#I'll start making more once I get to the part where Ling comes in

[sytheofabloodmoon]

So more 4am rambling, or like 5am now as I start typing this. Less timeline rules rambling but still timeline related thoughts. Although we know for certain after S2, that Lu Guang's gone back in time to save Cheng Xiaoshi(seemingly more than once if the 'last chance' line is anything to go by), I have to wonder if Cheng Xiaoshi has done the same for Lu Guang, even if it was only once. We haven't seen it actually happen but we've seen Cheng Xiaoshi be inclined to save him, seeming to consider it when he thought Lu Guang was dead, almost doing it to stop Lu Guang from getting onto the boat (until he literally got in his own way, lol). It doesn't feel impossible or to me. But considering his sincerity and how he wears his heart on his sleeve, would he even be able to keep it a secret? Maybe with some struggle, maybe more easily than we think. Regardless I think he'd end up telling Lu Guang eventually in this case, whether it was because he was pushed to, due to guilt for keeping a secret, if he just couldn't keep it a secret, getting tangled in his own web of lies, just before death or something else entirely. But then why does it seem like Cheng Xiaoshi doesn't know as much about their powers as Lu Guang, why does it feel like he's more in the dark about things? Maybe because in whatever timeline we're currently in/seeing, he doesn't know and is in the dark.

Hear me out for a second. So the flashback of Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi's first meeting on the basketball court when Cheng Xiaoshi mentions that the ball represents his trust in Lu Guang and how nice it is to have lifelong partners. It seems a little much to say to someone you just met, or even someone you knew in passing as a classmate because you happened to recognize them. It sounds like something you'd say to someone you've known a long time. What if in that moment it was Cheng Xiaoshi diving back in time and he couldn't help himself from saying something he'd perhaps wanted to last time but never did or never got the chance to? There's also the part of the flashback where Cheng Xiaoshi simply says something along the lines of 'Hey newcomer, come play with us!' And while they definitely could be part of the same flashback (i.e. before and after the game), what if they were two different flashbacks? The actual first meeting and the altered one. Even if they are both the same flashback, it could still be altered because again the lifelong partners mention feels too familiar for a first meeting. Even then, there's the question why go so far back?

Also a particular line of Vortex I've seen mentioned in other theories 'Am I destined to fall? Like you once did for me?' I do think of this as Lu Guang's POV. The thing is I've seen people suggest it refers to when Lu Guang got stabbed by a possessed Qiao Ling and that maybe Cheng Xiaoshi was the one who got stabbed initially. Maybe it does refer to that or maybe it's only part of it and it also refers to falling through time, through near endless dives in an attempt to save the other. Until the only photo left, the 'last chance' was to go back to the beginning. Of course there's the white hair theory which probably plays apart in making it seem like Lu Guang's gone back in time many many times, but since diving into the photos is Cheng Xiaoshi's own power, his hair would stay the same colour. He's not using anyone else's power.

I've also seen people mention that the girls who started the noodle shop together (I rewatched this episode recently and still can't remember their names for the life of me), how their relationship seems to mirror Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi's in some ways. The dynamic mainly, I think. But during my rewatch I noticed after the fight when the client asks her friend after the fight 'where are you going?' Her response is 'Back to the beginning. I'll reset.' And that was very interesting to me, considering season 2's last episode, the 'last chance' with Lu Guang going 'back to the beginning', essentially pressing the reset button. I don't know if anyone else noticed that, but I haven't seen it mentioned. And while it could be a reference to Lu Guang, it could also reference Cheng Xiaoshi if he's gone back in time to save Lu Guang before. He did after all, posses both of the women, the one who changed and the one who didn't. If their relationships do intentionally mirror each other, I think it's interesting what that might mean for the boys. Cheng Xiaoshi is both the same and different, possibly due to all the messing around with the timelines. Also considering the argument between the two, it could reference and argument about changing the timelines, changing death nodes, the first time when Lu Guang found out about Cheng Xiaoshi going back in time to save him (supposing it wasn't shortly before Cheng Xiaoshi died), and potentially a future argument when Cheng Xiaoshi finds out about Lu Guang changing the timelines and breaking his own rules to save him (and I do think he'll find out about it). Speaking of Lu Guang's rules, why is he so adamant about Cheng Xiaoshi not changing the past? To protect him, protect their present together, some sense of responsibility, because he knows Cheng Xiaoshi can be reckless? Probably at least a few of the above if not all. And maybe some reasons I missed. But also think about if Cheng Xiaoshi had gone back before, who knows how many times, to save Lu Guang, succeeded ultimately but then ended up dying, potentially in the act of saving Lu Guang depending on what the cause of death was (that's not an answer I have thought of for this theory rambling). Obviously Lu Guang wouldn't want him to be reckless and change things again, especially if he holds the memories of that happening. Cheng Xiaoshi at one point may have made his own death node by changing things to save someone so important to him.

Back to the point of why in the timeline we're seeing, Cheng Xiaoshi seems more clueless about their powers. I'm thinking what if whatever may have changed in this timeline, lead to whatever may have happened in the hypothetical timeline I purposed not happening, either the avoided whatever event would've caused Lu Guang's death and Cheng Xiaoshi diving back or somehow Lu Guang managed to live through it. So as of this timeline, Cheng Xiaoshi never dived back to save Lu Guang, he hasn't done all those dives and doesn't have all that experience. But Lu Guang does, he has dived back, he's manged to avoid Cheng Xiaoshi having to, maybe in part to his rules, maybe something else. But Lu Guang still has all those memories of timeline after timeline, has used those powers himself now, so this time Cheng Xiaoshi is really in the dark. Maybe it's not just Cheng Xiaoshi's optimism that contributes to Lu Guang choosing to dive back to save Cheng Xiaoshi himself, even though they supposedly can't change the path and death is an unchangeable node but the fact that Cheng Xiaoshi has done the same for Lu Guang and succeeded. Perhaps he somehow even replaced Lu Guang's death node with his own, even if he no longer knows that he did that.

I really want a happy ending to the series with our main trio all happy and alive and together, but I also don't think we'll get one. Whether my rambling theory thing is in any part true or not, I feel like the series will probably end with either one or both of the boys dying. I will cry if that happens though, that is a threat and a promise, lol.

Anyways if you're still reading thanks for putting up with the long post. Also I have no idea if this even makes any sense or not or if I can really even call this string of thoughts a proper theory. But it's food for thought and I wanted to get these thoughts down and semi-organized, so here we are

#shiguang daili ren #Link Click #Lu Guang #Cheng Xiaoshi #Theory? #Maybe #Rambling #Late night/early morning thoughts

[user-needs-new-hyperfixation]

Okay pls im just getting into tgcf and the names are soo confusing 😭

Could you pls list tge names of all the important characters with like a short nite on who they are?

Pls?

I don't know more than the white one and the red one plsss

I know the names are confusing! I actually highly recommend you buy at least the first volume of the novel if you're able. It's readily available in English (even the tiny chain bookstore in my small town mall has it stocked). And it has all this information in a glossary in the back. Some of the alternate names for characters are major spoilers, and there's just like...a lot of characters, so I'm not gonna list them all, but I'll do a few:

In short, most characters have a name, a title, and then whatever assorted nicknames other characters give them. And sometimes alternate names for secret identities. I'm assuming here that you're watching the donghua, so I'm mostly talking about characters who have appeared there so far.

Xie Lian - the guy in white. Also called Xianle in heaven (mostly by Jun Wu.) Xianle was the kingdom that Xie Lian was once prince of, and to quote the glossary:

His title Xianle is a multi-layered nickname. "Xianle" is Xie Lian's official heavenly title and also the name of his kingdom. "Xianle" itself can translate to "Heaven's Delight," which ties into Xie Lian's "Four Famous Tales" moniker, "The Prince Who Pleased God." Jun Wu referring to Xie Lian as "Xianle" sounds professional and businesslike on the surface (as Jun Wu generally refers to gods by their heavenly titles only), but it deliberately and not-so-subtly comes across as an affectionate term of endearment.

Basically Jun Wu is calling him his little Meow Meow. 😂

Hua Cheng/San Lang/Crimson Rain Sought Flower - the red guy lmao.

Spoilers below this point!

Feng Xin/General Nan Yang/Nan Feng

and

Mu Qing/General Xuan Zhan/Fu Yao - These are those two guys who follow Xie Lian around complaining in the first season while going by the names Nan Feng and Fu Yao. They're pretending to be sent by the generals, but they actually are the generals in disguise. They're also the guys who Xie Lian dropped a bell on and destroyed the palace of when he reascended at the start of the first season. There's a whole bunch of backstory about the three of them.

Jun Wu/Emperor of Heaven. What it says on the tin. Top dog god.

Ling Wen - tired library lady who surprisingly turns out to be part of a trinity of douchey frat bros alongside Pei Ming and Shi Wudu.

Pei Ming/General Ming Guang - playboy guy who broke that lady's heart in season one and then she turned into a crazy ghost. He's the one who is interrogating Xie Lian about his boyfriend stabbing Pei Ming's great-great-great-great-great-great grandsomething at the start of season 2

Pei Xiu/Little Pei. The aforementioned great-great-great-great-great-great grandsomething

Shi Qingxuan - our beloved gender-bending Wind Master.

Lang Qianqiu/General Tai Hua - that kid sleeping in the meeting at the start of season 2. He's about to get real important. He was also a crown prince before ascending, which is why his servant calls him Taizi Dianxia (big fancy Your Royal Highness kinda title) and makes Xie Lian do that whole sad thing where he looks up and then remembers no one calls him that anymore. 🥺

I mostly get repeatedly confused by Feng Xin and Mu Quing's alternate titles. They're frequently mentioned together and I keep mixing up which general is which and which disguise is which, even though their actual identities are easy to separate lol.

#tgcf #heaven official's blessing spoilers #heaven official's blessing #tgcf spoilers #asks

[kizzys]

Starkid Rewatch: Black Friday 🎁

Let me just preface by saying the intro is absolutely chilling

curt's sniggle is so fucking adorable

They all are actually look at them

I don't know how to feel about the fact that I know the fucking wiggly jingle by heart

There they are - my emotional support paulkins

You're cutting into a heat of lettuce and oH shit a baby

I wanted a salad, but now I have a child

He will never invite "us" over again no labels my ass paul is her family

Can we talk about the way she looks at him here though, it's so fucking soft 🥰

The crowd goes wild as a wild dylan saunders appears

BuT wE aRe InTiMaTe

Thank you for your service. I didn't do it for you.

Okay

Okay

Okay

OKAY

Soulmate behavior

I still can't get over the fact that we got the softest version of paulkins in black friday

dylan's microexpressions in 'what tim wants' i'm going to cry

Also can we talk about how pretty the set looks

dylan just radiates dad energy

You can try telling me tom didn't adopt lex and hannah after all this i just won't believe you

HE HAS ARRIVED

Lexthan has my heart

They could have made ethan one of those cliche assholes whose only using lex and putting up with hannah but instead they made him soft and caring and the closest thing hannah has to an older brother/father figure to the point where he was ready to give his life to save them

So if ethan got the greyskull hat from a "powerful warrior" this technically means ethan has met or knows miss holloway

lex blowing kisses when ethan sings his part and ethan just bopping along/pretending to be paparazzi when lex does hers

We love a supportive couple

You're either in the smoke club or you're OUT

That better be fucking floss

linda monroe is a complete bitch BUT she can step on me please and thank you

That's called a bribe sir, and it's illegal...or it should be

I hope you don't get a wiggly, I hope you fucking die

'What do you say' is basically just a summary of shipping

curt is me watching my ship interact

sherman and gary are just holding hands and skipping in the background

corey you dropped this king 👑

'Our doors are open' is honestly the best song in black friday

It is to black friday what show stopping number is to tgwdlm

The grandeur, the drama, THE HIPS

So gary and linda have definitely fucked right

Get ready for audits! Audits up your ears! Audits in your yinyang! Audits in your wazoo!

Higarygoldsteinattorneyatlaw

RIGHT IN THE SUBPEONA

Feast or famine is a fucking masterpiece

The chorus part is visually stunning

The music to show me your hands playing when james' cop enters

The first thing ethan asks curt's shopper is if he's okay, pure soul

They kicked his head

His last act was to protect hannah and his last thought was of lex im crying

GIVE ME THAT FUCKING DOLL I'M IN A HURRY

I don't know if you wanna wanna wanna wanna wanna wanna fuck with me miss monroe

The lighting here is incredible

And they both look very hot

Do you see him? Do you see him? Do you see him? Do you see him? Do you see him?

YES I FUCKING SEE HIM!

jaime in a suit is making me gayer

morris rocking the wiggly like a baby

They all went completely fucking feral in this scene its incredible

curt REALLY went for it

Hope you don't mind that I let myself in. Into the oval office?

The audience clapping after everything mcnamara says is honestly a mood

The positioning of the people in the background in monsters and men is amazing. cross and linda - evil; frank, becky and roberts shopper - people who have both light and dark in them; and lex and hannah - good

jingle jangle jingle jangle jingle jangle jingle jangle jingle jangle jingle jangle RING A LING DING

Is it just me or does jon's character look like he's there to fucking murder a child

I mean jeff has a full on beard and even he looks more like a teenager than jon does here

Santa claus is going to highschool: a hallmark-esque Christmas movie starring a bunch of teenagers

Jon's "highschooler":

'Take me back' makes me cry every time its so beautiful

This is such a soft moment

a ReD tRiCyClE

So john and lee are definitely husbands im not taking no for an answer

I've met God, he had nothing nice to say about you

She likes to be tall

'Do you want to play' is honestly such a creepy song

It gives me chills every time

[casually eats an apple in the middle of an evil speech]

Actually its not even an evil speech, cross may be evil but every word of his speech is fucking true

I can't be evil, I'm a status quo democrat

No john don't leave your husband

I'm honestly loving starkid's trend of calling america out on its bullshit

The fact that only the female sniggles have worn the antennae till now and then robert's sniggle is wearing one in 'made in america'

I'm thinking

This was the most creative thing ever and I gasped when I saw it

owen and curt walked so cross and howie could run

lex singing "should I never have wanted" during black friday and paul saying "it doesn't matter what I want" in let it out

Two crucial songs that are character defining points

I don't want your half baked sympathy, when did it save those in need?

Angela's performance of black friday honestly makes me cry every time

[eagle screeching]

They're all into fortnight dude!

An update in songs that make me cry every time - if I fail you

Especially the part where the music switches to 'what tim wants' and he starts singing about jane

Is this some kind of a jOooke?

I've said it before and I'll say it again - he will wiggle has THE horniest choreography in the history of starkid, and that is including all of mamd

Specifically whatever gary and curt's shopper are doing

becky barnes is a fucking badass

I know gary leaves with linda because jon and lauren needed to be in the next scene as paul and emma, but this technically means that gary escaped

tom and becky immediately hugging the girls once they're out of danger i'm soft for them

Can we talk about how paul and emma were basically ready to adopt tim

Wear a watch

Everyone else is looking at their hands during what if tomorrow comes, but paulkins are looking at each other 🥺

Yes I am back on my paulkins bullshit

I never left

Also paul, despite his deep hate for musicals, sings in 'what if tomorrow comes'. Do with this information what you will

I know the most probable scenario is that they all died in the end but I refuse to believe it

#starkid #starkid rewatch #black friday #thoughts #mine #curt mega #jaime lyn beatty #james tolbert #angela giarratana #lauren lopez #kim whalen #jeff blim #robert manion #jon matteson #paulkins #dylan saunders #kendall nicole yakshe #corey dorris #lexthan #joey richter #barneston #jim povolo #joe walker #paul matthews #emma perkins #tom houston #tim houston #lex foster #hannah foster #frank pricely

[gusu-emilu]

Obviously I want to send chengning for the body part canons thing lmao but I think chances are good someone sends that before me so I'll think of something else if that's the case

you got first dibs on chengning! :D I'm long-winded about these two so this will take a bit

Headcanon: As simultaneously angry and resigned Wen Ning might be toward Jiang Cheng, he has an uncomfortable amount of intimate knowledge about Jiang Cheng's suffering that he isn't quite sure what to do with. He saw Jiang Cheng being tortured in Lotus Pier, knows what the weight of Jiang Cheng's near-dead and coreless body feels like draped over his back, held Jiang Cheng for a full day and night during the core transfer, saw Jiang Cheng break down at Wen Ning's own words after unsheathing Suibian, held Baxia's blade so close over Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling that with just a small slip it could have killed them both. What do you do when you are such a close witness to a person's most painful, terrifying, and emotional moments? Especially when they haven't seen nearly as many of yours? Wen Ning, who is better at being resentful than he's usually given credit for but also has the biggest heart, would feel conflicted. Maybe a bit drawn to Jiang Cheng and afraid of him at the same time...maybe wonder if he knows the type of suffering that Wen Ning has felt in his own life...this is more like rambling than a headcanon but I wrote it already and it's staying

Heartcanon: Once we get to the point of an established relationship, they are the cuddliest. Just lots of cuddling. Since, obviously, they are both great huggers.

Gutcanon: Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning fought back to back on a night hunt with the juniors at some point and realized they...work together really well? Both of them know how to fight alongside Wei Wuxian, and I feel like that bridge would make them capable of syncing their fighting styles faster and more easily. (Are they happy about it? Not really, but they get used to each other until they start kind of missing when the other doesn't come on their nephews' night hunts.)

Junkcanon: Because it's me, I'm most interested in sexual-adjacent intimacy, so for this I'll say Jiang Cheng figures out a way to get tiny, gentle sparks of spiritual energy from Zidian to interact with the resentful energy inside Wen Ning, and it's a very strong sensation Wen Ning can feel even with his fierce corpse body. Like warm and cold flowing through him at the same time, both stimulating and peaceful. And a bit overwhelming. So they can play around with that. I also think Wen Ning should also pin Jiang Cheng against a wall but I've said that more than once on this website

Spleencanon: I don't really have anything out of spite since canon is satisfyingly mean to both of these characters and sets up a wonderful semi-antagonistic relationship for me to work with in fic...but just like I wish there was more Yunmeng Bros reconciliation after Guanyin Temple, I think we need some more of Jiang Cheng coming around to Wen Ning after he saves Jin Ling. In CQL, there's a black bandage around Wen Ning's hand from where he got cut by Baxia. While Jiang Cheng did not personally make sure Wen Ning's hand got tended to, he definitely checked. Multiple times. And maybe also watched moodily but attentively while Wei Wuxian (and/or Lan Sizhui) healed Wen Ning's hand. Because post-Guanyin Temple Jiang Cheng is the master of angsty staring at people he cares about for uncomfortably long periods of time.

(from this body part canons ask game)

#chengning #ningcheng #jiang cheng #wen ning #mdzs #cql #the untamed #emilu talks #ask game #emilu creations

[shesfana]

BRAIDED HAIR .

an EdLing one - shot .

It was just the four of them. Two of them were asleep for sure because the prince of Xing could hear them snoring. The other, Edward Elric, he wasn't too sure about. He looked over in the darkness with his eyes narrowed but Ed's back was to him. All he saw was the boy's long, golden - blond hair. He turned his head back so he was staring up at the ceiling once again, his hands behind his head. For the time being, he was actually in control of his body. Ever since he was assimilated with Greed, he was hardly in control. Now he was, though, yet he was doing nothing but lay there. He couldn't sleep. He wasn't tired. He tried doing several things to help but nothing worked. Counting sheep proved useless.

Sighing under his breath, Ling looked back over to where the alchemist was. Truthfully, he wished Ed was awake. Why? So he could annoy him? That made the young Lord chuckle to himself and shut his eyes. It wasn't really so he could annoy Ed, though. He actually just wanted to talk to him. When was the last time they had a normal conversation, just the two of them? He thought back and the only image that came to mind was when they were in Gluttony's stomach. Even then, though, it hadn't been just the two of them for long thanks to Envy. Anyways, he wanted the other boy to be awake. He slowly sat up and put his feet on the floor, hugging his knees to his chest.

"Hey, Ed?" he whispered loudly. There was no answer. So he was asleep...

That's what Ling thought, anyways, before the person he'd addressed rolled over on the mat he was laying on. He stared at the prince with his eyes half closed, looking tired and grumpy and pouty. Then Edward sighed and shut his eyes all the way, lips pressed into a gentle frown. Despite how unhappy he looked, Ling was rather overjoyed that he was awake. More so than he expressed.

"You're not Greed...?" was the first thing the Amestrian mumbled, a yawn filling the silence that came after his words.

"Not right now," Ling smiled at that. A stupid, cheeky smile that made Edward roll those golden eyes of his. Unlike his royal highness, he was tired. Exhausted, even. Yet, similarly enough, he just couldn't get to sleep. He shut his eyes to see if he would start to doze off but it just wasn't happening. Not at the moment. And especially not with the raven haired boy looking at him. It's like his eyes were staring into his soul and it made him uncomfortable, teeth sinking into his bottom lip.

Ed opened his own eyes and his glance searched the other's pale face. His vision was adjusting to the darkness. After a moment or so, he spoke again saying, "Do you want something?"

The other boy bit the inside of his cheek and leaned forwards so he could rest his chin against his knees which were still bent upwards towards the ceiling. Yes, he did want something. To talk to his friend. To spend time with his friend. Again, they hadn't seen each other in forever it seemed and, truthfully, he'd missed the alchemist. Of course, he wasn't about to say any of that out loud. Not in a million years. So, Ling had to think of something he could ask for that would give him what he wanted without him having to ask for what he wanted outright. Think Ling. Think! As he sat there, trying to come up with a plan, his companion yawned again and pushed some of his hair behind his ear. That suddenly gave the prince an idea.

"I want you to braid my hair," is what Ling said, giving a smile with his dark eyes shut. He sat up straight and let go of his knees, one hand holding up the end of his ponytail. The request surprised the Elric just a bit, his expression showing momentary confusion. Ling wanted his hair braided? In the middle of the night? He huffed and closed his eyes, frowning even deeper now.

"No way. Go to sleep," he breathed out tiredly. And with that, Edward rolled over onto his other side again so his back was to his friend once more, his real arm underneath his head. Ling was glad Ed had turned around because his expression had immediately fallen and he was no longer smiling. He was clearly upset and disappointed by the other's actions, now getting to his feet. He was even pouting. The way bratty children do when they didn't get what they want. He walked over and then knelt down right next to Edward.

That elicited a quiet groan from the blond. He had heard Ling walk over and once more he felt himself being stared down from behind. Ling faked a smile this time, though it was hard to tell in the dark, and placed his hand on the other boy's shoulder. He gave him a gentle shake. "Please, Ed?

"Ling..." he whined almost childishly and frowned to himself, curling up more on the uncomfortable mat. "Let me sleep.."

"But I can't sleep. Please? All you have to do is braid my hair. It'll be easy!" the Xingese prince said that a bit too loudly and a bit too enthusiastically. Then he remembered something. He looked towards where Heinkel and Darius were. They were still asleep. That was good. He spoke again, talking quieter this time, "Just one, quick braid?"

Edward didn't really feel like arguing and the other boy was too stubborn to give up it seemed. So, he forced himself to sit up and then ran his automail hand through his hair, pushing it out of his face. He looked at Ling then glanced off to the side. "Fine. After this, though, you better go to sleep."

The ravenette's eyes seemed to light up when he opened them after hearing that. Yes. He was going to get exactly what he wanted. In a low, groggy voice Edward told him to turn around while moving the blanket off of himself. The state alchemist leaned his back against the wall and spread his legs apart, his knees bent upwards towards the ceiling. Ling did exactly as he was told, sitting right in front of him. He sat with his legs crossed, placing both hands in his lap. Ed didn't say anything as he pulled the tie out of the young man's hair, causing his long, dark locks to fall against his back. The shorter of the two started to run his fingers through all that hair, both his real ones and his automail ones. For some reason, that action sent a very light shudder down his highness's spine. And Edward kept doing it. Sliding his fingers through the long, rather thick strands, parting the hair so he could braid it.

Having fingers in his hair was a rather new sensation to the young Lord. One he found he rather enjoyed. It was as if all his stress and worries were just fading away, his body becoming less tense. It was relaxing, soothing even. Without meaning to or even thinking, he leaned more into the other's touch, his back touching Ed's chest for a moment. That made the blond huff a bit. He needed Ling to be more leaned forwards so he could have room to actually braid his hair and he let him know that by nudging his leg with his own. That's when the prince realized he'd been slowly leaning backwards and he sat up straight again.

"Sorry," he chuckled under his breath.

Ed didn't say anything. Again, the poor guy was pretty tired and kept having to swallow down his yawns. He wanted to get this done quick, because maybe now he would be able to sleep, but he was also taking his time to make sure the final product wasn't loose or sloppy. Once Ling's hair was separated into three parts, he began the work of actually braiding it. Which still felt nice, but not nearly as much. As this was going on, Ling's thoughts drifted to something else. You see, as he sat there, he became aware of his friend's thighs. He was in between them, which meant they were pressing against his own legs, just a bit. That's what made him realize just how close they were. They were really close and the boy from Xing liked it. In fact, if they were even closer, he felt like he might've like it more. Damn. That wasn't a normal thing people thought about their friends, was it?

After a few minutes, Edward finished the simple braid and he used Ling's hair tie to tie the end. He put it over one of the ravenette's shoulders and then leaned his forehead against his back, his golden eyes shutting. "There..."

Lifting a hand, the prince held the braid gently and tried to ignore the fact that Ed was leaning against him now. Not to mention, the blond's elbows were against his knees and his hands hung down in between their legs on either side. Which meant Ling could feel his fingertips just slightly brushing against his upper thigh. It was very, very subtle but it was still there. He knew he had to move or he might sit there all night. So, he sat up and when he did, the Elric did the same. He moved onto his knees and faced the other young man.

"Thank you. I'll let you sleep now!" Ling kept up his bright personality and grinned, making sure his voice was nothing more than a loud whisper.

With his eyes opened, he met the gaze of his sleepy counterpart. They were closer than he realized. Too close. And this time, they were facing each other. His vision had long since adjusted to the dark and he could make out almost every detail of the others face. That's how close they were. That fact alone made his heart race in his chest. Good thing there were no lights on, otherwise Ed might've caught a glimpse of his pink tinted cheeks. What the Hell was going on with him? Why did he want to -  what? No! He did not want to kiss Edward Elric. Absolutely not. That was absurd.

Then why did Ling keep glancing down towards his lips...?

Suddenly, laughter filled his head. Laughter that was almost mocking. Or maybe it was mocking. Either way, he knew exactly whose laughter it was. It seemed Greed had decided to show back up. Where had he been, anyways? Sleeping? That was unlikely. The laughing made him frown to himself.

'What the Hell are you laughing about?' Ling thought and sunk his teeth into his bottom lip. The laughing died down to just a little snicker. The homunclus was definitely smirking that wide smirk of his.

'I'm not laughing about anything. I'm laughing AT you, kid,' was how Greed responded.

'I'm starting to think this might not work out between us. Not if you can't even take one little thing you want! Not if you can't be greedy!' and then he laughed again, quieter this time. Ling swallowed and clenched his hands into fists. He had to admit that Greed was right. He stopped biting his lip, taking a deep breath.

Okay, so maybe he did want to kiss Edward Elric.

And maybe he was going to.

Ling looked back up and into the eyes of the other. Edward looked almost half asleep and he had an unreadable expression on his face. Truthfully, he had been staring at the prince without meaning to, wondering why he was still there. He said he was going to let him sleep, but then he didn't move or get up. Ed was going to ask him if everything was alright but he didn't really get a chance. You see, the second he opened his mouth, was the second Ling chose to lean in and kiss him. Now, it wasn't a lips touching lips kiss. It was more of a sloppy, quick, peck - to - the - corner - of - the - mouth kiss.

Edward was shocked to say the least. All traces of being sleepy were gone and he sat there, his eyes wide and his lips parted. When he finally processed what the Hell had just happened, he went to meet Ling's gaze only to see that it wasn't the prince he was looking at. Greed had taken over again and he was smirking at him in the dark, his narrowed eyes flashing with a look of amusement. He was a bit surprised. The brat had actually done it. When Ed realized who he was looking at, he only got more embarrassed.

"Damnit!" he swore under his breath and lifted his automail hand, clenching it into a fist and hitting the other on the top of the head. Greed only snickered and shook his head.

"Go to sleep!" the alchemist whisper - yelled a moment later and shoved at the homunculus' chest.

Greed did as he was told, still smirking as he walked over to the mat on the other side of the room where they were supposed to sleep. Edward then huffed and laid down with his face towards the wall. He pulled the blanket all the way up and over his head, his body curled up slightly. His face was burning and red and he was no longer tired. How was he going to sleep now?

#edling #edward elric #ling yao #greedling #fma brotherhood #edward elric x ling yao #ed elric x ling yao #ed x ling #ed elric #fullmetal alchemist #fullmetal #greed #one shot #fullmetal alchimist brotherhood #ling

[blueberryrock]

Hey guys, I'm not dead or anything, it's just that I haven't drawn/painted anything. I how no ideas, but I do have a bunch of story ideas that imma try to do.

But anyways enjoy the emotional crap!

(Yellow's pov)

"So.....what's wrong?"

---

"What's wrong? Oh, nothing is wrong" Blue diamond says nervously. I gently place a gloved hand on her baby bump, I rub slow circles on her. "C'mon Blue, I know you better than that".

Blue lets out a sigh, she places her cold hand on mine and looks me directly in the eyes. "I'm going to try to be as honest with you as I can" she looks down at my hand and squeezes it "but there is something I want to do before you decide to hate me".

"Hate you? I would nev-mphff" Blue cuts me off by placing a firm kiss on my lips, I move my free hand to cup her cheek.

Blue finally breaks the kiss and takes a shaky breath in, she rests against the headboard of my bed and summons a screen.

"I...have something for you to listen to" Blue types something out "I've been umm, recording more logs"

This isn't good, the last time she recorded logs was when we thought Pink got shattered. I shudder from the memory of stumbling upon one, she started off speaking about how much Pink is frustrating her with the much and the colony, then it cuts off to her trying to speak but she starts sobbing. The worst part was it lasted about half a cycle.

Blue finally finds what she looking for. "This was for when I give birth, i-if I didn't make it". Blue hits the play button and I brace myself for what im about to hear.

"Log date 126 3 58. If you are listening to this, that probably means I'm gone and you've randomly stumbled upon this. You've already probably heard my other two recent logs, and I'm sorry."

"If this is my daughter listening I know it sounds like I hated you, but I-I don't? It's hard for me to explain, a-and please tell your mom that this is not her fault, it's mine".

"Blue?" I shoot her a confused look "I-I don't under-". Blue shushes me " there's more" her voice cracks.

"Log continuation. Yellow, if you are the one that is listening to this, I want you to know that this is not in any way your fault (it's mine). You didn't make me feel this way (I did). And I don't want you to think that you did this to me or that I hate you for this. I want you to know that I will always love you, no matter what you do with the time that we have left I'll still love you."

Even if Blue's aura isn't out I can feel her sorrow and her pain lingering in the room. Blue is trying very hard to not show it, but I can see a few tears start to build in those cerulean blue eyes of hers.

After a few minutes of listening to Blue's recording go on and on about how this isn't my fault and I shouldn't blame myself, Blue quietly switches to a different recording.

"L-log date *sniff* 126 3-3 60. Y-Yellow I'm so-orry" Is, is she sobbing in this one? "I didn't m-mean to. This-s is all my f-fault. I sh-hould have r-reacted better." 

"I-it's just...I d-don't...I don't like th-h-his" the crying gets louder and louder, I look away from the screen and turn to Blue. She closes the screen then looks at me with tearful eyes.

Tears are now freely rolling down her cheeks "Blue, I-I don't understand" I wipe a few tears off of her face "what don't you like?"

"T-this" Blue chokes on her tears, she places her hand back on her baby belly "I-I've been t-trying to hide h-how" Blue cuts herself off with a coughing fit.

I make her sit up completely and I rub her back. "H-how I feel" Blue desperately tries to wipe away her tears, but more and more form.

After a few minutes of crying, her tears have now slowed down to the point where she can actually speak "and what exactly do you feel?" I ask very gently and calmly.

Blue thinks for a moment"I-I don't know" she sobs as more tears form. She aggressively rubs her red eyes with her sleeves, I grab her arms and I hold them in her lap.

"I don't feel v-very happy a-about being pre-egnant" I pull Blue into my lap and place one hand on her stomach and hold her hand with my other.

I bury my face into her soft hair and lovingly squeeze her hand. "I-It's not that I d-don't want them, we-ell I do, but I-I" Blue cries.

"We-e both know w-what happe-ened to Pink a-and Steven" I pull away from her soft hair "that he has to deal with problems?" I interrupt.

"T-that *sniff*, a-and I'll be g-gone" Blue sobs even harder "a-a-and you'll have t-to raise the *sniff* g-geml-lings by you-urself" Blue weeps into her hands, I gently rub her back.

Blue hiccups and wraps her arms around her stomach. "I won't be alone, Steven could try and help, I don't know how much he'll actually be able to help" I mutter the last part to myself, but Blue hears it and cries harder.

"Hey, and I'll have White! She's has had to deal with three young diamonds and I've had to deal with two and a half, we'll be okay" I place a kiss on the back of her head.

"B-but what i-if I don't w-want t-t-to go? I don't w-want to leave y-you."  Blue turns around to face me, her eyes are a dull red. Her entire face is drenched in tears, snot, and probably sweat.

Blue lets out a painful groan as she clutches her belly. "I think you should rest, all the stress isn't good for you."

"I-I'm fine" Blue clearly lies, she starts coughing again, but this time harder. I move closer towards her to help, but she pushes me back "mmm...I'm fi-ine".

"Are you sure? You should get some rest, you've been" Blue cuts me off "under a l-lot of stress, I know" Blue wipes away the last of her tears.

Blue falls onto the bed and face-first into her pillow, I lay on my side and prop myself up with my elbow. Blue turns and looks at me.

"I want you to know, I love you" Blue's almost glowing cerulean blue eyes gazes at mine. "A-and do you forgive me?"

Shit. After dealing with her confession? I totally forgot why I was upset at her. I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out. If I say I forgive her, I won't forgive myself for almost lying to her. But if I say I don't forgive her, it'll only make things worse.

My lack of response makes Blue sigh, her eyes water up again and she mutters something to quiet for me to hear.

"I-if it helps, I'm not mad at you anymore" I give her a slight smile.

"C'mon, I let out some of my feelings, it's your turn to share" she sluggishly pokes my arm.

"No really, I'm not very mad at you" I shoot her a go-to-sleep look. She just half-heartedly smiles at me, she huffs and pulls the blankets onto herself when I don't say anything.

I lay down beside her and wrap my arm around her, I smile as she snuggles into it. I listen to her slow and deep breathing as she falls further and further into slumber.

(Dreamworld and Blue's pov)

I lift myself up out of some orange and yellow foliage, I delicately grab a leaf (as Steven calls it) between my thumb and index finger. I decide to look around, there's nothing much out here besides a red human settlement with something going through it and a tree (which is what I'm sitting under).

I carefully stand up and shake off any leaves or twigs that would be in my dress, I pick some of the foliage from my dark blue hair.

Hmm, guess I'm in the past? I carefully walk over to the structure, making sure I don't step on any rocks or anything. I run my hand over the weathered painted wood. If I'm in the past, why does this structure seem so new and familiar?

I move in front of the two very large red doors, maybe if I open it I can see where I'm at? I firmly grasp one of the rusty handles and pull the sliding doors open.

I walk inside the dark and warm structure, I quietly close the door behind me, I look around for a light switch of sorts but all I can find is a glowing green panel.

I quickly press it and a very light green crystal chandelier instantly turns on, I blink a few times as my eyes adjust to the light. I look around the room, it has gorgeous darkish green walls, with white floors and a lime green carpet in the middle of the room.

To the left of the door is a beautiful wood aqua crib, with a cyan blanket hanging off of the side. With a little spinning thing on top (I'll have to ask Steven what it's called), and a plush looking aqua pillow.

I walk over to it and run my hand over carved smooth carved wood, and at the corner of the crib the design turns into a small swirl with little groves around it going all the way down to the bottom.

Right beside the crib is a lovely dark brown rocking chair, with a dark green almost blue pillow tied to it. And in the middle of the room is a long window out looking one of the very old kindergartens and it has lime green curtains with dark green polka dots. I run my hand over the curtains, it's surprisingly very soft. I look down at the window sill, which is about foot and a half off the ground, I squat down to look at the small blue and pink plant that's growing in a blue pot. I tap one of the leaves for some reason.

I look to my right to find a tall brown bookshelf with many earthen books and little stuffed animals in it. I recognize one of the many animals on it, I pick up the soft pink animal, I smile when I realize that its a toy version of Steven's pink lion.

I set it back down on its shelf and continue my way through the room. Next to the bookshelf is another wooden crib, this time it's an olive green with neon green splotches on it.

I once again run my hand over the well-crafted wood, I grab the very soft olive green and neon green blanket. It feels like I'm running my fingers through short purple grass from one of my colonies or through lion's mane.

I place the blanket back on the crib, unlike the other one, this crib has a little string of lights behind it.

And lastly, to the other side of the crib is a small dresser that has little blue and yellow flying organics that only has two drawers. Curiously, I bend down and open the top drawer, and it's filled to the brim with little aqua dresses, shirts, shorts/pants, and itty bitty socks.

"Momma?" A little voice calls out, I quickly close the drawer and stand up, I turn around to face a little gem. A blue gem for that matter.

She has sky blue hair that stops at her chin, she's wearing an aqua blue tank top with a darker shade of blue shorts, and her gem is the same cut as Yellow and in the same place.

"M-me?" I place my hand where my gem is, the little gem takes a step closer "I-I'm not your...am I?"

"Momma, do you love?" The little diamond asks as she throws her hands up to me.

"I don't think I know" I take a step back, and the little diamond's lip starts to quiver as her pair of familiar beautiful cerulean eyes start to water. She runs out of the room crying and yelling for her mommy.

What was that and what did I just do?

After about a minute passes, the now big green gem doors slide open, and Yellow diamond comes stomping into the room with the same little diamond in her arms.

"Yellow?" I give her a confused look.

"How could you?" She angrily says "How could you say that to our daughter?" Yellow takes an angry step towards me.

"Yellow I...I didn't know" I back up right into the green crib. "Of course you didn't, you never listen and you're a horrible, selfish gem. I can't believe I fell in love with someone like you" Yellow yells.

I start to tear up "I-I'm sorry" I mutter.

"I-I'm sorry"

"Blue?"

"I-I'm so sorry"

"Blue, please wake up"

I jolt awake, I groan as I wipe my wet eyes, I slowly sit up as tiredness starts to wear off.

I flinch forward when a warm hand touches my back, I turn to look at who the arm belongs to, I smile as my eyes adjust to the light once again and Yellow appears in my field of vision.

"Blue are you okay?" Yellow worriedly asks.

"Yes, yes, just a" bad dream? Memories of my weird dream wash over me as I try to come up with an answer "an interesting dream"

Yellow raises an eyebrow "are you sure? You were talking in your sleep again, which was kinda cute but then you started to apologize over and over again, which wasn't very cute" Yellow lovingly rubs my back, I lean into her warm touch as I let out a yawn.

"I wa-no am fine, it was just an interesting dream" I rub my tired eyes again.

"Would you like to tell me it?" Yellow places her hand on mine.

I grab it and gently squeeze it. I tell her each and every little detail from my dream, but I unfortunately tell her the end too.

"I hope you know that I don't think your a selfish gem and I will never regret loving you" she gently kisses my cheek.

"I know, hey have you designed the room where the gemlings will be sleeping?" I sluggishly ask.

Yellow shakes her head no " do you mean a nursery? If so then no, I haven't" she smirks at me "Did you have a design in mind?"

"I do, in fact it came to me in a dream" I giggle.

"Alright I'll get you something so you can design the room in the morning" Yellow squeezes my hand in return "But it's still fairly late, you should go back to bed".

"Ugh, but I hate sleeping" I fall back down on my pillow "it wastes time", Yellow chuckles and lays down right next to me, she pulls me into her, and I shiver when her lukewarm armor touches my bare skin.

Yellow phases away her armor leaving her in what I assume is a thin shirt and a pair of shorts, she turns to quietly place her helmet on her nightstand. I push myself back into her warm strong arms as she tries to pull the thick blankets back onto us.

Yellow starts humming a melody, but I'm too tired to really tell what it is, I let out a long yawn as Yellow shoves her face into the crook of my neck.

"Good night" I yawn out.

"Good night" Yellow continues to gently hum as I slowly fall back asleep "I love you" she faintly whispers into my ear. I grumble something to her before I pass out.

I'm a bit behind on the chapters, but I'll catch up soon. Hopefully, inspiration will hit me and I'll draw, if not y'all can always send me ideas!

#steven universe #blue diamond su #su yellow diamond #bellow diamond #fanfic #emotional #im not good at writitng

[holdon-a-minute]

As Time Repeats

Chapter I

A New World

*Present Day*

Shuffling feet, deep laughs, screeching brakes, choirs of songbird, pieces of conversation...each adding to create the loud bustle that loafs through the street. Listening. She slowly raises her eyelids, to only be greeted by the soft morning sun welcoming each body with its warmth.

Shining smiles, trees of chartreuse, paves of stone grey, breeze-caught hair...all merging together to paint one picturesque scene. Watching. She rests back onto the wooden public bench, controlled deep breaths escaping through her button nose.

Mature parfum, strong mowed grass, golden-baked delicacies, polluting fumes, freshly ground coffee beans...scents of good and bad are to be known everywhere you turn. Inhaling.

Now comes feel.

"Ugh..." Renae lets out an exasperated breath in defeat, sitting her elbows on her spread knees and burying her face deep in her dry palms. She tightly traps her airways, holding her breath as the tears threaten to spill from her eyes once again, before she stops herself and forces the words off her tongue, "I do not want to feel this way." She may not be happy now, she thinks to herself, but this is the start of a new beginning. And at new beginnings there is always hope. "Be optimistic..!" she whispers to herself, but Renae knows better than anyone that it's hardest to keep up with your new start when you didn't even want it in the first place.

Standing from the bench, she turns her judging eyes away from the classy lady who had tried to sit down beside her, and soppily strolls down the direction of her destination. Renae pushes herself past—fitted in her signature style of a soft fabric zip-hoodie and a dark leather jacket layered on top—determined to get through the swarm of bodies and make it back to her quiet house quickly. She wanders through Paris as if she's known it all her life now; the street of shops damp and dewy. Wind whistles through her raw ears as they heed the leftover rain that pitter-patters through gutters, down drain pipes and into the city grids.

The screeching, beeping of a pedestrian crossing makes a deafening echo as Renae and a huddle of rushing people cross the cobbled road, instantly zooming her back into focus of reality. Walking through the avenues of France you can smell dozens of different scents everywhere and anywhere. But Renae's favourite of all, she's come to realise, is the trace of a gingerbread man that runs past her. Every time, he calls out, and every time she ends up chasing him to Mr Baker's Bakery. Mmm, the bakery. This is where the baker she's come to know torments everybody with his luscious pies and pastries sitting on display in the window. And when he opens his huge oven door every day, religiously at 10:30, the whole road is filled with the most sensational smell of freshly baked bread rolls.

When her leg starts to vibrate, she reaches into her pocket and answers the person calling, "Hello."

"Ren, how come you're not home yet? You're going to be late."

"I'm on my way now Alice, and I've got half an hour yet. That's plenty of time to get ready."

"Well have you had any lunch yet? You can't go on an empty stomach your nerves will get the better of you."

Renae chuckles, "I'm not that nervous Al, I'll just eat an apple or something on the way there."

"An apple? Alright then, whatever suits you, I'm not going to argue with you on this important day now am I?"

"No, and I shouldn't think so," she teases as a smile plays at her lips and Renae rounds the corner. "Right, I'm round the corner now I'll be two minutes."

"Okay hun, see you in a minute. Bye."

"Bye!"

Renae was now in the neighborhood, the rush of the street of shops (as Renae and Alice call it) now gone, giving way to the open and tranquility of her housing estate. She loves her short over-the-phone conversations with Alice. They always play quite amusingly, and never fail to reveal their bond of trust, love and laughs.

She swings into the hallway of her home, and is almost immediately greeted with a "Hello!" coming from another unlocated room of the two-bed house, as usual. She shouts back a 'Hi!" and rushes upstairs, dodging another of her Aunty Alice's extremely energetic speeches that are supposed to be the best motivator out there. She changes into something a bit more formal, touching up her makeup as she passes the standing mirror, fills her faux leather bag with almost everything from her desk (just in case), picks up an apple and heads back out onto the street, where her taxi is conveniently waiting.

"Good luck!" Alice wails as she watches her niece drive straight into the fate of adulthood.

~~~~

*Ding-a-ling*

Renae steps through the old brown door and enters the café she hopes to call a workplace sometime soon. The space is fairly large considering its compact look from the outside, and it is so beautiful—everything the young photographer in the corner would need for his aesthetically pleasing Instagram page. She lets the soft, welcoming atmosphere envelop her whole as she strolls deeper into the intricate café, the warmth of brewing tea, the fresh scent of lavender, the ancient bookcase lining the wall, the smokey smell of lit candles, the dark brown wooden furniture, all making Renae feel as cozy as you can be in a Paris café. The building has an aged, withering feel, but the dozens of lush green plants dangling from ceiling to floor brought the life back into the room quickly; the pop of bright emerald managing to spark the creativity into any person who might pass through.

She finds her way to the counter, and politely addresses the waitress. "Hi, I'm here for a job interview with the owner. My name's Renae Cruzette, I rang a few days ago."

"Oh chéri, that would be me," the woman speaks in perfect English, but with a French roll to her tongue, "Come with me and we'll have a seat. Would you like some tea?"

"Green tea would be nice, thanks," Renae replies and finds a small round table for two to sit down.

"I'm Clemence Rosher—founder, owner—of this place, as you will already know."

Renae smiles and does a little laugh, "It's nice to meet you Clemence." The two shake hands as the bleach-blonde woman passes Renae a steaming mug of green tea, the teabag still left in of course.

"Yes and you are Renae Cruzette, you said?"

"Mhm." Renae was waiting for the traffic of questions to come along and preparing herself not to get stuck or lost in them, but they never did, and she finds herself feeling utterly relaxed with the welcoming woman before her.

"So, let's get down to business yes? Why are you here today?"

"I'm looking for a first job actually, and when I heard you were hiring it seemed perfect, because I don't live too far from here and I love baking every now and then, as well as being creative with coffee art. I'm quite the artistic person, you see."

"Good good. That's what I like to hear," Clemence looks into Renae's eyes and gives a shining bright smile, "So are you willing to give your all into this job? I need someone new, someone fresh who will put a part of their soul into my café. I need perseverance, a respectful and capable person. Why would I choose you?"

"I am all of those things and more Miss."

"Madame," she interrupts.

"Right, sorry Madame."

"Who always comes first in my business?"

"The customer does, always!" Renae eagerly answers after not understanding the question for a few seconds.

"Are you good with mathematics? Can you quickly count change?"

"Yes, I graded a nine in my GCSE when I lived in England."

"In England you say? I thought you had a different accent chéri!"

"Yeah I just recently moved here actually."

"Tell me a bit about that then. Why did you move, are you here permanently?" Clemence curiously asks.

"I think I'll be staying here for a good few years now until I have the money to move out and go back to Britain. I've always lived with my Aunty, ever since I was a baby. My parents have never been around, I don't even remember my mother's face, but my Aunty Alice got a promotion, so we had to move here."

"Oh chéri that must be terrible for you, not even knowing your parents!"

"It's fine really! I love Alice so much, she's always been there for me and I respect her with all my heart for deciding to take me in, but she never took the opportunity to become my mother. She's always been my aunty and kept the truth at bay about my parents."

"I see, so is she your true biological aunt then?"

"Yes! She's my father's sister."

"Oh she must be so very brave then, I admire her strength taking in just a child!"

"I do too. You know she is French as well, so it was a delight to her when the company said she'd be moving to their Paris branch. She took me in when she was just eighteen, and we both went to England so she could finish university. It was very stressful for her, and I am so greatful for her determination to not only provide a steady life for herself, but for a child that wasn't even her own too!"

*Snap*

"Yes she sounds like an amazing woman! So how old are you now then?"

"Seventeen."

*Snap*  The photographer guy's camera clicks away

"When would you be willing to start? I'd have to give you some training first of course, but it'd be nothing major."

"As soon as possible Clemence!"

"Okay then how about I give you a call next Monday when I'm ready for you to come down? I have meetings and all sorts until then."

*Snap*

*Snap*

"Perfect, thank you so much!"

"Oh no worries, I have great expectations of you," and she give Renae a wink as they stand and part ways, Renae not knowing yet that it'd be the last time she speaks to the friendly woman who owns a café.

*Snap*

~~~~

Five days later.

"Alice, she still hasn't rang me after three days!" Renae bursts as she storms into the kitchen. A series of transparent patio doors line the back wall of the completely white kitchen, the only colour of the room being the numbers of herbs scattered along the windowsills and the grey laminate flooring below. It reminds Renae of a hospital, and she would very much like to hand some paintings on the walls and colourful flowers, nevertheless it's still comfortable to be in when you've got Alice as company.

"She probably just forgot, don't stress," Alice reassures her.

"I saw her write it in her diary! And she definitely said that she was going to employ me. It's getting ridiculous! Even if she did change her mind about me, a little text to apologise wouldn't hurt!"

"I know, she shouldn't have left you hanging like that, that is very unprofessional," Alice speaks in such a wise, calming manner.

"I really would've liked that job as well," she says saddened now, "It would've met all my needs of a simple first job, but one that I would still enjoy and be easy to settle into."

"I know Ren, but you can't just sit here sulking about it, why don't you go back there and see what's going on with this woman—for your own sake at least."

"What if I make it more awkward though?"

"You won't. You're only going to politely ask when you're going to be set for some training, because you've got other things you need to attend and you can't keep having it delayed or being left in the dark."

"I suppose..."

"Come on, it's not fair on you that she's done this, so go and change out of that old hoodie and get down there standing loud and proud!"

"Okay, thanks Al," and Renae gives her understanding Aunty a bear hug, then rushes upstairs to prepare herself to face Clemence again.

~~~~

The moment she steps out of the front door, an ear-splitting ring starts to sound in Renae's earlobes and an eye-aching migraine begins to crawl into her mind. She should just brush it off, but not matter how hard she tries, Renae just can't shake the bad feeling that drops to the pit of her stomach and the butterflies that flutter up and get lodged in her throat. Renae steadies herself on the doorway for a second, closing her eyes to ease the pounding in her head. She takes a shaky breath in through her nose and out through her mouth, and pushes aside this feeling, ready to take on her plan of action.

Her taxi ride seems to drag on for hours in the stuffy, cramped backseat, the breeze of the day barely noticeable even with the car windows all open. The heat is almost unbearable. Renae can't understand if it's anxiety (which she's never experienced before), or an illness she's suddenly caught that's making her feel this way, but something isn't sitting right in her flesh and bones. Due to the long, unmoving queue of vehicles, Renae decides to just pay the taxi driver now and walk down the rest of the way where café stood stunningly at the end of the road.

She looks about her to see that everyone is busy trying to get to places, and as she strolls further down the street she notices that she's come to a hidden alleyway, "Millbreury Lane, hm." Given her situation and the want to avoid it completely, Renae roams down the alleyway of tall, old-fashioned buildings taking her time to observe her exquisite surroundings.

Right along the bottom of the attached buildings are stores, and they are magnificent to the eye: cafés sit with intricate metal tables and chairs outside; hanging baskets spread throughout are filled with the most colourful, delicate flowers; antique shops showcase their treasures in the wide window each store possesses; and the cobbled floor beneath glows and sparkles as the afternoon sun shines down on the moist puddles and excess rain.

*Chuchak*

Renae stands still. So impossibly still.

The beautiful antique alleyway seems to disappear around her in slow motion as Renae is sucked back into reality and her eyes are met with metal.

Thick, cold, silver-grey metal.

Pointed at her forehead, in-between her eyes, is a slick handgun. For a while she cannot see the person whose hand is slid around the trigger, nor the group of men accompanying them. For a while, it was just her and the weapon, playing a dangerous game in a little world of their own—the opponent not even alive but still taking the lead and winning the girl over completely. She cannot break her eyes away from the metal in front of her, and the hand-held violence cannot take its eyes off Renae.

She feels frozen in her place, barely able to breathe, as the gun wielder speaks, "Oh chéri," before smacking Renae over the side of her head with the loaded gun.

All soon went black.