Gramps says, staring down at you pointedly. “This is Raya, my granddaughter.”

The man smiles at you, making you instantly want to smile back just by looking at the warmth that emanates from his eyes. “Hello, Raya. I’m Koushiro - this is my daughter, Kuina.”

Your eyes flicker back to the blue-haired girl who now has an eyebrow raised at you, her eyes twinging with slight interest.

“I like your sword,” you shyly mutter, eyes glued to the weapon in her possession.

The girl looks taken aback, unsure of what to say. She looks up to her father, uncertain of what to do – and as he gives her a little reassuring nod, a subtle smile creeps onto her face. Finally, there’s another girl who's just like her, who’s really into swords.

“I like her too,” she finally says, fumbling the hilt across her palm. She steps towards you, extending her Wado Ichimonji out as a friendship offering. “Wanna hold her?”

With a sudden shock to your body, your eyelids groggily slink upwards. Hot breath blows on your face as you try to make sense of your surroundings, realising that the floor beneath you is moving at an incredibly dangerous pace.

“What...?” You mumble heavily, forcefully blinking a few times to unblur your vision. You feel restrained, feeling fingers that aren’t your own that grip at your skin. A huff of paced breath hits your face again, the boulder set against your cheek expanding with each aggressive step.

“Stay still,” Zoro exhales, his arms holding your legs and arms even tighter against his chest.

Your eyes immediately snap wide open, gaping up at the green-haired samurai who’s running like his life is on the line.

“Let me go,” you slur, dizzily slapping your hand against his chest. “I can run by myself.”

“Like fuck I will. Not gonna make that mistake again,” Roronoa mutters through gritted teeth, his eyes glued on the path before him.

His footsteps reverberate through the landscape, each step a jolt that echoes through your restrained form. You squirm in his grasp, desperately trying to break free, but his grip remains unyielding.

“Seriously, Roronoa! Put me down!” you protest, your voice slurred from the side-effect of Chopper’s sedative. The world blurs around you as he sprints, carelessly snapping branches and rocks from beneath his heavy boots.

“Just shut up and stay still,” he snaps, his focus unwavering. The rhythm of his strides runs like a wild drum beat, chaotic and messy, and you can't help but feel a sense of intense dread within you.

As you keep protesting, your eyes catch glimpses of the passing scenery—a chaotic blur of mountains, rocks, and uneven terrain. Zoro seems to navigate effortlessly, his instincts finely tuned to the path ahead.

A surge of irritation courses through you as you look down and away from Roronoa’s clenched jawline, your fingers gripping over his tightening arms as you try to make sense of your surroundings.

“Where are we even going?” you demand, hoping for an explanation.

Zoro glances down, his singular grey eye piercing through you.

“To safety. Hold on,” he replies.

The erratic journey continues until Zoro abruptly comes to a halt. You're released from his firm grasp, stumbling slightly as you find your footing. The world finally stops spinning, and you take a moment to regain your bearings.

“We’re here,” Zoro states, a hint of urgency still lingering in his voice. Your surroundings slowly come into focus —a cave within a mountain, the canopy casting shadows over the uneven ground.

“What’s going on? Why are we in the middle of nowhere?” you ask, frustration lacing your words. Zoro doesn’t immediately respond, his attention drawn to the surroundings as if assessing potential threats.

He lets out a sigh, then faces you, a hand carefully resting on the hilt of his Kitetsu. "We brought you to the shaman. The moment he laid eyes on you, he started screaming. Kept referring to you as Oni, then ordered his lackeys to spill your blood until it runs dry."

You stare at him silently. Then, you huff out a singular laugh. “What?”

“Yup,” he says, shifting himself to the rocky floor. “He thinks you’re a demon. Said he felt something in your blood.”

“Great, so I’m a demon now,” you say, staring down at your awfully blackened arm. The growth seems to have halted while you were unconscious, prompting a small sigh of relief. Well, at least there’s that.

Zoro looks away with a smirk, his arm crossed. “Now? You always were one.”

You scoff, an eyebrow raised. “You got some jokes, samurai.”

You stumble a little from the disorientation, gasping in the process. Zoro immediately shifts from his position, his eye widening, arms held out in preparation, but you manage to shift your arms onto the wall behind you, panting in surprise.

“I got it.” You strain out. Zoro lowers his arms and pointedly stares at you in reply.

“Maybe you should sit down. You’re confused.”

So, you sit yourself down on the jagged terrain, earning a surprised stare from Zoro.

“What?”

“You actually listened.”

“Yeah, well…” You look down at your arm again, grimacing. “Chopper’s sedative is gonna wear off soon, and my arm’s definitely gonna feel it.”

Zoro's gaze very slightly softens as he takes in the exhaustion etched across your face. "We'll find a way to fix this. For now, rest."

“Rest in the terrified Shaman’s cave. Great plan,” you mutter, though you do lean back against the cold, rocky surface.

As the minutes pass, you decide to rest your eyes whilst keeping your ears open. The images of your previous dream swirl in your thoughts, blending with the rhythmic dripping sounds of the cave, and you can't help but purse your lips at the thought of Kuina. What would she have been like, if she was still alive and the same age as you? You'll never know. You'll never know, and that's what hurts.

Before you let yourself completely relax your muscles and slacken your head against the wall, a sudden stampede of footsteps begin to scramble their way to the entrance of the cave, making your eyes snap wide open.

“They found us,” you whisper, instantly knowing the amount of hot shit the both of you are in right now. Your fingers curl over the dagger in your belt. “Tell me, did you see them use magic?”

Zoro drifts his gaze from the sudden clambering of the Shaman’s underlings to you, his lips pursed. You stare back at him, raising your eyebrows.

“Okay. So, are they talented?”

He remains staring at you, pursing his lips even harder into a straight line. Instantly, you turn away, eyes flickering in thought.

“Well, fuck. Shit. Okay…” You heave yourself from the ground, stumbling slightly in the process. “I think I have a plan.”

Zoro rises, his sword now glimmering and unsheathed. He stands in front of the opening, pure focus in his eye, as he holds the Kitetsu into the air.

“Look, you’ve got to leave and let me deal with them,” you say, making Zoro snap his head to you in outrage.

“Absolutely fucking not,” he growls, narrowing his eye at you. “Are you insane?”

“Seriously, Roronoa, you need to run away. Leave me --”

“You know what you’re sounding awfully a lot like? Your old man.”

“But—”

He glares at you, ferocity lingering in his lone eye.

“I told you, I’m not fuckin’ makin’ that mistake again.”

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vegan-nom-noms · 8 months

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Vegan Sukiyaki Rolls With Rainbow Veggies And Tofu

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sommerflue-22 · 9 months

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Haunted House | Obanai Iguro x f!Reader

Featuring: Obanai Iguro, Shinobu Kocho, Suma, Tengen Uzui

Content Warning: f!reader, modern setting, university au, cursing

Word Count: 2.7k

A/n: For reference, here's how I picture Obanai in this fic

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It was hard to put on a brave face in front of your friends while standing just in front of the Haunted House. You could hardly open your eyes while watching some mediocre horror films that weren't even terrifying. What chance do you have of surviving a Haunted House?

"Come on, (Y/N). You said that you would do it." Shinobu nudged, pushing you to go inside. "We even paid for your ticket!"

"You didn't say it's a haunted house!" You protested.

"Don't worry, (Y/N). You can just run through the whole thing, keep your eyes on the ground and follow the trail." Suma encouraged. "Plus, I heard Tengen managed to persuade that one senior you like to participate."

Your eyes widened and shushed Suma, not wanting anyone else to know that you're there for a certain someone.

It all started when your two best friends had had enough of your endless sighing when you saw Obanai Iguro, your awkward, 'allergic to women' senior. Even after graduating a year ago, he continued to study for his Master's degree at the same university. Shinobu and Suma realized it wasn't easy for you to talk to Obanai because of his difficult demeanor and the lack of opportunities for you to approach him. Though, they really wanted you to give it a chance and make a move. Hence their suggestion for you to approach him in the university festival. If it turns out that Obanai breaks your heart, they will be right there to support you. If things went well, you owe them dinner at your favorite all-you-can-eat sukiyaki joint.

You couldn't remember what made you agree to their idea, but you ended up following them to the university festival. You prepared yourself to say a few words to Obanai, perhaps in the pop-up restaurant made by the Culinary Art students. But no, you'll (hopefully) come across Obanai in the Drama Club's Haunted House.

"It's just a fake Haunted House." Shinobu rolled her eyes. "Come on, hurry up."

"Is he even in there?" You asked, giving your best puppy eyes to your friends, hoping that they'll forget this idea and you all could go get some ice cream.

"I told you, Tengen said he's in there! Your soon-to-be-boyfriend is in there!" Suma groaned, "Just go! If it turns out you can't find Iguro, or if he breaks your heart, Shinobu will pay for our sukiyaki fiesta."

"What the hell?"

"Shush, Shi-chan. (Y/N) needs some motivation to go in." Suma quickly grabbed your shoulder and pushed you into the haunted house, "Off you go!"

"HEY, WAIT I'M NOT READY—"

It was too late. The person in charge of directing visitors inside has already shut the door. You were surrounded by darkness, with only a faint red LED light on the floor to guide you. You kept your gaze fixed on the ground until your eyes adjusted to the darkness. After a minute, you could recognize your surroundings. A worn-out white cloth hung from the ceiling, as well as properties such as a rocking chair (that moves on its own), a baby carriage, and other items. You weren't sure about the haunted house's concept. It didn't matter because you were only trying to make it to the exit.

You followed the red LED lights, your hands covering your ears and your gaze fixed on the floor. You took a few steps forward and were startled to see a hideous mask on the floor next to your foot.

"Fuck my life," you bit your fist to suppress your scream. You're not going to scream over some ugly mask.

"Breathe, breathe, breathe…" you tried to calm yourself down for a little bit before resuming your journey.

After being shocked by what seemed to be a robot, dressed as a clown, you finally decided to distract yourself by singing.

"I know you guys are hiding somewhere but please don't judge my singing voice!" You yelled, took a deep breath, and started singing at the top of your lungs. "Is this the real life... is this just fantasy... Caught in a landslide, no escape—AH FUCK DON'T COME AT ME!"

The clown, that you thought was a robot, was in fact a man… and he left his place to come after you.

"NO NO NO, GET AWAY!" You backed away from the clown, who had a very scary makeup on. Too scared to actually process what you're doing, you took off one of your shoes and throw it at the clown, making him yelp in pain.

"No escape from reality—OI, NO I TOLD YOU TO GET AWAY!" You took another step back as the clown took two step forwards.

Whoever the clown was, he surely was having a great time because the next thing you knew, he walked faster towards you in such an odd and cryptic way.

You screamed and ran for your dear life, pushing your way through the properties and knocking things over. You could feel and see other people, posing as ghosts, attempting to grab your hand or shoulder. Yet you were terrified, shoving them away as you ran around the auditorium, shouting.

You came to a halt when you were faced with a dead end.

"No, no it can't be!" You touched the wall in front of you, "No! I can't go back! Please let me out!"

You froze as you heard footsteps behind you, coming closer slowly. You pressed your hands harder to your ear and crouched, closing your eyes shut.

"Please, no more, please. Please don't do anything to me…"

"Oi, woman." Whoever that person was kneeled next to you, "Oi."

You opened one of your eyes slightly and saw a silhouette of a man with his hair tied back. He wasn't dressed up in a scary costume; he was wearing a white button-up shirt and dark-colored slacks. You decided it was safe to put your trust in this guy, so you opened another eye and glanced up…

…only to be met with a pair of heterochromatic eyes.

At any other time, you would probably start to blush and stutter. However you're too far gone, so afraid of your surrounding. So you did the only thing you could think of: reach out for his arms.

"I'm sorry." You whisper-yelled. "I'm so sorry, I need help standing. Please help me. I'm scared. Please—"

"Stop saying sorry, I'm here to help you." He hissed and pulled you up. "You didn't trip, did you?"

"No. I'm sorry, senpai—"

"Shush." Obanai grabbed your elbow and leading you back to the right path. "How could a coward like you enter this goddamn room alone?"

"My friends kinda dared me… t-to do it…"

He tutted, annoyed. "And you actually do it?"

You nodded. With Obanai's grip on your elbow, your fear dissipated and changed into nervousness. Suma was right, he was in the Haunted House. It looked like he was one of the 'security' that helped people out.

"I-Iguro… san?" You called out.

"Hmm?"

You actually didn't know what to say, you only wanted to say his name. But you couldn't possibly leave him hanging, it would be awkward.

"T-thank you... for saving me..."

Obanai stole a glance at you, how you were shaking and fear, afraid of your surrounding. His eyes then shifted to his hand, which was still holding your elbow as you two walk through the path.

"It's my job." Obanai let his grip fell, ignoring your small whimper of fear. "You're the only person I have to save today, so far."

"Oh... I'm sorry..."

"Hmm..."

You walked silently behind Obanai, wanting to grip his shirt but not wanting him to despise you. He might have already despised you back then. As far as you know, he never wanted to deal with any girls. He certainly didn't want to have to rescue you from the haunted house.

"You called me senpai."

"Huh?"

"Back then, you called me senpai didn't you?" Obanai asked.

"Oh, yeah... I'm majoring in Chemistry." You answered timidly, not knowing where this conversation was going.

"Hmm..."

Your gaze was drawn to the large red exit sign at the end of the path, and you let go of the breath you'd been holding. Finally, this torment was coming to an end. You couldn't wait to meet Shinobu and Suma outside, even if it meant having to part with Obanai. Overall, it was a horrible idea; Obanai would never consider you as a suitable partner. Maybe he just doesn't like girls? Maybe he's into one of his friends, like Shinazugawa or that gloomy Tomioka? Whoever it was, you knew your chances of being with Obanai were nonexistent.

A few steps away from the exit, you opened your mouth to say thank you once again...

...but instead, you let out a loud scream as someone got a grip on your ankle.

"What the fuck—"

It all happened so quickly. You slipped and crashed on Obanai's back, startling him and causing him to grab your shoulder and shove you away.

You opened your eyes and the next thing you know, you saw familiar figures hovering above you.

"Hey, thanks to your screaming, people are queueing for our Haunted House!" A bulky man with white hair grinned from ear to ear.

"Tengen-san!" Suma pushed him away and turned to you. "(Y/N)-chan! Are you alright? Is your head okay?"

"Suma..." You whimpered and propped yourself up but something's weighing down your torso.

"Iguro, that's enough. Let the poor girl up." Tengen boomed.

You looked down and noticed Obanai had fallen on top of you. His head was on top of your stomach, tilted to one side, but you realized how red his face was.

"Senpai?" You called out.

He snapped out of his own thoughts and quickly stood up, dusting off his pants as he did so. Obanai stared down at you before quietly walking away.

"You're not even going to help her up?" Shinobu sneered.

Obanai stopped right on his track.

"What's with your 'allergic to girls' bullshit, huh?"

"Shinobu, it's alright, I'm fine." You got on your feet, helped by Suma, and held on Shinobu's arm. "Come on let's go, okay?"

"No, (Y/N), I'm gonna rip off that goddamn mask from his face!"

"Shi-chan, let's just drop this okay? (Y/N) probably needs food, she's still shaking." Suma added, totally worried. Shinobu might seemed calm on the outside, but both you and Suma knew she was in rage.

Shinobu stayed where she stood, but her eyes bore into Obanai's. She lifted a finger and pointed at him. "I will not let you get close to (Y/N) ever again."

Without waiting for Obanai's response, Shinobu tugged yours and Suma's elbows, dragging you away from the Haunted House. You looked over your shoulder and grimaced when you noticed Obanai just froze. His eyes were on the ground, hands balled up in a fist.

༻❁༺

It's been a month since the Haunted House incident. Shinobu apologized for what she had said, but she stood by it. Despite Obanai's 'female allergy,' he should have helped you up. You admitted she had a valid argument.

"It's fine," you said. "Makes it easier for me to forget him."

That's not true at all. Even after a month, you still caught yourself staring at him whenever you saw him from afar. In the library, in the cafeteria, across the campus' quad, even in a crowded diner near your campus. Obanai was everywhere. Most of the time you stole a glance towards him when Shinobu wasn't looking. It was hard not to, you've been crushing on your senior for more than a year now.

You sat in your classes, randomly thinking if Obanai found the topic you're currently learning as difficult. You examined your professor and wondered if Obanai hated him. It's even harder for you to forget him since you're majoring the same thing as him.

You stared at the paper in your hand, then at the door in front of you. Your professor had crossed one of your answer, even when you got the right answer. You've checked with your classmates. Thinking it was a mistake, you decided to ask the professor about it.

You knocked on his door and waited. No answer. You knocked again. Still no answer. Just when you're about to knock for the third time, the door opened.

"Hi, Professor, I was wondering if I could talk to... you?"

A pair of heterochromatic eyes stared down at you, mouth covered with a mask.

"Huh." Obanai opened the door a bit wider. "He's not here at the moment."

"I see... Well, then... I'll come back tomorrow." You nodded your head and turned on your heels.

"Wait."

You raised an eyebrow at him.

"Is that your quiz from last week?" Obanai asked, to which you nodded. "Come in."

You followed him in and closed the door. Your professor's office was quite spacious and organized. Tons of books in his bookcase, files and papers on his desk, and Obanai who, for whatever reason, was in there, leaning against the professor's desk. He held out his hand, motioning for you to give him your paper. You gave it to him, standing a few steps away from Obanai.

"Are you the Teaching Assistant?" You asked.

"Yes. I graded yours and your classmates' answers."

"Okay."

The room grew silent, and you took advantage of the opportunity to take a look at him up close. Obanai was just a couple of inches taller than you. He's dressed in his typical black and white striped shirt and has his hair done back in a ponytail. You remembered how he used to let it fall on his shoulder. You loved seeing his hair like that. To be able to see him there in front of your eyes, bathed in sunlight from the window…

Obanai has never appeared more ethereal.

"I made a mistake, didn't I?" He asked, out of the blue. You were caught off guard.

"Uh... yeah, it's that... that one, number eight. I got the right answer, yet you still crossed it."

Obanai took a pen from his pocket and scribbled on your paper. You waited for him to finish. He probably caught you staring, but you didn't really care. Just because you didn't have any chance to be with him, didn't mean you're not allowed to appreciate his beauty, right?

Obanai folded your paper in half and handed it back to you. "I apologize."

You grabbed the paper and waved your hand. "No, it's fine. It's a small mistake."

"I mean for the other day."

"Huh?"

"Back in the Haunted House."

"Ah..." You could feel your cheeks turned crimson. "It doesn't matter, senpai. I'm sorry for the inconvenience and for what my friend said."

Obanai didn't say anything, he just stared at you and nodded slowly.

"Well, then," you cleared your throat, "I better get going."

"Yeah."

He walked you back to the door, something that he didn't really need to do since it was only a few steps away. Obanai opened the door for you and leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms.

"Thanks again, senpai." You cracked a small smile.

Obanai nodded. "Check again if I crossed any of your right answers."

"Oh, I believe that was the only answer you crossed." You unfolded the paper. "I checked all of them and..."

"Mhmm?"

You were at loss of words. There were a scribble at the end of your paper, something that wasn't there before.

i'm sorry fancy some dinner to make up for it? Text me: 003-XXXX-XXXX

"S-senpai?"

"Don't... call me that." Obanai looked away, a tint of pink was visible on his pale cheek.

"...Obanai-san?"

He sighed. "You're not supposed to read it here."

"I'm sorry." You chuckled, not really prepared to witness your senior being flustered because of you.

"So?" Obanai asked. "Your answer?"

"S-sure." You gave him a thumbs up. It was an awkward move but you just got asked out by your crush for a dinner.

"Text me your address. I'll pick you up at seven." Obanai stepped back and closed the door, a little bit too hard.

You froze in your place, clutching your quiz paper on your chest. Your mind went fuzzy, couldn't comprehend what happened just yet.

"Dinner... at seven... okay..."

You walked away, looking at the scribble Obanai left on your paper. A little squeal slipped past through your lips as you walked faster, eager to reach your dorm and get ready for dinner.

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Thank you for reading! Find me on Ao3 and Twitter

#demon slayer #kimetsu no yaiba #demon slayer fanfic #kny fanfic #demon slayer au #kny au #obanai iguro #obanai x reader #obanai x y/n #obanai x you #kny x reader #demon slayer x reader #modern setting #reader insert

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tonguetiedraven · 1 year

Note

I was wondering if you’d write something where Ryuuji occasionally gushes to Rin and confesses little bits in different languages because he knows Rin won’t understand them but the feelings are too big to keep all to himself? Maybe Rin ends ups trying to look up bits and pieces and figures out that Ryuuji likes him too <3

This is such a fantastically cute idea! Thank you so much for the prompt!!!

— — （´・｀）♡ — —

“Eisai omorfos.”

Rin looked up from his dumpling with a hum, thinking he’d just missed what Ryuuji had said. The Aria was early to the group dinner — the aria was early to absolutely everything and Rin found it annoying and endearing. (Partly because he was late to everything.)

Looking up, he found Ryuuji already staring at him. The Aria promptly choked and looked back at his book.

Rin raised a confused eyebrow. “What’s that?”

“Homework,” Ryuuji mumbled, turning a bit pink as he flipped a page. Rin just grinned and kept folding his dumplings. Ryuuji blushed all the time. He was pretty easily embarrassed and Rin rarely understood what had caused it.

(Rin kind of liked that. It was fun watching someone so confident in so many things blush.)

“Why ya doing homework? This is supposed to be a fun night.”

Ryuuji rolled his eyes. “I’m doing it so I can have a fun night.”

Rin plopped the finished dumpling with his others and started on forming the next one.

“You know it’s Friday. No one does their homework on a Friday.”

Ryuuji shrugged, highlighting a section in a perfect line. Rin’s highlights were always wobbly as hell.

Rin turned his attention back to his work, deftly folding the dumpling and adding the little twist the Old Man hadn’t been able to master.

“Omorfos,” Ryuuji murmured, and Rin’s eyes shot back to him to find Ryuuji looking at his page with his pierced ears going a bit pink.

Rin felt like Ryuuji had been looking at him again, and he felt his own cheeks tinting the slightest bit pink.

Omorfos. He wondered what that was.

— — (๑❛▿❛)(*’▿’ ) — —

“Ta mátia sou eínai panémorfa.”

Ryuuji’s quiet words had Rin blinking and lowering his gaze from the sunset to meet Ryuuji’s gaze. They were sitting in the park, waiting for Konekomaru and Izumo to show up for a patrol, and Rin had kind of gotten distracted. He’d been rambling about something (sukiyaki? Was that what he’d been saying?) and then got all caught up in the sunset.

“Huh?” Rin asked, wondering if he’d misheard. He didn’t recognize the language. He didn’t know how many Ryuuji knew, but it seemed like a lot. Rin was always seeing him read stuff in other languages. Rin could barely read Japanese and couldn’t imagine trying to learn to read another one. But Ryuuji just did it for fun.

“Ta mátia sou eínai panémorfa,” Ryuuji repeated every bit as softly as the first time he’d said the words. It was definitely another language.

“Is that English?” Rin asked, frowning a bit. “What’s it mean?”

Ryuuji shook his head and looked away with his own small frown. “No. It’s not English. It’s… nothing. Just… thinking out loud.”

Rin grinned and mostly managed to hide his small laugh. “You think in other languages?” He liked this dork far too much.

“Sometimes!” Ryuuji said defensively, blushing all over again and looking adorable. “I’m an Aria! It happens.”

Rin leaned over, spotting Konekomaru coming in the distance and seeing a fun opportunity to further tease his cute friend.

“Konekomaru!” he called, “do you think in other—”his words were abruptly cut off by a hand over his mouth.

“Don’t!” Ryuuji growled, and Rin’s eyes went way too wide for a joke with a friend. Ryuuji just had big hands and it was really warm. Ryuuji also had really dark eyes. Pretty dark eyes. Like beef broth.

Blinking, Rin forced himself to focus. “Why?” He garbled around the hand. Konekomaru and Izumo were staring at them, and Ryuuji’s cheeks were blushing darker.

Ryuuji dropped his hand from Rin’s mouth.

“Do I think what?” Konekomaru asked. Rin looked between him and Ryuuji’s pink cheeks. He looked embarrassed, but not the fun kind now.

Rin looked back at his friend and smiled. “Think they’ll have restocked the Yakisoba pan?”

Konekomaru shook his head. “You know those are terrible for you.”

“But they’re delicious!” Rin exclaimed as he bounced to his feet.

Ryuuji was giving him a bit of a strange look. It was intense, but not in a bad away. It had Rin’s tail squirming a little.

“Right, Ryuuji?” Rin asked, just to break the silence and because he felt like he had to do something with that gaze on him.

“Right,” Ryuuji said softly, standing up and shouldering his bag. “Delicious.”

(Panémorfa. Rin couldn’t help but wonder what it meant.)

— — ღ´͈ ᵕ ͈ )♡⃛(´͈ ᵕ͈ ღ — —

It happened a lot. Rin kind of forgot about the random phrases and exclamations when they were over, usually distracted by something else because Ryuuji was always fun and distracting and Rin was usually thinking about other things when Ryuuji wasn’t around, like the aria’s smiles and all too rare laugh, or his dark and intense eyes or his lips, or the amount he could lift, or—

Well, there was a lotta things to be distracted with.

But when he did think about them, it was really hard to do anything about them. Rin was the first to admit that he wasn’t gifted in languages, and he could only manage Japanese somewhat successfully and had entirely failed at learning anything else outside of some stuff for cooking.

It was also really hard to look up words you didn’t know how to spell or even what language they were in. Youpee was a fun word to say, but when he tried to look it up he got nothing, and using his phone’s voice to text didn’t give him any better results. (It was Gioúpi, but he didn’t know that.)

And Ryuuji really only said it when it was just the two of them, so it wasn’t like he could ask someone else about it.

It happened when they were studying, sparring, eating, walking, chatting, absolutely any random time seemed like a potential moment, so he hadn't been able to narrow it down to more than just the two of them.

Sometimes it would just be a word or two, sometimes a sentence, and sometimes it seemed like an entire book and Rin would just stare wide eyed with out any hope of remembering the sounds of the words he didn't know and couldn't look up.

Ryuuji was also always already staring at him when it happened, which Rin wasn't sure about what that meant, but it felt like it meant something.

He tried to nod and act like he got it, but that didn't work, and Ryuuji always got all weird when Rin asked what it meant, and then he’d get blushy, and then Rin would forget about the words because Ryuuji’s blush was cute as hell, and well…

Rin had gotten anywhere but far with it.

They were dragging themselves up the steps to Kato hall today, getting ready to disappear into the Cram school and turn in their reports to Light. (Ryuuji was going to turn in the reports. Rin was going to yell about getting a warning when they were fighting something like MOLB.)

Ryuuji paused at the top, looking over his shoulder at the sunset. Rin turned to look too because it was pretty and it was cool how clear of a view you got of it on the higher levels of the Academy. It was a really orange sunset, and it made Rin think of fire. He didn’t notice himself getting a toothy smile, or his tail wagging as he took in the sight.

“Den boró na stamatíso na se skéftome.”

Rin’s eyes darted to Ryuuji who had not been looking at the sunset. “Huh?”

Ryuuji was already blushing. “N—”

“Let me guess,” Rin huffed, “nothing?”

Ryuuji’s cheeks went a little darker and he reached to tug the door open.

Rin caught his hand. “Come on, Ryuuji! Tell me! At least give me a hint. I’m getting nowhere on my own.”

Ryuuji’s eyes were huge as they shot back to Rin. “Getting nowhere?” There was an urgency to his voice that had Rin pausing.

“Yes? Was I supposed to get somewhere? You gotta know I’m no good with words.” It wasn’t like Ryuuji should have high expectations for him. Ryuuji was the one correcting his grammar and mispronunciations most of the time. (Yukio had given up.)

"At least tell me the language? Languages?"

"Just drop it, Rin "

That was so unfair. "But you're the one that brought it up!"

"I know! Because —Den boró na stamatíso na se skéftome!"

Rin squinted at him. "Is that French?"

"French?!" Came the immediate and incredulous reply, so probably not French.

"What part of that sounded French?!"

"I don't know! I just said I couldn't figure it out!" Rin huffed. "Is it Roman? That's a language, ain't it?"

Ryuuji stared at him for several long moments. "No," he finally said, "it's not. There's Italian or Latin, and it wasn't either of those."

"Then what was it? Come on! I want to know!"

"We're gonna be late." Ryuuji turned back to the door, fumbling with the knob as he tried to get it open. Rin’s hand promptly flew out to grab Ryuuji’s wrist, tugging it off the knob and turning Ryuuji to face him again.

“Ryuuji! Come on! Please?”

Ryuuji’s eyes were on his hand and they’d gone kinda wide.

“Ryuuji?”

“Échete zestá chéria,” Ryuuji mumbled the words in a rush before looking up and meeting Rin’s eyes again. His cheeks were a little flushed, and Rin could count his individual lashes— and blinking himself, Rin realized he’d taken a step towards Ryuuji and that the boy was really close now. Dangerously so. Ryuuji had unfairly pretty eyes and he used them against Rin a lot. (Though he probably didn’t know it, but that didn’t change the fact that Rin got a bit weak and lost when he looked into them.)

Rin blinked and sucked in a sharp breath, and that noise seemed to break the spell they’d both fallen under. Ryuuji jolted and promptly reached across himself to grasp for the knob with his other hand. It turned, and the door flew open, sending a chilly blast of air over them both from the Cram School.

“Se-se latrévo,” Ryuuji stuttered, and then he was wrenching free and moving into the hall. Rin watched him go, frustrated and confused and breathless, his hand tingling where he’d held Ryuuji’s.

Latrevo. He would remember that sound and he would get help, damn it.

— — ( ˘ ᵕ˘(˘ᵕ ˘ ) — —

“Koneko!” Rin plopped down in front of his friend and leaned forward a bit desperately. “You speak other languages for aria stuff?”

“I—sort of?”

“Latrevo!”

Konekomaru pushed his glasses back up with his knuckle. “Say that again? A bit slower and quieter?”

“Latrevo.” Rin could feel his entire body wiggling with anticipation. He had to look ridiculous, but he was so damn close to figuring something out.

“I believe that’s Greek. I adore?” Yes… Yes. Latrévo. I adore.”

Rin jumped up. Greek. He could do so much with that!

“Thanks, Koneko!” He called as he ran away from the deli.

“What—Rin?! Why—”

Rin didn’t even hear the call as he ran.

— — ( ˘ ᵕ˘(˘ᵕ ˘ ) — —

It was stupidly hard to look up anything when you couldn’t be sure of what had been said, so Rin decided to be a bit sneakier.

He fumbled a bit with the start of the conversation, but it had been another long one (they were studying and Rin had gone a bit overboard making snacks.)

But he’d still caught it, and now he was using the translator app and praying. He threw in a few Hail Mary’s as well in hopes that helped.

“Latrévo to chamógeló sou. Aftó kai o trópos pou eísai... Eísai gennaíos. Kai óchi móno enántia stous daímones. Paléveis gia aftó pou pistéveis. Eísai eilikrinís gia to pós niótheis. Den se peirázei na riskáreis prágmata.”

Rin mostly just listened to Ryuuji’s voice for a moment, and then focused on the text that was starting to translate, and felt his heart leap with excitement.

I adore your smile. That and the way you're... You're brave. And not just against demons. You fight for what you believe in. You're honest about how you feel. You don't mind risking things.

“Mu arésis.”

I like you.

Rin’s eyes were huge as the recording cut off and he continued to stare at the readout.

That wasn’t an aria. That was a confession.

Rin shot to his feet with a squeak. Where the hell had Ryuuji gone? He had to find him now!

— — (ɔˆ ³(ˆ⌣ˆc) — —

Ryuuji was in the library and Rin ran to him with abandon when he found him, making enough of a ruckus that the dark haired boy looked up as he came near, frowning a bit with concern.

“Rin? Everything ok—”

“I know!” Rin yelped, falling into the chair and dropping both of his palms on the table as he leaned over it. “Greek!”

Ryuuji went very still, and his eyes went very wide. Then, as quick the shock (and fear?) had come, it was gone again behind a careful mask.

“Yep! You guessed it.” Ryuuji then set to gathering up his notes to leave.

“No, hey,” Rin’s hand flew across the space and landed on top of them, pinning them to the spot. “That wasn’t a guess! I know! I translated that stuff!”

Ryuuji’s eyes lifted to his again. “What stuff?”

“That stuff! The, uh, brave thing? And moo aries too!”

Ryuuji’s eyes narrowed in confusion as he worked through that. (Rin could hear Ryuuji’s pulse thumping extra loud in his throat.)

“You translated that stuff?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. I meant it. I think you’re brave and that you’ve got beautiful eyes and warm hands and you make it hard to think because you’re always on my mind and I like you.” Ryuuji crossed his arms over his chest with a challenging look, like he was daring Rin to contradict him over a love confession. Like it was some kind of fight instead of something wonderful, and he did it with a blush, and Rin couldn’t hold back the elation at hearing all of that in a language he could actually understand.

“Me too, Ryuuji! I like you! I like your beef broth eyes and your big hands and how determined you are and how cool and how you just know things and you’re proud of it, you’ll always share answers and I like you too! I like you a lot!”

Ryuuji jolted, and then his eyes narrowed in on Rin very seriously.

“What? You mean that? It’s not something you’re just saying? Because if it is, I’ll kick your ass!”

“What? No it’s not something I’m just saying! Do you know how hard it was to figure that stuff out?! Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“I wasn’t…” Ryuuji dropped his hands from his chest and Rin automatically reached for one.

“Wasn’t what?”

“I wasn’t going to tell you.” Ryuuji said, staring at their joined hands for a wide eyed moment before meeting Rin’s gaze. “It just… I was saying that so I wouldn’t have to. I didn’t think you liked me, and I wasn’t going to do anything with it. Just. Wanted to say it and you’re shit at languages—”

“Hey!”

“—I didn’t think you’d go all detective and figure it out.”

“Well I did,” Rin said proudly. And then, determinedly, “so you have to go out with me now. Say you will? We could get dinner?”

Ryuuji studied him for a long silent moment. Rin couldn’t keep in a impatient wiggle.

“Yeah,” he finally said. “Dinner would be nice.” Then, shouldering his bag and sweeping up the notes with his free hand, he gave Rin a challenging grin that had him immediately feeling pumped. “Alright, Rin Okumura. Let’s do this thing.”

Rin didn’t even care how ridiculous he looked with his hips swinging from how hard his tail was wagging. He was going on a date with Ryuuji.

“Sephot,” Ryuuji said quietly. Giving Rin a look that had his tail wagging even harder and a cuddly sort of warmth spreading through his entire chest.

But wait, “Huh?”

Ryuuji gave him a large smile. “You’ll figure it out.”

Rin met that grin with his own. He absolutely would.

A/N: I debated not leaving a translation down here so it would feel more like Rin not having any idea what was said, but I decided to provide it anyway :)

-Eisai omorfos = You're beautiful

-Ta mátia sou eínai panémorfa = You're eyes are beautiful.

-Den boró na stamatíso na se skéftome = I can't stop thinking about you.

-Échete zestá chéria = You have warm hands.

-se latrévo = I adore you.

And the final word was Coptic, and meant Thanks.

#bonrin #bon x rin #my tumblr fics #ao no exorcist #blue exorcist #rin okumura #ane #aoe #ryuuji suguro #ryuji suguro #bon suguro #aoex #bonfire #bonxrin #bon/rin

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whipplefilter · 11 months

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WILD SPEED: FIRE BOOST LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

I was in Japan for the release of Fast X, and seeing it in the Japanese dub was such a 10/10 experience it makes me want to be in Japan for the release of Fast 11 as well. Ludacris sounds like a cartoon frog. Jason Momoa was even more of a nutball. Vin Diesel and Tyrese sounded identical.

I am really proud of myself for understanding (and remembering so many direct lines of) the Japanese version. And you might say, “lol Whipple, how much dialogue is there even in a Fast and Furious movie” and you’d be right but you’d also be wrong, because you would have failed to take into account how arcane the plot points in a Fast movie can be. Why WAS there a nautical bomb rolling through the Vatican? What IS the complicated genealogy linking all of these newly introduced characters?

The movie itself was sublime. I teared up in the first 10 minutes at the sight of a Charger doing tight doughnuts in an LA parking lot, rolling straight into the aerial views of LA. The final scene before the credits roll was immaculate. This movie offers the very best of the Fast franchise--the wild stunts, the familia, the shots of girls’ butts and cars. But most of all the earnest, completely unironic investment in its own fun. It is exactly what it is an happily so; it has “yes and”-ed its own premise with such joyous abandon the ending compels no response to news of a Fast 11 other than “WELL OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO.”

It was so great @ippoddity saw it again last night at the drive-in, and will definitely see it again in IMAX if we have the time. I think it’s important to this narrative that you know that we have matching Fast and Furious tattoos that are primarily based off the very same movie that Fast X proceeds from most directly, the majesty that is Fast 5. ToT

The Wild Speed: Fire Boost experience, for posterity:

It’s our last full day in Japan. We wake up at our hostel, go out for fresh tofu breakfast that my mother didn’t think was necessary until we got the tofu and she admitted it was amazing.

We say goodbye to the hostel dog and check out, walk to the train station. On our way out of town, we stop at the local folklore museum and an onsen, both of which are a grand time. A lot of walking is involved.

Two more trains and two hours to Kawasaki, and a movie theatre in a mall that is attached to the train station. It turns out buying movie tickets in Japan is easy (if you can read Japanese)--it’s a digital kiosk and you don’t have to talk to anyone! The seats were VERY comfy and had additional lumbar support. People talk about how expensive movie tickets are in Japan but they were pretty much on par which how much it costs to see a movie in Los Angeles. I’m not a movie-goer, and my Fast 9 ticket was a $5 Wednesday matinee, but can you really put a price on the opportunity to see the Japanese dub of Fast X?

It turns out Japanese movie theaters have MERCH of all the movies they’re showing, and what says Japan more than an A4 clearfile?

And since we saw it in Kawasaki, we also learned that the Kawasaki train station plays Ryu Sakamoto’s “Sukiyaki,” because he’s from there. Fun local ambient sound tidbit!

what if.. 🤔😏 we kissed 😚🥰 the Toyotathon astroturf circle at the mall Haha 😂 just kidding...🤣😜 unless? 😳

MAJESTIC. FAST. FIRE BOOSTED.

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zip001 · 5 months

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yummy traditional japanese breakfasts - natto/tofu (gooey natto is an acquired taste), grilled salmon, rolled egg as the mains. each set came with pickled vegetable, boiled veggie, omelette, boiled fish, beef sukiyaki, rice, juice and tea.

#rising sun #yummy

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yamamuragaku · 1 year

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New Year 2023 Manager Phone Messages

One New Year’s themed message from an idol was sent per day for 16 days from 2023/1/1.

1/1 - Riku

Manager! Happy New Year. Here’s to another year!

The chirashizushi you made was delicious! The rabbit-shaped kamaboko was also really cute!

1/2 - Mitsuki

In my first dream of the new year, I became the MC of a new program! I gotta work hard to make this dream come true! (1)

1/3 - Yuki

I'm watching the Ekiden with Momo, it's amazing (2)

I think I couldn't run that far even if I spent my whole life

1/4 - Tamaki

Manager, did you eat datemaki?

It’s my fave osechi dishi (3)

1/5 - Haruka

I heard you're good at hanetsuki (4)

The 4 of us were talking about trying it, so if you got any tips I'd like to know....

1/6 - Tenn

Thank you for the New Year's card. Did you take this picture of the rabbit? Its hopping is cute.

1/7 - Iori

I heard you took a photo of Kinako for our New Year's card, but since it'll be a topic of conversation, please send me the file.

1/8 - Momo

When it comes to New Years, it's gotta be NEXT Re:vale's special program! It's a spectacular that'll make you laugh or cry, so tune in if you can Maneko-chan!

1/9 - Minami

Have you drawn your fortune slip yet? If you'd like, I can introduce you to places you can draw a good fortune. (5)

1/10 - Sogo

I drew an eye on the matching daruma we all bought together, I think I was able to draw it rather gallantly. (6)

1/11 - Toma

The 4 of us ate kagami mochi, it tastes really good when fried! I recommend adding shichimi soy sauce! (7)

1/12 - Gaku

Thanks for coming to give us New Year's greetings. I know you're busy, but let's both have a good year!

1/13 - Yamato

When I visited my old man he made me take all this meat

I going to have sukiyaki now, so do you want to come over, Manager?

1/14 - Torao

Did you go to that hatsuuri thing? (8)

It's like a battle right? But I'm sure they sell something that's worth the trouble.

1/15 - Ryunosuke

The 3 of us played karuta and it was soo exciting! (9)

I want to play with the guys from IDOLiSH7 next time!

1/16 - Nagi

Maple butter on mochi, this may be the discovery of the century :-D

* * *

(1) Hatsuyume is the first dream of the new year, the contents of which foretell the year’s luck.

(2) New Year Ekiden is a popular marathon that happens around the New Year and is broadcast on TV.

(3) Datemaki is a sweet rolled omelette with fish. It's an osechi dish, traditional Japanese new year foods.

(4) Hanetsuki is a Japanese game similar to badminton that is often played around New Years.

(5) Omikuji are fortune slips with fortunes that range from lucky to unlucky. They can be drawn at shrines and temples, which are often visited during the new year in Japan.

(6) Daruma is a Japanese doll that is sold with blank eyes. People draw in one eye while thinking of their wish, and fill in the other eye when it's completed.

(7) Kagami mochi is a Japanese New Year's decoration that is traditionally broken apart and eaten on Januray 11th.

(8) Karuta is a card game where you try to match verses from traditional Japanese poems before your opponent.

(9) Hatsuuri when shops have the first sale of the year. Fukuburuko, lucky bags, are often sold during this.

* * *

Sticker credit

#idolish7 #translation #manager phone

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ricard-blythe-ffxiv · 2 years

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An Evening Chat

They’d agreed on a time for their second meeting, that had been a simple enough task. Dinner had implied an evening meeting, and the nature of the meeting itself and implied a more intimate setting.

The location selection he’d considered a…curious choice, but as he wasn’t the one preparing the meal. If Valeria wanted to have the dinner within the tea room then who was he to question her chosen location?

Ricard pulled a timepiece from his vest checking the time before quickly tucking it away. He adjusted his tie and his coat once more before exiting his room and heading down the stairs of the estate at a light jog. Not that he was overly concerned about being late, he was well ahead of schedule as he frequently was, but he had to admit he was curious as to what the evening would bring.

He offered N’mara a wink and a little wave as he moved through the bar and towards the sliding door that housed the tea room, taking a moment once he was in the doorway to announce his presence. “Valeria? Ready for me, or should I go bother N’mara for a spell?”

She’d been working for hours, making sure everything was perfect. She had N’mara practically act as a guard to make sure no one spoiled the evening. “Just a second!” She said almost tumbling over and making her way to the sliding door. She patted her skirt, once again wearing her hair in a bun with a few curls hanging here and there. She opened the sliding door and smiled, “Good evening, future husband.” She walked around him and this time she blind folded him if he allowed it.

He slipped his hands into his pockets, tilting his head with a quirked eyebrow as she moved behind him. “Oh, this is to be a surprise, is it?”

He didn’t fight her, closing his eyes and allowing her to blindfold him and guide him into the room.

She led him inside and after he was seated took the blind fold off.

Where the tea and coffee had been previously now was a cart filled with many different selections. Handmade sushi, Doman Sukiyaki, Doman Rice Balls and more.

She looked at him with a smile, “I also made green tea as well for us to enjoy and udon too. I wasn’t entirely certain what you would like but there is really enough food to feed the entire company. So, if none of this pleases you I did make a few other dishes, as well as desserts.”

With the blindfold removed, Ricard glanced at the selection before looking up with a nod. “You must have been working for most of the day. It all looks quite good.” He shrugged out of his jacket, carefully laying it over the back of his seat before motioning for her to take the seat across from him. “Something you’ll discover about me, Valeria, there are many things that please me, I’m certain one of these many dishes will hit the spot.”

He smiled up at her. “Have a seat and why don’t we start with something to drink and gradually work our way through this fine selection, hm? While you tell me about what you’ve been up to since our last meeting.”

There was a smile as she took a seat across from him, “That would be a lovely idea.”

“Oh, I didn’t spend all day doing this… though I actually forget how much time I spent making everything, but everything is made with only the freshest and finest ingredients. I am extremely picky on where I get my items from and whom. Some people will sell you anything to make easy gil.”

Ricard leaned back in his chair, carefully rolling up his sleeves partway up his forearms. “Most people will sell you whatever they can to make easy gil. Whether that’s produce or other subpar goods…if they think they can pull one over on you and get away with a little extra extra gil in their pockets then that’s what they’re going to do. The trick is learning how pick out those who are trying to pull one over on you.” He shrugged one shoulder with an easy grin. “Once you learn that, then things get really interesting.”

“As for what I have been doing. Studying new books and perfecting my craft in the kitchen of course.” She patted her skirt making sure there were no wrinkles, “I’ve also done more decorating in my room at the family estate, a meeting or two with my sister and that is pretty much it. How about you? Has work been kind to you?”

She looked ready to go on and ask more questions but she didn’t want to overwhelm him so settled into her chair, getting comfortable in her seat while her eyes staying focused on himto see his reactions when it came to the food.

He tilted his head quirking an eyebrow. “Oh? What are these new books that your studying? Is there some other subject area that you’re interest in pursuing outside of the culinary arts?” He straightened his head, drumming his fingers against the arm of his chair for a moment. “As far as my work, it continues as it always does. I’m always busy.”

“A few new recipes. I also have an interest in magic, so I’ve been trying to learn all that I can. I think it would be nice to learn something in that aspect in case I need to be able to better able to protect myself.” She smiled, “Usually when I go to the markets I try to find a new book. Maybe one day could fill up an entire library with all the books I’ve collected.”

“Maybe we should start with the tea and then N’mara could bring you something stronger when we start dinner?”

Ricard nodded. “That sounds like quite the undertaking, filling an entire library will all the books one has collected. I assure you the Blythe family home has a room or two we could dedicate to such an undertaking. As for this evening, that certainly sounds like a well thought out plan. This is your evening, I am…yours to command.” He winked across at her easily before shifting forward and preparing two cups of tea. He handed one cup over to her before shifting back into his seat.

She blushed as she took the cup of tea, “Is there anything that you have an interest in? Aside from the things you do already?” She took a sip of the tea and let out a relaxing sigh, “A perfect cup of tea.”

She paused for a moment, turning the cup between her hands before speaking again,“ I’ve also thought about creating my own tea as well. I believe it is easy to say that I do have a lot of interests.”

He listened attentively, taking a small sip from his own cup before gently setting it down on the table in front of him. “I don’t know that I could narrow it down to specific interests. I enjoy observing people, I used to spend quite a bit of my free time down at the Jeweled Cozier as a teenager simply watching how different people would interact. Reading body language, how they would speak to one another, I found it all to be quite interesting and still do. I also enjoyed swimming, when Coerthas had a warmer climate, that stopped when things turned frigid, I’ve no interest in becoming a popsicle. But, now work takes up a majority of my time and so what other interests I had have, for the most part, fallen to the wayside. I do still swim when the opportunity presents itself.”

He shook his head before glancing across at her once again.

She took a sip of her tea and placed it back on the table before speaking, “Do you think when we are husband and wife that may change? Your work load? Or do you think it will be the same?”

She frowned for a brief moment before quickly catching herself and smiling across at him while attempting to change the subject, “Two rooms dedicated to nothing but books, I don’t think I would ever leave those rooms.” She giggled.

The frown didn’t go unnoticed, nor did the attempted deflection. Ricard licked his lips as he slowly lowered his cup and set it down on the table. “Worried that you’ll never see me, Valeria?” He grinned leaning back in his chair as his gaze met hers. “Don’t worry. I believe I told you before that I intend to see to it that your every need is seen to, and I do mean your every need.”

His gaze didn’t shift, but it did darken just a shade as he spoke, still watching her with great interest.

“Work is a means to an end. It allows me to provide, it allows me to meet obligations that I have, but it also allows me to do things like help you fill those two rooms with books. But it wouldn’t be keeping me away all the time either, after all there are activities that the two of us will need to be doing together. You won’t be waking up to a cold bed if that’s your concern.” His grin widened. “In fact, if I’m doing things right you might quite look forward to waking up…”

“But you mentioned this interest in magic, a complicated subject to be sure, have you considered pursuing formal education? A tutor perhaps?”

“I haven’t thought about it, though one would be nice. As for formal education…do you mean like going to a school? I think a tutor who could train me a home would be the better option because then I could still do my duties at home as well as around the company if needed. But the thought has come to mind. I guess it was just pushed aside like your hobbies, in a way. One minute I was only recently reunited and then shortly after here I am. I don’t regret the decisions made though. I’ve grown to really enjoy your company even if we just sit in silence drinking our morning coffee. Maybe next outing we can watch people while drinking coffee.”

“Then you can teach me some of your tricks and such!” She smiled and seemed rather cheerful.

Ricard ran his tongue across one of his canines as he looked over her for a moment. “I believe a tutor who visits you at home could be arranged. I’d need to know the school of magic you’re interested in, of course, to find an appropriate teacher. But such arrangements shouldn’t be terribly difficult. As for teaching your my ‘tricks’...well, there are some I could begin to teach you as early as this evening, but I’m afraid they are not fit for polite company so it really depends on how…scandalous you’re willing to be Valeria.”

There went that blush again. She took a moment to compose herself, “I want to know all forms of magic to be honest. I know that is probably a lot to take in but it is such an interesting subject. I also want to learn how to defend myself instances like the night of the attack don’t happen again. I’d want to be able to protect what ever children we have while you’re away..” She bit her bottom lip and despite the color in her cheeks she never left her gaze from Ricard, “It would be really nice if that could be arranged, a tutor that is.”

“I can start making inquiries as early as tomorrow morning in regards to a tutor. The safety of the estate isn’t something you’d need to worry about…but we can discuss self-defense as well, if you’d like. As I said…you’ll want for nothing, I’ll see to that.”

She tilted her head for a moment, “I do believe before you show me your tricks that are not fit for polite company we should at least eat so that you have energy for such tricks. Besides, it be such a disappointment to see my hard work go to waste.” She gave a playful little pout before standing up and moving towards the food cart, “I can make you a plate if you wish.”

He chuckled, a low rumbling round, as he stood up and walked over behind her, slipping an arm around her waist and gently drawing her back against him as he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “We wouldn’t dare waste all that hard work. But you’d best eat well, Valeria..for I’ve many things to teach you this evening and I imagine it may be quite exhausting for both of us. But we’ll be much better acquainted by the end of it.”

He pressed a light kiss against her cheek before straightening up and releasing her, reaching around for a plate and holding one out for her as well, grinning playfully. “...Ladies first.”

For a moment she froze as though time stood still the moment his arm slipped around her waist, until she felt the kiss. She turned to look at him flushed, “I must be honest with you.” She took the offered plate frowning heavily, “I have not been with anyone before and I assume someone like you could have already guessed that by body language.”

Ricard quirked an eyebrow before canting his head to the side with an easy smile. “I did guess as much after the kiss the other day, yes.”

“Since that night I’ve been scared that someone would come after me and, well, Voss and his crew were very respectful…they didn’t try anything. Especially after Oricila held a conversation with me. I hope this doesn’t turn you away. I would assume someone of your nature would prefer someone not so innocent..” She held the plate close to her chest as she looked down in shame.

“Forgive me, I thought I should be honest with you before the night continued.”

He hummed thoughtfully, setting his plate down for a moment before reaching out and taking hers gently. He set the plate down atop his before reaching out and softly cupping her face before leaning and pressing his lips to hers. It was soft, gentle and brief, only a few seconds before he pulled back resting his forehead against hers for a moment. “Nothing to forgive and nothing to be ashamed of. Circumstances were beyond your control. Now, I’m perfectly happy to teach if you’re willing to learn. It can be quite the enjoyable process with the right teacher.”

“Can I ask another question and you be honest with me?”

“If you like…what’s your question?”

She took a moment, even smiled after he pressed his lips against hers. “May I ask, if circumstances were different, would you even prefer a woman like me or would you rather prefer a woman more experienced? Someone who knows what they want and is not shy? I know this is probably a silly question but it has been sitting in the back of my mind lately given the situation,”

Her eyes shifted and looked towards him, “I am sorry if this puts a damper on the evening’s events. I guess at times I can be far too curious for my own good.”

Ricard was quiet for a moment before reaching up and gently brushing his thumb across her lower lip before gripping her chin lightly. “Stop apologizing, Valeria. There’s nothing to apologize for. Certainly not for being curious. There will be much to be curious about in the coming days and certainly the rest of this evening. You are a Cress…you are going to be a Blythe. You apologize for nothing. Especially not for your desires. Consider that your first lesson.”

“Of course I would like to learn these things.. Given the teacher is someone I can trust and I can trust you.”

He reached up with his free hand and brushed away a few loose strands of hair from her face. “To answer your question, a woman may be more experienced, but it doesn’t mean they are ‘better’. You will come to know what you want and how to express it and you will gain that experience, in time. What I ‘prefer’ is a woman who wants me and isn’t afraid to go after what she wants.”

He gently tilted her chin up towards him, his free hand trailing down her arm lightly. “Are you afraid…Valeria?”

She shook her head, “Not at all. I guess.. Everything I've ever done I've tried to prepare myself for. I read all that I can about something before I engage in it. This… I’ve never had any experience. Are there even books? I am not scared I guess just more so…” She puffed her cheeks in frustration as it became difficult to speak.

“I am more curious than scared.” She looked at him once again, “But with you.. I don’t feel scared. I’m eager to learn and if… If… If it is not too soon then I… I think would like to see what your room is like. If that’s alright with you. Maybe we could even take the food with us and have dinner there? That way we can learn more about each other in private? Freely ask what ever questions come to mind.”

She blushed, turning a pretty shade of pink and pulling her bottom lip between her teeth once again. She wasn’t trying to imply that things would happen but more so if they were in private maybe they could see how they would act around each other when they were in the comfort of their own spaces.

“Why don’t I have N’mara pack up all your hard work and deliver it to my room where you and I can retire for the evening.” He swept his thumb across her lower lip once again, pulling it from between her teeth. “Once it’s delivered, then we can begin a more…thorough exploration of one another at a pace that is comfortable for us both. Does that sound agreeable?”

Her gaze never left his as she simply nodded, “I think I would like that a lot actually. Besides if a food coma happens we would randomly fall asleep where the public eye could make fun of us or do silly things to our faces. Or maybe that’s just how the crew reacts.” She smiled as she looked at the food cart and then at him. “Food and comfort. Sounds like a perfect evening to me and this will also be better for you because when is the last time you just got to relax. With all your work I am certain it makes it hard for you. So I can see a lot of benefits here.”

“Oh…I imagine the benefits will be quite plentiful indeed, but I’m not sure that a ‘food coma’ will be the reason we’re exhausted this evening, Valeria. I suppose we’ll find out.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead before turning to gather his jacket. “Take a moment to gather your things, I’m going to speak to N’mara about cleaning up and having everything delivered to my room. It’ll only take me a moment.”

He gave her a quick wink before moving towards the sliding door and stepping out into the bar proper, moving over to speak in quiet tones with N’mara. After a few moments and a quick exchange of gil, he returned, waiting patiently by the door. “Are we ready?”

She didn’t have much. Just a book that had all the recipes that she used for the evening's meal. She gave a nod and moved to join his side, reaching for his hand. “I am all set. It won’t be an issue for her right?” She was thinking about what he said as she was getting her things ready and mentally preparing herself. “Yes, I am all ready to go. All set when you are.”

“Not a problem at all, N’mara will take care of it for us.” He took her hand, lifting it and pressing a kiss to the back before gently tugging her to his side. “Then let us be off. This way to my humble abode within the estate, Lady Cress, where the rest of our rather enjoyable evening awaits us.” He winked down at her before giving a quick grin and leading her towards the entrance to the bar, throwing a wave towards N’mara as the pair exited.

The rest of the evening was still to come.

Collab with @valeria-cress

#he has a job to do #best get to it #stories #collab writing #what could possibly go wrong?

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g-rasyaana · 1 year

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🥢 Teppanya

Masaya yung experience! Lalo yung may nagluluto sa harap mo hahahaha Angel's Burger yarn. Sakto naman yung food, siguro mas sulit lang kung madami kayo at merong may malakas talaga kumain para maraming ma-try. Dalawa lang kasi kami tapos medyo bilis nabusog din, although marami naman na na-order. Tingin ko lang hindi namin nasulit yung 1588 PHP per head na unli? Di ko trip yung Usuyaki Beef Roll, yung Baked Aklan Scallops meh. May unting matitigas doon sa Brazilian Ribeye. Pinaka gusto ko is Beef Sukiyaki Cut na parang Beef Bulgogi lang din sa Sambokojin. Di ko na picture yung Ebi Tempura, siksik yun sa kanila parang may iba kumpara sa usual na nattry ko haha pero masarap naman. Wala din unli dessert na kasama doon sa kinuha namin, di na kami nag ala carte.

#food

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citypopessay4dj · 2 years

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The immediate aftermath of World War II left Japan’s economy in a dire state. US imperialism and the constant changes it brought left many Japanese youth feeling disenfranchised and without a voice. Industry, politics, and culture was controlled by American occupied forces, and rock n’ roll was their music of choice. The genre slowly trickled to the Japanese public, bringing a sound to match the voice of protest against the American presence that had become a part of daily life. In 1962, the cultural exchange between Japan and America became evident as Kyu Sakamoto’s “Sukiyaki” landed at #1 oh US charts. Yet still the message of the failure of rebellion against the American presence was lost on American audiences who saw the protest piece as a novelty act. While the true meaning behind Japanese music was lost in the US at the time, the American presence in Japan was just the beginning of the exceptional circumstances that led City Pop to emerge.

City pop descended from the 70’s and experienced its boom in the 80’s after recovery from the second world war was finally actualized, making Japan the second largest economy at the time. A response to typical American extravagances of cosmopolitanism- clothes, fine dining, travel and nightlife- combined with the advent of the Sony walkman and FM car stereos, City pop was the soundtrack to a new-found lifestyle. The music itself spans many influences and can’t be pinned down to one mothering genre as much as an overall feeling of hopefulness and a new way of life– which is probably why genre tagging websites weren’t so quick to tag Nami Shimada or Momoko Kikuchi with the name, though they are indeed deeply city pop. Instead city pop is associated with its lyrics about city life, catchy easy-breezy melodies, and uplifting feeling with a tinge of sadness and nostalgia– which I might add can be seen in the faces of many of the performers in surviving videos from the movement.

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noahjo · 10 days

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Sukiyaki Western Django

I do not have much to say about this film sadly. This is definitely up there in the wacky and goofy department in comparison to the many films we have watched in this class. I am not much of a Western guy, and it is not because I dislike the genre. I never realized until watching this film that I just have not consumed much Western styled media, the closest being The Mandalorian which is my favorite Star Wars anything. From that, I know I would enjoy more Western films but I did not really enjoy Sukiyaki Western Django and I think I know why.

I am unfamiliar with many of the tropes and expected themes in the Western genre. This unfamiliarity made me excited to experience more, like this film. Starting with the first scene, I was immediately put off by the stage play-like set. Now looking at it in hindsight, it is honestly a great looking set, but when you are expecting a much more serious tale it all feels weird. As the film progressed, I was constantly unsure if I was supposed to take things seriously or not. Once I saw the leader of the Genji shoot through the Heike grunt's stomach hole, I knew I was in for a ride. This is where my unfamiliarity with Westerns comes into play. I did not get the satire or the jokes being thrown my way. Without understanding the satire, the silly story did not really keep my attention. The only reference or joke I picked up was the sheriff just became Gollum by the end of the film?? I really hate the sheriff man for killing Benten.

Kiyomori and badass Benten were the best parts of the film. Kiyomori’s dumb behavior and antics are what kept me going. His actor did a great job playing up his goofiness and heartlessness, which makes him an enjoyable villain. But he is also the underdog against the Genji because he’s outgunned and outmanned and the main character because of plot armor. The scene that comes to mind is when he and his group raid the carriage bringing the Genji’s secret weapon. When they retaliate with the crank gun, Kiyomori’s whole squad gets wiped out but he simply falls off his horse and rolls out of the way. Definition of slapstick. He also makes everyone call him Henry?? Benten was the other great part of the film for me besides her history with Quentin Tarantino (his character). She is a legendary figure alluded to by the leader of the Genji. Once revealed to be Heihachi’s grandma, she starts turning up. Her animated backstory and then the legendary run she goes on in the final fight of the film are great stuff.

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firefirefruit · 3 months

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Steel in Her Veins, Chapter: Sixteen

Read On: AO3 | Table of Contents | Next Chapter

Characters: Fem!Reader x Roronoa Zoro

Chapter Sixteen: Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

“What are you gonna do with it?” You ask, your voice absorbed by the rhythmic murmur of the river, its liquid melody echoing around. Your eyes glisten in awe, taking in the shape of it in your hands, carelessly tumbling it around in your fingers.

“Stop playing with it like that – you’ll squish it,” the older girl besides you snaps.

Instantly, your fingers halt in their fumbling as you slowly purse your lips, looking at her guiltily.

“Sorry…” You mumble, crimson hues engulfing your cheeks like a burning sunset.

The older girl looks down at you for a second, raising an eyebrow for a silent moment. Then, she breaks into a smile - she can’t help but curl her lips at your childish shenanigans – and ruffles your hair in forgiveness.

She looks back up to the sky, a crop of blue hair wildly flying across her eyes.

“I mean…I’m not gonna eat it,” she finally responds, lying herself back across the grass. “I want to prove it to the world that I can become the world’s greatest swordsman without needing some stupid powers.”

You turn to her laying figure. “So you’re gonna sell it?”

The older girl huffs out a little, blowing blue strands away from her face. “Samurai don’t capitalise on things. It’s not honourable. I think I’ll just throw it away.”

You silently turn back around, staring at the dark blue fruit laying within your palms. It glistens and hums lowly like a subdued growl, swirling within its round body like a breath of peculiar mist. It’s mystifying, magical, and feels somewhat…familiar to you.

You pout, your eyes burning into its delicate skin. “You can’t just throw it away, Kuina!”

The older girl laughs and sprawls further into the grass, her eyes rolling at your emotional outburst.

“Okay. Eat it, if you want it so much.”

Kuina meant it as a joke. Of course, she did – she knew you were a coward at the mere age of ten. She knew you wouldn’t eat it, to even think of the possibility of having a devil fruit flow through your veins. Besides, what would Sukiyaki say if he found out?

So, when Kuina doesn’t hear your normal furious objections when she dares you to do something outrageous, she grows a little confused. She’s met with silence, and then the sound of teeth biting into thick skin, then a consequential heavy gag.

Immediately, she thrusts her upper body up from the grass, gaping at you, hoping you did not do what she thinks you just did.

You stare back at her guiltily, eyes as wide as plates, dark blue staining the corners of your mouth as evidence of your crime.

A pair of latex gloves smack against the thickness of Chopper’s fur, his body apprehensively propping against the doctor’s seat. The others crowd outside the medical room, faces smashing against each other as they battle for the view through the small window.

You look down, staring at your arm. The bruise throbs painfully like a never-ending drumbeat, blistering through your veins like fire. Only a few moments ago, only but a small circle of blacks and blues were enclosed on the skin over your hand… but now?

You swallow silently, gaping at the violent marks that race all the way up to your arm, feathering out to the fold of your elbow.

Like a living entity, it pulses with an iridescent glow. It dances with a rhythm of its own, defying the laws of conventional injuries as it brandishes itself further into your skin. As Chopper continues his examination, the crew outside holds their collective breaths, awaiting any sign, any prognosis – practically anything – from the doctor.

The doctor carefully palpates the bruise, his large eyes narrowing in concern.

"It's getting worse," Chopper mutters to himself, a frown deepening on his furry face.

Your heart drops, but still, you force your face to remain neutral. While you’re left staring at the horrific flow of black and blue, Chopper flips through his medical books, searching for any reference to such a peculiar condition. Alas, it seems like the pages offer anything but solace.

The crew's murmurs outside the room grow louder, anxiety palpable in the air; Sanji, leaning against the wall, exhales a cloud of smoke, his usual composure faltering for a moment.

"Chopper, can you do something about it?" Brook presses his palms against the window, his eyes fixed worriedly on your hand.

Chopper sighs, closing the medical book with a heavy thud. "I can't identify it from any of the known diseases or curses. It's as if... it's as if it's something entirely new."

Zoro leans further away from the medical room, shuffling his feet as he reluctantly opens his mouth. "If it's a curse, there's only one way to deal with it.”

Usopp stares at him deadpanned. “We’re not chopping her arm off, man.”

“What?! Zoro, are you serious?” Luffy growls, raising an eyebrow at him.

Zoro narrows his eye at Usopp. "No, idiot. We need someone who knows about curses, like a witch or a shaman."

Franky anxiously taps his fingers across his metal arm. “Good thinkin’. They do their weird magic stuff and Raya’ll be back to normal, right?”

“I don’t know if it’s that simple…but it’s worth a try,” Robin says, pursing her lips. She ponders for a moment. “You know, shamans aren’t so rare. We could probably find one on the next island.”

Nami nods, her arms closely held against her chest. “We’re arriving on the next island in an hour or so.”

“Meanwhile, I’ll whip you up something rich in protein, Raya-san! ~” Sanji calls out through the window, his eyes glistening. He holds in a choking sob. “Our poor Raya, already going through so much…”

Zoro shoots him a glare. “She’s not as defenseless as you think she is.”

“Don’t take it out on me just ‘cause you got your ass whooped by our magnificent swordswoman,” Sanji nonchalantly retorts as he walks into the kitchen, making Zoro growl out loud and yank the collar of the cook’s shirt.

You hear the violent, borderline-murderous, clamour rumbling outside the room and you can’t help but smirk at Sanji’s remark. You kinda beat the samurai’s ass, didn’t you? Took him off guard and everything. He basically ran away from you in the end.

Deep inside, you wish Gramps was here to have witnessed it first hand; he probably would’ve been laughing so hard at the foolishness of all of your shit.

BA-DUM.

The veins in your arm pulse thickly, branching out through your bloodstream like a venomous call. You look down, worriedly casting a glance at its colour and to your misfortune, what you were guessing is correct.

A feathered layer of black and blue colours another centimetre of your elbow.

BA-DUM.

The pain rings through your ears with every on-set throb, completely disorienting your vision as a sense of nausea overcomes you. Chopper looks up at you with a pursed mouth, staring at your completely stoic face in suspicion.

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” He quietly murmurs to you, his doe-eyes searching for yours.

You avert your eyes away from his, offering him no response to his, indeed, correct observation. You’re worried that if you open your mouth to talk, you’re going to scream in pain and never be able to stop.

The clock ticks in the medical room as you both lay in a standstill of silence. Chopper sighs, wheeling his chair around to his desk.

“You don’t have to act tough, Ray. I won’t be able to help if I don’t know how you’re really feeling.”

You look away guiltily, teeth gritting hard you’re sure they’re about to break in your mouth.

“It. Hurts,” you manage to muster out through the vice grip of teeth against teeth, breathing in shallow breaths.

And it’s true. The pain is nothing you’ve ever felt before – it’s nothing like the deep wounds you’d receive in any of your violent battles, nor the times when you’d refine your Armourment Haki with your incredibly agonising and soul-consuming procedure.

Anything and everything you’ve experienced compared to this feels like a walk in the park – a little amble in the sunlit gardens, if you can believe it.

But this? This is quite positively torture.

It almost feels like the blood under your skin rumbles with a deep growl, surging through you in a state of metamorphosis. At this point, you don’t even know whether your arm is yours anymore.

Chopper turns around with a needle in his hooves, an empathetic look in his eyes.

“From what I can tell, it grows faster the more you’re experiencing intense emotions. Your blood pressure increases and feeds directly into the venom,” he softly says, his brows furrowed at your blackened veins in concentration.

You look up to him, silently wheezing under your breath as your other hand clutches over the infected arm.

“What. Can. You. Do?” You force out, pain splintering through you with each forsaken word.

“I can sedate you until we find someone who can help,” the doctor carefully says, placing a hoof over your shoulder. “Is that okay?”

BA-DUM.

Your eyes slightly twitch in pain, the only tell that lets Chopper truly know the heaviness of your agony. He looks at you even more worriedly this time.

“Raya? What do you want to do?”

With teeth clamped together, you squeeze your eyes shut and stick your blackened arm out to him, unable to talk through the agony anymore. With a quick shuffle of a body, you feel the doctor getting close to you, a needle gripping in his hoof.

And with a small insertion, he injects the temporary numbness into your bloodstream, making your body slowly start to slump over as you lose the last remaining parts of your control.

Your vision blurs, the walls around you caving in as you finally let go.

No pain. No feeling. Just Kuina.

It’s just Kuina.

“Can I tell you something, Ray?” She asks, her head resting deeply into her palm, eyes emptily grazing across the view of the rolling fields.

You look up, surprised by the sudden question. It’s not so often that she opens up and tells you something about herself - so, as you quietly push yourself up from the grass, you remain as cool-headed as possible so as to not scare her away and closing herself off from you.

Kuina sighs, shoulders slumping slightly together. A few quiet seconds pass, the gentle breeze mussing both of your hairs up into the air as you remain waiting for her to part her lips.

Then, she parts her lips.

An upwind of blue hair obscures you from seeing her eyes.

“I…” She holds in a big breath, her chest expanding. Then, with a powerful gust, she shoots the air back out of her mouth, eyes closing. “I’m sorry.”

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