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shipcestuous-two · 2 years

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Dimitri and Edelgard in FE Warriors: Three Hopes (submission)

Fire Emblem 3H anon here, finally doing that writeup of Dimitri/Edelgard content in Three Hopes! The story diverges radically from what happened in Three Houses, offering a lot of new storylines. Although our tragic stepsiblings still don't get an onscreen happy ending together, their endings are a lot more favorable than in the original game. (Which is to say, they both survive! And there's less angst, at least.)

Again, I'll mostly end up focusing on Dimitri's route in this writeup because, like in the original game, that's where the best Dimitri/Edelgard content is. Spoilers for the whole game though, including the secret branching route!

In Three Hopes (unlike Three Houses), Dimitri doesn't end up with the false impression that Edelgard was responsible for his dad's deaths, and is cool-headed enough to doubt the source when an enemy tries to convince him that Edelgard killed her mother/his stepmother. So even if they're still on opposing sides of a war, he isn't obsessively wanting to murder her this time around, and views her rather wistfully like in late Three Houses.

After a key battle, he's finally able to confront her about their shared mom/stepmom for more info, but they're interrupted by the arrival of her evil uncle, who El tells Dimitri was the person who killed his father. Dimitri switches gears and devotes himself to protecting her from her uncle, swearing that he won't let anyone lay a hand on her (since she has the info he seeks, but also presumably because he still cares for her).

Sadly, her uncle can teleport, and he takes Edelgard, doing some sort of shady magic on her to basically make her his puppet. She's like that for about half a year, while her nation goes to absolute hell under a regent.

In the "secret route," there's a part where the three main lords--Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude--along with the player character, are transported to a dark void dimension. This temporarily breaks the spell on Edelgard, and all of them have to work together to escape.

During this time, the two get a support conversation (finally!) where they discuss their opposing paths, Dimitri confirms El had nothing to do with her mom's death, he tries to jog her memory on how they met as kids (more on that later!), we get a cute CG of him helping her to her feet, and he calls her "El" again.

Link to the whole conversation on Youtube: https://youtu.be/xqv_UKkfmHE

During this chapter of the game, they can fight side by side, even pairing up in battle if the player chooses. But after this chapter, when everyone returns to the normal realm, the spell on Edelgard takes effect again, and Dimitri and co. seek to storm the imperial capital to end the war. He doesn't want to, but is determined to cut her down if he has to.

They do have to fight, but after her uncle is killed, the spell on Edelgard breaks--and what's interesting is, it's implied that wasn't the only spell she was under. She looks up at Dimitri in confusion, calling him "Dee" (a clear match to her childhood nickname, El), like she finally remembers their time together as kids.

In Three Houses, we see that she doesn't remember her and D's time together as kids, except on Dimitri's route partway through. I assumed, and others did too, that it was because of trauma she experienced--but this ending implies it was a spell put on her by her uncle. That makes sense with the first game too, where Dimitri kills the uncle on his route earlier on, hence breaking the spell without realizing it and enabling her memory to be jogged later.

So why would her uncle repress her memory of her bond with Dimitri? Her uncle is only interested in plunging the continent into chaos. It wouldn't make sense, unless he believes that El's affection for Dimitri might be enough to keep her from declaring war in the first place. If she had remembered their relationship, she might have been more inclined to communicate with him instead of turning to violence, and they could have become allies instead of enemies. All this is speculation based on in-game evidence, but was her affection toward him that strong? Enough that it could have diverted her uncle and co.'s countless years of scheming??

Anyway, back to the game itself--as mentioned, Dimitri had been planning on killing Edelgard if necessary. But after the spell breaks, and she's kneeling there wounded on the floor, staring up at him in shock and calling him "Dee"... Dimitri turns around and lets her live, even if it means an end to the war.

And that's where the game ends. Similarly, other routes of the game--unlike in Three Houses--end with the three lords still alive.

Therefore, even if D/E don't end up together, with such an open ending there's plenty of room for it to happen--especially after how Dimitri's route ends with her remembering. Especially if this theory about why her uncle erased her memory is correct, it's possible they could salvage their bond and form an alliance, ending the war in the process. (And what better way to cement an alliance than with the marriage of the emperor and king of their respective countries? Okay, maybe that's my inner shipper talking.)

tl;dr: We get plenty of new, promising Edelgard/Dimitri content in FEW: Three Hopes. Even if it's not exactly a happy ending, it's much happier and more hopeful than what we got in Three Houses. We got a nice CG where they're holding hands! And the ending of Dimitri's route carries some fascinating implications/possibilities about both past and future.

---

Yes, this is a much happier ending than I remember hearing about before, full of, at least, possibility. It still has some tragic elements, but without ending tragically. Thank you so much for writing this up!

#submission #asks #nr #fire emblem #dimitri and edelgard

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ateezwriters · 5 years

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Part 1: Just Another Day in Crackhead Paradise (ateez beachy au)

Genre: Crack, humor, fluff, a lil spicy spice, mostly crack

Word Count: 1.9k

Warnings: just cussing and a lil spice (not much at all really)

Also the reader is gender neutral :)

Brought to you by Admin Venus and Admin Mars (yes the same admins from the main blog, we’re all keeping the same admin names) with some help from Admin Sun :) hope you enjoy or at least laugh a lil

-ok so

-your friend Yerin invites you to a weekend with some of her friends at a beach house

-can you guess who those friends are?

-wow y/n you're so smart

-it’s ateez

-so basically

-you and Yerin arrive at the beach house (more like mansion) in the morning and you’re more nervous than you’d like to admit

- “so how many people are going to be here?” you ask for the hundredth time while staring at the beach house (mansion) in amazement

- “um, about fifteen including you and i” Yerin answers with a bright smile, hooking her arm through yours to drag you up to the front door

-she rings the doorbell impatiently, bouncing slightly as the two of you notice a figure moving toward the door

-a tall guy with blonde hair opens the door, giving Yerin a warm smile before pulling her into a hug and exchanging pleasantries

-Yerin gestures to you and you bring yourself back to the conversation in time to introduce yourself politely, shaking his outstretched hand

-you learn his name is Yunho and you’re hoping that if you repeat his name enough in your head, then you’ll be able to memorize it before you meet the next person

-unfortunately, that’s not how it goes and you end up meeting the entire group at the same time because they were all gathered in the living room waiting for everyone to arrive to choose rooms

-and you two just so happened to be the last to arrive, perfect luck

-Yerin introduces you to everyone in a long line of faces and names that you don’t quite catch, though you recognize a few

-but when you reach the end you lock eyes with a smiling boy with dark hair

-your heart beats a little faster in your chest and you force yourself to smile so you don’t seem weird or impolite

-he introduces himself as Wooyoung and you make a mental note to prioritize his name in your memory

-so after meeting the guys, gals, and non-binary pals

-Yunho offers the idea to spend the day at the beach behind the house

-for the next couple of hours, everyone is having a grand-ol’ time

-you’re still kind of shy since you’ve only just met most of these people so you opt to observe more than take part in the crackheadery that these individuals are partaking in

-the girl in the yellow bathing suit (you think her name is Anna) jogs up to you and asks if you can take a group pic for her

-you, being the nice person you are, smile sweetly and take the camera from her, watching quietly as everyone squeezes together to fit in the frame

-anna jumps on her boyfriend Jongho’s back and throws up a peace sign while everyone else poses and smiles as you begin to take a variety of different pictures of them in different poses

-this wasn’t the first time you felt slightly left out, unfortunately

-when everyone starts to play chicken, partnering up quickly and teasing one another, you watched enviously, wishing for a second that you hadn’t accepted Yerin’s invitation

-speaking of Yerin, your disappointment doesn’t last for long as you watch your friend climb on the shoulders of the boy she’s been talking about lately, you’re pretty sure his name is Yeosang

-they’re up against Anna and Jongho and unfortunately, you know your friend is about to take a swim in the ocean because those two are no match for the younger couple

-you haven't known the other couple for long, but you can tell these two are unbeatable

-your prediction comes true as you watch Anna give Yerin a strong shove, successfully pushing her off the boy’s shoulders, sending them both falling into the water

-your eyebrows raise at the sight of the victorious couple, vowing not to mess with either of them (because that was quite the yeet if you do say so yourself)

-your amusement luckily continues into the next activity as a handful of people from the group decides to start a game of tag on the beach

-at first you were impressed at how serious everyone was taking the game and how fast they were managing to run on sand, like that’s a hard thing to do my guy

-but you are also incredibly scared that someone was going to eat shit and you might witness a hospital visit today, so you are covering your eyes every time you think it is going to happen

-and then it does, but not quite in a way you are expecting

-Yeosang reaches out to tag Yerin, but as he’s reaching his hand out to tap her, he manages to trip on the sand and fall forward, catching the back of her bikini top in the process

-your eyes widen as you watch the incident unfold

-as Yerin trips and falls onto the sand with her hands expertly holding her top to her body for dear life, Yeosang lands on top of her

-all while this is unfolding Jongho, manages to sneak away and grab the camera to record the fall for his and Anna’s youtube channel

-everyone is silent for a couple of seconds as they try to process what just happened

-then, laughter and wheezes fill the air as Yeosang scrambles off of Yerin while she tries to retie her top with one hand

-after that whole ordeal, everyone agrees that they should take a break and settle down into the sand

-a little while later, Anna again asks you again to take their pictures, but reassures you that if you’d rather relax, that's fine too

-and once again, being the sweet soul you are, you accept and begin taking pictures of yerin, anna, and another girl named sun-hee

-the three girls pose seductively as you snap each flattering angle, making sure they look good for Anna’s instagram

-the small voice in the back of your head keeps nagging

- “why are you hanging out with these people? Your looks literally cannot compare like at all. They’re all so gorgeous and you’re just...you”

-little do you know, a boy by the name of jung wooyoung has been noticing your small facial expressions and downcast looks

-after a day at the beach with your new friends, everyone heads back to shower and regroup for nightly festivities

-since everyone is tired from a day of running around doing stupid shit and having fun, it was a collective idea to relax and eat good food (with a little side of booze)

-there were 8 bedrooms in the house

-so there were two people per room (except for Yunho. He was rooming alone cuz his girlfriend couldn't make it to the mini vacay rip)

-you were chilling in the living room waiting for yerin to finish showering

-while you were waiting

-Yeosang knocks on the door to the room, asking for a towel

-no answer

-he opens the door slowly and is faced with Yerin’s ass on full display as she bends down to pick up her shirt

-aksjdldllajdjf he’s so embarrassed and blushy and splutters out some incoherent words as Yerin turns around

- “don't act like you haven't been staring at my ass the entire day. You're not slick boi I see you”

-Yeosang doesn’t know what to say as Yerin approaches him

- “and what if I say that’s not true”

-Yerin narrows her eyes at him, a small smirk forming. “Then we’d both know you’re lying and you’d be missing out on an opportunity.”

- “an opportunity?”

- “so if I kissed you right now, would you say no?”

- “no” he replies almost instantly, his cheeks reddening at the lightning-fast answer

-the way her smirk widens at his answer makes something in him lose control and he grabs her waist, pulling her to his body

-the feeling of her skin against his only serves to heighten the mood, sending his common sense spiraling down the drain as his lips move against Yerin’s fervently

-trails of fire run across his skin where her fingers brush and her lips touch, sending a chill down his spine

-he hums against her lips as she pulls his hair, sucking on his tongue

-he pulls away after a few more moments, attaching his lips to her neck and leaves light kisses down the side until he reaches the base of her throat, stopping to suck a dark hickey into the skin

-he repeats this action a few more times along her neck before she pulls him away to leave her own set of hickies along his skin

-while this is happening, you make your way upstairs to the room, assuming that Yerin is done bc she hasn't come down in a while

- “hey Yerin are you do-”

-your voice gets cut off as your eyes take in yeosang sucking Yerins face off

- “kdjfglsdhdljalka im so sorry I’ll leave omo-”

-you dash out and end up knocking on Anna’s and Jongho’s door to use their shower instead lol

-once everyone has finished showering and freshening up, you all gather into the living room

-San and Hyejin and Anna and Jongho are coupled up on the love seats and the other seats are occupied… except for the one right next to Wooyoung

-you make your way to sit next to the boi, not seeing how he blushes and scoots a lil bit to make more room for you

- “long day?” he asks you as you lean into the back of the couch, its large cushions almost swallow you

- “yeah, im not used to hanging out with so many people”

-you internally cringe at how much of a loner you sound

- “me neither. Its usually just me and the guys but since Jongho and Anna and Hyejin and San are dating, it makes sense for us to all hang out together” Wooyoung says smiling

-your heart beats a lil bit faster at his attempt to make you feel better uwu so cute

- “so what do you guys wanna do?” Sun-hee asks the group, sitting on the arm rest near Hongjoong

- “maybe we can have a night in? Like relax, eat, drink, enjoy the sunset? y/n seems kinda tired so we should have a chill night”

-you blush at the sound of Wooyoung taking your tired state into consideration

-everyone seems to be kind of worn out so they all agree

- in the next couple of minutes, pairs are designated for each role: buying booze, cleaning up the deck, buying snacks, buying and setting up stuff for a bonfire, making a playlist, cleaning the living room and doing laundry, and setting up the bar

-just as Yerin is about to ask you to stay at the house to clean up, she sees Wooyoung standing behind you, making a neck slicing motion toward her, unbeknownst to you

- “i wanna partner with her1!11!” he mouths to Yerin

-she secretly puts her hands up to surrender while you look away, talking to Joonhee

- “actually, i might pair up with Yeosang. Why don’t you and Wooyoung go... get snacks or something”

-you turn back to Yerin, eyes wide

- “are you up for it?” Wooyoung comes to stand next to you

-you nod, scared your voice would betray you, not being able to function with him standing so close to you

- “alright people, let’s meet back here in 2 hours. Don't do stupid stuff or get arrested. Jongho, don’t let Anna let weird people into the house- don't give me that look young lady. No one knows what you may do. You literally strike conversations with strangers” Seonghwa gives the youngest a stern look

-and with that, the second part of the day is underway

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howlnikiforov · 5 years

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Black Swan

Chapter Three: By My Side

Pairing: Hyungwon x Reader

Word Count: 3004

Warnings: Death, brief mentions of suicide

Summary: Sequel to Trespass; Sometimes, some people can’t handle the idea of another’s happiness. Sometimes those people are those who were once close to you.

Everything that could’ve went wrong, went wrong. He could feel your concern blossoming in his chest, but he pushed it back. He couldn’t focus on that right now. Because right now, YG was attacking, and he needed to get his men out of there fast. Of course it was the one time he didn’t have Shownu with him.

The meeting had been going fine until the shots were fired. Glass shattered and the shouts of men rang through the air. He was glad you weren’t with him this time. If you were here, the situation would be ten times worse because it’d give YG information that could be used against him.

The first guy to attack Hyungwon was shorter than him, but appeared to have more muscle. He threw a punch at Hyungwon, who swiftly dodged it. Hyungwon was able to grab a hold of the man’s arm and twist it, producing a sickening crunch as the arm broke. Now that he had his enemy distracted, he brought out his knife and plunged it into the man’s stomach. He pushed the guy back, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.

The next guy that came to Hyungwon didn’t stand a chance because he had already thrown the knife into the guy’s head. Two down, plenty more to go. YG outnumbered his and his partner’s men combined. It was supposed to be an easy trade off. New weapons in turn for protection. Easy. All he had to do was collect the weapons and shake the hand of his ally and promise protection. That’s why he brought with him some of the newer recruits, so they could get experience.

His men fought back, each taking on a man for themselves. Compared to YG’s men, their moves were rough and uncalculated. Something to expect from people new to the field. He needed to do something before they were killed. Since taking his knife out the guy’s head would take too much time, Hyungwon pulled his gun out from its holster on his side and began shooting.

One man dropped dead to the ground as Hyungwon fired a bullet into his spinal cord. Taejoon looked at Hyungwon, a look of relief on his face before he bolted out of the room. Before Hyungwon could say anything, Taejoon was shot and dropped dead to the ground. That was the final straw for him. He had to get everyone out. Now.

He shot at every one of YG’s men. Sometimes missing, sometimes hitting his target spot on. He pried a guy off Haejin and snapped his neck, shoving Haejin towards the door. Someone approached him from the right, so he shot them in the head without hesitation.

A bullet grazed his arm, but that didn’t stop him. He’s been through enough to not be fazed by a bullet ghosting his arm. In return he shot his attacker with the last bullet in his magazine. He pulled out a new clip from his belt, dropping the old to the ground as he inserted the new.

YG’s men seemed to think they’d lose the fight if they kept going, so they abandoned ship and ran back the way they came. Hyungwon followed, slowly walking in their direction and mercilessly firing bullets at their backs while they ran.

Once they were too far away to see, he let his arm fall to his side and shoulders slump. This wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go. “H.One,” Haejin called, jogging up to him, “we lost Taejoon and Hyunjin. And uh...the boss from the other group...he died too.”

“Shit.” Hyungwon cursed, running a hand through his hair. It wasn’t noticeable, but this action caused blood to streak in his hair. “What’s the body count?” “Thirteen. Including our own.” Haejin answered.

“Fuck. Let’s gather up the bodies, then burn them.” He declared, walking back to the battle scene. “We’ll take care of our men, YG can come clean his mess himself.”

“To clarify, we’ll burn our men’s bodies but not YG’s?” Haejin asked.

“Yes. We owe it to them to not simply leave them to rot. They deserve a crude cremation at the very least” He replied. “Taehyung, go out to the van and get the gasoline and matches. Seojoon, notify your leaders that your boss died.”

“Yes sir.” They said in unison.

Hyungwon helped Haejin and Sookyun carry the bodies outside. Haejin and Taehyung were the only ones left on his team. Seojoon and Sookyun were part of Minho’s team. He definitely needed to look out for them now; at least until they can sort themselves and appoint a new leader. No doubt he died protecting his own two men.

Hyungwon directed everything, showing what to do with the dead bodies. Taehyung came back with the gas and a box of matches, handing them over to Hyungwon. He was silent as he poured the gas on the bodies, a solemn look on his face.

Guilt and regret raged through him, no doubt something that could be felt by you. He tried to ignore your growing worry, focusing on the job at hand. He lit a match and dropped it to the ground, setting everything ablaze. He stood and watched as the bodies burn. It was Taehyung who pulled him out of his trance, putting a hand on his shoulder and announcing they needed to leave.

He slowly walked to the van, taking his sweet time getting into the driver’s seat. The drive back to the warehouse was completely silent. No one dared to speak as they knew the severity of the case. When they got to the warehouse, the van was unloaded and everyone went their separate ways. Taehyung going out to one of the clubs, Haejin to the shooting range, and Hyungwon to you.

The second he opened the garage, he saw you waiting for him. You looked exhausted as you uncrossed your arms and made your way towards the car. He felt bad for making you wait so long, and for not bothering to call you. He took a deep breath as he exited the car.

The first thing you did was hug him, for which he was thankful for. He wrapped his arms around you tightly, putting his chin on the top of your head. “Is this your blood?” You asked quietly.

“No. Not all of it.” He answered, tightening his arms around you.

“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.” You started to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go of you.

“No. Not yet. Let’s just-let’s stay here for a little while longer.” He whispered.

“Okay.” You agreed, holding him close.

The both of you stayed in each others arms for what felt like eternity. Hyungwon didn’t want to let go of you. He clung to you like a scared child would cling to its mother. It was a rough night, one he wasn’t mentally prepared to deal with.

Eventually, you forced him to let go of you and dragged him inside the house. You lead him into the bathroom, turning on the shower and instructing him to get in while you get him a fresh change of clothes. He watched as you left the bathroom, waiting until the door closed to start moving. Slowly he stripped himself of his weapons, setting them on the counter while his clothes dropped to the floor.

He stepped into the shower, relishing in the warmth of the water. He stared at the ground, watching as the blood ran off his body and down the drain. He took the bottle of body wash and squeezed some on his hands, scrubbing away the dry blood.

His left arm stung, the water being the first cleaning its had since he was injured. He decided to leave it be for now, he’d take care of it later. His main concern was getting the blood that did not belong to him off his body. He barely heard the door open and close again as you came back into the bathroom.

“Did you rinse off?” You asked.

“Yes.”

Seconds after his reply, you turned off the shower, letting the water drain completely before plugging the drain and turning the water on to fill the tub. “Good, you’re taking a bath.” You declared, pushing the shower curtains to the side. “What happened to your arm?”

“I got hit by a bullet.”

“I wish you told me sooner, so I could’ve gotten the supplies while I was out. Sit down, and I’ll be right back.” You commanded, once again leaving.

He sighed and slowly lowered himself into the rising water. He had a hard time relaxing, the memory of what happened just hours ago still replaying in his mind. He could’ve prevented the deaths on his side.

You came back minutes later with the large box of medical supplies. You set it down on the ground while you sat on the edge of the tub. “Show me your arm.” You demanded, gently speaking. He lifted his arm up, which you grabbed and put in your lap.

He watched as you studied the injury, reaching down to grab cotton balls, tweezers, and a saline wound wash. You wet the cotton balls with the saline, using the tweezers to hold them. Gently, you dabbed at the injury.

“Do you want to talk about what happened?” You pressed softly, reaching over to turn the water off once it completely filled the tub.

“Taejoon and Hyunjin died.” He explained, “Seoyoung, the other leader, died too.”

“Oh.” You stopped what you were doing, looking up at him. “What about Taehyung and Haejin? Were they hurt?”

“No. They’re fine. They’ll probably have a few bruises, but they’re fine.” He answered.

“What happened?”

“YG. I think he was more after Seoyoung and I than our other men.”

“Could he be trying to take you out since you’re the leader? So that the gangs and everyone under and relying on you, the are without guidance and go to him?”

“It’s possible, but if he wants me dead he’ll have to try a hell of a lot harder. He’s never had the brightest strategies. Remember when I told you how he tried to out me to the public by causing a stir in the area to get reporters on it? Still think that was his stupidest strategic move. Wasn’t the worst though.”

“What was the worst?”

“Taking you.”

You grunted, going back to cleaning up the bullet wound. “Was that his move, or was it Youngjae’s?”

“It was both. Youngjae chose to kidnap you, YG chose to keep and torture you.”

“You won’t need stitches.” You told him. “We’ll just have to keep it clean and wrapped up for a few days and it’ll be healed soon. Especially since you’re not going to do anymore deals for awhile. I won’t bandage it until you’re done with the bath.”

“Okay.” He said, closing his eyes and letting his head fall against the wall.

He felt you pour water into his hair, clearly trying your best to keep it out of his face. The next thing he felt was your hands in his hair, scrubbing at his scalp with shampoo. He did his best to concentrate on your fingers in his hair rather than the images flashing behind his eyes.

You poured water over him again, rinsing out the shampoo. Next you put in the conditioner, letting it sit there as you began to wash his body. You started with his left arm, since it was closest to you. Then you scrubbed his chest and back, moving him around as you needed. He didn’t try to fight your actions, giving you all control over him.

He barely registered you pulling the plug to drain the water. Before you made him stand up, you wrapped his arm up in a dry bandage. You dried him off, helping him into sweatpants and a sweatshirt. “I think I might go for a walk.” He told you, pulling the hood over his head.

“Okay. Don’t stay out too late.” You leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

He gave you a brief smile, grabbing his phone off the counter and walking out of the bathroom. He made a quick pit stop at your room to get his earbuds and face mask then left the house.

He played depressing music as he walked aimlessly around. He could’ve saved their lives. They didn’t have to die. If he was more competent, better at his job then they wouldn’t have died. The same thing happened with his mom. She and him were out on a simple drug mission when they were attacked. She died because he couldn’t protect her. Days after her death, his father committed suicide, leaving him in charge of the mafia as the only heir. He was seventeen then. He’s thirty now. It’s been over a decade and he still hasn’t learned how to protect people.

Hell, he couldn’t even protect you. You were taken from him and nearly died. If he was a day later in rescuing you, you probably would have left the world. If he kept a better eye on you, if he never went on that mission, if he had stayed with you, you wouldn’t be suffering now. You wouldn’t still be dealing with panic attacks and the occasional hallucination. You’d be happy.

Somehow, he managed to find himself in an empty park. He was quite far from the house, but that was okay. He could handle himself. A bench under a streetlamp caught his attention, and suddenly finding himself exhausted, he went to sit there. The moment he sat, he leaned over and put his head in his hands, elbows resting on his knees.

He was a horrible leader, he knew. He didn’t deserve the loyalty he had. He couldn’t protect his men, so why did they still believe in him? He could hear his father screaming at him, blaming him for his mother’s death. He could still remember the way his bruised body ached the day after his father beat him for the first time. He could still remember walking into his father’s study and finding his dead body.

Of course, they weren’t even his birth parents. They had found him on the streets and took him in because they pitied him. His real parents left him on the streets because they couldn’t afford to have him. They died in a house fire not long after they abandoned him.

His thoughts were interrupted by gentle arms wrapping around him from his right side. He knew it was you. It couldn’t be anyone else. Your touch is what finally broke him. His body shook with sobs, so you pulled him to your chest and held him.

It’s been awhile since he last cried, so he used this as a chance to let everything out. He was a complete mess. Had there been any onlookers, they would have never been able to guess that he was a fierce, merciless mafia leader.

“Come on,” you muttered, “let’s get you home and to bed.” You stood, getting him to stand as well. You wrapped your arm around his waist, supporting his weight as he heavily leaned against you.

The walk home seemed a lot longer than he thought it would be. Maybe it was because he was so deep in his thoughts the first time that he never registered how far he walked. He was grateful you followed him. He would’ve had a hard time finding his way back by himself.

Upon arriving home, you brought him to your room and had him take off his sweater so that he was shirtless. “Lay on your stomach.” You instructed, pulling out a bottle of lotion from your nightstand.

He did as you said, lying on the bed and closing his eyes. You climbed on the bed, sitting on his legs. “You were thinking about your parents again, weren’t you? That’s why you’re more upset about death than you usually are.” You stated, speaking softly. You squeezed a dollop of lotion onto your hand, massaging it into his back.

He groaned at the contact, the cold of the lotion contrasting with the warmth of his skin. “Yeah..I was.” He admitted, sighing as your hands kneaded his back.

“You were just your dad’s scapegoat.” You reminded, rubbing out a knot in his shoulder blades.

A quiet moan escaped his lips. “Was I really?”

“Yes. It wasn’t your fault.”

“It feels like it was.”

“Why does it feel that way?”

“Because, if I had been better, faster, stronger, I could’ve saved her.”

“I don’t think so. I think she wouldn’t have let you save her even if you could.”

“You might be right.” He sighed, hoping to let the subject drop. If he really looked at it, there’s no way he could’ve saved her. If anything, she saved him. But he still tended to blame himself.

“I am right.” You claimed, “You’re the leader of the largest mafia in Asia. You never bat an eye at towards the people on your hit list.”

“Mmm…”

“You’ve been thinking about your parents a lot lately. What’s brought this on?”

“I don’t know. I feel like I’ve been losing control of things, much like I did back then.”

“Do you need me and Ki to take some of the work off you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Think about it, and let me know. I’ll do whatever you need me to. You need to relax.”

“Mhmm…”

“Relax my love,” you urged, “I can feel it in your back. Your stiff.”

“I’m getting there.” He moaned as you massaged the tension out of his body. Your hands were magical, always finding the right spots that needed tending to the most. Silence filled the room, the only sound being the occasional moan.

He was able to relax to your nurturing touch. Your delicate hands and quiet hums of reassurance was enough to lull him to sleep.

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gods-rising · 5 years

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February Post - Valentine’s Day

How would the cast of Gods’ Rising celebrate Valentine’s Day with their loved one? (not necessarily romantic, despite the holiday name)

Main protagonists first, then minor protagonists, then main antagonists, then minor antagonists. Background characters not included.

Jakob Sullivan - Jakob would offer a simple picnic, perhaps not even outside in a park, and would make treats such as chocolate covered strawberries and fruit kebabs and even shape them into cute, though perhaps deformed, hearts. If outdoors, he’d then offer a game of some sport that can be done in the area. If indoors, he’d put on a film to watch and use the picnic blanket as an actual blanket.

Zlatko Jones - Zlatko would buy a bouquet of flowers, trying to pick one out with his loved one’s favourite colours and/or flowers and even put them in a specially bought vase. He would also make a special dinner - most likely his Eban-approved spaghetti and add special ingredients to make it extra special for Valentine’s Day - followed by a dessert, usually an experimental dish to mix it up a bit.

Charlie Parker - Charlie would take her loved one to karaoke and sing their favourite song, and then would force them to join her midway the song or the next song she sings. She would also buy matching customised shirts for them, or at least something more obvious than a bracelet unless she doesn’t have enough money - then she’ll make them a bracelet using their favourite colours of threads.

Alex Wilson - Alex would take his loved one to a place he loves, whether because it’s secluded, full of good memories or beautiful. He would tell them stories about the place, about his family, his childhood, anything that came to mind. Then he’d tell them how much they mean to him. How happy he is they’re in his life. He’ll make sure they never forget it, but he dedicates Valentine’s Day to this alone.

Kenna Collier - Kenna will meticulously plan the entire day, making sure she has enough money for anything that involves buying things, choosing the best outfit, making sure whatever she buys is at its best - she plans everything. Of course, she cannot plan spontaneity but will (albeit reluctantly) take it all in her stride - she just loves being around her loved one, even if her plans don’t go quite go to... plan.

Klara Lullay - Klara doesn’t show her sorcery to just anyone, you know, so when she uses it to make a special night even more magical for her loved one, you know that she trusts and even admires them. As for what that night actually holds, she’ll cook with them, perhaps even a bit of a food fight, and eat the concoction too with them as well while binge-watching anything they want to, shows or films.

Eban Jones - Eban would enjoy a walk with his loved one. Any time he can get away from his racist town, he’ll take, but Valentine’s Day is special because, when he was younger, his mother and brother would take him on this special hike to a beautiful view every Valentine’s Day. There’s surely not single a better place to show his loved one - a family tradition - that will show that they’re part of the Jones family.

Grace Smith - Grace will take her loved one to the cinema. She’ll sneak in their favourite snacks but still buy the cinema popcorn, as big as she can afford, as well ice cream, if they have it and she has enough. As well as saving up, she’ll beg and plead her dad to give her more money and probably ask her twin brother too. Whatever they watch, probably something easy to make fun of, she’ll enjoy it with them.

Kai Smith - Kai loves simple stuff that is cheap or even free. He’d love just to hang out... but he’d especially love to stargaze with his loved one. Usually the weather is terrible though, so he doesn’t often get to. If he can't, he’ll just sit up by a cliff and look out at the view with his loved one. If he has enough money, he’ll buy ice cream - Ben and Jerry’s, duh - and a bunch of cans of Coke to share, whatever they do.

Maddie Eyighes - Maddie would rather go on a jog with her loved one or go cycling or swimming or literally anything else that keeps her active and out of her foster family’s house; she’d be grateful for the excuse to leave! She’d take her loved one down her favourite routes, whether it’s because of special memories or beautiful sights or because it’s longer and she wants as much time as she can get with them.

Nastasia Lavisco - Nastasia isn’t into affection or gifts. She’d rather give something that matters to her loved one, something she believes they can use. This usually means survival training, something she thinks everyone should have but only Dark Worldians truly need. This may come in form of building shelter, learning how to withstand pain, stitch up injuries. She actually taught everything to Aidan.

Aidan Lavisco - Aidan would try to be as unique as possible. He wants to make a impression, after all, so he’d pay attention to the desires of his loved one. They want to go ice-skating? He’ll take them ice-skating. They want a dinner? He’ll make them what he can. They want to go stargazing? Hell, he’ll take them stargazing. He’ll try to be the best he can be for his loved one - they’re his loved one for a reason.

Valeriya Jones - Valeriya would show that she trusts her loved one by letting them be around her as she works and perhaps even help. She’s not very romantic, preferring conversations, deep talks and working on projects together over big dramatic shows of affection, but she’ll certainly take the day to show them her appreciation by using her time to make a treasured, one of a kind present for them.

Kyle Smith - Kyle doesn’t see himself as having any particular talents but, if it’s a romantic loved one, he’ll write a song or poem to perform for them; he’s also a sucker for holding a stereo above his head and playing music. Even if it’s not romantic, he’ll try show how much he knows about them - play their favourite music, watch their favourite film, eat their favourite food, etc.. One thing is guaranteed - dad dancing.

Tyler Brae - Tyler much prefers to be around his family, so his loved one will usually find themself surrounded by the chaotic group; and so, it should be a nice change of pace on Valentine’s Day when Tyler takes them out on a (mostly) completely secluded meal and a small shopping spree. Ice cream will come after, of course, and then a little chat about how the days, weeks and months before have gone.

Shadow - Shadow... well, kudos to his loved one for gaining that status. He’ll make sure to show how much you matter and just why they’re his loved one. Not one for big shows of affection, Shadow would much rather just make small memories. Maybe a drinking game with others he considers important to him or small feasts, or a trip to a local restaurant with an all-you-can-eat-buffet to enjoy the night away.

Mehmun Salton - Mehmun, in all honesty, doesn’t have a lot of experience with appreciation, whether giving or receiving it. He’d fret for weeks about what to do and probably only calm down with some guidance from said loved one, so in the end, it’ll really be their decision. If they give no help, he’ll buy a gift and a film that he hopes they’ll enjoy. Maybe even watch the film - but only if the loved one wants to.

Preston Sin - Preston seems like he’d have his shit together for Valentine’s Day but, alas, he does not. He would offers beautiful flowers and then panic, worrying if they give off sexual, or at the very least romantic, intent, especially if the loved one receiving flowers is not so romantically. He’ll take them out on a shopping spree and would definitely make an outfit for them out of whatever they bought.

Maggie Snare - Maggie seems to be able to read her loved ones’ minds. Well, not quite, but she knows that flowers, chocolate covered strawberries and a trip out (to a shopping centre or a bar or a club) tend to go a long way. Sure, she’ll give gifts that won’t see the next sunrise but Maggie knows that those blended perfectly with memories that’ll last a lifetime and longer will certainly make for a fun time.

Ezekiel Fortunato - Ezekiel may seem to be sex-and-romance-oriented; while he is and may seem to prioritise them, he is also just as fond of familial and platonic relationships. If faced with a loved one who cannot be given gifts that could be perceived as romantic, he will joke that 'him being there' is the reward before giving them something like a homemade item of jewellery or a scrapbook - something very Ezekiel.

Luke Fortunato - Luke is an avid believer that a picnic in a beautiful location is just as good as any material item. He will make small versions of favourite meals of his loved one for the picnic and bring all sorts of other goods to appreciate. Once they've used the sights as much as possible, he'll drive them along a long, scenic route to a store and buy the two of them ice cream to eat as they drive home - well, Luke will have to wait.

Kiyoshi Kornai - Kiyoshi, for the most part, isn't used to affection - giving or receiving. So when the holiday comes along, all she can offer is freedom. She knows how liberating it can be to be outside, unconstrained by societal norms, the claustrophobic buildings and people's expectations, so she'll take them as far away from the world as she can. Perhaps a drive along the beach or swim in the sea will suffice.

Amber Miller - Amber will trash talk the holiday every other day but the day itself? Will aggressively go all out as much she can, if it's affordable or possible. She'll definitely want to show her appreciation for her loved one. She'd achieve this by meeting them in town and going shopping, buying food and drinks and sightseeing. She'd document the entire day in pictures and look at them whenever she's sad.

Johnny Miller - Johnny will be too nervous to go all out for their loved one. They'll organise a meet-up but won't go as far as their twin. A cinema trip to watch a bad film and then to a coffee shop for a good coffee and a long chat. They'll happily talk about anything, whether it's a sweet, simple topic about a cute dog or favourite cat breeds or something more serious like politics or the news, and will just be happy for the company.

Damien Roth - Damien does not think he has a loved one. Most of the time, anyone at his side as an ally is a means to an end - a vessel, a vessel turned soldier or someone he has made a deal with to get his way. Most 'loved ones' are pawns, but he understands that bribery and behaviour training may be necessary. So he will pay attention and reward allies, especially on this holiday, and customise their reward.

Ayla - Ayla knows she, despite best efforts, is in a vulnerable place - as a tyrant, she wears a target on her back with arrogance but also knows that if she treats her guards and servants well, they will be conflicted and unlikely to listen to her enemies, let alone join them. She will give clothes and accessories as materialistic gifts amongst wealthy food and luxuries. They may not be loved ones, but she'll let them think they are.

Loki Lullay - Loki has not had a loved one for a while, as he gave no reason for them to stay. In his saner days, and even for a short while after, he cared a lot more. He would teach his loved one to sing or play his mother's guitar, giving tips and demonstrating what to do next, indulging his loved one in the Lullay history of music and song. But those days are long gone along with his mind and any thoughts unfocused on revenge.

Malcolm Gull - Malcolm is not a callous man, though now there are few he truly cherishes outside his group of Magic Hunters. He’ll treat them to a morning of hunting and then an afternoon of relaxation - eating by a fire, singing songs and sharing campfire stories, whether it's real or fiction (when you've nearly abandoned civilised life to kill sorcerers, it's harder to tell). An evening will go similarly, but with lots more booze!

Nico Angel - Nico no longer trusts loved ones, but he also understands that what made him not trust them was his fault. If he was still in contact with his former loved ones, on Valentine’s Day he would treat them well. He would show them he cared by taking them on an adventure, their own personal little trip into the unknown and explore with them. But now, he is alone. He has no loved ones to explore the world with.

Davey Sullivan - Davey has a rather warped sense of love. He doesn't conform to conventions because no such conventions were established to him in his sheltered, controlled childhood and life. He expresses love through a similar control, which may cause belief that he doesn't trust his loved ones. It's true. He does not trust them to make their own decisions in life, because he was never trusted to make his own.

Aerron Yelad - Aerron grew up with two types of love - breaking love and beneficial love. But he has been welcomed into a new love - love itself. On this day, he will try to give back the love he has been given back. He will make small but meaningful presents that reflect who they are to be gifted to in a way, and they will also be given to those who have given him a bad love. It's fair, after all, to at least try.

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rainbowslothdragonas21 · 5 years

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Ho boy have I been gone for a while! December has been so chaotic for me. I had three essays to finish, then finals, and then family visiting from out of state for Christmas… but I’m done! Over break I will try to pump out more posts, but no promises! I did add a different banner, but I’m hoping to find someone who can make me a better, more professional looking one. I also plan to move on to an X out of 10 rating system or a more visual looking one, but I’m not too sure. I will be experimenting with the design and format of the blog and posts for a while so please bear with me! Feel free to drop any suggestions down in the comments, any and all feedback is appreciated. Anyways, with that out of the way, onto this review!

I normally don’t watch anime movies, but Crunchyroll recently put up two Haikyuu!! movies so I decided to give them a watch seeing as I haven’t been watching any anime for a while now. Although I have a growing list of anime I want to watch, I haven’t been up to beginning or continuing any series so a movie feels like a nice change of pace. Haikyuu!! Talent and Sense is the third movie for the series and was directed by Susumu Mitsunaka with a run time of about 90 minutes (~1 hour 29 minutes). It has been a while since I’ve seen Haikyuu!! So I hoped I would be able to understand what was happening and know who was who, but after the first few minutes I realized it didn’t really matter.

Plot

The movie takes place during season two, and is basically a recap movie which covers the training arc and the final match against Aoba Johsai (also referred to as Seijoh) with a few extra scenes (not included in the episodes) here and there, but mainly at the end of the movie. It’s a good refresher if you haven’t watched the anime in a while and would like a summary of the final match against Seijoh but not necessarily mandatory to watch. If you wished Seijoh had gotten a bigger spotlight after their loss, then the last minutes of the movie will give you just that as it focuses on them, mainly the third years who will be moving onto college/university and will not be able to challenge Shiratorizawa anymore. You basically see what the team got up to right after the match and hear their thoughts on volleyball after high school.

The movie begins with a short flashback on the team after having been defeated by Seijoh the first time. It quickly transitions to the team’s arrival at the training camp with the other teams and provides enough to help jog your memory up with the key players there. Instead of showing everything the anime does, it goes into a bit of a montage which showcases the training. This also covers (mostly) everyone’s individual training with a bigger focus on Hinata and Kageyama.

It later switches focus to the match between Karasuno and Seijoh. The match before does get completely omitted, but the only noticeable difference is the injury the captain receives in the previous match. Having already seen the match, I didn’t find much interest in this movie especially when it was skipping a lot and fast-forwarding through most of the content. The main parts worth watching are the final minutes where you follow Seijoh’s team and see how they handle the loss. You can tell how much this affected them, and you get a more in depth look on the third years’ reactions. The movie ends with the build up for the upcoming match between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa which is covered in the third season.

Final Thoughts

Do I recommend watching Haikyuu!! The Movie: Talent and Sense? Yes and no. It really depends on the viewer. If you have not watched any of the anime, I don’t recommend watching this movie but urge you to instead watch it after season two. Even then, I mainly suggest only viewing the ending for the extra scenes that were added so you can get a better sense of Seijoh’s emotions after the game. It’s not a bad movie, but can get a bit boring if you have already watched everything that has already happened. Overall, I rate this movie a 7.4 out of 10. Season four has been confirmed but unknown when it will be released. Although I’m not a big fan of sports, this anime has grabbed my attention and I cannot wait for next season to begin. I just hope that the same production quality is at least maintained or improved instead of getting lower like some animes have done.

Finally watched Haikyuu!! The Movie: Talent and Sense. Enjoyed the new scenes added at the end. #anime #haikyuu!! #crunchyroll Ho boy have I been gone for a while! December has been so chaotic for me. I had three essays to finish, then finals, and then family visiting from out of state for Christmas… but I’m done!

#Anime #anime blog #anime review #anime review blog #blog award #haikyuu #haikyuu movie review #haikyuu review #movie #movie review #sports #tournament #volleyball

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blastron01 · 6 years

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Ascendance of a Bookworm – 059

Working Towards Resuming Paper-Making

The snow has begun to melt, and the days have grown clearer. The days are still cold, but my family has said it's no problem for me to go out to Benno's shop, so Lutz and I get ready to make our way there to settle the final accounts for our winter's handiwork. Each person who helped with the work has entrusted me with a small bag to put their earnings into. I put these into my tote bag, along with the last completed hairpins, and we head towards the shop.

Traces of winter still remain: the center of the main road has been cleared of snow, but in the corners of the alleyways there's still some snowmen that have yet to melt, and along the sides of the road there are still mountains of snow that had melted a little bit and then refrozen hard. The faces of everyone who has gone out to meet the new spring are bright, and their footsteps are buoyant as they go to and fro along the streets. The number of carts and carriages on the main road has significantly increased as well.

It looks like the number of people visiting Benno's shop is much higher than normal, so even though we've arrived in the afternoon, where there are usually comparatively few people present, it seems extremely busy. As I ask Lutz if it might be best for us to come back later, Mark appears, walking towards us. It seems as if one of the employees that we've become acquainted with might have noticed us and called him over.

"Good afternoon," I say. "It's good to finally see you again, Mister Mark." "Ah, Lutz and Maïne! Blessings upon the thawing of the snow. May the goddess of spring bring you great favor."

Mark raises his right fist in front of his chest, then presses his left palm to it, fingers together, slightly bowing his head. I have no idea whatsoever what he could possibly be doing, so Lutz and I stare wide-eyed at him.

"Uh? What was that?" "...It's the way you greet someone in the new spring?"

Judging by Mark's tone of voice, he doesn't know how we couldn't know what that was, so I can guess that this is some sort of extremely obvious greeting that is exchanged around here.

"This is the first time I've heard it. Lutz, did you know about this?" "No, it's my first time, too."

If Lutz hasn't heard of it, then it may be something unique to this particular part of the city, or perhaps it's something occupationally-related.

"...Is this maybe a greeting only merchants use?" "It is something that has always been done in my family," Mark replies, "so I haven't given it much consideration, but all of the socialization I have done outside of work has been with other merchants, so that might be entirely possible. Since business booms as the snow thaws, we wish blessings upon the thawing of the snow, and greet our fellows by wishing that the goddess of spring brings them great favor."

Having said that, he teaches us this merchant's greeting. It looks like this is a greeting you give the first time you meet someone in the spring. I'm just going to file this away as something similar to "happy new year".

As Mark did a moment ago, I put my right fist in front of my chest, press my left hand against it, and try practicing the greeting.

"Blessings upon the thawing of the snow...?" "That's right," he says. "May the goddess of spring bring you great favor, I think."

I quietly mutter it to myself over and over, but I'm fairly confident I will have completely forgotten about this by tomorrow. It's times like this that really remind me that I very much want a notepad. I may have a slate tucked in my tote bag, but that's not a notepad.

"The master is presently conducting a negotiation. What matters of business might you need to speak with him about?

In response, I start ticking off the things I'd like to do today on my fingers.

"Umm, first I would like to settle accounts regarding our winter handiwork. Next, since I'd like to resume paper-making as quickly as possible, I'd like to verify whether or not the craftsman has finished making the larger bamboo mats by now. Also, I would like to speak with Mister Benno about my apprenticeship, but it seems he's currently busy?" "I understand. Very well; let us begin with settling your winter's handiwork. He should finish his business while we work."

He guides us to a small table inside the shop. Lutz and I sit down next to each other, and Mark seats himself opposite us.

"These are the last of the hairpins we made for our handiwork, if you please," says Lutz, speaking in much more polite language than he's used to using.

He presents the bag containing the hairpins. Mark removes them from the bag to count them.

"There are twenty-four here," he says. "Including the ones you left with us during the winter, this makes a total of one hundred and eighty-six, is that correct?" "Yes sir, that is correct." Lutz nods, having verified Mark's final count matches the tally we had made on a small board.

Each hairpin is worth five medium copper coins. From that, the handling fee Lutz and I are charging will be deposited directly into the guild. Then I take out the various bags that I'd brought with me in order to make distributing the rest of the money easier, and start dividing it up.

To make sure that Lutz's brothers don't fight, we divide their share evenly across the three of them, excluding Lutz. Splitting it up is easy: each of them gets six large and two medium copper coins. As for my family, my mother made eighty-three, Tuuli made sixty-six, and I made thirty seven. Since these numbers are all over the place, splitting it up is a bit of a pain. My mother winds up with one small silver, six large copper, and six medium copper coins. Tuuli's share is one small silver, three large copper, and two medium copper coins, and my share is seven large and four small copper coins.

"With this number of pins, we should have stock to last us until next winter," says Mark. "There's quite a lot of demand for these! Since there are so many colors to choose from, our customers seem to enjoy themselves picking theirs out."

I smile, imagining a parent and child picking out a hairpin together.

"Ah, is that so? I'm glad," I say. "I made myself a hairpin as well, you know!" "How might it be decorated?" I giggle. "That will be a secret until the day of the ceremony." Mark quirks an eyebrow. "Oh my," he says. "Then, I shall look forward to seeing it on that day. Now then, you next wished to discuss the resuming of your paper-making, did you not?" "That's correct," I say. "We won't be able to actually resume work until Lutz has had the opportunity to visit the forest and check on the state of the river, but since spring has come, I think that I would like to start as soon as possible."

Benno's investment will only continue until the early summer, when our baptismal ceremony will be held. Thus, I'd like to resume our work as soon as we can.

Mark nods slightly. "Very well. I shall ask the workshop about your order. If I'm correct, you wished for two bamboo mats, the size of a contract sheet?" "Yes, sir, thank you very much."

I notice several merchants leaving the back room, as if the negotiations taking place there finished at about the same time we had finished our discussion out here.

"I shall go inform the master of your presence. Please, wait one moment."

After he momentarily disappears into the back room, he returns to lead us in. Since this is the first time I'm meeting Benno this spring, I promptly press my left palm into my right fist in front of my chest, delivering the greeting I'd memorized.

"Mister Benno, it is good to see you again. Blessings upon the thawing of the snow. Oh, um... may the goddess of spring's, um, great favor... huh?"

As I struggle to remember something I'd heard just a moment ago without the aid of a notepad, Lutz looks at me in amazement. He steps in front of me, pressing his left palm into his right fist in front of his chest.

"Master Benno, blessings upon the thawing of the snow. May the goddess of spring bring you great favor." "Aha, yes, that! Blessings upon the thawing of the snow. May the goddess of spring bring you great favor."

Thanks to Lutz jogging my memory, I deliver the proper greeting. Benno, visibly trying not to laugh, returns our greeting.

"Ahh, blessings upon the thawing of the snow. May the goddess of spring bring you great favor. ...I have to say," he says, chuckling, "that was a very sloppy greeting. Make sure you learn to say it correctly."

He taps the table with his finger, beckoning Lutz and I to sit down. We do so, and then talk about the spring well-wishing.

"That was something we just learned from Mark a little earlier, you know. It's not something either of us heard growing up, so say something like, 'very good for your first try', please!" "...Oh, is that so? Then, good work, Lutz. Now then, you wanted to talk about your apprenticeship?"

Benno only praised Lutz, who'd completely remembered the greeting. I pout, briefly, before launching into today's main question.

"I won't be apprenticing here after my baptism," I say. "Huh? ...Wait. Why are you saying this? Is it because I didn't praise you just now? Well, you didn't say it right, but at least you tried?"

He rubs hard on his temples, uncomprehendingly, and forces out some praise for my greeting.

"That's not it! It has nothing to do with that." "If not that, then what?" "Umm, well, I'm kind of weak, you know?" "Astoundingly so, yes."

His interjection stabs straight into my heart.

"Urgh... You were worried earlier about whether or not I'd be able to properly do my work here, weren't you? If you had an apprentice who was always taking days off because of her poor health and was only being assigned easy work that wouldn't put a strain on her body then, if you think about it, wouldn't that be bad for human relations here at the shop?" "Is that all?"

He glares down at me with his reddish-brown eyes, and I remember the other concerns that Otto had raised with me.

"Also, if I'm earning profits from my goods, then isn't there the chance that I'd be making more money than even the veterans who've been working here for over ten years? Money's the easiest way to ruin relationships." "Who told you that?" he says, eyes narrowed. "There's no way you would have come up with that on your own."

I nod vigorously. Back when I was Urano, the only thing I ever did or ever really wanted to do was read, so my field of view was pretty narrow. This time around, I hadn't really been considering anything but my own physical strength. It took Otto pointing things out for me to start thinking about human relations.

"Mister Otto," I reply. "...I see."

Huh? I think his voice just now was pitched a fraction of a step lower... And then, he's got a sort of predatory aura going on now... or am I imagining things?

I tilt my head slightly to the side as I think about Benno's ferocious aura, then say the thing that's been weighing most heavily on my mind.

"Also, you know about my devouring, right? If I were making the decision, then I don't think I'd hire an employee that I wasn't sure would still be around in a year."

It's very likely that any resources spent on my education will go entirely to waste. I don't think a merchant would be capable of wasting resources like that.

Benno rubs his forehead, looking at me with sharply discerning eyes.

"Then, if you're not working at my shop, what do you plan to do instead?" "I'll be transcribing letters or official documents at home, working with Lutz to develop new products on his days off, and from time to time helping out at the gates... basically, I'll just keep doing what I've been doing. After talking with my family, I've decided that it's best for me to do things that don't place too much of a strain on my body." "And being an apprentice and so on would. Got it."

The strain goes out of his eyes and shoulders. He rubs at his temples, looking like he's trying to figure out what he's going to do next. As he mutters to himself, I speak up again.

"Umm, Mister Benno. Do you have any work that I might be able to do at home?"

In that moment, Benno's eyes gleam, and a slow, predatory smile spreads across his face.

"Your writing is very neat, hm. I can send some amanuensis work your way, so stop by with Lutz from time to time. Alright?" "Thank you very much."

What was that just now? I feel like I've just been cornered by a carnivorous beast...

Since my request was accepted so easily, I put aside my deep thoughts and move onto my other question.

"Umm, so if that's the case, what's going to happen to my guild card? I'm planning on selling through Lutz, but I'm not going to have an apprentice's card from your shop, right? I'll be unaffiliated, right?"

We had originally planned around my eventual registration as an apprentice at Benno's shop after my baptism, but if I'm not actually going to be his apprentice, then I wonder what will happen to my guild card? Since it'll be after my baptism, I don't think they'll let me have a temporary registration. However, if I'm not attached to a shop, I won't be able to conduct any business without being registered.

"I don't know what kind of products you're planning on making, but how about we call the storehouse you've been using 'Maïne's Workshop', register you as the workshop head, and get you a card that way? If you enter into an exclusive production agreement with my shop, then our business won't be much different from how it is now." "Workshop head?! That sounds kinda cool! If everything will be more or less the same as it is now, then yes, please, let's set it up like that."

I clap my hands excitedly, and Benno nods happily.

"So," I say, "this is something that I mentioned to Mister Mark, but we're going to be restarting our paper making as soon as we can go look at the river's current condition. We're currently planning on the two of us making the paper until our baptisms, but after that Lutz will be busy with his apprenticeship and I won't be doing an apprenticeship at all, so I'm hoping that we'll be able to pass the entire task on to a workshop you select. Is that okay?" "When you say the entire task, do you mean that you'll still be the one picking the workshop? Is that right?"

Our magic contract stipulated that Lutz and I would be able to have safe, stable employment at Benno's shop. Since this is turning into a new industry, I think the people and the workshop making it would be particularly important to Benno. For me, however, I won't have either salary or extra profit, so as long as a large amount of paper winds up in circulation, I don't particularly care who winds up making it.

"I mean, I don't know anything about workshops, and I also don't know anyone who might want to work on making paper. All I know is that since the process requires soaking tree bark in a river, it would probably be best for the workshop to be near the river, I think." "Near the river, huh... that'll be difficult. How are you doing it now?" Lutz shrugs. "Right now, we're carrying all of our equipment to the river bank in the forest, but doing that every day is really hard... oh, um, difficult, sir." "If you think about scaling things up for mass production," I say, "then the equipment will need to be much bigger, so transporting it to the river will be next to impossible, I think? Well, thinking about that is probably a job for you, Mister Benno, or the people at the workshop." "...Hmm, you're right."

Since it looks like Benno has understood, I'll just leave selecting a workshop and sourcing the tools to him.

"Please take care of selecting a workshop, getting the equipment, and finding suppliers for the materials before our baptisms. As the actual day of the ceremony gets closer, Lutz will go and instruct the workers in the actual manufacturing process." "Me?!"

Lutz's eyes go wide, and he gapes like a fish. I smile sweetly, giving him a big nod.

"I mean, aren't there steps that I can't do myself? I think it would be best for you to show them how to do it in person. If after spending the entire spring doing it over and over you're still uneasy about it, then I can go with you too, so you'll be fine!" "You're really passing the entire task off, aren't you," says Benno, with an amused chuckle.

I glance guiltily to the side. I'm definitely well aware that I'm seriously shirking a lot of responsibility here. However, more than just making prototypes, improving distribution, and setting up mass production, I already want to be setting my sights on the next project. If I spend all my time fussing over the particulars of making paper, then I'll never actually get to making books, no matter how much time I spend. This spring, I want to make enough paper for me to use, and then turn my attention towards printing.

"Then, please excuse us."

With my heart full of my time-limited ambitions, I depart from Benno's office.

The next day, the fast-working Mark delivers new bamboo paper mats to our storehouse. Hearing that, Lutz takes the opportunity to check on the condition of the river when he heads to the forest for his gathering.

"Lutz, how'd it look? You think we can make paper?" "There's a little more water flowing than usual from all the snow thawing, but not more than we'd get after a heavy rain, I think."

And, with that judgement, we officially resume making paper. First thing in the morning on the following day, Lutz fetches the key, then we immediately head off for the storehouse. As we walk along the alleyways, still cold enough that you need a coat, I spend my time thinking about the day's work.

To start with, when we get to the warehouse, we'll check to see if the outer bark we'd harvested from the tronbay back in the autumn and left out to dry is still alright. If it is, then we'll start by working on stripping that down to its inner back. While that happens, I'd like to use the preserved folin inner bark to start making actual paper.

"I'd really like it if we could wait for the water to get a little warmer, though..." I say. "Yeaaah, you're right. But, if you keep in mind that we're trying to save up money, the sooner we start the better."

Benno's support for our paper-making enterprise is only going to last until the day of our baptismal ceremony. Until then, we want to do as much as we can to earn as much as possible.

"I wonder if the tronbay bark's going to be alright...?" I say, wondering aloud. "That's been airing out this entire time, so it's probably going to be completely dried out by now." "It wasn't drying in the sun, so I've been really worried about mold growing all over it!"

Since we left it alone all winter, it's only natural that it would have completely dried out by now, but whether or not it dried in a way that we actually want is another question entirely.

"There aren't really any molds that grow on tronbay," says Lutz.

He may be shrugging it off, but since we completely skipped the sun-drying part of the process altogether, I can't help but worry.

We arrive at the storehouse and unlock the door. With a creak, the door opens. Through the gloom and the dust, dark, wavy strips of material hang from the shelves like strands of seaweed, giving the entire place a supremely ominous air.

"Is it really going to be okay?" I ask. "I think I'm a little worried now," Lutz replies.

I prod at a strip of outer bark, finding that it's completely dried out. Since the outer bark itself is dark, I can't really tell from the color alone whether or not it has mold growing on it.

"How about we bring these to the forest and try soaking them in the river for now?" I mutter to myself.

"What all are we going to bring to the forest today?" asks Lutz, sweeping dust off of the wooden box with back straps that he'd left in here. "Umm... Lutz, how about you bring the pot and some ash? And, hm, I don't think we'll need something as big as a tub, but maybe we should bring a bucket as well. It would be kinda bad if we couldn't find any firewood in the forest, so maybe we should bring some with us? I'll bring this outer bark and this preserved folin inner bark, and my 'chopsticks', too." "I don't get why we need a bucket, but if you say we need it I'll bring it."

I gather up the dried tronbay outer bark and the folin inner bark from where we'd hung it in the warehouse, fetch the pair of cooking chopsticks Lutz had made for me, grab a few dust rags, and put it all in a basket. The two of us strap our supplies onto our back, and rush off to where the other children are meeting to get ready to go to the forest.

We all arrive at the forest, and as the other kids scatter about to go foraging, Lutz and I head for the riverbank. Lutz starts getting the pot ready right next to the river. He sets it down on a stove made of piled-up rocks, then uses the bucket to fill it up with river water.

"Oh," he says, "if we use this then we don't have to get soaked when we get water from the river. I knew you had a good reason!"

If you want to fill up the heavy pot with water directly from the river, then you've basically got no choice but to get in the river yourself. It seems like Lutz hadn't quite been thinking ahead that far.

Now that the pot's full of water, we use the firewood that we brought to get a fire started. While we wait for the water to boil, I want to start soaking the outer bark in the river, if possible.

"Wow, that looks cold," mutters Lutz, staring at the river, swollen with water from melting snow.

If we want to make sure that the bark doesn't wash away as it soaks, we need to build a circle of rocks to put it in. The one that we had made during the fall, however, has fallen apart, and only about half of it remains. Our first step thus has to be building a new stone circle.

"You can do it, Lutz!" "Eek! Cold!!"

Lutz squawks as he wades into the river of ice water. If I were to go in myself, I'd almost certainly get another fever and my family would probably bar me from leaving the house for a while, so basically the only thing I can be doing to help is to cheer him on.

For Lutz's sake, I walk around the area, gathering up fallen firewood. While I'm in the middle of that, though, he calls out for me.

"Maïne, bring the bark over!" "On it~!"

As soon as the bark's in the circle, Lutz leaps out of the river, running to the stove to warm himself up with the fire. He holds his bright-red hands up to the fire, rubbing them vigorously together. I fill up the bucket with some warm water from the pot, then set it down in front of him.

"Put your hands and feet in here. If you don't warm them up, you'll get frostbite!" "...Ah, warm... this feels great!"

He sticks his hands and feet into the bucket of warm water, heaving a sigh of relief. The hot water starts cooling down almost immediately, but thanks to that foot bath, it looks like his body's warming up a bit.

The pot has started gently simmering, so I add the ash and the white bark to it, stew it well, then get Lutz to put it in the river to rinse out the spare ash. Thanks to Lutz's hard work, even if it did seem like the freezing river had him on the verge of tears, our job for today is finished.

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#honzuki #honzuki no gekokujou

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endoftheroad1983 · 7 years

Text

Who do you work for? part 1

Who do you work for? Part 1

Steve Rogers x Reader

Monday

Y/N stepped out of the taxi that had pull right in front of the Avenger's base. You turn to face your friends before you sucked in a deep breath. A cold wind blew across your face, sending a cold chill down your back. You didn't like the feeling from it.

“Relax, we are here to discuss an alliance with us and the Avengers. What could go wrong?” Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, clap a hand on your shoulder as he gather Jean Grey into his other. You huffed at his words.

“But why does it have to be a full week?” You moan from behind them as they head for the double glass doors.

Upon reaching the glass sliding doors, you were greet by a gentleman. Scott held out his hand to introduce himself. The handsome man was Sam. Scott joke about something and they both shared a laugh. It seems to you that this was the man Scott had talk to on the phone with.

“Please come this way, I will show you to your rooms.” He nodded. Sam turn to you and held out his hand.

“Sam,” He shook your hand with great ease.

“Y/N.” You smile a bit as he reintroduced himself to you.

“Well, Y/N if you'll follow me, I will show you to your rooms.” His warm gesture didn't cover up the feeling of uneasiness in your stomach. But you promised both Scott and the Professor that you were going to be nothing but a peach during this trip. So you were stuck with your promise.

Sam lead everyone through the facility. As everyone stepped out of an elevator going to the third floor, you couldn't help but peak over the glass wall. You paused to look down at the scene that was playing out. A very built man, with sandy, blonde, short hair was standing in front of a group of people standing at attention. Training session. The words echoed in your mind. It brought you back to some of the training you had to indulge with Logan for a time period.

Your head shot up as the group was starting to slip further away. You glanced one more time down. And as you did you met the eyes of the blonde. He nod his head towards you. You could feel heat rising in your face. So you did the only thing you could think of. You gave him a little wave back as you spun on your heels, you had to jog to catch up with the group. Once you did, however, Jean sported a look that said you were up to something.

“And this will be your room, Y/N.” Sam saying your name brought you back to reality. You look down a hall of doorways and frown a bit. They all look the same to you. And this place was big and unfamiliar. Suddenly an idea came to you and your hand dove into your purse. You found a pad of green sticky notes. You ripped one of the papers off and placed it right above the doorknob.

“There now I won't get lost.” You beamed at your work. Sam smile at your action.

“Yes, this place can be a maze at times but don't forget that me and others are right down this hall if you guys need anything.” He pointed down the hall you just look down. “Now I know you guys got in earlier so feel free to relax and have fun exploring the place. Ms. Hill was kind enough to set up a schedule book-lit to let you know what was going on for the time that your here. The meetings and meal times are in there as well.” Sam quickly rushed off as you turn to Scott and Jean.

You caught the sight of the two love birds as Scott's door closed. Oh great! You mentally slap yourself. You should have known that you were going to be abandon by them. So you made your way to your room. Only the room was a full size apartment including a kitchen and private balcony. Wow, they seriously have it made if they live like this. You scooped up the book-lit and scan the days schedule. The first meeting was schedule for four o'clock and it was barely ten in the morning as is. What were you going to do with yourself for such a long period of time? You could adventure out into New York City, but you have never been here and getting lost wouldn't be a hard thing for you to do. So you decide against it. Maybe that was the look Jean had given you out in the hall.

Shrugging it off your scan down the times listed. When you stumbled across the nine o'clock. Rogers Training Session: new recruits report in main building. Your eyes read the sentence over and over. Rogers? The blonde guy from early? A smile tugs at the corner of your mouth as you shrug it off. You were here on official business. You looked into the mirror beside the door and rolled your eyes. You knew that Jean and Scott have got this down. You, on the other hand, wasn't sure why you were here to help. But if it's what the Professor needed you to do. So be it, he has never steer you wrong before. You brush your l/h/c hair a few times and collected your purse. Sam told them to have fun exploring and that is what your going to do.

Y/N made your way back to the hallway of the elevator. You couldn't help but blush at the memory of him. You glance down to find that the place was empty. It's for the best. You told yourself. He would sure be an distraction. So you brought the book-lit out of your purse and flip through it til you noticed a map printed on the back. Well they are not keeping things much of a secret here. You pointed out to yourself. You follow the ink hallway with your eyes to an area marked as the library. Bingo! You smiled at your first stop on your personal tour.

Everyone that past you greeted you with a smile. It was a nice feeling since your rarely visit a place with such high vibes. You tend to stay out in the peaceful areas in the country until you were needed. After exiting the elevator, you followed the large bay windows that overlook a brown track area. Several people were gather near the end, close to the window. They look like they were waiting for something. So you continue your way past them, none of them really paid no attention to you. As you you walk on your eyes caught something outside in the distance. You stop to watch until you realize there was two guys racing towards the people.

You look back to see that the group was watching with great interest as well. And you turn your head just in time to see that it was Sam and the blonde racing against each other. They flew by you without even noticing, but how could they? they were like the wind. The blonde won the race by some feet. The two men clap each other on the back and went for some bottle water. That was when Sam noticed you. He flashed you a smile. It was quite an impressive match to have seen. You smile back at him as you turn to continue. You didn't want to linger anymore in case he decided to bring the blonde guy to come talk you. Now heat ran in your face as how you would answer to a question like, how did you like the race? You were getting closer to the books and you could practically hear the them singing your name. Thank God for this distraction.

Just around the corner, you found the Library. You took your time and look around. There were several people in the large two story building. You smile and nodded to the librarian in the middle of the room in a wide circular, wooden desk. You love the Professor's library but this place was quite bigger and you had to set an alarm on your phone to remind you of the meeting. You wonder off to your favorite section.

You don't know how long you had been wondering around in the never ending book shelves when Jean's voice whisper your name in your head. But you had settled down in a corner of a bookshelf looking over a book of mythology. Around 1:30, Jean called your name again and this time an image of the main build popped in your mind's eye. This was her way of telling you to regroup with them. At least on the bright side you could hide in here for the rest of the week without running out of reading material.

“Sorry!” Was the first words out of your mouth when you finally caught up with them, “I took the wrong elevator, so then I had to wait for it to come back and yea...” You muster out an excuse. Scott and Jean gave you sympathy looks as Sam bark a laugh.

“Well yea I did warn you that this place could be a maze.” He smiled and turned for a door on the left. Before you can say a word Jean and Scott followed. You did the same without any questions. It turns out Sam invited you guys to join him for lunch. You didn't mind the sudden invite but wish you had time to freshen up. He lead you to what he called the cafeteria but it look more like a fancy dinning room in a hotel. Sam stopped and look around. There wasn't a lot of people in here at the time.

“Hey Cap!” Sam called out suddenly. He then turn to talk to us, “Follow me, please.” And went over to the guy he called out.

Before you could take a look at the new guest, a waiter was standing in front of you.

“What would you like to drink, Miss?” He was an elderly man with a thin waist. He pulled your chair out. You thanked him and answered with y/f/d. He moved on to Jean, who was on the right of you. You adjusted yourself to get more comfortable as Sam sitting on your left caught your eyes. Your eyes wonder to who was sitting front of you when your Y/E/C eyes got caught up in the most beautiful blue ones you have ever seen. They were as clear and blue as the sky.

“Captain, this is Y/N, Jean, and Scott. They are here from the Xavier school.” Captain, As Sam calls him, eyes lit up form the news.

“Yes, yes, and it's Steve, it's a pleasure meeting you all.” Steve eyes linger on yours as he spoke the word pleasure. Another chill ran down your spine but this time time you couldn't tell what the chill meant.

“It's wonderful to meet you as well, Steve.” Jean answered back. Scott nods his head. A silence hush took over the table as everyone was looking over the menus. Well you thought everyone was, As your eyes dance along the items listed you could sense someone looking at you. The feeling continue to burn as you fought the urge to look up.

“Hello, I'm Emily, is everyone ready to order or would you like a few more minutes?” You kept your eyes on the menu as everyone confirm they were ready.

“Ok, great! Captain what can I get you?”

“The usual, will be fine, Emily.” Your eyes shot up and met his. You could see that his menu was sitting in front of him. He had both elbows on the table, and it seem to you that he was hiding his mouth behind his interlocked hands. Was it him staring at you? Now you were just getting your hopes up. You quickly lecture yourself as you broke the eye contact with him and reached for your drink. You deliver your order when it was time and then settle into Jean and Sam conversation.

“This place has the most beautiful architect that I have seen.” Jean gushed over the building. Sam went over other building details with her as their lunches arrived.

Emily set your F/F/D in front of you. It smell delicious but as the waitress went past you to exit the room. A small burst of cold air hit you in the face. It was another unease spine chill after that. Something wasn't right and you could sense it stronger now.

“Is everything OK, Y/N?” It was Sam, who was the first to notice the change in your diameter. You look up and smile weakly at him. You then looked over to Jean, who was frowning a bit.

“I'm still feeling a bit car sick, you'll have to excuse me for a moment.” You bow a little as you stood up for the bathroom. Both Steve and Scott got up as well. But you motion for them to sit back down. You smile shyly at them as if you were embarrassed by their reaction.

“I'm fine, I'm just going to step out for a minute.” And before they could say anything else you rushed to the closet restroom.

Once inside and the door was lock, you place your back against the wall. You had left the light off and was now enjoying the coolness that creep through your shirt. After a few moments, you collected yourself and headed back to the table. There was nothing you could do about it now but wait and tell Scott and Jean about it later.

“Feeling better?” Scott asked as soon as you made eye contact with him.

“Yea, that weird nausea fit went away. Sorry about that.” You nodded your head towards them. Jean rubbed your back for a few.

“Then you should eat, it's probably because you skipped breakfast.” She said as she continue with her salad. You nodded in response but said nothing more, you just focus your attention on your meal. Which wasn't hard to do as it was fantastic.

The meal conversation wasn't that bad either. It smoothed out into a story that Sam was telling them about Steve. It's must have been Steve weakness because he was now just as quiet as you. But that didn't stop you from looking over at him. Your eyes would met his and he would burst into chuckle as he hid his blushing cheeks.

Once the meal was over they had gather into a large hallway, Still talking and getting to know one another. Sam offer a small tour of the main building. Scott and Jean agreed but you backed out. You had glance at your watch and it was already a quarter to three.

“I think I'm going to skip this one and head back to my room.” Jean nodded.

“Cap? What about you? Care to join us?” Sam smile widen as he targeted Steve.

“Actually my stomach is acting up now. I was going to head back to my room as well. Would you like some company on the way back?” Steve ignored Sam with his eyes as he glance over to you. You smile at Steve and gave him a nodded. A little too shock to say anything.

“That's sound great.” Sam clapped Steve's back as he said his good bye to you. He turn to Steve with a wide smile. And without you seeing Sam, he said or did something. Because Steve's instantly became red.

“Hope you feel better Cap.” And with that the two groups went their separate ways.

“Have you been to the city before?” Steve asked as you two stroll down an empty hallway. You were taking in with the design of the building as you two spoke.

“No. I'm from a small town in West Virginia. I don't usually go further then the Mansion. Unless I'm needed.” You openly admit to him, “But I heard the shopping is amazing here.” You let out a small laugh as that was all that Kitty and Jubilee talked about the night you before you left.

“I few of my friends back at the Mansion was very persist on a few shops for me to go to.” For the hell of it you reached into your back pocket for a folded up paper. You then show him the list.

“You call that a few stores?” He laughed as there was over fifty stores listed on the pages.

“I think in their dictionary, it is.” You agree and shared a laugh with him.

When all of a sudden, Steve cried in pain and grabbed his stomach. It startled you so much that you grab him by the arm.

“Are you alright?” Quickly dropping your hand when you realized you were touching him. Steve took a minute and close his eyes. You took a step toward him, “That's right take small breaths and slow your heart beat.” You coached him.

A few minutes past when he finally opened his eyes. Blue sparkles dance in his eyes as he look down at you.

“Yes, I'm sorry. My stomach is just acting crazy.” Steve sighed it off and coached you to continue their way. You nodded your understanding and fell back into the stroll with him.

“I can show you around tomorrow when you have a chance and take you to some of those stores, I mean, if you would like.” Steve asked as he held the elevator doors open for you. You enter first thankful that it hide the flash of heat in your cheeks.

“I would like that, I don't think I trust myself to not get lost with all those people out there.” She laugh at herself as the door slid close.

“Great.” He smiled brightly at her. And then another wave of pain hit him. He leaned against the wall as the elevator doors dinged open. Neither one of you made a move for it. You stood facing him with concern.

“Are you sure your okay?” You asked once Steve was acting normal again. He smile weakly towards you and that's when you noticed that his face had drop into a pale shade.

“I don't think lunch agreed with me today.” He confessed weakly and you could see he was growing more embarrassed then you.

Soon the two of you were turning down the hall, you saw your green sticky note and stop in front of the door.

“Thank you for the walk, Captain.” You turned and look up at him. His face was still pale but his eyes were shining with amusement. Steve dropped his head for a quick moment, you could see he was searching for something to say. But he just couldn't find it. So you helped him out by continue.

“So you can stop by anytime after eight tomorrow morning.” You brought up the trip from earlier. It seem to help Steve focus back on you. His smile widen as he thought about it. His blue eyes caught your E/C eyes and held them captive. Every single word of what you were planning on saying next slipped from your mind as he took a step closer to you.

“My room is right here.” You began to stumble over your words. Steve lends towards you, for a moment he is hovering over you like he was going to kiss you. Y/N heart began to slam into your chest. But Steve never bent down toward your level. Instead he reached out past you and tapped on your sticky note.

“I won't be able to forget. Good-bye Y/N” He gave you one last longing look before taking off down the hall. Sam was telling the truth, because Steve disappear into a room a few doors down.

You couldn't contain your giddiness once you were inside your room. You flopped your body down onto the bed and happily screamed into your pillow. You couldn't believe that you agreed to go out in a crowed city with a guy you didn't even know. Well you did have a small hint, after all you did watch some of the news, Steve turned out to be Captain America! Quickly you pulled out your phone and googled him. He was becoming your new obsession. Imagines of Captain America began to load up on your phone. It was the same as the news, Steve was always wearing his helmet.

After forcing yourself off the phone. You jumped into a quick shower and freshen into a new outfit for the meeting. You found yourself walking to the meeting room with Jean and Scott a few seconds later. It was there that you were introduce to Tony Stark and Maria Hill. Sam was there as well. Jean and Scott went over a brief review of what they were here to talk about. Mr. Stark was skeptic about it all and began asking questions as why you and your team haven’t made any moves to help during the alien invasions that took place a few years ago.

“Like Jean has stated Mr. Stark, we are a school and a safe haven for the gifted. We are here to keep everyone safe. And unlike you, we have team members that would like to remain in the dark. Not all of us is willing to expose ourselves out into the public spotlight. It is a very thin line between mutants and the Avengers.” You pointed out to the billionaire playboy that hasn't spent too much time outside the lime light.

In the middle of your statement, the door opened and Steve enter.

“You sure your alright to handle this?” Sam asked Steve as Y/N finished your statement. He was looking much better then in the elevator. He whisper his response and look over to Mr. Stark.

“I didn't think you could get food poisoning, Capiscale?” Mr. Stark then directed his attention to Steve. Steve wasn't bother by Mr. Stark's tone as he found a sit next to you. You fought the blush coming over your face. Tony eyes linger on Steve a few seconds longer but said nothing else to him. Instead, he brought his attention back to you. You wish he hadn't.

“And what is it that a School of Mutants can do for us that I can't.”

“We can provide certain information and if you need back up then some of us will gather and go undercover for you.”

“That's the second time you have brought up not being exposed. Are you saying you are one of them, Ms. Y/L/N?” You didn't hesitate at his question.

“I am.” Tony's eyes linger on yours as you could see he was trying to search for the lies. You ready yourself for his next question. You were sure he was curious about why you wanted to be in the dark.

“What kind of information do you have that we don't already know.” You smiled and look over to Jean. The alignment had not been agreed upon so you weren't going to open your mouth to his questions.

“For Starters, Mr. Stark Hydra is now collecting mutants to rebuild their organization. We have had some reports to us saying that they are hunting and recruiting in the streets.” Jean knew more then you and was happy to let out that tidbit.

Steve sucked in a breath at the word Hydra. You knew he had a past with them and was probably thinking they had squash them all. After that Mr. Stark seem to target Jean for the rest of the meeting. His face remain stone cold.

“Well, that was a very progressive meeting, But I think we should continue this meeting tomorrow. My stomach is getting very hostel with me.” Sam cut in and the tension in the room began to lift as well as Mr. Stark's attitude. Y/N look down at her watch and saw they had been in there talking for a little over two hours. Mr. Stark raise up and began to shake Scott and Jean's hand. It was a surprise to you as he made his way to shake your.

“Pleasure meeting you, Mr. Stark.” You kept your manners up. After all this was Iron Man and he had a huge part in helping keeping people safe.

“Oh no, You can call me Tony.” He laughed it off and he exit the room. The sudden mood change in him was a sign for trouble in the future. You shook your head trying to lose that last thought. You bent over collecting your stuff. Jean and Scott was both engage in a conversation with Sam and Steve. So your eyes wonder over to the window where the sunlight was just on the tops. Leaving the rest in a blue evening shadow. The surrounding forest around them was keeping the peace with you.

A small breeze squeeze through the open window and ran around Y/N. The motion sent chills down your spine and you perked up. It was the wind warning you. But what was it warning you about? Your stomach began to flop. Now was the time to talk to Jean and Scott. So you spun around on your heals and prepare to bee line towards them when something step in your way. It took every muscle in your body to not slam into it. A pair of hands gently grabbed your shoulders to make sure you were still.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off I...” Steve's words drifting as you eye met his. Clearly he was caught off by his actions as well. “I just want to ask you something before you left the room. You were in such a hurry.” He dropped his hands and was brushing his hair with one. You could tell that he was still embarrassed about his sudden movement. You look over to see that Jean and Scott were by the door. And soon your brain had put two and two together. He thought you were fleeing the room.

“No I'm sorry, I had something on my mind that I want to ask Jean. I guess I didn't realize my action.” You laughed it off as your body relaxed. Jean and Scott could wait another couple of minutes.

“Oh, Well I won't keep you long. I was just wondering if maybe you want to grab some coffee first and look over the stores that you want to go.” A shy smile slipped into his perfect shaped lips which brought out the brightness in his eyes. You were falling so hard for him that you could of sworn that your heart was threatening suicide.

“Sounds awesome! I can't wait.” You choked out. Did he just asked you out before taking you out!? A warm, thrilling sensation had taking over the bad feelings in your stomach.

“Cool, I know a nice, quiet coffee joint. Then I will see you in the morning. Have a good evening Y/N.” Steve turned and was out the door. Your eyes still lingering on the empty doorway.

“What was that all about?” Jean asked with a knowing smile. You turn to look at her with wide eyes.

“I honestly don't know. So please be kind and enlighten me.” Y/N half joke with her. But she shook her head. Jean wasn't big on looking into other people's minds for answers.

“So you got a warning from the wind but you can't make sense of what it could be?” Scott hummed back the question. We were back in Scott and Jean's room. Jean was making a cup of tea as Scott leaned against the desk facing me. Even though his voice was filled with skeptic, he never once question me if it was a miscommunication.

“Yes and that was the second time. The first was at lunch with the others. That's why I had to step out for a moment.”

“I see.” Scott replied. He was obvious going over everything in his head.

“I just wanted to let you know what was on the up and up. I mean it could just be my nerves.” Y/N shrugged it off a little. The wind didn't give anything but a dreaded feeling and that wasn't like your powers to flicker like that, “I'm just saying I'm waiting for other warnings but want to keep everything in check. Better safe then sorry.” You ended it with a high note and was now feeling better then before. But you had a small feeling that you would after talking to them.

“Well it's good to share things like this. I haven't felt anything out of the normal but I will keep a closer look.” Jean place her thoughts in and Y/N was feeling better and decided to call it an evening. The morning car trip was taking it's tow on you. You fell into a peaceful state as you thought about Steve and what the next morning would br

starts off slow but will pick in second chapter

thanks for reading!

#steve rogers x reader #captain america x reader #steve rogers fanfiction #marvel imagines #marvel fanfiction #avenger imagines #imagines #avengers x reader

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crescendo-system · 7 years

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iM ASKING DEF HALP ADVICE but ya I'm not always able to properly relax and then any memories are like, hazy and watered down, and the last time I was able to get real deep into focus I felt a Bad memory coming on and got tf out of there

ooooo, yea that can happen. Personally speaking, I had that happen once and I continued to pursue the memory to get it over with? but it was already affecting my mood terribly and I had the time and mental preparedness to just have some sob time over the memory. it’s possible you may need to set aside time where you’re ready for it if that memory starts to resurface. I say this more because it might blindside you otherwise, or lurk underneath your consciousness and affect your mood if it goes on too long (which has happened to me a few times with my Dave kin.) But yeah if you can’t handle it then don’t feel pressured to face it just yet.

the method I use is actually probably good for avoiding that sort of thing, since it’s meant to be a guided mental walk through your memories. I’ve found it’s possible to dictate or affect what memories you see, to an extent. It’s reliant on visualisation so you could guide yourself away from that memory, perhaps. I’ve never tried to use it to avoid a memory so I’m not certain, but it’s possible.

Said method is built and personalized off of this handy dandy post right here, though the initial setup often led to me losing focus since i myself am a bit adhd lmao. This post is an inconveniently long and rambly iteration of my specific process and observations that have built up around the method as I’ve adapted it. (I’ll be reblogging both of these to this blog momentarily since I neglected to when archiving I guess, whoops)

main takeaway from these is probably- learn to visualize and utilize your mindspace to your advantage, and to sort of ‘cherrypick’ things - but don’t try to be too controlling or things will be unsuccessful, unclear or will just fall more out of control.

As for alternatives - I’ve found a few other things that help me, but personally speaking they’re not as consistently successful or reliable. They are however an invaluable resource so I recommend giving them a peek. ;)

(under readmore bc this got Lengthy™ as is in my nature to do lmao. I hope some of this helps!!)

1- paying attention to your dreams. I’ve gotten some kin details from dreams. Sometimes it’s layered in bunches of dream gunk, but if a character from my canon was there to my knowledge, I pay close attention and analyze for symbolism and alternate interpretations. This includes old memories before you kinfirmed, as well - sometimes there are details there that help as well. I’ve known someone who dreamt a kin memory in their childhood as a nightmare. It may not happen with everyone, or be obvious, but I recommend combing what you do remember of your dreams, now and then, just in case.

On a related note, keeping track of your dreams may help you remember more of them in general, and may make it easier to find kin memories. keeping a little notebook, even just to jot down key phrases or doodles, will help you remember things about the dream that you would lose on your own.

2- impressions, feelings etc - of course there’s a danger of overthinking, or of personal preferences/projections affecting it, but sometimes a gut feeling might lead to something more connected to a memory. I figured out one of the swaps in a bloodswap timeline of mine based on gut feelings alone (they had been a former matesprit so the emotional connection allowed me to figure it out better)

3- media. This one is tricky and random. I’ve regained memories from song lyrics, melodies and character themes, fanart and even some fanfics. it can be a phrase, or a certain action, pose, situation. Heck I’ve recalled a memory from a totally unrelated video before. Rather random, even if you look specifically at content/themes relating to your kin.

But there is a way to tip this into your favor - do you write? draw? make music? anything artistic/creative? then you may be able to pull from your kin memories if you do something based on your kin and the canonmates/settings/etc you had. I have a friend who’s discovered over time that many of the fanfictions they have written aren’t just fics, but actually based on memories from their timelines. They’re not always accurate portrayals of events, or quotes or dynamics, but the core flow and content has always matched up. Likewise, the way I draw/drew characters based on ‘headcanons’ have tended to match up to one of my own canons, and I believe I’ve also written fic snippets based on experiences from my timelines. And as I regain more memories, I’m beginning to write using the memories as a springboard, hoping to expand upon what was initially just, an emotion and specific image, turning it into an excavation of the whole memory I have yet to recall.

and last I can think of as of right now;

4 - talking to people about your memories - this is a very helpful exercise in general! and by this, I mean hold a discussion with someone you feel ok with, about memories and the like, as opposed to just making a post on tumblr. This conversation encourages and stimulates the brain to come up with details when describing, and sometimes the person will say something unexpected that might jog your memory, or help confirm what your canon WASN’T like. This can sometimes be because the person knows something you forgot/don’t know, or they might say something to be silly/make a joke or offer suggestions. Someone joked about something silly that otters did when I told them about my lusus in my Eridan Leijon timeline being an otter - which surprisingly gave me a memory and also answered a few questions.

I personally am on a few servers on discord where kin talk is encouraged and frequent, plus my longest time kinfriend has always encouraged me to talk about kinstuff as well as tell me about theirs, and in doing this we’ve both made connections for the other as well as discover we’re canonmates in a few tls.

So these are the methods I’m familiar with! I’m sure others have their methods, I know some witches will rely on spells and the like, but I’ve never been one for those things, based on personal preference.

I hope these help, and I am always open to helping in any way I can!! Feel free to ask me more stuff if you need!! :)

#long post #kin.txt #memory walk #lgbroductions #ask and ye shall receive

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