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#despite the little existential crisis it gives me every time I think about being a pink cowboy hat girl
brown-little-robin · 10 months
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generation1point5 · 1 month
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After life, death. After death, life again. After the world, the pale. After the pale, the world again!
Persona 3 embodies the existential crisis; the nihilist and the absurd in equal measure. Among JRPGs, it has probably one of the more unique and thought-provoking stories that I have come away with. More than a generic story of high-schoolers-use-the-power-of-friendship-to-kill-god, Persona 3 pursues a nuanced and powerful story of everyday students coming to terms with their own mortality, and standing against it even as they recognize the ultimate futility in the act. The game's original tagline featured in the intro, Memento Mori, is perfectly suited for encompassing the themes and character directions of all its diverse cast of characters. Despite its more fantastical elements, Persona 3 is rooted in the everyday things; the trifles, the frail and the human, the fallible and the fragile. More than just exploring trauma that must be healed, Persona 3 reminds players that life is indeed terminal, and explores many of the ways in which people react to this fact.
I admire the ambition of this game to cover an immense and difficult topic, even as I think it falls flat in its exploration in some regards.
There is a strong sense of FOMO in Persona 3; this was an impression that was even more heightened for me, having checked it out late into my 3-month PC game pass as a bonus for overhauling my graphics card. I had about a month to see how a year of one's life can change oneself and all one's surroundings. From what little I had gleaned from the game through osmosis of other friends who had played in the past and the guidance of present friends who helped me optimize my blind run, I tried to experience as much as the game that I could before the opportunity was lost to me.
If I had only a year to live, I think I wouldn't act so differently.
The sense of fear of potential loss is all-pervasive. There is a drive to make the most of each day, to tie every loose end and take everything into account before the end. It drove me to optimize each and every day; I wanted to know what I had to do, all the things to say, to get the optimal outcome. Sometimes I wonder if I was playing the game to enjoy it as I normally would or if I was playing to satisfy my desires within the constraints of the game's framework.
The first instance of dissonance that I felt (and actively pursued) was to suck up to all of the social links and to maximize my social stats in the game as quickly as possible. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to maximize all of them by the end of the game, though I had come close enough to be satisfied with the result. There were a few points where I had begun to relate to the characters in the social links as "people," but far more often I had seen the 1s and 0s behind them; I reloaded my saves to say the "right" things to them, regardless of whether I had agreed with the dialogue or not. At a fundamental level, the relationship is transactional. I get to see the music notes, the ranking goes up, and I get my dose of serotonin and my in-game benefits when fusing personas. If there was any meaning that I could derive from the social links, it was in the tangible ways people could benefit me, that I might bring about a more optimal result for the good of all. It was utilitarian at heart, and that is perhaps one of the constraints of a traditional JRPG that runs up against the themes that the game attempts to explore regarding the vital importance of relationships.
Or perhaps, if all else fails, one can simply see the usefulness of finding the people who give you what you need to survive. In many ways, Jin embodies this dynamic in what he sees in Takaya. There was nothing inherently unique in what Takaya said or did for Jin; only that he was positioned at the right place at the right time to answer Jin's crisis of being, and so gave him purpose. On a material level, there is nothing terribly distinct to separate Jin's fanaticism with that of the cult that Strega attempts to construct to usher the Fall, only that it revolved around a person, as fallible as the dogma which was spouted from his lips.
Where many of the villains feel underwritten or at times shallow, the teammates that comprise the party are extremely well-written and thought out. They have much greater freedom of being able to be related with a degree of sincerity that I did not enjoy with the other social links. They also had the most screentime, and the most development as a result. Each struggle with death and loss each their own way, some that bear the scars of past trauma and others that go through it in the game's events. Each one comes out of their trials with a resolve to live as driven by the legacies of those who entrusted to them their hopes and dreams. This animus is as inspirational as it is weighty, wretched as much as it is powerful.
Like many shounens, there's a pervasive theme within Persona 3 to take on or to dismantle the will and the legacy of one's forebears to shape the future. In P3's case, this idea is reframed into the idea of adopting or dismantling the will of one's forebears for the sake of the future, the future's very existence being at stake. At the heart of Persona 3's conflict, there is a struggle between the is a will to live and a will to despair in the face of death.
While I appreciated the depiction of the struggle itself as it played out among various characters, I had come away with a distinct feeling of disappointment with the hints of underpinnings of what my friend @h-worksrambles aptly calls "the death drive," that sense and near-compulsive force within people to find the effort of life no longer worth sustaining. Where Persona 3 pursues philosophical underpinnings to the question, questions for which there are no answer, I had hoped instead for a more material analysis, as it is more practical and immediately relevant.
Perhaps the strongest point of Persona 3's writing for me is its unflinching depiction of what is colloquially known as "the sins of the fathers." The legacy of the powerful Kirijo Group, with its immense amounts of capital and influence, seek a means to forge a utopia from their research into the Shadows. Somewhere along this line, their seemingly noble goal becomes enraptured in an all-encompassing desire to die, the despair defining their success in achieving the impossible. Even after the dissolution of the Kirijo Group's initial efforts, this depraved vision was carried on by Strega, with immediate consequences also trying deeply to all the protagonists in the game in some shape or form. Moreover, the shadow of Kirijo Group's original efforts to bring about an apocalypse begins to manifest in the form of Apathy Syndrome, whose gradual effects on the populace create a great strain on the local community.
You can't get much thinner of a veil for the chronic depression stemming from Japanese socioeconomic conditions than that. The setting of Persona 3 also highlights the almost absurd pressure being placed on people far too young to be considering topics like their own mortality and the end of the world, its conditions wrought by the animus of their forebears; if the cast of Persona 3 is meant to be an allegory of the difficulties facing the youth that are far outnumbered by an aging and rapidly stagnating Japanese economy, then the analogy is as subtle as a sledgehammer. Outside of a fictionalized setting, the stakes are almost comical, if not incredibly bleak.
Yet in the middle of all this is also a story of a war machine that learns what it means to be human, to find meaning in the face of ones inability to fulfill their own function. Although explored in many other ways through both main and side characters, Aigis most explicitly embodies the human experience through self-discovery, throuh self-actualization. Over the events of the game and in the face of being given an impossible objective, she finds the drive to find and create meaning in the face of destruction of the old, that which was in-built and inherited. In a stroke of irony, the thing she comes to desire when she cannot achieve her inherited design slips from her fingers. The one she swears to protect dies in her arms.
I am of many minds about the ultimate conclusion of Persona 3. On one hand, I balk at the sense of futility; on the other, a brutal recognition of memento mori. This is likely intentional, as it strikes to the heart of the existential themes presented in the game. A common refrain in the face of existential recognitions of mortality is to create meaning in one's life, but to my mind this speaks more to the human need for a coping mechanism as an everyday fact of life. The meaning of life as a concept thus becomes a byproduct of higher intelligence, a necessary component for the drive to continue living, rather than a genuine, sincere question in search of a true, material answer. There is nothing in my mind that conclusively proved that SEES reaction to the same existential crisis held any greater claim to the truth than Strega's, only that they proved to be more powerful in the end. The debate was fundamentally an axiomatic one; the conclusion was fought out through expressions of power: that speaks more to the realms of politics than it does philosophy. But then, politics has always been more of a driving force in the world than any philosopher.
Where Persona 3 offers a strong and nuanced explorations of the human psyche in the face of an all-encompassing mortality, I come away with a desire to see how a change in people's material conditions, and with it a fundamental change in our organization of the economy, could in fact produce a much more cohesive and greater view of life beyond the individuals that comprise the stories in the broader tapestry. The values of empathy and persistence in the face of futility espouse in Persona 3 offer a good foundation; but beyond the foundation there is a structure that enshrines and solidifies these values remains to be built if the future of humanity will be realized. Beyond psychology and the persona, there must also be good politics and policy.
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mysteriawrites · 11 months
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Hello! This is my first time making a request so I hope I don't ruin it-
I'd like to ask for a romantic matchup with honkai star rail, For pronounce, I use she/her. For romantic preference, male characters. I'm an INFG, for my personality, I'm pretty closed off and introverted, my silence and blank expression always gives off the impression that I'm intimidating (that's what people tell me at least) but I'm just shy and silent. I can handle socializing, but once my social battery runs out, I immediately escape to the nearest quiet place to recharge. I like helping people,as well as being productive to finish my work. I'm good at reading people and observing them, to the point my friend comes to me to ask my opinion about other people. I can't stand being in crowds, you will find me hiding in some corner or an empty room on family gatherings. I'm good at comforting and know many ways of comforting different personalities. I tend to be emotional and sensitive to words from the people I hold dear to my heart, I'm nice and easy going once you get to know me, I don't judge on first meeting, understanding and considerate. I'm the supportive mother of my friend group. For hobbies...I love reading, listening to music, drawing and sketching and recently writing stories and novels. What I look in a romantic relationship... stability, loyalty and honesty. I tend to overwork myself a lot without realizing so I need someone to tell me to slow down, I also have a tendency to overthink every little detail and situation so I want someone to stabilize me when I'm stuck in a hurricane of thoughts. I don't know how to express my feelings (ahem, I feel like I'm burdening someone if I talk about my feelings.) and try to give hints that I'm not feeling well, I want someone who can pick up on these hints and comfort me. I take relationships seriously and want someone to be loyal and not run away. My love language (me giving) is physical touch and acts of service (I was never good with words) as for receiving, probably words of affirmation and physical touch. For date ideas...I'm good with anything as long as it doesn't have a lot of crowds, something that I hate... ignorance and cheating, definitely my turn off.
Hello Hello thank you for the request sorry it took so long (why was your description just me in a nutshell *existential crisis activate*). *ahem* Anyway lets get straight to the point. DRUMROLL PLEASE!!!
🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
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GEPARD LANDAU!!!
(Omg this gif is so cute XD <3)
You and Gepard are very similar, but I think that's why you two get along so well. You both are not the most socially adept people, but you both wish to protect those closest to you in your own ways.
I imagine you guy's love story starts as childhood friends...well sorta. You two are kind of more friends by association then anything. You're Serval's best friend so you two know of each other and have talked a few times over the years, but don't know much about each other besides that. Best friend's brother trope but in reverse.
You guys don't really get to know each other until Serval and her band have an after party for their latest album release. You're there to support you best friend (and be the designated driver) and Gepard is there for the same reason (and to be the security/bouncer). You two bond over childhood memories and your shared love for Serval and start talking (totally wasn't part of Serval's plan to set yall up).
After that night you guys start to hang out more, outside of Serval planning something, when Gepard has some free time. You two mainly spend your time together in the quieter parts of Belobog like the library to read together. He likes to read your writings and sometimes you'll draw pictures of him (which makes his face go a bright pink despite not being in the frosted wasteland lately strange)
It takes Gepard awhile to realize (and help from Serval, Luke, Dunn, and Pela) for him to realize he's been slowly falling for you. He goes through the 5 stages of grief trying to understand his feelings. When he finally reaches the acceptance stage, he starts to plan how he will ask you out. He remembers Serval reading him stories about handsome knights wooing beautiful princesses with their chivalry and gentlemen like nature, so that's exactly what he does.
One day he knocks on your door with a bouquet of roses, gets down on his knees, and asks if you will go out with him. Except it didn't go at all as he had planned given that he kept fumbling with his words, and you were frozen like one of the ice statues he had seen in the wastelands. It was hella awkward for both of you and he was about to turn away in defeat you let him inside to talk things out. and the rest is history.
You guy's relationship is shy, but sweet. You're both pretty awkward baby beans so you guy move pretty slowly, but sure enough you are moving forward. You guys prefer to keep your relationship quiet, not that you lie you just don't do PDA or call each other nicknames in public. In private however Gepard isn't opposed to hand holding and some snuggles.
Serval loves yall's relationship so much, she's glad her brother and best friend have both found good people let alone each other. She likes to tease you guys on how shy and flustered you are. Sometimes Pela uses you two as inspiration for her own writing and you guys compare notes. Dunn is especially happy for his boss/best friend, he had never seen him so happy.
Gepard himself can be a workaholic too, but he understands that you can't protect anyone if you don't take care of yourself. So, he likes to help you live a healthier life like he does. Positive reinforcement talk in the mirror, helps you overthink less by taking deep breaths and encouragement, he makes sure you eat 3 Nutrional meals a day, he makes sure you get decent rest (at least 8 hours of sleep at night), and he asks you how your day was and how you're feeling. he can seem like a bit of a parent, but he just loves you and wants you physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy.
Gepard is very busy as captain of the silvermane guards and doesn't always have time to hang out, but you're always on his mind when on duty. He keeps a little picture of you in a locket which he wears at all times. It reminds him of all the things worth protecting.
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Sorry if this was a bit short, I ran out of ideas, but I hope you enjoy nonetheless.
Runners Up: No one
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adamwatchesmovies · 6 months
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The VelociPastor (2017
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You can’t make a movie that’s “so bad it’s good” on purpose. The VelociPastor proves it. Even at a mere 75 minutes, this horror comedy overstays its welcome.
After witnessing his parents die in a car fire, Pastor Doug Jones (Gregory James Cohan) briefly vacations in China. There, he receives a velociraptor claw from a dying woman. Now, whenever Jones becomes angry, he transforms into a dinosaur. He’s convinced he should try to remove this curse but Carol (Alyssa Kempinski), a hooker he saved while in his scaly form, thinks otherwise.
Other than the pun in its title, The VelociPastor has very little going for it. At first, you might chuckle at the premise and the wooden performances. As soon as the movie shows you it doesn’t even have the budget for lousy special effects, you'll realize this won't be the cult classic you were hoping for and shut it off. Instead of showing us the fire that kills Father Doug Jones’ parents, writer/director Brendan Steere has the text “VFX of Fire” appear over an empty street. To people who haven’t seen movies that are so bad they’re good, this sounds hysterical. Anyone with any experience with the ironic art form will know better. This is someone trying to cover up the fact that they don’t have the resources to make a good movie and aren’t even willing to try.
The problem with The VelociPastor is that without giving it too much thought, you could write a better movie. What if Pastor Doug gave a fiery sermon in front of his congregation and suddenly began changing? How would he hide his claws as he hands out communion? What if he faced an existential crisis because previously, he believed the Earth was only 3,000 years old? How about a scene in which he watches Jurassic Park for pointers on how to stalk the villains that prowl the streets? Maybe at one point, said villains chase him into a museum and he has to hide among animatronic dinosaurs! What about an important seminar he absolutely can’t miss that requires him to stuff the trademark velociraptor claw into normal shoes and tape his tail to his leg? What sort of hijinks do we get, if not these? None! In fact, the velociraptor barely appears in this movie and when it does, you’ll pray for death. Facing people who know you’ve sat through this film is too heavy a cross to bear. The dinosaur costume is clearly some generic Halloween disguise someone picked up on November 1st for 50% off because the crotch was torn. It looks shabby and you never see it do anything interesting. As for the gore - when you get any - it's little more than red fruit juice sprayed all over the actors.
It’s obvious no one working on this project cared. There are several scenes whose punchlines are so tired, lame and predictable they aren’t the least bit funny. In fact, they kind of make you mad. "This is the best you could come up with? Another pointless scene that wastes our time even more than the rest of the film, which is itself a colossal waste of time? Please Lord, just tell me we’re nearly at the end." You take a look at your watch. You’ve got another 45 minutes to go. This is a movie so dull it’s a battle to stay awake.
At best, The VelociPastor is a broken clock comedy - it manages to make you laugh/smile despite being broken and useless almost every minute of every hour of every day. At worst, it’s so cheap and lazy it insults your intelligence. You can’t make a cult film on purpose. I wasn’t looking for high art or deep meaning when I sat down with this film but I expected it to be fun. The only people who could enjoy The VelociPastor have their names in the end credits. (June 11, 2021)
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Hair Today.
I've been feeling really confident about my sense of self lately. More and more often, there’s a part of looking in the mirror where I really feel like I’m looking at someone who is truly, authentically me. Sometimes I may whine-text to my boyfriend about the stupidest things or internally scream now-familiar sentences like “GOD WHY DID I EVER CHOOSE GOING TO COLLEGE IN OHIO,” but when my head swings back around, I’m really happy with where I am and what I’m doing...especially since it finally feels like I’m actually doing things. I think about my early, long-winded blog posts and think, wow, I was so pent up! I care less about how others see me now. Am I still a little precocious? Yes. But I’m not pretentious.
And then there’s my hair, as dumb as that sounds. But hair is a important part of one’s identity, and that notion has been on my mind considering how much my life has changed lately. I love being a blonde, and my roots, while untouched since September, aren’t as bad as I expected them to be. My grown-out bangs are pretty nice, and I’m dealing with the length as well as I can despite the existential crisis I go through every time I try to straighten it and it doesn’t turn out perfect. Yet there’s a part of me that longs for change. I NEEEED change.
Initially I thought about strawberry blonde for something not so dramatic and since I’ve always wanted a full head of red hair (though I don’t feel quite ready for it yet). But I’ve been thinking harder. Sophia, you know you can dye it aaaany color you’d like. You’re still in your young-n’-dumb phase. You’re allowed to do weird shit with your hair and make awful choices about it. The world is your oyster, man. Give it a little more than a trim. Give it a LOT more than a trim. Red. Brown. Multiple colors mixed together. BLACK.
The options seem endless. But I don’t do wigs, so I can only pick one. Maybe the independent life is making me psycho. Hair-psycho.
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onlyswan · 2 years
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summary: in which it’s pouring outside and jungkook is craving s’mores.
> fluff / wc: 3k
> warnings: is this considered having an existential crisis ? mention of making out <3
note: we’re in the middle of summer but i waited for it to rain all week just to write this. because it only felt right shrugs. do i wish you’d read this while listening to rain sounds in the bg ? maybe.
as always lmk what you think :] mwah
“we look like a movie poster for those indie romance movies right now.” jungkook utters quietly with a small smile, the kind that shows more in his eyes than his lips. “the kind that leaves you with an ache in your heart for days but it hurts so good because the movie felt too real and too dreamlike at the same time.”
hushed whispers floating in the cold, unlit living room. his voice loud enough for you to hear despite the clouds crying loudly up above the sky and over the roof over your heads. the clouds’ weeping is music for the gentle souls, after all.
you ought to chase his words around, hands clawing at the air and naked feet pattering against the carpeted floor, just to swallow and keep them safe in your heart. your little treasure chest that had to break a couple million times to accommodate more words. more memories. more love.
a kiss is pressed on the exposed skin of your right shoulder, the sleeve of your oversized shirt hung lower and lower the longer the fervent dancing of your lips with jungkook’s went on.
your legs around his waist. his hands holding your waist. your hands grasping at the loose shoulders of his grey shirt. his forehead leaning against yours. why do lovers hold on to each other as if there will be no tomorrow to come? at which point of loving does the subconscious and irrational fear of the world ending at any second start to surface? the thought of the humankind ceasing to exist has been stubbornly knocking on your skull these days. and to put it frankly, your only concern about it is not being able to kiss jungkook like this again.
“too real and too dreamlike.” you repeat his words. your fingers caress his face tenderly, index finger tracing the scar on his cheek. every bump and every dent give you the reassurance that you are not dreaming. you sigh a breath of relief. “that describes you perfectly.”
“nuh-uh,” he raises an eyebrow. “that was meant for you. you know, i find it hard to believe how lucky i am. that i can hold you like this.” he softly squeezes your hips to emphasize his point.
“there are moments when i realize that oh shit, i have the most beautiful person in the world in my life and i am in theirs. ah, just saying it out loud like this makes it even harder to believe. i’m so happy.” the expressions on his face are so endearing to you. the pout of his lips. the way his bambi eyes widen when he says certain words. when he closes them and tilts his head to the side with a bunny smile while saying that he’s happy.
“i get the same feeling very often, too. i think you can tell when it happens.” you chuckle, hiding your face in your hands in embarrassment.
“is it when you ask me if we can take a bath together just so i’d wash your hair?” he teases, having done exactly that the night before.
you groan, lightly hitting his chest. “you volunteer to do that!”
“but baby, that’s the point.” he jokingly slaps his hand on his forehead and shakes his head in fake disappointment.
“well you also asked me to shave your stubble this morning, so what’s your point?”
his laughter tickles your ears. it’s one of his rare laughs, louder and deeper than the usual. “the point is! we’re just as crazy for each other, baby!” he grabs your face to give you a smooch on the lips, the ‘mwah’ sound so clearly pronounced. it makes the two of you laugh that you almost cry.
god, how you wish you could’ve captured that moment to watch over and over again until you get sick of it. (the truth is you’d watch it forever if it was up to you because no way you’re ever getting sick of it, but for the sake of sounding sane, let’s pretend that you someday would.)
you’re laying comfortably without saying anything, squished between jungkook and the couch. you believe the mutual love you have for the rain binds you two together. why else would you be tangled with each other while watching the heavy rain blur the giant window of your living room? the small potted plants sitting on the windowsill are watching with you in pure tranquility, you can tell.
can you believe the clouds have been carrying that much water all this time? it must’ve been hard. oh, the poor clouds.
you think about the soil of the earth. oh, how dearly welcoming they are of the shattered pieces of raindrops. they embrace them all oh so tight until they become one and inseparable. you adore how the soil turns shades darker when it gets wet; how the color gradually spreads; how they come to be more alive. so warm, so comforting to admire the nature like this. to know that they love as humans do makes you want to love much harder.
“i’m craving something, but i can’t put my finger on it.” jungkook is the first to speak after more than twenty minutes of only the sound of rain stimulating your ears.
“jeon?” you take a guess. eyes still focused on the raindrops racing down the glass.
“hmm, no.”
“kalguksu?”
“no.”
“sujebi? ramyeon?”
he heaves a sigh. “noooo.”
“drinks, maybe? makgeolli?”
“still no. but that sounds nice right now.”
you grow silent as you try to think of other food he would usually crave when it rains. moments later, you feel his teeth softly biting the fleshy part of your palm below the thumb. not again.
you look up to him, eyes blinking in disbelief. “jungkook, i hate to break this to you but . . . i’m not edible.”
he pulls away, face feigning innocence. “that doesn’t explain why you taste so sweet.” and bites again, letting his teeth sink a little deeper this time.
“that’s because i don’t.”
he pulls away again. “i’m the one who had you in my mouth. you can’t tell me otherwise.”
you roll your eyes and make a face. he is about to bite you again when it hits him. sweet. and soft. marshmallows? hmm, no- oh wait-
he dramatically gasps, leaning forward and leaving only a few inches of distance between your faces. “baby, s’mores. i’m craving s’mores.”
“what?” your eyebrows knit together, before a smile forms on your lips. “s’mores out of nowhere?”
“i want some so bad.” he whines, head falling back to the pillow in distress. it isn’t exactly advisable to drive in the pouring rain just to buy a bag of marshmallows. the pieces of wood in the backyard are most likely wet from the rain, too.
“okay, get up.” you order him, patting the side of his ass.
“do you need to pee? i’ll come with you.”
you look at him as if he just grew two heads. boys like tagging along to the bathroom too? okay. new information encoded.
you boop his nose, feeling very much endeared with your boyfriend. “i’ll make you s’mores, silly.“
“huh? how?”
“just get up and come with me in the kitchen.” you push him lightly, and the lower half of his body slowly slides down the couch until he’s sitting on his ass on the floor. you slide your feet into your fluffy slippers because the kitchen floor is cold. he watches your every movement, sitting there lost and confused.
“meanie!” he yells out before standing up to follow you to the kitchen, careful not to slip with his socks on. when he arrives, you’re already standing on a chair from the dinner table set, pulling out a large bag of marshmallows from the top cabinet.
he stands beside the chair as you chew on a marshmallow, clearly feeling very pleased with the sugar playing with your taste buds. you feed him a yellow one, which he accepts with a glare. you smile at him innocently, stuffing his mouth with another.
“you’ve been hiding this from me?” his voice comes out muffled, the mallows making his rosy cheeks look extra soft and puffy.
his accusation leaves you offended. “do you really think i’d hide something here? i’m smarter than that!”
“that’s the point! you know nobody opens the top cabinets. there’s nothing in there because you can’t reach.” you purse your lips to contain your giggles. his mouth full of mallows and his wild hand gestures make it impossible for you to take him seriously.
you click your tongue, hiding the bag on your back. “so do you want s’mores or not?”
“i want.” he answers right away, sounding almost sad. you pat his head as a silent way to say good boy before turning around and hopping down the chair.
jungkook follows you to the stove animatedly, and his face brightens up when he realizes what you’re about to do. “you’re using the stove as fire?!”
“what else would i use it for, dummy?” you turn it on at low setting, and then insert the stick on a marshmallow. you start to roast it over the small fire exactly how you would if you were out camping in the middle of nowhere.
“is this safe?”
“i’ve been doing it since i was eight. and i’m healthy and alive.” you blow out the fire that got caught on it. “say ahhh.” he obeys, closing his lips around the stick and pulling out the marshmallow. it immediately melts and the delicious taste he has been desperately craving goes off like fireworks in his mouth.
“i’ll bring the graham crackers and nutella.” he gives you another quick kiss on the lips before he moves around the kitchen looking for them. you taste the marshmallow when you lick your lips after.
“baby, bring the chair too, please?”
he comes back with the graham crackers and the jar of nutella sitting on the chair he is carrying. “where do i put this?” you move to the side and point to the space infront of the stove. he sets it down there before hopping on the counter hugging his beloved food. you, on the other hand, climbs on the chair and sits down squatting. you’re on the perfect level as the stove.
and you spend the afternoon like that, you roasting marshmallows while jungkook is waiting with a graham cracker between his teeth. he bites down on it and takes the marshmallow from your stick before licking the spoon of nutella.
you’re too preoccupied with making sure the marshmallow you give him won’t burn his tongue to notice the red hearts replacing your boyfriend’s irises. you make him fall in love with you deeper and deeper without even realizing it. how do you endlessly find ways to make him happy? it doesn’t matter how small or big your gestures are, because the fact that it comes so naturally to you is what he appreciates the most.
the rain hasn’t stopped. you watch it pour from the window that stretches all the way to the both sides of the wall (it was your special request. you love seeing nature while doing whatever is that you’re doing. curtains exist anyway). the golden bell tree in your backyard stands out in the dull ambiance looming over the town. you notice the low area on the right side of the garden is almost completely submerged in brown water.
“we need to buy more garden soil.” you remind your boyfriend.
he peeks outside the window and makes a noise of vexation. “we do. let’s fix it together next weekend.”
when he looks back, a roasted marshmallow is already waiting for him to be devoured. “you should have some too, my love.” he holds your wrist and guides it into your mouth, and then feeds you a piece of graham cracker he dipped in the nutella jar. you give him a pleased smile, munching on the sweet treat with sheer delight.
he smooths down your hair affectionately before reaching down to give a tender kiss to your cheek. “you have never done anything to me that was not good. i love you.” you lean against his touch, savoring his natural warmth. his words tug at your heartstrings until you feel your heart get stuck in your throat.
“i love you more.”
they say that the most beautiful memories from your life flash before your eyes moments before you die. and you just know this memory in particular would be one of them. you wish you could relive this one day - the overflowing sincerity of his voice, the warmth of his hand, the sweet scent of the dessert, the rain knocking on the roof and the windows. god, even the piece of marshmallow stuck between your lower gums and teeth, and the feeling of your ankles getting painfully numb from your position. you want it all. all over again. one more time. one last time.
jungkook offers you a bite of the first proper sandwich he made, and he pulls it away until the line of melted marshmallow caught between your lips breaks. along with it, your resolve snaps into ruins. tears slide down your cheeks one by one. unstoppable.
your sniffles catch his attention in no second. he drops the half eaten sandwich on the plate and hops down the counter. without any struggle, he carries you to replace your spot on the chair. he places you on his lap to hold you as close as possible.
“baby, baby wha-” he pauses for a second to turn off the stove. it would be really bad if your hair gets burnt.
“what’s wrong, hmm? talk to me, please.” he brushes away the strands of hair blocking your face, tucking them behind your ear.
“i’m just- i never believed i’d ever get to a point in my life where i’d feel this happy and content.” you bite your lower lip harshly in a futile attempt to stop your tears. you’re being too dramatic, you scold yourself internally. “and lately, i’ve been feeling like everything will slip between the gaps of my fingers soon. and i just really don’t want that to happen.”
jungkook’s heart drops to his stomach. you used to reject the idea of happiness in your life, but over time you’ve learned how to welcome it with open arms. he was right by your side when you were still learning how to break down the walls you built yourself. and he realizes that this time around, you’re terrified of losing the happiness that took you a long time to be allowed to have.
he says your name softly, breathing out a sigh. “i can’t promise you things like this or that will never happen, because life is complicated and unpredictable. i can only promise you myself. that you will always have me because i will always choose to stay. so let’s stay here, okay? let’s not think about the past or the future. let’s live in the today and savor every moment gifted to us. let’s say what we want to say. let’s do what we want to do. so that we only have good memories to keep and no regrets to dwell on.”
you nod your head repeatedly, wiping away your tears with the back of your hand.
“i want nothing more in the world than for you to be happy for a long, long time.” he tells you quietly, like a handwritten confession he’s been keeping in his pocket for years. he takes over wiping your tears, gingerly caressing your cheeks with the pads of his thumbs.
“you’ve been making me happy for a long, long time. i love you. i really do.” you swallow thickly, softly pushing his hands away.
he pouts. “i love you more. let me wipe away your tears.” but you push them away again.
“give me something to wipe my snot with first maybe.”
“ah, my baby is feeling better now. here, use my shirt.” he offers the bottom of his shirt with a wide grin, and you shoot him a glare. “what? don’t worry. i’ll do the laundry as the laundry fairy.”
you get on your feet and use the box of tissue sitting on the corner of the counter to blow your nose on instead. he follows you again, wrapping his arms around your waist and leaning his chin on your shoulder while you do your business. he hums a random love song, slowly swaying your bodies from side to side.
when his eyes stray outside, he sees that the backyard is getting flooded. yeah, i need to work on that as soon as possible.
“i want more s’mores.” you say after tossing the dirty tissues in the bin.
“i’ll make them for you, baby.” you feel his lips briefly press against the skin of your neck, before he tugs at your hand and hoists you up on the counter by the waist. you swing your feet back and forth in the air.
“i’ll start making dinner too. kalguksu?” he inquires, and you agree with his choice. he also craves it after all. he turns on both spots of the stove and gets to work, roasting marshmallows for you while he waits for the dish to cook.
“we’re not allowed to consume sugar in the next two weeks.” you gulp down a tall glass of cold water after telling jungkook that you’ve had enough.
he winces. “isn’t two weeks a bit too long?”
“thirteen days then.”
“ah, yes, thirteen. our lucky number. that should do.”
you narrow your eyes. him agreeing right away is suspicious . . .
“i’ll be hiding the marshmallows for real this time.”
his shoulders visibly drop. “twelve days?”
“no.”
a bolt of lightning rips through the grey sky, making the ground vibrate from its extremely loud scream. you flinch in fear and shock, your heart almost jumping out of your chest.
“you have angered the sugar gods!”
“jungkook, it’s not funny!”
1K notes · View notes
22hounds · 2 years
Text
tickets for ; bangtan reactions
now playing ; you initiating your first kiss together
cast list : kim namjoon, kim seokjin, min yoongi, jung hoseok
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kim namjoon 
- he did not see it coming
- he took you on a movie date, you held hands, shared drinks, and yet this man did not see this coming
- he’s floored. absolutely floored. eyes glancing everywhere, cheeks flushing, stuttering kind of floored
- meanwhile you’re just standin there like 🧍
- internally you’re panicking
- what if you read the situation wrong WHAT THEN HE’S GOING TO HATE YOU FOREVER AND YOU’RE GONNA LET THIS GREEK GOD OF A MAN SLIP BY YOUR CLAWS
- i can promise you the man is contemplating getting on one knee and proclaiming his undying love for you you’re fine
- your little internal battle is interrupted with a heavy hand clapping onto your back
- you had to wait twenty minutes for him to finally get his shit together and tell you he doesn’t despise you and doesn’t want to murder you
- you look up and see that he has the biggest smile on his face 
- you can’t help but give him another kiss
- his grin, his dimples, and his arm around your waist
- you smile because you think that’s the only sight you’ll like to see that sight for a lot longer
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kim seokjin
- HELLO?? EXCUSE ME??
- HE was supposed to fluster you, not the other way around
- the disrespect. the audacity.
- claps a hand over his mouth and clutches his heart
- “___...how could you do this to a pure, unsuspecting maiden like me 😔”
- you want to strangle him and kiss him again at the same time
- he would rather fling himself off a cliff than admit it but he’s blushing juuuuust a little
- just very little. infinitesimal. a tiny bit.
- he’s definitely not sweating either. no. not nervous at the least.
- tries his best to make fun of the situation but you being your smart amazing muscular all knowing self you see through it
- but because you’re a little shit like him you decide to tease him even more
- wrap your arms around his neck, kissing his jaw, ruffling his hair and all that
- he’s literally beet red but he’s still in denial that he was the one being teased for once
- eventually you let go of him and for revenge he pulls you in to another kiss
- you don’t really mind, no
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min yoongi
- malfunctions a little
- by malfunctioning i mean he freezes and drops his waving hand down
- he’s trying to process the fact that you jumped into his arms and gave him a smooch give him an hour or two he’ll get over the shock 
- during your date he kept inching his hand and shortening the distance between your fingers and his
- like a FOOL
- he’s 80% sure that you’re going to think he’s weird after this and he’s ready to go home and contemplate his life
- and you KISS HIM
- i’m not saying you shouldn’t have but you’ve gotten your hands on every thought of his and now all he can think about is you
- he doesn’t let you see that he’s practically having an existential crisis outside your door
- he acts cool, pats your head, bid you goodnight, and invited you to another date
- on his way back home his knuckles are white on the steering wheel and his face is bright red
- once he opens his door he blacks the fuck out
- slams his body on his bed and relives the moment you kissed him again and again
- he touches his lips and smile
- maybe he should buy you tangerine flavoured chapstick next time you go on a date
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jung hoseok
- dissolves into a giggly mess
- he wraps his arms around you and groan like he’s accepting a horrible fate
- “___...you’re stuck with me now.”
- you raise your head up with a questioning look and he laughs 
- pecks you on the cheek for good measure
- his eyes narrow playfully and he swats your arm lightly
- “seems like you like me a whole lot, don’t you?”
- he takes this as a golden opportunity to fuck with you to his heart’s content
- you blush furiously despite your bold actions and he smiles fondly
- in the end he relents and squeezes your cheek
- he’s not kidding when he says you’re stuck with him he’s now superglued to you
- he flirts with you for a good half an hour while giving you kisses here and there
- you’ve been on like a dozen dates and yet you’ve never kissed
- he wouldn’t tell you ever but he’s scared that he’ll do the wrong thing and drive you away
- but now that you’ve taken the initiative he officially gives no shits and gives you as much affection as he wants
- you like it. actually, scratch that. you like him a lot, along with every kiss he gives you.
( writing this while it’s white day really gets me in the vibe 😳)
225 notes · View notes
kodzuvii · 4 years
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CLUB STUPID [24: yeah probably]
next [25: premarital hand holding]
PAIRING - SUNA x FEM!READER
GENRE - crack + fluff
warnings - spelling and grammar errors lol guys its 1am plz-
SYNOPSIS - Club Stupid, an anonymous podcast meant for the dumb and dumbest to send in unspoken and nonsensical thoughts about issues they face in their day to day lives and for Y/n to speak out and give her opinions and feelings. Normal feelings though, nothing romantic like how she thinks this lazy guy with questionable hair in the volleyball club is actually pretty cute.
a/n: as an executive member and proud representative of the suna simp club (jk lol idk) it is my duty, to keep my simps fed. you’re welcome. please listen to some cute wholesome shit. 
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“Look at this Samu, Suna really his own breed, how does he manage to look more dead compared to how he usually looks”
“Well Tsumu, he ignored the same girl twice in the same week and also got confronted by her cousin who’s also his captain. Pretty sad if ya ask me”
The twins snickered to each other as they eyed the quiet middle blocker who stood by his locker. “Did you see his blocks today Tsumu? I was afraid I was gonna break his toothpick arms with my spikes” Osamu whispered but made it loud enough for Suna to hear. Atsumu nodded, “yeah Samu, totally lame if you ask me. Thank God Yn wasn’t watching him” he teased. “Oi,” Aran called out as he packed up his things on his back that was sitting on top of the benches inside of the boy’s change room. “Lay off of him will ya” he scolded but the pair shrugged and continued to change out of their practice clothes. 
“What’s even happening?” Akagi whispered and Riseki could only turn to him and mirror the same lost look on his face and give a clueless shrug. They both just sat back and watched the scene unfold in front of them. The twins were teasing and throwing indirect jabs and insults towards their middle blocker who looked as if he was going through an existential crisis with the dull look in his eyes. 
Suna was quiet, everyone knew that. Yet somehow in some way, everyone could feel his energy hit an all-time low. He still attended practice sure, but it was like practicing with a pole lamp. He just stood there and observed whatever was happening but even then, his mind was somewhere else. Of course, this didn’t go unnoticed by the coach who gave him an earful about the proper attitude to be having during their practices. Did he listen though? Nah. Listening to a lecture required too much effort. He was just tired and done for the day and the anxious and nervous feeling bubbling up inside of him wasn't helping either.
Suna was stupid. He knew that. His attention span outside of the court was never the biggest and his lack of energy never helped increase his intelligence. He was never the brightest in his class, and honestly, it never bothered him that he wasn’t. Everything he learned came through one ear and left the other. He retained the information for a test but simply forgot everything once it was over. He wasn’t the brightest, and it didn’t bother him not one bit.
What did bother him was his terrible habit of being oblivious towards other people’s feelings. Maybe it was due to his lack of energy or lack of interest, but he simply never put much effort into acknowledging how people felt. Yeah, he got vibes when people had on and off days, his teammates were the twins, you HAD to notice their mood swings and take necessary precautions. It just never occurred to him that more people could enter his bubble. A bubble that revolved around himself.
However, instead of someone finding a way to enter his fragile bubble without popping it, Suna willingly left his bubble when you came into the picture. It was no secret that Suna was whipped the moment his eyes laid on you. He’s been getting clowned about it ever since the twins found out and they never let a day go by without calling him a simp.
He had no clue what type of person you would be when you entered the doors of the Shiratorizawa gym. You looked sweet and bubbly, the smile you came in with never left your face unless you’d whine to your friends or roll your eyes at them. When you stepped into the room, people just naturally gravitated towards your positive energy and your good vibe. He liked that about you. Then again he still didn’t know anything about you at the time. All he knew was that you managed to attract his attention without even directly giving any to him. Every time he tried to look away and focus on whatever was happening in front of him, his eyes trailed back to you.
For a while after camp, you kept popping back in and out of his mind. It was quite ridiculous actually. He’d be taking a drink by the water fountains and he’d look over to the hallway and suddenly the first thoughts would be ‘what if I saw the redhead again?’ It never lasted long, maybe for a split second or two before he snapped himself out of it. He’d never see you again, what was he talking about? He was just being delusional.
So you could imagine the way his mind stopped functioning the night at the train station. Suna had to pinch himself 8 times when he saw you walk out of the train doors. ‘No way’ he thought. You, out of the 7 billion people in the world, was Kita’s cousin. He remembers seeing your tired face and your short stature clad in a big hoodie and loose sweatpants with your hair tied up. You were supposed to look like a mess, why did he keep thinking that you looked so pretty? This must’ve been the higher power playing a trick on him for slacking off during practice. So annoying.
Suna could keep his cool around school. You weren’t in the same classes meaning he didn’t see you at all. So you could imagine the kind of panic that crossed his mind when Kita told the team that he’d have his cousin staying in the gym. He learned later on that you started watching practices because Kita didn’t feel comfortable with you walking home. You were nice to the team, incredibly nice actually. Your easy-going nature made it easy for you to have a couple of conversations with his teammates here and there. While you were nice to Aran and Akagi, you had a little feisty attitude with the twins (mainly Atsumu) and he couldn’t help but admire how outspoken you were. You were blunt, to say the least. That was something you and Kita had in common. But he liked that about you, how you were always free to speak whatever was on your mind and keep a conversation going. 
Suna noticed early on that you rarely paid attention to their practice. He figured volleyball just wasn’t your thing and he couldn’t blame you for that. During water breaks, he’d glance up and watch you tuck back your hair and sometimes he’d catch you scratching your temple in annoyance because of some question you couldn’t answer on your homework. You never looked up, simply unphased by whatever was happening in front of you. 
Even so, he still put the smallest amount of extra effort into his practices. Jumping a bit higher and running a bit faster and spiking the ball with more force. He insisted that it was about time he would break some of his bad habits, but even the team knew that it was a sorry excuse. Truth be told, a little part of him was just hoping that if you ever looked up from your phone or your work in your lap, you’d see him and think that he looked at least a little bit cool. 
One day, on the rare occasion that he’d be listening in class, he remembers his teacher having a discussion with the class about an epiphany. 
The feeling of a sudden or striking realization that hits an individual out of nowhere.
It was late at night where Suna hit an epiphany. You were off to Miyagi, spending your weekend with your best friend and the Twins continued to bug him about his little first-year crush even though he had asked them multiple times to drop the topic. 
Suna came to the conclusion that he liked the way you made him feel. He liked the way he felt at ease when you were around him. He liked how you were so different compared to him, but it never stopped you from forming a friendship with him. You never pushed him to ever open up to you, you listened to the bare minimum he had to say and never took his lazy nature and blunt attitude to heart. He liked annoying you, the way your face would scrunch up when he’d take your bento’s the first couple times during your first initial lunch hangouts or the way you’d puff your cheeks when he comments on your height. He liked the way your eyes lit up when the smallest things caught your attention. He took notes on the songs you said you were currently listening too or the ones that reminded you about happy memories. 
Suna especially liked seeing you smile. Especially towards him. Something about it gave him the same feeling that was comparable to the way he would feel when he would see those jelly sticks on sale at the grocery store. The way you’d roll your eyes in playful annoyance when he'd come up to you and ask to bandage his fingers even though you both knew that he was capable of doing it himself. You would tease him, a playful smile gracing upon your lips, telling him that his fingers would probably break off if you weren’t there to bandage them up. Suna liked thinking that having you wrap them up made his hands feel a bit stronger with his blocks. But you didn’t need to know that.
He remembers a specific memory that lives rent-free in his mind. He was walking down the hallway, casually strolling and taking his time to get back to class after using the bathroom and he happened to notice you heaving a tired sigh as you closed the doors to your class. You looked quite frustrated, probably because it was your art class and you had been complaining days earlier about how creatively drained you were.
 Suna must’ve been looking at you for a moment too long because the moment your eyes met, he felt something tug at his chest by the way your eyes sparkled at the sight of him. Despite being under a little bit of stress, the same smile he grew to enjoy seeing made its way onto your lips and you waved to him excitedly before running up and rambling off about how much your class was pissing you off.
You two eventually got in trouble for skipping the whole period after being too caught up in your conversation. Suna thought it was worth it though.
After scrolling through his phone, listening to Atsumu’s obnoxious lovey-dovey playlist, and inevitably searching “how to know if you like or like like a girl” (there's a difference, he swears) on google. 
He came to his epiphany.
 Maybe before, when he barely knew you and you never knew him, maybe he was just infatuated with the idea of you. 
But it was different now, He liked you.
And that scared him.
It scared him how vulnerable he felt. Suna’s reserved and quiet nature gave him a hard time to open to others. Not that he really cared if he was being honest. He simply had the mindset that no one needed to know everything there was to his existence. Everyone eventually leaves anyways, what was the point?
When it sank into him that he liked you, it confused him endlessly. You never wanted to get out of his head and sooner or later he found himself doing the smallest things for you. The little black silk band was always on his wrist and if it wasn’t on his wrist, it would be tucked away in his pockets. Not to mention that he kept one in his pencil case for good measure. The bandaids inside in his backpack were sealed away in a ziplock bag just in case you ever got hurt because he knew you were a bit clumsy. He found himself keeping his eyes open for little souvenirs and trinkets that looked like something that you’d like wherever he went. 
At first, he thought that he just wanted to upgrade you from friend to best friend. Maybe this was a friendship that he had just been deprived of since his world revolved around constantly meaning to improve in volleyball. Yes, he did find comfort in the friendship he grew with you, but sooner or later he realized that he wanted more. The thoughts of holding your hand slipped into his mind and sooner or later hugging you from behind and resting his head on top yours flowed in followed by taking you back by peppering your smooth and soft cheeks with kisses. That wasn’t something that best friends did.
Kita was right about how his logic of ignoring you to suppress his feelings was stupid and that the worst things that could happen were that he’d get rejected. But he didn’t want to face the chance of him getting rejected, he’d like you for so long and he learned during his time spent away from you that he didn’t want to just stop talking to you. Suna knew himself, if he got rejected then he’d distance himself away from you and never talk to you ever again because the embarrassment would eat him up. 
He didn’t wanna lose you for that. He wasn’t ready. 
What a coward. 
He just really hoped you liked the flowers and read his note, he thought anything was better than a stupid “I’m sorry” text.
���・゚: *✧・゚:* 
“Hurry up, I need to lock up the gym” Kita’s voice echoed throughout the walls as he stepped into the changeroom. Suna looked up from his phone, taking one last glance at your ‘see you soon :P’ text before shutting it off and shoving it into his pockets. As everyone began to leave one-by-one and bid their goodbyes to each other and their captain. The twins however didn’t leave until they both gave Suna a teasing punch on both of his shoulders. Suna only glared at them before proceeding to make his exit as well. 
Kita stopped Suna before he could exit and the look on his face seemed rather serious. With his voice low, Kita simply said “She needs to be back by 7. If she comes home hurt in any way, I’m benching you” he said sternly and that was enough for him to feel his skin crawl under his tracksuit jacket. Suna nodded, understanding that he really wasn’t kidding and that he definitely bench him. 
Kita turned around and opened the door for them both to leave the changerooms. They walked together side-by-side and from a distance, he could see your short figure walking up to both of them. You looked different today, your hair was sitting on your shoulders and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses he was yet to see was sitting on the bridge of your nose. You were clad in your uniform with an oversized pink knit cardigan overtop. Was that a new cardigan you were wearing? He’s never seen it before either. 
Kita smiled at the sight of you skipping up to them and he watched you two exchange high fives and he gave you a brief little speech about staying late. You nodded along and Suna stood by and watched Kita ruffle your hair making you whine cutely. 
He wanted to do that.
You waved goodbye to your cousin and Kita looked at Suna and gave him a firm nod before turning back and making his way towards the gym doors. You turned back and faced Suna, your hands behind your back as you made your way towards him with a warm smile. “Hey there” you greeted and stood in front of him, looking up so you could look at him clearly. Suna couldn’t help but look at you weirdly, why were you acting as nothing happened? Shouldn’t you be upset with him? “Hi, let’s go?” god, why was he so forward. 
You hummed and shook your head, making him furrow his eyebrows in confusion, “do you not wanna go anymore? I can drop you off if you want-” You rolled your eyes, “I don’t see you for a week and you’re already trying to get rid of me?” you questioned and narrowed your eyes at him. Suna felt his heart wrench as your lips pouted. 
He shook his head, “n-no” he stuttered. Your eyes perked up and you watch his cheeks heat up (potentially from embarrassment, but you're not going to assume) and look away. 
You chuckled and grabbed his wrist and pulled him to follow behind you. What made you so bold today? Probably from the unexpected pep talk you had with Goshiki that morning.
“You don’t need him Ln-senpai! If he thinks he can just look over you and all your greatness and beauty and not acknowledge how beautiful you are and how your very presence graces this dull world then send his ass to KFC! You are a woman senpai! A beautiful woman who deserves everything. Not a value menu that has a 20% off discount!”
Did his speech make sense? Sure. You’ll take it over Tendou’s “cut his dick off if he does you dirty queen” text message sent with the confetti effect on imessage followed by a bunch of knife emojis that was honestly more threatening rather than comforting.
You pulled him out of the gym and Shin gave you a look before shaking it off and locking up the gym doors. From the corner of your eyes, you could see the twins sending winks your way before snickering and walking off. You rolled your eyes and stopped when you reached the doors of the school. 
You turned around and faced Suna who looked very lost and confused. “Let’s not go to the convenience store today, let’s go somewhere else,” you say. Suna nodded slowly, “okay? Where do you wanna go?” he asked.
Just then, you lifted up your other hand and it was only then that Suna noticed you carrying a small pink lunch tote. You let go of his wrist and tucked some strands your hair behind you ear, “we haven’t had lunch together in a week and you had a meeting today again so we couldn’t do anything today either and well..” you trailed off and looked up at him and shrugged, “I figured we could make up for lost time” you muttered. 
Suna felt his chest tighten, not only because you were absolutely adorable and it was making him lose his mind, but it almost seemed like you were the one trying to apologize to him when you didn’t do anything wrong. He did.
You frowned as you looked at how subtly his face dropped. As upset as you were, you understood that he wasn’t ready to tell you whatever he was meaning to hide. He wasn’t obligated to tell you anything and you understand that. A small smile creeping up on your lips, “let’s go eat at the park near my house. The one we walk by all the time. Saves you the trouble of worrying if you’re gonna get home on time or not” you laughed slightly.
Suna couldn’t say no to you, so here were the two of you now. Eating and sitting in front of the other with the bento’s you had prepared on the table. The park was as busy as it usually would be during the afternoon. The atmosphere felt warm as the sky was slowly settling into hues of orange with peaks of pink seeping through. Suna watched you happily eat the bento you had prepared and listened attentively as you told him about everything he missed during your week and you did the same when he talked about his. 
A part of him couldn’t help but admire how pretty you looked in front of him. Suna was lying when he told the twins that you were a 7. You were beyond a 7 and beyond whatever scale they had given him. It was a rare sight to see you with your glasses and partnered with that oversized pink cardigan? You were adorable. 
You tilted looked up from your food and stopped mid-sentence when you saw him just look at you with what seemed to be a fond look in his eyes. But you could’ve just been mistaken, maybe you need to have your prescription checked again. “Rin, what’s wrong?” you asked. At the sound of his name, Suna blinked snapped back into reality and was met with your concerned look. “W-what?” You chuckled, “you zoned out Rin, everything okay?” you asked.
Rin.
He liked the way his name rolled off your lips. 
He shook his head, “I’m fine, sorry. This is really good by the way, I didn’t think you could cook” he said as an attempt to change the subject. You rolled your eyes but you looked away. “As much as I want you to believe I’m some great chef, Granny helped me with most of it” you confessed sheepishly. 
He chuckled and poked the sausage that was cut up into a little octopus with his chopsticks, “Well, you did tell me that you burned rice once so maybe I thought too highly of you to make a full meal” he teased. You scoffed and grabbed his bento, “if you’re not gonna appreciate the chef then you don’t deserve the food” you huffed. Suna rolled his eyes and grabbed yours, “guess I’ll have to eat yours then” he said and shoved some rice into his mouth. Your jaw dropped at his actions, “Hey!”
As the day went on, you both began to feel at ease and comfortable once again with each other's presence. The harmony that flowed around between you two was coming back and was settling into its familiar rhythm. You two continued to chat as if nothing happened. Laughing at anything and everything you found remotely hilarious under the sun. Suna felt warm. He was here, with you, and everything felt okay. With both your bento’s empty and tucked neatly away into your lunch bag and the sun settling down and giving a wake-up call for the stars to come out, it was about time for Suna to bring you home.
The walk back to your place was comfortable. There was no tension in the air or any awkwardness in the atmosphere. It was simply peaceful. You were walking beside him and rambling on about something that had happened to you in class that day. It was slightly cooler and the winds were colder and he had noticed early on that you kept pulling at the ends of your cardigan at an attempt to get some more warmth from it. It would’ve just been rude for him to let you be cold, Kita would kill him if you got sick.
It took you by surprise to see Suna slipping off his volleyball jacket and shoving it into your hands. He was wearing a hoodie under it anyway, he didn’t mind. A part of him was just curious about how his jacket would fit you too and what kind of fool would you be to reject an oversized jacket? It was just extra points that happened to be from the boy that you liked.
Suna nodded along to what you were saying, but he couldn’t help the sudden urge to just grab your hand out of his system. You were walking so close to each other. Your shoulders kept brushing past and your hands were right there. 
But with the events that happened this past weekend, he didn’t wanna overstep any boundaries. He was still too cautious that he would mess up and make you upset all over again. With the thought of his actions, Suna suddenly felt a little ball of guilt eat him up. He never stopped feeling bad about what he did. Kita’s words rang through his head, he needed to learn how to communicate better and not deal with everything all on his own. Maybe he really was a coward for letting such a dumb fear eat him up.
In the midst of your talk about how much you despise your math class, you turned to look at Suna and saw how troubled he looked. He didn’t even look like he was listening anymore and seemed to be having some sort of internal battle with himself. 
You furrowed your eyebrows and grabbed his wrist to stop walking. “Rin, what’s wrong?” you asked, concern lacing the tone of your voice. You both never really brought up what had happened. Maybe you were just too caught up in having a good time but you were honestly content with the reasons he gave you. If he wasn’t ready then he wasn’t ready. 
Suna however felt like he owed you so much more than his apology that he already struggled to explain. 
Suna stared down at you for a moment, the unreadable expression on his face that only made you more confused. It was quiet for a moment, the only sound to be heard was the wind blowing by and the trees rustling.
Nothing would have prepared you for the way he turned around and pulled the arm that was holding his wrist and pulling you into his chest. His hands wrapped around your shoulders as he held you just a little bit tighter. He was a bit stiff, but you couldn’t put that against. He wasn’t the type of person to initiate things like this.
“I’m sorry”
Your body froze, something about his tone was different. It was vulnerable.
You stayed quiet, letting yourself relax slowly in his hold.
“F-fuck, I’m really sorry. I said I wasn’t good with words right? S-so I’m trying to explain now because you deserve it but I don’t even know why I did it. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset at all, I was just caught up with myself and I didn’t consider what I was doing to you. You didn’t deserve that. I like being around you and I’m sorry” He pulled away and one of his hands dropped to your waist and fiddled with the material of his jacket. You watched as his free hand dug deep into his pockets and you watched him pull something out. 
“It’s kind of pathetic if you ask me and it’s also kind of ugly but-” he grabbed one of your arms and dropped the object into the palms of your hands. Your eyes widened at the little paper craft,
It was an origami strawberry.
It was small, it fit perfectly inside on the palms of your hand. You could see that he struggled with making it. The leaves were slightly bent and the tip of the strawberry was ripping off. There were lots of creases all in the wrong places and even the seeds were drawn on. 
But it still melted your heart. 
“I read somewhere about 1000 paper cranes for a wish and well, cranes are kind of hard and I didn’t have enough paper to make 1000 and-god this is so embarrassing-” he muttered the last part but gained enough courage to look up at you and meet your eyes. Your eyes were soft and patient. “I wished that you wouldn’t hate me. Or that, this wouldn’t y’know...make everything all weird between us. I like you-or well uh- being around you at least and I-I know you joke about it all the time but please don't-” 
Suna paused when he felt you wrap your arms around his waist once again, hugging him back but just a little bit tighter. The small confession not even going through your mind because your attention was too focused on the way his words were making you melt. 
“You’re an idiot” you mumbled into his chest and hugged him a bit tighter. Your words made his stomach drop, but that feeling went away when you pulled back and looked at him with a smile. A smile that said you understood. 
“I’m never gonna force you to tell me anything you don’t want to tell me” You repeated but this time it felt different, it felt warmer. 
“I’m never gonna hate you. I know how you are Rin, you’re not good with your words and I get that. You could've sent me a text but you didn’t. You went out of your way with the flowers and even the little note and this adorable fucking strawberry is more than enough” you laughed but you could feel your eyes watering up slightly with the overwhelming amount of emotions you were feeling all at once. “You don’t need to keep apologizing to me okay? I understand. Thank you,” you smiled. Suna stared down at you. Nodding slowly and you chuckled and fell into his arms once again.
This time, he was the one who held you a bit tighter.
“This side of you is cute you know, but It’s kinda ruining your whole tsundere image you’re going for. Bet the twins would make fun of you for being this thoughtful” you whispered jokingly, making him roll his eyes and huff a quiet “shut up” in annoyance. If only you knew the pain he endured for putting up with those twins. 
You both stayed like that for a little while longer. Holding each other and fitting so perfectly in the arms of the other. If it wasn’t for your phone dinging from a text from Shin asking where you were, Suna swore he would have held you there for the whole night. 
You pulled away first and tugged his hand, “come on, Shin wants me home now so let’s get going ‘kay? Don’t want you getting benched the whole season now do we?” you grinned and walked in front of him and tugged him along. 
Somehow in some way, your fingers slipped perfectly into his.
Suna could only feel the warmth rising in his chest, his daze fixed at the sight of his hands interlocked with yours. 
“Oh and Rin” you called out, making him snap back into reality.
Suna hummed, looking right back at you.
“Tell me when you’re ready, okay?”
✧・゚: *✧・゚:* 
“Text me when you get up in your room safe”
You turned around to him with a quizzical expression before letting out a chuckle, “I’m in front of my house Rin, I got here in one piece” you said and motioned your free hand towards yourself to prove that you were indeed, uninjured. Suna rolled his eyes and bit the inside of his cheek, “you’re clumsy remember, you might fall or something” he muttered and looked away.
You grinned and squeezed his hand, “Awe, look at you caring for me and my wellbeing. My ears might be deceiving me but it sounds like you’re in love with me” you teased and swung your hands together back and forth.
Suna huffed, his mind not properly functioning when the words fell out of his mouth.
“yeah probably”
Simultaneously, his eyes and yours widened and you both froze. 
Both you and Suna blinked at each other twice. Your eyes looked down at your hands that were still interlocked and looked up at his face that was fully drained of any colour. Your heart was beating rapidly against your chest and Suna began to question the very point of his existence.
“W-what?”
“Uh-”
“Y-you said-”
“A-ah I-”
“Oi!” you both jumped and instinctively Suna pulled you closer to him. You looked at up him briefly before turning around to see Granny waiting by the gate with an impatient but also teasing glint in her eyes. “It’s almost 7:30 Yn-chan! You almost missed bingo night! Kiss ya little friend goodnight and come in before Shin and I eat all the mochi we left for ya” she called out but you could hear the teasing tone in her voice.
“C-coming!” you yelled back. Your face was piping hot and you wanted the ground to swallow you whole from the amount of embarrassment and flusteration you were feeling at that moment. 
Granny nodded and walked back inside, and looked up at Shin who was standing with his arms crossed on the porch. Granny walked back to him with a victorious smile on her lips as she gave him a thumbs up. Granny knew what she was doing and she knew what she saw. She’s gonna call and gossip to your mother.
You gulped and took a step back and looked back at Suna. He was still frozen and his mind was racing at what just happened and he too, wanted the ground to swallow him whole. “I-I uh, I guess I gotta go?” you winced, but the tone of your voice made it sound like you were asking a question. Suna nodded, “y-yeah, goodnight I guess” he muttered as he looked away and you watched his face heat up. 
You were both so embarrassed but neither one wanted to let go of the others hand. 
Suna figured he couldn’t keep you out all night and just as he was about to let go of your hand, a sudden wave of confidence went through your veins and you just went ‘fuck it.’
You pulled his arm down towards you taking him back. His eyes widened, “what are you-” you stood slightly on your tippy-toes and kissed his cheek which made him shut up instantly. “That’s for today, thanks. goodbye.” you said frantically. 
Suna froze, too much in shock and his mind was still in the middle of trying to register what just happened and watched as you let go of his hand and covered your face furiously blushing and running off to your gate and slamming it shut.
He stared blankly at the gate door and blinked twice as an attempt to get himself back to reality. He brought his hands up to his cheeks that were on fire. His mind kept replaying the way your soft lips kissed his cheek and could feel the slightest residue of your lip gloss still on his cheek. 
Shit, you really had him wrapped around your finger. 
“Idiot” 
✧・゚: *✧・゚:* 
a/n: BYE STOP IM SO SINGLE THIS IS SAD AND I AM DEVASTATED.
taglist! [CLOSED] @chocolaterumble​ @elianetsantana​ @versatilewindow​ @introvertatitsfinest​ @aristatrois​ @mizukisonoda​ @amberisnotcrazy​ @kritiiiii @iloveyouasmuchaspoohloveshoney @a-moon-fairy @akaasht​ @lotusweebs @marvelous-maxi @laughingismorefun @hhmnvm @sweetyrina @honeydrip @miracleboy420 @rachelexe @charsdummb​ @sxrcasticbacon @loser-keiji @dinablossom @ntimacy @kac-chowsballs@unhappyraspberry @sbaepsae @doebopeepeebbod @missalienqueen @ssuna @violenthead @unstableye @tycrackculture @a-applepi @lollyzen @aisawa-reo @ashybitch89 @sunflowerirl @sapphicstarss @melodiamore​ @valrubiii @urbasicaveragegirl @mint-mai @4kaashl @sugawsites @anngelllla @applekenm @bumblebeesofspace @dreamstormings @milkingkageyama @tsumu-core @luvelyxp @aquariarose
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fandom-strumpet · 2 years
Text
Klaus Soulmate AU! Part 4
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Summary: Part 5 of Reader being soulmates with Klaus Mikaelson. Reader decides to have hope and try helping.
Word Count: 742
You woke up - not quite refreshed - but with a plan. You were destined to be in love with Klaus Mikaelson and he, you. All you had to do was help him understand that destiny. Despite the pain, you decide to be hopeful. 
“Hope hurts, but tomorrow might be better.” you mumbled. 
You decided the best way to go about this plan was to have a cheery disposition. Heading downstairs, you went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Some of the work the Mikaelson’s did was nothing you could help them with. You would need vampire- like strength. However, you would help out where you could. Starting with dinner. Looking in the fridge you wrinkle your nose. Note to self: go grocery shopping tomorrow. Settling for what was left you made a mix- matched meal of mashed potatoes, corn, mac n cheese and side drinks of blood. 
“Mmmm, that smells delicious.” A deep, kind voice complimented. 
You turned, beaming with pride to see Elijah. 
“Why thank you. Dinner is ready.” 
Next, Rebekah and Kol sped in. 
“We heard dinner was ready?” Kol grinned devilishly.
“Where’s Klaus?” You tried to keep up a smile but felt your heart droop. 
“Oh, I’m sure he’s on his way home now.” Rebekah chimed. 
You all chattered happily over dinner. Every once in a while you would glance over to the empty chair and plate where Klaus should be. 20 minutes into dinner, the front door slammed shut and in marched a pissed-off looking Klaus. 
“Nik, Y/N made us a nice dinner. Come join.”
You sat up straight and smiled warmly. Klaus walked past the table and grabbed some cold blood bags from the fridge. Passing by you, he wrinkled his nose and leaned in. 
“No thanks, love.” 
Your eyes watered as you turned your focus down to your folded hands.
“Niklaus Mikaelson! I thought you had better manners than this.” Elijah scolded.
Klaus grumbled in irritation and continued walking to his room. All eyes turned to you in pity.
“Y/N.. I’m so sorry…” Kol started awkwardly. 
“Excuse my brother’s poor manners, he’s had a rough day with a coven of witches.” Elijah explained.
Rebekah put a hand on your shoulder, making you look up.
“I’ll help you with cleaning up dinner.” 
“Thanks, ‘Bekah.” 
You gave a weak smile, willing yourself to keep it together in front of them all. Later that night you lay still on the carpet in your room. Looking up at the ceiling you contemplated your options. It would be all too easy to give up now and leave. You had to keep going, keep trying. But for how much longer? How would it look if I returned to my old home after only one week? Finally getting too mentally drained to have an existential crisis, you climbed back into bed in your fuzzy pjs. Covering your mouth you silently cried yourself to sleep that night. 
For the next week you kept your chin up, trying to help in any way you could. You discovered early on that Klaus was a morning person and enjoyed painting in peace. If only you had been a little quieter this morning though. CREEEEAAAK. You winced at the noisy floorboard. Klaus’ paintbrush froze midair. 
“Can I help you with something, love?” Klaus turned his head to see you better.
“No, sorry I was just watching-”
“I know. You’ve been watching me paint every morning.” He gave a slight grin.
“Sorry, I’ll just - uh - go.” Your face heated with a flush.
You turned on your heel, accidentally stepping on the noisy floorboard once more.
“Sorry!” 
Klaus rolled his eyes with a small chuckle watching you go. She’s starting to grow on me a bit. He didn’t let just anyone watch him paint in the morning after all. It was his own world of private time, and in a way, he was sharing it with you. 
Calming your breath in the hallway you processed the whole interaction. You would like to think you and Klaus were making progress. Maybe this is it? After that morning, Klaus started smiling at you more often. By all means it was no story book romance that you two had. But for some odd reason, what he thought and felt really mattered to you. How can I be in love with a man who doesn’t even want me to be his soulmate? Little did you know about Klaus’ growing attachment to your company. 
@tawaii​
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saphirered · 3 years
Text
I Don’t Hate You (Vagrant pt3.)
The lady at the front desk gives you a dirty look as you come straggling in, leaving a wet trail behind you, boots sopping with an equally disgruntled expression on your face. You toss her a coin, if only to be done with it all and go back up the stairs. There you see, Fjord is no longer sitting in the hallway and probably either has gotten himself a room of his own or Molly’s taken mercy upon the half-orc and let him sleep peacefully and undisturbed in their shared room. A sense of dread still lingers as you approach your door and you take a sip from the opened bottle in your hand, hoping to find some courage to push you over the edge and just get it over with. You can see the hint of orange light bleeding through the small gap. 
When the door opens Caleb looks up from his book, or well, your book. You look like an absolute mess and he knows you know you do. It’s an unspoken agreement to not comment on this fact made in that brief moment of eye contact, for both of your sakes. 
“Do not question my terrible life’s choices, Widogast.” You grumble as you let yourself fall backwards on your bed. You don’t even have the energy to magic away the remainders of the rain that kept you company from your soaked person. Well, that or the fact that the droplets rolling down your skin hid the tears from the panic attack and brief existential crisis you had on that rooftop before you came down. 
Caleb puts down the book, gets up from the bed and slowly and carefully inches over to your side of the room. He hesitantly sits down on the edge. You have half the mind to kick him off just because but can’t find the energy to do so. Despite your distaste for magic users like him, being alone after your mental breakdown you just experienced, really sucks. Caleb pats your knee awkwardly in an attempt to comfort but not wanting to cross any boundaries. It’s pathetic, he knows because one can hardly fix a stab wound by slapping on a bandaid. His own past experiences have left him a tad bit at a loss when it comes to comforting a person in pain, especially one so stubborn and crass as you have been towards him. 
Still, Caleb has figured out your hatred isn’t directed at him personally. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out it’s people with abilities like him that have played a part in your past causing you pain and suffering and the wound is still very fresh, hence your trauma being reflected onto him, despite his complete lack of involvement in your before the moment you met. It may not have helped that your hostility towards him hasn’t exactly encouraged him to try and build a proper relationship with you. He hardly even knows you yet still he feels as if he knows your tells, the things you go through and why you act like you do. He may not know the details of your life but he feels safe to say he knows you better than any of the others. 
It’s not his lack of knowledge and insight into your life beyond what’s surface and what he can read off you that holds him back. It’s the fear of what he might find within you that will tear open wounds of his own he’s worked so hard to cover up. It’s the fear you might be one step ahead of him in a similar story and there is no hope for people like you and him after all. It’s the fear those you run from are the same people he has tried so hard to escape. It’s the fear of you, that you might be each others’ salvation, or undoing because he knows what he has the capability to become, what you could become. 
But here you lie, upon your bed curled up, traces of tears long since fallen, possibly even ran out, tightness in your throat, indents of your nails in your palms from clenching too much, frustration and anger in your eyes is still overwhelmed by pain and hopelessness and a wish the void would just come and claim you, where you no longer fear the consequences of running and will be able to obliterate those who caused you so much hurt, or die trying in the process. Caleb is reminded of himself in that cell of his own, for years, a broken mind piecing itself together from the shambles it was left in, barely a shell of what it used to be. 
When he promised himself he would do anything and everything in his power to take down these tormentors and their accomplices so no one would ever have to suffer like he had, still is suffering, Caleb didn’t expect to find you. He still remembers himself begging, praying, screaming just to not be alone, to have someone tell him there is still hope and not all is lost. There’s still good in this wretched world and if the world turns bleak, it’s up to you to be that good despite everything. Those were the pretty words and empty promises of a dreamer but does that make them a lie? 
“Don’t patronise me. I’m not some fragile broken child in need of mothering.” Caleb retreats his hand, clasping them together in his lap as he studies your face. Your eyes are cold, your expression matching. A mask, he knows. A way to protect yourself. 
“Good. Because I have no intention of doing so. I want you to be blunt and truthful and I don’t want you to hold back. I want you to humour me and answer some questions.” You raise an eyebrow expecting there to be something behind Caleb’s request but his stare is unreadable, like a practiced mask of his own. 
“You want me to be blunt and give you a peace of my mind?” You humour. You’ll tell the asshole okay. You’ll bicker and fight and quarrel if that’s what he wants no problem. Maybe a battle of wits and words will get you back into your groove. 
Little do you know that is in fact not what Caleb is looking for. Not exactly. He isn’t looking for a fight. He’s looking for answers, how to help you despite your differences because no one deserves to go through this, especially not alone. So because of that, he will not humour you in turn with his usual reply to your attempts to push him. He doesn’t intend this to end in another futile empty argument. Not now. So he’ll drop the game and go straight for the jugular. 
“Why do you hate me?” You freeze at the abrupt and sudden question. Caleb knows you don’t really hate him personally but coddling you won’t work and some things you’ll have to realise by yourself first. Finding the strength to lean up on your elbows you tilt your head at him as a half smirk creeps upon your lips.
“Because you’re an egotistical self-serving bastard who cares for nothing but himself and the people useful to him, until they outlive their usefulness.” The words are meant to cut like knives and usually you’d get a rise out of Caleb by such a statement but when you don’t see any response to your words, nothing but those blue eyes staring into yours so… unbothered, it feels as if those knives are turned onto you instead. You’re not quick enough to get rid of that tiny hint of guilt slithering across your features. 
“Why do you hate me?” Caleb asks again, voice still calm like it’s the most unremarkable question ever. He could have asked you about the weather with that tone. 
“Because you’re an asshole.” 
“Why do you hate me?” 
“Seriously? I already gave you an answer. Was I not clear the first time?” That guilt in your stomach starts growing, festering. There’s something in your mind pushing through but you try to fight it off, not liking the thought of being faced with those emotions. You’ve worked too hard to push them away. 
“Just answer the question. Why do you hate me?” Caleb sees you struggle. Your first answers where in the blink of an eye, a defence mechanism slipping into place. That works, for a while, until it doesn’t, until you start questioning it and give yourself a moment to think.
“Because…” Because you’re a coward. Because you run from your problems. Because you leave other people to swipe up the mess for you. Because you’re a monster to blame for the pain of others. Because you’re to blame for your own pain. Because you couldn’t save them. Because. Because. Because. Those are not reasons you hate Caleb. You take in a sharp breath, clenching your jaw in anger, nose scrunching holding at bay the curses from passing your lips and the threat of all your emotions from spilling out like a breaking dam. 
“Why do you hate me?” The words now, do not sound void of emotion, but instead are filled with a warmth and pity. Damn him! Damn him to the hells and abyss! When you don’t answer he repeats it again. Caleb gives you amicable time to answer, leaving a long silence to give your mind the time and space to think for itself, analyse and process and you hate every second of it because you can’t stop it. The cracks in the walls you’ve tried to hard to build become more apparent by the second. He asks again. 
“I don’t bloody hate you!” You shout, pretty sure you may just have woken up the entire floor. The silence after the words leave your lips is deafening. 
“Then what do you hate about me that causes you to act the way you do?” Your hands clench back into fists, your nails pressing down again in the still tender skin from but minutes ago. You don’t want to say it. You really don’t but that pain raging through your body wants to get out and you feel the floodgates opening inch by inch despite your efforts to fight it. Then there’s that voice in the back of your mind; maybe speaking the unspoken will give you some peace. 
“I don’t hate you! I just hate what your remind me of. It’s like you’re here to personally torture me so please just leave me alone to suffer, get over it and move on.” You don’t want to remember the last time you pleaded for something, and had hoped to never plead for anything again yet here you are. 
“I am going to give you a choice and I’ll only offer it once, so listen very carefully.” You’ve never seen Caleb look so intense, so genuine, and so determined. You can’t do anything but listen so you nod, signalling him to continue and that you’re paying attention to his every word and not to twist them for your own amusement for once. Whatever previous relation, or rather lack thereof you’ve had is gone now. There’s only you two, in a place of vulnerability and without judgement. 
“You’ve got two options. One; you tell me to piss off, like you usually do. I’ll go back to bed, back to sleep and leave you alone. We will never speak of this again, never mention this and go our separate ways. We will remain cordial when interacting and won’t let our own grievances get in the way of the others.” You take in the words, nodding to confirm you understand. 
“Or two; you and I are going to talk. You are going to tell me what you wish, and can tell me provided it’s the truth and I will listen. If you wish to tell me your life story I will listen. If you wish to tell me all your troubles I will listen. If you wish to share your pain, I will listen. And know that I will help you if you’ll allow me to. Because if you keep doing this on your own, let the guilt and grief and pain swallow you whole, I know exactly where it will lead. Do not allow it to be your undoing, or turn you into a person beyond your recognition.” Midway through his offer your eyes have closed and your brow furrows. You bit your lip and that combined with the movement of your eyes behind your eyelids are the only indication to Caleb you’re still listening to him. 
Caleb gives you time. He doesn’t expect an answer right away. That’s not how this works but he does study you, attempting to get an inkling of what’s going through your mind. He feels warmth wrap around his wrist, glancing down to notice your fingers have wrapped around it and hold on tightly. You’re holding onto a lifeline and he knows it. 
“Why?” Your, words a pained choke, you don’t dare open your eyes, don’t trust the look in Caleb’s eyes to tear down what last defences you had up and turning you into even more of a broken mess. 
“Because despite what people might have you believe, there is still good in this world.” You’re unable to stifle a sob, feeling a tear slide down your cheek. 
“I’ve not known much kindness in my life but I feel confident in saying this is the kindest thing anyone has ever offered me. It’s why my pervious actions and words towards you make me feel like an absolute ass even more. I hope you find it in yourself to forgive me.” You release Caleb’s wrist, feeling grounded once more despite the buzzing in your head and twiddle with your fingers awaiting a response, the tense air slowly lifting as you sit in peace and silence. 
You nod, wiping at the corners of your eyes before you open them, a bit more red and puffy than they were before you entered the room. You finally look at the wizard and take in a deep breath before nodding again. If it were anyone else, any other moment you might have said no. You’d even have laughed at whoever tried this emotional shit on you. But it’s time. You’re not getting any better nor can you repress everything forever. It’s time to face some of these troubles head on. Luckily you won’t have to do it on your own. It will take time and effort and it’s going to hurt like hell but it has to be done. You have to move on and learn how to live. You owe it to yourself, if not the people you’ve left behind. 
“Now this doesn’t mean we’re going to be best friends from now on. You’re still an asshole and so am I so don’t think I’ll let you off easy for your comments and the trouble you cause.” The corner of Caleb’s lips turns up slightly as he speaks and you mimic his expression.
“I don’t think anyone else could handle it, so I’m sorry to disappoint but you’re definitely stuck with me, Widogast.” You muster a smile, exhausted. It’s mutually understood the conversation as per your agreement won’t happen right here, right now but instead when you’re both ready. For now, at least you won’t pretend to hate each other anymore and start over. 
“Hey, Caleb?” You ask.
“Yes?” He answers but before he knows it your arms wrap around him and pull him into your embrace. Caleb’s form goes rigid shocked by not only the gesture but by the physical touch itself. After a good few moments he finds himself ease just a little, enough to return the embrace lightly.
“Thank you.” You whisper.
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five-rivers · 3 years
Text
Danger First
Chapter 9
@pocketramblr
.
Banjo took Hikage to the side while the other ghosts were still wading through their existential crisis.
"Man," he said, "Hikage, bro. You know I love you."
"You do?"
"Like... at least eighty-five percent of the time."
"Ah, continue."
"But next time you think one of us has a secret relative out there, you've got to say something so we don't get blindsided."
"You're sure?"
"Positive."
"Alright, then. I couldn't help but notice that both Ninth's mother and 'Tomura' share a strong resemblance to Nana."
"... I've changed my mind."
.
Although Midoriya Inko had abandoned the tech conference as soon as she heard about the attack on the USJ, she, unlike the mist villain, could not teleport. Therefore, Izuku was stuck in the nurse's office even after he had woken up and paramedics had confirmed that his injuries began and ended at bruises and quirk exhaustion. (And a potentially fractured bone in his foot, but that wasn't worth mentioning.)
Sitting next to the police officer with nothing to do was... awkward. Very awkward. His hands itched for his notebooks, but everything they brought to the USJ was evidence, and he hadn't been allowed to go back to the classroom. He wanted to know what happened to his classmates and Mr. Aizawa, who he hadn't seen since he ran away from the plaza and left him with the hand villain, and Mr. Yagi, who had really taken a beating from Nomu. Danger Sense was quiet, relatively speaking, but Float was just waiting to be used and tested.
Plus, he really, really had to talk to Mr. Yagi about that. Loads of his classmates had seen him use Float. How was he supposed to explain having Float right after telling them he probably had a sensory quirk?
Plus, if he got Float, it stood to reason that he'd get all the other One for All users' quirks as well. So he had to figure out how to make Danger Sense, Float, Smokescreen, Blackwhip, and a strength enhancement all look like the same quirk. Which, maybe they were, technically, considering that Monoma had sensed One for All as a single quirk but whatever was going on with the mist villain as multiple quirks...
Point was, One for All definitely functioned as multiple quirks.
Would his friends think he was lying? No, he'd definitely proven Danger Sense existed by predicting, however loosely, the attack.
"Hey, Tamakawa."
Izuku and the officer looked up at one of the detectives who had come to take initial statements. His name was... Tsukauchi, Izuku thought. Mr. Yagi (as Mr. Yagi) was standing behind him.
"I can take it from here. I have a few more questions for Midoriya."
"Yes, sir. Midoriya." He nodded at them as he left the room.
"How are you feeling, Young Midoriya?" asked Mr. Yagi, taking the officer's spot with a slight groan.
"Uh, better than this morning, actually," he said. "But, um, but what about you? That Nomu guy kept, um..." His eyes trailed towards the detective.
"Ah, this is Detective Tsukauchi Naomasa. He's an old friend of mine. He knows... well, just about everything about me."
Izuku nodded slowly. "So, he knows about, um..."
"I know about One for All," said Tsukauchi.
"Oh," said Izuku. He rapidly gathered together his thoughts, trying to decide what the most important piece of information he had to impart was. "Do you know what happened to Mr. Aizawa? And Ingenium?"
That was most definitely not a piece of information. Stupid brain.
"The portal villain, Kurogiri, teleported Aizawa off UA grounds, but he was able to get help quickly after that. Ingenium had some injuries that need a specialist, so he went home. They'll be alright, but they'll probably have to take a few days off."
"Yes," said Tsukauchi, giving Mr. Yagi one of the driest looks Izuku had ever seen. "Because you heroes are so good about that."
"Teaching isn't exactly strenuous, Naomasa."
"Remind me again how you got injured this time."
Mr. Yagi made a face Izuku would have found hilarious under other circumstances. "That's different," he said, plaintively.
"Is it though?"
Mr. Yagi coughed. "Now, Midoriya, my boy... I'm sure you have things you want to talk about... I think I glimpsed you soaring through the air, earlier. Did you unlock the enhancement aspect of One for All?"
"No," said Izuku. "Not exactly."
.
"Well," said Mr. Yagi. "That's, hm. Certainly something."
"Sorry," said Izuku.
"You have nothing to apologize for, my boy," said Mr. Yagi, patting his knee. "In fact, it's a good thing that you got Float this time. I'd be at a loss about what to do with Smokescreen or Blackwhip. But I'm fairly familiar with my master's quirk, and, well, there's someone else who I should... get back into contact with..." Mr. Yagi force the words out as if they had physically pained him to say.
Which they might have. He did have the whole... coughing... thing. Maybe he was just trying to hold one back?
"Mr. Yagi? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine."
"Okay, are you sure?" He wasn't sure if he wanted to bring the next part up if Mr. Yagi wasn't feeling well.
"Yes," said Mr. Yagi. "I just, hm. It's just... history."
Izuku nodded. "So, um. Did you hear Monoma say that the mist guy - Kurogiri? - had multiple quirks, too? Like Nomu?"
The mood plummeted.
"Yes," said Tsukauchi. "He told me, and I told Toshinori. It appears that Kurogiri's warp quirk is actually several different quirks working as one. Merged together, almost."
Izuku nodded. "I was just wondering... One for All can be passed on, so... are there other quirks like that? Like, if the first person with One for All had family members or something? Or..." Izuku trailed off. Mr. Yagi now looked actively ill. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Toshinori," said Tsukauchi, "you mean you didn't tell him already?"
"In my defense, I thought he was extremely dead."
"What- Who are you talking about?"
"My boy... I think it's time to tell you a story of two brothers..."
.
"So, One for All comes with a built in nemesis? Who may be immortal?"
"That- He's not... It would appear so."
"I am somehow both surprised and not."
.
"There's one more thing I wanted to ask you about before your mother arrives," said Mr. Yagi.
"Please tell me it's not something worse, like me being a descendant of the guy," requested Izuku, picking the worst, most ridiculous thing he could think of.
Tsukauchi snorted, then covered the noise up with a cough.
"I seriously doubt that All for One could maintain a romantic relationship of any kind," said Mr. Yagi, "and even if you were, it wouldn't really matter. I mean, his own brother hated his guts."
.
"That's a bit extreme..." murmured Yoichi.
"Considering some of the rants we've gotten you to go on," said En, "it really isn't."
"Maybe. Maybe not. But the rest of it-" Yoichi promptly left to harass Second and Third.
"How can you two be so close and yet so far?" mourned Nana. "How are you so smart and so dumb at the same time?"
"In Ninth's defense," said En, "he doesn't know what All for One looks like."
"Surely he knows what his father looks like. He sees his picture almost every day," said Hikage.
"Admittedly, I could have phrased that better, but are you rubbing that in, or are you serious? I've known you for, like, half a century and I still can't tell."
.
Despite the example being a joke, Izuku felt much better after hearing that.
"But, no, this subject is relatively neutral and nothing so dramatic. I was hoping to get your permission to tell young Aizawa about One for All."
Izuku opened and closed his mouth several times. "H-huh? Why? And why do you want my permission? You don't need my permission."
"One for All is your quirk, now," said Yagi, "and your secret. It's up to you who knows about it. Outside of an emergency, I suppose. As for why in general..." Mr. Yagi sighed. "There are things young Aizawa needs to know about the villains with multiple quirks and All for One. I can't tell you the details right now, but with how One for All is manifesting in you, if he only knows about All for One, it would be very easy for him to make incorrect assumptions."
"Oh," said Izuku. He could certainly see how that could be dangerous. He didn't want his teacher to associate him with a villain like that.
"Also, if he knows what's happening, it will be easier for him to help you," finished Mr. Yagi hopefully.
Izuku thought about it. "I guess that would be alright. But... He's not the only person who'll know about my quirk being weird and All for One, right? I mean, the Hero Commission, at least..."
"To be entirely honest with you, I tell the HPSC as little as possible about All for One and One for All."
"What? Why?" asked Izuku.
"Well-"
"Izuku!"
"Mom!"
"I'll explain later," said All Might quickly.
.
Kurogiri passed a damp washcloth over the burns on his neck. The metal of his collar was a conductor, and the charge the young man with the electricity quirk had sent through it had been significant. It was only natural for it to get hot, for it to burn.
He should go to the Doctor... Some of the collar's functionality seemed to be damaged. He brushed his mist covered fingers over the cool metal.
Tomura wouldn't tell the Doctor. Kurogiri cared deeply for Tomura, but the young man was certainly shallow and unlikely to realize the extent of Kurogiri's injuries. He was more likely to focus on his own, not insignificant, wounds.
In contrast to those, Kurogiri's paled. He wasn't nearly as important as Tomura, after all.
It should be fine to let his wounds and the collar be. It would do what it was supposed to and protect the vulnerable areas of his body, internal damage or no. He just had to be careful of the burns becoming infected, especially since he couldn't see them.
Sometimes, he wished his body was like it was before...
Kurogiri frowned at the thought even as it faded from his consciousness. He had been created by All for One fully formed. His body had always been like this.
Hadn't it?
.
Shouta had been in and out of consciousness the past few hours. Apparently he'd never been in serious danger of dying, except from shock, which was just his body being dramatic and didn't count. All his major organs were free of serious damage. He just had to regain his stamina so that Recovery Girl could heal him up, and then he'd be fine.
Unlike Tensei, apparently, who had cracked one of his engines, which needed specialist help and surgery to realign the pieces. Or All Might, who had taken hits to his old injury, and needed to take time off or lose more time from his hero form. Or his students, who hadn't been seriously injured but who were probably traumatized.
The last time he had woken up, though, Hizashi had been there. Now, All Might, Nezu, and Detective Tsukauchi were there.
"Thought I already gave my statement," said Shouta.
"You did," said Tsukauchi.
"We're here to give you more information about the attack, I'm afraid," said Nezu.
"Information I won't like?"
"It can wait until you feel better, of course."
"That's illogical," said Shouta. "The sooner I get the information, the more time I have to process it."
All Might, Yagi, sighed. "Nomu and the portal-using villain both had multiple quirks."
Shouta frowned. "You mean, they had quirks with multiple aspects?"
"No," said Nezu. "As Yagi said, they had multiple quirks. This was confirmed by both the villains' comments and by Monoma, who made contact with the portal villain and was able to copy multiple quirks."
"Kurogiri," said Shouta. "That's what the other one called him. Shigaraki."
Nezu nodded. "Indeed. We weren't sure you had heard that." He tapped his paws together. "What we are about to tell you is classified. We are only sharing it with you because of your unique position and history."
"In the wrong hands, it could cause a lot of damage," said Yagi.
Only two things kept Shouta from leaping out the window and escaping: the fact that he was basically immobilized in plaster casts and the fact that his students were already involved in whatever this was.
"Great. What is it?"
"To begin," said Tsukauchi, "Monoma said he was able to copy three quirks from Kurogiri."
"That's up from what he could do before," observed Shouta. Stress did push quirks to improve, sometimes, although Shouta hated for the improvement to be associated with trauma.
Tsukauchi nodded. "He made note of that as well. He said he picked up a quirk that allowed him to turn his body parts into portals that led to other body parts, a quirk allowed him to temporarily teleport his body parts, and..." he trailed off.
"And a quirk that at the very least bears a strong resemblance to Shirakumo Oboro's Cloud."
"What are you saying?" asked Shouta, ignoring the way his heart had almost stopped.
"At the moment? Only that it is very strange that Kurogiri had a quirk like that, and sent you to the place where Shirakumo Oboro died."
"Oboro would never-"
"We're not saying that," interrupted Yagi. He coughed into his hand. "There's more context. Have you ever heard of the quirk bogeyman?"
.
"I can't wait to never sleep again I'm my entire life," said Shouta.
"Wait," said Tsukauchi, "it gets worse."
"How could it get worse?"
"Naomasa, you're supposed to be on my side," complained Yagi.
"I am. That's why I'll stop Eraserhead here from trying to kill you after you finish explaining."
"Well, it has to do with young Midoriya's quirk..."
.
"Let me get this straight, you gave the quirk with an immortal supervillain archenemy attached to a child... and didn't tell him that the supervillain existed."
"When you say it like that, it sounds really bad-"
"It is really bad-!"
.
"If I'd known he was still alive-"
"What part of immortal do you not understand?"
"Shouta, I, too, believed that All for One-"
"Shut up, Nezu! I don't have the energy to be mad at both of you right now!"
.
Yagi, Tsukauchi, and Nezu were all shown out by an irate nurse while a different but equally irate nurse replaced the plaster cast on Shouta's arm.
It had definitely been worth it.
.
Just because school was canceled, that didn't mean training was canceled.
... except it did, both because Inko was too stressed to let Izuku out of the house, and because Mr. Yagi had a meeting to go to about the attack.
But the second day after the attack was a different story!
That morning, Mr. Yagi pulled up in front of Izuku's apartment in Hercules (still so cool!) and picked him up.
Izuku bounced enthusiastically into the car and then froze. "Oh my gosh, what happened to your eye? Was it a villain? How hard did they hit you?" his hands fluttered. "I have some cream-"
"Oh," said Mr. Yagi, "no need, young Midoriya! I, er, sort of deserved it. It's a sort of reminder to take it easy, too. People would be disturbed to see All Might with a black eye, after all!" He smiled, then winced.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, very. You should buckle up, my boy."
"Oh, right," said Izuku. "So, where are we going? You said there was someone you wanted to introduce me to."
"Yes," said Mr. Yagi. "My old teacher. It's been a while since I've seen him. Hopefully he won't make up for lost time with a kick to the face..."
"What?"
"Don't worry about it."
When Mr. Yagi spent most of the way over muttering about kicks to the face and head, Izuku decided that he should, in fact, worry about it.
.
The broken-down building was not what Izuku had been expecting.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" asked Izuku.
"Absolutely," said Mr. Yagi, who was shaking somewhat. "This Pavlovian response only confirms it."
"Um." The building looked condemned. "Maybe he moved."
"One can only hope," said Mr. Yagi. "Maybe you sh- No. I have to see this through." He steeled himself visibly, squaring shoulders. "Please not a kick to the face," he said, under his breath.
"Is he really that bad?" asked Izuku.
"My boy, I guarantee you that he's worse."
.
"Poor kid has no idea what's coming," said Banjo. "Although we wouldn't have believed it either if we weren't riding along and watching."
"Nana," said En, "I just want to reiterate that I'm very glad you never thought about giving One for All to Gran Torino."
"Come on. Sorahiko isn't that bad," protested Nana.
"We know," said everyone else, "he's worse."
.
They walked up to the apartment building door. Mr. Yagi sighed heavily on seeing the door was hanging open, which was a radically different reaction than what Izuku would have expected.
"Is Danger Sense doing anything?"
"I don't think so?"
"Let me know if that changes."
"R-right," said Izuku. Mr. Yagi pushed the door in, and Izuku followed cautiously after him.
They went down a few hallways, peeking in rooms. Then they got to the kitchen, and Izuku covered his mouth with both hands with a gasp at the grisly, bloody scene. Gran Torino laid on the floor in a pool of red liquid. "Oh my gosh, he's-"
At the same time, Mr. Yagi said, "At least it's not a kic-"
The supposedly dead hero was suddenly airborne, and flying towards Mr. Yagi, foot first. Specifically, at his face. "You thou-"
Danger Sense spiked. It was a tiny spike, but still.
Izuku reacted. Specifically, with nerves shot by the USJ attack, he reacted violently, lashing out with a fist, swatting Gran Torino out of the air and back into the puddle of what was, in retrospect, probably diluted ketchup.
For a moment, everything was silent.
"Oh my gosh," wailed Izuku. "I assaulted a senior citizen!"
Gran Torino bounced back to his feet. "I like this kid, Toshinori!"
"I'm... glad?"
"Now show me what you've g-"
"Gran, please, we're only here for quirk help, not battle training."
"What's the difference? You're going to want to use it in battle eventually, right?"
"I mean," said Izuku, hesitantly, feeling like he had whiplash several times over, "yes?"
"See?"
"Just help with controlling Float. Please." Mr. Yagi pressed his hands together. "Please do not pick a quirk fight with a civilian teenager. Please."
"We are on private property."
"Assault is still illegal on private property."
"He's the one who hit me!"
"I know! I'm so sorry," said Izuku, doing his best to bow in the cramped space. "It was a reflex."
"After you attacked me!"
"Yeah, but you knew I was going to do that!"
"That doesn't make it better!"
Gran Torino turned to Izuku. "Kid, I don't know how you did it, but it looks like you made this big softy grow a backbone. Next step is to see if you can get him to do this with Mirai, too."
"Um," said Izuku. "I think he already had a backbone? He's All Might, after all."
"Nah, he's just a giant spindly amoeba who needs to take better care of himself."
Mr. Yagi slumped.
"But back on topic," said Gran Torino, eyes much sharper than before. "Do you really have Nana's quirk, kid?"
"Y-yeah. I think so. It was only a little bit, during the attack, but... yeah."
"Let's see what you can do with it, then."
"Um," said Izuku.
"Gran, maybe you should get cleaned up first? Young Midoriya and I can take care of the kitchen..."
"You don't know how to turn it on, do you?"
"Not really, no," said Izuku.
"We've got our work for today cut out for us, then, don't we, you zygotes?"
Wow. Gran Torino really did call people zygotes.
Wild.
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Welcome Home | Chapter Eight
Chapter Title: Wild One 8/? Wattpad
"Arthur wants you to what?" Dutch demands as he paces in front of his tent. There's a vein in his forehead that probably makes him self-conscious. You figure it's best not to mention it.
"He wants me to help rescue Sean," you say from where you lounge on a tree stump. A butterfly floats toward your face, and you absently reach out for it. "Sounds like a good time."
The butterfly lands on your finger, tickling your skin as it walks. You watch its wings flutter with the soft breeze. Meanwhile, Dutch is talking, talking, talking. You've come to realize he does that a lot.
"Y/N." He massages his temples. "You're not listening, are you?"
"Hm?" You wiggle your finger so the butterfly does a little dance.
Dutch sighs. If it's one thing you enjoy more than, well, being in the past, it's annoying him. Smiling, you let the butterfly fly away and turn to face Dutch completely. He's watching you, expression stern and undeniably fatherly. It takes all you have not to roll your eyes.
"I can't stay cooped up in camp for forever," you say. "I'm gonna go crazy."
There's a brief moment where Dutch looks like he's considering this, but then he shakes his head.
"These ain't O'Driscoll's you'll be dealing with, Y/N." He gives you another stern look. "They're bounty hunters. They ain't dumb."
Neither am I, you think, but instead blurt out: "I killed an O'Driscoll, ya know. I can handle myself."
Had Dutch been smoking a cigar, it would have dropped from his mouth. He gapes at you, and you mentally kick yourself for letting that slip. Right. Arthur hadn't told him about Six Point Cabin... well, all of it, anyways.
"When did that happen?" Dutch demands.
You chew your lip. "Uh..."
"No no," he holds his hands up. "Don't tell me. I don't want to know."
Dutch goes quiet for a moment, debating with himself. You watch him, hoping you know what's going to come next.
"For rescuing Sean," he eventually says, "you stay right by Arthur. If I find out you so much as left his sight, so help me, I'll shoot you both."
You grin. "Okay."
"Understood?"
"Yep."
At that, Dutch seems satisfied. After giving you one long, long look, he sighs and walks off, muttering something under his breath that you don't quite catch. You smile to yourself. Another win in your direction.
.
.
.
Fifteen minutes sees you bored as all hell. As it turns out, you're not going to be rescuing Sean for another day or so, which means you have too much time on your hands. When that happens, you get twitchy. Boredom was awful in your time, and it's awful now.
You heave a sigh and sit down on a tree stump. Everybody else in camp has their own stuff to do. It seems like, once again, you're the odd one out.
But then you spy Arthur hauling haybales to the horses. Instantly sitting up straighter, you watch as he lifts them effortlessly, as if they weigh nothing and not a thousand pounds each. You wonder what it would be like for him to life you like that. The thought makes you smile. Arthur Morgan: the man with the strongest arms and the softest heart.
"—Y/N?"
You barely stifle a shriek and leap up from the tree stump. How and when Arthur came to stand by you, you don't know, but he's there now. And he's watching you, clearly waiting for a response.
"Uh," you stammer. "What'd'ya say?"
"I asked if you're okay," he says. "You were staring off into space."
You try not to look guilty. "Guess I was just daydreaming."
Arthur gives you a smile. "Must've been some dream," he tells you.
You think back to him hauling the haybales and find yourself grinning despite everything.
"It was," you eventually murmur. Then, blushing furiously, you amend: "But hey: dreams are dreams."
There's a mortifying moment where you think he's going to press for more, but luckily, Arthur just shrugs and lets it go. You sigh in relief as he walks away. The last thing you need is for him to figure out, well, everything.
Turning around, you head for Pearson's wagon to help out with the dishes, only to mow over Abigail, who's doing the same.
"Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry," you stammer as you help her up from the ground. "I was so distracted. Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry."
"Y/N," she interrupts with a laugh, "I'm fine. You don't gotta apologize so much."
"Sorry." You kick yourself. "I mean... okay?"
Abigail laughs again and steers you toward Pearson's wagon. "What's on your mind? You've been acting funny all day. Well..." she smirks, "funnier than usual, anyway."
You think back to your conversation with Arthur and glance over to where he's saddling Florence for a ride into town. If you're honest with yourself, he's what's on your mind... has been for a while.
You look away. No need to do or say something stupid.
"Nothing," you lie. "Just trying to adjust to the past, I guess."
Abigail raises an eyebrow. "You're a terrible liar, you know."
"I'm not lying."
A grin lights up her face as she apparently connects the dots. Giving you a look to rival all looks, Abigail says: "You fancy Arthur, don't you, Y/N?"
You feel your cheeks heating up again. If Abigail can see through you so easily... can Arthur?
"Your secret's safe with me," she reassures when she sees your expression. "And don't worry: Arthur's pretty oblivious when it comes to this sort of thing."
You try your best not to look over as Arthur leaves camp. There's just something about him... you can't really say for sure what it is. Honestly, don't want to try; the mystery is almost the best part.
"Thanks," you tell Abigail. And you mean it.
She smiles gently at you and guides you toward Pearson's wagon again. "Don't mention it."
With the two of you working together, you manage to finish the dishes in under a half hour. Pearson thanks you, then mentions that the camp could use some more supplies. Thinking back to your last hunting trip, you shrug. There aren't any bears around Horseshoe Overlook, so really, the worst that can happen is you just get lost.
Then again... maybe a fishing trip by the river might be a better idea. Guns still freak you out. Not only that, but you haven't watched enough survival shows to know how to make snare traps and whatnot. Besides: if it's you versus a wild animal, you have a pretty good idea who'll win.
You don't really feel like asking anyone to come with you, so you borrow a fishing pole from Pearson and head down to the river. It's quiet, certainly quieter than the future. As you cast out, you find yourself thinking about your own time. It's been at least a few months since the Van Der Linde gang found you, a few months since you magically appeared in the Grizzlies. You don't remember how you got there. Hell, you don't remember what you were doing in the moments leading up to it, either. One minute, you were in your own time, the next... you weren't.
It's... odd, all things considered. Every problem you had in the future seems so far away. And you suppose they are. Over a century's worth of distance (if time can be measured that way), and here you are, fishing—fishing—at a river you're not even sure exists in your time.
You shake your head. You'll give yourself an existential crisis at this rate, and that won't help anybody. Plopping yourself down in the mud, you settle down to wait however long it takes for a fish to take the bait.
You can't help but wonder who's really in control of whom.
A/N: Short chapter, but I wanted to get this story updated. I know it's been a while, but I want to thank everyone who's stuck with me. Means a lot. I'm hoping I can get back to a weekly update, probably every Sunday.
Inspired Music: Green Day | Wild One
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captain-hen · 3 years
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dancing in a snow globe 'round and 'round
title: dancing in a snow globe 'round and 'round
Summary: Eddie mock-glares at him. “You’re a coward, starting something when you know I can’t retaliate since you’re holding your niece.”
Buck smirks smugly. “This little one will protect me,” He says and bends down to nuzzle her head, making her burst out into giggles. Eddie has to look away abruptly, something inexplicably warm and fuzzy building in his chest, a feeling of want so strong he thinks his heart might burst.
ao3 link
a/n: look at me, jumping back into the writing game after i don't even know how long. thank you @malikjavaddzayn for reading this as i wrote it and being so sweet!
also tagging: @evaneddie @matan4il
As Eddie lets himself into Buck’s apartment, he is instantly greeted with the high-pitched wails of a crying baby and the sight of his best friend looking minutes away from beginning to cry himself as he bounces his niece in his arms. Eddie bites back a smile, closing the door behind him.
“I thought you said this was an emergency,” He teases. Buck looks up, his expression morphing from one of relief to a glare.
“Make yourself useful and help me,” Buck all but whines. “She won’t stop crying and I don’t know what to do, I tried feeding her and it didn’t work. Her-her diaper doesn’t need to be changed and I-I don’t know, am I hurting her? Why did Maddie let me babysit? I’m terrible at this!”
“Alright, alright,” Eddie quickly goes to Buck and gently takes Baby Joy out of his arms. Buck lets go hesitantly and his eyes become comically wide as Joy begins to quiet down almost instantly when Eddie cradles her in his arms.
“You’re kidding me,” He says, looking betrayed. “How did you do that?”
“You’re stressed out and panicking,” Eddie says patiently. “Which means you’re stressing her out in return. Babies can sense that sort of thing, you know.” A smirk appears on his face. “Unless she just prefers me to you,” He looks down at Joy, cooing at her. “You prefer me to your Uncle Buck, don’t you, honey?”
“I hate you,” Buck grumbles, sinking down into the couch. “I’ll have you know that I’ll always be her favorite.”
“I’m surprised Albert isn’t fighting you for that title.”
“Hah! He can try.”
“Where are Chim and Maddie, anyway?”
“Date night,” Buck replies, reaching out for Joy again, sighing in relief when Eddie gives her back and she doesn’t immediately start crying again, instead just reaching up and fisting her little hand in his shirt. He all but melts, smiling dopily down at her. She really is a little angel when she isn’t screaming loud enough to wake half of Los Angeles.
“It’s their first night out since Joy was born,” He continues, looking up at Eddie now that he’s sure Joy’s not going to throw another tantrum. “I offered to babysit, and, well…”
Eddie looks amused as he sits down next to Buck, stretching his arm over the back of the couch, his thigh pressing into Buck’s. “Just because she happened to have a crying fit while you happened to be babysitting doesn’t mean you’re terrible at this, you know. Babies cry sometimes. It’s been known to happen.”
Buck pouts at him. “Stop making fun of me.”
Eddie tries to keep a straight face and fails miserably. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Careful not to dislodge Joy, Buck picks up a couch cushion and throws it at Eddie’s face. Eddie mock-glares at him.
“You’re a coward, starting something when you know I can’t retaliate since you’re holding your niece.”
Buck smirks smugly. “This little one will protect me,” He says and bends down to nuzzle her head, making her burst out into giggles. Eddie has to look away abruptly, something inexplicably warm and fuzzy building in his chest, a feeling of want so strong he thinks his heart might burst.
It's been a while since Eddie had come to the long overdue realization that the feelings he had for his best friend might not have been as platonic as he’d thought. It had dawned on him, ironically enough, while he had been dating Ana Flores. As smart and kind and pretty as she was, no amount of time they spent together had ever made him feel as at home and carefree and…safe, even, as coming back home after every single date with her, to see Buck either on his couch playing with Christopher or waiting with a cup of coffee and a soft smile long after Chris was in bed. The moment he’d started realizing that was the moment he started noticing everything else, the way they were constantly in sync in everything they did; be it tiding up Buck’s living room after movie night with Christopher or out in the field, doing their jobs and saving lives. The way he gravitated to Buck, constantly in his orbit, wanting to share any piece of good or exciting news or even random trivia with him, first, and no one else. The way watching Buck with his son sometimes moved him so much, he’d need a moment to compose himself, to hide the feelings he felt must show so plainly on his face, clear for the world to see.
After that, he had to break up with Ana. And he still hasn’t done anything about his feelings, because, well…
Well, Eddie has never claimed to be brave when it comes to matters of the heart. There’s a reason why Buck has teasing called him ‘emotionally constipated’ more than a couple of times.
There’s a knock on the door, bringing Eddie out of his musings. Buck perks up.
“I ordered us some pizza before you got here,” He says and nods to his wallet on the coffee table. “Could you go get it?”
Eddie is relieved to do so, convinced that he won’t be able to conceal the extent of his affections the longer he keeps watching Buck with Baby Joy. As he takes the pizza from the delivery guy, he hears Joy begin to fuss again and doesn’t even need to look over his shoulder to know that Buck is panicking. He can’t help but chuckle.
The delivery guy peers around the doorway and smiles at what Eddie presumes is Buck with Joy. “Newborn, eh?”
“Yeah,” Eddie laughs fondly as he pays him. “She’s got quite the pair of lungs on her.”
The delivery guy shakes his head with an endeared smile. “Looks like you and your husband have your hands full.”
Eddie stills at the innocuous remark and before he can say anything, the delivery guy has bid him goodbye and left. He closes the door slowly, frozen in place.
It’s not an unreasonable assumption, he thinks. Hell, it’s probably one he would make himself. It shouldn’t be that surprising that people look at him and Buck, with a baby between them and automatically think they’re together. He wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing has happened whenever Buck has joined him and Christopher on any of their outings.
No, what is surprising, somehow despite the fact that he knows he has feelings for his best friend, is how desperately he wants it to be true. How much he wants Buck to be with him and Christopher, the three of them a family; how easy it is to envision it and scarily enough, how easy it is to go even further and see them many years along the line, still together, possibly even with another child-
“Eddie?” Buck’s voice sounds in equal parts amused and concerned. “Are you just gonna stand there with the pizza all day?”
Eddie turns to face him. Joy seems to have calmed down, since Buck has placed her back in her crib. Taking a step towards him, Buck must see some of the existential crisis playing out in Eddie’s head right now on his face because he quickly takes the pizza from him and sets it down.
“Hey, man,” All traces of amusement are gone from his face now. “What’s wrong?”
There are a number of things that Eddie wants to say. That he should say. He knows he shouldn’t jump into something without thinking about it properly, especially after the disaster that was him moving too fast and too recklessly with Ana.
And yet.
This isn’t just anyone. This is Buck.
And Eddie isn’t even perfectly sure that Buck even feels the same way, but-
He’s never felt quite so compelled to just go for it, to throw caution to the wind and be brave for once as he does now.
Slowly, Eddie sways into Buck’s space, cupping the back of his neck and pressing his forehead to his. He feels Buck exhale sharply, stiffening for a brief moment, before melting into his hold.
“Eddie,” Buck breathes, his voice breaking on the last syllable.
“Is this okay?” Eddie whispers, not quite sure what it is that he’s asking permission for.
Is it okay for me to touch you? Is it okay for us to cross that line? Is it okay that nothing is ever going to be the same again?
Are you sure you want me, baggage, demons and all?
Buck responds by closing the space between them and kissing him.
It’s soft and gentle and sweet, somehow both hesitant and confident at the same time, so much like Buck himself that Eddie smiles into the kiss, joyful laughter caught in his throat as he pulls him closer. They keep it at that, mindful of the fact that there’s a baby less than five feet away from them, not even kissing after a point but just swaying together, breathing in each other’s air.
“So, this is new,” Buck murmurs what may be twenty seconds or twenty years later.
Eddie hums. “Feels like we’ve been dancing around it for a lot longer than we’ve both realized.”
Buck chuckles. “I wasn’t sure if you felt the same way.” He admits. “And…I guess I was scared, too.”
Eddie pulls away slightly to look at him. “So was I,” He says quietly. “Hell, I still am. But…” He pauses momentarily, trying to find the words. “I think we can be good together. We are good together.”
Buck’s responding smile is like sunshine personified and Eddie can’t help but kiss it, lingering softly, just because he can.
“I guess we’re really doing this then,” Buck says, breathlessly when they part.
As if on cue, Joy begins to fuss again and Eddie laughs at Buck’s groan.
“I think she’s hungry,” Eddie says. “And our pizza is getting cold.”
“But we’ll talk later, right?” Buck asks, rather anxiously. “We need to figure this out-and work-and Christopher-“
The fact that Buck’s already thinking of Chris makes Eddie’s heart swell. “We will,” He assures him, taking his hand in his, smiling when Buck interlinks their fingers. “One thing at a time.”
Joy makes another disgruntled noise and Buck finally nods, his smile returning as he turns to check on her. And Eddie-Eddie cannot be happier.
And maybe, for once, he gets to keep this.
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persephone-plasmids · 3 years
Text
Nuka-World
A Deacon X Sole Fanfic
[AO3]
[Part 1] [Part 2]
Nuka-World
“I guess I’m just confused about why they dedicated an entire section of the park to their space theme. Why not just a ride?” MacCready asked, eyeing the Star Port tower in the Galactic Zone at Nuka-World.
“To get the youth excited about space exploration,” Danse answered in his usual serious tone. “They wanted to recruit potential cadets young.”
MacCready pulled a face at this explanation. “Do kids really like space, though?”
“Seriously, MacCready?” Sole asked. “You have a kid. You should know this.”
Deacon listened to the group theorizing over the chosen aesthetic of Nuka-World while he slid a Cappy shirt over his head with a grin.
“I know Dez sent us here to recover the kidnapped synth, but all this free merch is going to be incredibly distracting,” Deacon said.
At his words, Sole’s eyes grew large. “Where did you get that? I want one!”
Deacon nodded to the merchandise rack behind him and smiled as Sole scampered over with pure joy in her eyes. Danse watched with slight disapproval while MacCready continued examining the Star Port in confusion.
Bringing the tin can and the grumpy sniper along hadn’t been Deacon’s idea. Dez had said they’d need more than just Deacon and Sole on this mission since they had so much ground to cover. When Deacon had suggested Tinker Tom, Dez had just laughed and told Sole to ask some of “her people”. Whatever that meant.
Apparently, Sole’s “people” were a self-hating synth boy scout and MacCready, whose skill Deacon respected, but he still didn’t like the idea of someone honing in on his mission.
“This entire park seems wildly unsafe for children,” Danse said, his thick brows knitted together in a line.
“Nuka Cola has always been a bit shady,” MacCready agreed. “Makes sense that their park wouldn’t be quite as kid-friendly as it should be.”
“All right, I’m ready to get this show on the road,” Sole said, walking out from the back room of the merchandise area with a Cappy shirt and cowboy hat.
“No fair! I didn’t see the hat!” Deacon whined. “I would have taken it for myself.”
“We can share custody,” Sole promised with a grin in Deacon’s direction.
Deacon screwed up his face as he thought this over. “Fine, but I get weekends and holidays.”
“Deal.” Sole gave him one of her smiles that reminded him why he needed to keep his distance from her emotionally. One of the smiles that made him want all the things he couldn’t have.
He ignored it.
“You’re both wrong,” MacCready said, snatching the hat quickly from Sole’s head and placing it on his own. “This baby’s coming with me.”
Sole laughed at this, making Deacon feel that familiar pang of jealousy again. He prided himself on making Sole laugh. He didn’t love that someone else was currently taking over his favorite job.
“You two are going to Dry Rock Gulch, I guess it’s only fair that you get the cowboy hat, RJ,” Sole said, straightening the hat on MacCready’s head with a familiarity that made Deacon feel much less in control of himself than he normally was.
“We should get going before it gets too dark,” Deacon said with a forced smile. “We don’t want Danse rusting from the evening dew.”
“Negative, soldier, “ Danse said. “My power armour doesn’t rust.”
“At ease,” Deacon responded with a little salute at the former Brotherhood of Steel Paladin. “Try to enjoy yourself a little Danse. Despite what they told you in the Brotherhood, it won’t actually kill you.”
Danse gave him a look like he wasn’t amused by his joke before turning away and heading towards Dry Rock Gulch with MacCready.
“Geez,” Deacon said. “Never send that guy on a stealth mission. I swear we’ll be able to hear his power armor clomping around through the whole park.”
“Well then I guess it’s a good thing we already cleared out those raiders, huh?”
“No thanks to the tin can and grumpy pants over there,” Deacon said, now smiling at Sole.
“That one was a Deacon and Sole special,” Sole answered. “We didn’t need any outside assistance.”
Deacon nodded at this, watching Sole for a moment too long before realizing he was being weird. He realized that a lot around Sole. He had to constantly remind himself how he acted around people who didn’t make him feel the way Sole did. It was exhausting.
“I say we head over to that old junkyard. If I was a Synth in hiding, that’s where I’d go,” Sole said.
“You got it, boss,” Deacon answered, following her as she began walking.
The two walked in silence for a long time. Deacon guessed that Sole was thinking about the mission. Deacon, of course, was having another mini existential crisis regarding Sole. But he was also attempting to lie to himself about his feelings, which turned it into a whole thing. He could be a very convincing liar.
When the two rounded an old abandoned building, Deacon was shocked to see a crowd right in front of them.
“Whoa, hold up,” Deacon said, placing his arm straight out to stop Sole from walking.
It was too little too late though. The group of people in space suits standing had clearly seen them. How had Deacon missed them? They were literally a handful of weirdos in space suits.
Sole had distracted him with her very existence again. This was why he had to stop letting himself explore any potential feelings for her. They just got in the way of their missions. They made him sloppy. And sloppy could very well mean “dead” in this situation.
“Greetings,” one of the space-suit-clad people said, taking a step forward.
Deacon placed one hand behind his back where he kept a gun tucked in the waistband of his jeans. The other hand was wrapped tightly around Sole’s arm, keeping her in a safe position slightly behind him.
“Listen, we’re looking for information on--” Sole began, but the woman who appeared to be the leader of the odd group before them interrupted her.
“Are you here to help us get the spaceship up and running?” the woman asked. Her slightly crazed eyes were wide and bloodshot.
Sole furrowed her brow and looked at Deacon who was still trying to understand what he’d just heard.
“The great power above told us they would send someone soon. You, my weary traveler, must be the one to help us rebuild our spacecraft.”
“No,” Sole said slowly. “We’re just here too--” but again she was interrupted, this time by Deacon’s hand placed clumsily over her lips.
“Wait just… shush for a second,” he whispered with the widest grin she’d ever seen. “This is amazing.” He looked like a kid on Christmas. “Yes, my fair… uh… lady. We were sent from the head honcho in the stars to come offer our support for your interstellar travels.”
Deacon’s voice had adopted a grand tone and he released his concealed gun to instead gesture widely at the group in front of him.
“Excellent news, kind sir,” the woman said. “I am Dara. Come. We don’t have much time. Follow us.”
“Lead the way my most excellent and esteemed priestess,” Deacon said.
Sole looked over at the spy incredulously, mouthing a quick, “What are you doing?” to him.
She wasn’t sure if Deacon hadn’t understood her question or if he was just willfully ignoring her, because he simply clapped his hands together and mouthed back, “I know, right?”
The space-suit-clad group led them through the old junkyard to a red metal object that looked an awful lot like an old carnival ride. It was supposed to look like a UFO, but anyone could see it wasn’t any kind of actual aircraft.
“Ah yes, a fine specimen indeed,” Deacon said when they approached the ride. His voice was still serious as he spoke, though Sole knew him well enough to hear the pure glee behind it. “And what, pray tell, can we do to get this up and running for you again?”
“We have the fusion cells we need right here,” Dara said. “But we don’t know how to install them. If you can get our craft up and running, I know we’ll be on our way to our higher forms soon enough.”
“You’ll be on your way somewhere,” Sole scoffed under her breath, obviously not enjoying this nearly as much as Deacon.
“Well then step inside and get comfortable,” Deacon said with a grin. “I’ll get these fusion cores installed… uh… posthaste.”
Sole snorted at this, to which Deacon elbowed her. He didn’t want her giving him away just because she found him amusing.
Dara led the group of space cadets into the UFO ride and shut the door behind her, leaving Sole and Deacon alone.
“Okay, what in the actual world is going on?” Sole asked incredulously.
“I know! This is seriously amazing,” Deacon said, barely able to contain his joy. “These people actually think this is a spaceship!”
“I’m pretty sure this is a Gravitron,” Sole said. “They had them at the local carnival every year before the war. I used to love this ride.”
Sole’s eyes adopted that distant look they got whenever she talked about her time before the Vault-Tec incident. It made him feel sad for her, before he selfishly realized that if Vault-Tec hadn’t frozen her, he never would have met her.
“Will it be safe for me to fix it for them?” Deacon asked, Sole. He wanted to mess with the space cult, not kill them.
“They might get a bit motion sick,” Sole began. “But they should be fine.”
At her words, Deacon’s face adopted a mischievous grin that made Sole’s cheeks flush. “Excellent.”
Deacon installed the fusion cores Dara had given him without much effort before holding his hand out to Sole.
“Shall we?”
Sole let a grin spread across her full lips, taking Deacon’s hand in her own. “I can handle this ride, but I’m not sure you really understand what you’re in for.”
“You don’t think I could handle your ride?” Deacon asked, raising an eyebrow suggestively at her.
Sole took a step closer to Deacon, leaning close to him so that her lips were against his ear. “I know you couldn’t handle my ride, stealth boy.”
Deacon shivered involuntarily at her words and the feeling of her breath against his ear, but as quickly as the moment had happened, it passed. Sole pulled Deacon into the UFO ride with her, leaving him with a lingering mental image that he’d have to examine more thoroughly when he was alone later.
“This impeccably dressed harbinger of your more superior forms has successfully repaired your vessel,” Sole announced loudly, holding up Deacon’s hand. She looked over at him with a grin that set his heart on overdrive. “Not only was he able to repair your vessel, but he’s also promised to personally make sure his work is beyond reproach by coming along with you.”
“The star angel speaks the truth,” Deacon said, making Sole snort laugh again, though she was a bit better about covering this one up. “Sole, if you’ll do the honors.”
“Everybody up against the wall,” Sole said, watching as the space cult obeyed. “Deacon? Up against the wall?”
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted you to say that to me,” He said with a grin.
Sole just rolled her eyes and pointed at the wall, waiting for him to oblige. When everyone was in position, she took her place in the middle of the metal room and flipped the switch.
In an instant, the ride began to hum as the floor started to vibrate. At first, nothing moved and Deacon worried he hadn’t actually managed to fix the ride. But as the humming grew louder, the room began to spin.
Sole stayed in place in the center of the room and Deacon tried to keep his eyes on her, but as the rotations became quicker and quicker, he had to close his eyes. The force of the rotating ride crushed him against the padded wall of the room and he had to press his lips together to keep from getting sick. Just when he thought he couldn’t take it anymore, the ride began to slow down until it eventually stopped.
When Deacon opened his eyes, the world was still spinning. Sole was watching him as if waiting for him to speak to the cult, but he couldn’t form a single thought.
“The mission has been a success,” Sole finally said, seeing that Deacon was completely useless at the moment. “Your craft has been repaired and will be ready for your final voyage once your preparations are complete.”
“Bless you,” Dara said, looking at Sole. “Bless both of you.”
Without another word, Dara and the other cultists left the UFO, leaving Deacon clutching the wall and breathing heavily. In an instant, Sole was beside him. She supported him as Deacon tilted his head down.
“Told you you couldn’t handle this ride,” Sole said, her voice lined with amusement.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Deacon said. “I feel fantastic. Think I might go run a marathon with Hancock later.”
Sole placed her hand on Deacon’s cheek gently, lifting his eyes to hers. He still felt sick, but the more she touched him, the less he seemed to notice the motion sickness.
“Hey lightweight, what do you think Danse and MacCready will say when they find out an old carnival ride floored you?”
“That question is irrelevant because if you tell them I’ll just deny everything,” he responded. “And of the two of us, who’s the better liar?”
Deacon was grinning at Sole again, but she didn’t smile back. Instead she was watching him curiously, her eyes roaming his face. He was confused by her expression before he realized just how clear she looked to him. Clearer than normal.
Panicked, Deacon brought his hand up to his face to find his sunglasses missing. He’d always been good at putting up walls between himself and everyone else, but he had a hard time doing that with Sole. The sunglasses were the only way he could keep some semblance of distance from her. Without them, he worried she’d see right through him. See who he really was. See how he really felt about her.
Deacon looked around himself for the sunglasses before Sole held them up wordlessly.
“You win, Charmer,” Deacon said with a nervous laugh. “Time to give them back now.”
Deacon reached out for the glasses but Sole held them behind her back with a wicked grin.
“I don’t know that I want you to put them back on. I’m enjoying finally seeing you,” she said, her eyes seeming to bore into his soul.
“No one wants to see this hot mess, trust me,” Deacon said, reaching for the sunglasses but failing to get them. All he managed to do was somehow get even closer to Sole.
“How did I not realize your eyes are blue?” Sole asked, her voice soft. “They’re… stunning.” She instantly blushed at her own words but didn’t back down. And she still didn’t give Deacon his sunglasses back. “They’re not just blue… they’re like… ice blue.”
“Must be all the surgery,” Deacon joked, even though his voice sounded flat.
The truth was, Deacon changed his appearance all the time. But his eyes? His eyes were his own. Always had been. They were the one thing he didn’t change about himself. So to have Sole admiring them in such a personal way felt… amazing.
And dangerous.
Sole bit her lip as she watched him and Deacon swallowed hard. “Why don’t you want anyone to see you?” she asked.
He wanted to tell her that he was scared they wouldn't like what was left after all the lies were stripped away. But he didn’t say that. Instead he said, “Because I don’t want them to fall in love with my beautiful face. It just wouldn’t be fair to destroy some unsuspecting wastelander like that.”
At his words, Sole laughed softly, just like he hoped she would. If she was laughing then she wasn’t asking him questions that hit too close to home for him.
“I mean, now that you’ve seen the full effect of my icy blue gaze, you surely must understand that I wield an ungodly amount of power.”
“I really don’t know how you manage to fit yourself and your ego into your tiny sleeping quarters in the Railroad,” Sole said with a roll of her eyes.
“There’s enough room,” Deacon said, his voice now teasing. “More than enough room if you ever want to join the two of us.”
And that was it. The truth of the matter. Deacon could flirt with Sole all day long if it was all a big joke. But if he ever told her that he’d dreamed about what it would be like to wake up next to her, he’d lose the small amount of control he still pretended to have in this partnership. He couldn’t tell her that he longed for the casual and familiar touches of two people who trusted each other so completely that their physical contact was expected and normal.
“Do you really want me to take you up on that offer?” Sole asked, a challenge in her eyes.
Deacon still hadn’t learned that he couldn’t tease her about their flirtation for too long. She’d always make it real. And as Deacon knew, real was dangerous.
“Or should I just hold onto these sunglasses for you?”
Deacon leaned forward, sliding his arms around Sole’s waist. He hated himself for the fact that she actually closed her eyes as he got closer to her, obviously expecting him to make a move. But instead, he grabbed the sunglasses that she hid behind her back before pulling away from her with a forced grin.
“Got em,” he said.
Sole opened her eyes, and when Deacon saw just how much disappointment they held, his heart broke. When he heard Sole try to cover up her disappointment with a joke the way he always did, his heart broke even more.
“Well then I guess it’s just you and your ego in your bed tonight,” she said. “Let’s go find Danse and MacCready to see if they’ve had any luck locating the Synth.”
“Oh right, we’ve got an actual reason to be here,” Deacon said, quickly putting his sunglasses back on and feeling immensely more comfortable behind his wall of protection.
“We actually have two reasons to be here,” Sole said as she walked towards the door of the UFO ride. “We need to find the Synth, but we also need to go to the fun house in Kiddie Kingdom.”
“Did I miss that part of the briefing, Charmer?” Deacon asked, following Sole to the bright junkyard outside.
“Dez probably just forgot to tell us how important it is that we go to the funhouse,” Sole said “But you and I are professionals. We have to check everything thoroughly.”
Sole raised her eyebrows at Deacon as she walked away and Deacon was left wondering how Dez ever could have thought it was a good idea to send Sole and himself to an amusement park together.
They’d never get anything done.
[Part 4]
Based on the time my OC and Deacon ran into that crazy cult in Nuka-World :P
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twsttheory · 3 years
Text
⚠️Chapter 5 spoilers⚠️ Chapter Recaps and Predictions for Future Dormitory Chapters.
Pardon me for being a little slow but I have just realized a trend? Aside from the fact that Twisted Wonderland seems to be a very “Screw society” game, the take-away of every Twisted Wonderland arc reflects the morals the of their respective Disney classic, except the villains are the ones experiencing it. 
Heartslabyul: 
Just like Alice in Wonderland, the first plot of the first Chapter centres around the idea that rules are not always meant to be followed. However, as I have mentioned in a previous post, many have theorized that the story of Alice in Wonderland is the journey of a child towards adulthood, during which they begin to realize their individual personalities. The Queen of Heart’s tyranny thus represents societal rules and expectations. In the first chapter, this is not illustrated by Riddle’s strictness. Instead, it is illustrated by the expectations and rules that Riddle’s mother has imposed on him. Riddle will then learn that not everything his mother said is correct, and will grow to have his own opinions. We even see him screwing up the mont-blanc. His mistake is very... um... him though. 
Savanaclaw:
Following the Heartslabyul arc is the Savanaclaw arc. Again, the plot is similar to that of The Lion King. Both Leona and Scar are the second-born, and the fact that their brothers have a son makes it impossible for them to become kings. This has lead to Leona’s somewhat inferiority complex. The lazy lion proceeds to come up with a plan to overthrow the more powerful Malleus in the Magift competition, but fails because of the Heartslabyul gang. No matter what he does, not everything goes according to plan. This is where “Hakuna Matata” becomes important. In the Lion King, it is taught to Simba, the protagonist, but in Twisted Wonderland, it has become a lesson that Leona has learnt. Life is not fair, but instead of choosing to dwell on that concept and suffer, you could choose to be happy instead. Despite not being able to become King, Leona is still very intelligent and very much capable, earning the respect of his dorm members and many more people. 
Octavinelle:
Fish arc covers the topic of bullying, which many of us have experienced. In this chapter, Azul strives to become more powerful as a result of bullying, and has thus grown to become a very talented mage. His collection of contracts is similar to both Ariel’s collection of human objects and Ursula’s collections of those who failed to pay their debt. All these collections are but material collections, and in Azul’s eyes, his collection is a measure of his worth, as seen from when he declares that he will be useless if Leona were to destroy the contracts. What both Ariel and Azul were missing was as a matter of fact not their material collection. Instead, it was love for Ariel, and friendship for Azul. Jade and Floyd gave him friendship, which he did not have as a victim of bullying, and I’m pretty sure that he realizes that both their presences are more valuable than mere material contracts. I am also certain that Jade and Floyd think so too, although they say otherwise. 
Scarabia:
Scarabia arc’s overblot goes to Jamil, you poor boy. Because of his position as the Asim family’s servant, he believes that as long as he is in the presence of Kalim, he will never be able to be who he really is. Aladdin also thinks that he cannot be with Jasmine if he isn’t royalty. However, we all know that Jamil has more to offer as an individual. He is intelligent and powerful, and will remain intelligent and powerful despite his position as a servant. Aladdin is loved by Jasmine despite being a non-royal. Scarabia’s chapter centres around the idea that an individual’s potential and worth is not defined or limited by their status or position, as Jamil has surely proven to us. 
Pomefiore:
The recent Pomefiore arc is also very relatable and nothing less than outstanding, highlighting the importance of “beauty” in more than one way. This chapter straight up tells us that ballet is not restricted to girls, and it has already earned my respect. What’s more outstanding is its emphasis of effort. Vil is shown to be frustrated because of being in Neige’s shadow. GIVE HIM THE LICENSE TO BE FRUSTRATED HE WORKED SO HARD! Despite his hard work, he is less popular than the cheery and pretty Neige. In the VDC, Neige’s cover of a children song grabbed more attention than the song he poured his sweat, blood and tears over. No one cares about the effort behind the scenes, and all the praise goes to the final product. In Snow White, the Evil Queen will never be the most beautiful, because she is ugly inside. This could apply to this chapter. Despite being more successful, Neige, unless stated otherwise, lacks the diligence and hard work that Vil has put into his craft.
Ignihyde:
All right folks this is where the predictions starts. The recurring theme of this game is conflict against society. From this, I will predict that Idia and Hercules will share a common theme. People call them monsters. Hercules is called a monster because of his inhuman strength, while Idia’s case will most likely be because of Ortho. Idia is undoubtedly a genius engineer, and since Ortho is a cyborg, there are chances that he was once a human but died, and is turned into a cyborg by his brother. Idia creating him from scratch is not likely because he already mentioned a “previous Ortho”. Because of this, Idia is feared by many people as well. However, if this theory were to be correct, it would mean that the story will follow the moral in Hercules that underlines the importance of staying true to oneself and that people will love you for who you are. Hercules definitely stayed true to himself, and in the end, instead of being labelled a monster, he became loved by many. I’m sure that it will be the same way with Idia, although I am not sure about the situation that will help incite this. 
From how he encouraged Riddle to break away from his mother’s rules in the first chapter,, it is highly possible that Ace would play a role in helping Idia express his mad scientist vibes. If Ace does not help Idia, he will probably still play a big role alongside Ortho, as they are both younger siblings. From ghost marriage, we can also see Ortho’s ability to call Ace out on his bullshit. Ace is a child full of lies, and his true personality may also not be what he displays every day. With Ortho’s advance “Your body sayin you lyin boy” technology, I think that we could finally see a change in our dumb ginger boy’s personality, as well as gain some juicy insight into the Trappola household. Epel is also a plausible factor, seeing that he has embraced his cute and wild side in Chapter 5. However, if the story were to follow the same pattern as in Chapter 3 with Jack and Octavinelle, Epel will most likely only help the main character, and Vil would help with the dorm leader in question. But we’ll see about that.
Diasomnia
Sleeping beauty is a story where love is a powerful force. In the dorm that is very family orientated, there is no doubt that love will be a common theme in this story arc. However, just like Pomefiore, the first year also has to play an important role in the story. Sebek, unlike waka sama, is probably mortal. Another theme in sleeping beauty is that growing up presents all sorts of existential crisis. I am pretty certain that Sebek’s existential crisis would come in the form of fey vs human. Power vs mortality. How will Malleus overblot then? Following the pattern, it would likely be because of a problem that contrasts to their first year. As Sebek gets to know the idiot combo, he will gain more friends, and Malleus might find his most loyal guard taken away from him, or it may come in the form of Sebek or Silver, or both, objecting him in some way. If both happen to be proven wrong, it is still likely that he will overblot because of something that involves his loneliness or lack of understanding of mortality. It could even be caused by seeing Sebek and Silver grow up, and suddenly be hit with the realization that they both may one day leave his side or pass away, and that the main character, who does not fear him at all, will also one day return to their world or die, leaving him behind once again. 
The conflict will probably then be resolved by the understanding that despite all this, he has friends. Lilia, Sebek, Silver, the main character, and perhaps even Ace and Deuce, and Idia and Ortho for good measure, are people precious to him, and it is important for him to treasure the time that he has with them.
That’s all for today! These are probably not accurate, and I’m sure that Yana Toboso is at least 10 dimensions away from me when playing chess, but it is fun to compare the storyline with their respective classic film. Either ways, only time will tell how the story progresses. So I’ll keep an eye out for any previews! Thank you for reading!
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imasimpforshanks · 3 years
Note
Hello <3 Can I ask for Angst alphabet with Coby ?~ thanks a lot <3
Angst Alphabet - Coby
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a/n: BRUHHHH HIS WAS SO HARD TO DO BC HES SUCH A SWEETIE 😭😭😭😭😭💗 regardless, I hope you like it! x
ALSO - please note reader is a civilian and not a marine (but coby is still a marine). It was just easier for me to write it this way !!
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A- Accident (would they blame themselves if you died in an accident?)
Coby wouldn’t exactly blame himself, but he would feel really weak. It would be lots of comments about his own worth and capabilities such as: “I’m still too weak” or I’m never going to be strong enough”. (kind of similar to Zoro in that sense).
B-Break up (How would they break up with you?)
He would try to be as honest and as upfront as possible, but he gets really anxious and just starts stumbling over his words ending every sentence with “ya know?”. In the end, he just uses every cliché in the book because he can’t remember or seem to find the ability to say what he really wanted to.
C-Crying (how would they make you cry?)
This dude is far too much of a sweetheart to ever make you cry. If you were to cry because of him, it’d be because of how much time the two of you have to be away from each other. He hates having to leave you because it’s always a lot of tears on both sides.
D-Death (how would they react to your death?)
He would be devasted. Crying in front of anyone and everyone he doesn’t care. Coby would also become really unmotivated and go through a little bit of an existential crisis like “What’s the point of this anymore?” “what am I even doing?”. Eventually he’d remember how much you believed in him, and how much good he could really do in the world – so, he’d keep going. For you.
E-Emotion (what is one emotion they would try to hide the most and how would they do it?)
Honestly, Coby is someone who is extremely open and expressive. He doesn’t (or maybe it’s more accurate to say he can’t) hide his emotions. That’s just not who he is. He expresses openly whatever emotion it is he is feeling.
F-Fight (do you two ever fight? How big are the fights? What do you fight about? Etc.)
He genuinely tries to avoid fighting with you at all costs. Nothing between the two of you ever escalates that far because Coby manages to talk the two of you out of whatever tension has been built.
G-Guilt (what is the biggest thing they feel guilty about?)
It’s not necessarily guilt, but Coby still feels as though he owes Luffy his life. Because of Luffy, Coby was able to become a marine. It’s because of Luffy that Coby continues to work as hard as he does. Most of what has happened in Coby’s life is all thanks to Luffy and because of that, he feels as though he has a debt he can never repay (even though all of this happened because luffy was just being luffy).
H-Heartbreak (what would cause them pain in the relationship? How would they deal during a break-up?)
Having to be away from you for long periods of time (obviously because he’s a marine) is really painful for the both of you. It can but quite a bit of strain on your relationship as long distance isn’t easy.
During a break-up, his mind would be all over the show. At work, he wouldn’t be able to focus properly which would cause many problems for not only himself, but others around him too.
I-Injured (how would they react if you are badly injured?)
Panic mode: activated. All his focus is shifted to you. He forgets about everything around him and is set on trying to get you help. He doesn’t even try to take down whoever, or whatever, caused your injury. You are his one and only priority in that moment.
J-Jealousy (what do they do if they are jealous?)
The sweetheart would feel so nervous. He’d keep to himself and try to avoid you for a while because he can’t stop thinking about how much better off you would be with literally anyone else.
K-Kill (would they kill for revenge?)
Coby is definitely not the type to kill for revenge. He hates all the killing and death that happens in the world. He’s a person who is all about trying to stop the cycle of hatred. so despite the anger, pain and hurt he would be feeling he would put all of that emotion aside, and settle it a different way.
L-Loss (what is their greatest loss?)
During Marineford when marines (and pirates) were dying left and right, Coby was shocked. It was far too much unnecessary death. Witnessing all that death was an emotional overload, but it did lead to one of the most pivotal moments of his life.
M-Mistake (what is the worst mistake they ever made with you?)
Unfortunately, it was something entirely out of his control. But one time he had to leave for a mission with the Marines in the middle of the night. He couldn’t tell you anything about it or why he was leaving. He just had to up and leave.
N-Nightmares (how often do they have them? What are they about? How do they deal with it?)
Sometimes Coby has nightmares about Marineford. The constant voices and cries of agony form an endless loop in his sleep, gradually getting louder and louder until he screams himself awake. After waking up in a panic he manages to calm his breathing. Then, Coby gives himself a pep talk “that is why you’re working so hard. To become strong enough to be fleet admiral so nothing like that will ever happen again.”
O-Outrage (how and why would they get mad at you?)
As with the fights, I don’t think Coby really gets mad at you. Probably over something minor like you ate the last cookie or something. It’s not anger, he just gets pouty until you say you’ll make it up to him.
P-Past (what has happened in your relationship that changed the way you saw each other?)
Having to do your relationship long distance was a pivotal point for the both of you. For most, it can be a deal breaker and it comes with more negatives than positives. But, for the two of you, it was a wake-up call, and, it was the moment you both realized “I can’t live without you, we will make this work”.
Q-Quality (what is their most dangerous/toxic quality?)
I wouldn’t say this is dangerous or toxic idk (???) but ANWAYSSSSS. Coby lacks certainty in his own decisions. He’s not so bad now, but it used to be a lot worse. He second guesses himself too much, which can be the difference between life and death in a high pressure situation.
R-Rejection (how would they react to you rejecting their confession (or the other way around))
Being rejected by you would definitely impact his self-esteem. It’d bring up a lot of insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. (PLS DON’T REJECT THIS PRECIOUS BOY).
S-Scars (battle or self-inflicted)
Coby does have a scar on his head. It’s not entirely certain when or where he received this scar, but it’s likely to be from his rough training with Garp.
T-Trust (have they ever broken your trust?)
No, Coby has never broken your trust. In fact, your relationship is held up by the unwavering trust the two of you have in one another. It may seem funny to say that, because trust is a vital element of any relationship, but it’s particularly the case for you two. Being a marine means there’s going to be quite a few things he can’t tell you, but you know he can’t tell you and he really appreciates how much you understand that.
U-Urge (how badly do they want to see you after you guys separated?)
He’s had to learn to cope with not seeing you for long periods of time. But, despite all that practice it’s still unbelievably difficult. When he can, he’ll write you letters to keep you informed about his safety. He won’t ask, but he’d really appreciate if you wrote him back.
V-Vicious (what do they do when they lash out on you?)
I genuinely don’t believe he would lash out at you. He just wouldn’t. Maybe, he’s slammed a few doors, but other than that… (sorry I feel like this one is boring af ugh).
W-Weak (what makes them feel weak how do they try to avoid it?)
Coby always felt weak and incapable in his abilities. Sometimes those feelings resurface. But honestly, he trues to avoid this by remembering how and why he is where he is. He thinks of all the people who have helped him along the way (Luffy, Garp etc.) and it motivates him to push forward.
X-X-ray (what do they hate and show it most obviously?)
He hates needless violence. He understands in some situations violence is necessary, but, then there are some situations (like the end of marineford) where lives are being lost for no reason whatsoever.
Y-Yearn (what is one thing that they want but can’t have?)
He wants nothing more than to openly be BFF’s with Luffy. Given the two different worlds they live in, it’s just never going to happen, despite Luffy being a genuinely good person. (I KNOW THIS IS MEAN TO BE ANGSTY BUT I COULDN’T HELP IT LMFAO)
Z-Zero (what do they do/say in your dying moments?)
Oh boy. There would be endless amounts of tears. Through sniffles and snot, he’d be trying to thank you for everything you’ve done for him, all the love and support you’ve shown him.
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