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dopescotlandwarrior · 4 years

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Bluegrass-Chapter Two

A special thanks to @statell for your help and wisdom

The previous chapter on AO3

Chapter Two

Claire stood still with her cell phone crushing her ear and felt dizzy suddenly from holding her breath. She forced a ragged exhale and heard Michael come back to the phone.

“The water is negative Claire. It’s not the source.”

“Jesus, thank you, Michael. I don’t know how you did it so fast, but I am in your debt. One of the grains we sampled has a shiny, sweet coating that shouldn’t be there. I trust you above all others and will gladly pay whatever you want to test that. Can you do it today?”

“Yes. I will call later with what I find. Good luck Claire.”

Claire could hear the backhoe and ran to the sound where Jamie and his men were dragging the dead horses. She grabbed his arm and smiled, asking him to turn the water on as quickly as possible and watched him run for the water main.

Claire leaned over and held her knees until the wave of nausea lessened. Fraser tugged on her sleeve with a face full of worry and motioned for her to follow. Once in his opulent office, he closed the door against the noise and offered her a chair.

“Are we ready to make a call to the FBI?” Jamie let out a long breath, “I suppose a better question is can ye stay with us until this horror can be contained, Doctor Beauchamp.”

“Many horses are still too sick to rally on their own. I won’t leave them, Mister Fraser.”

Jamie connected with the local FBI office and explained what he knew as well as the hope to keep this crime from getting to the press until they could find the source of the poison. He clicked off.

“The track closes in two hours, that is all the time we have to normalize this place. I will finish hidin the dead horses and you can start the treatments, aye?”

“Forgive me for this question Mister Fraser, but how do you stay calm in the face of this disaster, knowing there is someone out there that wants to destroy you?”

“I didna do this if that’s what yer askin lass.”

“I’m sure it will be the first direction the agents take.” Claire watched his eyes for some hint of culpability, fear, or anything to suggest he knew about this. Humans were so impossible to read and that was truly frustrating right now.

“You don’t know me and your world is in the throes of a huge disaster, but I have a request, I have to get behind you on this. That means clearing my doubts. I am so sorry, but I want to touch your shoulder and it might take a few minutes.”

Jamie’s head jerked up with raised eyebrows quickly clouding over with anger. “I havna time.”

“Fine. I have no reason or inclination to believe you based on your professed innocence. I will save your horses and answer medical questions and that is the extent of it. I’ve already told you more than enough to hide your crime, tamper with the evidence, and even finish the job when you're ready. Good day, Mister Fraser.”

Jamie shot out of his chair and got between her and the door. “It sounded ridiculous, still does, I canna see how touchin my shoulder will help but go ahead if it's so important. Please, I need yer help, please touch anythin ye want.”

Claire was tired, exhausted actually, and feeling humans was a complicated endeavor. She placed her palm on his shoulder and tried for several minutes but all she felt was static, loud and obnoxious.

“Dammit!”

Claire reached for the light switch and the office went dark. She tried again, immediately feeling something strong pulling her somewhere she didn’t want to go. Sorrow deep enough to snuff out her life was just one step away. It took all her strength to break the contact with him and she threw herself at the wall trying to find the switch plate for the lights. She took huge gulps of air and tried to get away from him, from what she felt in him.

“Thank you, and I am with you, one hundred percent Fraser.”

Claire walked quickly toward the breeding stalls to check the mares and new baby. Something had to be done about the newborn, he was desperately alone and hungry. She mixed up a bottle and coaxed him to drink it. She had most of it down him before he detached and tried to run through the walls of his stall, crying loudly. Claire looked up at Jamie standing outside the stall door. She opened the door and giggled at him as the colt ran out and pressed into him.

“Well Fraser, welcome to motherhood.”

Rupert and Angus had pulled the dead horses into a heap in an outside corner behind the facility. Lye was used to cover the smell, followed by heavy plastic secured over them. Four feet of woodchips and sawdust buried the macabre scene and they quickly parked the backhoe in its usual place.

They dragged metal rakes up and down the aisles to rid the tire tracks from the vehicles driven into the facility and medical waste was collected into black trash bags and thrown into the roll-away dumpster. As the racetrack was closing for the day, they hoped it would be enough.

Claire led the two forensic teams into the grain rooms while explaining the poisoning of the horses, when the rooms were locked down, and the water being cleared of tampering. She also mentioned the need to keep this from the public until the person was caught. The teams worked fast and were clear of the buildings in forty minutes. Claire exhaled and leaned into the wall of a grain room.

She thought about what she felt from Fraser and wanted to sob her eyes out it was so devastating. When someone pressed an ice-cold double chocolate shake against her arm she nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Jesus Dustin, you scared the hell out of me! Yum…chocolate.” They rested on trunks and drank the shakes, speaking quietly about the treatments still needed and where the facility might go from here.

“It is not our mess to figure out, fortunately. When the treatments are done, we are done. Mister Fraser will figure all this out with the FBI. Look, I know you want to help but we have done all we can. Let’s finish and get out of here.”

Dusty looked at Claire like she didn’t have a heart, but he followed her to finish the treatments. He was quiet but his work was impeccable as always.

She wanted Dusty off the premises as soon as possible. If he was implicated in this horror story he would be banned from every school with a college of veterinary medicine even when he was cleared of any participation. He might think she was heartless, but she was actually protecting him.

Claire wanted to say goodbye to Fraser, but he was still sequestered in his office with FBI agents. The colt was nowhere to be found so she assumed he was pressed into Jamie inside the office. She finally knocked on his door and handed the agent a large warm bottle of milk.

Dusty had the motor running when Claire jumped into the passenger seat with a deep sigh. They were quiet for most of the trip until Dusty couldn’t hold it any longer.

“I feel terrible leaving them to fight this without our help.” Claire could see his crimson blush, so she knew it was a hard thing for him to say. She wished they had a closer relationship so she could speak freely about protecting his future.

“If you want to help them, try to figure out how someone could get all the horses to peak at the same time, or at least the same day. It boggles my mind how this could be done with the different weights, metabolic expenditures, and other factors too numerous to count. Did he do it this way so they couldn’t be saved? Or did he do it to torture?”

Dusty looked straight ahead at the road and spoke quietly, “couldn’t be saved? If there were five veterinarians in the facility when the first horse went down could they have saved him? If they had hours to think about the treatment could they have saved them? If they had two days to think and get ready could they have saved any of them?”

Claire was quiet, the answer was weighing heavily on her mind. She knew that Dusty struggled with accepting her gift, even when she had proven an exceptional perception, diagnosis, and treatment many, many times. He couldn’t explain it, nor did he believe in the supernatural, so he didn’t talk about it with her.

“Doctor Beauchamp, even a layman like me knew your mixing protocols would be unproductive if not lethal. There were only two vets with the backbone to deliver the cocktail, even after watching the miraculous recovery of the gelding.”

Dusty would not be put off by her silence. He pulled over and turned to lock into her eyes, it was time for answers.

“If you didn’t have specific information from the … horses themselves how could you know? Not answering? I’ll answer. It would mean you were the most reckless, and luckiest, person alive, or you understand them and communicate with them. Do you listen to my head too?”

“No! Stop it, Dustin! I know it’s hard to accept but I can’t hear people’s thoughts, it isn’t eavesdropping. They must want to communicate and tell me what’s happening. Do you believe me?”

Dusty pulled onto the road and there was no more talk about anything. He watched her climb the steps to her patio and disappear. He drove home wanting to climb under a rock for several days, just to feel normal again.

Claire looked at her wrinkled fingers after her twenty-minute shower. Her first look in a mirror after getting home was shocking because there was horsehair stuck to her skin under her chin. She looked like the bearded lady. Now clean, she decided to let the bluegrass pull her stress out tonight and headed for the patio to watch the sunset as her phone started ringing.

Claire approached the Information Desk at the zoo the next day to ask for the director. “Excuse me, I am meeting Bill Davis, can you tell him I’m here please?”

“Doctor Beauchamp, thank you for agreeing to come. He is right over here.”

Claire followed the zoo director to a large habitat with a twenty-foot drop to concrete around the entire thing. When she really looked at the actual land the animal was living on, it was scarcely larger than a cage. The director had misrepresented the tiger’s habit and quality of life. His describing the expanse of land the tiger lived on was exaggerated. The water for swimming was a bit larger than a birdbath. She really did not like this man after being lied to, but reminded herself she was here to save the tiger.

She was led to the prep room that attached to the tiger's domain where food was prepared, medical treatments were done, and weapons were kept for dealing with him. Claire had asked to sit where the tiger could get close to her if he wanted. When the director left, she pushed the chair away and sat on the floor. For the next hour, she sent him messages of greeting, sympathy, and desire to help each time their eyes met.

She laid down on the floor after an hour because the sun had moved in the sky and was now bathing her in warm light making her eyelids heavy. She only wanted to rest and show him a trusting posture. It would be an hour before her eyes opened again, giving the animal ample time to smell her and get comfortable with her presence. Claire felt the heat from the tiger but no fear and rose slowly so she didn’t startle him. This huge beautiful cat was only two feet from her laying with his back to her. Steel bars eight inches apart is all that separated them.

“Will you let me help you?” Her voice was almost a whisper. “Will you let me touch you? You are magnificent and beautiful.” She said each word while holding its meaning in her mind. “Why have you stopped eating? If you die the world will be without your beauty and spirit.” He pushed back into the bars and Claire touched his back. Thanking him and asking how she could help him.

Images filled her mind of him, another full-sized tiger, and babies, three of them. Like a slide show, she saw the affection they had for each other, playing in the sunlight, cuddling at night. The images continued until she asked him who they were. The images continued but now it was just him, and Claire’s happy heart rate slowed, making her feel miserable.

The zoo director had walked through the park grabbing handlers to come and see the tiger whisperer. He lied to them about watching someone with a gift that let her talk to animals. A reporter slipped into the group as they walked toward the tiger enclosure with the cameraman slipping in just before they entered the prep room. The director purposely pushed the door with enough force to make it crash into Claire’s special energy with the tiger, who then bolted. The cameraman had used a long-range lens to capture ten minutes of calm interaction between Claire and the tiger with several minutes of close up on her hands that were deep in his fur and their faces, both calm and serene.

She looked back with a flash of anger at the noisy interruption and noticed the camera that was trained on her. Most of the people had zoo uniforms on, except a lady who was now firing obnoxious questions about talking to animals. It finally hit Claire that this was a setup, but for what? She looked out at the tiger and saw his sudden distrust. She was furious. Pulling herself up to her feet she walked to the director, making it clear she was plenty pissed. The handlers moved away leaving him vulnerable as Claire approached looking like she would disembowel the lying piece of shit.

“What did you do with them?” She was an inch from his face, channeling the tiger's hatred of him. He leaned away from her acting like she was crazy telling people to call security. Claire had never felt this level of hatred, she wanted to tear him apart and pushed him into the wall savagely yelling her question again. “Where are they, his wife and babies, what did you do with them!”

The reporter asked more respectfully this time, wanting Claire to explain her question to him.

“A male, a female, and three babies lived here, as you shot him with a tranquilizer, he had to watch you shoot the others. One of the darts missed and stuck in wood over there. He watched you crate them up and remove them. Where are they!?”

The director seemed to have a shift in his energy and smiled wickedly at her while he straightened his posture and prepared to annihilate her for the news crew. He was being paid handsomely for this video that would expose her as a fraud. Piece of cake he thought.

“Clearly you are a fraud. There has never been more than that one tiger. You made the whole thing up. What a pity I was taken in by your lies about hearing the animals.”

He was feeling smug, calculating the trip he would take on the money this was earning him and he could hardly wait to be free of this disgusting place.

“Where are they?”

When the director saw security coming, he closed in on Claire wanting to shame her for the cameras. She cut him off with the question that finally brought a man in the back to his senses. “Why was he moved to this awful, tiny enclosure? Why did you take his pool away? Why did you change to the food he can’t stand? Why are you torturing him?

Claire was crying now because she spoke the emotions the tiger made her feel.

“You are insane. Babbling questions and threatening me. For the last time, there were no other tigers with him, and no one shot them with tranquilizers.”

“I did, on your order.” The man from the rear pushed forward so the director could see him. He went white in the face at the betrayal of his top handler.

Claire leveled her eyes on the director, “I will campaign from one side of Kentucky to the other until you get these tigers back and return him to the enclosure that was built for them.”

The senior handler who admitted to shooting the tigers pulled Claire away from the group who were now targeting the director with questions. He pulled her to the outside and walked right past security in the direction of the parking lot.

“I don’t know how you knew all that, but you were dead on with all of it, even the shot that missed. I’ve never been right with what he did and made me a part of, maybe I can help you fix this.”

Claire stopped abruptly and turned to the handler. “The director lied about everything to get me here today and I will deal with that, but please help the tiger. Find his family and give him meat again. And thank you for helping me in there.” She knew Dusty would be in front of her home waiting for her and she called for him to pick her up. She clicked off and took a deep breath before turning around to look back.

“Oh, you startled me, I have a ride coming so no need to wait with me.” The handler reminded her of Sam Elliot in looks and temperament. He really saved her today and she was grateful.

“That’s alright, humor an old man. And don’t you worry about the tiger, I’ll find his family.”

They chatted until she heard the low growl of her truck and wondered how to explain all this to Dusty.

Dusty picked up on her weird energy right away and wondered when they would get back to normal.

“When did you start treating the exotics Doctor B?”

“Someone lured me here today with lies about a sick tiger. The director asked me to comfort him then brought a news crew and a group of handlers to be disruptive and ask a bunch of questions. He tried to say I was crazy and lied about animal communication, but I learned enough from the tiger to …”

Dusty pulled to the side of the road and just stared at her. “Doctor B I feel like our well-ordered lives are coming apart. Why is this happening and are you alright?”

“Yes. I am not hurt. Whatever the director’s intentions were, one of the older handlers corroborated everything the tiger said.”

Dusty looked up at the woman he respected most in the world, “tigers can’t talk Claire. Just tell me one thing, do you think this is related to Highland Brothers and what happened yesterday?”

“There is no question in my mind.”

They both seemed to slip into autopilot to get through the afternoon. Dusty grabbed Claire’s keys out of her hand and bolted up the stairs to her home. Claire was really shocked by his behavior and found him going room to room making sure no one was there.

“See ya tomorrow Doctor B.”

Once she could sit quietly, alone on her patio, all the particulars of the day came back to mind. She pieced it all together and shot off her chair to turn the news on. She clicked through the local news channels for almost an hour, happy she was wrong until she heard her name and slowly raised her head. She watched the video of her and the tiger, taken covertly without her permission. Next was her shouting at the zoo director and the handler coming forward. The news anchor was in voice-over asking for anyone with information about the kidnapped tigers to call the station.

Claire sat stunned on her rocking chair trying to decide if this was a good thing or something that would hurt her career. If she had to defend herself against any allegations of misrepresentation it would hurt Dustin. She felt a tear roll out of her eye and wished again she had allowed a closer friendship with Dustin. Then he would understand why she had to fire him.

Claire had never considered her life without Dustin. She came to Kentucky after graduation to work with racehorses and he was the first person who showed up for an interview. He was spit-shined and creased and could hardly answer the questions with the layers of respect and polite behavior she was getting. She liked him from the start and after a long walk in the woods where he calmed down enough to converse with her, she hired him, and they became the dynamic duo. His trust in her staggered the mind. It was more than blind obedience, he trusted her diagnosis and jumped to execute her treatments, no matter how crazy they were. After all that devotion she would cut him loose tomorrow, to save him.

Jamie closed his office door feeling complete relief the FBI agents were finished with the questioning, lie detectors, fingerprinting, and hours of pictures he was asked to view, looking for someone who worked for him. He was completely exhausted when he turned around heading for his overstuffed chair banging into the colt that never left his side.

“Jesus lad, do ye have to be up my butt all the time?”

The colt pressed harder against him feeling insecure. This poor baby was three days old thinking he had a Scottish mother built like a linebacker with a terrible temper.

“It’s alright laddie, I love ye. Once a mare drops ye’ll become a twin with no one the wiser. Things will be easier for ye then.” His warm hand stroked the colt while his low voice was soothing the nervousness. “I am ready to get drunk and sleep for two days, will ye be good for yer temporary mam Angus?”

Jamie pointed the remote at the television and offered the colt a bottle as he relaxed into his chair. He was busy with a fussy colt when Claire’s face filled the screen and he almost missed it, looking back just in time to see her attack a man, shouting questions at him. His heart almost stopped as he scrambled to call the newsroom asking where the broadcast could be viewed on the internet. Thirty minutes later he struggled to make the call he promised to make.

Jamie called the agent in charge of his case and told him what happened. It was obviously connected to what happened to the horses. Claire was lured to the zoo to treat a sick tiger and then ambushed and filmed so she would lose her credibility to testify on his behalf. He slammed the phone and called Doctor Beauchamp from his cell.

Claire tossed and turned for an hour. When her cell phone rang, she was almost relieved to have an excuse to get up. She looked at Jamie’s name and answered.

“That was quite a broadcast tonight Doctor Beauchamp. Is that how ye healed my horses so fast? They told ye what was wrong did they”

“Something like that.”

“I have to be honest Sassenach, I don’t believe it, but I do believe it was a setup at the zoo to discredit you and that means the man responsible has surfaced, in a way. I had to let the FBI know about this Claire, but I wanted to warn you they are coming.”

“What? Do they think I had something to do with this and why do you call me that?"

“No, I’m sure they don’t. They just want to find a link back to the killer. It won’t take long.”

Claire waited for the rest of his answer.

"Because yer British with a strong accent. It means outsider, not in a bad way, you just are."

Claire looked up at the flashing red light on her ceiling and nearly jumped out of her skin from the banging on her door. She had just enough time to dress after Fraser’s call and suddenly felt terrified. She waited, hoping they would leave. The knocking got harder and Claire willed them away. Her door flew open with splintering wood raining down on her while big men in riot gear ran in and pushed her to the ground. Claire was crying as someone’s knee pressed her face into the wood floor and snapped handcuffs on her wrists. She cried Dusty’s name into the floor before they yanked her to her feet. She could see her door hanging from the one remaining hinge as they drove away.

For the rest of the night, they brutalized her with continuous questioning. The interrogators would be replaced with fresh agents that would continue the questioning forcing her to wake up and withholding water when she begged for it. When she passed out from exhaustion, they threw her into a cell and left her there in solitary confinement. She was not given food, or water, and saw not a single person. She had never been so scared in her life.

Jamie looked up at the clock and dialed Claire again. She had not answered all day and it was three in the afternoon. Before he clicked off his door swung open banging into the wall so a stone-faced Dusty could walk to Jamie’s desk. He held out his cell phone to Jamie and played the video he took of Claire’s shattered front door.

“Where is she, Mister Fraser? What have you done with her?”

Jamie glanced at the video. “Sweet Jesus.”

Dusty lowered his eyes to Jamie’s with a murderous look.

“I know nothin of this lad, but we are leavin now to find her. Let’s go.”

Jamie whistled for his men while he threw a rope around the colt’s neck handing it to Rupert before he ran to catch up with Dusty. He jumped in the truck giving instructions to the FBI building in a nearby town. It took an hour to get there and Dusty was coming apart at the seams. When he wouldn’t respond to Jamie he was held down into his seat by powerful arms and an angry face an inch from his.

“Listen, lad!” Jamie growled. “She is in that building but if you go in there half-cocked it may be days before we get her. Understand? Do not talk. Sit where they tell ye and let me get her.”

Two hours later, Claire felt warm arms lift her off the concrete floor. Her teeth chattered from the fifty-degree cell and she moaned from her cracked lips. Dusty walked desk to desk writing the names of the agents who took two hours to find her until every agent was concealing their concern with anger.

Jamie held Claire against his warmth and climbed the stairs seeing Dusty’s eyes go wide. “Let's go lad. She needs to warm up quick as possible, drive to the forty-five and go East back to the compound.” Jamie watched the stone-faced lad carry out each request like a robot and his heart broke for him. Jamie pointed all the heat vents at Claire in his lap. Her teeth stopped chattering and she wrapped her arms around Jamie pulling his heat closer. She was desperate for warmth and couldn’t know what she was doing but Jamie felt the invasive movement like a jolt of lightning. He held her close and Dusty stared straight ahead not saying a word.

Jamie pointed the way to his house that was set back, deep in a bordering meadow. The house was large with lots of extra bedrooms. Claire was covered with quilts and drained every cup of water offered. Jamie told her the short version of Dusty crashing into his office demanding to know where she was. She smiled at Dusty then winced at the pain of her cracked lips. Her door was closed, and the house went dark and quiet. The only movement was Dusty who made it back to her room to check on her. It appeared the whole bed was shaking making him fear for her.

Jamie was pulled out of sleep by the knocking on his bedroom door. He opened the door to Dusty, eyes downcast and asking for his help. Jamie felt for the boy and promised to cover her with more blankets.

“Go to bed lad. I’ll take care of it.”

Jamie slid into the bed behind Claire and pulled her against his chest. His legs pushed into her from behind and his arms wrapped around her.

“No need to fret, lass. This is the fastest way to warm up and I owe ye this and much more for what ye endured.”

It took some time, but she finally stopped shaking. Deep in the night, Jamie woke to her crying. He pulled her close and stroked her cold arm until she was asleep again.

Before dawn, Claire was jolted awake by a big hand moving down her hip and thigh. Once she remembered where she was the pleasure of that hand took control and silenced her as she gave in to the exquisite feeling. Anywhere he touched her sent electric currents in both directions until his body went rigid as he jerked awake. Claire was awake, but she was a dead ringer for a woman in deep sleep.

Jamie was horrified when he woke up to his traitorous hands molesting a woman he hardly knew, with her lovesick assistant in the next room, and his fiancé on a plane over the Pacific coming home. He was so freaked out he jumped out of bed and shot back to his own room.

“Christ. I must be losin my mind.” Jamie showered and dressed for another grueling day, passing Dusty’s empty room on his way out. The bed was neatly made, and the room was possibly cleaner than it was before the kid closed himself into it. Seeing a note on the bed he pushed it under Claire’s door. Dusty left early to fix her door, he would come and get her when she called.

Jamie looked to the sun rising as he drove a back road to the compound. He found it amusing he even noticed the sun this morning. It’s those two, he thought, like they both stepped out of a Norman Rockwell painting when people were presumed good and godly, and followed a moral code, prayed for each other, and waved to everyone they saw. He chuckled at the thought. In his mind, Jamie watched Claire place her hands on the gelding’s face with so much compassion in her eyes it almost made him cry. His eyes slammed open and he skidded to a stop on the dirt road.

“Holy Christ. Right after that, she told the kid what to mix up and the gelding seemed cured right before my eyes. This is what happens when insanity sets in. Ye believe in miracles and talk to ye’self on the way to work.”

Jamie dropped the truck into gear and barreled toward the compound looking straight ahead like he had blinders on. He was so tense walking into the building he almost exploded when Angus came around the corner and said good morning.

“Jamie boy what’s got ye so amped up this morning?” Angus was smiling his toothless grin. “The agents are waitin for ye.”

“Come with me please, I need a witness. Where is Rupert?”

“Havin a wee talk with yer son who refuses to drink his milk this mornin.”

Jamie shook his head at Angus’s reference and turned the other direction.

“Fuck them, they can wait.”

Angus knew enough not to ask but stayed close to Jamie hoping he might slip up and explain what was bothering him today. As if the attempted murder of all the horses wasn’t enough. Angus and Rupert figured out what Jamie had yet to speak of. The barn was only a third full when the horses started getting sick. The rest were running that day or were boarded with their trainer during the racing season. Later in the day, the horses that were coming back from the track seemed perfectly healthy. The thirty-eight horses that were sick or dead were owned in part, or in full, by Jamie.

Jamie stroked the colt as he finished the bottle of milk and thought about the sadistic FBI agents who tortured an innocent, locking her in a room with no cot, and no chair, just very cold concrete. He felt anger so deep it made his hands shake and the colt abandoned his milk to push his head into Jamie’s stomach looking for comfort. Jamie exhaled his stress and tried to relax. They may not have broken any laws keeping her under those conditions, but they certainly broke his trust and confidence in the FBI. “Highland justice will be comin for ye lads.”

Claire opened her eyes and stretched in the most luxurious sheets. A note from Jamie told her to use his shower and eat all she wanted from the kitchen. She giggled and decided the forty-minute ride for Dustin to get there gave her plenty of time to enjoy a bit more of this luxury.

Standing under the hot water was heaven and she looked through the bottles of body wash and shampoo of which there were many, only finding one for men. So, Mister Fraser has a woman, I wonder where she is, she thought. The bathroom filled with hot steam and lovely scents as she pushed the door open and reached for a towel. Drying off her face and eyes she opened them wide to see a woman standing four feet in front her looking very like a raging bull.

“Who…the fuck…are you!”

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artificialqueens · 5 years

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Not Nineteen Forever (14) (Branjie/Scyvie/Ninex)- Ortega

a/n: hey hey hey! welcome to chapter 14 of n19f and thank u all so much for the love (and tears) over chapter 13. i’m sorry for breaking all ur hearts! hold tight to see where things go from here. the only way is up, right? as always plsssssssss send love and ur fav moments to my blog or to AQ! my fav food is delicious validation yum xoxo

please note: this fic contains young adults often behaving in irresponsible/unadvisable ways with regards to alcohol, drugs and sex. if you are someone who feels as if they could be heavily influenced by fic and incorporate what happens in the plot into ur own life, pls steer clear!

summary: Brooke, Yvie and Nina are three flatmates who forged a friendship in their first year of university and picked up some other waifs and strays along the way. Now in their final year, there are feelings that need to be unravelled and confessions to be made whilst navigating drunk nights, hungover mornings, takeaways, group chats, library meetups, cafe gossiping, and the small matter of getting a degree.

last chapter: Brooke decided that she couldn’t give Vanessa what she was looking for, and headed to her flat to have an important conversation.

this chapter: the girls deal with the aftermath, Monet and her flatmates provide a distraction, and Scarlet has a revelation.

***

Scarlet looked at the door to the lecture theatre once, twice, three times, the biting of her nails an awkward accompaniment to her worrying. The clock seemed to tick in time with her heart, although she supposed it wouldn’t compare a bit to how Vanjie would be feeling.

Sighing deeply and drawing a little star on the edge of her notebook, Scarlet reflected on the events of the past few days. She and Yvie had been sitting watching some dumb Netflix show and procrastinating and had been contemplating what to have for dinner when a message came through on the old Branjie Sweepstake chat from Silky, Scarlet unable to believe it was her from the way she was typing.

Silky: Hey ladies so some of you prolly already know but Brooke ended shit with Vanjie earlier today. She’s pretty cut up about it understandably so just making you all aware so that none of you put your foot in it. Also just keep things on the chat as normal although V will prolly not be out at any nights out any time soon xxxxx

“Holy shit, Yves,” Scarlet had gasped, looking at her girlfriend who was also staring at her phone in shock.

“Well, fuck. She did it,” Yvie blinked at her phone, sighing heavily. There was a small pause of guilty silence, as if the pair of them were contemplating the knowledge they had withheld from Vanessa. Yvie gave a curt shrug. “Guess we can kiss goodbye to ending uni on a high, then.”

“Oh, Yvie, don’t be so selfish! We’ll all be fine, Silk’s trying to keep things as normal as she can for V’s sake!” Scarlet rolled her eyes at Yvie, her girlfriend ever the pessimist.

“Yeah, but you can’t deny things are gonna be a little bit awkward, babe. I’m not here for all that shit, we’re meant to be fully-functioning adults in, like, five months’ time. Not babies with drama issues.”

“The only baby with drama issues in our friendship group is me,” Scarlet raised an eyebrow, Yvie laughing and pulling her close. “We’ll all still be friends, Jesus. I’m just worried about V. God, I’m a shit friend, aren’t I? I knew this was coming and I sat by and let her think everything was fine-”

“You are not a shit friend,” Yvie insisted, squeezing Scarlet’s side so hard she felt her ribs might break. “I did the exact same. Besides, Vanessa’s an idiot if she didn’t see it coming. You can always tell when people are being off with you.”

“Hey, that’s unfair. You can tell that, but whether you choose to admit it to yourself or not is a different story,” Scarlet added thoughtfully. “Like if you started giving vibes that you wanted to break up with me. I feel like I would just lie to myself about it because I’d so desperately want it not to be true.”

“Aww, baby,” Yvie smiled, kissing the top of her head. “You’re adorable. You’re also dumped, by the way. Ha ha ha, dipshit. I broke up with you and you didn’t even know I was going to.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Scarlet thumped her girlfriend with a pillow.

After that, the pair of them had gone to Yvie’s living room in search of Nina, where they got two for the price of one- Nina and Brooke, sitting on the sofa, Nina talking gently to Brooke and the other girl staring so hard at the wall Scarlet was convinced she was going to rip a hole in the space-time continuum. They’d both sat down and spoken about the entire situation, but not in too much depth- Brooke explaining that her feelings towards Vanessa had changed, and she wasn’t sure she was what she wanted anymore.

“Wait, you weren’t sure? Do you not have to be pretty sure about something like that before you break up with someone?” Yvie had asked, her eyes narrowing. Nina had cast Yvie a glare and Brooke had tilted her head back to stare at the ceiling.

“I’m not really sure about any area of my life, Yves, so why should this be any different?”

Scarlet was jolted out of her daydream by the door to the lecture theatre swinging open, her heart rate rising only to find it plummeting again when two random girls from the course came through. A shot of adrenaline gripped Scarlet, however, when a girl traipsed in behind them that at first she didn’t recognise. Then swallowing a small bubble of horror as she approached Scarlet’s bench, she realised that the girl was Vanjie. Her dark hair hung like a witch’s over her face- matted and tangled with the frizz a telltale sign of Vanessa having slept in it and not bothered to brush it either. Her face was a pale, makeup-less mask with a decidedly grim, almost mournful expression. The outfit she was wearing was shapeless, a far cry from the ever-fashionable girl Scarlet knew she was, and the black joggers and huge navy jumper Vanessa had on could well have been the outfit she’d slept in. As Vanessa slid in beside Scarlet, she barely gave her eye contact.

“Hey babe,” Scarlet greeted her supportively, the other girl still not looking at her as she took her notebook out of her bag. “How’re you holding up?”

Vanessa gave a completely mirthless laugh as she scrambled at the bottom of her bag for a pen. “Aha. Not great, to be honest.”

Scarlet was hit by a wave of emotion. She reached out and squeezed Vanjie’s free hand. “Oh, Vanj, I’m so sorry.”

“Please-” Vanessa said, her voice choked and warped, two tears hitting the blank pad in front of her. “Please don’t be nice to me, it’s gonna set me off again.”

Scarlet could’ve cried herself at the state Vanjie was in. She watched their lecturer enter the hall and begin setting up. “Babe, we don’t have to stay here if you’re like this.”

Vanessa straightened herself up, tilted her head towards the sky and wiped two fingers under her lashes. “No, bitch. It’s been four days, I said I was coming to uni today and that’s what the fuck I’m going to do. The bitch might have broken my heart but I’ll be fucked if she’s taking a 2:1 from me either.”

Scarlet’s heart hurt a little hearing Vanessa talk about Brooke that way, but then reason kicked in and she supposed Vanessa wasn’t going to be down to shower Brooke with platitudes for the time being. She watched as Vanjie tilted her head back down, gravity doing little to stop more tears from rolling down her face. She gave a sniff and, in lieu of a tissue, wiped her nose on the sleeve of her jumper. Then, she used the other sleeve to mop up her tears.

“Stupid fucking cryin’, goddamnit,” Vanessa muttered angrily, growing frustrated with herself. Scarlet hurriedly reached into her own bag and brought out a small packet of tissues, wordlessly handing one to Vanjie. With gratitude, she blew her nose on it, the sudden noise causing a girl in the row in front of them both to turn around, her gaze lingering just a second too long on the crying Vanessa.

“What the fuck are you looking at, hoe? You want your face rearranged? You could fuckin’ do with it,” Vanessa snapped angrily, the girl quickly turning back around. Scarlet had had enough. In one movement she swept all of her and Vanjie’s things into her cavernous Hermes bag and shoved at her gently.

“C’mon. We can get the lecture notes later. You need a coffee and a talk,” she insisted, clamping a hand over Vanjie’s mouth as she opened it to protest. Scarlet rotated Vanessa’s shoulders towards the direction of the door and practically frog-marched her down the stairs and out of the door seconds before the lecture began.

“I need a fuckin’ wine and a talk,” Vanessa quipped, before the floodgates suddenly opened and the girl’s face crumbled like a ruin. Scarlet immediately crushed her in a hug. She rubbed her friend’s back and sushed her quietly as Vanessa’s chest heaved with sobs, her crying eerily quiet as if she had nothing left to give. Scarlet felt a wave of guilt crash against her, the thought of what she’d known and kept from Vanessa perhaps having been able to help the situation in some way being almost too much to handle. Just as she was about to let it out and confess it all to Vanessa she felt the girl take a huge deep breath and pull out of the hug. Her face was blotchy with red tear marks, but a small, albeit unhappy smile was plastered across her face.

“Sorry. It’s out now, no more cryin’. I promise,” Vanessa sighed, looking to the floor sheepishly.

“You don’t have to be sorry. Come on,” Scarlet slipped her arm through Vanessa’s, holding the girl up as if she was about to fall down. “Let’s go to the union. Then I can get a coffee and you can get a wine.“

They walked in somber silence, Scarlet giving Vanessa’s arm a supportive squeeze every now and then. She wondered what it would be like to feel how Vanessa was feeling in this moment. Like utter shit, obviously, Scarlet thought as she had to stop Vanessa from stepping into the path of a cyclist, so wrapped up was she in her own world. Somehow they reached the pub in the union without Vanessa suffering any fatal accidents. As Scarlet looked around and noted how quiet the place was, she felt relieved. At least they wouldn’t have any awkward run-ins with anyone they didn’t want to.

"I’m not even that in my feelings about it. Or no- I didn’t expect to be as in my feelings as I am,” Vanessa began, sitting down at a small table for two and shrinking into herself on the chair. “Like, we weren’t nothin’ serious or anything. So she technically didn’t even break up with me.”

“Yeah, but you still had a connection. That’s still shit to break off with someone,” Scarlet offered, shrugging her jacket off before she could give Vanjie her full attention.

“I know, but…ugh, I’m annoyed at myself, really. Like I shouldn’t have got so attached…but I thought maybe she…maybe we’d…whatever, I’m not makin’ sense,” Vanjie continued, shaking her head and running her hands through her hair to punctuate the end of her sentence.

“No, you are making sense! You’re totally valid. Of course you’re going to get your hopes up if you’re seeing someone that often and sleeping with someone that often,” Scarlet nodded, hoping she was reassuring her friend. There was a small silence where Scarlet wondered whether or not she should ask what she wanted to ask. “‘Ness, how did Brooke actually-”

“Dump me?” Vanessa gave another humourless laugh and shrugged, pulling the sleeves of her jumper over her hands. “In the nicest possible way, obviously. Fuckin’ bitch, can’t even give me anythin’ to be mad at her for. She came to my flat. Sat me down and was just like…yeah, this isn’t working. I feel like we want different things, and I can’t give you what you want right now. Did the whole you’re an amazing person schtick but by then I’d stopped listenin’ cuz ya girl was tryna focus on not cryin’ in front of her. Succeeded, though. Until the second after she left, obviously.”

“Fuck, Vanessa, I’m so, so sorry,” Scarlet sighed, guilt consuming her.

“No, bitch, don’t be. It wasn’t your fault-”

“But, fuck, it might have been,” Scarlet began, Vanessa’s face growing alert and curious. She sighed, wondering if she’d regret her decision. “At Monet’s party…Yvie told me that Brooke had said to her she was having second thoughts about the pair of you.”

Vanessa narrowed her eyes slightly. Scarlet held her breath. She could see the cogs turning in her head. “But that was weeks ago.”

Scarlet clenched her stomach muscles. “Yes.”

Vanessa’s face grew into a snarl, and she gave a bark of a laugh. “Oh fuckin’ Jesus, it gets better. So not only has she sat on this for about a month, but she’s also told the whole friendship group about it. Fuck, Scarlet, do you not think I would’ve wanted to know somethin’ like that?”

“I know, I know, fuck, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to know! I didn’t even want to get involved, but Yvie told me and then I just had the information in my head and I didn’t know whether I should tell you or mind my own business, and I’d promised Yvie-”

“Oh, you promised Yvie, that’s alright then. Fuck your friend ‘cuz you made a promise to your precious lil’ girlfriend, that’s fine. Good to know how much I mean to you, Scarlet,” Vanessa spat out bitterly.

Scarlet’s stomach was now tighter than she’d ever felt it in her life. She thought back to what Yvie had said, about the friendship group and about how it would all start falling apart. She thought about if she’d told Vanjie sooner, if her and Brooke could have talked it all out and stayed together. Unexpected tears started welling in Scarlet’s eyes. Trying to calm herself she took a long, deep breath through her nose, which turned into a sniff. The noise made Vanjie look up from staring down at the floor, and her hard expression softened into one of regret.

“Fuck, Scar, I’m sorry. Shit. Please don’t cry,” Vanessa murmured, reaching across the table and squeezing her hand. “It’s not your fault. Okay I’m mad at you, but even if you’d told me what the fuck good would it’ve done?”

As Scarlet wiped at her eyes with her free hand, Vanessa gave a heavy sigh. “She still wouldn’t have wanted me.”

Scarlet drew her last tissue from her pocket and wiped her nose with it. “But I should’ve told you. Maybe you’d have been less attached three weeks ago-”

“Scarlet, three weeks ago I liked her just as much then as I do now. It was never a gradual increase with that bitch. Liked her just as much the day we met as I did the day she broke up with me,” Vanessa said the last portion of her sentence quietly, breaking Scarlet’s heart in the process. She gave a world-weary shrug as she spoke again. “S’just hard trying to un-like her. Well, in that way, anyway.”

“Do you think you can even be friends with her again?” Scarlet wondered, biting the side of her finger as she worried about the answer.

“I mean, yeah, I guess. I just kinda need my space from her just now, you know? Which is hard, ‘cuz…obviously we’ve all got the same friends and I don’t want to have to hide away from them just to make things less awkward,” Vanessa frowned, Scarlet nodding sympathetically.

“Well, you’ve always got me.”

Vanessa gave the tiniest genuine smile which made Scarlet want to squeal with joy. “I appreciate you, boo.”

There was a small silence in which Vanessa seemed deep in thought. Finally, she spoke. “Did Brooke say anything to Yvie about it?”

Scarlet wondered if she should tell Vanessa about the “wasn’t sure” comment. She decided that the last thing Vanessa needed right now was any potential false hope. Instead, she sighed. “She hasn’t been very talkative about the whole situation. Just basically told her the same as she told you.”

Vanessa put her palms against her eyes and rubbed harshly. “Well. That’s that then.”

Just then, Scarlet heard a small scream of delight. Looking up and over Vanjie’s shoulder, she spotted Monet with two of her flatmates heading towards them. Monique, the girl whose hair was previously lilac, now had a mane of huge pink chopstick curls, and Cracker’s blonde hair was loose over her shoulders. Anxiously looking to Vanessa, she wondered if this was the right time for more people joining them. Before she could make a decision, Monet had reached them and was leaning over Scarlet making to hug her.

“Oh my God, hey! Fancy seeing you both here,” she smiled, giving Scarlet a hug and moving to hug Vanessa. “V, how are you, baby? Nina told me. Oh, not in a bad way, just…so I knew.”

Monet held the hug with Vanessa longer than she had with Scarlet, the other girl smiling gratefully as she pulled away. “I’m alright, bitch. Not great but not the worst I’ve been.”

Scarlet watched as Monet’s flatmates hovered awkwardly. She gave them both a smile. “Hey! Cracker and Monique, right? We met at the flat party. You’re welcome to grab a couple seats! We were going to get drinks, but we got sidetracked chatting.”

Cracker gave a smile of gratitude and pulled over two chairs for her and Monique, then a third chair for Monet.

“Hey,” Vanessa greeted the pair of them, looking down at her outfit awkwardly. “Well shit, this is embarrassin’. I look like a bag of trash.”

“A cute bag of trash,” Monique replied casually, Vanessa blinking a little in response, taken aback by the compliment. Moving on as if she hadn’t said anything, Monique gave a curious gaze at Monet and Vanessa. “So wait, what happened?”

Monet gave an awkward grimace, but Vanessa filled in the silence for her. “I got broken up with the other day.”

Monique’s face dropped in shock. “That girl broke up with you? Girl, that’s a fuckin’ gag, what? You’re so stunning! An’ she’s like…a slice of white bread.”

Vanessa let out the first genuine laugh Scarlet had heard her emit that day. “Bitch, no, stop it. She’s beautiful too. She just didn’t want a girlfriend. People want different things.”

“Yeah, that’s true. My ex wanted somethin’ different too. Apparently that somethin’ different was Naomi with a model body an’ an onlyfans account. Stupid fuckin’ man, thinkin’ I wasn’t gonna find that shit out,” Monique reeled off, Scarlet barely able to keep up with the pace she was talking at. “But anyway, that was, like, six months ago now. Anyway the point I’m makin’ is that it didn’t take me long to feel better, baby, so don’t worry.”

“The ten rebounds probably helped,” Cracker quipped from beside her, Monique shoving her as Scarlet, Monet and Vanessa all let out a laugh.

“Seven, actually! Come correct, whore. Anyway, we can’t all be as loved up as Miss Monet over there,” Monique raised her eyebrows, Monet rolling her eyes in response. Cracker excitedly turned to Scarlet.

“Oh my God, do you guys know what she’s doing?”

“Cracker,” Monet warned, her voice tinged with caution. Scarlet was interested.

“What’s she doing?” she asked, Monique’s face lighting up excitedly. Monet waved a dismissive hand.

“Guys, this is notthe time or the place to be talking about sappy, cheesy, Valentine’s Day bullshit,” Monet said exasperatedly, with a glance Vanessa’s way. The girl in question was leaning forward with interest, resting her elbows on the small table in front of her.

“Well yeah, Valentine’s Day can suck a dick, but if this is stuff about you and Nina then I’m listenin’,” Vanessa smiled calmly, Monet going slightly red at the thought of having to explain.

“It’s really no big deal-”

“Oh my God, it IS,” Cracker jumped in, hitting Monique excitedly.

“Will you two fuckin’ chipmunks go and find Alvin and stop molesting us! It ain’t anything big, I’m just…maybe…gonna ask Neens if she wants to be my girlfriend.”

Scarlet’s mouth dropped open, unable to contain her excitement. She gave a little squeal and clapped her hands. “On Valentine’s Day?”

“On Valentine’s Day! With a treasure hunt!” Monique continued, gushing with excitement. Monet rolled her eyes.

“Oh my God, bitch, can you date me instead?!” Vanessa chimed in, her mouth wide open in shock. “A treasure hunt?”

“It’s honestly no big deal!”

“It IS a big deal, fuck off Monet!” Cracker snapped, clearly fed up with her flatmate downplaying the situation. “So she’s getting all these pictures of Wills…Will Schuester from Glee, Will from The Inbetweeners, Will Young…then she’s getting loads of umbrellas and putting them in a pile- ‘cause obviously they all start with a 'U’,”

“- then -” Monique cut in.

“Why do I feel like I’m no longer in charge of anything in my life?” Monet interrupted dryly.

“- then she’s getting loads of bee-themed things, like honey, yellow stuff, Burt’s Bees lip balm-”

“They know what fucking bees entails, Monique!” Monet exclaimed, Vanessa snorting and Scarlet suddenly so glad of these three girls for the distraction they were providing from her friend’s shitty situation.

“- then she’s putting loads of stuff in a pile that belong to her, so obviously if I was Monet, it would all be ‘MY’ stuff,” Monique continued, ignoring her embarrassed flatmate’s interruptions.

“What’re you doing for ‘girlfriend’?” Scarlet asked excitedly, on complete tenterhooks. Monet opened her mouth to speak, but Cracker got there first.

“She’s made a playlist. A playlist,” she repeated, full of glee. “Of songs with the title ‘girlfriend’. Which there are surprisingly many of.”

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ. Monet, I hate you. It’s amazing. She’s gonna love it,” Vanessa smiled, seemingly genuinely enthused about her plan. Monet was now incredibly flushed in the face.

“I mean, she might misinterpret the whole thing. She might go ‘Will umbrella yellow objects songs’ or some shit.”

“Which knowing Nina, she probably will,” Scarlet offered, eliciting a laugh from Monet. “But it’s cute. ‘Ness is right, she will love it.”

“Thanks, girls. But no telling her, okay? Shit, I’m already so fuckin’ nervous and it’s still ages away,” Monet wiped her (presumably sweaty) hands on her jeans.

“Are you two doing anythin’ cute and vomit-inducin’ for Valentine’s Day?” Vanessa asked Cracker and Monique. The pink-haired girl tilted her head and gave a little smile.

"Damn, you tryna ask me somethin’? You move on fast,” she winked, Vanessa covering her cheeks with her sleeves.

“Shut up, bitch! You got some amount of nerve, tell you that,” she rolled her eyes, trying to look annoyed. Scarlet could tell she was secretly flattered.

“Well, I’m just going on a date with a girl I’m seeing. We’re trying to downplay it, but I’m highkey freaking out,” Cracker smiled bashfully, Monet sticking her tongue out at her.

“Kaaaameron,” she mocked, batting her eyelids. Cracker swatted at her.

“At least I have a date, bitch! What’re you doing, sitting on Tinder all night offering your services to every person you swipe?"

"Ouch,” Monet half-gasped, half-laughed. Unfazed, Monique shrugged.

“Hmm, prolly. Well, unless something comes up out of nowhere,” she said nonchalantly, checking her nails. Scarlet cast a quick gaze between her and Vanessa. Cracker snapped her out of her rapidly snowballing thoughts.

“What about you and your girlfriend, Scarlet? You doing anything nice?”

“We’ve booked a nice restaurant. It’s a horrifically overpriced set menu, but neither of us have ever really spent Valentine’s with anyone before, so we don’t really mind paying for the experience,” Scarlet smiled, feeling herself grow excited at the thought of getting to sit at a fancy table with candles and prosecco and seafood and chocolate desserts and just celebrate the fact that the pair of them were in love-

Well fuck. Scarlet hadn’t seen that coming. Cracker was replying to her, but she couldn’t hear her. Scarlet was only consumed by the one thought in her mind. She was in love with Yvie. Really properly in love with her. Of course she was, it was so fucking obvious! Why hadn’t she realised it before? Scarlet wanted nothing more than to find her girlfriend and tell her, but with a pang she remembered the hurt Vanessa sitting in front of her and knew where she was needed the most. Although she didn’t seem too hurt at the moment. Monique was telling a story and the heartbroken girl was leaning in, listening intently, her eyes sparkling.

“Hey, were we not getting a drink? My mouth’s drier than Ghandi’s flip-flop here,” Monet said suddenly, cutting Monique off mid-story. She rolled her eyes and took her purse out of her bag, promising to buy everyone’s round.

“Uh, leave me out actually. I think I’d better head off,” Scarlet excused herself, the thought of having to tell Yvie that she was in love with her becoming her number one priority. Feeling guilty, she looked to her friend. “If that’s alright, Vanj?”

“Yeah, boo, don’t worry about it! I’m actually havin’ fun for the first time in days,” Vanessa smiled up at her, casting a gaze to Monet who smiled back.

“Yeah, we’re way better than your other friends,” she said, sticking her tongue out at Scarlet who did the same back.

“We’ll look after her, Scarlet, don’t worry,” Monique smiled, taking Vanessa’s hand and giving it a little squeeze, then letting go again almost as if the interaction had never happened. The only evidence to suggest otherwise was a small blush on Vanjie’s face. Scarlet was intrigued by that whole dynamic. On one hand, she wondered if harmless flirting with Monet’s friend might do Vanessa the world of good, especially if Monique kept showering Vanjie with compliments the way she was doing. On the other, she wondered if Vanessa was altogether ready for a potential rebound. Not allowing herself time to think it over too much, Scarlet said her goodbyes, blew a kiss in Vanjie’s direction, and headed out of the pub and down the stairs of the multi-floored union, immediately messaging Yvie.

S: Are you on campus???

A reply came back within seconds.

Y: yeah my lecture just ended babe! Want to meet?

S: I’ll come to you

Scarlet raced to Yvie’s building, the crowds bustling about in the square that separated the union and the lecture buildings blurring into the background as Scarlet half-walked half-ran to get to where she knew Yvie would be. At that moment she saw her- dressed in her ripped blue jeans and her enormous black puffa jacket, her hair swept up into two wild, untameable space buns. As soon as Yvie saw her her entire face lit up in a smile and if Scarlet had been in any way unsure of how she felt before that, she knew without a shadow of a doubt now.

“Hey, baby! How are you?” Yvie greeted, going for a hug. Scarlet instead took both of Yvie’s hands in hers, gripping them tightly. Yvie’s face was instantly awash with shock.

“I need to tell you something important,” Scarlet insisted, pausing for a moment before she could say it. Yvie blinked at her, confused.

“Right, so…you’re pregnant?” Yvie deadpanned, her face still concerned. Scarlet was unable to help herself letting out a laugh. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

“Yvie, I’m in love with you. I’m so fucking in love with you, and I don’t know how I didn’t realise it until now. I’m ready, and I’m saying it, and I mean it. And I really hope that-”

Scarlet was shut up by Yvie pulling her close and kissing her gently in one swift movement. In that moment, it seemed as if it was their first kiss all over again, but so much better- the two girls fit together like pieces of a jigsaw, the way Yvie kissed and tasted so comfortingly familiar to Scarlet now as if she’d known Yvie’s lips her whole life. When they pulled away, Yvie instantly pulled Scarlet back in for a cuddle. With her head against Yvie’s chest, Scarlet could hear her heartbeat racing.

“Scarlet, fuck…I’ve been in love with you for so long. Since, like. The Christmas dinner.”

“Let’s never break up, okay? To go through what Vanjie’s going through, or to put you through that…ugh, it’s all so horrible,” Scarlet sighed heavily, tightening her grip around Yvie’s waist. Yvie gave a soft chuckle.

“So this is us, then, is it?” Scarlet could hear the smile in her voice, and she squeezed her eyes shut and willed this moment to stay as bright and clear in her mind as a memory as it felt right now living it.

“This is us, baby. You’re stuck with me.”

Yvie pulled away, and at once Scarlet could see the love painted on her face as she looked at her. “Well, I think being stuck with each other sounds pretty good to me.”

As they both walked away and Yvie held Scarlet’s hand in her own and spoke about what to have for lunch, Scarlet thought about how good she had it and how lucky she was.

She had to agree that being stuck with Yvie sounded pretty good to her too.

#rpdr fanfiction #branjie #scyvie #ninex #not nineteen forever #n19f #university au #college au #lesbian au #ortega #brooke lynn hytes #vanessa vanjie mateo #scarlet envy #yvie oddly #nina west #monet x change #monique heart #miz cracker #s11

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littlemonstersau-blog · 5 years

Text

The Feels Awaken Part 1: Return of the Memori

Written by @jkl-fff, illustrated by me

PART I (you are here) - PART II

———————————————————————————————–

The lone wolf sat and watched, and that was an excellent development; the creature was learning to wait patiently, even though it was a wild, apex predator and doubtlessly could have ripped the dead squirrel from the hands of a teenage boy with ease (under normal circumstances, at least). Of course, since Bill was only wearing the clone of a teenage boy, he probably had an advantage in training the lone wolf. It could sense him—the real him—inside the clonesuit, and therefore was wary of making any aggressive moves … Animals always were around Demons, unlike most humans. Another instance when instinct trumped intellect …

So, instead, the lone wolf sat and watched patiently while Bill swung the dead squirrel around by its tail. Sat and waited for Bill’s conversational monologue to end.

“You’re prob’ly wondering why I haven’t eaten your soul like I did Chatterface McBurymynuts right here. And why I’ve taken to feeding you the soulless carcasses of my victims in person instead of just leaving them out for you. Well, I got three reasons. One: I like your aesthetic; you’re nearly all triangles in shape—really angular all over your body—and I really dig that. You’re relatably triangular, and I wanna see more of that in the world. Two: you’re endangered; if I let you live, there will be more wolves (so more angular creatures) in the world … and also more werewolves, which would be weird and awesome. And three …” Here, with a grin, Bill tossed the dead squirrel high and watched as the lone wolf snatched it out of the air. “Yeah, that’s right, wolf it down—heh heh! The third reason is, I’m gonna partially domesticate you and train you to pull me around in a sweet-ass chariot! Doesn’t that sound rad?!”

Having swallowed the last of the squirrel, the lone wolf turned and padded away into the woods.

“Don’t worry, we’ll talk more about how awesome my idea is later!” Bill called after him. “Just think a bit about what a fair exchange it would be! Actually, it’s a great deal for you! Tasty treats just for letting me occasionally ride you into battle like a chaotic, Norse deity! We can workshop ideas about the chariot’s design next time!”

On a nearby branch, a bird chirped.

“No, I think the wolf’s gonna seriously consider my offer,” Bill replied optimistically. “This is all just part of the deal-making game, which you’d understand if you weren’t a dumbass robin.”

The bird chirped again, then flew away.

“… Welp, that killed some time. Guess I’d better go back to the Shack and find some other activity to pass away the seemingly endless seconds until I get to skyelp with my Dipper …”

While he was tromping back through the woods, however, Bill was distracted by an unusual, yet strangely familiar sound. Juddering and throaty, then sharp and quick, then juddering and throaty again. Repetitive, too, though intermingled with a soft noise almost like keening or … no, exactly like whimpering. Then it clicked for Bill, even though he hadn’t heard that sound in over thirty years. It was the sound of a grown man sobbing. And not just any man, either, but Ford.

Softly, Bill crept towards him, eventually looking through bushes to the stump of a felled tree. Ford sat on it, hunched over and alone, crying as though he couldn’t hold back his own tears … as though he were too weary to hold them back anymore … That was probably why he’d come all the way out here in the woods, Bill suspected, where no one could see his moment of emotional vulnerability. Or so he had believed, at any rate, not knowing Bill was out here …

On Ford’s lap was an open book with brightly—even garishly—colored pages. One of the many scrapbooks Mabel had made. In between bouts of sobs, he slowly turned the pages and murmured things like, “Can’t believe she came b-back with a whole handful of it … So t-tough, even though always so sweet …” and “Terrified, but he f-faced it down anyway … for me … And I was s-so … so proud …” and “Heh! That f-fashion show she put together for Pacifica, made us all t-take part in … Can’t remember when I laughed so h-hard …” and “Oh, here’s that Jack o’Mellon he carved like the Gremloblin … from m-memory … So t-talented … And then they went trick-or-treating together both as the protagonist from that one game series—Myth of Hilda, or something like that?—Moses, it was adorable …” to himself. With each turn of a page, he was reminiscing about something different from the past summers: family game nights, hikes and fishing, short roadtrips, and on and on and on … Ford himself summed it up succinctly when he finally closed the scrapbook, buried his face in his hands, and whimpered, “Damn, I m-miss those kids!”

For a moment, a spark of bitter satisfaction flared up in Bill (“Good. Let that asshole suffer.”). And yet, it was soon doused by empathetic pity and sorrow (“I feel the same, though—we all feel the same … We all miss those kids …”). Then came a splash of feeling surprised, because of all the pity and sorrow; they were still such strange emotions for him as to be almost foreign. Following that, a bit of meta-emotional introspection at realizing he was feeling about feelings. Fortunately, before Bill could become too confused and horrified by the idea that he had become so human as to have feelings about having feelings, Ford stood and slowly trudged back home. After a safe amount of time had elapsed, Bill did the same.

Inside the Shack, sitting on the card table in the living room, was the scrapbook (no doubt left there by Ford on his way down to his lab). Along with several more of them. Picking up the most recent one, Bill began to flip slowly through its colorful pages filled with photos, stickers, notes, and miscellaneous memorabilia.

And as he did, he began to flip slowly through his own memories …

****

Terrified screams as he burst forth from his prison of a stone statue, rose up over them out of his shell (“Did you miss me? Admit it, you missed me!”), and tried to … tried to …

Bill shuddered to think of what he had almost done—what he surely would have done, if he had had enough power at the time. “Thank all the Gods that ever were or will be that that failed …” he muttered to himself.

Making little overtures of friendship—or at least not-malice—to Mabel until he got her to listen to his spiel about wanting to understand how he lost to them and to change and blah blah blah. Ford’s utter disbelief that the others could be so easily suckered. Entering a clone that first time and devouring that delicious little bit of soul in it (“Yum! Tastes just like mangoes and fear!”).

“They shouldn’t have. Ford was right that I was plotting their doom back then … Not anymore, but they all took a huge and stupid gamble, and just happened to get lucky … We all did …”

Steel slicing through paper and ink, dumping the scraps of bodies left, right, and center and relishing the screams of surprise (“Hehehehehe! What, you didn’t like my joke? You wanna … piece of me? Hahaha! Well, take your pick, there are plenty of pieces of me there on the floor!”). Sharpening his teeth to fine points to chomp at people. Gouging out his own eye. So much edge and shock at play, cold and hot at the same time, hilarious ticklings of pain.

“Such a waste of clonesuits,” Bill sighed. “And … all for the sake of just shocking them? Taking advantage of their love of Dipper? Stupid—can’t believe I thought that was funny at the time … So much time wasted during those first few weeks of the summer. Don’t wanna remember that, not anymore … wanna remember something else, something happier …”

Jokes so bad they made everyone groan, which made everyone laugh. Fireworks made of lasers. Taking part in an impromptu fashion show for the newest line of summer sweaters. Watermelons carved into jolly grotesqueries, lit with candles, and eventually tossed from the roof to splat. Making muffins with apple and cinnamon. Uncontrollable laughter at a rock shaped like a dong and after arcs of water accidentally melted another clonesuit. Wonderous eyes aglow with uncontainable excitement and the soft light of an everadiant crystal. Warmth of a shared blanket and the fun betrayal of an ambush of tickling underneath them. Kisses snuck around corners, behind doors, within shadows, inside the safety of a Nice Place.

“Heh …” Bill couldn’t help but smile to himself. “Even when I start out with all the others, too, it always comes back to him … But maybe I should focus more, not just look at the flashes and snapshots of memory? Delve in deeper to some memories? After all, what’s the point of perfect recall if I hardly ever use it? But, um …” Looking around the currently empty (though perhaps not for long) living room, he closed the scrapbooks and stood up. “Maybe up in the attic, where there’s a little more privacy …”

****

It was one specific memory that detoured his chain of thoughts, as memories tend to do.

Dipper. Sitting on a couch with Ford standing behind him, reaching over the couch to him. Flushed with simple happiness as Ford tousled his hair and praised his monster hunting work from that day. “Good boy, m’work! Er, I mean, good work, m’boy!” he had said, making Dipper smile so big and bright that the room had practically glowed with it. Bill’s insides certainly had.

Déjà vu, though, he had felt it then, too, remembering it. Almost exactly déjà vu … So Bill decided to follow the tangential thread of it now.

A young Ford, seventeen or eighteen, maybe—not yet out of high school. Sitting on the couch of his childhood home. A young Stan standing behind him, reaching over the couch to him.

“Oh, yeah … That’s why it’s so familiar; I watched it in Sixer’s memory and then more or less reenacted it for him. With him. Whatever, twice. Back when we were still working together, back when we were still friends …”

A young Ford flushed with simple happiness as Stan tousled his hair and praised his shipbuilding from that day. “You’re such a good cabin boy! Good work, me ol’ cabin boy!” he had said, making Ford smile so big and bright that—here the déjà vu ended and became simple memory— (“Pff! Why am I the cabin boy?” “Duh. ‘cause I’m the captain!” “Why do you get to be captain?” “Heh. ‘cause I can do this!”) Stan had swung over the top of the couch to drape himself across Ford. Pinning Ford down, while both brothers trashtalked and giggled and squirmed … and then gradually began to kiss …

“Was this the first time Sixer and me …? Ha! Yeah, it totally was! The very first time I set Sixer’s mindscape stage and played a part for him to work out some of his many, many issues. First of many … How’d it go, anyway? How’d we even get to this point? Need to rewind …”

Bill blinked, and the scene formed. Ford’s mindscape as it once had been: an endless field of strange but beautiful flower blossoms stretched to the horizon in every direction, with gleaming structures like the lovechildren of marble-cut temples and glass-and-steel skyscrapers rising in the distance-yet-closeness-of-thought like the aspirations of some new deity of science-fiction-becoming-science-fact, bold and untainted by the conformist conventions of old; swirling slowly overhead, so close one could have climbed up and touched, was a vault of stars, galaxies, quasars far larger than they appeared from earth and blazing so brightly that the field below them was as illuminated as a comfortable reading room; stairways made of books and journals ascended high to viewing platforms made of solid theories, equations, and blueprints all like shining neon signs.

Bill blinked again, and he saw himself chattering away about whatever had been their project. There was Ford, a late-twenties man and cutting-edge weirdologist in a weatherworn trenchcoat. Unusually subdued that day, though … Normally nigh manic with energy and enthusiasm, overflowing with ideas and theories and observations and cornball jokes to contribute to or even to drive the conversation … but not that day … No, that day, he barely listened to Bill or looked at the images and organizing visual aids Bill had mentally conjured for their brainstorm together. And when Bill turned to see why, he found Ford’s back was to him as he gazed away out across a sentimentally altered portion of the mindscape: salty sand strewn with bits of trash at the edge of a turbulent sea, all under clouds that were dusky and dusty from reflecting the dying daylight, and a sailboat at the center of Ford’s attention and therefore of his mind … listing and sinking into dark waters, the name on the prow all but lost to the waves—“Stan o’ War” now just “Stan”.

Bill watched the rest of what had happened as one might watch oneself on camera.

“Oh boy … I smell emotional issues …” he muttered before floating up beside Ford’s shoulder. “Got something on your mind, Fordsy ol’ buddy? Besides me, that is.”

“S-sorry, I just, um, got distracted,” Ford stammered apologetically. “I’ll try harder to focus. Won’t happen aga—”

“Because of your brother? It’s the anniversary of the day he got kicked out of the family, right?”

Ford gaped in shock for a moment. “… You … You know about that? But how?”

“For one thing, all the trash ‘round here is crumpled or torn up calendar pages for the same date. For another, I’m your Muse,” Bill replied, as though it should have been obvious. “I’m literally inside your head with all your memories at my fingertips, looking for anything I can use to help inspire your success.”

Blanching white, Ford asked, “All of them? You can s-see … all my memories?”

“Yep times a thousand! So I know you and your brother were—heh—close before that incident.”

Ford blushed.

“So no wonder you get distracted thinking about him today. Wasn’t that the last time you ever saw him?” Bill continued conversationally.

“Um, I … Maybe I m-might’ve seen him once after that. During my college graduation, but … Don’t know, honestly,” Ford admitted sadly. “Might’ve just imagined him being in the crowd.”

“Wishful thinking? ‘cause you got some stuff to get out of your system with him?” Bill waggled his eyebrow, making Ford blush a second time. Before he could respond, though, Bill suggested, “Y’know, I could help you unpack some of that emotional baggage you’re lugging around. Which’d help us get back to productive work sooner—get you from distracted back to tracted.”

“First of all, that’s not a word—”

“It is now that I’ve used it! Tracted, adjective, the state of being that comes after one has been distracted but is focusing once again.”

“Second of all … How could you help with that?”

“Why, with a little bit of roleplay. I know how much you love to roleplay, Fordsy ol’ pal.”

“I don’t know …” Ford said uncertainly. “This isn’t exactly a D&D&MoreD campaign. Besides, this is hardly an appropriate setting, and … well, no offense, but your voice and mannerisms aren’t exactly reminiscent of Stan (or most humans, for that matter). I doubt I could get into it.”

“Heh. You’re just saying that ‘cause you ain’t never seen what a good actor I can be. Goes with the territory of being a MASTER OF THE MIND! Watch this!” Bill clapped once, then suddenly multiplied into a dozen more Bills.

“Whoa! What the—”

From nowhere, the original Bill pulled a megaphone, a chair with the words “Director” and “Leading … Well, Not ‘Man’ Per Se, But Close Enough” on its back, and a thick script. “OKAY, YOU SUPER SNAZZY STAGECREW,” he projected through the megaphone. “LET’S GET THIS STAGE CLEARED AND READY FOR A NEW SCENE! LET’S MOVE! AND SOMEONE GET ME A TWO-CREAMS-ONE-SUGAR COFFEE AND A MAPLE LOG! What about you, Fordsy? You want anything? Same thing, yeah? DOUBLE THAT ORDER! ONE FOR ME, ONE FOR MY COSTAR!”

Slack jawed at all the activity flurrying around him—one Bill pulled a rope from nowhere, causing the seascape (while waves continued to toss, clouds continued to billow, and the ship continued to sink) to part down the middle like a theater curtain and swish away; another Bill pulled a massive pushbroom from nowhere and cleared away all of the beach (sand, trash, and salty odor) to leave a hardwood platform beneath; several other Bills were now wheeling away the endless fields of flowers that stretched to the horizon (plus the phantasmagorical buildings standing among them) like scenery backdrops painted on squeaky canvas frames—Ford could only mumble, “Costar?”

“Well, duh, Fordsy ol’ chum. We’ll be centerstage, you and me, and in the spotlight together—me as Stanly, you as yourself. If that doesn’t make us costars, I don’t know what does!”

“BOOOOOO!” another Bill shouted from behind them, seated in a newly revealed spectator section with boxes of popcorn. “Directors shouldn’t play parts in their own productions! That’s a crass and masturbatory act of egotism that invariably cheapens the production! BOOOOOO!”

“Just ignore heckling critic me,” the original Bill told Ford. “Now, speaking of the spotlight … LET’S GET THE LIGHTING AND SOUNDCHECKS DONE, MES! TIME IS MONEY! AND WHERE’S OUR COFFEE AND DONUTS ALREADY?! WHAT AM I PAING YOU FOR?!”

Yet another Bill came trundling up with a long rack of costumes that looked exactly like the contents of Ford and Stan’s old bedroom closet. While going through them, he pointed out, “You’re not paying us for anything, babygorgeous, because we don’t actually exist. We’re just visual constructs you conjured to represent the complex yet entirely abstract process of manipulating a mindscape into a specific scenario Stanford can experience (or reexperience in the case of actual memories) so it feels to him as if it was entirely real. This whole setting is, too. Also because you’re extremely melodramatic, overly theatrical, and crave being the center of someone’s awed attention, sugardumpling.”

“One more smart-alecky remark like that, and you’re fired!” the original Bill snapped.

“No! Please, angelpie, I need this job! I need the money, or they’re gonna break my legs!”

“Fine. Just go get the makeup equipment already. AND WHERE ARE WE ON THE LIGHTS?!”

Ford looked up to see a span of catwalks and electrical equipment overhead. The Bill up there gave a thumbs up. “Good to go, boss! Same with sound, too!”

A new Bill came running up with a platter. “Here’s your coffee and donuts, sir!”

“Freakin’ finally!” the original Bill exclaimed, passing over one of each to Ford before snatching the others for himself. “I’d have you dragged into the alley behind this soundstage and shot for taking so long, except we’re not actually in a soundstage and you’re just too darn cute to kill.”

“Oh, sir, you’re gonna make me blush!”

Taking a bite out of his maple log with his eyelid, the original Bill snapped, “Stop being so cute and go find something useful to do.” Then, turning back to Ford, he continued lightly, “Yep, costars, you and me! Collaborators! Partners in … What? There something on my face?”

With a gulp, Ford asked, “Is … Is that how you eat? With your eye?”

Bill smiled despite not having a mouth. “Only when I’m in polite company.” Then he took a sip of his coffee—a long, slow sip while looking right at his weirdologist friend (who spazzed reflexively at the sight of coffee washing into sclera). “But now that mes have cleared the stage, we should really pick the scene we’re gonna roleplay. So what you wanna do, Fordsy ol’ mate? Relive a memory, act out a hypothetical conversation/argument to get some words off your chest, or experience a fantasy in real-body-stimulating intensity? Whatever you want, I can do for ya.”

“I, um …” Shaking his head, Ford admitted, “There’s just … so much. When I think about him. About everything that happened then. And before. And after. And I … I just … can’t process it enough to … y’know, make sense of how I feel about it all? Gah! Can you understand that, Bill? The only thing I know for sure right now is … is I miss him … even if I don’t know what I’d do if I saw him right now …”

Bill blinked a bite off his maple log, then chewed thoughtfully, ignoring the other Bills (“Hey, guys, wanna see something funny? MacBeth!” “Don’t say that! It’s bad lu—” A sandbag smashed into that Bill from above. “Hehehehehehe! I got more!” Then he whistled sharply. “Argh! You can’t do that either, it’s also bad lu—” A light fixture exploded, blasting the Bill on the catwalk off so that he kersplatted onto the platform. “Hahahahaha! How about this one? Good luck during the performance!” “No, you fool, you’ll kill us all if you say—” “Guys, you think this pyrotechnic equipment still works?” a different, oblivious Bill asked right before pushing a button. The bad luck would’ve been spectacular had anyone paid attention.) now milling about the visual construct of an empty stage which represented a mindscape ready for shaping. Eventually, he suggested, “Tell you what, Fordsy ol’ comrade, let me choose for you this time. I think I know what you need right now to feel better, and it’ll be an actual memory of a good time you two had together. Something … positive and fun and a little whacky to help you get out of this slump. Whaddya say? Trust me enough to follow my lead in the roleplay?”

A glum shrug. A passive affirmation. “Sure, why not?”

And then original Bill was broadcasting through his loudspeaker, “OKAY, LOOK ALIVE, TRIANGULAR TROOP! LET’S GET THE STAGE SET FOR SCENE #618: ‘CABIN BOY AND CAPTAIN NOBEARD, THE COUCH PIRATE’!”

Ford blinked. “Wait, what?”

“I WANT IT READY TO PERFORM IN—”

“BOOOOOO!” the spectating Bill suddenly shouted, spraying popcorn everywhere. “That choice is a cliché and uninspired piece of saccharine hackery! Also, it’s practically meta-theater, which always sucks because only self-inflating, pomposity-spewing fartbags think it’s clever to make plays that are ham-fistedly obvious metaphors for making plays! BOOOOOO!”

“So it’s perfect for our director,” one of the Bills stage whispered, making the others giggle.

“I HEARD THAT!” the original Bill snapped. “DON’T YOU HAVE PROPS TO SET UP?! ACTION IN FIVE, MES! AND WHERE’S THE ME FOR COSTUME AND MAKEUP?!”

“Right here, angeldoll! And ready to get Starford suited up!” That Bill wheeled a vanity piled high with brushes, pencils, and cosmetics right to them. He then pulled an outfit off the rack, scrutinized it, put it back, pulled out another, nodded his approval, and zoomed over to slap it onto Stanford’s body. Right before assaulting his face with a blur of all the cosmetic products—powder, rouge, eyeliner, etc. All of it happened so fast Stanford didn’t even have time to protest, and when the air cleared and he stopped coughing, that particular Bill was adjusting a mirror before his face. “What do you think, honeydear? Don’t you just look divine?”

Breathless with astonishment, Ford touched first the mirror’s surface … then his own face … “Incredible!” he breathed. “I look seventeen!��

“If I did my job right, teddypearl, you don’t just look seventeen. Your whole body (or astral form dream body, technically, sweetiedumpling) should be seventeen down to the smallest of details. Now, if you want, I could also do your nails and hair so you look even more divine than you did at seventeen, darlingpeaches.”

“Nope, we want his ratio of divineness to undivineness to be exactly as it was then, thank you,” the original Bill dictated abruptly. “Now let’s get me suited up for—oh, Azathoth’samygdala!” Snatching up the megaphone, he bawled, “TVS GO IN FRONT OF COUCHES, NOT BEHIND, YOU IDIOTS! AND YOU’VE GOT THE BACKDROPS MIXED UP! C’MON, YOU MES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN THIS!”

Ford tore his eyes from the mirror and looked onstage. The living room of his parents’ house was being formed by a bunch of Bills pushing frames of painted canvas (reproductions of the walls) and setting up prop after prop (a couch, a rabbit-eared TV, old chairs, side tables with doilies, framed photos, knickknacks, bric-a-brac, that hideous lamp with the more hideous curtain shade he had always wanted to smash to bits, etc.); it looked exactly as he remembered … No, it looked more accurate than he remembered … He could even smell the dusty, musty carpeting and hear the tacky windchimes outside the window …

“There, treasurebear, you look ready for your big part. And divine, too! Simply divine!”

“Thanks, me. Looks like you won’t be fired today,” the original Bill decided.

“I can’t believe you could recreate the old place. Every little detail—” Ford turned to Bill, then felt his knees buckled beneath him; he had to grab onto a corner of the vanity not to fall over. Standing before him in a dissipating cloud of face powder was the seventeen-year-old version of his twin brother. “… St-Stan?”

Bill grinned with Stanly’s cocky, crooked grin. “Or close enough. Oh, sorry.” Clearing his throat, he then repeated in Stanly’s husky voice, “Or close enough. Right, Sixer?”

Stepping forward, Ford laid his hands on the shoulders of the boy in front of him. They felt real. Solid and strong through the t-shirt, with the kind of ropey muscles regular boxing gave a person. Same for the arms and the chest, although there was a little pudge on top of the muscles there (just like Stan had … or had had the last time Ford had seen him for certain) thanks to a nervous tendency to overeat … It all felt so real … so achingly real …

“Done feelin’ up the merchandise yet, Sixer?” Bill-Stan teased. “I could flex for ya, if ya want.”

“How … How are you doing this?” Ford whispered, his voice almost trembling.

As one, all of the Bills dropped what they were doing and turned to face him, then clapped and spread their hands. A rainbow spread between every set of palms. “THROUGH THE POWER OF IMAGINATION, FORDSY OL’ COMPADRE! AFTER ALL, I AM YOUR MUSE!”

Fingers clenching into the fabric of the t-shirt, throat constricting, Ford said, “Stan, I … I …”

“You’re not gonna start blubberin’ on me, are ya, Sixer?” Bill-Stan asked coaxingly. “Not before all the fun even starts?”

“N-no … No, I’m in c-control. Ahem! Of myself.” Ford composed himself, feigned brushing some dust off his clothes, then resumed, “So, um, you said something about following your lead in a roleplay?”

Grinning more widely than before, Bill-Stan took him by the hand (sending a jolt of long ignored and even half-forgotten emotions through the weirdologist) and led him onstage …

The thing about a person’s mindscape (or about a person’s dreams, since they’re the same thing, essentially) is they’re completely immersive. To the brain, they’re almost as real as reality itself; every ganglia involved in processing sensory input for the one is equally involved with the other. Which explains why dreams usually feel real enough that a person can forget they’re dreaming. Which explains why a true master of the mind can manipulate a person’s mindscape enough that, with just the right triggering image (such as walking through a conjured doorway or stepping onto a conjured theater stage), the person can believe what they’re experiencing is real, and even actually find traces of the mental experience on their physical body afterwards.

Especially if the person really wants to dream, to believe, to be manipulated by the master …

That was why Ford knew with certainty that he was sweaty and dirty after hours of working on the Stan o’ War, knew with certainty he was trudging into the living room of his family home, and collapsed onto what he knew with certainty was a sagging couch likely as old as he was (seventeen years). He also knew with certainty that he heard the jangling of the house phone in the hallway, and then the voice of who he knew with certainty was his twin brother answering it. That knowing certainty was manifest in every gesture he made; it even shone in his eyes.

A moment later, Stan was leaning over the top of the couch. Sweaty and dirty, too, since he’d been working on the Stan o’ War, too. “Heh. You look beat, Sixer. But if anyone’s got the right, it’s you. I mean, after all that hard work today? And figuring out the waterproofin’ stuff, too?” Then Stan reached over the couch and tousled his brother’s hair. “I guess what I’m saying is … You’re such a good cabin boy! Good work, me ol’ cabin boy!”

Ford beamed with pleasure at the praise and the loving gesture, yet still retorted (because having a brother means living in a perpetual argument, at the very least as a matter of principle), “Pff! Why am I the cabin boy?”

“Duh. ‘cause I’m the captain!”

“Why do you get to be captain?”

“Heh. ‘cause I can do this!” And then Stan swung himself over the top of the couch and dropped down onto his brother, draping himself over his brother like a heavy, sweaty, noogying blanket. “How do you like it, cabin boy? Huh? I said how do you like it, nerd? No, wait, cabin nerd!”

“Ghaha! Get off me—haha!—you’re gross from the beach!” Ford half-spewed and half-laughed beneath his twin. He was pinned against the cushions now, squirming but unable to get free.

“Heh heh! You don’t get to give the captain orders, cabin nerd! That’s not how it works aboard this ship!”

“W-we’re—hehehe!—not even on a ship!”

“Sure we are! The S.S. Couch, and I just boarded it! And you!”

“You did not have permission to come aboard!” Ford giggled, still squirming, now trying to push his twin back with his hands.

But Stan caught them both at the wrists and pinned them against the armrest, too, bearing down with his whole body. “That’s ‘cause I’m a pirate captain! Arrrrr, me matey!”

“Pff! W-what do they call you?! Nobeard?!”

“That’s ‘Captain Nobeard’ to you, cabin nerd! And I’m gonna be lootin’ yer booty!”

Ford threw his head back and laughed at so corny a line. But the laugh turned to a surprised gasp when he suddenly felt his brother (on an impulse) press his lips against Ford’s throat. It was like being hit by a single raindrop right before a spark of lightning—a single spot of warm, wet skin, then an electric jolt through his brain and body that left him rigid. Or perhaps made him realize he had been rigid already? And that his brother’s counter-squirming had taken on a decidedly grinding motion … Or had it been a grinding motion already? Ford moaned, “Aaah, St-Stan …”

“I told you, that’s ‘Captain’ to you, me ol’ cabin nerd,” Stan countered into his twin’s neck. “And I’m gonna shiver yer timber.” With that, he gave an extra hard grind, groin against groin.

“Mmmmoses! Oh … B-but, wait … What if … Dad and Mom walk in on us … like this?”

“Heh. You can be pretty dumb for a nerd, sometimes,” Stan teased. “They went to Grandma’s today, remember? And that was them on the phone just now, callin’ to say they made it there. Even if they head home right now, it’ll be at least two hours afore they get back. So relax, okay? Just … follow my lead …”

“Y-yeah, I can … Wait.” All at once, Ford stopped, because that phrase … He suddenly didn’t know with certainty what was really going on here, nor where he really was, nor even how old he really was. Intently, he peered at the face of the boy on top of him. Was there a golden gleam in his irises, where there should only have been brown? A twinkle in the eyes, but different than the twinkle normally there. He thought he could remember who this boy actually was. “… Bill?”

Stan grinned. “Only if you’d prefer havin’ a triangle in a tophat grind against you instead of your brother.”

Ford looked around, and remembered he was on a stage. A stage that had been set by multiple copies of Bill, and that he was now pinned beneath the original Bill who was mimicking his twin down to his cornball double-entendres, the smell of his sweat … and the exact length and girth of his hardon, currently pressing down on Ford’s own hardon (the thought of which made him blush a shade deeper than he already had been—did he really remember his twin’s member that well?). In the spectators’ seating, there was another Bill now distantly shouting, “Boooooo! You ruined the flow and the affect of the whole scene! The momentum’s gone and can never be gotten back! Boooooo!” and Ford found he desperately hoped that was not the case.

“You okay, Sixer?” Stan asked. No, not Stan. Bill. Bill mimicking Stan’s voice and manerisms. Bill mimicking Stan’s body so they could …

Ford cleared his throat. “Y-yes, I am. But, er, I just want to… to make sure that you are. This, uh, scenario doesn’t … doesn’t bother you? At all?”

“What? Why would … Oh!” Stan-Bill exclaimed suddenly. “You mean ‘cause we’re not just crossin’ a bunch of taboo lines in your meatbag culture, but went a mile past ‘em and are now buildin’ a small but charmingly perverted, summer cabin we can visit at our leisure?”

“I, um … suppose that’s one way of putting it …”

“Heh heh! It’s funny how awkward you are about this!” But before Ford could get defensive, Stan-Bill continued, “Sixer, I’m not human. I’m a Muse, here to inspire you to break through arbitrary human conventions (like the restrictive barriers they are) to something higher, purer, and truer. So all the arbitrary moral codes you meatbags make for yourselves, especially where sex is concerned? Don’t apply to me, don’t affect me. Whatever you desire, whoever you desire, however you desire (no matter how weird, complex, or how many parts it needs performed) I can play out for you here in your mindscape so well it will feel real. I can give you the psychological or sexual release you need to get tracted again on our oh so important work!”

Though overwhelmed by the possibilities, Ford still maintained, “That’s not a real word …”

“Like I said before, Sixer, if you wanna relive a memory, act out a hypothetical conversation or an argument with someone (like your brother or your parents or an ex or that one bald professor you loathed), or experience a completely new fantasy altogether … I’m down. Let’s do ‘em all.”

Ford gulped. “Y-you’re sure … it doesn’t bother you? At all? I mean, this is … er …”

Stan-Bill sighed in almost-exasperation. “Look, Fordsy ol’ friend, my true form doesn’t even have sex organs. Not that you’ll be able to tell when I change shape in your mindscape and go to town with pleasurin’ you, ‘cause I’m just that good an actor—can act like I’ve always had ‘em and got tons of experience usin’ ‘em to turn people specifically named Stanford Filbrick Pines into puddles of contented, post-coital bliss—and always happy to put on a show for a friend.”

Beneath him, Ford felt so turned on he was having a hard time breathing regularly.

“Plus, I come from a species that has roughly millions of genders, so homosexuality doesn’t bother me in the least. If anything, it radically simplifies things. You wanna get it on with a guy? I can do that. Two guys? Ditto. A guy and a gal at the same time? No prob. An entire roomful of different people? Sure, it’ll be a nice stretch of my talents. Something or somethings that aren’t remotely human? Well, if either of us can imagine it, I can make it in here for you to fuck.”

Beneath him, Ford felt so turned on that he was practically vibrating with excitement.

“And as for what you meatbags call ‘incest’, well,” Bill-Stan shrugged. “Far from the weirdest kink floatin’ around in the collective unconsciousness of humanity. But it is just weird enough, luckily, to keep me invested in any—heh heh—boldly transgressive or unapologetically perverse theatrical performances you might want to try here on the mindscape stage. So c’mon, brother,” he added emphatically, positively dripping Stanness now. “Just follow my lead … We got hours ‘til Dad and Mom get home …”

Beneath him, Ford felt so turned on that he was sorta surprised the couch hadn’t caught fire around the two of them. Another low moan escaped his lips as he felt Stan-Bill’s lips press against his throat again … as he felt Stan-Bill grind against his bulge again … as he felt Stan-Bill carry him back into a more fulfilling moment than the present reality could ever hope to offer …

“You like that, cabin nerd? Huh? You like when I do that to ya? Go on, say ‘Aye-aye, Captain’.”

Though his hands were still pinned against the armrest of the couch and his body born down into the cushions, Ford arched his hips into the grind.

“C’mon, cabin nerd, go ahead and say it … Become a part of my couch pirate crew …”

Giggling, Ford turned and offered himself up for a kiss. It was long and warm and wet and deep, and so very, very sweet. It left him breathlessly whimpering, “Mmm, Stan … Bill …”

“Who’s this Bill?” Stan-Bill asked teasingly. Then, as if to punctuate every following sentence, he humped slow and hard at the end of it. “Someone I otta be jealous of? Someone I gotta go beat up? Someone who’s gotta learn that you’re mine … my brother … my lover … and no one else gets to touch ya but me?”

“Ah! Yes!” Ford cried out.

And, distantly, the Bill in the seats shouted, “Boooooo! Going off script like this is for amateurs! Improv in an established piece is for hacks who can’t remember their lines! Boooooo!”

That was when Bill (not the original Bill playing Stan, nor any of the copies playing stagehands, but the real Bill in a clonesuit stretched out on the bed in the attic) snapped out of his fascination and decided it was time to stop reviewing memories for a while. Especially this one in particular. Not because it wasn’t nostalgic or entertaining or sexually titillating for him (it was very much), not because he couldn’t remember what had happened next (his recall was still just as perfect as the rest of him—heh heh!), but because …

Because it just wasn’t worth watching the rest. Both in Ford’s memory of the actual event with his brother, and in the slightly altered reenactment Bill had performed with Ford, it hadn’t been more than another minute or two of cornball dialogue, couch grinding, and rough kissing before they climaxed. And why not? Ford and Stan had been horny, pent up teenagers way back then … and Ford had been a horny, pent up adult back then (what with his tons of emotional baggage and sexual frustration) …

“Not worth getting wound up over,” Bill muttered to the cabin ceiling. “Not when jerking off won’t be enough to take the edge off the horniness I’ll feel afterwards … And besides, if I want to feel wound up and horny, there are much wilder memories I could perfectly recall than that. With Dipper or with Sixer …”

His hand came up wearing a sock puppet Mabel had made to look like his true form—or, at least, as much like his true form as a sock with a hand shoved in it could, (though, honestly, it looked less like a dapper triangle and more like the bastard lovechild that would result from a wild night of passion between him and Kermit the Frog)—and said, “Funny how you didn’t even realize how good a thing you had with ol’ Fordsy, isn’t it?”

“How do you figure that?” Bill asked his sock puppet. “Working and hanging with him was a ton of fun, and I missed the 79 Hells outta it after he sided with this mudball … Still do, actually …”

“I mean all that wild, limitationless, mindscape sex you had with him. Back then, for you, it was just the fun of weird playacting (and manipulating a gullible meatbag); you didn’t appreciate any of the physical side of it.”

“Oh, yeah, you’re right. Of course, y’know, I kinda couldn’t appreciate it back then.”

“The beginning of the summer was a lot like that, too, with Dipper and Mabel and all the others,” the sock puppet continued matter-of-factly. “You didn’t appreciate any of the emotional side of spending time with them, what with how full of hate and plans for vengeance you were.”

“… No, I didn’t,” Bill admitted.

“All that time spent with them, and you didn’t even realize how good a thing you had.”

“… I kinda couldn’t appreciate all that back then, either, in my defense.”

“You could now, y’know.”

“What, you mean … relive the memories? Actually, that could be a fun way to pass the time,” Bill mused to himself. “Might not feel quite so bored or lone … Cthulhu’s cartilaginous cranium, I could go through all my memories with Ford! Maybe there’s something I filed away in there—something I didn’t think was important at the time, something that could spark another thought—that could help get me past the bubble!” he exclaimed, bolting upright. “And back to my Dipper!”

“That wasn’t exactly what I meant …” the sock puppet pointed out.

But it was rather futile; Bill was on a role now. “The bumblr crowd could even help with this … Them asking the right questions might give me some direction, instead of just prospecting—”

“HEY! LISTEN!” the sock puppet shrilled. “I meant you could be having a good thing right now with all the people here at the Shack. Emotionally and such. Enjoying it fully. But you’re not. Even though you want to.”

Looking away from the reproachful, googly-eyed gaze, Bill muttered, “Kinda hard to with Ford setting such a grim mood for everyone here any time he walks in on me and someone else.”

“You’re wasting time,” the sock puppet stated irrefutably. “Like at the beginning of the summer, when you were too busy being … being not nice—being mean—to everyone, especially Dipper. Now you’re wasting time being bitter at Ford.”

“He’s wasting time being just as bitter at me!” Bill countered defensively.

“And when was the last time you really tried to do anything about that? Huh? When you bought everybody gifts, maybe, a few months ago?”

“… Honestly? I guess so, yeah.”

“Go try again. You wanted to, anyway, since you saw him in the woods crying ‘bout how much he misses the Twins, too,” the sock puppet affirmed. “It’s the reason you turned away from remembering that time on the couch before the climax, too; you’re not in the mood for sexiness, not deep down, but for sappiness. You can appreciate that emotional side of things now, so stop wasting time not enjoying ‘em.”

“What if … What if he doesn’t want to stop being bitter? What if he doesn’t want to move on?”

“Then at least you’ll have tried. You won’t be wasting time being bitter. And you get to spend more time perfectly recalling individual memories to see if you can find something helpful to escape, so win-win for you.”

Bill sighed. “I’d argue with you, but you are me, so I know I won’t win … Well, let’s go …”

#little monsters au #billdip #bipdip #bipper #ford #stancest #billford #the feels awaken #writing #fanfiction #also i messed up the illustrations' order so some of these #will have no pics #and others will have #more than one #just a heads up #there shall be a celebratory cah game once this arc is complete!#submission

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stereotypcd · 5 years

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ooc;; it’s a preview of bits and pieces for PART 2 to this HERE-

SIDENOTE: sorry about the format tumblr makes it weird, also sorry I can’t put it under a read more... stupid app -_-;; also if these mistakes plz feel free to tell me.

“Oh, sweetheart, you’re skin and bones. you must be starving let me fix you something to eat.” Mariann gritted her teeth, Nigel placed a hand atop her shoulder. As she hungrily devoured her meal, she realized it been a while since she had such a savory meal. Debbie ate a bowl of her grandma’s soup, two bowls of lucky charms and a large plate of chicken nuggets; she felt unbelievably full. It had been so long since she felt like that.

Growing up she couldn't complain about a hot meal. Despite the portions were small. Being just enough to keep the edge of hunger away, but they never made her feel full. That night when everyone was asleep ( like she should be ) she sits up, moving slowly off the bed, as to not disturb her parents. All evidence suggests Debbie isn't a heavy sleeper.

Hazel hues scanning the walls of canned food, she’d never seen so much food in her life, her mouth watered. Eyes land on canned yams, face twisting up in disgust. But Debbie learned over her short life that you couldn't be to be picky when it came starving or being full and getting to live another day. Quickly and quietly making her to the backyard, it was still weird walking around outside and being safe, living in the wild was like a playing a game of Russian roulette every day. Would you be eaten by a lion or die from dehydration or maybe heatstroke? Now she wasn't under the consent threat of death at every turn it seemed her anxiety didn't take the hint that they safe now were turned up to 100% you would have thought that it would be low.

Plopping down, the grass was slightly wet from the rain. Soaking into her pajamas. Pulling Handfuls of earth, not caring about the dirt under her nails. Burying it next to freshly planted tulips, she had to make sure she had enough food saved up in case... In case of what? Debbie wasn't even sure herself, she just knew it calmed the anxiety that ate away her. That morning Debbie ate two bowls of lucky charms. Glancing out into the yard where she had buried the yums in the garden.

——

The blonde was playing at the park with her friend, Candy, she lived next door and was the first kid Debbie ever met. Debbie was building a sandcastle, humming a tune she heard her mama sing earlier that day. Hazel hues glanced up at her friend, hearing her sounds of disgust.

”Ew, my mom packed bologna again.” Holding the sandwich at arm's length, a look of disgust painted across her face, and in one movement she throws the sandwich into the ground, dirt kicking up. Debbie's eyes widen and her heart jumps into her throat. ”Stop that, don't you, like, know it's bad t’waste food?”

”Who cares, it's gross.”

What? Did she know going hungry was bad, that it was painful and sometimes it got so bad you start crying? Didn't she? Before Debbie knew it she was standing over her, Candy was standing to now, but she looked scared. Surges of frustration pulse through her, Debbie lets out something between a mix of a sob and a yell. she pauses a dark look across her face, shoving Candy hard in the chest. She fells back into the sandbox beat of silence, then she spoke in a cracking voice. ”You- you're crazy!” Before she broke downs sobbing and running to her Mommy.

Debbie grabs the sandwich off the ground, running from the voice of her friend's mom. Hiding behind a tree hunched over on her knees, curled up in on herself, staring down at the sandwich in her hands, digging her fingers leaving small indents on the bread. it was lukewarm from sitting out in the sun. But the food was food after all. Not even bothering to pick the gravel and dirt ( and possibly bugs ) off of it before taking a huge bit, mouth dry making it a bit hard to swallow. Eyes glassy and red-rimmed, eating the rest of it in four bites, like it would be her last meal, her cheeks were wet. Debbie had ever realized she’d been.

She wasn't even hungry.

WEEKS LATER

It has rained the night before and the rain had unearthed Debbie's hiding spot, it was lucky Grandpa Frank found them and stuck them in a bag. Debbie was brushing a doll's hair when he stepped in and sat down next to her despite the protest of his joints. ”Hi, Grandpa!”

”Hey, Bug, so can I ask you something very important?”

The blonde nodded, still brushing the doll's hair. ”Have you been hiding food in the garden?” Debbie tensed, gripping the doll, knuckles bone white. She hung her head in shame. ”Please don't, like, tell Mommy and Daddy they-” She choked on a sob, eyes wide and pleading. ”Whoa, whoa! Don't worry, Debbie. ”Don't worry, you aren't in trouble, pumpkin, grandpa just wants to know.” He gave her a reassuring squeeze.

”I won't tell anyone, cross my heart.” he drew an X over his heart. ”If anyone understands it would be me, I grow up poor as dirt. ”But you don't have to worry about that stuff anymore, ” He wiped her tears. ”But if it makes you feel better, I can put a box in the shed that way you don't tear up grandma's garden. Deal?” She nodded.

——-

This had been going on for a few months now, Mama was also busy; being dragged by her grandma to this or that and Grandpa was to busy with work- so it was up to Debbie to care for her dad. Tip-toeing across the carpeted floor, a sloppily made peanut and jelly sandwich, cracking open the door of her shared bedroom. The darkness of the room swallowing her up, it takes a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.

“I made you, like, a sandwich- it’s your favorite- “ Hazel hues glance from her Daddy who’s buried under the covers, to the uneaten bowl of cereal she left them this morning. A frown crosses her lips, fingers tighten around the plate, a feeling of anger shots through her. “You gotta, like, eat, it’s not good to, like, waste food.” Her Voice trembling, with shaking hands the blonde places the plate on the nightstand.

He didn’t move. “Daddy,” She walked over to him, poking his shoulder. A small mumble left his throat but he didn’t move. She scowled, pushing him with her open palm. Still nothing. “Get up...” Debbie says irritably. “Daddy’s tired, Poppet.” Voice barely above a whisper. “Daddy! get outta bed, dad!!” Debbie hasn't been able to stop the tears. Anger crawling through her that. “GET UP, NIGEL!” Voice shaky, fists balled at her sides. “...Pl- please.” his gaze is fixed ahead, staring at the wall Debbie can barely contain her, her chest felt like it was going to burst; her eyes stung with unshed tears.

NINE MONTHS LATER

Cradling her new baby sister, the baby making babbling noises and raising out for Debbie. She was never going to let her baby sister be hungry and sad and scared like she was. ”Don't worry, Eliza I'll, like, take care of you jus’ like with Daddy.” Voice shaky. That night Debbie took the can of corn out of her backpack, she had stolen from Candy's house and buried it in the garden.

#○ ‖ ▏trash is talking「 ooc 」#tw;; negative #tw;; food #headcanon #le2

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rosalynbair · 7 years

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Storm Warning

Storm Warning: Prologue

Words: 1858 Summary: The reader is taken from her home to live on the Finalizer Warnings: It’s kinda sad, and a dog gets kicked (I’m sorry)

You ran down the grass, feet sliding along the glistening and dewy plants they came in contact with. Annie ran behind you, following protectively. The large beast keeping a close eye on the surroundings. You’re holding a small stick, a satin ribbon tied onto the end, flowing behind you as you ran with your arm above her head. “Annie! Keep up!” You called, letting out a squealing giggle. You were small for her age, your family consisted of over average height people. Your long hair had long since lost its tie that kept the mess tamed. You wore black Jersey pants that were rolled up at the ankle, your light grey top fitting two sizes too big on you, you had a small silver anklet wrapped around your right ankle, and a small silver ring with a Peridot centered on it. Your cheeks were rosy from running in the cool morning, your eyes bright, your hands were dirty with mud, your under nails caked with brown. As you ran, the bottom of your feet were wiped clean of the dirt from your previous running through the wet dirt of the garden. “Oh Annie! One day! One day I’m going to be in space!” You giggled to your bear-dog. The large brown animal reached your shoulder when she stood straight. You were inseparable. You were chosen for each other, kindred spirits bound by love and friendship. “I’m going to travel to the end of the galaxy! I’ll be the first to do it Annie! Everyone will know who I am!” You laughed, stumbling and rolling onto your back. Your shirt and pants were easily wet from the rain that clung to the grass from the night before. You stare up at the sky, eyes twinkling in the dim light. “One-day Annie, I’m going to be up there, above the clouds” Annie laid beside you, letting out a huff and resting her head on your stomach, her breathing moving the shirt and tickling your stomach, causing you to let out yet another giggle. “Y/N!” A high-pitched voice called. You looked over, seeing your older-by-six-years brother. For those who had never met the duo, most would have thought you were twins. Matching hair color and eyes, gentle bone structure and similar smiles. Jaha stood in the doorway of your home, his sweater clinging to him. Even at only thirteen, he was almost six foot. His black trousers hit his ankles, leaving his pale skin bare. “Y/N come in! There’s a bad storm warning!” Jaha yelled, leaving the front door open as he returned inside. You stood up, Annie following suit. She pats her head, before darting off to the small yellow home. She shuts the door behind her, Annie going to lay on the bed your mother had made for her. Jaha hands you a small, steaming mug. “It’s chocolate” He tells her, ruffling her hair. “Oh yum!” You squeal, going to the small living room and curling up on her dad’s chair, sipping the scalding liquid. Jaha sits on the couch, sprawled out. Their board game sitting on the table in the center of the room, abandoned after you had grown exhausted the night before. “When are mama and papa coming home?” You asked through a mouthful of chocolate. “Mama said she’d be back today, papa is in the mines for another two days.” Jaha replied “Mannie and Loe’s papa died last week so papa had to take his shifts” “Oh” you say quietly, looking down. Uncle Lu was your favorite uncle. “It’ll be okay though. Mama said she was bringing home new fabric” Jaha says with a smile. Your mother was the only seamstress on the east side of their planet. She was often busy, but she made good money and always made sure they had nice clothes. She often made you pretty dresses, but you had never been one to wear them, always scared you’d ruin them while she played. “I miss mama” You say, finishing her chocolate. “Me too” Jaha said, looking over to his younger sister “Do you want to play space explorers?” “Yes!” You cry, scrambling up and running to get the helmet you had made out of paper a few weeks prior. You stick the crudely made item on her head, grinning. “Can we go to Tatooine this time?” “Of course” Jaha laughed, grabbing his toy light saber. Jaha had always wanted to be a Jedi, but he wasn’t force sensitive. You giggle, holding your arms out and running around the living room. “Preparing for landing!” You called. “Oh no!” Jaha cried “That’s a first order ship!” You squealed “Prepare the guns!” Jaha held up his fake light saber, swinging it around as he yells loud noises, pretending to fight stormtroopers. Outside, thunder rolled throughout the sky. It always rained on Malah, and when it wasn’t raining, it was cloudy. They very rarely got sun, and sun only came out once a yeah. The day of the Sun Dance. It was a planet wide holiday that everyone celebrated by wearing beautiful yellow clothes and collected to their nearest cities, dancing in the square at a festival. “There’s too many” you yelled, halting and making gun shot noises “PEWPEWPEW!” “We have to retreat!” Jaha yelled, falling to his knee, swinging the lightsaber. “Get into the cockpit!” You call, Jaha grabbing a hold of your shoulders, following you as you ran out of the living room and into the hallway, both of you screeching to a halt when there was a loud bang on your door. You stared at the white door, eyes wide. No one came to visit when your parents weren’t home. You heard Annie let out a low growl, and you looked to Jaha, fear apparent on your face. “Get upstairs to the attic” He whispered, holding his toy lightsaber, following you up the stairs. Both of you trying to move as quickly and silently as possible. Annie stayed at the front door, letting out low growls and threatening barks. You both climbed up the secret passage way to the attic, the door hiding inside of a closet. The front suddenly banged open, loud footsteps leading throughout the house. You crawled behind a box in the attic, your entire body trembling as Jaha looked out the small window. “it’s a First Order ship” He whispered, eyes wide as he tried not to show how terrified he was. “What are we gonna do” You whimpered, crawling into his arms as he rocked you. You heard a loud yelp from downstairs, and you let out a choked sob, knowing that they were hurting your best friend. “Shh” Jaha whispered, watching as you squeezed your eyes shut tightly, hearing them on the second floor, things being thrown around and smashed. They were in your bedrooms. “We’re going to be okay” Jaha whispered. “Find the attic!” Someone yelled from downstairs, and you gripped Jaha’s shirt. “They can’t hurt us” Jaha whispered “We’re intergalactic travelers, we’ve gotten out of worse things before.” “But this isn’t a game Ja” you whimpered. “Yes it is, life is a game, and we haven’t lost yet” He tells you. You gasp out a sob when someone starts stomping up the hidden stares, both of you crouching lower behind the box, hoping that whoever it was wouldn’t find you. Jaha keeps his hand over your mouth so you didn’t accidentally make a noise. The echoes of strong boots vibrated through the small room. Your heart was clenching so tightly you were sure it was trying to kill you, your stomach erupted with anxiety as you trembled, the steps getting closer. “It’s clear!” The person yelled, you let out a breath of relief, Jaha pinching you to keep quiet. You jerked from the quick pain, knocking into the box slightly. No one would have noticed if it hadn’t been silent in the room. The box moved barely a centimeter, but it made a loud low screech in protest from rubbing against the wood floor. “Backup up here!” the same voice yelled, the footsteps became louder the closer they got. You looked up, a white helmet peering down at you. You let out a sob as they reached down, lifting you up while another grabbed Jaha. You were frozen in terror, gasping for air as you were dragged down to the main floor, letting out a scream when you saw Annie struggling for breath against a wall. “Annie!” You scream, trying to struggle to get to your friend. The man held you tightly, dragging you out the front door. You struggled to keep up with his long and precise strides, you kept stumbling against the pathway, holes forming at your knees where you kept hitting the path, blood gathering on the delicate skin. “Jaha!” You scream, noticing that he was being pulled to a different ship than you were. “Jaha!” You scream shrilly again, a sob breaking the word into Ja—ha. “You’re going to be okay! We’re going to be okay” He yells at you, but you could see the fear in his eyes, the tears streaming down his face. “Jaha! I’m scared” You sob, trying to struggle once more to try and run to him. You stumble again, body trembling in fear and pain when small rocks were shoved into your skin and muscle at your knees. “It’s a game Y/N!” He yells “It’s a game! We always win!” “It’s a game!” He cries again, almost as if he were trying to convince himself as well. “Jaha” You sob, watching him being pulled up the ramp of the other ship. You twist, seeing Annie limping out of the house. “Annie! Find mama!” You scream, shaking as you were dragged up a black metal ramp “Find mama!” You cry out as you were flung into a holding center on the ship, the coolness of the fans hitting you even harder from the rain that had started to pour. You were freezing. You huddled up, trying to ignore the cold and the stinging pain in your open knees. You gasped when you tried to move your wrist, looking down, the small bone was protruding at an awkward angle against your skin, and you reached up, feeling the break on your collarbone as well. You look over, letting out a small, hoarse scream when you see three other children, all bleeding out from severe gashes. “It’s a game” You whisper to yourself “This isn’t real. This isn’t real. Mama will call me for supper soon” But you knew it was a lie. Especially as the ship started, the engine creating a loud rumbling throughout, the floor vibrating from beneath you. It was then that you realized you were right above an engine. If it went, you died first. You rolled and hit your shoulder, causing a loud scream to rip from your lips at it jostled your broken collarbone. The ship left the ground, and you trembled, looking out the smallest of cracks to see outside, eyes wide as you watched the clouds fade away from around you, leaving you in darkness.

#star wars imagine #kylo ren #kylo ren imagine #kylo x reader #kylo ren x reader #kylo x you #ben solo #ben solo imagine #ben solo x reader #ben solo x you

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elliotthezubat · 7 years

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DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 26

things are sure lively for the dokeshi house, eh?

Black Star: *passing out breakfast orders* liz: yum! Patty: "So hungry--" *bites into her breakfast burrito* "Mmm~" takeru: *enjoying his hashbrowns* Izuku: *having yogurt with fruit and a bagel* -on the road again- Patty: "But Roswell would be so much fun to go to--" Kid, Black Star, Izuku: "NO!" -back home in death city- Yumi: *holding Shiori* shiori: mama! lord death: *phone rings* oh! we got a video chat from kid! Kid: *on video* "Hello? Father?" lord death: hey kiddo~ shiori: kid! kid! *bouncing with excitement* Kid: *waves* "Shiori! Hello!" Yumi: *smiles* shiori: hehe! kirika:........ Kid: *waves* "Hello, Mother, Kirika." kirika: 7-7; how's the trip, nerd? Kid: *small friendly smirk* "Alright. Heading back and trying to figure out whether there are any stops we want to make along the way." lord death: ah...*he nods* Kid: "Were there any souvenirs you wanted while we were on our way back? We should be back in Dallas soon." -elsewhere- Photographer: "Hibana, turn this way! Who's that with you?" Hibana: "My assistant, Gabriella!" gabriella: *waves* hello. Photographer: "Those are wonderful dresses, ladies! So, why bring your assistant and not a date, Hibana?" Hibana: *smirks* "A smart woman keeps her best colleague by her side, dear~" gabriella: >////////< -at the 8th- Arthur: *trying to fix his hair* shinra: you look fine man. Arthur: "...What if she doesn't like it?" shinra: well...... shinra: she didnt have any problem with your hair before, did she? Arthur: "Not that I remember...Maybe she just didn't want to say..." shinra: *multi slap-pap attack* get a damn hold of yourself! Arthur: "Ahh! Okay, okay! I'm calmed! I'm relaxed! I'm--" tamaki: hey! Arthur: o\\\\\o "...Hey." tamaki: sooooo, you ready? Arthur: -\\\\- ("So cute...") *nods* "Yep! Ready!" tamaki: neat. -and so- Arthur: *walking with her to the restaurant* "You haven't eaten here before, have you?" tamaki: no, not really. *looking at the sign that says 'Ippudo ramen'* Arthur: "It's really good ramen--not too expensive, either." tamaki: neat. Arthur: *pushes the curtain back to let Tamaki enter* tamaki: *sniff* wow. smells nice. Arthur: "Tastes even better." *points to two seats* -elsewhere- Yohei: "How's work treating you two?" mono:....alright. kepuri: just great! Yohei: "That's good, Kepuri." *glances at Mono* "Something wrong at work?" mono: i'm doing fine, shut up! stupid yohei! *goes to her room* Yohei: "...Well, my confidence in my parenting skills just got bruised." chie:...*pats his back* Yohei: *nods to Chie* -elsewhere- Spirit: "How are you and Christa holding up?" marie: doing well. *she smiles* christa: *playing with blocks* Spirit: *nods* "We were lucky Kami was here..." marie: yeah.... Spirit: "And I wanted to thank you for taking Sachiko out--it meant a lot to her." marie: of course. it was nice to get out and enjoy our time together. *she smiles* Spirit: *smiles, looks at Christa* "So, is Christa spelling complicated words yet?" -the blocks spell 'meow'- Spirit: "Hee hee...What animal goes 'meow,' Christa?" christa: kiddy! Spirit: "Kitty! 'Meow, meow'?" *pretends to paw like a cat* christa: hehehe! Spirit: *sighs happily* ("...Maka...") marie: *smiles* Spirit: *wipes his face a bit* christa:....?? Spirit: *wiping away a few tears* -elsewhere- Hibana: *wiping tears from her eyes while watching the film* gabriella: QwQ Hibana: *pulls tissues out from her purse, passes one to Gabriella* gabriella: my emotiooooons.... Hibana: "Yeah...This film..." *holds Gabriella's hand* gabriella: *blush* Hibana: *sniffs, still wiping tears, clutching Gabriella's hand for some security* -elsewhere- Tuhl: *asleep, with Io still awake in his arms* io: buu? Tuhl: *snore* io:............zzzzzzzzz Tuhl: *in his sleep, instinctively holds Io carefully as he is lying in his bed* saki:.......*she smiles* Shotaro: *hands Saki her smartphone* saki: *takes a pic* thank you. Shotaro: *nods* -elsewhere- grunt: *knocks on the door* lord emine? i heard a noise, is everything ok? Emine: "ROAR!" grunt: o-o;;;;; -blood seeps from under the door- grunt: O_O;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Emine: *wail of pain* -a brutally mangled body of....some grunt...lay splattered on the ground- Emine: *huffing, grunting* grunt: s....sir? Emine: *inhuman growl* "Hunger...souls..." grunt: *gulps and dials* Emine: *shudders, clutching himself, pulling at his clothes* lin: *over the phone* emine?! are you alright?! Emine: "Lin...Help..." Emine: "Hunger...Fear...Souls...Cold..." *rips at his clothes, tearing them off himself* lin: *tearing up* lin:....*humming a soft melody* Emine: "..." *starts crying* lin: *still humming* Emine: *collapsing, sobbing...slowly falls asleep* lin:........ Emine: *deep breathing in his sleep* lin:.....rest well..... Emine: "Zzz..." -elsewhere- Black Star: "Dallas just isn't as interesting the second time, but at least the hotel should be good." liz: yeah. Kid: "This hotel should be enjoyable: pool, spa, arcade..." stocking: *looks around* Izuku: "Anyone up for the arcade?" soul: sure. mina: heck yeah! Black Star: "Beat all ya all at those games!" Patty: *tugging on Liz's hand* "Spa! Spa!" tsuyu: yeah, i could use a nice soak. Ochako: "Sounds fun!" -elsewhere- NoFix: "Hey, Death City is only a few miles away!" mimeca: *claps* NoFix: "Yeah, now to ditch this vehicle and get new wheels. This car's kind of hippie-ish now." mimeca: *nods* Sunflower: x_____x NoFix: "Man...Whoever gets this car next is going to need a ton of those pine tree air fresheners to clean the dead hippie smell out." mimeca: Xp NoFix: *points to a parking lot* "We'll pull in here and trade cars..." mimeca: *nods* *In the parking lot* NoFix: "I think we need something big..." mimeca: *points to one* NoFix: *shiny eyes* "Yeeeeeeeeees..." mimeca: *griiiins* NoFix: *spins along the door to open it* "Now, just to hotwire with some powers of spin, and we are back on the road!" mimeca: ^o^ *Engine starts up* NoFix: "Woot! We are going!" *peels out of the parking lot* -elsewhere- Hibana: *at the after-party, hands a drink to Gabriella* "That was sadder than I was expecting..." gabriella: at least the food is yummy.... q-q Hibana: *sniff* "Yes. Very rich food." *smiles lightly* "It was a good film, and at least the couple had a happy ending." gabriella: i knoooow qwq Hibana: "Man, when they finally kissed--phew! That was cathartic!" -elsewhere- Arthur: "Hmm...That was satisfying." tamaki: *she smiles* Arthur: "Don't suppose you wanted dessert here or elsewhere?" tamaki:....sure. Arthur: *pulls out the menu* "Hmm..." *shiny eyes, shows her a photo of the menu* "Check this out--cat eclairs!" *Someone enters the restaurant* tamaki: o///.///o Arthur: 'Want the cat eclairs? I think they look cute~" tamaki: well- ???: *waves at Tamaki, but he is right behind Arthur* Arthur: "???" tamaki: O.O;;;;;;; Aoyama: "Bon jour, chaton!~" Arthur: >-< "No..." tamaki: um....hi.... *meek wave* Aoyama: "Hello yourself. Is this seat taken?" *sits down beside Arthur* "Oh, hello! You are the boy who was standing with no pants outside the hospital, oui?" Arthur: "...My name is Arthur. I have a name." tamaki: hi...aoyama....*sweats* Aoyama: "Fancy meeting you here, mon cheri. How have you been?" *leans across the table and stares intently at her* Arthur: ⊙·⊙ tamaki: doing good.....you? Aoyama: "Quite well! Have you not read my social media page?" *holds his phone up to her* Arthur: *small growl* tamaki: wow..... Aoyama: "Yes! I managed to get one million notes in one hour! Most of them positive!" *flips through multiple photographs of him posing around town, including shots of him in swim trunks at the pool* Arthur: ಠ益ಠ tamaki: ^^;;;; Aoyama: "Have you finished your meal, Tamaki? I was just here to get take-out--" Arthur: *DEATH GLARE* Aoyama: "--and I could dine with you." *reaches out and holds her hand* tamaki: um....*sweating* Arthur: "We already had dinner, thank you." Aoyama: "Oh...Who are you again?" Arthur: "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I JUST INTRODUCED MYSELF--AGAIN! THE BOY WHO WAS STANDING WITH NO PANTS OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL!" tamaki: he's arthur boyle....one of my brigade members at the 8th. Arthur: *nods vigorously* Aoyama: "Ah...Tell me, Tamaki, is he your boyfriend?" tamaki: e-eh?! O/////O Arthur: .\\\\\\. "We-we-we--" tamaki: *cat ears* >////////< Aoyama: " 'Oui'? Oh, my...I did not realize I was dating someone who was already dating another man." *places his hands to his cheeks, blushes, squirms* "How scandalous!" tamaki:.....wat? Aoyama: "If I had known that, I would have asked differently when going out with you. I'm sorry--I should have been more upfront. So, is this an open relationship?" Arthur: *muttering into his hands* "I just wanted to have dinner with her..." tamaki:...................................................what? Aoyama: "An open relationship. You know, where two people agree that they are allowed to date other individuals." *looks up and down at Arthur* tamaki:............excuse me for a second. *goes outside to scream for a whole 5 minutes* Arthur: D: Aoyama: "She is quite the screamer~" Arthur: *puts money down on the table, exits* "Tamaki! I'm so sorry about--" Aoyama: *pops up in between him and Tamaki, holding a saucer of tea* "Here, this will help ease your throat." tamaki:.....um.....is there anything in this?! Arthur: "Yes. Is there?" *cracking his knuckles* Aoyama: *giggles* "Just lemon and honey, the way to help a throat after loud screaming." tamaki:.......... -later- tamaki: .//////////////////.;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Iris: ._____. "Wow." shinra: tamaki, you ok- -STOMACH PUNCH- shinra: *collapses* whyyyyy???!! Iris: D: Iris: "Tamaki! That was incredibly cruel!" *helps Shinra up* nozomi: m-miss tamaki..... tamaki: im going to take a shower. NO ONE. FOLLOW ME. Iris: "..." *looks at Nozomi* "Maybe, you know, go talk with her? I'll tend to Shinra's abdominal pain." nozomi: i-i could try..... -elsewhere- Hibana: *rubbing her feet while sitting on a bed in her hotel room* "Jeez, Gab, I did not know you could dance like that." gabriella: i didnt even think that kind of dancing was allowed at fancy parties..... Hibana: *smile* "You'd be surprised what happens at fancy parties...I had a lot of fun, though! You are really good." gabriella: thank you. Hibana: "Now I know to bring you more often when I go clubbing." *stretches* "The photoshoot is tomorrow, yes?" -elsewhere- Izuku: "Huh. New high score--" Black Star: "This machine is fixed! The buttons were stuck! I demand a rematch!" Izuku: -_-; "We've played 20 rounds..." -winner!- mina: great job ochako! Ochako: "Yay! Thanks!" tsuyu: *claps* Black Star: "HOW DARE YOU DO BETTER AT ME IN A DIFFERENT GAME! FIGHT ME!" tsubaki: easy now. Ochako: "...Okay! Air hockey?" Black Star: "YOU'RE ON!" Ochako: *devious smirk* Izuku: "!!!" *jots notes in his notebook* stocking: *watching* *ROUND 1* Black Star: "Ha!" *slams the puck* Ochako: *effortlessly blocks, knocking the puck at the right angle to sail directly into Black Star's goal* Black Star: o_o Ochako: "I know angles and gravity, Black Star..." Black Star: "...I'm gonna lose badly, aren't I?" soul:........yuuuuup stocking: i recommend padding. that way your ego isnt _too_ bruised. Black Star: *growls* *Ochako beats him 4 to 0* tsubaki: *back pats* Black Star: T_T "Damn it..." -elsewhere- Gopher: "...What does one do to be a good big brother?" eibon: hmm? well, i cant really say for sure...i didnt really have any siblings of my own. Gopher: "...She got really hurt by N--...That monster." eibon:......the best we can do is look after her and make her feel welcome and safe. Gopher: *nods* "I also think it is important to introduce her to other people--gradually." eibon:...*he nods* perhaps enrolling her into the academy might work? Gopher: "I think so..." -elsewhere- Giriko: "How was the doctor's appointment?" arachne: it went well. *she smiles* Giriko: "Good." *sets some papers aside on the dining table* "I'll start dinner." *hugs her* -elsewhere- Iris: "How is she?" nozomi: she seems rather flustered....but i think she'll be ok Iris: *nods* "I don't envy her. As awful as Arthur's experiences are, it's not fair to Tamaki to put her under that pressure. And...that Aoyama guy is rather forward." nozomi: y-yeah.....*awkward blushing* Iris: "Nozomi, maybe we can do something for Tamaki? Like a girls' night? Some movies, snacks..." nozomi: that sounds- nayumi: that sounds great! Iris: *smiles* "Great!" sayu: yay! Iris: "Maki, how does that sound?" maki: *she nods* Iris: "I'll put together the shopping list and assign who picks up what." -elsewhere- Patty: *satisfied sigh* "That spa is so good!" liz: yeah. *streeetch* stocking: *nods* Patty: "Can't wait to lie down and sleep on clean sheets in a comfy bed~" tsubaki: yeah. Patty: *looks around, whispers* "I made sure Stein would be distracted, so the room arrangements should please everyone~" stocking:....*grins* liz:...oh. tsubaki: o////o Patty: "Heh heh heh..." *Knock knock* liz: hmm? Ochako: *opens the door* "S'up!" *holds up basket* "We got food!" stocking: neat! Ochako: "Fancy cheeses, chocolates, drinks--" Patty: *opens bottle of fancy soda* "Neat!" -elsewhere- soul: *listening to his MP3 player* Stein: *asleep in bed* soul:........*dozes off* ???: "Soul?" soul: *he smiles* hey maka *hug* Maka: *hug* "It's good to see you." *pulls back, but still holding his hands* "How are you holding up?" soul: pretty well....we're heading back from our trip to new orleans. -he tells her about all that had happened since last time they spoke- Maka: "Wow...That's a lot happening...Kid and Stocking are okay?" soul: yeah. alright and closer than ever... Maka: "..." *brushes hair over her ear* soul:........*hug* its not fair maka....... Maka: *holds Soul, bringing his head down to rest in her lap, strokes his head* "We can't change the past...But..." soul: you should have been able to have those experiences too.... Maka: "Soul..." *continues stroking his head* "Do you remember when we kissed here?" soul: *blush* y-yeah, of course i- Maka: *she lifts him up to her eye level* "..." *brushes her lips along his cheeks, then pulls back* soul: o///////o Maka: *blushing* "If I had lived...would you...would you have..." soul:....?? Maka: "Would you have wanted someone like me as your girlfriend...to..." soul:....um.... .//////. Maka: *small pout, blushing* "Yeah, I thought so." soul:....*leans in and hugs her* Maka: "!!! ..." *returns the hug* "I wish I was with you. Not just here..." -morning- Stein: "Get up." soul: mmmmn..... Stein: "Soul?" *pulls blanket off of him* "Get up." soul: *muttering* Stein: *leans down, whispers in his ear* "Stop touching yourself and get in the shower." soul: GAAAH!!! Stein: "Good, you're awake. Now get showered and dressed--breakfast is in 20 minutes." soul:....*shudders* -back on the road- soul: .__________________.;;; Stein: "We're driving all day with stops to Roswell, then to...'Truth or Consequences'? What?" Kid: "Oh? Truth or Consequences is known for its hot springs and spas." stocking: neat. Patty: "Yay! Hot springs, hot springs!" Stein: "Fine. We stop at Roswell tonight, arrive at Truth or Consequences the next day." Black Star: "With a stop for food, though!" -elsewhere- Photographer: "Smile!" Hibana: -_-; "I am not feeling this outfit." -elsewhere- mono:.............*walking home* *Someone running towards her from the other end of the street* ???: "Got to get back! Have to hurry!" mono: ??? Ashi: "I forgot I had to--" *spots Mono, runs by her--then trips* mono: *wince* oooh.... Ashi: *springs back up, upright* "Hello! I was running and fell!" mono:......at least your glasses didnt break. Ashi: *blushes, smiles, scratches the back of his head* "Well, these A-Plus Glasses are durable! Can handle anything! In fact, when Zuno would hit me, he--" *stops...looks sad* mono:....?? Ashi: "Um...An old friend." mono:...................... Ashi: "...He got hurt. Badly." mono:................ Ashi: *shakes his fist* "It's why...I don't want those Fear Factory bastards to hurt anyone else." mono:.....................even dokeshi hunt? Ashi: "??? Dokeshi Hunt?" *shakes his head* "I've seen Dokeshi Hunt hurt Dokeshi, and Fear Factory hurt humans. I don't want to see anyone hurt, human, Dokeshi, or otherwise." mono:........... -screams could be heard- Ashi: "?!!! What's that?!" mono: *arms herself and goes to check it out*......... !!!!!!! *she is frozen in place* ....... Ashi: *doesn't get there until quite a bit after her, struggling to catch his breath* "Wh-What is--What is--?" mono:.......*trembling* .....y......you...... *wide eyes, shrunkin pupils....tearing up* -several random people lay dead and bloodied around two figures- Ashi: D: "Oh my God..." *fumbles for his phone* mimeca: ~?? NoFix: "...Dude, why are your socks all different and a-symmetry or something?" mono: ........... *she screams and charges at him with her knife* NoFix: *lets her stab him* mono: ......*her eyes are shut tightly* NoFix: "Ah, that tickles!" *pulls the knife out--and jabs it into his head* mono: *horrified* ........ -her fearful expression.....it almost looks familiar....- NoFix: *looks down at her* "Hey...Is it the brain damage talking, or didn't I kill someone who looks just like you? Or two people who kind of looked like you?" mono: ..... *trying to fight back* i-i'll kill you!....i-i wont ever forgive you! y-you.....you murderer! NoFix: *pulls out knife, tosses it back to her* "I've killed a lot of people, so you're going to have to be more specific." *glances at Ashi* Ashi: "!!!" *scuttles to the side, trying to get out of view...* mono: you....you killed my parents, you monster!! NoFix: "...Do you realize how many people that could apply to? Mimeca, what's my kill count up to?" mimeca: ........*shrug* Ashi: *on phone* "Hello?! We got a problem! It's him! NoFix!" mono: i wont.....i wont let you hurt anyone else! even though i joined dokeshi hunt.....the only dokeshi truly wanted dead....the one i want to kill is you! NoFix: "..." *smirks, holds out his arms* "Ah, you sound just like Ho-Yay Yohei! Come at me, bro! I'll give you a fighting chance..." mono: *picks her knife back up and charges again* NoFix: *doesn't move* Ashi: (on phone) "Please! Hurry!" mono: just go down!! mimeca: *kicks her into the wall* >Xp NoFix: "..." *giggling* "Nice one, Mimeca!" Ashi: *watching Mono, whispering* "Get back! NoFix is a madman!" NoFix: *ear twitch* mono: *struggling to get up* mimeca: *takes the form of yohei and pins her to the wall by the neck with a gun to her head* >:) NoFix: "I'm getting bored with this. Mimeca, make it painful for her." Ashi: "N-No!" *runs at NoFix, punches--and it does nothing* NoFix: *unimpressed* "Nice glasses, ass." Ashi: " 'Ash--'" *PUNCH* NoFix: *seizes Ashi's glasses, having just punched him so hard he broke his nose and knocked him to the floor* mono: stop it! Ashi: *screaming, clutching his face* mimeca: *pistol-whips her across the face and grins* NoFix: *smirks, as he marches to Ashi--and stomps on his chest* Ashi: *crying loudly* NoFix: "I should cut your fucking balls off, you waste of a boy! In fact, I think I'll do that..." mono: !!!!! Ashi: *crying* NoFix: *hand moves down to Ashi's testicles, and--" *FLASH* mono: ?! NoFix: *his arm is sliced off* mimeca: ?? *wind passes by Mono, as a fist repeatedly slams into Mimeca's torso, legs, and head* mimeca: X3X *Momo is picked up in someone's arms* NoFix: "...You fuckers..." Tuhl: *still near NoFix, blade to his neck* Shotaro: *holding Mono* mono: eh....p-put me down! stupid dokeshi! mana: 7-7; Shotaro: *furious frown at NoFix* "Mana, get ready to run..." NoFix: "..." *sneer, as his arm is growing back--* mana: *preparing stance* Tuhl: *slices off NoFix's head* "Run now!" Shotaro: *tosses Mono to Mana* mana: kepuri! kepuri: on it! *grabs mono and exits* NoFix: *headless, swings fists at Tuhl, connecting* Tuhl: "Ah!" Shotaro: "Mana! Go for chest, I'll get the legs!" mana: *she charges in* Yohei: *on a nearby rooftop* "Saki, percentage of the projectile's charge?" saki: *she nods* Yohei: "Okay...Hold it steady..." *looks through the scope at NoFix's headless body swinging at Tuhl, Shotaro, and Mana* Shotaro: *goomba stomp on NoFix* NoFix's body: grabs Mana's ankle* mana: *kicks with the other foot* Yohei: *on radio to the trio* "Get away from him, now!" Shotaro: "Bone of the Mantis!" *bites down on a mantis' claw, causing him to grow a claw that slices off NoFix's hand, then he grabs Mana* Tuhl: *leaps back, wraps chain around Shotaro, and pulls him and Mana back* NoFix's headless body: "?!!!" Yohei: "Now, Saki! Fire!" saki: sayonara motherfucker. *FIRES HER LAZER* Yohei: *fires the gun* NoFix's body: *tenses, sweatdrops--* *KA-BOOM!* mimeca: D8 Yohei: "Okay...We got him..." NoFix's head: "Oh, fuck no!" Yohei: o____o NoFix's head: "Mimeca! Throw me at them! I'm going to bite their kneecaps off!" mimeca: *toss!* Yohei: "Aw, craaaaaaap--" NoFix's head: *collides into Yohei's face--and his tongue whips along his face* Yohei: D: D: D: saki: *picks up the head and stares it in the eyes, completely poker faced* NoFix: "...Oh! Sweet cheeks! How ya doin'?" Yohei: *pouring hand sanitizer all over his face* saki: *punch....punch....punchpunchpunchpunchpunchpunchpunchpunchpunchpunch* NoFix: "Aw! Fuck! Shit! Bitch! Cunt! Cock! Crap! Pussy fuck asshole motherfucker shit stop that! I'll fuck--Ow! Fuck! Fuck! Stop--Ow! Ow! Ow!" Yohei: "..." *sits back* *One of NoFix's teeth flies and lands by Yohei, who calmly crushes it and then lights it on fire to kill the skin cells* saki: *poker face* whats wrong, i thought you liked it rough~? ^^# NoFix: "...Ha! That is a good one! How 'bout you slip me into your pants, and I can go d--" -PUNCH- saki: *poker faced* NoFix: *spits out his teeth* "So...How's our baby?" saki: *punching resumes* dont. you. DARE. mention my child... NoFix: "_Our_ child--" saki: *punching intensifies* NoFix: "Shit! She's for real! Yohei! Save me!" Yohei: "..." NoFix: "Yohei?!!!" Yohei: "I'm thinking. I thought about it. And no. Go die." NoFix: o_O "Fuuuuuuuck..." saki: *gun arm in nofix' mouth* ..... Yohei: "..." *smirks* NoFix: *sweating* ("This would be so hot right now if I didn't think she could actually kill me before I can finish regenerating...") saki: *gattling gun mode* -RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA- NoFix: *blood splurting, chunks of flesh flying off* "AAAAAAH!!!" Tuhl: *holding down Mimeca, notices Saki's gunfire* "Jeez, no kill like overkill..." saki: i can give you some thanks for giving me these robotic implementations....and thank _you_ yohei for giving me the upgrades ^^ Yohei: *salute* NoFix: "I LOVED YOU BOTH, AND THIS IS HOW YOU FUCKERS REPAY ME?!" Yohei: *snaps* "LOVE?! YOU CALL WHAT YOU DID 'LOVE'?! Saki! Fucking kill him!" -something dark emerges and grabs the head- Yohei: "?!" -the dark arm slams nofix's head into the floor.....at rapid pace- Yohei: o__O -the watch beeps- chie: *on the watch screen* can i watch? no pun intended. *she's holding baby io in a baby carrier* Yohei: o____o *turns watch to face the action* NoFix: *sees Io on screen* "B-Baby?" io:....... NoFix: "..." *growls--and bites through the dark arm* "NO!" io: .........Q-Q *she starts crying* chie: *slams hims into the ground with the dark arm* NoFix: "NO! YOU FUCKS JUST DON'T GET IT! My kid! My offspring! MY PROPERTY! And now I got a new mission: KILL ALL YA FUCKS AND TAKE MY CHILD FOR MY OWN!" chie: *punchpunchpunchpunchpunchpunch* saki: *shooting* NoFix: "EEEEEENOUGH!" *spontaneous blast of cells--forming some weird cancerous looking octopus monster* chie: !!!! saki: !!!! NoFix: *slams down Saki with the quivering cells* "You...You finally pushed me to the edge of my regeneration abilities...Thank you..." *sharpens cells into a blade* "Now die, bitch." Yohei: "!!!" *fires weapon again at NoFix--* *KABOOM* saki: *flinch* NoFix: *half his cancerous body is blown apart, quivering* "I will devour you..." Yohei: "Oh, just die already..." *tosses a grenade to Saki* Tuhl: *on the roof, ready to slice Saki away from NoFix* saki: *shoves the grenade in nofix's mouth* chie: *casts dark shield around yohei* Tuhl: *slices through NoFix, grabbing Saki and running back* NoFix: *gulps* "Shi--" *KABOOM KABOOM KABOOM!!!* mimeca: !!! *SPLAT* *Bits of NoFix litter everywhere* Yohei: *panting* "God..." mana: is....is he dead? Yohei: *taps his watch, getting a read* "No...the cells are still living. I already alerted DWMA clean-up team. Hopefully they contain him..." Shotaro: *administering first-aid to Mono and Ashi* Ashi: *sobbing* mono:........ *DWMA Officials arrive, clean up the remains of NoFix for quarantine, and take the injured to the hospital* -later, elsewhere- Yumi: "How bad is the damage?" official: only a few civilian deaths, but most of the deceased were crossbone gang members. Yumi: "Where in the neighborhood did it take place?" -the official points to a more...less than pleasant part of the city- Yumi: *deep sigh* "This is not good. Who is the murderer?" -the official explains the situation- Yumi: "I want to speak with the injured." official: of course ma'am! Yumi: *follows* mono:......................................... Yumi: "Hello, ma'am. I am Yumi Azusa with the DWMA." mono:.................. Yumi: "I wanted to see how you were and to ask a few questions." mono:......... Yumi: "..." *sits by her* "How are you feeling?" mono:...... Yumi: "...May I get you anything? Water? Food? Is the staff treating you well?" mono:......*staring out the window*............... Yumi: "...Okay." *removes a business card, leaves it on her chair as she stands up* "If you want to talk, I'm available to listen. Call any time..." mono:......................(thinking:........mom............dad...............) Yumi: *exits--and spots Chie and Saki* chie: how is she? Yumi: "I was hoping you could tell me: she won't say anything to me." chie:....i dont know her that well personally, but...*she looks at yohei* Yohei: "She lost her parents to that monster your team just scooped up--thanks for that, by the way. Mono...is going to need some time. And family with her." Yumi: " 'Family'?" Yohei: *arms crossed* "That's going to be us." chie:....it wont be easy... Yohei: *shakes his head* "But we got time." chie: *she smiles* Yohei: "Maybe we should talk with her now..." mono:.....what do _you_ want? Yohei: "Make sure you are okay." mono:........ *looking away, teary eyed* Yohei: "...I'm sorry." mono:..... chie: do you need a moment? Yohei: "Mono..." mono:......... Yohei: "...I know we can't replace your parents...but can we...can we help you? Be a home for you right now?" mono:..............how can i know you wont just run away again? Yohei: *small smile* "Ask these goofballs I got with me: I haven't been able to shake them off for years. Now I'm married with a kid on the way. I'm not going anywhere without them--or you." mono:.......*whimpering* Yohei: "Hey, it's okay..." mono:.....the others.........hina......kevin.....nick.....akira..... Yohei: *nods* "I still...I still have nightmares." mono:......................... Yohei: "...We have to watch out for each other, you know..." mono:....................*sniff* Yohei: "Can I have you watching my back out there, and will you let me watch your back?" mono:.....*she cries* Yohei: "Mono..." *hands her a tissue* mono: *trembling* chie:...... Yohei: "..." *moves a hand closer* -later- chie:.....*hugs him* Yohei: *holding her* "I was so scared." chie:.......*she kisses him softly* Yohei: *returns the kiss* "It's over...I hope for good." chie:.....*rubs her stomach* its going to be ok, sweetie.... Yohei: *nods, speaks to her stomach* "We're going to be here, and we can't wait to see you healthy and with us." chie: *she smiles* Yohei: *holds his wife* chie: U//////U~<3 chie: yohei? i think now might be as good a time as any to tell our families about our little bun in the oven. Yohei: *nods* "How do you think they'll react?" chie: .... -and so- papa kagehime: SAY WHAAAAAAAA?! mama kagehime: YOU BETTER NOT HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO MY BABY! Yohei: *hiding behind Chie* chie: it's alright mom. it was our decision to have a child, and besides, we're married now, right? mama kagehime: hmmm.... papa kagehime: she does have a point... Yohei: *peeks over Chie* mama kagehime:...............yohei! you take care of my daughter and grandchild, ok~? Yohei: "Yes, ma'am! Always!" -later, when calling the nanami family- mama nanami: how wonderful! Yohei: "I'm glad to hear that, Mom." mama nanami: we're gonna be grandparents~ isnt that wonderful, hideyoshi? Yohei: ^^; Papa Nanami: "Congrats, son! You're going to do great!" Yohei: "Dad..." -\\\\- -in another room- io: *crawling* Shotaro: "...He was so creepy..." io: guuu....da.....da.... mana: hmm? io: *points to tuhl* dad! Tuhl: ^^; "...Fine, whatever, sure..." *picks up Io* "How you holding up, kiddo?" io: dad! dad! ^o^ saki: hehe~ Tuhl: "Yeah, yeah..." *bounces Io a bit* io: ^o^ Tuhl: "..." *smiles at Io* "Aren't you just so happy..." mana: *smiles* Shotaro: "Hee hee..." *flexes his arm* "Man...That was some fight..." -wind blows outside, and something sticks to the window- Shotaro: "???" -it appears to be a letter addressed to tuhl- Shotaro: *picks up the letter, hands it to Tuhl* Tuhl: "?!!! Wh-What..." *hands Io to Saki, opens the letter* -the letter reads; tuhl, i hope this letter has gotten to you safely. the winds can be unpredictable at times, at least, thats what hakuo says anyway, haha! anyway, i heard about your friend's mission to find someone important to him, and i think i know someone who could help. she's a dokeshi who can tell the exact location of a living person, but she has to see a picture of them within a year or it wont work. she should be arriving in death city sometime in the month, so keep an eye out. also, kaoli says hello. keep in touch, minato. (or in your case, mom)- Shotaro: "What's it say, Tuhl?" Tuhl: *shaking* Q_Q mana: ??? *peeeek* Tuhl: "Shotaro...Do you have a photo of Emine?" Shotaro: "...What are you...?" mana: ????? Tuhl: "You may be able to find him..." *shakes the letter* "Someone may be able to help..." Shotaro: "..." *collapses into his seat* mana: wait, what?! Tuhl: "Someone I know has written about a Dokeshi who can trace someone by photos! This could be the lead Shotaro needs!" Shotaro: "..." *shaking, covering his face* mana: for real?! Tuhl: "That's great news, right?!" Shotaro: "No..." Tuhl: "???" mana: what? Shotaro: *shakes his head* "No." *stands up, runs up to his room, slams the door shut* Tuhl: "...Okay, that's just a tease!" mana: ah-......hmmm.... -outside- kepuri: *on her laptop, making blue prints* *Yohei exits* Yohei: "What you up to?" kepuri: still working on my pet-project. Yohei: "...It's not going to kill people, is it?" kepuri: no! its more of a 'companion' bot this time...im thinking the name 'Kabumaru' Yohei: "Hmm...The design looks do-able but intricate...Good work." kepuri: thanks. it reminds me of kabuto-ranger! *shiny eyes* Yohei: *wide-eye* "You watch Kabuto Ranger?" kepuri: *blush* a-as a kid yeah. my sister kokona always preferred 'Magical Ribbon, Pinky Heart', but eh. Yohei: *awkward blush* "Do you...remember the theme song?" kepuri: *looks around and plays the song on her laptop* Yohei: *goofy childlike grin as he starts singing along* kepuri: blue beetle punch!! XD Yohei: "Red Beetle Kick!" kepuri: green beetle tornado spin attack! chie:....... kepuri: o-o;;; chie:....*breaks into a chuckle fit* yohei you are such a cutie. Yohei: o\\\\\\o "W-We're just being nostalgic..." chie: i think its cute. kepuri:...*blush* w-whatever, i have to work now......hmm? *she spots showtaro walking away*.....excuse me a moment. Yohei: "???" *watches Kepuri following Shotaro* "Um...Okay." Shotaro: *sees Kepuri following...looks downcast* -later, outside, it begins to rain- Shotaro: "..." *shaking* ???: there you are..........kyokotsu... Shotaro: "!!!" *turns around, looking* "Wh-What?!" akaderu: .........*eating a red apple* Shotaro: *backs away* ("I'm getting a bad feeling going through my bones looking at this guy...") akaderu: so you can gain animal abilities by biting bones, eh? well kid..........i've got a bone to pick with _you_. Shotaro: "..." *frowns, fighting pose* akaderu: *smirk* jeez, whats biting you, kiddo? get up on the wrong side of the bed or something?...... Shotaro: "Who are you?! Why do you look all evil and like you're wanting to fight me?!!" akaderu: you should know why.....you say you do good deeds, right kid?......you know murder isnt a good deed, right? Shotaro: "??!! What do you mean?" akaderu: *dry chuckle* listen kid....in any other circumstance, i wouldnt even waste my time with a brat like you.....but the thing is....you killed someone important to me.....i cant forgive that....i want you to suffer....like you made _her_ suffer..... Shotaro: "B-But I never killed any 'her'!" akaderu: ha...ha.....i know what i saw........back then at the death city robo tournament.....you goddamn monster..... Shotaro: "The Robo...Tournament..." *flashbacks to Kepuri...he starts shaking from the memories* "N-No! I didn't! I was trying to--" akaderu:...........*throws his apple to the side* enough bullshit....we're ending this. now. *pulls out a knife* Shotaro: *backs up, frowns, pulls bones from his satchel* "You're making a mistake! I didn't kill Kepuri! In fact, she's--" akaderu: *charges* do you have ANY FUCKING IDEA what she meant to me?! she was the only thing keeping me going! before i met her, i was hated and neglected. my own family only thought of me as a lazy bum, and when i became a dokeshi? they started taking all their anger and stress out on me. they reduced me to nothing more than a walking punching bag! Shotaro: *dodges* "Like I don't know what it's like to be a Dokeshi! But Kepuri is ali--" Kepuri: "?!!! Akaderu?!" akaderu: *he freezes* ......!!...*he turns* ............!!! Kepuri: "...Back away from Shotaro." akaderu:...ke....puri? -he drops the knife- Kepuri: "Yeah! And why are you trying to attack Shotaro?!" akaderu:.....but....i thought you....y-you were- Kepuri: "???" akaderu: i thought he killed you......but.... Kepuri: "Well, he didn't, as is apparent! In fact, Shotaro was trying to save me, but I..." *looks down* akaderu:....but what? *slowly walking over to her* Kepuri: "...He was trying to get me not to give up on my...my life." akaderu:........like....you did for me.....? Kepuri: "..." *nods* akaderu:........*he hugs her* im sorry......i....its my goddamn fault...........its my fault you got turned into....that thing......*he begins to cry* Kepuri: "..." *hugs* Shotaro: "...I'm so lost." \kyoukotsu; still, you brought these two back together, so....indirect good deed complete! \ Shotaro: *pout* /Yeah, I guess.../ Kepuri: *pats Akaderu's back* \kyokotsu:.....will you be ok?\ Shotaro: /I don't know...I feel weird about all this./ -later- Kepuri: "Where have you been all this time?" akaderu: around mostly....hell if i'd know.... *eating another red apple* Kepuri: *pouts* "A bit vague there...Were you just around Death City?" akaderu: yeah....i always made time to visit you........ Kepuri: o\\\\o "When I was in a coma...?" akaderu: yeah. not to be a creep or anything, just to talk to you.... Kepuri: "O-Oh! Right...The hospital let you in?" akaderu:...yeah. said i was close to you.....or _are_ close to you? Kepuri: -\\\\\- "Akaderu..." akaderu: 7///////7;;;;; Kepuri: "..." *pushes herself into his arms* akaderu: *blush* ah- Kepuri: "Just shut up..." *wraps her arms around him* "I...I want to be held for a bit." akaderu: .....*hug* sorry....im not an expert at romantic stuff....but this is nice. Kepuri: -\\\\\\- "Y-Yeah..." akaderu: .....*small smile* Kepuri: *strokes his arm* "Akaderu...Being a Dokeshi..." akaderu: hmm? Kepuri: *small smile* "There is hope...Being a Dokeshi is not so bad, when you are around people you care about...even around humans." akaderu:......heh.... Kepuri: *looks up at him, smiles* akaderu: *blush* Kepuri: *closes her eyes, leans closer to him* akaderu: *leans in, blushing* Kepuri: *brushes her lips along his* mana: awwww. akaderu: O////////////////////O Kepuri: O_O "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!" -morning, on the road- Ochako: "At least Roswell didn't have any more aliens--" Izuku: *violently shaking* Ochako: "And we get to go to hot springs today!" Izuku: *MORE VIOLENT SHAKING* tsuyu: midoriya? are you feeling alright? Izuku: "NO MORE ALIENS!" *slaps himself in the face* "I AM CALM! HOT SPRINGS WILL BE RELAXING! I AM NOT IMAGINING O--" Black Star: *covers Izuku's mouth* "He's fine. Just had trouble sleeping." soul: *yaaawn* Patty: "Still tired, Soul?" soul: im good. Kid: *holding Stocking's hand, smiles* -elsewhere- Hibana: *reviewing a map of San Francisco* -elsewhere- Tomura: "Update on our target's location?" ???: seems a training session will take place later in this week...what do you think, kurogiri? Kurogiri: "I could get you to that location. It'll be up to you to complete the task." ???: and the others? Kurogiri: "They will provide support, and a distraction..." sachi: and us? Tomura: "Have you had any progress locating that New Orleans witch?" sachi: currently, nothing came up. Tomura: *scraaaaatch* "Disappointing, but not surprising. In this case, maybe you should join the rest and attack the students..." sachi: sounds good. hopefully i generate some good quirks while there... Tomura: "...Game on..." -elsewhere- Meme: *pouring glasses of ice water for everyone* mio: *drinks* phwaaaaah.... =w= so refeshing.... tsugumi: i cant believe that autumn is just around the corner.... ao: and that means autumn enrollments will take place.... Anya: "Which means the pumpkins will be ready..." *shiny eyes* "...Wait, what about autumn enrollments?" mio: you mean like new students arriving? ao: *she nods* Meme: "Then we get to mentor them! Yay!" tsugumi: *shiny eyes* (imaginary student: tsugumi-senpaaai~!) *drooling* Anya: -_-; "Wipe your mouth, Tsugumi..." tsugumi: *does so* Anya: "In any case, let us hope these students are not obnoxious and need to have their hands held..." *secretly imagining mentoring students in the ways of commoners' life* mio: yeah..... *imagining playing video games* -w- *All the girls are reduced to reveries about mentoring new students...drooling* kim:.............*sigh* i'll get the mop. -_-; Kana: *waves hand across their faces...then steals Anya's wallet from her purse* -elsewhere- Yumi: "Kirika, I need some help with Shiori's diaper." kirika: do i have to? Yumi: "That depends: do you want to smell baby poopies all afternoon?" kirika:...alright give me a sec.... *puts on a kitty plague mask* Yumi: -_-; "Oh, sure, that's not going to terrify Shiori in the least..." -after that- Yumi: *holding Shiori* "Don't you feel all better now that Mommy and your sister Kirika gave you a fresh new diaper?" shiori: ^o^ *looks at kirika* ............. *poker face* Yumi: "...Where do you even get a mask like that?" kirika:.....found it at a pawn shop. Yumi: "...Huh. You were at a pawn shop?" kirika: yeah. Yumi: "Hmm...Please tell me you aren't pawning anything yourself..." kirika: nah. Yumi: *nods* "Did you find any good bargains there?" -elsewhere- Spirit: *looking through checklist* "Okay, that takes care of a lot of the back-to-school shopping...Izumi, do you need a new backpack?" izumi: yeah, the one i have now is kinda getting old. Spirit: *looks at ones in the department store* "You want something kind of plain, or something with a character on it?" *holds up an All Might backpack* izumi: *looking around* Spirit: "???" -elsewhere- -a blue haired woman is looking through the shelves of a bookshop- Cashier: *spots blue-haired woman, approaches* "Hello! May I help you find anything?" woman: i-im fine..... child: look at this. they actually made a teary blue lunchbox! child 2: seriously? she's kinda lame compared to other heroes, and she doesnt even do that much. woman:........... q.q Cashier: "Well, let me know if you need anything..." Cashier: "...Are you okay, ma'am?" woman: im.....o-ok..... Cashier: "..." *spots the children* "You know, I've thought Teary Blue is pretty courageous..." woman: -she already left- haha..... Cashier: T_T child: OW! MY EYES! namiko: .....q-q i got scared again.... Cashier: *sobbing* person: MY EYES FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LITERALLY ON FIRE RIGHT NOW!! Security Guard: *into walkie-talkie* T__T "I need medical help, now!" -namiko ended up hiding in an alley way- namiko: i screwed up again..... ???: "It happened again, huh?" namiko: *she turns around*....hi aizawa.....got any spare blow? Aizawa: *sighs, sits down next to her* "Haven't you had enough?" namiko: i just had a rough morning.....i got evicted from my apartment again. Aizawa: "Neighbors complaining about burning pain to their eyes?" namiko:.......yeah.....i'll just have to live in the spare dumpster behind the school for a little while. Aizawa: "That's stupid..." *sighs* "Look, my couch pulls out into a bed...but I'm not going to clean the apartment..." namiko: ....thanks. Aizawa: *nods* "...I got some pot." namiko:....i could use some right now.... Aizawa: *opens baggie, pulls out pipe* -elsewhere- Kid: "So warm..." soul: *streeeetch* Black Star: *splashes Takeru and Izuku* takeru: eep! Izuku: "Ah! That's really hot! Stop that!" Stein: *annoyed grunt* soul: ........ Kid: "Soul? You okay?" soul: yeah....just relaxing.... Kid: *smiles* "These springs are rejuvenating. The mineral water is good for the skin, and of course that has benefits for the body, the mind, and the soul..." soul:....was that a damn pun? Kid: *nervous laugh* Black Star: *looking down at Izuku and Takeru* soul:.........hey....whats this? Stein: "???" soul: I AQUIRED KID'S TOWEL! >:D Kid: o\\\\\o "Hey!" *standing, trying to get his towel back* "Give that back!" soul: haha! Black Star: "Ha ha ha!" *rips Takeru's towel loose* Izuku: "G-Guys! Stop! You're being kind of loud--" takeru: EEK! >/////< Stein: "..." *slumps lower into the water* Kid: "How dare you!" *rips Soul's towel off--and snaps it at him* takeru: waaah!! *BOOOOM* -the wall got knocked down- -awkward silence- Izuku: *towel on fire* "Ah!" *throws it away...then sees the wall is gone* stocking: ............ tsuyu: ribbit? tsubaki: eh? Patty: "..." *thumbs up* liz: o-o;;;;;; soul: *covering himself up* Ochako: o\\\\o *covering her face* ("That's the second time I've seen Kid's...thingie") Kid: D: mina: dang. Izuku: o\\\\\\o -SCREAMING- -on the road, no one said a single thing- Stein: *driving* Black Star: "..." *glancing at the girls...* stocking: *snuggling kid* Kid: T_T *holding her* Ochako: *glancing at Soul and Izuku..." o\\\\o soul: q-q (thinking: maka forgive me for i have sinned.....) Izuku: Q_Q Patty: "...So, I see you boys sure are long and in charge!" mina: its official, no one hears of this and we take this to our graves. Patty: "But I was just about to tweet this--" liz: NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NONONONONONONONO!!! Izuku: *smashes Patty's phone* Patty: "..." *glare* Izuku: Q_____Q "I'll buy you a new one!" -elsewhere- Mineta: "I feel like I just missed out on something incredible..." -SLAM DUNK INTO THE GARBAGE- Mineta: *head first into banana peels and expired dog food* "AAAH!" Iida: "...Well, trash does belong in the garbage can." kyouka: *snerk* Iida: "In any case, we need to prepare for the new mentor-mentee program. Volunteers for mentors to the new students?" Mineta: *muffled* "I'll take the hot ladies--" eijiro: im in! momo: i'll take part. Bakugo: "I'll transform those tiny maggots into actual fighters!" hagakure: what about you, todoroki? Shouto: "I promise to try not to burn or freeze any of the newbies." denki: *playing on his game* Iida: "Kaminari! We will need everyone to pick up the pace on mentoring the new students!" denki: hmm? oh, right right. Bakugo: *looks over Denki's shoulder* "Are you doing multiplayer or something?" denki: yep. AGH! are you kidding?! this 'scorpion bitch' is such a damn griefer i swear! Iida: *gasp* "Such language to use in a user's name!" Bakugo: "BWA HA HA! Don't get your panties in a wad! Losing that badly, Kaminari?" denki: Q-Q why meeeee? Bakugo: " 'Cause you are the minorest of minor characters!" -elsewhere- Ponera: "We need to consider another option...another target for affecting Death's awful organization...Did we acquire anything useful from New Orleans?" milia: shaula got some of these. *she puts out some potion ingredients* grunt: isnt this stuff usually for n-n-ne-necromancy?!?! Ponera: "And what can be made with these?" shaula: it can bring back dead bodies for starters. Ponera: *leans in closer* "Ooooooo...That would be useful~" Medusa: *eyeroll* shaula: ^^ -elsewhere- Stein: "We'll be stopping at Tonto National Forest for the night, then we'll be back in Death City tomorrow afternoon." mina: neato! Stein: "We'll be staying near the Lost Dutchman's Mine, at Superstition Mountains." Ochako: *tapping a finger on her chin* "Tonto...Tonto...What does that word mean?" stocking: depends on what language your speaking in, i guess. *shrug* Ochako: "Why? Which languages can you find the word?" liz: *texting* [liz: hey wes! we'll be back by tomorrow hopefully ^^] [wes: great! miss u. how did yesterday go?] [liz: pretty well] liz:........ [wes: how is soul doing?] [liz: he's going pretty good. also did u see the vid i posted on GB?] [wes: i was so proud of him] liz: *she smiles* [liz: BB soon. <3 u~] [wes: love u too] -elsewhere- Hibana: *slides a map to Gabriella* "I want you to find decent locations here in San Francisco for me and another person." gabriella: um....ok? *she looks* Hibana: "And make sure they are good places. I want to impress this person." gabriella:...yes princess... *sad smile* Hibana: *holds up her fan...covering a small smirk* -elsewhere- Shotaro: "..." lady: thank you for helping with my bags. *she smiles* Shotaro: "Huh? Oh..." *forced smile* "Happy to do a good deed, ma'am." lady: *she nods and exits* Shotaro: *frowns* ("Kepuri...Emine...") -at the house- chie: *looking through movies* hmmm.... Yohei: "Anything good?" chie: well.... -there is a mecha movie, a sci fi, a western, a cartoon about a caveman, a kung-fu movie, a street fighter esque film, and a movie about ninjas- Yohei: "Hmm...Caveman cartoon? What the heck...? Um, what do you want? They all have quite a bit of action..." chie: im not sure.. mana: kung-fu movie! Tuhl: "Yeah, kung-fu sounds good." -knock knock- Tuhl: "???" *walks to the door, looks through peephole* -a woman is there- ???: excuse me, does a kappa named 'Tuhl' live here? Tuhl: "?!" *opens the door* "Is that...?" Tuhl: "Um, I'm Tuhl." ???: may i come in? Tuhl: *stands aside, gesturing for her to come inside* "Of course." -she sits down on a chair- Tuhl: "You're who she said would be coming to see us...to see Shotaro..." ???: *she tenses* *she looks at him* (thinking: im sure its just a coincidence...the name is very common...) Tuhl: "You're who Minato said would be coming?" ???: yes. you can call me 'Setsuna'. Tuhl: *nods* "This is Mana, Chie, and Yohei. Shotaro is out right now..." setsuna:.... chie: *she nods* its good to meet you, miss setsuna. Yohei: "I'm sure Shotaro will be grateful for your assistance: it's really important to him." mana:..... *Door heard opening* mono: we're back... Yohei: "???" Shotaro: *quiet as he enters...looks around the room* "Um..." setsuna: ............... mono: who the heck is she? Yohei: *death glare at Mono* Tuhl: "Shotaro, this is the woman I told you about, the one who can find Emine..." Shotaro: "..." setsuna:....showtaro..... *she is tearing up* Shotaro: "???" Tuhl: *glances at the two...* "That scarf...and Shotaro's...!!!" Yohei: "...!!!" Tuhl and Yohei: ("Holy shit.") mono: ???? setsuna:....you've really grown... Shotaro: "??? Um...I've only been standing here for a few seconds." *looks at Mono, compares his height* "Did I grow that much more, Mono?" mono:...... uuuhhhh..... setsuna: *she just hugs him* Shotaro: "!!! Um..." Tuhl and Yohei: T_T mono: im confused. mana: now that i think of it, she and showtaro....they look a lot alike, huh? Yohei: *sniff* "Um, Chie, I think we need to put some food away..." chie: ah! right! Tuhl: "Saki, I think Io needs a changing...Come along, Mono..." mono: h-hey! mana:....miss setsuna....you.......you're showtaro's mom, arent you? Shotaro: "..." setsuna:.....*she nods* Shotaro: "..." *sobbing* setsuna:...showtaro...i understand if you hate me.....it was unfair of me to abandon you.....i was.... *sigh* i didnt want to burden you with having a dokeshi for a mother... chie:........................................ Shotaro: "J-Just..." *hugs Setsuna tightly* "You're here..." setsuna: ......*she hugs him tightly* my baby... Shotaro: *crying, laughing--with a bear hug on his mom* Yohei: "..." *hugs Chie* -later- Shotaro: *bouncing in his seat* "Where did you get that awesome scarf?!" setsuna: i've had it for a while. actually, i cut it in half and gave the other half to you. Shotaro: "...Woooooooow...That's so cool!" mana: where have you been this whole time? setsuna: just wandering. helping people from time to time. Shotaro: *squeeing at Mana* "You heard that? 'Helping people'!" mana: yep, just like you. chie: i guess the fruit doesnt fall far from the tree. Shotaro: *blushes, chuckles* "Mom, I have so much to ask!" *pulls out a list from his pocket--which unfurls down and along the entire floor, into the hallway, and the kitchen* setsuna: oh... o.o; Shotaro: "First off, how old was I when you left me? Second, what's my middle name? Third, why is the sky blue--Oh, wait...Sorry, I've kind of been writing this for years, so there are some dumb questions in here. Let me cross out the middle name one--" setsuna: well, for the first one, you were just a baby. Shotaro: "...Oh. That young?" setsuna:....*she nods* Shotaro: "...Mom? Did people try to hurt you for being a Dokeshi?" setsuna:.................................. Shotaro: "..." *holds out his hands* "They've tried to hurt me, too." setsuna: ......*she hugs him* Shotaro: "Mom..." *hugs her* setsuna:...... chie: *tearing up* Yohei: *holds her hand* io: ?? Tuhl: "..." *holds Io, passes them to Saki* saki: hey sweetie... *snuffles* Shotaro: "Mom...I know we have a lot to talk about with finding my friend...but maybe we can talk about it in the morning?" setsuna: *she nods* Shotaro: *nods* "Th-Thank you..." -elsewhere- mina: zzzzzzzz........ Ochako: *tossing a bit, hands covered with gloves* Izuku: *clutching his notebook in his sleep* tsuyu: *by the lake, getting a quick swim in* Kid: *kisses Stocking on the cheek* stocking: mmmm.... *snoozing while she sits in his lap* Kid: ("She's incredible...") stocking: zzzzz...... Black Star and Patty: *shoveling near the Lost Dutchman's Mine* Patty: "Gold has to be here somewhere in Tonto!" Black Star: *holds up something* "I FOUND IT!" *holds up gold...fool's gold* tsubaki: *learning to work the grill* Stein: "Got the grill going yet?" tsubaki: i think so...ah! there we go! Stein: "Good...Glad you're doing this and not someone fire-crazy like that weird grenade kid." tsubaki: ^^; takeru: *shudders* Stein: "...Takeru, why don't you help me set up one more tent while Tsubaki and Soul start cooking?" takeru: o-ok. Stein: "Hold the posts, I'll hammer them in..." Kid: *nodding off* -later- Ochako: "Yummy fish, Tsubaki!" Black Star: *pouting, because Stein told him the gold was fake* tsubaki: thanks. ^^; Izuku: "Just another day and we'll all be back home..." liz: yeah... Kid: "Back in our own beds, then back to classes...with some new students entering, I'm sure." soul: *he nods* -ochako's phone rings- Ochako: *looks* "Amazed I get a signal out here..." Ochako: *answers* "Hello?" Ochako: "Hey, Yuu! How are you?" liz: ?? Ochako: "Really?! Great! Do you know where you're living yet?" Izuku: "..." *looks at Tsuyu* " 'Cousin'?" tsuyu: *shrug* Ochako: "Uh huh...Okay! Great! I'll see you then! Say hi to the family for me!" liz: relatives? Ochako: "Love you! ... Okay, bye!" *hangs up* "Hey, my cousin is coming to Death City!" liz: awesome! Izuku: "Y-Yeah! That's...great!" Ochako: "I know, right?! She's so hardworking all the time! You'll love her! I mean, not love-love love her--that would be weird!" tsuyu: do you need some water? Ochako: "Sure!" -elsewhere- Hibana: *studying the map and lists of suggestions* "Gabriella, are these the best locations in San Francisco that you would recommend for me and my guest?" gabriella: *she nods* Hibana: *looking sincere* "I'm not sure this is the best you could offer." *leans forward* "I want you to tell me: if it was you instead of me going out around San Francisco, what would be the places _you_ would want to visit? What would be the perfect day in San Francisco for Gabriella?" gabriella: well....*she checks the map and points to a few places, like a library, a few coffee places and shops, etc* Hibana: *smiles* "Just what I wanted to hear: thank you. Oh, that reminds me: Gabriella, I can't do this on my own, so my guest and I will require your services during our outing tomorrow. Be sure to dress comfortably and stylish to accompany us--I can always have my tailor help with that~" gabriella: oh, um....ok. Hibana: *smiles* "Well, I'm going to have a bath before ordering in something to eat." *points on the map at a coffee shop* "I'll see you right here tomorrow morning at 8 AM." gabriella: right! -elsewhere- Spirit: *asleep on a couch* "Zzzz..." sachiko:....*puts a blanket over him* Spirit: *smiles in his sleep as the blanket lies over him* -elsewhere- -BANGING ON THE DOOR- yuuji: OI! SHITRAG! TURN YOUR F*CKING MUSIC DOWN YOU STITCHED FUCK! Dabi: "...I _like_ it this loud." yuuji: well its keeping sachi and me awake, so shut the fuck up! Dabi: "...Nah, I don't think I will. If it keeps you awake, too bad. And since you can't sleep, why don't you two do something else?" -something is heard inside- yuuji:....what the hell was that? do you have a hooker in there _again_? Dabi: "...If I do, what would be your reaction?" yuuji:......there's a hooker in there, isnt there? -_-; Dabi: "...Want in?" yuuji: no! D:< Dabi: "Then do kindly go back to your room, and fuck Sachi--or yourself. Because I don't care." yuuji: *flips him of and exits* asshole. Dabi: *shuts the door* "Now, where were we?~" yuuji: -_-; Kurogiri: "Dabi is quite the difficult one..." yuuji: no shit. Kurogiri: "Let him be--you don't want to get on his bad side." *offers earplugs* yuuji:...thaaanks. Kurogiri: "Could always drink yourself to sleep--" *THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP* yuuji:....yes. yes please. all the drinks. all of them. Kurogiri: -_-; "I'm on it..." sachi: T_T Kurogiri: *passes a drink to Sachi* sachi: thanks kurogiri. Kurogiri: *nods* -elsewhere in the building- Tomura: *tossing* "N-No..." -noises are heard in the room above- Tomura: "..." *grabs a random broomstick and pokes it up at the ceiling* "Please...quiet..." -moans- Tomura: "..." *scraaaaaatch* "Do I have to make a point to you up there?" -elsewhere- Kid: "Zzz..." stocking: zzzzz....... Izuku: *outside the tent, looking at the stars* tsuyu: cant sleep? Izuku: *shakes his head* tsuyu: want to talk about it? Izuku: "..." *nods* "Just thinking about this trip..." *looks at his fist, then up at the stars* "How to go further..." tsuyu: ah. Izuku: *puts his hands together* "It helps to know there are other people trying to do the same..." *looks at the sky* "But it still can feel isolating." tsuyu: perhaps. but just remember we're all here if you need us, ok? Izuku: "..." *smiles at her* ("One for all...") "Thanks..." tsuyu: its not a problem. Izuku: "How about you? Trouble sleeping?" tsuyu: not really, just seeing if anyone else was up. Izuku: "Hmm...Want to look at the stars for a bit?" tsuyu: sure. Izuku: *quiet, looking up...smiles, rest his hands to his sides* tsuyu: it's peaceful out here. Izuku: *nods* "Have you gotten to see much of the forest and park?" tsuyu: yeah, the lake is really clear. *she smiles* Izuku: "Oh, that's good. Wish I had walked to it." tsuyu: there's always tomorrow morning. Izuku: "You're right. I'm sure my mom would love a photo of it." tsuyu: sounds like a plan then. Izuku: *smiles at her, then yawns* "Thanks, Tsuyu--Tsu." -elsewhere- Meme: *snoring* Anya: *struggling to sleep* ("Ugh...That noise...") mio: *asleep at her laptop* Anya: *sits up, glares at Meme...puts on her coat and exits to the kitchen* Meme: *tosses a bit...then stands up in her sleep* mio: zzzz...... ao: .......*follows* Meme: *follows Anya in her sleep to the kitchen* Anya: "What on eart--?" Meme: *lifts Anya in her arms and cradles her like a baby* Anya: o\\\\\\\o ao:....*taking something out of the drawer* Meme: *muttering a lullaby* ao: *she takes out a kitchen knife* Anya: *whispering* "Put me down, Meme! You are sleepwalking! Sleep-lullabying! Sleep-annoying-me!" ao: *smiles* Anya: *spots Ao* "?!!!" ao: *raises it up* Anya: "AO! WHAT ARE YOU DO--?!" ao: *slices into some bread* good evening. i'm just making late night snack. do you want any? Anya: "...FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF" Meme: *wakes up to the smell of bread* "Oh, that would be lovely!" *looks at Anya* "Why are you in my arms?" Anya: "I'D LIKE TO KNOW AS WELL!" -morning- Hibana: *waiting at a table at the San Francisco cafe* gabriella: i'm here. Hibana: "Oh!" *looks up, smiles* "Happy you arrived." *gestures to the other empty chair at the table* "You look lovely this morning." gabriella: um... thank you. *blush* Hibana: "Ready to start this day? I'm so happy that my special guest has arrived~" gabriella: *she looks around* ???? Hibana: *rests a hand lightly over Gabriella's* "You." gabriella: ah.... O//////////////////////////////////////////////////////O Hibana: *smiles* "I think that someone who works as hard as you do for me deserves a day. Whatever you want today, it's yours." gabriella: *she blushes and smiles* Hibana: "So, you take the lead today...What would you like to order?" -elsewhere- Izuku: *holding up his camera, motioning to classmates* "Get a bit closer--I want to get more of the lake in the photo." tsuyu: *nods* soul: everything ready? Izuku: "Yep! Three...two..." *SNAP* "Got it!" stocking: great. Izuku: *shows it to classmates* "That water really is beautiful." soul: *he nods, noticing something along his head* Ochako: *small smirk* "Admiring yourself in the picture, Soul?" soul: ?! j-just looking.... (thinking: maka....) *Small bit of wind passes by Soul's ear* Ochako: "???" Izuku: *notices something in the distance* (ﺧ益ﺨ) stocking: ?? Izuku: "I know now why this park is called 'Tonto'..." *points to the distance, where there is a set of mountains that looks familiar* *Loud Echo*: "FOOL!" -on the road- Stein: *driving, sipping coffee* Patty: "Just a few hours, and we're home!" liz: O-O;;; Black Star: "What's with you, Liz?" liz: *shakes her head* i-its nothing.... Kid: "???" Izuku: *emailing photos to his mom, then checking social media...* [boom-boom-bass; neat. cant w8 2 C U guys soon.] [deku: same! hope you all are doing well] [countexplode18: WHEN R U GETTIN BACK HERE U NERD?! I'M GONNA KILL U!] Izuku: "Kyouka sent a nice message, and Kacchan...um...he's doing okay." [shroomyshroom; dude, thats rad] [deku: ^^; Thanks!] [yuuraka; So. You're the 'Deku' my cousin told me about? I look forwards to working with you and the others.] [deku: oh, ochako's cousin?] [yuuraka: Yes. I shall introduce myself proper during the autumnal entrance ceremony.] [deku: okay. well, look forward to meeting you then!] Izuku: "Hey, Ochako! Your cousin--" liz: ah, looks like we're here. Ochako: "???" Kid: *looks out the window* "Nice to be back..." mina: neato! Black Star: "YOUR GOD IS BACK, DEATH CITY!" tsubaki: ^^; Stein: "Good. Sooner we get in and find a place to park, the sooner you all can leave." Patty: "Awwww, we love you too, teach!" *cheek pinch* Stein: -_- tsuyu: actually, you can just drop me off at my house. Stein: "...I'm going to have to do that for all of you, aren't I?" *All hands go up* Stein: *grumble* "Tsuyu, give me directions..." -after tsuyu, mina, and ochako are dropped off at their residences- Izuku: *staring at his phone still...* soul: *looking out the window* Patty: "Hey, Sis, you okay?" liz: yeah. Patty: "You sure? You seemed surprised about something earlier." liz: nothing..... (excalibur's voice: foooooool!) *cringe* Patty: "???" Kid: *hugging Stocking* stocking: cant wait to get home. takeru:...ah! -they have arrived to the 2nd brigade base- yasunoki: *salutes* Patty: "Bye, Takeru!" *hug* takeru: s-see you in school patti!.....*salutes to the commander* Patty: *waves* "Later, cutie!" Honda: "??? You have a girlfriend, Juggernaut?" takeru: uh...ummm.. >//////////////< yasunoki: *sweatdrop* c-commander... -_-; Honda: "It's a fair question! I bet Juggernaut is a real lady killer! Am I right?" yasunoki: commander, we should probably help private noto unpack -_-; Honda: "Very well..." *winks at Takeru and proceeds to help unpack* takeru: ./////. -later- stocking: we're back! Yumi: "Welcome home!" *hugs Stocking and Kid* Patty: "Julie!" julie: *hug* lord death: *hugs kid* hey kiddo! heather: good to see you're all safe. Patty: *smiles at Heather* Kid: *hugs Lord Death* "I missed you..." *looks for Kirika* kirika: yo. Kid: *waves* "Hi. How have things been?" lord death: good. shiori missed you. Kid: *smiles at Shiori, waves* shiori: *her eyes light up* kid! kid! Kid: *reaches out to Shiori to hold her* "Missed me?" shiori: *hug* Kid: "Hee hee..." shiori: ^o^ Kid: "We brought souvenirs!" shiori: ?? Kid: *leans down, picks up a small skull-head plush doll for Shiori* "Who does this look like?" shiori: ....dad? Kid: *laughs* "Yes! And you can say 'dad' so well!" shiori: *huuug* dad! hehe! Kid: *smiles at Death* Yumi: *small smirk at Death* "Looks like a plushie is stealing your thunder..." -elsewhere- Arthur: *flexing his arm* tamaki: *timing* Arthur: *loud grunt* "How was that?" tamaki: better than last time. nozomi: nice job, arthur. *claps* Arthur: "Th-Thanks." *smiles at Nozomi* "I'm back to about full strength." miwa: not bad kiddo. Arthur: *blush* "So, I guess I'll have to ask the Commander when I go out on patrol." tamaki: speaking of....where even is he? Arthur: "The Commander had said something about a new shipment of weights that he--" Akitaru: "Yo." *Akitaru is on a unicycle, lifting weights* nozomi: O-O;;;;;;;;; Arthur: -_-; Akitaru: "Working on balance today. And it tones the core muscles." tamaki: that seems....dangerous. Akitaru: "Like our usual days at work aren't? Besides, how hard can this be?" -elsewhere- Hibana: "This was a good choice, Gabriella! How did you hear about this place?" gabriella: i did a bit of web browsing and reading reviews. Hibana: "Always so thorough." *takes a lick of her ice cream cone* "How is your flavor?" gabriella: delicious~! Hibana: "Mind if I have a taste of yours?" gabriella: um...i-if you want... Hibana: *leans over, licks her cone, picking up a dollop of the ice cream before licking her lips* "Delicious indeed~ Feel free to have a taste of mine." gabriella: um.... ./////. Hibana: *holds her own cone in between them as she takes another lick of it* "What did you want to do after this?" -elsewhere- Shotaro: *hands his mother a photo from a newspaper clipping* "This is him..." setsuna: hmmm....there's a church building. on Japonshima. mana: so back where we started then.... Shotaro: "..." *curling his knees up to his chest on the couch* setsuna: hmm? showtaro? is everything ok? Shotaro: "...I don't know that I can do this." mana: hmm? setsuna: what do you mean? Shotaro: "Emine...He's not the same person I knew...When I last saw him, he..." *buries his head in his knees* setsuna:..... Shotaro: "...He killed Charisma Justice." setsuna: ?? Shotaro: "We tried to stop the Masked Assembly, these bad Dokeshi...and we were doing fine--until Emine...He had some mask with three eyes...and I couldn't move. I just froze. Justice threw me out of the building--just as Emine stabbed him through the head. ...When I could move again...I just ran away." setsuna:....showtaro..... Shotaro: "I couldn't save him, Mom. I couldn't save him..." setsuna:.....*she hugs him* Shotaro: *holds onto her, sobbing* setsuna: *humming softly* Shotaro: *cries himself until almost sleeping* setsuna:....*rubs his back* Shotaro: "Zzz..." setsuna:...... Shotaro: *stays asleep* mana:.... Yohei: *small knock on the door* "Setsuna? I can take him off your hands for a bit..." setsuna: its fine... Yohei: *nods* "Want me to bring you anything?" setsuna: i'm alright for now. Yohei: "Okay..." *looks down the hall* chie: ..... *concerned* Yohei: "..." *walks up to her...hugs her* chie:....*she hugs back* Yohei: *strokes her back* -in their room- chie: *she snuggles up to him* mmmm..... Yohei: *kisses her cheek* "I love you." chie: i love you too, babe. *leans into his chest* Yohei: *holds her, sliding his hand along her lower back* "You are amazing...incredible...and loving..." chie: *blush* i could say the same for you....i can tell you're going to be a great dad... *looks down at her stomach* Yohei: *holds hand gently over her stomach...leans down, kisses lightly* chie: hmhm~ ^^ Yohei: *hugs at her waist, resting his cheek against her stomach* "...You feel warm." chie: *she smiles and ruffles his hair* Yohei: "I love you, Chie." *kisses lightly up her stomach* chie: i love you too, yohei. Yohei: *reaches her neck, a light kiss there* chie: ahhh.... u///u Yohei: *kisses where her neck reaches her cheek* "You're blushing." chie: mmmm.... Yohei: *lets a hand slide under her pajama shirt, resting on her hip* chie: mmmmm Yohei: *massages her hip before moving up her side...* chie: *nuzzles* Yohei: *lets his hands rest along her skin, as he holds her, feeling her breathe as her chest rises and falls chie: mmmmm.... Yohei: *moves a finger along one button of her pajamas* -elsewhere- Hibana: *wiping away tears, at the San Francisco LGBTQ Museum* gabriella: ......*faint smile* Hibana: "So much history I didn't know...Thank you for recommending this...Gabriella?" gabriella: hmm? i just, wanted to pay respects and everything. *faint blush* Hibana: *nods* "...Can I tell you something?" gabriella: hmm? .////. Hibana: *wrings her hands* "When I was at the church...even when I was a little girl, it was pretty obvious to me that I wasn't just attracted to boys..." *blushes* gabriella: .... O//////////O *steam coming off her head* Hibana: "??? Do you think less of me for being bi?" gabriella: no, of course not. i dont feel anyone should be judged for who they are attracted to. (thinking: if i did, it would just make me a hypocrite...) Hibana: *crying* "Thank you..." gabriella:...*hug* Hibana: *returns the hug, letting out a small laugh* "It's silly...I must have been so obvious to people..." -elsewhere- Kid: *lies down in bed* "Aaah..." stocking: *lays next to him* so good to be back. Kid: "Agreed..." *holds her hand* "This trip...It was fun, exciting...embarrassing...and I was so worried..." stocking: hmm? Kid: "If you had been hurt...or worse..." *hugs her* stocking:....*rubs his back and head* Kid: *stays in her arms, mewing lightly* stocking:...i love you kid. Kid: "I love you, too." *kisses her wrist* stocking:..... Kid: *closes his eyes, inhales* "Please don't leave..." stocking:.....i wont, kid.... Kid: *smiles lightly...his breathing slows down as he starts to fall asleep* stocking:.....*holding him close* Kid: "Zzz..." *rests in her arms* stocking:.....zzzzzz *They fall asleep...and dream* -morning- Kid: *yawn, opening his eyes to see Stocking with him...smiles* stocking: zzzzz Kid: *watches her sleep, getting comfortable in bed* stocking: .....*hugs* Kid: *hugs her back, kisses her forehead* stocking: ......... Kid: *smiles* "Sleep okay?" stocking: zzzzzz Kid: "..." ("She must be really exhausted.") -later- Kid: "Feel better?" stocking: yeah. *streeeetch* nice to be back home after so long. Kid: *looks at Stocking's summer packing* "Agreed." *hugs her as she stretches* "A bit more privacy." stocking: *she nods* i think that should be everything now... maid: your autumn wardrobe. *she hands stocking a luggage container and takes the other before vanishing* Kid: o__o "She's fast." stocking: well, when your dad is called 'the king of time and space'.....*shrug* Kid: "True..." *smiles* "I always love your autumn attire." stocking: *she rolls her eyes* you say that about all my clothes, you little dork. Kid: "It's true! You look great in anything~" stocking: hehe. *she smooches him on the nose* Kid: *blushes, smiles* "May I help with unpacking?" stocking: sure. -later at school- mina: we got gifts for everyone~! -at lunch- Iida: *bows* "I look forward to your gift from your road trip on my birthday!" Bakugo: -_-; "Stop yelling...My head is killing me..." hanta: *flustered over an earlier incident* .//////. Mashirao: *looking at Hanta* "You okay?" hanta: YES! FINE THANKS! Mashirao: *backs up* hagakure: ?? Iida: "You seemed troubled, Sero. What's that paper in your hand?" Bakugo: *glancing over Hanta's shoulder* hanta: *he eats it* O-O kyouka: O_O sero what the shit? Iida: "If you need fiber, the cafeteria provides much better dining options..." -at another table- Jacqueline: "It sounds like you had an eventful roadtrip." Patty: "You have no idea." kim: yeah, but im pretty jealous. Black Star: "How so? 'Cause you were stuck at work?" kim: yeah. Black Star: "At least you made some money--and work has to be more normal than the kind of people we were traveling with." Patty: *smirks* "Some aren't that normal. Kind of below-average." *holds up a pinkie finger* Black Star: o\\\\o kim: ???? Patty: "So, Kim, make any new friends at work?" *ignoring Black Star* -elsewhere- Hibana: "All bags are packed, we're out of the hotel room...When is the limo arriving to take us to the airport, Gabriella?" gabriella: should be here within fifteen minutes. Hibana: *smiles* "That's good. You're always so organized...Hey, listen...If you're not busy this Friday, could you free up some time for me...and for you? There's a restaurant I've been meaning to dine at, and I'd like for you to join me. Not for work--just for...us." gabriella: oh. um...o-ok. sounds nice. .////. Hibana: *nods* "The restaurant is called La flamme bleu. Don't let the name fool you--it's not that fancy." *smiles* "I look forward to having dinner with you." -elsewhere- Ponera: "Progress report on the potions?" shaula: test subject 1 is being prepped as we speak. Ponera: *happy clap* "Yay!" *looks at Test Subject #1* shaula: *she watches* lets see how this turns out... Ponera: "Um...Why the glass?" shaula:...safety precaution. Ponera: "...Very well. Begin the experiment." -elsewhere- Spirit: *on phone with Sachiko* "Okay, so I pick up Izumi at 3...Any errands to run?" sachiko: that should be everything. Spirit: "Great. Hang in there tonight--I'll have dinner ready when you get home." sachiko: thanks. *she smiles* Spirit: *smiles* "Okay, I'll let you get back to work. Love you." sachiko: *tiny blush* love you too. Spirit: "Bye." -elsewhere- *There is a cylinder containing...a mass of cells...It lets out a noise, like that of a thud, before what sounds like someone's name..."Yohei"...* guard: ?? Cells: "Yohei...Hi..." guard: ?! Cells: "Yo...Hi...Where?" -elsewhere- Kid: *stretches* "That was quite a day...Where would you like to go?" stocking: *streeetch* yeah. good to be back.....how about deathbucks? Kid: *nods* "I could use a bit of coffee to wake up. And I do wonder whether they have added new desserts to their menu since we departed~" stocking:........ =/////= *drools* Kid: *pats her mouth with a tissue* "Even your drool is symmetrical~" stocking: >////< liz: yeaaaah, thats _totally_ not a creepy thing to say to a girl... Kid: -_-; "I'm just--I just...I mean, if Stocking has put up with me after all of my...Let's just move on." stocking: *pats his back* Kid: *small smile* stocking: dont worry kiddo, i still love you~ Kid: "I love you, too." -later- Kid: *they are seated at the table* "Hmm...What to drink...?" stocking: i think i might have some of the rose tea. Kid: *nods* "I want something a little stronger, so I'll have a small coffee." lin: coming right up~ Akua: *leaning against the counter* mono: ....... 7-7 Akua: "What's your problem, tiny?" mono: that guy....he annoys me. Akua: "??? Why's that? Seems like the usual annoying customer." mono: i know him from school, he has this weird symmetry fetish. its so irritating! people like that are the 7th worst kind of person there is. Kid: *laughing at something Stocking says--then spots Mono...and frowns* mono: *glaaaares* stocking:...? Kid: "You..." mono:...hmph! *turns to another customer* Kid: *grumbles* "Evil asymmetry..." stocking:........*holds his hands* Kid: *inhales* "Sorry...I was distracted." Akua: *small lightbulb* "Hey, Mono...Maybe you should give that guy a special something..." mono: like what? Akua: *whispers* "Make that guy's order asymmetrical..." mono: *smirks* -and so- Kid: *twitch twitch* "..." *twitch* "I have complaints about the food...and service." -mono was put on janitorial duty after that stunt- -later- Kid: "..." *inhale* "I wish I wasn't so fixated..." stocking:.....*hug* want to do something else? Kid: *nods* "Where to?" stocking:....maybe we could pay your mom a visit? Kid: *nods* "That sounds nice." -at the graveyard- Kid: "Hello, Mother. It's me, Kid. I'm here with Stocking." stocking: *she nods* Kid: "...Overall, I'm getting through life well." *holds Stocking's hand* "We have had some challenges, some scary moments...but we survived." stocking:.... Kid: "I know Father misses you, and he continues to be a great parent...He and...Yumi have tended so well to me and now Shiori and Kirika..." stocking:...... Kid: *rests hand along the tombstone* "I love you, Mother. Thank you for all that you have given me." stocking:.....*she puts a soft hand on his shoulder* Kid: *holds her hand, wiping away tears* stocking:....*hug* Kid: *hugs her, crying but smiling* "Thank you." -later- Kid: *walking with Stocking, holding hands* "That meant a lot to me. Thank you for being there with me." stocking: of course kid. *she smiles* Kid: "Did you want to return home?" stocking: sure.... Kid: *smiles at her* "Okay...Any craving for dinner?" -elsewhere- Arthur: *completes practice with his sword, slicing through all the targets effortlessly* nozomi: excellent timing, arthur. Arthur: .\\\\. "Th-Thanks...I was worried I was going to screw up." Takehisa: *resisting urge to criticize Arthur's form* ("He could have been a bit faster...") tamaki: you certainly are doing better now. Arthur: *blushes more* "That means a lot..." *avoids eye contact* tamaki:..... padma: *sigh* *she has confetti in her hair* Takehisa: "Hmm...That will be quite a mess to clean up after the birthday festivities..." padma: no kidding..... -_-; Takehisa: "At least it was kind of you to host a birthday for Misora so..." *awkward shoulder pat* "Good work." -elsewhere- Kishiri: "So, Gab, how did work out in LA and San Fran treat you?" gabriella: it was a wonderful trip. Kishiri: "That's good. Given how much the Commander works you, thought you'd be exhausted. But you've been smiling so much and seem so happy and shit." gabriella: yeah, but i'm happy as long as she's happy... Kishiri: "Yeah, and she seems _really_ happy. Whatever you did, keep it up--makes working around here easier!" -elsewhere- Ponera: o________o "Goddess help us...Shaula...What have you done?" shaula: ooook.....that didnt work as well as i hoped. hey, its just one, we can just gun it down and work on test subject 2. Ponera: " 'Gun it down'?" *facepalm* "This isn't one of your video games...*Sigh* I'll send Grimoire and others...What have you changed to make Test Subject #2 actually work well?" shaula: *shows her notes* lets see how this one works after we clean this mess. Ponera: "...Very well. I also will be increasing reinforcements. I don't want a repeat." ("At least I have one wild card...but I hope it doesn't come to that...") -elsewhere- Shotaro: *looking at photos* mana: *studying* Shotaro: *photos of Yohei, Chie, and him on the road; a few with Tool and Chie; then...a selfie with Charisma Justice* *frowns...turns off his phone, stands, starts pulling a suitcase out of the closet* mana: showtaro? Shotaro: "If we're going to find Emine, we'll need to pack..." mana: ?? Shotaro: "Who knows where he'll run to next if we don't stop him..." *looks at her* "...Are you going to be with me?" mana:....*she nods* yeah. i did promise to help you, didnt i? Shotaro: "..." *smiles* "Thanks." -elsewhere- Wes: "I saw the video Liz sent to me, Soul..." soul: oh...um.... .////.; Wes: *pat on the shoulder* "You were awesome! Great work!" soul:....mom and dad didnt see it......did they? Wes: "..." *pulls his hand back* "No..." ("Thank goodness for privacy settings...I hope...") soul:....... Wes: "...I did share it with some friends--" soul: ?! Wes: "They don't know Mom and Dad! And they are other musicians who--" soul: ....................... Wes: "Soul...You're really talented. And I think you should share that talent with others..." soul:....m-maybe.... 7///7; Wes: *smiles* "Okay..." *one arm hug* "Take your time." soul:............. Wes: "So, what else happened on the trip? Liz seemed a little reticent about some topics." -soul explains what all happened- Wes: o_o "...That was eventful...I'm just glad you, Liz, and everyone is safe..." *small laugh* "It also sounds like some embarrassing circumstances, too." soul: .////////.;;; Wes: "Kind of envy you: you guys sound like you are all so close." soul: yeah..... Wes: "...Maybe you and I could go with some of your friends and some of mine--just a night out." soul:...um...sure. Wes: *smiles* ("...Maybe he'll meet someone...or maybe he already has...He seems to be hiding something else.") soul:........ Wes: "Well, almost time for dinner! Hope you like the meal." soul: ok. -elsewhere- Kid: "Delicious meal." stocking: mmmm~ roxanne: we worked extra hard on this one. Kid: "We appreciate it--thank you!" Patty: *patting her belly* "Yum~" kirika: zzzzz...... *curled up on the couch like a cat* mocha: zzzz.... Yumi: *puts a blanket over Kirika* kirika:....... -w- Yumi: *smiles, kisses Kirika's forehead lightly* lord death: ....*picks her up and takes her to her room, tucking her in* pleasant dreams. Yumi: *smiles at Death* shiori: zzzzzz..... Yumi: *checks on Shiori, adjusting her blanket* "Sleep well, too, cutie." -morning- Kid: "Mmmm..." stocking: *nuzzles* Kid: "Morning, beautiful~" stocking: morning~<3 Kid: "Sleep okay?" *kisses her cheek* stocking: yeah...had some nice dreams. Kid: *nods* "I can't remember mine..." *takes her hand, kisses it lightly* "Was I in your nice dreams?" stocking: yeah.... Kid: "Glad to hear." *small smooch on her lips* "Anything in your dreams that you wanted to do today?" -at school- Iida: *stiffer than usual* mina: you alright, tenny? Iida: *squeaky voice* "Ye--" *clears his throat* "Y-Yes...Just get nervous..." mina: ok. *shrug* Iida: ("Please don't let this birthday be embarrassing for me...") *shouts* "I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS DAY OF CLASSES!" Izuku and Ochako: ._. -silence- Iida: "..." *runs out of the room and down the hall* momo:........... kyouka: well _that_ was weird. Bakugo: "Tch. Switch him to decaf already." Ochako: "...So, my cousin will be in classes soon!" momo: thats wonderful to hear. *she smiles* mina: she's going to start this september, right? Ochako: "Yep! It's going to be so cool to have family here!" denki: ^^..........todoroki? you alright? Shouto: "...No." denki:...wanna talk about it? Shouto: "...He has been trying to call me again. My father." denki: oh...um..... >->;;;; Shouto: "Yes...I will be changing my phone number. Again." denki:.... say, did you hear about the new movie showing later this week? Shouto: "No. Which film?" -at lunch- Kid: *presents a cupcake to Stocking* stocking: mmmmmm~<3 Kid: "I had asked the cafeteria to special order these before we left New Orleans..." stocking: awwww. *kiss* Kid: *kisses back gently, pulls back, licks his lips slightly* "I can taste the frosting." stocking: hehe~ Kid: *holds her hand* -elsewhere at lunch- Arthur: "Still sore, Shinra?" shinra: just a bit... Arthur: "At least you got in a lot of running--and your flame feet got you a long distance." shinra: yeah...i could use a bath when i get back... Arthur: "Yeah...Just wish the showers were in better repair. When the cold water kicks in--ugh." shinra:....maybe we should get part time jobs too? Arthur: *smiles widely* "HISTORICAL REENACTMENTS! AT THE RENAISSANCE FAIR!" shinra: ….loud q-q; Arthur: "And what of you, squire? Where will you seek employment?" shinra:....*shrugs* Arthur: "We'll pick up a list of jobs from the DWMA help center--I'm sure there will be something there for you." shinra: ok... Arthur: "Just think: we get money, hot water, better showers..." shinra: yeah, and then i wont have to use the girl's showers anymore! Jacqueline: *at a nearby table, hearing that shouting* "???" Arthur: "No more awkward events of people walking in on us showering!" shinra: shhhhh!!! tamaki: or vice versa..... ^^~ *she has a smile, but a dark aura around her* Arthur: o\\\\\o *inches back a bit from Tamaki* shinra: *hiding behind arthur* Arthur: "In all fairness, by this point, we've all seen each other naked so often that we can probably memorize every last inch of each other--" Jacqueline: *chokes on her drink* -SMACKED- tamaki: >//////< shinra: *wince* fang-hua: even _i_ felt that... Arthur: *knocked to the floor* Q____Q ("It's still true...") nozomi: 0-0;;;; Tsukiyo: *whispers to Fang-Hua* "Just what on earth goes _on_ at that Brigade?" fang-hua: i have no idea... Tsukiyo: *small smirk* "Then I'll just have to imagine~" fang-hua: -_-; Tsukiyo: *sneaks up to Tamaki, taps her shoulder* "So, which of those boys are you dating?" tamaki: NYAH!! -PUNCH- haaaa...... nozomi: o-o;;;;; shinra:............*exits* Tsukiyo: *sent flying towards Fang-Hua* Arthur: *still on the floor* "So much pain.." fang-hua: o-o; you ok? -later- Stein: "...Can I have one lunch break without numerous students coming in injured just from a meal gone badly?" nurse: its the DWMA, what do you expect? Stein: "Point taken." *looks at the patients* "Arthur, we'll give you another cold compress. Tsukiyo, your nose isn't broken, and--Kim?! How did you get injured?" kim: im a nurses aid today. Stein: "...Oh. Sorry. So many people coming in here, lost track. Kim, Madoka, tend to Arthur and Tsukiyo." madoka: yes sir. kim: on it. Arthur: "I just want day without getting injured..." Tsukiyo: "Hello, cuties~" *winks at Kim and Madoka* madoka: um... kim: yo. Arthur: "My head hurts." Tsukiyo: "Make me feel all better with your healing touch~" madoka: here.... *she gets him a compress* kim: O-O;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Tsukiyo: *winks at Kim* "I'm not sure I've seen you around here. You a weapon?" kim: meister actually. Tsukiyo: "Oh, darn. I've never had a chance to wield a weapon before..." kim: maybe one day? *shrug* Tsukiyo: "I'll just have to ask around...There any cute weapons around here without meisters?" kim: hmmm.... -later- Black Star: "What answer did you get for #4, Soul?" soul: ....... Black Star: "Yo, Earth to Soul--you there, buddy?" soul: hmm? Yeah… Black Star: "I was asking about a worksheet question. Something bothering you?" soul: im doing fine. just thinking. Black Star: "...Something you want to talk about?" soul: nah. Black Star: *shrug* "Well, back to my question: what did you get for Number--" *SHOVE* Tsukiyo: "Hey, there!" soul: ?! what the heck? Tsukiyo: "I'm Tsukiyo Usada, with the Lucky Number 7 Brigade! And you're Soul Eater, right?" *Tsukiyo's foot is holding Black Star face down on the floor* soul: um....yeah? Tsukiyo: "Neat! And you're a weapon, huh? I've never wielded a weapon before! Mind if I try?" soul:....sorry, not interested. try asking someone else. Tsukiyo: "Oh, come on! It'll be fun! Don't you want some cute girl with her hands all over you, swinging you around the room?~" soul:......*writing something down* here, directions to the training room. go bother someone there. Tsukiyo: *pigtails droop* "Aw, that's mean." *playful smirk* "But I'm not about to give up." *waves* "Later, cutie~" soul:..... *siiiiiiiiigh* fuckin hell.... Black Star: *sits back up, his face flat* "What is it with crazy girls wanting to be your partner?" *rubs the back of his head* "Especially with painful heels..." soul: ........maka wasnt crazy..... Black Star: "...Well, yeah, obviously she wasn't. I meant all the weirdos after Maka." soul:........we should get to class now. Black Star: *nods* -in class- Spirit: "We'll be discussing combat options involving teams of two. I need a volunteer to--" ???: "I volunteer!" Black Star: "...?! Oh, shit...Soul, crazy stalker girl is back..." soul:.............fuuuuck. Spirit: "Um...Tsukiyo, you're not a meister--" Tsukiyo: "Temporary registration change! I'm a scythe meister now!" Spirit: "..." *glances at Soul* soul: i volunteer mizuki amano as my proxy. mizuki: WHAT?! D : < Tsukiyo: "..." *shrug* "A cute weapon is a cute weapon~ Come on, Mizuki!" Spirit: "Whatever. Kim, Jackie, come on down as well." kim: right. mizuki: ...... *glares at soul* you owe me for this sharky. bailey: go get 'em mizuki! Spirit: "Weapons, transform!" Jacqueline: *transforms into Kim's hands* mizuki: *changes into her scythe form* Tsukiyo: *SQUEE :3* *Mizuki is too heavy for Tsukiyo, who promptly collapses on the floor* Tsukiyo: *scythe staff over her throat* "GAK!" Spirit: -_- mizuki: -_-;;; Black Star: "FORCE YOUR SOUL WAVELENGTH INTO HER, STALKER RABBIT GIRL! That'll mean you can lift the scythe then!" bailey: tsukiyo do you want to switch places? Tsukiyo: *can't breathe, slapping her hand on the floor as if a wrestler asking to be tagged out of this fight* Jacqueline: -_-; "This is just sad." bailey: *she takes a hold of mizuki and spins her around* alright! mizuki: thanks bailey -_-; bailey: no probs! Tsukiyo: *gasps, flips over and rolls away* "Jeez! Scythes are heavy!" -after class- Jacqueline: *puts a bandage on Kim's arm* student: i thought bailey was a weapon too...? Student #2: *shrug* "Can be two things." student 3: weirder things have happened. Student #2: "Like flame beings, people with Quirks--" *holds up mineta* "Whatever the hell this thing is." student: ew put that away you dont know where thats been! -elsewhere- Kid: *tapping his finger* "I think you forgot to carry the 2." stocking: ah! right.... Kid: *smiles* stocking: *sigh* just when i think ive got it. Kid: "Hey, we all make mistakes--even people as perfect as you." stocking:....*blushes* Kid: "I'll check the answer...Yes! You got it!" stocking: yay! Kid: *small kiss on her cheek* -later after school- Kid: *removing and adding items to the locker* "I'll need this, this...Leave this..." stocking: *fixing up her own locker* ok, i'm ready now. Kid: "Likewise." *shuts his locker closed--and a note flies out* "???" stocking: ?? *The note is sealed with a kiss* Kid: "???" *opens it* "...*sigh* Another request to be my partner..." stocking: ......... *griiiiiins* Kid: "??? What?" stocking: nothing. *looks and frowns* oh. stocking: did you check your algebra book? Kid: "Check it?" *opens his locker again, removes algebra book, and finds--* "!!! What on..." *opens the note...smiles* "Ahh..." stocking: *grins* wellll~? Kid: *smiles...puts the book back in his locker, holds the note to his chest, leans forward, and kisses her* stocking: hehe~ [the note reads; sweets are delicious, but you're the sweetest one of all <3 stocking] Kid: *smiles* "I am happy to be the sweetest for you..." *holds her hand* "You make me sweeter." stocking: ^^ -later- Kid: *holds a strawberry to her lips* stocking: mmmm~<3 Kid: *lets her bite into it, before leaning down to kiss, licking the strawberry juice from her lips* -elsewhere- Yohei: "Ready to head out?" mana: yeah. Shotaro: *nods* saki: we'll keep everything in check here at the house. Shotaro: "..." *hugs Saki* Kepuri: "Don't die out there." *small punch to Mana's shoulder* mana: we wont. Tuhl: "Well, better get going--don't want to miss our ride." *awkward shuffle in front of Saki...hands Io to her* saki:.....*she hugs him* Tuhl: "!!! ..." *small pat on the back* "We'll be back." io: buu! *sad face* Tuhl: "Hey, don't look like that...We're coming back." *strokes hand over Io's head* setsuna:.... Tuhl: *hands Mana her bag and follows them* mana: maybe if we get a chance, we could go to kaoli's for lunch? Tuhl: *small smile* "Sounds good." -elsewhere- Arthur: "I finished my job applications. How about you?" shinra:...... qwq curse you tamaki.... Arthur: "??? What happened?" shinra: *he shows his application..........to a crossdresser cafe* Arthur: "..." *trying to hold back...* "BWA HA HA HA!" shinra: Q-Q (thinking: tamaki's terrible luck... yet _i_ always seem to lose the punishment game....) Arthur: "I didn't know you liked that kind of thing! At least you'll make a buck at it!" shinra: Q_________Q Arthur: "BWA HA HA HA! This just gets better and better! You got such a good job waiting for you, buddy! I so envy you!" Akitaru: *shiny eyes* "Well then..." Arthur: "???" Akitaru: "YOU TOO SHALL APPLY FOR THE CROSS-DRESSING CAFE!" Arthur: "...What?" shinra: TTwTT (thinking: at least i wont suffer alone...) Arthur: "!!! I was using sarcasm, sir!" Akitaru: "I was born without sarcasm." Arthur: "But sir--" Akitaru: *DEATH GLARE* Arthur: "..." *glares at Shinra* -elsewhere- Hibana: *on the phone* "Yes, that would be good. Thank you!" -a few days pass buy- Izuku: "..." tsuyu:... Izuku: "Are you okay, Tsuyu? After all that happened..." tsuyu: i was going to ask you the same thing. Izuku: *nods* "My legs still ache, and my arm will need another day to finish healing..." hagakure: i think we're getting a substitute teacher until aizawa recovers... Nedzu: "Hello! I am here!" hanta: um....is that mr nedzu? he's- mina + hagakure: SO CUUUUTE! Nedzu: "Yes, I am very cute! I make sure to keep a shine to my fur! But the first question for you students: which species am I?" -silence- tsuyu: a mouse? Izuku: "A ferret?" Iida: *hand raised high* "A weasel!" kyouka:.....a something. hagakure: sure lets go with that. hanta: totally something. Nedzu: "No, no, no, yes, yes, and yes! Next question: who is your new teacher?" -more silence- -a woman is in the hallway- Nedzu: "Come in! Your students are waiting to see you!" namiko:....*scoot scoot scoot* um....h-hello..... eijiro:...who is she? denki: beats me. Nedzu: "Say hello to your temporary instructor, Teary Blue!" Izuku: "!!! Oh my God, it's Teary Blue!" namiko:....um..... Q-Q *cowers* kyouka:...is she ok? Nedzu: "Just shy! Treat her as well as you would Professor Aizawa!" Ochako: "...Flee in terror at the next way he will torture us?" -silence- namiko: *hiding in the corner* i'll just be over here....not bothering anyone... Iida: "Um...Should we do group study, ma'am?" namiko: dont mind me at all. im probably just wasting everyone’s time... *tearing up and whimpering* kyouka:....well isnt _she_ a ball of sunshine? Shouto: "...Wow, she's emo." Bakugo: "Seriously, dude? Like you're one to talk." denki: hey teach its ok... *pats*...................*tears up* AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OWOWOWOWWOWOWOWOWOWOWWW!!! MY EYES!!! Izuku: "!!! Um..." *muttering* "So for her condition, we'll need eyedrops, so someone who is fast should run to the infirmary--" *shouts* "Iida! Please run to--" Iida: TT_TT "MY EYES." Izuku: "..." *sniff* "Nevermind. I'll go..." -only three people were effected- -lunch- denki: my eyes still hurt..... Izuku: *hands him another bottle of drops* denki: thanks. Izuku: "Teary Blue is...interesting." -elsewhere- Ponera: "Yikes." shaula: not as big of a trainwreck as last time.... Ponera: "Does it even listen to commands?" shaula: i think so? it did the first time i checked. Ponera: "..." *speaks into the microphone* "You there!" creature: ?? *looks back* Ponera: "Stand up straight." -it does so and screams...but all that comes out is static noise- Ponera: *covers ears* "What the heck?!" shaula:....freaky. Ponera: "...Why is it making that noise? It can't speak? Is there anything useful about that noise?" -elsewhere- Kid: "All those injuries...Who were those villains?" liz: not sure.... Patty: "It's a good thing people got there in time...wish we had." liz:...hmm? Patty: "Maybe we could've helped." liz:....... Patty: *hugs Liz* liz:...*hug* Kid: "Right now, our classmates and teachers will need our support. And we can be working to find where these villains are hiding." liz: yeah. stocking: *she nods* Kid: "We'll be commencing with additional searches tomorrow. For now, let's focus on today." liz: right. Kid: *opens his book* "Shall we begin our assignment?" -and so- Kid: "Hmm...Harder than expected." -elsewhere- Yumi: "How is Aizawa?" nurse: he's recovering. but he needs to rest right now. Yumi: *nods* "All Might?" nurse: he's doing well. Yumi: *nods* "Please keep us updated." *turns--spots someone* "Sachiko!" sachiko: *she looks up and waves* Yumi: "How's work?" sachiko: busy as always. Yumi: "I can imagine. How is Izumi?" sachiko: she's doing well. she's getting ready for the new school year. Yumi: *smiles* "Same with Kid and Kirika...Won't be long before they're done with classes." sachiko: they graduate next year, right? Yumi: *nods* -elsewhere- Dabi: "What's that look for?" yuuji: ...... sachi: zzzzz...... *asleep at the bar* yuuji: you didnt even help us out back there, ass. sachi and i risked our asses out there and you didnt even show! Dabi: "I was busy. I think the real question is, why couldn't you handle yourselves better." yuuji: *tightens fist* sachi:..... yuuji:.....if you excuse me, i need to get sachi to a better place to sleep. Dabi: "Looks like what she really needs is a better boyfriend." yuuji: *GLARES* Dabi: "Maybe someone who can actually pleasure her." sachi: *eyes snap open as she gives him a death glare* Dabi: *winks* sachi: ^^ *flips him off* Dabi: "Hmph. You don't know what you're missing--both of you." yuuji:.................. sachi:................. Dabi: "...Well? You gonna stand there looking stupid, or go back to your room and look stupid?" -elsewhere- Kishiri: *snooping in the hallway...heading to a certain room...* worker: *checking on the angel clones* Kishiri: *trying to sneak past the worker's clone lab* -elsewhere, in another lab- luka: *taking notes* luka: look at how much you've grown in such a short time.... Assistant: "Here are the additional instruments you requested." luka: thank you. Assistant: *studying the clone* "Growth seems to be coming along. Should not be too long before it may be removed from the chamber and put it on respiratory and nutritional systems." luka: good... and the learning bed? Assistant: "We ran a diagnostic with a...volunteer. After we make the adjustments, it will be ready." luka: excellent. Assistant: *smiles, studying the specimen's number* "He will need a name...What was that of the original Death Scythe?" luka: *she looks at the sample.* Justin Law. the holy executioner. Assistant: "Hmm..." luka:....*smirks* blood drives are wonderful things, arent they? Assistant: "Yes...Such a good young man..." luka: and that good hearted intent will be his downfall... Assistant: *small laugh* "Good is dumb, after all." luka: good? evil? it doesnt matter, i only do what i do for the sake of knowledge. Assistant: "And I admire that from you, ma'am." *lays a hand along the clone storage vessel* "Just upsets me how so-called do-gooders don't want to take knowledge to the logical conclusion." -elsewhere- Wes: "Right this way, Liz." liz: *she smiles and follows* Wes: *he has set out a meal of rich food, lit by candles* liz: wow. this looks great! Wes: "I don't know how good it'll be...I've been practicing but it still kind of isn't as good as other meals..." liz: its the thought that counts. Wes: *pulls chair out for Liz* liz: *sits down* Wes: *sits across from her, smiles* -elsewhere- Kid: "Father, could I ask a silly question?" lord death: hmm? what is it kiddo? Kid: "When you claimed you were 'making birdhouses' as a cover for visiting Eibon..._have you_ ever made birdhouses?" lord death:..... >w>;;;;;; Kid: "...If not..." *brings up a birdhouse kit* lord death:..................*cracks knuckles* lets do this sh*t Kid: "Fuck yeah!" -and so- Kid: *holding balance* "I think it's about right..." lord death: looks good. now to let it dry... Kid: *nods, stands proudly, looks at Lord Death, smiles* lord death: *smiles and pats his back* Kid: "Thanks." *small hug* lord death: *hug* Kid: "I love you, Father." lord death: i love you too, son. Kid: "...May I ask you something else?" lord death: hmm? what is it? Kid: *squirms a bit* "How...How does someone become a good parent?" lord death: what brought this up? Kid: "...Just thinking about the future, and what I can do now, long before I have a child--if Stocking and I were to have children." lord death: ah. well, i suppose taking care of them, letting them know they are loved, and just supporting them through their life. Eventually they will mature enough to find their own path in life. no matter what happens, always be happy for them... Kid: "..." *looks down* "Are you...happy for me?" lord death: of course i am, why wouldnt i be? Kid: "...I'm not perfect." lord death: no one really is kiddo. Kid: "...I think you are." lord death: ..........*small smile* thank you kiddo... Kid: "..." *sniff, wipes eyes* kirika:...............*looks down* Kid: *spots her* "K-Kirika?" kirika: !! *looks away* 7///7; lord death: kirika, you come join us in the hug too. Kid: "..." *pulls back from Lord Death, approaches...Hug* kirika: o-o;.............*awkward hug* Kid: *awkward hug* -elsewhere- Shotaro: *looking out the window* mana: i think we're here now. Shotaro: *nods* "I'll be glad to get out of this flight attendant uniform..." -upon landing- intercom; now landing in tokyo airport. mana: all we need to do now is drive down to the coast, hop a boat to japonshima and we're good to go. Tuhl: "Been a while..." setsuna:....showtaro... Shotaro: "Hmm?" setsuna:..we'll find him. *she smiles and puts a soft hand on his shoulder* Shotaro: *sad smile, nods* "Right." -elsewhere- nea: we're baaaack~ Shinoda: T_T *panting huffing* nea: shinoda, i thought you could handle this much heavy lifting? Shinoda: "You are not a normal shopper..." nea: UpU Emine: "..." grunt: lord emine? Emine: "What?" grunt: are you ok? Emine: "I'm fine. Stop asking." grunt: sheesh.... *squeltch* -the grunt falls to the ground- Emine: "Clean this up." grunt 2:....ok. Shinoda: "Hmph. We cannot keep all of these grunts around if you keep killing them." Emine: "It's not like we pay them that much..." nea: do we even pay them at all? Grunt #3: o____O ("I've been stealing the change from the 'take a penny' tray...") -elsewhere- lin: *worried* Akua: "You keep pacing like that you're going to put a hole in the floor." lin: what if emine needs me right now? is he ok? Akua: *tosses phone to her* "Call him. Maybe it'll stop your fretting." lin: *dialing him up* Emine: "...Lin?" lin: how are you holding up? Emine: "...I hate the help here. They are stupid." lin: i really wish i could be there with you....i really miss you. Emine: "...You're the one I tolerate here." lin: *she smiles* Emine: "...Get back soon. I don't know how long I can tolerate these idiots." lin: i'll try. Emine: "Good. Do so." lin: and the mission? Emine: "Hurry and find what we need as soon as you can...I'll try to wait..." lin: ok. -elsewhere- Wes: "Was it okay?" liz: it was great. *she smiles* Wes: *smiles* "Thanks. I wanted to make something good...I want to do whatever I can for you." Wes: *holds Liz's hand* liz: *she kisses his cheek* Wes: *blushes* "I love you." liz: i love you too, cutie. Wes: *small squeeze of her hand* "You're cuter." -elsewhere- Iris: o____o shinra: *blushing* tamaki: ...... maki: (thinking: his moe level just dangerously spiked up!) Arthur: *struggling to pull down his skirt* "Too short..." nozomi: you look nice. Arthur: -\\\\- "This is not attire befitting a knight like me..." Iris: "...I think you look nice in that, Shinra." shinra: um...thanks. Iris: "At least the wages should be good, yes?" shinra: i guess. Arthur: "Let's just work long enough to earn the money for fixing up the bathroom, then we can quit." shinra: ....... Iris: "Do your best, you two. We're happy that you are trying to earn us more money!" nozomi: we'll work hard too! Arthur: "O-Okay..." -elsewhere- Kid: *lying in bed, reading* stocking: *already asleep* Kid: *writes a note about the book, puts in a bookmark, closes and sets aside the book, turns off the light, lies down and holds Stocking gently so not to wake her* stocking:...*small smile* Kid: *yawns, smiles* ("I love you...") -morning- Kid: *turns in bed* stocking: zzzzz..... Kid: *as he turns, his hands instinctively wrap lightly along her* stocking: mmmm.... Kid: *holds her closely, yawns...kisses her shoulder* stocking: *she opens her eyes and smiles* Kid: *smiles* "You know what is good in the morning?" stocking: what~? Kid: *gentle stroke of her cheek* "Waking up next to someone you love...so much." stocking: *she smiles and kisses him softly* Kid: *kisses back softly, hugs her* -at school- Stein: *his eyes are red* soul: O-O;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Stein: "Our new teacher here is...interesting." nygus: fortunately, she's kept the damage to a minimum. Stein: "I don't consider my eyes 'minimum'..." *hands Soul a slip of paper* "You have a new assignment." soul: hmm? *he examines the paper* Stein: "You'll be mentoring first-year weapons and meisters who have not yet been assigned partners." soul: ...alright then. Stein: "You'll have to plan out days for them, activities, who to introduce them to...who to avoid." soul: right. ???: "Maybe Soul could use some help, Dr. Stein?" Stein: "???" soul: ?? Tsukiyo: *waves* soul:..........*siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighs* Stein: "...Don't kill each other. I don't need any more sample cadavers." soul: TMI DOC! Tsukiyo: "Oh, I won't kill Sugar Shark!" soul: i make no promises. Tsukiyo: "Watch that teasing, cutie--" *produces a small flame along her finger* "You can look, but don't get burnt~" soul: .......................................................................................................... -_- *Stein's note lists names of meisters and weapons entering the school* soul: *looking over* Tsukiyo: "I think those students need to see all the school offers. How about an orientation party?" soul: that doesnt sound like a bad idea. Tsukiyo: "I heard about this cute cabaret where we could hold it! This cat girl told me--" soul: OH GOD NO! Tsukiyo: "Huh?~" soul: i need to take care of something. excuse me. Tsukiyo: "Looking forward to working with you, Soul!" *waves* -at lunch- Izuku: *looking through a recent history book* kyouka: *writing* -in class- cementoss: good afternoon everyone. Izuku: "Kyouka, what do you know about this guy--" *picture of Charisma Justice* kyouka: .....he's a cartoon character? Izuku: "I thought so...Just wasn't so sure." *looks at Cementoss to listen* mina: where did miss teary go? cementoss: miss oribe asked for a pardon from the class, due to feeling her quirk may be disruptive. so i have been chosen as her proxy. Bakugo: "At least we'll stop crying--except all y'all at how you are all such losers compared to me." -cement pillar'd to the ceiling in slo-mo as 'brave song' plays in the background- Izuku: D: Bakugo: *ACK!* rikido: wow that had to hurt. Ochako: "Wow...Katsuki usually doesn't get that high except...well, nevermind." kyouka: yikes. Mineta: Q_Q ("So glad it wasn't me...") -elsewhere- Ponera: "Such a weird creation...but powerful." shaula: lets see how this one reacts... Ponera: "Proceed." -in another room- neian: zzzz.... Medusa: *small smile* ("At least she is largely healthy...") neian: *yawn* mama... Medusa: o____o "H-Hi..." neian: ^^ Medusa: "..." *picks her up, kisses her forehead* neian: hehe! Medusa: "You are...such a happy child." neian: ^.^ \chrona: mother...\ Medusa: "...Am I going to fail you, too?" neian:....? Medusa: "Will I give you up...to make you just another experiment?" neian:.....zzzzzz Medusa: "..." *sniffs, cries* -elsewhere- Hibana: *opens the door for Gabriella into the restaurant* "After you." gabriella: thank you. *Their waiter greets them...* Rin: "Hey, I'm Rin! You have a reservation--" *covers his mouth* "Holy crap, you're Hibana." Hibana: *smirks* "I see my reputation precedes me. Yes, we have a reservation." *holds Gabriella's hand lightly* gabriella: h-hello. Rin: "Cool! Well, I'll bring you to your table...Right this way!" Hibana: *small whisper to Gabriella as they follow* "It'll have a great view of the city." -elsewhere- Knight: "I fear the 8th is getting too close." sister: ...........*she ponders and opens her eyes* lord sho... Sho: "What is it?" dahlia: it will soon be time... Sho: "...All preparations have been made?" dahlia: soon. in due time. Sho: "This will be the point when our light shines--and extinguishes all others." -elsewhere- Akitaru: *staring at the night sky* miwa: nice night out. Akitaru: *nods* "Quiet out." miwa:....and a lot colder. Akitaru: *small laugh* "Yeah...Need a jacket?" miwa: i'm good. *she smiles* reminds me of when i was younger, my family and i would roast sweet potatoes over a campfire. Akitaru: "We actually did a camping trip a while ago. Good times." miwa: sounds like fun. did you make popcorn too? i always burnt mine a little, but something about it just made it taste better, you know? Akitaru: "Heh...Yeah, that happened...Still happens. Now I'm hungry." miwa: hinawa still awake? Akitaru: "Probably?" -morning- Arthur: *yawns, dragging his feet to the bathroom* shinra:........*he's only in a towel* Arthur: "Hey." *waves to Shinra* "Heading in or coming out?" shinra: i just got out of the shower -_-; Arthur: "Hope you didn't use up all the hot water--" shinra: i didnt! Arthur: *pulling off his own shirt* "You better not. Cold showers suck." *makes his way into the bathroom* shinra: ...... -at school- Ochako: "I'm starting to get worried for my cousin...What if something like this happens again, another attack?" eijiro: .....im sure she'll be ok. she has a levitation quirk, right? Ochako: *nods* "She's just...I mean, she's not used to this like we are. I mean, we're still newbies, too, but we're the kind of newbies who have still seen some serious shit!" Izuku: ._. "That's...a blunt way of putting it." eijiro: yeah.... Bakugo: "Uraraka, stop over-thinking this: wait for your cousin to get here and then you can worry." Ochako: "??? Um...You still have a slab of cement up your nose." Bakugo: "I KNOW!" hagakure: do you need to go to the nurse? Bakugo: *grumbles* "Tch. No, _Mom_, I don't need to go to the nurse." -in another class- misono:....... Patty: *slowly rises behind him...her fingers are nearing his spike of hair ever so slowly...* misono: dont. Patty: o_O "How did you know I was--?" misono: i can smell your awful breath from here. Patty: *frowns* "Your hair is awful." misono: it's just fine. now leave me alone, you're bothering me. Patty: "No! I was here first. You leave me alone!" *tries to shove him* teacher: settle down you two! Patty: *frowns, glares at Misono* "This isn't over..." *slowly slides down out of view* misono:...hmph.... Patty: *slides back up next to Liz* "What's that guy's deal?" liz: i dunno. Patty: *crosses her arms, pouts* "Stupid guy, not letting me touch his hair. You know how many people let me touch their hair without having to ask?!" liz:........... Patty: *opens book, starts reading* -after school- Kid: "Any plans for this afternoon?" stocking: how about we check out the mall? Kid: *nods* "I would like that. Liz?" liz: yeah, lets do that! Patty: "Yay!" -and so- Kid: *looking at teapots* stocking: *trying some of the drinks* mmm... Kid: "Maybe this one would be good for Father...How is the flavor?" stocking: it tastes nice. Kid: *takes a sip from another cup* "Mmm~ I think this would be good." stocking: ^^ Kid: "Let's buy this for Mother and Father...Which one would your parents like?" stocking: i think i might go with this one. Kid: *nods* "I hope Liz and Patty are having good luck with their shopping--" -click- Kid: "???" girl: oh, dont mind me. i was taking pictures of the tea sets for my photography blog. Kid: "Oh, okay. Let me get out of the way--" -click click- stocking:....? girl: thank you. *she smiles and leaves*............ Kid: *watches Stocking* stocking: *shrugs* -outside, the girl gets a phonecall- girl: yes? ???: "Found them?" girl: no, but i did find something interesting...the girl isnt quite human. ???: "What do you think she is?" girl: let me ask you something. do you believe in angels? ???: "...I don't believe anything that I don't see with my own eyes." girl: ....i'm heading back now. ???: "Okay. Keep an eye open." girl: right. ???: "Over and out." -elsewhere- Joker: (smoking) "Bloody hell." ivy: whats our next move? Joker: "..." (Slams his piece forward) scarlet: hmmmm.... *moves her rook forwards 3 spaces* Joker: (moves bishop to take rook) scarlet: hmmm.....*smirks and moves the knight to take the bishop* Joker: "Shit..." (Moves a pawn toward the bishop) scarlet: *grins and moves her own bishop in position* you've left your king right open. Check. Joker: (grumbles, moves his pawn to take her bishop) scarlet: hmmmm.... *observing the board* Joker: (puffing in annoyance) "You know we got to make a move soon..." scarlet: hmmm... i heard haijima hired some new interns... Joker: "..." (sneers) "Would anyone miss them?" scarlet: doubt it. Joker: "Then let's go over and say hi." -elsewhere- Hibana: (lying in bed, groaning) gabriella: i brought you some ginger ale if it helps at all. Hibana: "Thanks..." (Whines) gabriella: ...*pats her back* Hibana: (weak smile to her) -elsewhere- mana: *looking out the bus window* Tuhl: *texting* Shotaro: (frowning) [chie: any progress?] Tuhl: [should be at last known location soon] [chie: you guys be safe ok?] Tuhl: [we will. Take care of saki and io. Maybe yohei] [chie: can and will do.] Shotaro: "Mom? You okay?" setsuna: *she nods* ......we'll be there soon.... Shotaro: *hug* setsuna:....you're afraid. arent you? Shotaro: *nods* setsuna:...im afraid too. but even though its scary, i have to find the courage inside me to keep going. Shotaro: *bites lip, nods* intercom; now arriving at grave hill pass. now arriving at grave hill pass. Shotaro: *gulps, holds Setsuna's hand* setsuna: *she smiles warmly* Shotaro: "...I'm ready." mana: we're right behind you guys. Tuhl: *nods* -the bus has made its stop- Shotaro: "Onward to our destination..." -elsewhere- Kid: "I hope you enjoy the tea, Mother, Father." lord death: it's quite delicious~! ^^ Yumi: "Quite." stocking: ^^ Kid: "We're glad." (Holds Stocking's hand) stocking: *she smiles* Yumi: "Oh, Kid, Stocking: could you babysit Shiori this weekend?" stocking: of course, we wouldnt mind at all. Kid: "Agreed." Yumi: (smiles) "Thank you." shiori: ^o^ Kid: (laughs, kicks up Shiori) "Ready for fun time with us, Sister?" shiori: kid! kid! stocking: hehe! Kid: "Shiori! Shiori!" shiori: hehe! ^o^ lord death: he's a real natural... Yumi: "Indeed." Kid: o\\\o lord death: its true though. Kid: "...You don't know how much it means to hear that, from you both." -elsewhere- Arthur: "I hate this skirt...The color is just awful." shinra: *blushing* i feel like everyone is staring at me. Arthur: "Oh, that's not true. After all, I'm sure I get way better tips than you." shinra: -.- some of the customers have been hitting on me. Arthur: "...Still more flirting than people usually do with you." shinra: s-shut up! >/////< Arthur: "Just roll with it. Maybe you'll get a boyfriend out of it." shinra: T-T *A teenage boy enters the cafe and spots Arthur and Shinra* shinra: *smiling* hi, may we- Izuku: "Shinra?!" Kishiri: "..." shinra: O.O *screaming on the inside* Kishiri: *looks Shinra up and down* "Nice skirt." Izuku: "You work here, too?!" Arthur: ("Was he asking me? Then why is he still staring at Shinra?") shinra: O///O; erm..... its a long story. really long. you wouldnt believe me even if i told you. Izuku: "I-I've heard crazier stories about working here. Not personally, though. Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha..." Kishiri: "Well, you gonna seat us, cuties?" Arthur: -_- shinra:....right this way. Kishiri: *follows* Izuku: *looking around...* ("Please don't let anyone here recognize me...") shinra: here you go. and here _you_ go. Kishiri: "???" shinra: *smiles awkwardly* (thinking: i feel like someone is watching me...) Izuku: *looks around...spots someone looking at them* ???: "Eep!" *buries his face back into his menu* shinra: ......?? do you need anything sir? ???: "N-No?" *his glass of water is empty* shinra: can i get you more water? ???: "S-Sure? That would help. Thank you." -later- ???: (places money and tip with receipt) "Th-Thank you." shinra: have a nice day sir. ???: "Y-You too..." *small smiles and blush* -after work lets off- Arthur: *changing in the locker room* "Glad this day is over..." shinra: *still surprised by the large tip* Arthur: "Jeez, why did that guy give you such a big tip?" shinra: not sure. Arthur: *light bulb* "Oh my God...He likes you." shinra: w-what?! Arthur: "Why else would he give you that tip? I give much better service, so it can only be that he's attracted." shinra: how should i know? Arthur: "See how he acts the next time he arrives--since I bet he's coming again." shinra: well, we should head home now. Arthur: "Yeah." *shuts his locker* "Look forward to getting some sleep." -on the path home, shinra still felt uneasy....like someone was following them- *It sounds like someone knocks into a garbage can--then curses himself* ???: "Damn it!" shinra: ?!?! ???: "Eep!" *tries to disappear--and runs into and falls into the garbage can* shinra: *walking faster* ???: "W-Wait! I'm sorry for stalking--er, following you..." Arthur: "...I'll just stab him now..." shinra: arthur! D:< ???: "Don't kill me, please! I just--I mean, I--I just wanted to see where Shinra lives! I mean, in which brigade he--BOTH OF YOU-- are in!" shinra: wait, how do you know my name? *uneasy* ???: "Um...It was on your nametag?" shinra:.....*looks at arthur*........ excuse us a moment.... *whispers* what do we do? he seems decent enough, but im still kind of on edge... Arthur: "Well, since stabbing is out of the question--" *looks at him* "Right?" shinra: T_T Arthur: "Just lie about which brigade we're in." shinra: *whispering* you do it! Arthur: "We are most certainly not in the 8th Brigade! We are in the 12th Brigade!" ???: "...There is no 12th Brigade." shinra: *glares at arthur* Arthur: "That's what people _want_ you to think! That's how important we are! We have to pretend we're nobodies to the world!" ???: "Um..." -BONK!- Arthur: "I-I meant the 3rd! We're in the 3rd!" shinra: yeah! now if you excuse is, commander giovanni is waiting for us. Arthur: o_O "BUT HE SCARES ME, SHINRA!" shinra: come on! *drags him along* ???: "Oh...Um...See you around! I hope..." -later- shinra:.... i feel kind of bad for him. Arthur: "Why? He had creep written all over him." shinra: yeah, i didnt really know him, and him following us was really creepy...but he didnt seem _too_ bad, unlike some other people. Arthur: "People who are so clingy are the worst." *pauses* "I'm going to go see what Tamaki is up to." shinra:........................................*facepalm* -arthur would recieve a shoe to the face. why this is is open to interpretation- Arthur: *voice muffled from foot to the face* tamaki: -_-;;; Arthur: *voice still muffled* "I said I was sorry..." shinra: yikes. -elsewhere- mana:..... Shotaro: *looking around* "Kind of feels...dreary around here." mana: no kidding..... Tuhl: *looks at an overturn garbage can* "Yeah. All letting off a low morose noise...Setsuna, you notice anything?" setsuna: *she is looking at the picture* we arent far now... Tuhl: *nods* "If the trash here is this depressed, it's going to get worse moving forward." *holds a hand to his head* setsuna: ....... Shotaro: *sees a baby bird fallen out of its nest, unable to fly up to it* "..." *scoops up the bird, leaps into the tree, returns it to its nest* setsuna:...*she smiles* Shotaro: *climbs back down* "Its parent should be back soon..." *smiles at Setsuna* setsuna: ..... -a slight fog covers the ground- Shotaro: "???" mana: *she looks ahead* -a large chapel building looms in the distance- Shotaro: *inhales* "Okay..." Tuhl: "Really beat up looking." setsuna: you can feel that... cant you? mana: hmm? setsuna: deep in the darkness, theres a feeling of loneliness... Tuhl: "Yeah..." Shotaro: "Emine?" setsuna:....yes. Shotaro: "...I never thought this would happen again..." mana: perhaps....things will go differently this time. Shotaro: *nods* "Yeah...It will." -inside- Tuhl: *holds his scythe, whispers to others* "Walls are crying..." Shotaro: (Bone of the Tiger) *sniffs the air* mana:....!!!! *she spots a grunt* grunt: e...mine.....he.....he's gone on a rampage......*dies* Shotaro: "..." *sniffs...takes off and runs in that direction* Tuhl: "Shotaro, wait!" mana: *runs after him* Shotaro: *rounds a corner, finding blood along the walls* "No..." *growls* "Not now. Not again..." setsuna:....*she puts a hand on showtaro's shoulder.* -in another room- nea: *trying to hold emine back with a chain* im not about to let you hurt him! Shinoda: *struggling to stand up, his arm slashed* "If I did not have my daily apple, he would have taken the whole arm off..." nea: emine, snap out of it you idiot! Emine: *growling* "I must be fed! Give me your fear! All of it!" nea: (thinking: this isnt good....) -the chain is beginning to break- Shinoda: *glaring at Emine* "You brat..." Enime: *roars, leaping forward* nea: shinoda!! Shinoda: *glares at Enime, too injured to move* *WHOOSH* nea: ?? *Shotaro has swooshed by Tool, attached to his chain scythe, and kicks Emine in the face* Shotaro: "Bone of Flying Squirrel! Bone of Kangaroo!" nea: w-wha? mana: hey! mind helping me out? *she is helping shinoda up* nea: !! *she runs over and helps him up as well* Emine: *knocked to the floor, pulling himself up* "Who dares strikes--?!" *sees him* "...Shotaro?" showtaro: hey emine, its going to be ok buddy. *smiles* Emine: *shudders* "No...Get away from me!" *slashes at him* showtaro: -shell of the crab- *blocks with a claw* i know last time we met....it didnt end well, but its ok buddy. i forgive you. Emine: "Shut up! Go away! We can't be near each other...We can't, you...you hero!" setsuna: ....you must be emine, right? Emine: "I am the Bai Ze!" showtaro: yeah mom, thats him. setsuna: ah, i see. Emine: "DON'T INTERRUPT ME, SHOTARO!" setsuna: showtaro's told me quite a bit about you emine. you've been through quite a lot, havent you? Emine: "..." *stands upright, less bestial and speaks more calmly* "I survived." setsuna: from what showtaro told me....your mother....she wasnt very kind to you, was she? Emine: *shaking* "I have no mother..." setsuna:....*small smile* maybe we could change that? Emine: "You can't change anything..." setsuna: its ok emine. i understand you're scared of what you are...what you can do...is that why you shut others out? Emine: "I eliminate all that gets in the path of progress..." *flashes his claws* "I see one obstacle before me..." showtaro: !!! mom! setsuna: ..... Emine: "Now back away, or else." setsuna:............*she says nothing...and hugs him* showtaro:....*small smile and joins in on the hug* Emine: *struggling to loosen himself, but he is not attacking* "Unhand me!" setsuna: its ok... showtaro: even though you have to do one bad deed a day, that doesnt make you a bad person. Emine: "I am! And if you don't let me go--if you don't let me leave--I will lose everything!" setsuna: and what would 'everything' be? Emine: "..." *wails* "Shotaro!" showtaro: but emine, i'm right here, and im still your friend, right? *he smiles* Emine: "You know we can't...a person who does only bad deeds...only good deeds...We cancel each other..." setsuna: emine. you arent defined by your actions. Emine: "I am! I do bad deeds! That is what a Bai Ze does!" showtaro: .......you only have to do a bad deed at least _once_ per day, right emine? Emine: "...Yes." showtaro: then maybe the bad deed can be really small, like punching someone, stealing someones food, or even worse.... _spilling food on the floor!_ Emine: "..." *pulls back his fist, aiming for Shotaro's face...holds his fist back...he's shaking* setsuna: ....we can help you emine. we can be your family. Emine: "...What family do I need? I have been fine on my own..." *sadistic grin* "I am making a world where Dokeshi thrive." setsuna:........... setsuna: and how do you intend to do that, hurting more people and making people more fearful of dokeshi, or opening up to people and live with humans as equals? Emine: " 'Equals'...Why would they ever do that? When would they ever do that?" showtaro: i have an idea! come with us to death city! they can help you fit in! mana: well, death city is considered a city of second chances... Emine: *glares* "You'd have to drag me before I budget an inch..." showtaro:......... -leg of the big ant- *lifts emine over his head* lets go home. Emine: "Unhand me! I will not be moved! I am the Bai Ze! I am formidable! I am--" showtaro: *cradles him like a baby and puts a finger to his lips* shhhhhh, its ok mr crankypants. Emine: >\\\\\< "If I wasn't so injured, I would rip off your arms and beat you with them!" *glares at Setsuna* "Who the hell are you, anyway?" setsuna: i'm showtaro's mother. Emine: *frowning at Shotaro* "You forgive this bitch who abandoned you?" showtaro: she's here now, isnt she? setsuna:............ Emine: "And she'll abandon you like any human--" showtaro: but mom isnt a human, she's a dokeshi like us! Emine: *sneers* "You debase yourself, associating with humans? Gross." setsuna: true, there are some cruel humans in this world, but a lot of them arent that terrible. showtaro: yeah, mana and yohei are really awesome! saki's really cool too! Emine: "...Yohei Nanami...of the Dokeshi Hunt?" showtaro: he isnt in dokeshi hunt anymore, neither is mono. actually, yohei's actually _married_ to a dokeshi. her name is chie and she's really really cool! she's gonna be a mom soon too! Emine: "..." *squick face* "They are breeding." mana: what showtaro is trying to say is that people can change for the better. Emine: "...Aren't you that small girl who smashed Dr. Agei's robot?" mana: Mana Hinoki, nice to meet you. and this here is Tuhl. Emine: "...The kappa." Tuhl: -_- "The asshole." nea: .....emine, what about lin's mission? mana: lin? Emine: *looks away* "Can't we leave her out of this...? Sh-She doesn't have to be taken in by these weirdos..." (*small sneers in his mind* "Perhaps she and Akua can still complete my second objective...") nea: if your being taken to death city, she should at least know about this. she really cares about you, you know... showtaro:..... :3 *grins at emine* nea: i mean, if shinoda got captured, i would want to know too...i worry about him. Shinoda: -\\\\\- "So you could torture me?" Emine: "..." -\\\\\- nea: shinoda, as much as i cant stand you, we still had something you dummy. -_- mana:.........(thinking: best not to ask) Emine: *glares at Shotaro* "Your smile is laughable." showtaro: hehe....hey mom, when we get back, could you adopt emine? Emine: "WHAT?! I don't need a parent!" setsuna:...*she smiles* i think i can do that. showtaro: emine, i know your old mom wasnt very nice to you, but mom is really nice. Emine: "Like any mother, she will hurt you, again." setsuna:..... *she hugs emine* Emine: *grumbling* "Stop that...I am not to be hugged! The only person who is allowed to hug me is--" Shinoda: "..." *smirks* nea: ....... >:3 mana: ???? showtaro: 8D Emine: *steam coming off his head* "All of you stop talking!" -and so- Emine: "..." nea: do you want to talk to her? *hands the phone to emine* Emine: "..." *snatches the phone, dials* lin: yes, this is lin-kimpur speaking~ Emine: "Lin...Hi." lin: is everything ok? Emine: "...I have been taken into a family of silly people." lin:....eh? o.o Emine: "I think I am being adopted by the mother of my long lost friend Shotaro." *whispers* "Help." lin: WHERE ARE THEY TAKING YOU IM GOING TO SAVE YOU! Emine: "..." *looks at Shotaro* "Where do you live, anyway?" mana: death city. Emine: "Death City." lin: !!! WHEN THEY GET BACK HERE I'LL RESCUE YOU! Emine: -\\\\\- "I am sure of that." Shotaro: *Bone of the Bat to get ears to eavesdrop* lin: if they do anything to hurt you, i wont forgive them! i....i dont want them to hurt you. *blush* Emine: "...Thank you." *whispers* "Find me when I get there..." lin: of course i will! dont forget to do your daily bad deed either, ok? Emine: "..." *looks at Mana* mana: .....?? Emine: *takes her water bottle and spills it over her head* mana: h-hey! Emine: (to Lin on the phone) "Bad deed complete." mana: TnT; Emine: *smirks at Mana* mana:..... (thinking: just grin and bear it mana.) -elsewhere- shinra: 32.....33......34......35....- hmm? Arthur: "???" maki: mail call! Iris: "Anything for me?" maki: you got some free samples on perfume. Iris: "Hmm...I wonder whether these will work..." Arthur: *looking at mail* ("Wait...What's that letter?") shinra:...*he sees a note* hmm? no return address? weird.

#death city days

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