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ssomestuff · 3 years

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A Place to Call Home

So I decided to undust my writing skills! Buckle up cause you’re about to get your much needed dose of Tala and Bryan brotherly love.

(You can find the story in my old FFN page or in my brand new AO3 which I didn’t know existed up until recently.)

White, fluffy snowflakes peacefully fell from the slowly darkening sky.

Breathing in deeply, Tala closed his eyes taking in the cold air around him.

Snow. It had always fascinated him. It turned everything it touched into a delicate white blanket.

At that exact moment, when Tala could feel the chilling cold of mid-January, snow washed every and any trace of unpleasant feelings he might be carrying after a long week.

Shoulders started to untense, lungs began to expand, and chills emerged from deep within his fluffy coat.

What a true wonder of nature.

A low grunt by his side brought him back from his blissful reverie as he turned his head to eye one of the very few people in his life he could call family.

“I hate snow.”

Bryan roughly rubbed his gloved hands together trying – and failing, by the looks of it, – to generate warmth. He brought them closer to his mouth and blew hot air into them, letting out a cloud of steam clashing with the cold air surrounding him.

“Bryan,” Tala snorted slightly shaking his head half amused, half skeptical. “Is there anything you don’t hate?”

They were both sitting down on an old metal bench in the middle of a park, shoulders almost touching and grocery bags patiently waiting by their feet. Many heavy grocery bags.

As captain, Tala had to come up with a set of detailed rules for their household once they all moved in together, seeing as four very hungry and very hormonal brand newly turned young adults would sweep most of the house food supplies in less than two days.

Thus, each one of the Blitzkrieg boys was charged with getting the house supplies for at least one week. Which of course resulted on ridiculous amounts of food.

Naturally, some adjustments to the rule had to be made once they found out Ian’s arms where just too short to carry all the bags back home. Lucky shrimp could now officially pest anyone to come along with him when it was his turn to go grocery shopping.

Each time it was Tala’s turn to get the groceries, however, Bryan would without a fault one-sidedly decide to come along.

Even despite the fierce winter of Moscow and his self-proclaimed hate for snow, he would be by the door waiting for his captain, unyielding.

Since the store wasn’t far away anyways, they usually opted to walk rather than drive. And as the park just happened to be the middle point between their house and the store, they found themselves taking a quick break in this old, dirty park bench.

And so, it had become a weird tradition of theirs.

Bryan gave a last blow at his hands and shoved them into his pockets. “Well, I don’t hate you lot, now do I?”

“Fair enough.” Tala hummed.

Comfortable silence fell between them as they watched the snow fall.

“Remember that day we met?” The redhead slightly readjusted his position turning to his brother once again.

“Yeah... What about it?”

“Well, today reminded me of that day,” He shrugged when he saw his best friend raising a questioning eyebrow. “You know… it's cold.”

“It’s not cold, Red,” Bryan deadpanned snuggling further into his thick winter coat. “It's fucking freezing.”

A genuine chuckle left the redhead’s lips. “I’ve seen worse.” He rolled his eyes amused and let silence take over once again.

A cold winter day. As cold as the day they met each other all those years ago.

Only now, they weren’t as hungry or as beat up as they were then, all alone in the streets.

They had a roof over their heads now. Warm food, and warm beds too.

But most importantly, they weren’t alone anymore.

They had each other.

And of course, they also had two – occasionally three – other idiots waiting for them back home.

A found family in the weirdest sense of the word.

“I mean,” Bryan clicked his tongue, “you've always had some weird wolf senses, you know,”

Tala outright snorted.

“Honestly, it might be cold for you but it sure is freezing for any other normal human being.”

Unbelievable. “Right.”

Come to think about it, it really might as well be a bit too cold today, judging by how the snowfall had shifted to a heavier fall.

“…I wouldn’t have made it, you know?”

“Huh?” Tala turned around to look at his bother and found him quietly staring at the white layer of snow beneath them.

Bryan eyed him shortly only to drop his gaze to the ground once again, smiling softly. “That day. If you hadn't given me your jacket... I wouldn't be here today.”

A moment passed before Tala huffed and readjusted his position on the bench. “Bry, you're tougher than a little winter storm.”

“Weird wolf senses, remember? – Ouch!”

“You're the weird one, not me.”

“Keep telling yourself that Red,” Bryan answered amused rubbing the sore spot in his arm where his captain had punched him. “Besides, if it weren't for me, you too wouldn’t had lasted long on the streets.”

“Please, I would've been just fine.”

“Sure you would’ve.”

“It's true!” He snapped back.

Bryan rolled his eyes and eyed him skeptically. “You were a shit thief, Tal, you would've starved sooner or later.”

“I did steal from time to time.” Tala retorted indignantly.

“Yeah, burnt bread. That doesn't count.”

“Well, booze didn't count either.”.

“Booze was keeping us warm,” He pointed out. “Anyways, you were too innocent to steal us a decent meal, I swear, you wouldn't have lasted a week without me- OUCH!”

Bryan gingerly rubbed the same spot Tala had punched him in again, this time harder, before playfully shoving him in return.

“…Three days, tops.” They both laughed lightheartedly.

“Whatever Borya.”

It was peacefully quiet, except for the sound of the snow falling from above.

Bryan slightly nudged him, eyeing him with a sincere smile.

“Thanks tho, captain.”

“What for?”

“You really did save me back then… And not just from the cold... So thanks.”

Tala slightly jerked him giving him a bright smile of his own. “Hey, no need for that Bry, we'll always have each other, right? Like we promised?”

“Like we promised.”

From the moment they met, there was no turning back. Anywhere one would go, the other would follow. That was the deal after all, even if it had slightly adjusted adding their three idiots to the equation.

They would always have each other.

A blast of ice-cold winter wind had Bryan shiver violently against his thick coat. “Alright, I really am fucking freezing right now, let's go home.”

He got up and slightly brushed the snow out of his shoulders and hair.

“I’ll tell Spence to make some hot cocoa,” Tala followed, unbothered by the snow covering him and picked half of the heavy grocery bags up, waiting for his brother to do the same.

“I think Ian finished it, tho.”

“No wonder the little runt was insufferable yesterday afternoon.”

It was dark now, the only source of light coming from the streetlamps shinning dimly around them.

They both walked carrying half their weight on grocery bags under the cold, unrelenting snow, talking about everything and anything.

Back to their house. Back to the people they called home.

#beyblade #tala ivanov #Bryan Kuznetsov #Blitzkrieg Boys #my writing #somestuff

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padfootagain · 4 years

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Always

Next trope for my winter event will be one bed, with our favourite Jedi, Obi-Wan!

I hope you all like it, it's just fluff!!

Do I know anything about the climate on Alderaan in winter? Absolutely not, but I don't exactly care.

Gif not mine

Word Count: 3097

There was snow outside, and a loud wind blowing. Sky grey with clouds that didn't seem willing to move away, and speeders hurrying back and forth through the main street. The town went on for miles all around you, and yet it was merely a little city for the planet's standard. The complicated and elegant architecture, showing the wealth and skill of the people of Alderaan, made every building magical, and the white snow that had settled on the crevasses of the sculpted façades made it all the more beautiful.

However, you were not on Alderaan to enjoy the magic of the wintery season. You were there on a mission for the Jedi Order.

Your friend Obi-Wan was accompanying you to retrieve and bring back to the Senate a valuable copy of the decree stating the partnership between Alderaan and a nearby planet of their system. It wasn't exactly the most excited mission you had been on, or so you had thought. That was before your contact on the planet was found dead.

And now, you and Obi-Wan were on the run.

You had left the capital for this little town, and hoped to find a way off the planet as fast as you could. However, the magical weather seemed to play against you, and all the transports were stuck on the ground until further notice.

You had no choice but to hope for a better weather the next day, along with a safe passage off the planet.

Your hand came to nonchalantly rest upon your chest, touching the decree safely hidden in your long brown robes.

The sun was setting already, the season shortening the days, and the question of finding a shelter for the night started to seriously worry you.

"I think there is a hotel of some sort, straight ahead. Do you see it? Up the street," Obi-Wan told you, as if reading your mind.

You hated it when he acted this way. When he answered your question before you could ask it. You had no doubt that it wasn't a mind trick, your own defences were way too powerful to allow anyone into your thoughts, talented Jedi or not. He just knew you that well. After years and years of friendship, training together as Padawans, now both of you Masters, you knew each other better than you knew yourselves. And sometimes, you hated the fact that he simply knew you too well.

"I'm freezing," you admitted, tightening your robes around your shivering frame. "We have to find shelter for the night.

"We will."

Ha, that overconfident tone of his. You hated that as well about him, it was driving you up the walls.

Which he clearly felt, as he turned to you with an amused smile, and that made you even madder.

Although, you weren't angry, just mad. There was a difference between the two when it came to Obi-Wan: he was annoying you to no end, and yet you could never be tired of his presence by your side.

You chose to ignore his glance, and hurried up the busy street instead. Up ahead, a speeder was stuck under a deep layer of snow, and five people were struggling to get it out. Had you not been under such danger yourself, you would have gladly used the force to help them. But you couldn't take the risk to draw too much attention to yourself. You reckoned your Jedi clothes were doing a good enough job for that already. Which brought you to your next worry.

"We should change our clothes tonight," you told Obi-Wan. "Our robes are kind of… not mingling well with the scenery."

"You're right," he agreed with a nod.

"We should find some new clothes before going to that hotel."

"Where to?"

You looked on both sides of the street, and spotted a shop a few meters further. Obi-Wan silently followed you there.

It was a strange thing to be on a mission with him again. You hadn't since the beginning of the war. He was always off somewhere playing the General, while you were more on spying missions than pure military. Your skills for reckon missions were of value as well, and you seldom found yourself in big battles Obi-Wan had grown used to handle. You were surprised by the Council's decision to send the two of you to Alderaan, especially with Anakin and Ahsoka off fighting a battle on the other side of the Galaxy. But who were you to question the Council's orders. As Obi-Wan kept on reminding you, if you had wanted to change their minds, then you shouldn't have refused the seat that was offered to you.

However, you were aware that politics were far from your forte. You were a woman of actions first. Obi-Wan was 'the Negociator', he was the one in your team with good words and manners who was able to sort any situation – or most of them at least – by talking his way through it. You were more of a lightsaber sort of Jedi.

Maybe that was the reason why the two of you worked so well as a team. If Obi-Wan was more diplomatic than you, you were also quicker at taking decisions and weighing risks. Besides, you were both gifted with a strong bond to the Force and great skills in combat.

Oh, and you loved flying still, unlike him.

You bought some warmer clothes and hid your lightsabers well under your coats, along with the decree. Your own clothes were hidden in a backpack you bought. You were thus wearing some brown leather pants, large boots perfect against the cold, and had bought a new brown coat designed against the dropping temperatures. Obi-Wan had settled for some classic beige pants and a long coat as well. You were now better equipped to walk through the city unnoticed. And well, the way he looked in these clothes didn't make things easier for you, but you tried to push the thought in the darkest corner of your mind and walked on.

You weren't aware of the fact that Obi-Wan was thinking the exact same thing about your civilian clothes, but he did. He would never confess some thoughts to you though.

The snow fell even more heavily than before, by now, it was almost impossible to see more than a few meters ahead. The speeders had all stopped, and the wind blew stronger. With that kind of weather, you would probably stay stuck on Alderaan longer than a night. You pushed the thought away though. No need to darken a future so uncertain, you forced yourself to focus on the issue near at hand. You reminded yourself of the old lessons your master had told you, about focusing on the present. You didn't always respect the lessons you had once been taught though. By your side, Obi-Wan's beard was covered with white snowflakes by now, and the sight brought an amused smile to your lips.

You walked inside the hotel a few minutes later, and asked for two rooms at the reception.

Waiting for the employee to check the rooms available, you couldn't help but eavesdrop the conversation between two men behind you in the hall.

"They're Jedi, they won't be hard to spot! Long cloak and lightsaber at their belt, and it's done!"

You and Obi-Wan exchanged a silent glance.

"The reward is huge, there'll be a lot of people on the bait!" the other thug replied.

"We're the first to know about it, we are one step ahead! Come on, let's look for them! We'll check the spaceport first."

You gave Obi-Wan a look that meant 'I told you so' while the two bandits exited the building, and the Master by your side gave you an approbative nod. You had been right to change clothes. And not only because Obi-Wan looked very handsome in these ones…

The employee of the hotel came back, but there was only one bedroom left. You couldn't take the risk to remain out in the open, and you both knew it. So, you took the key with a nod as a thanks, and went off looking for the right room.

In the elevator, Obi-Wan heaved a sigh, and brushed the snowflakes off his beard.

"Looks like we're not the only one stuck here for the night," you pointed out in a conversational tone.

"Indeed." Obi-Wan nodded, still stroking his beard.

"It also means that the men after our… package are still here as well."

"You heard the two geniuses in the hall. They're just the beginning of our trouble."

"We should call Anakin and Ahsoka in reinforcement. They could be an entire army for all we know."

But Obi-Wan shook his head.

"They're busy enough with their own assignment. Besides, if we can't fly off the planet, then they can't fly to the planet either."

"That… is a valid point. But maybe they can reach someone who can help here."

"Or we can handle the situation ourselves. Since when do you think twice about fighting?"

"I don't fight battles I cannot win. Then I avoid them your way."

"Negociating?"

"Running away."

"Ha… very funny…"

He was looking for an ironical tone, but ended up chuckling.

"Besides, with Anakin as a Padawan, falling back is sometimes the only way to avoid having him doing something stupid and ridiculously dangerous," he went on, but you shook your head with amusement.

"Excuses, excuses…"

The door of the elevator opened, leaving you to a sight of a richly decorated corridor, although it seemed a little old-fashioned. You found your room easily, and were not surprised to discover the only bed there.

"I'll take the ground," Obi-Wan spontaneously proposed, but you merely rolled your eyes in answer.

"Don't be ridiculous. For how long have we known each other?"

"Far too long to answer that question."

"With the weather outside, it will get colder in too. You'll freeze without a decent blanket. Don't be ridiculous."

"I was simply being… polite."

You rolled your eyes again, but there was a playful smile on his lips that made you wait for his next tease.

"I heard that you didn't like sharing a room with Master Windu…"

"He snores!" you replied.

"So if I do snore…"

"I will throw you out. Yes. Precisely."

You both held each other's gaze for a moment, serious, but it only lasted an instant. Before long, you both broke into laughter.

"I will wake you up if you snore though," you warned him more seriously, and he merely doubled with laughter.

You didn't like the way his laugh made your heart warm in your chest, as if it turned into a burning star. You didn't like how happy it made you to be near him now. You didn't like how much you trusted him. You felt guilty for it all, and at the same time, not guilty at all. You couldn't see how your feelings for him could be a bad thing, they felt so… right.

You dropped your guilt to the ground, and smiled at him instead. After all, these feelings were far from new. It seemed they had always been with you, for as long as you had known him. And you knew he felt this way as well.

The knowledge that he felt the same came piercing your heart in every happy and painful ways possible. Because the man you loved shared your feelings, but you couldn't be together.

A Jedi's life was a lonely one.

"Right or left side?" Obi-Wan asked, throwing his coat onto the chair and nodding at the bed, tearing you out of your thoughts.

"Right, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind."

You both got ready for bed, and soon, you were both under the warm blanket, lying in the dim light coming through the curtains. The yellowish glimmer of the street lampposts and the houses all around gave a strange atmosphere to the room, soothing and warm and familiar. Obi-Wan could feel the way your weight shaped the mattress, the way it yielded under you, caving in to embrace your shape. He could feel how the blanket wrapped itself around you as well. He wished he could hold you the way the bed embraced you. But he couldn't.

There was a whisper coming from the street, from the humming of the speeders and the distant conversations. It was soothing, so much so that it was already lulling you to sleep. And Obi-Wan could feel it, by the way you rested on the bed, by how your breathing became deeper and deeper. It wasn't very surprising that you would be exhausted, the mission was intense and dangerous. You must have been just as exhausted as he was.

He could feel your hand close to his, just a few centimetres away, and yet unreachable. But at least, you were here.

Obi-Wan relaxed, after being vigilant for so long. He couldn't help it, not while he was lying by your side. Your presence was too soothing for him to stay as tense as he was before. You had always had this way to soothe him, calm him down, which he didn't like at all, because it was terribly unproductive for his work. He needed a certain level of tension through his body to be as aware of his environment as the situation required. But then, you came along, and he was doomed to fail.

He closed his eyes, and focused not on the soft sounds of the street but on your breathing, on the rhythm with which you inhaled and exhaled, and he pictured the air passing your lips in one direction or the other while all tensions left him. The sound was more reassuring than any other sound in the universe. Except for your laughter, perhaps.

He was about to surrender to sleep when your rhythm changed. Becoming a little more erratic, breaths held longer. You let out a little groan.

And then, you snored.

Not too loudly, but enough to be called a snore, and Obi-Wan's awareness focused again, as he smiled at the sound. He forced his stingy eyes to open and he looked at you.

Lips slightly parted, and hair already a mess, you looked so peaceful then. He couldn't stop his mind from thinking beautiful too, and he hated himself for it. He wasn't supposed to feel the way he did for you, the Order held strict rules against it all. And yet, how could his love for you be wrong when it felt so… right.

You snored again, more loudly this time, and after a few minutes, Obi-Wan knew he wouldn't be able to sleep if you kept on snoring all night long.

So, he gently rubbed your shoulder, until the sounds disappeared and your eyes opened.

"Som'ing wrong?" you mumbled with tiredness and sleep distorting your words.

"No, we're safe. You're just snoring."

You rubbed your eyes, chasing sleep away, and frowned.

"Me? Snoring?"

"I bet it was worse than Master Windu…"

"Ha… very funny," you replied in a yawn.

"Sorry to wake you, but…"

"No, no. You did well. Sorry."

You turned to your side, hoping that the change of position would solve the problem. You were facing Obi-Wan, who had turned to his side with you.

You kept on staring at each other for a while, none of you noticing your smiles. It just felt so right to be this close, staring at each other, studying the other to carve their features in your mind so you would never forget them.

A thousand words could have never expressed the way you felt for each other. There was something that ran deep into you that was entirely his, and there was a part of him he treasured that belonged to none but you. It was ineffable, the way you felt for each other, and there was no more certain truth than the knowledge that you would both forever feel this way.

And the words could never be openly spoken, you could never confess your feelings for him, and he could never speak out loud how much he loved you. None of it mattered though. You didn't need to say it all, your eyes spoke better than your tongues then. Or sometimes, some innocent words held more meaning than their mere definition.

"Obi-Wan?"

Your voice wasn't even a whisper, it was just a breath leaving your lungs, delicate and fragile that could have been destroyed by a mere breeze. But in the quiet room, it was more than enough for him to hear.

"Yes, Y/N?" he answered, his tone as soft as yours.

"I just meant to say…"

That I love you more than anything, that I'll never stop loving you. No matter if we are separated by galaxies or death or mere inches, I'll always love you just as ardently and my heart will always be yours.

"It's good to work with you again," was all that passed your smiling lips.

He answered your sad smile by one of his own.

"I just…" you went on, stuttering under his intense blue eyes. "Of all the Jedi in the order, you're the one I trust the most. I know… I know you'll be here for me if I need you."

Your hand rested on the sheet between the two of you, barely inches away from his fingers. And a thousand times before, he had stopped himself from reaching you, and he knew he would stop himself a thousand times more in his lifetime.

But not this time.

This time, his fingers crossed the unreachable distance, to rest upon yours, and you held hands, trying to carry all your love and care for each other through the tender gesture.

But his eyes spoke better, and when he answered, his words meant so much more than what they were supposed to mean.

I love you, Y/N. I always have, and I always will. No matter if we can be together or not, my heart will forever be yours.

It did not matter that he couldn't actually speak his mind nor act the way he longed to, though. It had never mattered, and would never matter. Your love was more than kisses and touches, it was a feeling transcending rules and time and space.

You loved each other, and it was all that mattered. And when he spoke, the promise was meant for him being there for you, but for so much more as well. You knew it, and it was enough.

"Always, Y/N. Always."

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dreamljve · 3 years

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A Family Visit (Neville Longbottom)

A/N: hey yall! ive never wrote fanfic before so please go easy on me. suggestions/criticisms are encouraged as i literally wrote this for a class & want a decent grade. no warnings, just a sad neville but its a nice ending. also, i should note that im reading the series for the first time rn and i just started book 5 and this was inspired by the scene where dumbledore tells harry about neville’s parents in gof. im like 99% sure that you cant get to the hospital via floo powder but it was just easier to write it that way and i was already way over page limit. so... yeah. floo powder. just accept it.

Summary: Neville visits his parents the day of the Yule Ball.

word count: 2745 :)

With the end of the term nearing and the snow covering the ground, Neville once again was met with the bittersweet feeling of Christmas break. In the back of his Potion’s class with Professor Snape, Neville was counting the minutes down. Snape’s lesson was boring as usual, he was saying something about a Pepperup Potion but Neville couldn’t care less. This was his last class of the term. He planned to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas break for the Yule Ball, albeit his date was a third year, Ginny Weasley. Almost as if he could read his mind, Snape interrupted his daydreaming.

“Mr. Longbottom, can you repeat what I just told the class?” Snape squinted at him.

“Er-” Neville pursed his lips together and scratched the back of his head.

“I figured,” Snape rolled his eyes and his lips curled into a smirk. “I said that 12 inches of parchment will be due when you return from break. But that’ll be 18 inches for you, Longbottom. And 10 points from Gryffindor.”

The Slytherins in the front of the class snickered. Neville merely nodded. There was no use in arguing Snape, it’ll only end in more homework.

“Don’t worry, you could use the extra practice.” Malfoy spit at him. Snape glanced at the blonde boy with a disapproving look but said nothing.

“Why don’t you bug off, Malfoy?” Harry shot at him, standing up.

“Are you going to stop me, Potter?” Crabbe and Goyle laughed with Draco. Harry felt his face heating up. He was sick of Snape playing favorites. He allows the Slytherins to do whatever they please since he’s head of the Slytherin house.

“Sit down, Mr. Potter. Unless you want extra work.”

As if on cue, the bell rang. Harry grabbed his bag and walked over to Neville.

“Hey, you alright? Don’t mind them. The lousy gits don’t have anything better to do.”

“Hey, yeah, I’m okay. At least we’re free for the next two weeks.” Neville says half-heartedly as he stands up and walks out of the classroom with Harry. The two boys walked through the corridor towards the Gryffindor common room.

“Hey, I’ve got to talk to Dumbledore quickly. I’ll see you later though, yeah?” Harry says with a small smile.

“Right then, see you later.” Neville replies.

Neville watched as Harry jogged away. He wondered what he was going to talk to Dumbledore about. Neville turned and was met with the fat lady painting.

“Password?” She asks with her arms crossed.

“Oh, er-” Neville always struggled with passwords.

“Fortuna Major.” Ron says from behind him.

Neville mutters a small “thanks” and steps in through the portrait. He had planned to hang out in the common room, but soon realizes that his roommates were all in there. Neville hasn’t had a moment to himself since Summer so he decided to go upstairs to his room. He says a quick hello to Seamus and Dean as he walks past them. He went up the stairs and found the door to his dormitory. He enters and shuts it quickly, breathing a sigh of relief. He walks over to his bed and falls backwards, staring up at the ceiling. He started thinking about the holidays and how much he hated Professor Snape and his greasy hair. What kind of teacher just bullies students? Frustrated, Neville turns to lay on his side. He started thinking about how he was meeting his Gran the next day to go visit his parents. Neville doesn’t think about his parents often. How could he? He doesn’t remember them, thinking about them wouldn’t help anything.

But he still allows himself to think about them, from time to time. Neville’s Gran is a stern lady. Growing up, she worried that Neville was a squib, as he didn’t show early signs of magic very often. She often berated him, telling him he didn’t live up to his father’s honor. Neville couldn’t help but believe her.

Neville was proud of his parents, though. They were Aurors, their job was to fight against the Dark Arts He smiled at the thought of them being praised for their noble work. They were well respected amongst their peers, Neville wondered what it felt like. He reaches in his pocket and pulls out his wand. It was his father’s. Neville runs his fingers along the wood and the not-so-intricate designs of it. Even though it doesn’t look like much, he knows it's powerful. Neville’s father had fought in the first Wizarding War and was an Auror with that very wand. He holds the wand a little tighter and brings it to his chest. Neville fought back the urge to cry. It was unfair. He never got to know his parents, they were good people who only wanted the best for everyone, wizards and muggles alike. Neville bit his lip to stop it from quivering and he sat up. He set his wand next to him on the quilt his grandmother gave him a few Christmases ago. He smooths the banket and stands up. It was getting late and none of his roommates were showing up, so Neville changed into his pajamas and turned on some music. He wanted to practice his dancing skills for the Yule Ball, so he started to pretend to hold a girl and danced to the music. He furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to get the footwork correct. After a few minutes, he heard a knock at the door. Startled, he quickly gathers himself and says “come in,” and Harry walks through the door.

Harry was quiet, he merely smiled and nodded at Nevile before grabbing his nightwear. His eyes had an apologetic look, as if he had just found out something sad about Neville. Harry is the only one who gets it, really. Both of their parents were taken down by the same cause, the only difference being that Harry’s are actually dead. Neville felt a shameful relief wash over him with that thought, he bowed his head and scratched his neck. He was getting tired, and decided to lie in bed. He turned off the lamp next to his bed and closed his eyes. He finally started drifting away as he heard Seamus and Dean enter their room.

The next morning, Neville is woken up by the sun and sound of birds outside their dorm. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, sat up, and stretched. Seamus, Ron, Dean, and Harry were all sleeping yet. Neville gets dressed and goes to the Great Hall, where he is met with Christmas and winter decorations. There are silver and blue streamers hanging about the Hall, as well as snowflakes covering the walls and hanging from the ceiling. The Christmas tree by the teacher’s table was decorated with white lights, fake snow, and a shiny snowflake on the top. There were presents under the tree wrapped in white and blue wrapping paper. “Bet they’re empty,” Neville thinks to himself, slightly chuckling. He finds his seat at the Gryffindor table and begins to eat his breakfast alone. There was a group of second years at the end of the table, laughing amongst themselves. Neville is already finished with his food when his roommates find their way to the Hall. It was 8:00 and he had to meet his grandmother in an hour. He was meeting his Gran in Hogsmeade to go to St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries in London. Neville and his grandmother had to have a special meeting with Dumbledore his first year about his parents. Of course, Dumbledore knew his parents and their tragic fate. He made a special exception for him this year, allowing him to leave to visit his parents for the day and come back for the Yule Ball this evening.

Neville ventured back to his dorm, muttering a quick “Fortuna Major” to the portrait of the fat lady guarding the Gryffindor common room. He stepped through and was met with Fred and George Weasley in the common room, sitting by the fireplace talking about something secretly. As soon as he enters his room, he grabs a coat and wand and lays them on his bed. Every time Neville visits his parents, he secretly hopes they’ll remember him, even though it isn’t possible. Neville felt his hand involuntarily tighten into a fist, his nails digging into his palm. He patiently sat for what felt like hours but was realistically 20 minutes or so when he finally decided to head down to meet Dumbledore. He grabs his things and puts his wand in his pocket with his right fist still clenched. He felt his nails break the skin of palm as he got more anxious with every step. When he finally meets Dumbledore at the stairs by the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Neville wondered why he was standing so close to the one-eyed witch statue.

“Good morning, Neville.” Dumbledore greets him with a soft smile.

“Good morning, Professor.” He returns the smile, but quickly lets it fade.

“I hope you keep this between you and me,” Dumbledore says cooly, “Dissendium.” Dumbledore says seemingly at the witch as he taps the hump of the statue with his wand. The hump opens just wide enough for a small person to get through.

“This will take you to the cellar of Honeydukes. Be back by 6:30 so you have enough time to get ready for the Ball. Have a good time, Neville.” Dumbledore smiles at him. Neville thanks him and wonders how many other people knew about this secret. He quickly snaps out of it and enters the passage, giving a final smile and nod towards his headmaster. The passage was cold and rather gross, so he just walked forward until he got to the entrance of the cellar. He opens the latch and enters Honeydukes, trying to be quiet as he enters the door of the store. He quickly exits Honeydukes. He walks to meet his grandmother at The Leaky Cauldron. He gives his father’s mother a faint smile and a quick hello.

“Glad to see you made it here safely, Neville,” she brushes off some dirt on his shoulder, “Are you ready to go?” His grandmother asks him.

Neville merely nods, he was never ready to go. He wonders how she is ready. Neville never knew his parents, so there weren’t many memories to miss, but his grandmother raised his father. Every year she takes Neville to visit but never says anything about how she is feeling about it. Neville furrows his eyebrows and looks at his only parental figure. For a second, he feels remorse for her. Losing your parents is difficult, but losing your child has to be the worst. Neville says a silent prayer to Merlin that he’ll never have to go through that pain himself.

Neville’s grandmother finds a floo system and pulls out floo powder. She hands him a handful of it.

“Do you want to go first?” She asks him.

“No, that’s alright. Have at it.” He just wanted a second without her to compose himself.

She nods and says “St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries”, throwing the powder down at her feet and vanishing.

Neville takes a deep breath and repeats her actions. He feels his stomach twist and turn as he travels. He tries to not focus on it by remembering it’ll end within seconds. And with that, Neville feels his feet fall flat on the floor and he opens his eyes. Letting his eyes adjust to the lighting, Neville subtle forwards a bit.

“Can you manage to stay on your feet, please?” His grandmother remarks.

“Er- yeah. Sorry.” He says lightly.

His grandmother shakes her head as they find the reception desk.

“Who are you here to see?” The receptionist asks. She had long blonde hair and enticing eyes. Neville stares at her for a second and thinks about how she reminds him of Fleur Delacour, the champion from Beauxbatons.

“Frank and Alice Longbottom.” Neville’s grandmother says with a slight smile.

“Right, just down that hall to the left.” His grandmother’s smile is returned as she points to a corridor to the right of the desk.

Neville thanks the woman and thinks about how she probably has her parents. She properly grew up with parents who knew who she was, with a grandmother who doesn't resent her. Brushing that thought aside, Neville and his Gran walk down the hallway that seems to be getting longer with every step. Eventually they find the door labeled “Visitation Room”. Neville exchanges looks with his grandmother as she reluctantly grabs the door knob, turning it. She pushes the door open and gestures for Neville to enter first, closing the door behind them. Neville felt his heart beat faster as his eyes found his parents. They’re sitting at a round table whispering to one another. Neville and his grandmother find their seats, sitting across from them. The boy’s parents stare at them with empty eyes.

“Hi Frank,” His grandmother smiles lightly, “Hi Alice.”

“Hi mom and dad.” Neville looks at them with gentle eyes with a small smile.

“Hello.” Frank replies with wide eyes.

“Hello.” Alice says, turning her attention to Frank.

“How are you guys?” Neville’s grandmother asks.

“We’re good. Although it is cold in here.” Alice says, hugging herself.

Neville’s parents usually complained about the cold when he visited during Christmas. The hospital does get significantly colder as the weather starts to turn. Do they think crazy people don’t need heat?

“Do you want to wear my jacket?” Neville starts to take his arms out of his sleeves, maintaining eyes on his mother.

She nods and smiles at him, and Neville returns the smile. He stands up and walks to his mom, wrapping his jacket around her and kissing the top of her head. She looks up at him and smiles wider, and intertwines her fingers together. Neville’s dad thanks him and places an arm around her. Neville finds his seat again, earning a pat on the back from his Gran. Moments like this are few and far in between, making it all the more special. Neville doesn’t have many happy memories with his family, so making both of his parents and Gran happy was an accomplishment in his eyes.

After almost two hours of mindless small talk, Neville looks at his Gran and realizes it’s time to go. His parents can only handle so much per visit, so when they start getting antsy and irritable they know it’s time to leave them be. Neville stands up and brushes himself off, holding an arm out to help his Gran stand up. Frank and Alice stand up as well, mirroring his moves. Neville smiles as he makes his way over to his mother, removing the coat from her back and embracing her. She reluctantly hugged him back. He didn’t blame her, he was a stranger hugging her. Neville squeezed her a little tighter, resting his head on top of hers. When he finally pulled away, his eyes were full of tears. He looks over at his dad releasing his hug from his own mother, who is also teary-eyed. Neville switches places with his Gran, looking at his dad for a second before he hugs him. Frank lightly wraps his arms around his son giving him a friendly pat on the back. Neville holds onto him until his Gran interrupts,

“It’s time to leave, Nev.” He is taken aback for a moment at the nickname, but then smiles. He releases his father and looks up at him again.

“I love you, dad,” Neville turns to his mother, “and I love you, mom.” He gently grabs their hands for a second before letting go. His Gran puts a hand on his back, rubbing it slightly. Neville feels his lower lip quiver as they walk to exit the door. His Gran opens it and gestures for him to leave first. He turns around to look at his parents, they look at each other and then at Neville, smiling and waving at him. Neville leaves the room and is greeted with the hallway of the hospital. He looks at his Gran as she closes the door with a final click. Her hand lingers on the doorknob for a second before turning to Neville with a tear spilling on her cheek and the slightest smile,

“How about we stop at Honeydukes for some candy?”

#harry potter #neville longbottom #neville longbottom fic #harry potter fic #fanfiction #harry potter fanfiction #neville longbottom fanfiction #longbottom family #fluff #hp fluff #frank longbottom #alice longbottom #draco malfoy #hp fic #neville longbottom imagine #harry potter imagine

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the-lady-writes-what · 3 years

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Wintertide Cabin with Enji Todoroki

Contents: mild angst, manga spoilers, smut, DILF

You come across the fallen hero formerly known as Endeavor. He’s just Enji Todoroki now, living off the land and far away from people. You take pity on the man who fell from grace but has accepted this as his punishment. There’s still something decent left inside of him that makes him rescue you from the snow one blistering cold night.

Whispers on the street as you passed was almost as numerous as the snowflakes gently falling on the ground. In each arm, you loaded yourself up with groceries. It wasn’t you who garnered the hateful looks and angry whispers. Sauntering down the street, you saw his back walking away from the store. You saw straight ahead and above the scattered crowd of shoppers a man standing tall and looking ahead of him. You saw his red hair with graying sides making his way out of the street. Shoppers parted around him like the Red Sea. He was a pariah.

“Can you believe he still has the nerve to show his face in public? After all he did to his family?” You overheard one woman speak.

You looked and found a couple of old women glaring at the back of the man walking away. Their sharp eyes narrowed on the back of his head like bullets aimed at his head.

“He called himself a hero.” The other old lady spat on the ground.

You adjusted the bags in your arms and started heading for your car. Bags were loaded in the backseat. By the time you looked, the fallen hero’s head was a mere red speck against the white and green background of his surroundings. Ice covered the sidewalks, but you looked at the ground where he tread to find his footprints leaving patches of melted ice.

How many years was it since that day when all hell broke loose? When the missing son of Endeavor aired out the family’s dirty laundry? You remembered the look of shame and how years added to his features when he openly admitted to his misdeeds and stepped down. He disappeared for a time. You were relieved when he was out of the lime-light. Shoto, his youngest, stepped forward and rekindled respect for the Todoroki name, but that didn’t mean everyone forgave his father. You weren’t sure that End--Enji Todoroki deserved any redemption or forgiveness, though it wasn’t your call to make. You were not personally touched by his greed and desperation to outshine All Might, you were only a witness to Endeavor’s plummet from grace. The image of the older man plagued your mind even as you turned the car’s ignition and drove up the street.

A red light. You pulled to a slow stop, taking into account the snow and ice on the road. Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted him again. The fallen, disgraced hero. He was still looking ahead of him, likely to ignore the stares and sneers from passers-by. He was loaded with canvas bags in each arm and a backpack strapped to his shoulders. Enji didn’t look poor, but he also didn’t look like someone on top of the world. His boots had seen better days. They were covered in mud and scuff marks. While his coat wasn’t threadbare, Enji wore dark woolen trench coat that showed signs of wear and tear. Even from your car, you saw the misshapen patches where Enji’s large fingers clumsily sewed up.

HONK, HONK

You looked up to find that the light had changed. Driving slowly, you continued your course. He was still there, however, in the corner of your eye. Until he tripped and spilled the contents of his bags over the sidewalk. In your rearview mirror, you saw him twice as old as he should be, picking up things. People walked past either ignoring him or jeering. Once he was out of sight, you stopped thinking about him. At least tried to. For the most part, the image of the fallen hero picking up his groceries after a fall faded but somehow lingered in the back of your mind on the drive home.

“Will you be home for New Year’s?”

“Your father would be happy to see you,” said Mom on the phone.

Your bottom lip tinged dark at your mother’s question. Christmas was tomorrow and you weren’t expected home for then, but your mom wanted you home for New Year’s. Home seemed like it was on the other side of the world.

It was a lie, of course. Your father hadn’t spoken to you in years ever since...the accident. You could still see his enraged face when he turned you out of the house, calling you all sorts of names. Drunkard, he said. Waste of space. Your mother, bless her, could only do so much damage control and peacekeeping. You weren’t going to be setting a foot in that house for a long time.

“We’ll see,” you said.

There were other pleasantries before you hung up the phone. You could tell that your mom had other things to say, but there was too much right now. Too much for you.

You looked out the window of your kitchen. Snow continued to fall and blanket everything in sight. Hills, treetops, and the town overshadowed by the silver mountains. Slivers of sunlight managed to break through the soft gray clouds and cast a warm glow. The oven timer went off. You leaped across the kitchen, donned a pair of oven mitts, and turned it off. With care, you took out an apple pie. It cooled for a while before you wrapped it up and put it inside an insulated bag.

For the next hour, you changed clothes and fixed your hair and make-up. In spite of the snow, you were determined to reach a friend’s house to avoid sitting home alone again. Your fingers brushed a scar on your neck and a stabbing pain pierced through your heart like an icicle. You quickly pulled it away as if scorched by fire.

You wrapped your scarf around your head and face to keep it from flying off. You squinted in the storm as hot tears ran down from your eyes thank to the blistering winds slapping your face. One step at a time, you marched through the hills, the mountains of snow. It didn’t take long before the shivering started. You looked back but your car disappeared amongst the white hills. And ahead of you was a small dim fire, beckoning like a lighthouse.

After centuries of plodding through the snow, which now entered your boots, you climbed up the little hill. The small, dim fire was followed by several windows bathed in warm light. Smoke rose up through the chimney to be suffocated by the howling winds. Your hand shook as you raised your fist and banged on the door. You stood on the doorstep of the stranger’s house for several agonizing moments. You hear anything above the wind and shivering limbs of trees.

Thud, thud, thud, thud.

Mother Nature’s white fury blasted against your car. Even with your high beams on, you squinted into the storm-tossed shadows. On either side of you, walls of snow started boxing you in. If you didn’t get out now, you were stuck. You’d be buried alive. You stopped the car. No matter that it was in the middle of the road, you were climbing out before you drowned in the snow. In a fit of rage, you kicked the door open. You left everything behind in your car as you plodded away.

Whoever was behind that door must have been wide as they were tall. It took you a moment to realize just how tall the doorframe was. You hissed when the bright light of the cabin stung your eyes. The stranger opened the door and his shadow passed over you.

You blinked up at him, unsure at first what you were seeing. The scarred face of Enji Todoroki looked down at you.

“I-I’m sorry to disturb you, sir.” You couldn’t tell if you were just intimidated or if it was the cold choking your voice. “But, but, but my car is stuck in the s-snow...”

“Get it quickly before you catch hypothermia.” Enji opened the door wider for you.

You didn’t need an official invitation. Shaking to the bone, you scrambled inside. You were greeted by warmth, light, and the smell of something cooking. Was that roast beef or maybe pork? Whatever it was, it made your mouth water.

“Take off your coat, shoes, and socks. Sit by the fire as close as you can. I’ll get you a blanket.”

You tossed them each aside in your mad scramble for the fireplace, which burned brightly and hot. You sat by the fire bare-footed and shivering. Slowly, you began to feel your fingers and toes again. Enji stepped as softly as he could behind you. He wrapped a couple of woolen blankets around you. Warmth returned to you shortly thereafter.

“I don’t mean to offend, but you might want to consider taking off your shirt too. The longer you stay in wet clothes, the longer you stay in danger. I’ll see if I have something to spare for now.”

A blush rose to your cheeks. You heard him walk away and disappear into a deeper part of the cabin. While still tucked under the blankets, you managed to wriggle out of your shirt. It plopped like a wet rag on the floor by the hearth. You didn’t realize how cold your skin was until you got out of your damp top. Your flesh was chilled to the bone. Enji returned not too long after. You pulled the blanket tight around you to protect your dignity. He kept his eyes on the floor as he held out a shirt to you.

“Thank you,” you said.

“It’ll be long on you, but all the better. You’re very lucky to have found this place. There’s the bathroom,” he pointed behind him where the light flickered. “You can change in there for privacy.”

Clutching the shirt and blankets around you, you shuffled inside. Enji’s shirt swallowed you. You returned to your spot by the fire.

“Thank you,” you said again.

“Make yourself comfortable. It’ll be a cold night. You probably won’t be able to dig your car out for another day. I’ll see what I can do tomorrow morning.”

“I’m sorry for intruding,” you said.

“You shouldn’t apologize. Any decent person would, should do the same. You’re free to stay as long as you need,” he said gruffly.

The fire crackled in the silence that swallowed all conversation. Enji sat in a large leather armchair while you kept by the fire.

“Are you warm enough?” Enji asked.

You nodded.

“I’m sorry that you’re stuck here with me. I don’t suspect I'm the best company, all things considered. I’m sure you’d rather not spend the night with someone like me.”

Your heart sank a little. Not much, but a little. There was so much self-hatred and self-pitying in his voice that you didn’t doubt his words. You heard more than a hint of honesty in them. It was almost proof enough of his guilt.

“I’m not going to lie; I was shocked when I heard what you did. I hated you for a while. Reminded me of my own father,” you confessed.

“I’m sorry.” By his tone, it sounded like Enji was used to saying that.

“But I could say I’m a bit like you too. You wouldn’t guess it, but I used to be a party girl. I was selfish and didn’t care who I hurt as long as I got what I wanted. My father’s last straw was when I was reckless enough to get behind the wheel and I was drunk.” You drew in a deep breath. “At least, you did not kill someone. There are things I still hate about you, but those are some of the things I hate about myself too.”

“I’m--”

“Don’t apologize. I think you do it enough for the both of us.” You rose to your feet. There was a couch beside Enji’s chair. You took a seat closest to him. You curled up there with your knees close to your chest.

“What were you doing out there? Didn’t you know about the weather advisory?” Asked Enji.

“I was distracted by a phone call from my mother. She wants me home for New Years. I don’t think I’m very wanted at home except by her. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that,” you answered.

“I’d like to ask if you wanted a drink but I'm no longer sure you’d like one.”

“No, thank you. I’ve been sober for three years strong,” you said.

“Congratulations,” said Enji without a hint of sarcasm.

Enji’s words were something your father never offered you even after you admitted yourself into rehab. You smiled a small smile and glanced over at him from the corner of your eye. You didn’t know if it was your company or the firelight, but Enji did not look nearly as old as he did earlier in the day.

“Do you spend all your time up here by yourself?” You asked.

“It is better this way,” he answered.

Neither of you spoke for the longest time. Enji stared into the hearth, occasionally stoking the flame with a poker. You were surprised that he hardly used his quirk to keep it going. He didn’t suspect you looking at him, taking in his features. He was older than you with graying hairs at his temples and in his beard. But he was still in shape for a man his age. Built like a rugged mountain man, you supposed he would need the extra muscle to climb up the hill every time he went into town for supplies. You looked around the cabin. There were few personal touches and the cabin felt somehow cold while the hearth was still blazing. Enji was punishing himself through isolation. You pitied him all the more and almost praised him for taking punishment upon himself for the things he done. However, you also figured that he didn’t need you to rub it in his face. This was a complicated mess to say the least.

“Do you ever get lonely?” You asked.

Enji did not answer this time. You took that as a ‘yes.’

Tentatively, you reached out your hand. When he didn’t bat you away, you placed your hand in his and marveled at the massive difference. You squeezed his fingers when you could not squeeze his hands because of the sheer size. You bodily leaned over. Enji’s armchair sat so close you could climb into his lap with little maneuvering. You leaned up and closed the small gap between you and kissed his cheek. You were prepared for him to yank his hand away and snap. You expected him to yell and threaten to hit you, but Enji did no such thing. Instead, his aquamarine eyes widened and bulged in his sockets. He was as shocked as you were by your daring move. That wasn’t even the last daring idea you had in mind. When Enji turned his head, you stole the opportunity in front of you and captured his lips. Your other hand reached to cup his face.

You slithered off of the couch and without parting your lips from his, you moved to the armchair. Enji put up no resistance as you climbed into his lap. You felt his large hands reach for you. For a split second, you thought you were about to be shoved away and face the ceiling. His hands reached and touched you carefully like you were fragile like a china doll. His hands were almost big enough to span your whole waist. You straddled his waist with care as you deepened the kiss.

Both of you sighed into the kiss. Enji’s fingers felt rough against your skin even through the fabric of his shirt clothing you. Calloused touches ran up your legs to the hem of the shirt, which kissed below your knee. Enji pressed your knees against his hips then rose out of the armchair. His arms caught you before you slid. The kisses became more passionate and fierier. Enji didn’t take you off to his bedroom but laid you out by the fire on the warm rug. Your heart sank and wondered how badly you insulted him. This would have made more sense if he had stopped kissing you back. Lips sealed against each other, giving neither of you much room for air. Hands worked each other’s clothing, popping buttons and running over bared skin.

You didn’t stay on your back for long. You pushed him back. He was strong enough to throw you across the room if he wanted to, but Enji laid on his back for your pleasure. You straddled his waist, pulling down his pants. You slid out of your leggings and stepped out of your clothes. The buttons down your front were open to your belly button. Your thighs ached as you stretched them to straddle Enji’s waist.

“Slow down,” Enji urged.

That didn’t stop you from reaching behind and exposing his cock. You ran your hand up and down his girth, earning you a low growl. Enji arched his back slightly and gripped your hips to hold you down against him. You continued to pump his cock until you could feel a bead of pre-cum leak out of the tip. You lifted yourself up a little and moved down his torso until you hovered over his cock. He was thick and veiny, and you wondered how well he was going to fit in your cunt. One way to find out. You lowered and impaled yourself on his cock until he was fully seated within you. Your head fell back to bare your throat to Enji. You closed your eyes to enjoy the moment further. You raised your hips and dropped back down. You and Enji moaned at the same time as you rode him. Enji held your hips, lightly bruising.

“S-Sorry,” he grunted between his teeth.

“Stop…fuck…apologizing. You don’t have to be sorry to me.” You rode him faster.

You fell into a rhythm fucking yourself on Enji’s cock. Sweat beaded down the side of your face and down your back. The fire crackled, though you weren’t paying any attention to it anymore. Skin met skin in a quickening rhythm as you took your pleasure from him. His cock stretched you open like it was your first time. The veins of Enji’s cock rubbed your walls that almost tipped you over the edge, but you had to hang on a little longer. It just felt too good to come now.

“I…I don’t even know your name,” said Enji. “You…know mine.”

“Y/N, you can call me Y/N. Fuck!”

Enji thrust upwards to meet you riding on his cock.

“Good to know,” he said.

His eyes followed your breasts bouncing as you impaled yourself on him over and over. Enji leaned up, bracing his weight with one arm, to kiss and lick the sweat from your collar bone. He kissed the side of your breasts and suckled on your pert nipples. Your spine tingled as he sucked. You rode him harder and he held you tight like a lover would. When you could no longer control yourself, the coil which had been winding up sprung loose. You screamed and it echoed off the cabin walls. The flood unleashed made you gush all over him. Enji pulled out to the tip and slammed home again before coming too. His milky cum leaked out as you stayed on top of him.

“If you…say sorry,” you said between breaths, “I think I might strangle you.”

You lay exhausted on his chest. You must have fallen asleep because when you woke up, you were dressed in a different shirt and wrapped up in bedsheets. You found Enji in his kitchen making breakfast. It was two days before he helped you venture out and dig your car out of the snow. Your parting was awkward, and you drove home without ever contacting your friend about your absence.

Enji looked out his window in the afternoon light. January still meant hills of snow barring anyone but daring travels up through the woods. His cabin was cold, isolated. He was alone with his thoughts at the strange woman who got caught in a snowstorm and the two days they spent together getting to know one another in all kinds of ways. He didn’t expect anything less than a bad parting and never seeing each other except in passing.

A car pulled up to his cabin. Enji thought he recognized it but couldn’t be certain. A woman popped out of the driver’s seat. She put her keys in a purse instead of holding onto them herself. Did she mean to stay for long? He was about to find out.

He’d left the cabin door unlocked. Who was going to bother him all the way out here? The woman made herself welcome as if she’d been there before. She took off her hat and scarf, letting Enji remember who she was. Her cheeks looked warm. He watched her dig into her purse and produce a plastic strip for him to see. Enji wasn’t getting any younger. Wordlessly, he pulled out a pair of reading glasses from his shirt pocket. He choked when he saw the little pink plus sign.

“Do you want to start over, Enji?”

#my hero academia #my hero academia fanfiction #mha fanfiction #mha smut #reader fic #y/n #fem!reader #mild angst #enji todoroki #endeavor #enji x reader #endeavor x reader #fallen from grace #18+ only #minors dni #Minors begone

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razorblade180 · 4 years

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Twin Snowflakes pt19: Skill, Sickness, and Skirts

Four hours into the day and no incident at school. So far so good, Summer thought to herself. It was pretty weird to be at school knowing Nick wasn’t around. The two never really saw much of each other anyways, but it was weird nonetheless. Summer sat quietly in the nurse's office with papers on her lap and a text book in her hand; the typical set up. Classroom temperatures and an abundance of not so nice peers made for a very dreadful school environment most days. It wasn’t all bad. Quiet time for most of the day was nice. Nobody or no one to bug her. Until the door swung open and Veronica disrupted the vibe.

“Yo Princess.” The girl said in a good mood. Veronica actually didn’t sound insufferable right from the jump. That nickname was still annoying though. “Do I have to pay you to use my name regularly?”

“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I don’t care about your money. It will never influence me. Eliza said I might find you in here. I thought she was joking but I should’ve known this is totally a thing you’d do.” Veronica looked around the sterile environment, devoid of anything interesting. “I’m supposed to be nice to you, but it’s shit like this that brings my opinion of you crashing down.”

“Whatever.” Summer groaned, rolling her eyes. “It’s not like it was high to begin with. Why are you even in here?”

Veronica took a seat on the bed next to her. She reached for one of those sticks nurses pressed down on people’s tongue and started scratching her nails along the edges. “For you obviously. I gotta be around a student council member and Eliza is taking a test. PE is your next class isn’t it?” The stick finally snapped from the friction. “Might as well try and be active and see the school. Being in one room all day is boring.”

Summer didn’t like anything she just heard. The worst class with Veronica? Why was life this cruel. She was a good girl, yet a trail came day after day to test her. “Umm you should rethink that. Valerie is in my class.Plus it can get annoyingly loud.” A cheap deterrent but Summer had to try something.

Veronica shrugged. “So? I’ll just stay away from that jock. Also I’m no stranger to crowds and microphones. That’s my life too, remember? I know how to adjust accordingly.

Summer frowned as she gathered her papers. “But-” Veronica put a finger over her lips to silence her. The girl slowly removed said finger and started putting Summer’s stuff away.

“We can make this suck, or we can make it tolerable. Let’s just both try not to step on each other’s toes and get through 90 minutes together, fair?” Veronica put Summer’s thing over the petite girl’s shoulder then got her on her feet. The slightly forceful push out the door made Summer yelp? “Why are we leaving now!?”

“Because I can phase us through the locker room door and get us changed before anybody shows up.”

“W...wait, you care about things like that? But you’re so….” Summer leaned further back to press against Veronica’s boobs. “Filled out.”

Veronica hit the girl on the head. Summer couldn’t help but notice the slight blush that appeared. “Don’t be so dense.” Veronica protested. “Just because I’m hot doesn’t mean I like stripping down to my underwear in front of others. And honestly, what’s with everyone and tits!?” She ranted, clearly passionate about the subject. “Nothing is fun about back pain. I also don’t need a bunch of entitled snobs staring at my ears and tails like I’m an exotic zoo animal. Changing early avoids most of that.”

“You eventually have to change again though.”

“I don’t have any classes so I’m not in a rush. I’ll just wait for everyone to leave or change someplace else.” Veronica looked at Summer annoyed. “Can you start actually walking or am I going to have to keep pushing?” Summer leaned forward and out of the way. She wasn’t expecting Veronica to hate changing almost as much as herself. They really did share a similar annoyance towards school. For different reasons of course. Kids looked at her scars and snickered. If Veronica felt like a zoo animal, then Summer felt like a freak show at a circus. That’s what those stares felt like anyways. Summer took Veronica by the hand and sped up.

Veronica jolted. Being grabbed like that was a pet peeve.“Hey! What’s with the pulling!?” Summer looked back at her and stuck her tongue out. “Don’t be pushy if you can’t take it. We’re gonna take a shortcut. It’s not like you really know where you’re going anyways.” Veronica mumbled under her breath. Admittedly she had this coming. Veronica had no choice but to listen.

xxxx

Back at home, Weiss was having her own set of problems in the form of her overzealous son. She had just walked in on him out of bed and reaching for his sword. Granted, he was looking leagues better than he was this morning, but that’s what medicine does! It didn’t mean he was actually better! Weiss put down the tray holding his lunch and medicine. “Am I going to have to get the black wig?” She crossed her arms and gave him the infamous mom look.

Nick gulped. Bleiss wasn’t a person to bargain with. “Let’s not be hasty hehehe.” His nervous laughter made his voice crack slightly. “I’m feeling so much better and staying in bed all day is boring, so I thought some light training…”

“That’s partly why you’re sick!” His mother exclaimed. “Your body needs proper rest.” Nick pumped his fist in the air and boasts, “My body has rested! I’m an Arc after all.”

Weiss remained unconvinced, giving him a look of judgement. Nick let out a defeated sigh. “Come on mom, I have to do something. I feel like I’m right at the cusp of a breakthrough. King of the Hill is mine this year, I can feel it.” Nick looked at his hands with excitement and frustration. He wiggled each finger before clenching his fist. “I just need to push a little more. Somehow.” He looked at his mother who was still judging him.

Weiss could tell he wasn’t bluffing, and neither was that video from the physical exam. What Nick did was beyond impressive and exceeded what she was doing at his age. It was also rocky as hell. There were multiple areas in his fighting style that needed severe ironing out. “It’s moments like these I think karma is playing with me. Winter had a difficult time reeling me in whenever I wanted to train too.” Weiss laughed a little, remembering those simpler times. They weren’t all fun and games but she cherished them wholeheartedly. “If you’re going to train then I’m going to be overseeing it and you’ll follow my rules.”

Nick’s eyes lit up like fireworks. “Seriously, the two of us!? Aren’t you busy?” Weiss shook her head. “I’m here taking care of you aren’t I? If we’re doing this then you should know swordplay isn’t the focus. You sir need to pay more attention to glyphs.” She pointed at him in shock. “I can’t have a son of mine slack off in a technique that’s built into his very DNA.”

It stung a bit to hear that but that’s because she wasn’t wrong. Nick knew compared to everyone else his glyphs were lackluster, especially to Summer. Her combinations and skill made him think she was constantly going through dust ratios in her head like an encyclopedia. “Well then, that took the wind out of my sails.” He slumped over.

“Practice makes perfect. Meet me in the garden in half an hour. Eat and take your meds before then.Also wear something warm.” Weiss said as she left.

“Yes ma’am.” Nicholas flopped onto his bed. At least it was better than doing nothing at all.

Thirty minutes went by in no time at all. Nicholas approached his mother wearing warmer clothes than his pajamas. He had chosen to wear some sleeping thermals over lounging sweatpants while his upper body was warmed by a thick gray hoodie. Normally the cold wasn’t a problem, but being sick made things a little harsher. The two stood on one of the four walkways that made the giant square garden. In the middle was a decently sized hedge maze that was surrounded by tea tables and various kinds of foliage. Apparently this was his grandmother’s favorite spot. Tea wasn’t her beverage of choice though. If it was then maybe she wouldn’t have drunken herself to an early grave.

Nick shook away the depressing thoughts. Weiss was doing the same by the way she briefly zoned out until Nick moved. He clapped his hands together. “So, what’s on the agenda?”

“Your video tells a lot about you. Constructing swords is a skill you don’t need to work on. It’s clear you got that down.”

Nick smiled proudly. “I didn’t get the nickname Gilgamesh for nothing.”

“That name also tells everyone just how bad you are at long distance and anything that isn’t directly connected to swordplay.” Weiss pointed out.

His smile turned sheepish, the pride snuffed out. “So I’m guessing that’s today’s lesson?”

“You’re half right.” Weiss grabbed his blade, Mort Froide, and placed it in his left hand. She was lucky her son was ambidextrous. His passion for dual wielding was to thank for that. She positioned his left foot forward and his right foot back; adding a slight bend to his left leg. “We’re going to put your body in positions that are normally opposite to what you’re used to. Do you know why?”

“Versatility? That way I can do sword and semblance skills with either hand?”

“Not only that, but to strengthen them and let you feel the difference in performance. Naturally you’re right handed, which means casting glyphs and swordplay is inherently going to be better on that side. Casting glyphs for you usually involves your left. It’s made it well trained, but it also means you’re rarely performing them as strong as you could be. Make a wall with your right and then with your left.”

Nick extended his middle and pointer finger while flicking his wrist up. A generic glyph formed in front of them in a second that was wide enough to cover both of them. He switched to his left to try the same. The delay was about a second longer and half of Weiss’s body was exposed. Not only that, the glyph looked slightly dimmer. He had never noticed the difference.

“Woah….who knew?”

“Your sister.” Weiss jabbed at him. “Not only is the size and speed different, but I guarantee that right handed casting can take and deal more damage. A helpful tip for Valerie. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a subconscious amount of effort and aura going more into the left one too, but you’ve done it for so long that I doubt the difference is hindering you. Just something to keep in mind.”

Weiss pulled out Myrtenaster and slipped in lightning dust. “Our swords, like any other weapon, are conduits for our aura. Using our semblance with them is second nature and having both hands to perform glyphs by having them on the sword provides more power behind it. It’s not always viable unfortunately.”

“I know. Making the quantity and quality of swords around me helps when I do the stance you taught me. The one where you kneel and stab into the ground.” He twirled his sword once before taking a knee, piercing the ground as a demonstration. “I have the fundamentals understood. It’s the concentration I’m lacking I guess.”

Weiss agreed. “Believe me, it’s challenging. You can get to the level of focus, but you take too long to reach that point. Which brings us back to our lesson today. She handed him vials of lightning and fire dust. “You’re going to practice a practical technique, and an impractical one. The first one is time dilation.” Weiss could see her son’s face turn to despair, making her laugh. “Haha don’t worry, I’ll help you through it.”

“Mom we’ve been down this road before. It ended with me constantly getting shocked. I didn’t even pull it off.”

Weiss remembered that day. Nick couldn’t touch anything with static cling for hours. “Hey you’re a little older now. Asking that much of you was definitely on me. If you can learn to use it, then your swordplay automatically becomes better. Quick attacks are already your forte. Having this without Summer’s help will elevate you. Especially if you’re dual wielding.”

Nick couldn’t deny any of that. Time dilation was a move that would be perfect. Too bad he sucked! It was one of the few things he had no progress in. It was essentially the beginning of deep diving of advanced glyphs. “What’s the second lesson?”

Weiss pointed to the maze. “The infamous candle test!” She said b like an announcer almost.

It was one rough reveal after another. “No! I’m going to burn everything!” Nick wasn’t being a defeatist, but realistic.

The candle test was the epitome of a fire hazard. It was a difficult way of working on control and concentration to an obsessive degree. The objective was to light the candles set up on the inside of the maze as fast as possible by using their semblance. At novice level, a person goes through the maze lighting them one by one. That way control was the main focus. A step above that is to stand in the center and send tiny embers to each candle. That requires more concentration on directing the fire while controlling the output from the very start. A level beyond that was to do it from the balcony. That way you can see all the candles, but now you have wind to worry about. The flames needed to be strong enough to reach the candle while being perfectly on course so plants burn. Finally, there was lighting all the candles from the ground level from the outside of the maze. Nick could only get through the first two levels. Summer does the fourth option for fun…

“Mom, there’s no way you’re expecting me to do option four well, right?” He cautioned. “You’ll be putting out a lot of fires.”

“That’s fine. That’s what practice is all about. Repetition will make it easier because I’ll keep the candles in the same area I always do. Even if you get marginally better at this, then you’ve progressed more than you will realize.” Weiss rested her hand on Nick's shoulder. It was relieving to know that her child could still act his age. She probably shouldn’t be happy to see him nervous, but she was. “Think of it like this. Let’s say you can get past level three of the candle test in about three minutes. A level of control and concentration that swift will make everything you can already do faster.” Weiss put her sword down and held her hand palm up. A glyph suddenly formed then burst into a flash of light.

Nick closed his eyes briefly. Only to open them again to see a Sphinx the size of himself standing next to his mother.

“It’ll also bring you steps closer to everything you can’t do yet.” Weiss petted her creation. “That thing you did with your gigas is really impressive. It would be a tragedy if you couldn’t pull it off in intense, solo combat.”

Now he was fired up. He still wasn’t entirely sure how he pulled off what he did during the fight with the Paladin, but he did know that it would be a game changer if he could call upon it at will. If he could even be a fourth of what he was that day then he’d have a useful crutch. If getting to that point meant doing what he was bad at, then there was no time for whining. Nick placed a vial of lightning dust into the hilt of Mort Froide. “Let’s get to work then! Valerie won’t know what hit her!”

xxxx

“Why am I so bad at this!” Nicholas shouted off of the balcony. He had been doing the candle test for about two hours now. Time dilation was tricky but the basis of it was something Nick had the hang of, so they switched gears to this. A thing he couldn’t handle even if he had extra arms.

Weiss finished putting out the flames on the slightest burnt maze. At least it was warm enough outside to not need a coat. Both of them had switched to tank tops. “Give it one more good try, then we’ll take another break.” She encouraged enthusiastically. “Don’t worry about speed right now. Focus on concentration and control.”

“Okay…” Nick took a deep breath and got back into position. This time with his sword in his right hand. He raised it to the sky to make a fire glyph then brought it down in front of him.

“Might want to angle it a little higher. Have it arch through the air.” Nick followed hire instructions accordingly. He had twelve candles he needed to light . All in separate spots. The middle of the glowed brighter as a flame ignited. It grew more and more in size before the flame wrapped around itself to make a fireball. Concentration. Nick pulled his sword back and assessed his targets. He split the fireball into twelve smaller ones that went to the edge of the glyph like a clock face. This was control.

Beads of sweat ran down his from the heat and training, that was more rigorous than he thought it would be. “Aim and….” Nick thrusts his blade forward to send them flying. All twelve were on track this time thanks to Weiss’s advice, but only eight of them landed on their targets sadly. The other four fizzled out half way there. The boy groaned, irritated with his progress. Weiss could understand that. Between her family and Jaune, there wasn’t a soul around who didn’t strive for perfection in training.Nick went to raid his sword again but it was quickly pushed down by Weiss’s.

“Uh uh, break time.” She tossed him a towel for him to wipe his face, and screamed if he needed to. She did i that sometimes in moments like these. On the bright side, nothing was on fire that shouldn’t be. “I know this won’t mean much coming from your mom and all, but I think you’re doing pretty well.”

“What are you talking about?” Nick said, wiping his face clean of sweat and ash. “That means a lot. You’re the best at this mom.” He smiled which made Weiss smile. “Maybe I can ask Summer for insight when she gets home.”

“While you’re at it you should probably ask for singing practice with her since she talked you into a duet.”

Nick shuddered at the thought. “Ugh, don’t remind me. I’m not well enough to deal with the critiques of an idol that loves the stage more than breathing.” Summer was a nice girl most of the time. Not to mention reserved, but that changed drastically when it came to singing, Veronica, Shiva, and the heat of battle. Maybe it had something to do with adrenaline? She did enjoy snowboarding after all. “I think I’ll practice singing with you instead. It’ll be less trouble.”

“You’re just afraid of greatness.” Called out at Sumner from behind them. Her folks turned around in shock to see her standing there. “What? Lose track of time? Schools over.” Her attention was brought to her tired twin. Summer did not expect him to be training on a sick day, nor did it make her feel good about how she spent her time. Yet again, Nick was slowly widening the gap between them. This time it was in something she was good at. “How many candles?” She asked, mainly to boost her own ego.

“Eight. Not nearly as good as you.” He said in earnest. “Mind showing me how it’s done?” Weiss handed Summer her sword hilt first.

Great, now she felt a little guilty. Here she was happy to have a leg up on him and he praised her without reason. Summer grabbed her mother’s sword. “No offense Nick, but I can’t put how to do this into words. I just...get it.” She peeked over the edge to see the candles, then stepped back far enough to not see them at all. A fire glyph formed in front of her and with a flick of her wrist, one huge fireball shot up into the sky. It reached over the middle of the maze before bursting into twelve flames that landed right on the candle. Summer gave back her mother’s sword and walked away feeling accomplished. “Just keep at it!” She shouted.

Nick grabbed the tip of his towel and grunted into it. “No effort at all. It’s like she waved it like wand and the rest worked itself out.”

“I hope you know that you don’t have to reach that level of fluidity? Summer has a knack for glyphs the same way you have one for swordplay. Not that either of you are particularly bad at either if I do say so myself.”

“Hard to say that after today.” Nick mumbled, looking at the lit candles. “Hey? If Summer is so good at this then why can’t she summon more than a limb or two?”

“Well to put it simply, summoning requires a lot more than skill. Passion, need, you gotta put your all into it. You’ve done it before. Both of you did at the exam. What were you feeling?”

“Good question.” He sat down and crossed his arms, reflecting on the moment. “Desperate? I stopped thinking about myself and the test for a moment. All I wanted to do was make sure Valerie and Summer were safe, then poof. Next think I know I’m in armor.”

“Anything else?” Weiss was intrigued. She must’ve rewatched the final five minutes of that video at least a dozen times by now.

“Well after they were safe I wanted to end the fight as fast as possible. Huh, I wanted to win no matter what. Then I blacked out.”

Weiss has done that before. She couldn’t count how many times it’s been her vs a grimm that had hurt a teammate and all she wanted to do was strike it down. “I want you to keep that feeling in mind for awhile. Try and understand those emotions so you can use them whenever.”

“I’ll try. Who knows, maybe one day I can win a match against you.”

“Ha! Graduate from an academy first and become a pro first.” Weiss ruffled her child’s wild hair, making him laugh. “Don’t expect me to hold back either. You’re getting everything. From dragons to behemoths!”

The two kept laughing and enjoying their time together that they didn’t even notice Veronica had entered the room. A piece of her didn’t want to interrupt. Not just before seeing Nick laugh was pretty freaking adorable, but because both of them were way more in shape than she realized. Nick was still growing so that made sense, but Weiss!? Veronica wasn’t sure if she paid attention to Weiss’s arms but. They were cut! No wonder her own parents gush over her. It was hard to believe she pushed out twins. Veronica also took note of the lingering embers and fire dust in the air that surrounded the mother and sun. She’ll try to remember it for her fire and ice clothing design. Could be useful.

Veronica finally spoke up. “I take it you’re feeling better?” Her voice finally catches their attention.

Both of them look at her then gasp. Veronica stood before them wearing a white and blue cheerleader outfit. The skirt altered colors while the half shirt was white with blue stitches and Nick’s school name on the chest. The girl swayed side to side with pompoms in her hands. A smug smile spread on her face as her ears and tail bounced to her little dance.

“Sup!” Veronica sang, enjoying the reaction. Weiss and Nick looked at each other, then back at her. “I was gone for a day!” Nick exclaimed. “How did all of this happen?”

Veronica snickered, thinking about gym class. “I’ll tell you about it later.” She spun around for fun.

“Having fun?” Weiss smiled. “I guess today wasn’t like yesterday?”

“Nope!” Veronica cheered. “Are you feeling better? I can tell your breathing is still a little shaky and your heart rate is off.”

Weiss went back into mom mode. “Nick, are you still exhaust- uhh Nick?” The boy didn’t respond. He had spaced out watching Veronica. It took a minute to realize but the moment Veronica noticed that his gaze was on the swaying skirt and torso, her face got a little more smug. Not to mention red. Weiss bopped her son in the head to snap him back to reality. “Whatcha looking at?” She said with a smirk.

Nick’s brain finally started working again and noticed the faces staring at him. He immediately turned red and looked at the ground. “Sorry, I totally didn’t mean to...ya know.” Their laughter only made him redder.

“Well what do you know? The knightly prince is just like any other high school boy. Honestly if it weren’t for Valerie I’d assume you swing the other way sometimes.” Veronica joked, catching Nick off guard.

“Hey! Who would think that?”

Weiss rubbed her chin. “You do complain and avoid so many other girls.”

“Don’t agree with her! You did the same with rich boys!” He countered. Nick then remembered his mother had told him that she’s flirted with her own teammates countless times. “Actually...forget what I just said.”

“Yeah you were about to set yourself up.” If Weiss had her black wig then she wouldn’t think twice of letting certain escapades with Yang and Blake slip. Just for a good laugh. “Seriously, you okay?”

“Totally, can we keep going? I wanna try just a little longer.”

Veronica spoke up again. “Actually I was hoping to steal you away for awhile. I still need actual measurements for your clothes. If that’s not a problem. Summer already did hers.” She added for extra effect.

Weiss thought that was a good day. “I don’t mind cutting the lesson short soon. Give him like another twenty minutes. In the meantime you can unwind for school.” Veronica’s eyes got big. “Okay!” She did a backflip and phased through the floor where she should’ve landed. Suddenly it made sense how she might’ve been put on the team. Harriet lives for flare. A confident gymnast that always lands on her feet and is pretty well known would add to the tournament festivities while potentially beating out the school cheer teams.

“That woman really likes winning.” Nick thought to himself. “Alright, back to the grindstone!” He stood up with renewed vigor. Or whatever you would call a second win whenever you had a cold. He had twenty minutes so he was going to make them count. “That outfit would go to waste if I lose. Can’t have that.” There was something about the way he thought that made Weiss happy. He might be her child, but phrases like that were very Ruby like. He was just so sweet and turning into a fine young man. She couldn’t help but wrap her arms around him and hold him close. “I love you so much.”

Nick’s face was turning red again as he hugged his mother. In truth he could spend the remainder of training time like this in complete satisfaction. “I love you too.”

xxxx

Across the manor, Yang was paying her daughter a visit. Or least she intended to, but somehow she wound up peeking through the crack door of Vee’s room as the girl admires herself in the cheerleader uniform; doing generic poses and the occasional giggle. That came to an end however when Yang was caught in the mirror reflection with a cheeky smile on her face.

“Gah! Ma!!” Veronica said flustered beyond belief. Yang could only let out a hardy laugh as she entered the room. “Sorry not sorry, I couldn’t resist.” She said, hugging her embarrassed daughter. Yang was actually surprised Veronica let her hug her on the first try. Usually Yang’s arms would pass right through her.

“Well well well, somebody is in a good mood, and for obvious reasons.” Yang tugged at the uniform. “And you said nothing good would come out of school.”

Veronica playfully rolled her eyes. “Okay fine, today was pretty alright. Happy now?”

“I’m happy you’re happy.” Yang kissed her cheek and stared into the mirror with her. “We didn’t talk much after you came home yesterday or this morning. Holding up? Careful not to eat too much meat.Not that I mind, but you’ll be upset with yourself if you do.”

“Yeah I know. I’ve been pacing myself today. I’ll probably have a salad or something for dinner. Haven’t figured it out.”

Yang took it upon herself to sit at the edge of Veronica’s bed while her daughter started putting school stuff away. “You know I bet Nick would find it interesting to see the difference between starved and apex.”

The comment made Veronica cringe. She wouldn’t know how to feel if anyone saw her like that again, let alone Nick. “Let’s not test that theory. Acting like that in Atlas of all places wouldn’t do well for human and faunus relations. Speaking of which…” She pulled out her scroll and tossed it to Yang with a tab of herself on it.

Yang read the headline. “Menagerie’s Favorite Daughter Spotted in Atlas.” The picture itself wasn’t recent. It was Veronica on top of a car with a megaphone during one of many protests. Yang liked this picture a lot. Veronica had a fist raised in the air as people chanted with her and waved signs against an intense sunset. She looked powerful. “I guess they know now. Not that they wouldn’t with all the help you’re providing for the twins.”

“That’s true. I just don’t want people hassling me. I’m here to do my own thing, focus on my designs. Spend time with Nick…” she mumbled that last part. Yang heard it anyways. You would think a faunus with amazing hearing would know how to whisper. “How much does Nick know about your situation?” She asked.

“Are you referring to my physical situation, or my social one?” She hated that she had to clarify. Technically Veronica could think of three, but mentioning the third one would be a long conversation she didn’t want to have with anyone. She had it handled anyways. “Socially, I haven’t said anything much. Physically, I clarified things you told him behind my back.”

Yang had managed to forget about the part where she did that. “Oh yeah? I guess that’s a decent amount.”

“Not even going to deny that last part?”

“Nope!” Yang put her hands behind her head and walked around a bit. This always helped her think. “I’m not gonna apologize either for being concerned either. My options were your crush or the girl you’ve argued with since you were four. You don’t confide in me with everything and gods know that I couldn’t ask you to tell someone. You’d throw a fit!”

To say her options were limited was an understatement. Veronica could see that. It still felt invasive.Then again, that’s what parents are. “Point taken, even if I don’t like it.”

“Glad you can see it my way. Letting Summer know would be nice too. Friends knowing your struggles can be therapeutic.”

“We’re not friends.” Veronica aggressively stated, a slight amount of attitude came. “Being friends with a girl like her would only piss me off. I’ll be civil and nothing more!” She scoffed. Yang threw up her arms in jest. “If that’s what you want. I suppose I’ll settle for Nick knowing.” A devious thought came into her mind. “Better hope he doesn’t ask about heat.” Yang wasted no time bolting out of the room as Veronica got a deep blush and started shouting, her mind flustered.

“He doesn’t have to know about that! And you better not bring it up!!” That conversation didn’t have to exist. Those answers will be kept to herself even if it meant gluing her mouth shut. After that remark, Veronica desperately needed to cool off. Time for a shower.

xxxx

Turns out twenty minutes wasn’t that much time for Nick to make any further improvements. Disappointed, he walked down the hallway towards Veronica. He hadn’t been in that room since she showed up. He assumed it had to look like a boutique by now. Nick turned the counter and bumped into his sister unexpectedly on the way there. Summer had ditched the uniform in favor of an oversized ‘Boop!” shirt and sweatpants. Her studio headphones hung around her neck while her hands held two journals and a pencil. Nick knew this attire. Summer was in what he called, ‘Lyrical Mode.’

“Writing a new song?” He tried to peek at the journals but Summer pulled them closer to her chest. “Yes, and so much more.” She stated defensively. “Oscar thought I should try expressing more of my, let’s say inner feelings. I’m not really sure how it will be received though when it’s done. Piecing it together lyrically has been rough.” Summer looked down to read what she had and sighed. “Fortunately this one is more for me. Tournament wise I have a few ideas of previous covers people might like.”

Nick could tell Summer was deep in thought about this. She wouldn’t win awards if her choices in music weren't meticulously planned. “Well if anyone can pull off this halftime show and make it amazing, it’s you. But I hope you remember that we’re still in the tournament; can’t burn before our matches.” He reminded her as he chuckled nervously.

Summer pursed her lips and studied that chuckle. “Don’t worry, I won’t wear you down. Just get healthy and work on relaxing your jaw when you hold a note.” Summer patted his shoulder and went on her way. “Dad and I will be in the music room.”

“Hold on!” Nick shouted. “How did Veronica get a cheerleader uniform?”

Summer laughed. “Haha! I’m sure she’ll want to tell the story.” Now Nick was even more interested and sped off to the room. Summer stopped and turned around. “Wait, Veronica just got out of-” Summer didn’t speak fast enough.

Nick didn’t stop to think about knocking first. He simply walked in on Veronica wearing a shirt, only a shirt. If Nick thought the skirt was distracting then this was a full blown diversion. The purple shirt stopped right around her thighs and showed off her toned legs. Any movement could easily start showing a bit too much. The two teens said nothing; they just stared right at each other in shock. Nick slowly backed away while closing the door, then started walking away.

Summer shook her head at her idiot brother. “I know it’s our house but how’d you forget to knock?” She didn’t get an answer. He waved her off in embarrassment of his foolish screw up.

Veronica came running out of the room, black shorts appropriately around her person. “Wait!” she got down all fours and pounced once across the hallway, diving right through Nick and blocking his path. His blush was as red as her own. “I walk around like that at home, but I’m not home, so… oops.”

Nick couldn’t believe it. Why was she apologizing!? “No no, that uhh, that one’s on me.” He stuttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Knocking was invented for a reason. Sorry.”

“It’s cool. Well I mean it’s not cool! But you know I uhh...it’s not like I’m…” Veronica had no idea what she was saying. “Mad, I’m not mad” her tail pointed back to her room. “Anyways, ready?”

“Y-Yeah hehe.” Step by step they eventually made their way through the hall again at a good pace. Summer could only write in her other journal, then one made for her feelings.

“Journal entry number 117: Some days it feels like I’m the least awkward person in the room. A very staggering feat to say the least.”

Part 18

#rwby #rwby au #rwby twin snowflakes #weiss schnee #yang xiao long #summer schnee #veronica belladonna #nicholas schnee

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iris-ymir · 4 years

Text

Guilty or Innocent - Iris

Asked someone to marry you?

“No. Not mi thin’. The whole... damn idea about marriage and shite? I dunno. Like... spending rest or yer life with the same person? Absolutely! Its just... Dont get mi wrong here! But the whole mess about marriage, and such.. It sounds so damn artificial. Do I wanna live with someone for the rest of mi years? Sure! But I dont need a fockin’ ring to prove it to anyone.. Then again.. If someone was to ask mi to marry her? Yeah, why not? If ya want a damn ring, lets get a damn ring!”

Kissed one of your friends?

“Shite... Well, yeah. About that... I have kissed many of mi friends actually.. And let mi tell ya. It always ends up into a fockin’ mess. One way or another! I... guess I should stop kissin’ mi friends..?”

Danced on a table in a bar / tavern? “You.. happen to know what Im doin’ for livin’? Yeah. Basically that.”

Ever told a lie?

“Just show me a fockin’ person who has not, and I’ll show ya a bastard who’s lying right there, on dat very damn moment! We all lie... Some more than others, but thats not the point, righto?”

Had feelings for someone you can’t have?

“Yeah... Ya remember I just told ya about kissin’ mi friends and shite? Well dat. I messed up real good. Like... the royal mess up! I still have feelin’s for her... Could rip mi damn heart out for her... But I think she just might be lost for mi for good... Im not giving up though! But as thin’s are.. What happened between us... Heck. It might be a lost fockin’ cause.”

Ever kissed someone of the same sex?

“Im... so very much a bean flicker, ya know? Never had interest in opposite sex... Does dat answer yer question?”

Kissed a picture? "No? Seven hells, why would I be suckin’ on some damn piece of paper?”

Slept until 5pm? “Im a night owl.. I wake up sometime durin’ the afternoon. So yeah. I will sleep until 5pm, if you dont come and wake mi up. Which is fockin’ annyin’ by tha way.. Just let mi sleep..”

Worked at a fast food chain / restaurant “Nope.. And dont have a slightest interest in such! ...I would make a fockin’ horrible restaurant worker... Now this.. may sound rather miserable, but my current job is actually mi first real day job ever! ...Or well.. A night job? Anyway.. Yeah.”

Stolen something? “I would say... Try living on streets of fockin’ Limsa Lominsa for good 10 summers, and then... if yer still alive and kickin’, try asking yaself dat question! ...Yes. I have stolen for livin’.”

Been fired from a job? “As I mentioned just a moment ago, this is mi first day job ever... And I have been able to keep it so far! ... And Im about to keep it! I want to see the faces of every poor bastard, who ever said I could not get, let alone keep a job! And well... I actually kinda like mi job, so there’s also dat. And I get a decent money out of it.”

Done something you regret? “... Really? We need to go back to this again? I had.. a really bad week some time ago, ya know. I did.. lot of shite.. The whole thin’ is just.. so foggy in mi head, its annoyin’! But yeah. I think I almost slept with mi friend.. broke lot of stuff.. a damned heirloom notestand.. And in the end, I went and kissed another friend against her will... The... one I fockin’ love.. Damn, I miss her. But it was not mi damn fault!! I had just like the shittiest week ever! ... I dont know... Maybe some of it kinda was.. Can we just go on? I focked up, okai..?”

Laughed until something you were drinking came out of your nose? “Nnno. Cant remember such thin’. Sometimes a drink has gone like... into mi nose for one or another reason... But actually out of it? I dont think so. Then again, who am I to say! One just cant remember everythin’ ya know?”

Caught a snowflake on your tongue? “No, I have not. Tha Shrimp does it, so.. technically I have? But as miself? No. I have not. On purpose at least.”

Sat on a roof top? “Used to do that in Limsa Lominsa. It was.. an awfully calming feeling, ya know? To get away from all the shite, going on down on the streets. Just... sit alone, watch the ships getting loaded.. Watch them sailin’ away. I dont do it anymore though.. The roofs in Ishgard are fockin’ slippery.”

Kissed someone you shouldn’t have? Iris gives the other a long, dead stare. “... Fockin’ really?! Didn’t I just told ya dat. Ya want some heckin’ details?! Right! So, yes, I was wasted... I shouldn’t have to... And damn yes, it was foolish of mi! Silke. The gal I fancy.. Ya know the type that just... puts damn butterflies into yer tumtum.. rises yer head up to the fockin’ pink clouds faster than anythin’ ya can buy from the streets of Ul’dah.. A damn purdiful fockin’ lass... Damn best thin’ that ever happened to mi... And I focked it up by hecking going and kissing her! So... Ya happy with dis subject now, or are ya gonna poke dat infected wound some more? If so, Im done with dis...”

Sang in the shower?

“Ummm... No.”

Been pushed into a body of water with all your clothes on? “Pushed? I... dont think so! Thrown into water with mi clothes on though... Yes! And I tell ya now! That damn merchant had a heckin’ cart full of those apples! Most of dem would have gone on waste aniway! But nooo.. I get thrown into sea, for one damn apple! One apple!! And it was not even worth it. The apple was dry like Sagolii sand the merchant’s fockin’ muffin-hole was propably full of!”

Shaved your head? "Well, I did not!! Blacksoul did durin’ the time he fockin’ kept mi as his personal damn doll or somethin’.. So yeah! It is growin’ back now, but if it looks like a damn rake-raped crow’s arse to ya, its not my fault!!”

Made a boyfriend / girlfriend cry? “I... dont know, actually! Not during mi time with her, no. We kiinda only had a fleetin’ moment though, so did not ‘ave like... too much time to make the lass cry! ... I guess she still believes mi to be dead though. So its possible she cried for mi presumed death in the hands of her husband’s underlin’s... I hope she did... Yeah.”

Shot a gun? “I did, yeah! Ya know... One of those Ishgardian ones. Loud... lot of smoke... A decent kick. Kinda like a bar night to live for! You know, Im actually even rather decent with guns.. Not my style, though.”

Still loved someone you shouldn’t? “You gotta be kiddin’ me!! ... Oh wait. Someone I shouldn’t? I dont think so... Seven hells, we heckin’ belong together!! ...She has just... yet to understan it... She will! Sooner or later... Hopefully sooner. Fock’s sake, I miss that silly gal and her nice ass...”

Have / had a tattoo? “Yeah, the one around mi eyes. I also have another one on mi thigh... Iris flowers and thorns... Four of dem. For four kinda important people in mi life. From which, I have actually lost... every single one... Fock’s sake, whats wrong with mi?!”

Liked someone, but will never tell who? “Nno. I have... some difficulties in the ‘never tell’-thingie. Im more of a... ‘tell too much’-type o’ person. But ‘ey! Kinda honesty is a good thing, right?”

Been too honest? “If bein’ too ‘onest means kiinda colorin’ the truth a little to make it hit on the mark better. Yeah. I guess so. I just may overact a bit time to time! But den again... Makes the truth more interestin’ huh?”

Ruined a surprise? “No, I hardly part-take in suprises in general...”

Been told that you’re beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said? “Actually... No. I dont know!! Well, mi first girlfriend did, but did she totally mean what she said? Damn, I dont know... Considerin’ the fact she... most likely kinda sold mi out not too long after, it makes it heckin’ hard to believe anythin’ that ever crossed those sweet crimson lips of hers! I wonder why no-one has ever said it though... Im smokin’ hot!! ... So tell me. Am I beautiful..? Hm?”

Stalked someone? “If we call people watchin’ stalkin’ here, then Im damn guilty as a plague rat! But like... in the creepy wai? No! Why the heck would I do somethin’ like that. Dats just sick...”

Thought about murder? “If someone has just taken a royal shite on ya, sweet damn, thats reason enough to just shank the bastard, and scatter the innards into the sea! Most people are so fockin’ rotten though, I dunno if even damn fishies care for their foul organs... Could always make dem into a bagpipe and gift it to their family and friends... Maybe then they could actually get a taste of whut kinda shitebag they been hangin’ around with...”

How about mass murder?

“... Well, as dey say... Apple does not drop far from a tree, and sometimes those apples are rotten before dey hit the ground. So yeah. The last question in mind, why not?”

Cheated on someone? “No! Think anythin’ you want of mi, but Im fockin’ devoted!! ... Well, I have only had one relationship, that lasted for like... couple of months... But damn I was devoted... Up until she choose her husband over mi...”

Gotten so angry that you cried? “Happens time to time... Cryin’.. cleans the system, ya know. Just... Get into middle of nowhere, and scream yer lungs out!”

Tried to stay away from someone for their own good? “... Im kinda doin’ that right now. Dey will be better off without me. She’s got her damn hero dere, taking care of her... Where does she even need mi anyway? Heck, we barely even knew eachother... ... I think Im better off without dem too.. Shite.. Dey were awfully nice towards mi though.. Do I really miss dem? ... Maybe. But it all went down in flames and bloody sheets, can we talk about somethin’ else?”

Thoughts about suicide? “Sometimes the road just rises up against you... I kinda understand it on some occasions! But overall? Kinda waste...”

Had a girlfriend / boyfriend? “Yes? That one mess I mentioned earlier? Ya payin’ attention to dis?”

Gotten totally drunk during a holiday? “Used to... Especially in Limsa, it was kinda mi way to get over the holidays. Hated to see bastards walking around all merry and shite. So I drowned mi holidays in a glass. Last Starlight was different though.. Blacksoul kinda forced mi to stay sober over the holidays... Well.. Mostly sober... Dont ya go tellin’ the old goat, but I... I think I kinda liked it. The whole Starlight with Blacksoul and Gramps... I had never really celebrated it with anyone... As miself. Heck, I just wanted mi Silke to be there, heckin’ messin’ around... I wonder if she ever got mi gift...”

Tagged by wonderful @mai-takeda!! 🌹 This was lot of fun..

Tagging @umbralich (Silke) @sharkycatsifoh @hangedemperor @kyrie-silverwings @under-the-blood-moonlight @alun-ura @isuke-ejinn @ishgard @torr-sceadu @lydha-lran @glorysworn @lavender-hemlock @kazexvoss @glorified-thieves @captainkurosolaire @illia-ast @thefreelanceangel @sdavi-kitanni @kitsune-kirei @violet-warder @desimirffxiv @unatobajhiri @gildedandgolden @eo-sul @robyn-sawyer @eitur & anyone who wants to do it! Cansider yourself tagged!

#the Iris within #guilty or innocent #rp #viera

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365daysoftododeku · 5 years

Text

29th August 2019

Author: Kenyoda

________________________________________________________________

Right Direction

Izuku was wincing as Ochako dragged him down the hallway towards Momo’s room. He usually loved his best friend’s enthusiasm but this was far more personal to Izuku and therefore he was terrified of what she would do. Then add in Mina and Tooru, too… Izuku was afraid for his mental and emotional health. He really should not have mentioned that he was thinking of acting on his crush on Shouto.

Ochako had gotten a worrying gleam in her eye and began rapidly texting. He had protested immediately and she had waved his concern off saying that a majority of the class was well aware of his crush on Shouto; well the girls knew at least. She then gleefully told him that the others wanted to help him, ‘win his man over’. Thus Izuku ended up being dragged to Momo’s room. Instead of feeling hopeful, he was left feeling nothing but dread.

“We’re here!” she announced gleefully as she threw the door open with a bang.

“Ocha! My wall! Please don’t break it!” Momo cried, dismayed.

Ochako had the grace to blush as she apologized. All the girls of Hero Class 2A were gathered on Momo’s smaller, yet still opulent bed. Ochako shut the door with more care than she opened it as she shoved him further into the room.

“Ooooh! You are finally going to make a move Midoriya! I am so happy for you! Let’s make sure it goes well ok?” Tooru piped up, bouncing in place on Momo’s bed.

Izuku smiled nervously. He appreciated their willingness to help, but he was pretty sure that their help was going to cause him untold embarrassment.

Izuku sighed and let Ochako lead him to the bed.

“So! What do we know about Todoroki-kun?” asked Mina from her spot.

“Very little,” croaked Tsuyu. This prompted a snort from Jirou.

“She’s not wrong, though,” Mina continued.

Izuku frowned. As much as he hated to admit it, Izuku knew little more than the basics about Todoroki… aside from his family mess. But that was not what he was focusing on. What did Todoroki like? His friend and crush was a very private person, so private that he would become flushed if someone caught him reading a book in his off time.

He liked cold soba, but that was obvious to anyone that eats lunch with him. He also liked visiting his mom. Didn’t he mention that she had gotten strawberry milk for him one time because she remembered he liked it as a kid? Does he still like it? Shouto never really said one way or the other.

“Mido! Earth to Midoriya?!” called Tooru. Izuku jerked back to the present.

“Ah! Sorry! I got lost in my head,” he admitted.

“We know how hard it is not to daydream about your beau, but if you don’t do something soon in reality, all you will be left with are dreams,” Mina prophesied in a heavy voice.

“That’s n-not! I was trying to answer your question… but I am coming up with little else other than what he likes to eat. Shouto is a very closed-off person. I mean we spend time together, but he doesn’t say much. He is more comfortable…”

“Listening,” Momo finished, smiling.

Midoriya was grateful for Momo. She probably understood his dilemma better than the others since, she was also a close friend of Shouto’s much to Mineta’s dismay.

“Ok… so you can’t spoil him per say… but maybe we can get him to notice you!” said Ochako excitedly.

Notice me? He thought to himself. The image of intense mismatched eyes boring into Izuku’s own from within flushed cheeks burned in his mind’s eye. The very thought made Izuku turn pink.

“I-I don’t— I mean, that doesn’t help in telling him I am interested!” he finally managed to sputter.

“Well, I guess it is more informative for you, kero,” hummed Tsuyu after a moment.

“Oh, I see. If Todoroki reacts to you or at least the change you make… it may give you a clue as to how to proceed. If you should proceed at all.” Momo cautioned.

She had a point, despite how it made his heart sink. Shouto was still pretty touchy about emotions and the like. It was part of the reason he wanted to try to at least test the waters. He had been trying to say that to Ochako before she went off on her one woman crusade.

“Stop being such a downer, Momo! We should at least try!” said Mina, enthusiasm undiminished.

“I mean as entertaining as this whole mess is going to be… there are two people’s feelings on the line here. Izuku here is taking the most risk, but Todoroki could be put in a very tough spot as well. He gets rather skittish when people push too much.” said Jirou, entering the conversation once more.

“I didn’t know you and Shouto talked that much?” said Izuku, not jealous in the slightest.

“We don’t. Not like you and Momo do, but anyone with eyes can see the way he shuts down when people press too hard. But usually Midoriya changes the subject before it gets to that point.” she answered, idly playing with one of her ear jacks.

“Awww! Deku-kun protecting his love’s heart! How noble! But again, how we gonna get this plain but adorable baby noticed by the ice prince?” Ochako asked, refusing to be swayed from the idea. “Perhaps… a wardrobe change?” Mina offered. Izuku blinked.

“We wear uniforms to school everyday, Mina,” Tsuyu points out mercilessly.

“Oh yeah… I mean I know that! But what about in the dorms?” she elaborated.

“Ok… but what would that be exactly? Most of us have after class training and are practically in pjs by the time all is said and done,” drawled Jirou.

The girls dissolved into more arguing and Izuku just wanted to leave. Given that he was still standing and everybody else seemed to be absorbed in planning more and more outlandish ideas, or trying to curtail some of their more enthusiastic dorm mates…. it was as good a time as any for Izuku to make a run for it.

He eyed the door.

As the debate grew more heated, poor Momo was left to be the unfortunate moderator, he carefully inched his way to the door. As he looked back at the arguing group, he still couldn’t help smiling. They meant well, but their overzealous and somewhat extroverted attempts were just not what he was needing. They did help him realize that much. His crush was a true introvert and the girls were trying to plan for someone closer to what might work for Kaminari or Sero. That was not a bad thing, but it would just likely confuse Shouto.

Name brands and dress styles would mean little to Shouto and he would probably not care in the slightest. He would more than likely look Izuku up and down and then ask him if he was ok. Ideas and passions hold an introvert’s attention. Actions speak loudest to them. The social games people played mattered little. With this realization, Izuku felt like he had taken two steps forward before taking one back. But that was fine at least now he knew what direction he was going in.

He quietly slipped out the door and made his way back to his room. He wondered briefly how long it would take before the girls realized that he was gone. As he continued on his way, he wondered what he could do to get Shouto’s attention. Because while their ideas may have been off the mark, they were not inherently wrong. He would need some way to get Shouto’s attention or at least spend more time with him one on one. Maybe with time, he would be able to find new ways to show his feelings to Shouto.

Suddenly, he collided with someone in the hallway.

He stumbled backwards, already apologizing.

“Oh! Sorry, Midoriya. I was not paying attention to where I was going.” Midoriya looked to see Shouto hovering worriedly nearby. The familiar flames of embarrassment lapped at his cheeks.

“A-Ah! It’s f-fine. Really, I was not paying attention, either. But why are you on this side?” he asked, just genuinely curious.

“I needed a another eraser and I did not care to deal with Iida or Bakugou. I went to your room but you weren’t there. So, I came to ask Yaoyorozu.” he explained. Izuku’s heart raced. Shouto had gone looking for him first! Oh stop that! He just assumed that I might have extra! He chided his overeager imagination.

“Oh! Yes, I have one you can borrow! Come on, I’ll grab it for you!” he said excitedly.

He continued on his way to his room, only this time accompanied by his crush. They traveled in silence, finding themselves in front of his door soon enough. Izuku opened his door and made a beeline for his desk. He began to rummage around in his desk drawer. He knew he had a whole pack of those things somewhere… yes! The package was found, he then fished one out and turned scarlet. He had bought the erasers because they were on sale… and they reminded him of Shouto. They were decently sized and in the shape of snowflakes. He kind of wanted to die, but he would help Shouto, embarrassed or not.

“Hey Midoriya,” came Shouto’s voice. Izuku looked up and over his shoulder. Shouto was staring at the back of a book. It was an old history based novel that Izuku had just finished reading upon his father’s recommendation. They liked to trade stories and books they had read. “Was- was this any good?” Izuku stopped for a moment, he could have sworn there had been a slight tremor to his voice.

“Oh! Yeah! It was. It is kind of like a pseudo autobiography about this samurai that got lost in the wilderness for a bit and had to survive until he could escape.” Izuku explained as he made his way over to his friend, the eraser still clutched in his hand.

“Sounds interesting,” Shouto said, looking up at him through his bangs. His hair is getting kind of long, isn’t it? Izuku wondered, lost in admiring his beautiful friend.

“Y-you can borrow it if you like,” he said earnestly. “I finished it.” Shouto opened the front cover and frowned slightly.

“Oh! You found my dad’s note! We like to exchange books. It feels like we are still connected a bit.” he said sheepishly. Shouto looked at him full on this time.

“Oh, then I won’t take it. It’s important to you,” he said starting to put the book back on the dresser. Izuku immediately pushed the book back towards him.

“No! Borrow it! I don’t mind. Then we can… talk about it. I wanna know what you think. Besides, I remember you were close to finishing your last book right?” Izuku said, frowning. He recalled that there were a few pages left unturned when he caught Shouto napping on the common room sofa a few nights ago. Shouto turned pink.

“Um, yeah I did. I didn’t think anyone noticed. But are you sure?” he asked again. Izuku nodded firmly.

“Oh! Here is the eraser you asked for. Sorry, if it’s a little childish. They were on sale.” he explained nervously, refusing to admit to the other reason he bought them. He held the rubber snowflake out to Shouto and his friend’s eyes lit up in amusement. He took with a smile and thanked him.

“I am going to get back to work. I will return this as soon as I am done,” he said softly, indicating the book.

“Oh! Ok! Take your time! And you can keep the eraser. I have several!” he said, smiling. Shouto nodded and left.

Izuku let out a sigh and slumped on his bed. Well, that had gone better than he thought it would. Maybe when Shouto finished the book… they could go talk about it at a cafe? That-That would be nice. He found himself thinking with a flush.

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Would you like your work to be featured in the 365 Days of TodoDeku Project? Apply here! (≧∇≦)/

#Story #ebonyphd #TodoDeku #365DaysofTodoDeku #TodoDeku365 #365 Days of TodoDeku #tddk #Shouto Todoroki #Todoroki Shouto #Izuku Midoriya #Midoriya Izuku #Boku no Hero Academia #BNHA #My Hero Academia #MHA #Todoroki x Midoriya #Shouto x Izuku #TodoIzu #long post

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sole-cuore-amore-e-droga · 5 years

Text

Tel Aviv 2019: Straight outta Denmark to Eurovision with a cute multilingual jingle

youtube

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix is... a NF I don’t really have anything to say about. Like, you expect me to rile up 3 big paragraphs about the pre-NF dramas and what-not, but honestly... what’s the point.

Well, aside from the fact people did not really get excited over the lineup this year. Me neither from the names alone, actually. Even last year was more interesting to look at despite with another lineup of songs you can’t give a fuck about and then move on - I noticed they had Sannie who used to be known as Whigfield (”Saturday Night” <3333 the duck quacks <333), Ditte Marie (anyone remembers “Overflow” from 2012?) and Albin Fredy (which seems to be the same Albin that brought me my one of the two DMGP 2013 favourite songs, “Beautiful to Me”???). This year was a big “WHO IS SHE?? WHERE DID YOU FIND HER???”, so I just left DMGP in the corner where it picked cobwebs until not too long ago when someone got chosen.

Well, this NF keeps being a NF where I don’t personally feel too emotionally fucked about any of them entries, so that’s a big plus in my book, which will mean that I won’t throw a “THIS WAS ROBBED!!!1″ post on Denmark NF-wise... at least this year and the last year because I really loved “Venter” in 2012 and the said “Beautiful to Me” and “Invincible” in 2013 (I also liked “Only Teardrops” but I was mad its victory was so obvious xD). As for why I like it when the NFs don’t toy with my feelings, A Dal 2019 is an obvious demonstration, but more on that on my Hungarian writeup, which is significantly longer than this one - that’s how much of a demonstration it is.

Anyway, let’s talk about the chosen song, shall we? Performed by a smol skater girlie Leonora (Jepsen), here comes “Love Is Forever”, which was co-penned by the ever-so-notorious Lise Cabble - the champ-mastress of writing Eurovision songs for the Danes (by that I mean she wrote their 1995 entry... and then none of her entries got chosen for ESC until 2011 lol). And this is a significally softer turn of hers compared to “Only Teardrops” - ever since Anna Ritsmar in 2018′s DMGP, she tends to write cute, acoustic tunes sung by young ladies with their lil cute and lil crispy voices. “Love Is Forever” is just that, tbh.

Well THAT and also it sounds like a lovely acoustic background song for those funny photos/student quotes/test answers/etc. compilation videos on Youtube (I actually am talking about the channel Scoop, because other kinds of compilation videos use Youtube Audio Library-like pop songs or something straight off NoCopyrightSounds). Or the theme song for a TV programme for animals. Or the theme song for a children's programme they show at hospitals. There's so many places you can insert it into, I guess. At the same time it feels like a cupcake with pink frosting that tastes nice. And a cup of warm cocoa with whipped cream and sprinkles. It's a delightful bite. Yum.

Realistically though, the song itself has an easy noddable-along-to rhythm, cute violin string plucks, the capability to melodically progress to sound even more joyful (I mean, the chorus just adds more and more layers of brass as it keeps repreating, just giving it a bit more of a typical Scoop channel background music material), the D flat major key of this song’s uplifts the spirits of this whole shebang and it also somehow includes lines in some more languages than expected in a Danish song ever, how odd it seems like??? And it’s especially given that we haven’t really heard Danish in a song since like what, 1997?? We only got “shout insh’allah” and “taka stökk til hærri jörð, taka” ever since then, and these aren’t remotely Danish lines. But this year we’re getting some Danish, and French, and even German. Feeling the love in multilingual. L’amour est pour toujours, y’all! Liebe IST für alle da!

There are also people that aren’t buying into the song all that much because Leonora looks way too creepy to sell a song about love love peace peace, like someone emerging out of a demented cabaret. I suppose that other people think that this song was forced onto Leonora when she didn’t really want it, and now has to pretend that we have to spread love to the world, make friendships with others, don’t get too political, and then act all supercool about it. The saddest bit that she does sound like that person that would sing a song like that... young, with a passion for skating, looks like a person that could probably hug you when you least expect it, the one that posts light purple sweater pictures with a glitter effect applied to them on Tumblr, the one who would wear white mittens with a giant red snowflake painted on/knitted into them... I don’t know if that’s all Leonora wanted to compete with in DMGP to make a breakthrough with her singing career after skating so darn much, and if she even believes in what is she singing (this is my rare reminder of the war situation in Israel that’s going on, and I’ll probably never have to speak of this again in any writeup, hopefully. Yeah sure, love is for ever...), but I somehow buy it, sue me. Those acoustics and that touch of brass instruments won me over.

So my final thoughts on this song is that it’s a joyball with that kind of song message so overused I cannot be angry on it because it’s not slapped on a dreary Russian peace ballad - it’s a singer-songwriter-esque small showtune, which makes it all seem a lot different because love is cute and this song is cute. So I guess I have no issues with it, whereas I can’t stand the aforementioned Russian peace ballads all that much because if you remove the good singers singing it, they’re cliché af; “Wars for Nothing” (Hungary 2015) sounded too innocent while having a full gun tree serving as a backdrop for them and if you looked too much into Boggie’s eyes, you could very well feel her penetrating your soul with war imagery; and Iceland last year was a knock-off Russian peace ballad that sounded too good to be unbearably dreary and the vocalist wasn’t even a belting girl. So yeah, I like it. More adorable songs about spreading love, less overdone ballads about world peace.

Thing is though, why did she really dress like a barista from a late-night-open cocktail club? I get that looking like a princess à la Maria Olafs won't cut it anymore as it would look way more saccharine, but Leonora is up like she's there to serve you your damn drink as soon as possible so she could go outside for a small smoke break, not to advertise love. Watch me make "when you have Eurovision at 9 and job at a cocktail bar at 11" memes on the night of the 16th. Seriously, her image barely even fucking suits the song!

Approval factor: Well, one of my faves won DMGP again, for the 2nd time in a row, so why wouldn’t I approve? ^_^ Love from me is forever!

Follow-up factor: For Denmark it kind of seems like a decent follow-up? For all those out here that remember Denmark as the nation that plagiarises every other entry, it would just seem logical for them to finally send a generic royalty free ukulele song for Youtube videos. Which is spectacular! No one knows which song did this one exactly plagiarize - the entire concept was ripped off! Jokes aside, it’s an interesting one after Rasmussen. After a song that urges you to lay your weapons down in a war and go find higher ground more peacefully, we’re now getting a morale on the fact that love is for ever and everyone. Isn’t it sweet. I’d rather these than a bland love song about laying down armours and guns. ^_^

Qualification factor: depends. For now I feel like writing it off because to the 1% of the people who’ve already heard this song beforehand and hate this song, the whole thing feels like “love :) is :) forever :) please love everyone you little shit :) :) :)”. To some others however, like Luke Malam from ESCXtra, it’s a song that definitely makes them feel the love being forever, just like “yaaaay we love each other and the world yaaaay!!! ^o^”, so it’s perhaps a bit of a mixed bag. I wanna see it through though, just as much as I want to see Lithuania, about which I will be talking next in these write-ups. But I see it very much so as a borderline because... idk, just a gut feeling. Sometimes songs that ooze loveliness just don’t quite get themselves across the other hand side of the viewer thus they don’t really qualify, for example, Finland 2012, another song sung by a lady better known as a sportswoman rather than a singer (but maybe that’s just because there was too much intimacy of hers with her and her celloist’s mom, and she looked too awkward to pass the intimacy to the viewers so they too could feel the loving bond and the life metaphors coming from a Finnish entrant singing in Swedish). For now from me it’s a positive borderline. Yes, I think that it probably will make it and we’ll see that large Ikea chair prop with many people swaying to the rhythm on it next to Leonora on Saturday as well.

NATIONAL FINAL BONUS

Even with me not having much to say about DMGP, I will go ahead and cherrypick the favourite songs from the event:

• The big favourite of mine this year was brought by Julie & Nina, who served a bilingual schlager-like midtempo track, “League of Light”. Hats off to sounding properly Eurovision-y but without using a “rent-a-NF-songwriter” songwriter for to write this! It’s soaring, majestic, somewhat memorable and inclused Greenlandic. Yeah. Do you believe that this would have been a year where we could’ve gotten more exotic Language spins? Now we have lost both Aboriginal and Greenlandic out of Eurovision, hopefully just for this year so the languages can return again sometime. I’m proud of these women being so courageous and delighting some that really wanted schlager pop that still can click with some that are bored of Eurovision NF schlager cliches. Oh and this song is in A flat minor, probably one of my favourite keys in music. Not too bad, everything this was, although the aggression they transmitted through the song during their live DMGP performance kiiiiinda made them looked like pissed-off housewives imo?

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• Them both and this guy below, Sigmund, were picked to the superfinal to compete against Leonora. What was Sigmund’s contribution and why did he deserve to be there so much? Well, I really love his colourful flamboyant electropop track that has piano influences, “Say My Name”, which lyrically reflects on the song’s protagonists big power that he will probably have if only the invisible force Sigmund’s singing to would just “say [his] name”. And I definitely think he deserved his spot over some really nice pop entries that the fandom definitely overrated. Oh and the song is in A flat minor too. Maybe I’m biased, maybe I’m not. You judge. >:)

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• See, I don't feel like talking about the DMGP songs this year. It's a cool bunch of songs that some of them I like but nothing quite outstanding to talk about beyond those I already have paragraphs for. Well maybe you'd like to look up the entries by Humorekspressen (for to get a pub singalong song) and Jasmine Gabay (for to get yet another Latino-influenced Havana club track). But that's it. Here from me the last one you'll be getting is Simone Emilie with her teen-flavoured light radiofriendly dance-ish song "Anywhere". Why didn't it do better despite having the power to click with the Eurofans quite much? Well, maybe it's because her backdrop and the fairytale-esque dress went for another kind of atmosphere than it was required to have on the song.

• I don't know, I just find this particular winning reaction shot funny. Not sure if she's yawning or being like "yaaaazs bitchesss ;) 😄 ✨" in here. I gotta say - her lipstick was definitely on fleek that night.

That guy below her takes the cake at making this shot memorable too. Do you want the invisible meal Leonora is about to take a bite of too?

And besides that moment I don’t really have any on-show moments besides songs that were somewhat memorable. Why do Danes always have to be this vanilla in the Nordic country barrage, I will never get. That’s it. That’s their crime. Of being average. And being sued for plagiarism a lot in the past.

For now I’d just wish Leonora good luck in Tel Aviv and show ‘em that love can and will prevail before hatred does, if only people remember to love... ah wait, wrong kind of philosophy.

#eurovision 2019 #tel aviv 2019 reviews #denmark 2019 #leonora #love is forever #denmark

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fanatical-san · 6 years

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Omg 6, 22 or 24 for Drarry - I can’t decide which one as I think they’d all be amazing, so I’ll leave it up to you! :)

I have spent a day writing these, so I apologise if the quality’s really low. Fasting doesn’t really help, either XD

I answered 24 here for another person here, so you can go read it (AO3 version here). I answered six for you as a separate post here (and there’s also an AO3 version). And finally, here’s twenty two (which is also available on AO3): “Sorry.You’re the first person I’ve spoken to in ten years.” I’ve called the piece ‘Herbal Tea’. Yep, it’s one of those.

And yes, I answered them all, because I couldn’t help myself. A massive shoutout to @skarhead and @jostaart, though, because I trawled through their brilliant blogs for inspiration, and these three drarry fics are the result. Whilst they’re based on the prompt, not particular artwork, @skarhead and @jostaart was crucial for bringing my ideas to life! And um, I got a little carried away with this one, so some of it’s under a cut. I hope you enjoy it, and that it’s not completely boring. Here goes:

The November air is chilly, although the temperature isn’treally anything new to Harry, living in Britain. There’s something distinctlydifferent about it to October, though, and he takes a moment to pause andbreathe it in. He’s been doing that more and more; taking a moment to pause. Heneeds it nowadays, especially; ever since declining the position of Head Aurorand resigning completely, the press has been swarming around him insistently,which is a feat considering how much they regularly pester him about thecontinued absence of any romantic relationship. Hermione does her best to keepthem away, but it’s his problem to deal with, and deal with it he does.

Self-care is something he’s been neglecting for years now,trying to stay above everyone else’sstandards rather than his own. He should’ve been able to move on from the war,but his Mind Healer tells him that by throwing himself into the path of theDark Arts for a living, he’s been forcing himself to hang on to those toxicmemories. Well, not anymore, and he feels no obligation to explain it to anyoneapart from his friends and family, who wholeheartedly agree with him. At leasthe’s done that right.

Harry is rudely yanked out of his thoughts by someonerunning into him, full force. The weight of the person topples him over, andHarry is ready to give them a piece of his mind, before he looks up at a facethat, whilst having matured since he saw it last, is still shockingly familiar.

“…Malfoy?!” Ifthere was one person that would not have been found in Muggle Manchester, ofall places, it would be Draco Malfoy. Not only because Malfoy Manor was inWiltshire, and not even because he was in a Muggle area rather than a wizardingarea, but because Malfoy hadn’t been seenfor years. Most people assumed that he’d either remained reclusive within hisown house, or that he’d moved. Some hoped that he’d been dealt with, Harrybeing the polar opposite; he’d tried to find Malfoy multiple times, and forvarious reasons, with no success. He’d stopped himself from searching MalfoyManor, because it would’ve looked obsessive, and Ron and Hermione were alreadyworried for him.

And now, here he is, on top of Harry, looking terrified. Heclutches Harry’s jacket, and blurts:

“Potter, I know you hate me, but I will pay you whatever youwant to just get me out of here.” Hisvoice is rough and hoarse, and he seems more surprised than Harry is at hearingthose words. Harry wants to ask more, but at that moment, he hears the firstyell.

Malfoy’s crystal grey eyes look desperately into Harry’s,and something in him compels him to wrap one arm around the platinum blonde andDisapparate – straight to his house, which is under the Fidelius Charm. There’sno turning back now; Malfoy knows the location of his home.

Speaking of Malfoy, the man is passed out on his sofa. Hishair is expertly ruffled, and falls in waves around his angular face. He’slean; too lean, as if he hasn’t been eating well. Whilst he wears designerclothes (Muggle, strangely enough), it’s apparent that he’s been wearing themfor too long.

As dishevelled as he is, Malfoy still manages to look…angelic, almost, which is unsettling,because Malfoy is not an angel in any way. He decides to leave him for now,although questions are buzzing about his mind. Harry knows from experience thatit’s never a good idea to dwell on such thoughts, or to bombard a person withquestions after they’ve passed out.

Harry instead decides to make some hot drinks. Luna showedhim a wonderful recipe for various herbal teas that work different calmingeffects into a person, so Harry begins brewing a certain tea that has specialsoothing properties. Harry loses himself in the rhythm of stirring and addingingredients, to the extent that he doesn’t notice Malfoy until the blonde isstanding next to him. He says nothing, choosing to let Malfoy speak when he’scomfortable to.

It’s a surreal situation; standing in a cosy kitchen, thepeaceful aroma of herbal tea filling the air, with Malfoy by his side. It’s notunwelcome, though; Harry finds that he doesn’t mind the company. Malfoy clearshis throat.

“You may possibly have the most uncomfortable couch I’ve ever crashed on, Potter.” His voice isweak, but his tone strong, and Harry is briefly reminded of a darker time, andthe words, ‘I can’t be sure’. Hepushes it from his mind, and addresses Malfoy.

“Nice to see you haven’t changed, Malfoy.” He says itquietly, but Malfoy freezes at the words for a second, before replying.

“Sorry. You’re the first person I’ve spoken to in tenyears.” Harry drops the spoon, startled; he’s not expecting to hear that at all. Malfoy deftly catches thespoon, though, and takes over brewing. “That’s quite an advanced magical tearecipe you’re making, Potter,” he says absentmindedly. “Consider me impressed.”

Harry still hasn’t quite absorbed the information, and heknows it’s a bad idea to ask, but he does it nonetheless.

“Malfoy…what do you mean, first person you’ve spoken to inten years?” Harry speaks slowly and hesitantly, not sure how Malfoy is going toreact. The blonde simply scoffs.

“Potter, I’m not an injured kitten. You don’t need to usethat tone with me.”

“Sorry.”

“You’re still doing it.”

“Sorry?” Harry doesn’t want to overstep his boundaries; heneeds to avoid Malfoy closing off. The kitchen is quiet for a minute or so, thesilence broken only by the soft swish of the tea being stirred.

“Thanks, though,”Malfoy says after a while, his voice softer than before. “for helping me getout of there. But I don’t want you to treat me like a trauma victim.”

Harry doesn’t know if it’s right to respond, so he doesn’t,but gets two mugs out of the cupboard. Malfoy pours the drinks, appearingrelaxed, but Harry doesn’t believe that he’s just suddenly alright.

“Yeah, okay. But I’m not going to tell anyone anything youtell me. What you say here stays here, I swear. So, try to trust me, even ifit’s only for now. Please.” Malfoy sighs.

“Do you have a better place to talk?”

Snowflakes fall lightly, and lights twinkle in the distanceas he and Malfoy sip their hot drinks out on the balcony.

The balcony is one of the perks of Harry’s home, one hewasn’t quite expecting. It’s spacious, and with a few waterproof charms,warming charms, as well as a few select beanbags, it’s become one of hisfavourite spots in the house.

“And I just stopped trying. There were so many people afterme. I would stay over at Blaise’s, or Pansy’s, or Greg’s, never sayinganything, but they were probably the only reason I survived. It was never safeenough, though; I had to keep moving constantly.”

“The DMLE got rid of all the members, though; we trackedthem all down. It was a major investigation at the time.” Malfoy laughsbitterly.

“The Aurors got rid of the main body. They had hired peopleto carry out their dirty work for them. As you know, some of the leaders werein too high a position to have each target killed personally. The people afterme were some of those employees, still intent on revenge.” Harry groans,frustrated.

“This is a whole other issue. How many were there?” Malfoy’slooking out over the other buildings, and something about the sight draws Harryto him.

“About thirty-five,” he says. Harry can’t believe thatMalfoy was able to survive that many trained killers after him especially. He’sabout to reply, when Malfoy continues. “I don’t blame them. I can’t beforgiven.”

“Malfoy-”

“Draco. Call meDraco. We aren’t kids anymore.”

“Draco,” Harry corrects himself, turning to face himproperly. “the people hunting down ex Death Eaters are the ones in the wrong.It’s the kind of behaviour that started a war in the first place. And I forgaveyou years ago; you are most definitelycapable of being forgiven, but you have to forgive yourself first. No-one else can do that for you.”

Draco chuckles.

“When did you become so sappy, Potter?” Harry rolls hiseyes. Of course Draco isn’t going to take it seriously. These are words comingfrom him after all.

“If I get to call you Draco, you get to call me Harry.”Draco shoots him a pointed look.

“Fine then, Harry;where is this all coming from? Younger you probably would’ve told me that Iabsolutely can’t be forgiven and thatI’m being pathetic. What changed?”

“I grew up,” Harry answers seriously.

“You mean you grew older.You’re still really freaking short,” Draco teases.

“Shut up,” Harrygrumbles in response, but he’s smiling.

“Are you sure about this?” Draco asks sceptically, surveyingthe room. It’s well furnished, with an ensuite and all. A king-sized bed stands proudly in the centre, with lusciousred curtains surrounding the four-poster bed.

“Draco, Narcissa wantsyou to stay with me. I’m not going to say no to her. And besides, now that youaren’t as bigoted, you’re actually a decent person.” Draco sighs in defeat,answering back nonetheless.

“Since when were youso chummy with my mother?” heretorts. But Draco full well knows that this is the safest place for him. Hismother was brave enough to approach the Saviourof the Wizarding World, of all people, and who’s Draco to say no to somerefuge?

Plus, Harry himself is a bonus. Gone is the scrawny,righteous kid that Draco always despised. He’s not actually grown that muchtaller, but it suits him. Years of Auror work have served him well, buildingsome muscle and defining his jawline, and Draco has found himself staring moretimes than he’s comfortable with.

“Are you really going to throw a fuss about this?” Harry asks with an eyebrowraised, and Draco smiles sweetly.

“Of course not, oh Saviour.” Harry punches him in the armlightly.

“I’ve told you not to call me that, Ferret.”

“Whatever you say, GoldenBoy.”

“Prat.”

“Scarhead.”

“Are you two really bickering at this age?” Narcissa says, appearing from the stairs. “Anyonewould’ve thought you two were still schoolboys. Now,” she says, addressingDraco, “are you all settled in?”

“Yes, Mother,” Draco replies, earning a look from Harry.Narcissa doesn’t seem to notice this when she turns to him.

“Please tell me if he causes any sort of trouble. I know howpicky he can be.” Draco splutters.

“Mother!” Narcissa only smiles knowingly at her son,sweeping him into a hug.

“You know I love you, Draco. Stay safe for me, darling.”Draco hugs her back for a long moment, flooded by how much he’s missed her. Shepulls back and looks at him. “You’re safe; Harry Potter is looking after you.”

And aren’t those just the words that he never imagined hewould hear?

The first time Harry wakes up next to Draco is over a monthlater, on Christmas Day. Well, wake upis relative term. It’s much more accurate to say that he’s forced awake by aparticularly grouchy Draco yelling in his ear. He opens his eyes blearily tofind that he’s lying on Draco’s chest, arms wrapped out around him. Harry turnsa bright red and scrambles back, embarrassed and confused.

“Draco? What are you doing in my bed?” Draco’s cheeks becomea matching shade of red.

“You forgot to put up those Silencing Charms last night.” Oh shit. “You were screaming, and I cameto wake you up, but you, uh…you seemed to want me to stay. So I did.”

If the ground could just open up and swallow him, that wouldbe wonderful.

“Yeah, um…sorry about that.” Draco rolls his eyes.

“Don’t fucking apologise, Harry; it was my own decision.”Harry tries to respond, but ends up yawning, making Draco smile a little.

“What time is it, anyway?” Harry asks, rubbing his eyes inan attempt to feel more awake. It doesn’t work.

“Six a.m.,” Draco replies smoothly.

“What?! Why the hell would you wake me up so early,Draco?” Harry complains, but Draco simply leaves the room. Harry follows him,demanding an explanation. They end up in the living room together, where Dracopoints to a present under the tree that Harry is certain wasn’t there before.It’s addressed to him. Harry hesitantly picks it up.

“I don’t know if you’re waiting for next Christmas,” Dracodrawls, “but I’d recommend you open it.” Harry doesn’t say anything, butcarefully pulls the ribbon off, and not-so-delicately gets rid of the wrappingpaper. Inside is a perfectly sculpted crystal snow globe, with two miniaturefigures inside it, sitting on a balcony and sipping drinks. Harry stares at it,transfixed.

“Here,” Draco says, gently twisting a key on the side of theglobe. Soft music begins to play, and the figures rotate slowly.

“Draco,” Harry breathes. “It’s…it’s gorgeous. You didn’t have to…”

“I thought it would look good on the mantelpiece,” heresponds simply, placing it there himself. He turns back to Harry, trying togauge Harry’s next move. “Well…Merry Christm-oof!” Harry tackles him to the ground in a bearhug, and they staylike that, until Harry pulls back slightly.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m frankly still knackered.Wanna get some more sleep?” Draco grins at him in a way that makes Harry’sheart clench ever-so-slightly.

He doesn’t know whatit is exactly, but Harry does knowthat this is the beginning of something great.

As they go back to bed, comfortable in each other’s embrace,snowflakes begin to fall softly outside, just like on the very first day thatthe universe threw Harry and Draco back together.

Yes, it was fricking long. Hope you liked it, though! Have a lovely day

#drarry #harry potter #draco malfoy #drarry fluff #sharing a bed #living together #hurt/comfort #narcissa malfoy #fic requests #jay writes fics

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spaceorphan18 · 6 years

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TDB Rewatch: The Role You Were Born to Play

Ah man - I’m so mixed on all the feelings tonight. But I’m gonna give this episode some credit -- I was pretty entertained through all of it -- and that’s more than I can say for a good half of season 3 - so there’s that.

First of all, though, I’m so glad we’re past the break up stuff. Cause that just looms over, not only the beginning of season 4, but the end of season 3 - and it just gets better from here forward, and that’s nice. Also - this episode has some really great funny moments. I know season 4 has a lot of stuff people didn’t like, I get it - I do. But it brought back comedy, which was sorely missing there for a while. And I appreciate that.

Thoughts:

So - obviously, I don’t come back to this episode very often -- but it’s official! Glee is a club not a class. Bam. I guess we can end that debate now.

So - here’s the biggest thing I’m torn on. Finn. On the one hand, I know what’s coming up, I know that he’s going to be a great teacher, and his character development is going to be great going forward. On the other hand, they’ve reverted back to this tired masculinity trope they’ve done the entire series -- which has been nicely absent for a while, but now that Finn’s back, they’re dragging it back as well. And I hate it. It’s the worst reoccurring theme that the show does. I mean, there’s no one like Finn -- even if he’s a straight, white, cis-gendered male -- but he’s still the special snowflake. It just drives me crazy.

tl:dr I’m glad that the show is going to give Finn a great arc, but I’m just not here for the conversations discussing masculinity that go around it.

Let’s talk about the musical - I’m beginning to question my belief that Artie is a good director. He doesn’t want to let Marley be Sandy because she’s not blonde? What?? I’m so glad Mercedes is there to shut is ass up. I’m also glad that Finn can make some good calls. Though - I am side eyeing the fact that they have to throw Artie under a bus to make Finn look good.

The seniors have all gotten a decent amount of focus in the season so far, but I did miss them in this. I mean, yeah Blaine!! But also - I want more Sam and Brittany and even Tina.

Blaine!! I appreciate Sam being his friend. But also - Blaine’s hurting a lot worse than I think people realize, and unlike Finn, who’s getting a ton of support from everyone, Blaine’s truly on his own. I suppose Dynamic Duets is for dealing with that -- but still.

Blaine’s audition speech, though, does crack me up.

I just realized Brittany was just dumped, too -- is she okay? Sorry Brittana fans - we care about you even less than the Klaine fans.

Is it sad I’d rather watch Wemma drama than the newbies? Cause I would. Can’t believe I’m saying that.

I don’t really understand Will’s problem though - he really has to have Emma there? This makes no sense. I think for most couples this would barely be a discussion.

At least it’s not as bad as stuff in season 3. Also, Coach Beiste makes the best counselor. I love the comment about not losing yourself in a relationship -- you still need to be an individual!!

Also - you know what they say about reservations? You won’t be seated until your party’s all there ;)

It’s the return of Mike and Mercedes! They don’t get much to do - but their presence has been missed, and it was nice to have them on my screen again. I kind of agree, though, with @ckerouac at this point - the previous class coming back doesn’t make much sense, and since they already look like they’re five years older, they should have had a time jump, because everyone who returns feels five years older.

Also - Mike and Tina have a conversation. I don’t think it’s satisfying or offering any kind of closure - but they were the longest running couple, so at least they acknowledge it.

Annnd, Sue’s back with a vengeance. I’m kinda tired of them giving her stuff (even when a lot of it’s funny) that they think they can get away with her saying just because she’s Sue and has no accountability.

I’m also really tired of her using fat as an insult. Finn isn’t fat, especially at this point. You don’t get points for defending Marley’s mom when you’re just going to call your not excessively skinny cast ‘fat’. Stop.

I’m kind of surprised by the amount of continuity this episode had -- they remembered Carl and Terri and that Sue had a baby and that Kurt was a cheerio and that he was bullied. I don’t know why I’m so shocked. But I am.

Did anyone remember Sugar and Joe were here? I had not. I forgot they pop up every once in a while during season 4.

Okay fine, let’s talk about the newbies.

Hey - there’s an interesting conversation here with Unique, and this plot I can handle - even if I still think the show was trying itself to figure out if she was transgender or not. Also Unique and Marley have a good friendship. That’s good.

Jake doesn’t bother me that much -- but I’m already dreading this whole love triangle thing that’s going to be coming up. I’m sorry that Jake’s entire characterization seems to be built up around the girls he dates.

Kitty’s still too mean for the sake of filling the Quinn/Santana role. I don’t care for Ryan Murphy’s obsession with mean girls.

Ryder. **headdesk** I’m sorry. I’m so sorry fans of Ryder -- I find him so, so boring. He’s literally the same as Rory Finn. Even Joe Hart is more interesting. But really, I’m sorry Darren, Kevin, and Chord, (not to mention Chris), we know you’ve been here longer, but - we’re gonna drag this Finn-like dude out cause he’s gonna play a “normal” dude, and we just don’t have enough “normal” dudes on this show.

Whatever, I won’t get into it...

I missed Kurt, bring him back. Undecided if I missed Rachel.

#tdb rewatch #it has taken me like an hour to write this #i keep getting sidetracked

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kbrown78 · 5 years

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Monthly Wrap Up: October

Favorite month of the year, not just because it's my birthday month. It's a transitional period in nature that I love with it's bright colors and cold nights. I also love that it's a month associated with magic and myth, which I love seeing to stories. This month I tried to read all of my most Halloween books, with a few exceptions. There were a few rereads but it was mostly new reads this month. October started out on a high with the Call, but then slid downhill with several sub par reads. Then it finally took a turn, with A Natural History of Dragons and Rosemary and Rue, two first books in series. I read a total of 9 books and 1 comic book, and all of these books had elements of fantasy, a few were horror fantasy and 1 was a historical fantasy. I definitely had a month filled with magic and suspense, but I didn't enjoy most of the books as much as I had hoped to.

The Call by Pedar O' Guilin: I've talked about this book so much and have already posted my full review on it, so I'm going to keep it quick. Bleak world, terrifying villains, lots of suspense and gore, a good disabled protagonist and a cute romance. The Call was my pick for the PopSugar prompt “a book set during or about Halloween” since this seemed like a good Halloween themed book and Halloween is celebrated at some point during this book and it received 4 out 5 stars.

Nightfall by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski: Are you afraid of the dark? In a world where there is 14 years between night and day, everyone in this story is eager to leave quickly as the night approaches. But 3 kids get left behind and the longer they stay the more questions they have about what goes bump in the night. It's definitely a suspenseful read and I do think adults can appreciate that element of it, even though it is clearly geared more toward a younger audience. I do think it's a good book but I didn't enjoy it as much because I knew all the twist that were coming and I didn't love the ending (more about that in my review). Nightfall received 3 out 5 stars.

Monstress Volume 3: Haven: This, as of right now, is the only comic book series that I follow. I really liked the first volume, I was so sucked into the world and I needed more. The second volume was pretty good, but it was a filler. The third book gets back to the main plot, but there's so much in this volume that it's overwhelming. More characters keep getting introduced and new mysteries arise, which was the main problem. I keep getting more questions added onto the ones I already have with very few answers, and at this point that's very frustrating. Most of the characters are pretty morally gray so you can never guess what they're going to do or why they're doing it. There are many questions involving the Old Ones (who are appearing more frequently) and the Shaman Empress. I do like the struggle that Mika faces, both internal and external, and I'm actually enjoying watching her and Zinn's relationship develop. Kippa is a pure bean who was become so strong in her convictions but is now in trouble because she was abducted by the cats for some unknown reason. The art is still gorgeous, I'm still intrigued enough to keep going and see if I get some answers, but if I don't soon I may have to call it quits with this series. Monstress Volume 3 received 3 out 5 stars from me.

Lirael by Garth Nix: Man, this book was so bad. I already didn't like the fact that Sabriel was going to be pushed to the side to make room for new characters, but both of the new protagonists sucked. I hated both of them. Lirael grew up among the Clayr and while I am sympathetic to her being upset about how different she is, it's clear that this is to emphasize what a special snowflake she is, but also after many years of becoming an expert in the library, she still bemoans how different she is. The other POV character is a spoiled prince who is pretty incompetent and doesn't really want to do anything with his life. The story in no way tied into the previous book and I didn't like the new conflict, mostly because the majority of the book was focused on the 2 protagonists living their daily lives and being irritating. There were some tropes used that I didn't like, the plot was boring, and the characters were so annoying. At some point I just gave up tabbing the book because the narrative wasn't evolving and the characters weren't changing. The one thing that I did like, similar to the world of Death and the Charter magic in the previous book, was the library of the Clayr. Everything about it I loved, from how organized it was to the magic rooms that contained entirely separate worlds. Like an entire story could have been set in that library. Lirael received 2 out 5 stars from me.

Torn by Rowena Miller: I've already posted my review on this book, but I'll sum up my thoughts on this book. It sounded like something I would really like. A young seamstress getting swept into political turmoil while her brother is growing in the anti monarchy movement. This seamstress has the ability to sew charms into her craft which is something that I've been looking for. This book also feels like it's set during the French Revolution, which isn't a time in history that I love but I like fantasies that are inspired by real cultures and time periods. At the start the protagonist was a real ingenue and I kept hoping for some development, but I didn't get that. There were several good points illustrated at the beginning, but they were presented in all the wrongs way. The book started out with a lot of potential and I was looking forward to it, but it became increasingly worse to the point where I was just glad it was done. Needless to say it received 2 out 5 stars from me.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake: When I first read this book I liked almost everything about it. I liked that it was about 3 sisters fated to kill each other until 1 was left alive. I liked the dark autumn feel to it. I liked that the world felt fleshed out. The one thing I didn't like was the love triangle, and this issue came back with a vengeance during my reread. First, the love triangle itself was so stupid and unnecessary, but I could now see how much drama and miscommunication is the result of this love triangle, which grated my nerves to no end. I've already read the second book which I didn't like, and having that knowledge didn't help my opinion of the book or characters. I think I only liked this book because I remember my feelings of enjoyment the first time I read it, but I could also see that this book had potential for a whole series, but that doesn't continue. I did like the 3 sisters, but this time I could clearly see more flaws with them, and in general I don't like the romances. I really wish the friendships were given more of the limelight, like Billy and Arsinoe's. Three Dark Crowns received 3 out 5 stars.

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan: I've been wanting to read this series. I put it on my lists of books that I wanted to read before the end of the year, and so far the majority of those books were disappointing but this was more than satisfying. It's the life story of woman who studies dragons and this first book spans Isabella's early childhood when she first becomes interested in reading about dragons to her first journey to study mountain wyerms with her husband. I loved Isabella as a character and I loved that she was a women who was passionate about a scientific field when women weren't really supposed to be (this is set in an alternate Victorian England). As a woman this book appealed to my sense of girl power and as a someone with a background in science I loved how the study of dragons was developed. Since it is a fantasy of manners, which is similar to historical fantasy, it can be a bit slower but I didn't think the pacing dragged at all I really enjoyed the tone of voice in the writing, since the narrator is writing about her own life she has that sort of wry humor. I loved A Natural History of Dragons and so far it is my favorite book in the series, and it received 5 out 5 stars.

Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire: It wouldn't be technically true to say I haven't read urban fantasy before. I've read YA urban fantasy like Harry Potter, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, and The Mortal Instruments series. It wouldn't even be my first adult urban fantasy since I've read American Gods and An Unkindness of Magicians, but the first book in the October Daye series is a good portrayal of what comes to mind when I think of an adult urban fantasy. If I had to describe it in one word it would be gritty. This is definitely an adult urban fantasy, where the courts of various fairies mix with the California setting. October “Toby” Daye is half human and half fae, and works as a private investigator. Toby isn't always a likable person, but she is always sympathetic and she does have friends that care about her. There's a lot of trauma surrounding her, which made the villain of this book a bit more complicated. I don't normally gravitate toward crime noir stories but I think because the protagonist is a female and that there is a magical element it appealed more to me. This is definitely adult because of the violence, sex, and abuse that's alluded to in the story. I do plan on continuing this series (14 books but it's a quick read) and Rosemary and Rue received 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Into the Bright Unknown by Rae Carson: This was a disappointing finale. I'm still trying to work out how Rae Carson could go from the greatness of the Girl of Fire and Thorns to the mediocrity of the Gold Seer trilogy. I picked this one up because I wanted to finish the series and it was finally available in paperback. I didn't have high hopes, I just wanted the book to be at least as decent as the other books, and it still failed to meet that expectation. After finishing the book, I definitely think that this trilogy should have been a duology because this third book contributes absolutely nothing. The main plot is supposed to be a heist narrative, but there wasn't any suspense (I knew all the characters were going to fine so I wasn't worried about them), the plot dragged on and didn't make any sense most of the time (mainly because characters were making dumb decisions and nothing was explained until the second to last chapter), the villain was poorly written (like literally came out of nowhere and his motivations are stupid), and I got tired of reading about all of these very flat characters. I didn't even bother tagging it so there won't be a full review for this one. It was really boring and everyone survived and gets married, and all is forgiven. I just couldn't take it. I will say that once again the best part of this book was the beautiful color that did have a very fall theme, with brown, purple, and gold. I do hope that Rae Carson does write another book soon so that my love of her as an author can be revitalized. This was my pick for the PopSugar prompt “a book with a heist in it” and received 2 out 5 stars from me.

The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan: Continuing from where the first book left off, I thought Tropic of Serpents was a good book. Isabella goes on expedition to study dragons in the Mouleen swamps, and as is her character, bites off a little more than she can chew. I didn't love it as much but I still thought it was a 5 star read. I loved the friendships, I loved the scientific inquiries, I loved how complicated the plot was, and I loved Isabella. She's a strong character and continues to grow in confidence and as someone of prominence in the scientific community. Unless of last 2 books take an unforeseen turn for the worse this is definitely a 5 star series, and I'm glad I was able to end the month on this book.

#monthly wrap up #october #marie brennan #memoirs of lady trent #the call #nightfall #the gold seer trilogy #rae carson #monstress #three dark crowns #kendare blake #torn #october daye #seanan mcguire #lirael #garth nix

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joannalannister · 7 years

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Have you written anything on Jaime's decision at the end of AFFC? Because it's so associated with "Jaime breaking free of toxic Lannister (especially Cersei)" and I just didn't get that vibe from it?

Hi! I don’t think I’ve ever written anything about it because this topic is the wankiest of wank bait, but yeah, like you, I’ve personally never felt that Jaime was “breaking free” of the toxicity of House Lannister from his chapters in AFFC/ADWD.

(I don’t know who or what you’re quoting in this ask, and I mean no offense to whoever is saying that. This is just my opinion on Jaime’s FeastDance chapters and obviously some people interpret it differently and that’s cool. I’m really not looking for wank here.)

So when you say “Jaime’s decision at the end of AFFC” I’m assuming you mean this one?

“No, my lord. The bird was from King’s Landing. I took the liberty … I did not know …” He held the letter out.

Jaime read it in the window seat, bathed in the light of that cold white morning. Qyburn’s words were terse and to the point, Cersei’s fevered and fervent. Come at once, she said. Help me. Save me. I need you now as I have never needed you before. I love you. I love you. I love you. Come at once.

Vyman was hovering by the door, waiting, and Jaime sensed that Peck was watching too. “Does my lord wish to answer?” the maester asked, after a long silence.

A snowflake landed on the letter. As it melted, the ink began to blur. Jaime rolled the parchment up again, as tight as one hand would allow, and handed it to Peck. “No,” he said. “Put this in the fire.”

To me, this passage reflects how Jaime really doesn’t have the answers, at least right now: “He found himself wondering what his father would do to feed the realm, before he remembered that Tywin Lannister was dead.”

Cersei makes herself plain: “I love you. I love you. I love you.”

But how does Jaime feel about Cersei? Does he hate her? (And speaking of feelings, what does Jaime feel toward his father, who told him that love was useless? And what of Tyrion, the brother he loved? And what of Br*enne, a true knight from the stories come to life?) Can Jaime even help Cersei? Does he love her? (“The question is, who are you?”) (”Would you sooner have a father or a chair, lad? Jaime wished he knew the answer.”) Can he save her? Does he love her? Does he need her? Does he love her?

Jaime’s a whole mess of conflicted emotions right now, and he wishes things could be like they were:

There was a time, not long ago, when he might have been out making snowballs with the best of them, to fling at Tyrion when he waddled by, or slip down the back of Cersei’s gown. You need two hands to make a decent snowball, though.

But Jaime has only “One hand, clasped tight around the sword hilt. Only one” and really, literally, Jaime has no answers at the moment. So he delays, he demurs. “Put this in the fire.” He is not ready to answer Cersei yet.

“The sooner we are done with Riverrun, the sooner I’ll be back at Cersei’s side.” What Jaime would do then he did not know.

Consider:

“There is sitting and there is sitting, […] Each one [Tywin/Robb] waits for the other to move”

and:

Cersei gave him a lingering look. “You know,” she said, “for a moment you [Jaime] sounded quite like Father.”

I think you also have to consider the context of this decision. The maester reads his mail, and Jaime’s squire who admires and adores him “was watching too” so how could Jaime respond, even if he did have answers? ”Would you sooner have a father or a chair, lad? Jaime wished he knew the answer.” // “The question is, who are you?” // “We are not Targaryens!”

Also, everyone believes that Jaime is still a fearsome swordsman. I don’t think Cersei (or most people, for that matter) realizes that Jaime can’t be her champion. If Jaime were to champion her, Cersei would lose her trial (bad), and Jaime’s secret would be revealed (also bad). Jaime’s relying on his reputation. (And Genna said Jaime wasn’t Tywin’s true heir. Heh.)

How can Jaime explain that he cannot help Cersei, cannot save her, and in a letter, no less? A letter read/written by Vyman, who served Edmure Tully, and Hoster before him? A letter that could easily be intercepted? No, he could not give Cersei an explanation in his letter. He could only give her a refusal, and that would infuriate her. (Does he love her? Does he love her? Does he love her?)

He says these things in ADWD:

Past time this was ended, thought Jaime Lannister. With Riverrun now safely in Lannister hands, Raventree was the remnant of the Young Wolf’s short-lived kingdom. Once it yielded, his work along the Trident would be done, and he would be free to return to King’s Landing. To the king, he told himself, but another part of him whispered, to Cersei.

He would have to face her, he supposed. Assuming the High Septon had not put her to death by the time he got back to the city. “Come at once,” she had written, in the letter he’d had Peck burn at Riverrun. “Help me. Save me. I need you now as I have never needed you before. I love you. I love you. I love you. Come at once.” Her need was real enough, Jaime did not doubt. As for the rest … she’s been fucking Lancel and Osmund Kettleblack and Moon Boy for all I know … Even if he had gone back, he could not hope to save her. She was guilty of every treason laid against her, and he was short a sword hand.

(^^This “She was guilty of every treason…” sort of makes me worried, as if Jaime is perhaps deflecting all the blame for his own treasons onto Cersei, like it doesn’t take two to tango….)

Anyways … I personally wouldn’t describe this as Jaime ~breaking free~ of the Lannister regime when a part of him is looking forward to returning to Cersei.

But I think there’s another part of Jaime that doesn’t want to return to Cersei, which is why he so readily jaunts off with Br*enne to chase his dreams of true knighthood.

That’s the thing about Jaime imo. He’s a man divided. Torn between Lannister crimson and Kingsguard white, between his (older) sister and his baby brother, between Cersei and Br*enne, between one vow and another, between his loyalty to the Lannister regime and his aspirations of true knighthood.

“So many vows … they make you swear and swear. Defend the king. Obey the king. Keep his secrets. Do his bidding. Your life for his. But obey your father. Love your sister. Protect the innocent. Defend the weak. Respect the gods. Obey the laws. It’s too much. No matter what you do, you’re forsaking one vow or the other.“

Jaime’s the middle child, Beauty and Beast both. We first meet him wearing black, but he’s renowned for his kingsguard white, but allegedly “it was that white cloak that soiled” Jaime and reduced him to this grey liminality. He vacillates back and forth, an ever swinging pendulum. One moment he is angered that Gregor would smash Pia’s teeth in, another moment fantasizing that he “smashed his sister’s teeth to splinters with his golden hand, just as Gregor Clegane had done to poor Pia.”

I know I’ve talked about this before, but it’s like Jaime is trying to ride two horses in the Riverlands, and he can’t ride two horses. He’s trying to hold on to everything, Cersei and Tyrion, honor and glory, all that, but now he has only one hand, and he can’t hold on to two things at once any more. “Yet soon or late in every man’s life comes a day when it is not easy, a day when he must choose.”

But Jaime hasn’t come to that choosing yet. “Throw this in the fire.”

In ADWD we see the pendulum swing toward Br*enne, but what will happen in TWOW? How will Jaime feel when he learns his true knight has lied to him, and that even true knights can be grey? I imagine Jaime will feel betrayed. I suspect a second litany of betrayal for Br*enne, analogous to the one for Cersei: “… she’s been fucking Lancel and Osmund Kettleblack and Moon Boy for all I know …"

“False as fool’s gold.”

After escaping Stoneheart, Jaime will go to King’s Landing at last:

Once he found the Blackfish, he would be free to return to King’s Landing, where he belonged. My place is with my king. With my son.

But I think Jaime arrives to find Tommen dead, and Cersei fled with Myrcella to her last stronghold, Casterly Rock, since KL is about to be destroyed, entirely. And Jaime will have failed yet another king.

Nothing in AFFC/ADWD suggests to me that Jaime’s abandoned the Lannister regime, despite how angry he is at Cersei. He still supports Tommen, and I will bet money that Jaime follows Cersei to CR after the wildfire explosion at the end of TWOW and that he eventually recognizes Myrcella as his queen in the beginning of ADOS.

And I don’t know what’s going to push Jaime over the edge, but I will bet money that Jaime will valonqar Cersei at Casterly Rock in ADOS. I think this is Jaime’s choosing, and I think he will actively choose Lannister toxicity. Strangling your sister/lover sounds like a pretty toxic thing to me, no? idk I could be wrong, who knows.

But I don’t see Jaime actively working to bring down the Lannister regime. idk what happens with Jaime after Cersei’s death, all bets are off once she dies, but at least right now, there’s nothing to me that suggests that Jaime recognizes that Tommen has no right to the Throne, that the Lannisters have no right to sieze Riverrun, no right to hunt the Blackfish, or that the entire government is corrupt, things which I think would be necessary for Jaime to distance himself from the evils of House Lannister?

(I think it’s Tyrion who is beginning to understand that the Lannister regime is wrong, he was the only one calling out Lannister bullshit even when he was in the middle of said bullshit. Tyrion hasn’t yet escaped from Tywin’s dark, toxic shadow, but I think it’s Tyrion who does that, not Jaime.)

TLDR - nope, im like you, i dont get that vibe either. Maybe I’m wrong tho *shrug emoji*

#lannister thoughts #hey friends its been a while #//#becauseforoncethisisme #///#////#jaime meta #jaime lannister #replies #jaime x cersei

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