#its done.... after 2 months.... collapses on the ground

[ruporas]

bound to want (part two) /// part one rest of pages under READ MORE after ID

[ID: 23 page digital comic of Vashwood from Trigun Maximum. The comic is in a limited palette of a dark blue, light pink, white, black, and a light beige color for Vash's skin and a mid-brown color for Wolfwood's. This comic is the second part to "Bound to Want" and is spoiler-free. The first part is linked here.

It begins with a panel close up of Vash's expressions. The sky colored in dark blue can be seen behind him. He has a neutral expression, but he holds a slight frown and the reflection of his glasses covers one side of his eyes. Wolfwood says, "Hey. What's with the distance?" In the second panel, the shot widens to show both of them, a clear physical distance separating them with Wolfwood walking ahead and Vash trailing a little behind. Vash responds, "What? I'm just walking a bit slower today..." Wolfwood looks at him with a an irritated expression, clicking his tongue. Wolfwood says, "I was going to wait for you to start... But yer just running away away."

Vash is seen looking away, unable to hold eye contact with Wolfwood as he continues, "You've been avoiding me since that night. Did ya think I wouldn't notice? It's about that dream, right? Tell me about it already if you're going to be moping like this." Vash looks slightly downwards, his brows furrowing and he starts to walk ahead of Wolfwood without looking at him and responds stiffly, "I really don't want to talk about it..." Wolfwood looks at him with a surprised expression, but doesn't probe.

A panel close up to Wolfwood's eyes as he watches Vash go on ahead before he follows suite with an irritated sigh. The panels are overlapped by Wolfwood's hand holding the bottle of the Bride with motion lines, indicating a transition in time.

A wide shot of Vash and Wolfwood in a room now. Vash is seated, his back turned away from the viewer, while Wolfwood's body faces the viewer with his eyes looking towards Vash. He rests the bottle of the Bride on the table with a "clack" and his other hand holds two shotglasses. The background is coated in a light pink.

A panel shows a close up of Wolfwood's face, his eyes looking downwards to Vash as he says, "Let's drink." Next to this panel is Vash looking up at Wolfwood, his brows furrowed and a slight frown. The bottom half of the page is a wider shot with Vash's body turned away from the viewer as he says, "I'm not going to talk about it." Wolfwood responds, "You don't have to." as he sits down.

A wide panel of Wolfwood holding the shotglass, pouring in the drink as he continues, "I'll talk." The next panel is a profile view of Wolfwood, his eyes looking down at the now filled shotglass as he continues to say, "You're..."

"... upset with me." Vash can be seen next to this speech bubble with narrowed eyes, looking towards Wolfwood. The panels are all coated in with a dark blue background. Wolfwood continues, "I can't be certain why since yer not telling me a thing -- but it's probably... my bad." The panels show Wolfwood about to bring the shotglass to his mouth but he turns way as he continued to speak, his eyes not on Vash. The bottom page shows him looking away completely with a guilty expression as he says, "I'm sorry.

If you can ever tell me why, I can try and adjust to make it more bearable. But if you're just trying to get rid of me--" The panels follow Wolfwood's certain expression as he says this, "I don't intend to leave you. I can't... and I won't." A panel shows Vash's wide-eyed expression, surprised upon hearing this, and then his eyes soften as Wolfwood again concludes with, "I'm sorry."

Vash's inner thoughts begins, a boxed speech at the center of the page and panels of his eyes, his brows furrowing again and a resigned, but frustrated expression. His thoughts starts, "Stop. I shouldn't be happy hearing that. And why are you apologizing? I should be the one to..! I can't let anything like that happen to you. You deserve to live a long steady and peaceful life. I want to be optimistic. I want to protect you, but I might end up doing the opposite." The text surrounds Wolfwood from Vash's perspective, the other man drinking out of his shotglass, his eyes downcasted.

"I shouldn't have you. And you won't leave." Behind these text is a panel of Wolfwood's eyes finally looking over to Vash. Vash's thoughts continues,  "It's so unfair." When Wolfwood sees Vash, his eyes soften and he frowns. The last panel shows the lower half of Vash's face, but tears begins to flow down his cheek. Wolfwood's hand is already reaching to wipe at them as he starts to say, "You know..."

A wider shot of Vash and Wolfwood, Vash slightly leaning forward with his mouth tightly shut, and tears steadily continuing to flow out of his closed eyes. Wolfwood continues to wipe at them with his hand as he continues, "This isn't a dream anymore. I don't know what you saw for you to be this shaken up, but whatever happened, you'll overcome it, right? If not you, I'm here too. You'll be okay, Spikey. So..." Wolfwood's expression grows more tender, "Have a little faith in me... and come back already." The dark blue starts to fade.

The wide panel has the dark blue background faded and replaced is the light pink. It shows Vash in full up to his shoulders, his eyes are still tears littered, but there's light in them as he says, "Wolfwood..." making eye contact with the other. The next panel shows Wolfwood's tender expression, his eyes and brows fully soften and he has a small smile on his lips, finally seeing the other return a level of sincerity with him.

The next panel shows the bottom half of Wolfwood's face and his hand is offered towards Vash for a dance as he says, "C'mon. We don't have to talk, but this is okay, right?" The background is now white and a ribbon flowing across the page separates this panel from the next sequence. Vash's inner thoughts continus, "I've spent too long avoiding this. It's scary to want after I've taken so much from others." A sequence close up of their hands is shown, with Wolfwood's outstretched hand on the right and Vash's reaching hand on the left. Vash gently places his hand in Wolfwood and at the bottom, Wolfwood wraps his fingers across Vash's.

Throughout the page, a dark blue ribbon starts to flow around the both of them with confetti raining alongside the effect. Vash and Wolfwood are hand and hand, dancing together with Wolfwood as the lead. The viewer can see a peak of Vash's expression, full of fondness but also a hint of sorrow as he looks down at Wolfwood. His inner thoughts continue, "I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you. But why is that even though I have these burdens, I still want to love you. I still want you to be by my side."

With a close up of their mouths, Vash's thoughts continue, the text covering his mouth, "Wolfwood, I--" Wolfwood's speech bubble covers Vash's text as he completes his sentence, "want you." Vash's eyes widen for one panel and in the next, his eyes spark, a blush appearing on his cheek and the confetti flows and spark. Tears ease up on his eyes again.

"Want me too already, Spikey." Wolfwood has leaned in enough to rest his head against Vash, a hand of his on Vash's neck, holding his nape and another hand pressed gently against his back. A ribbon separates this panel from the next, a mix of confetti flows across the page, as Vash envelopes Wolfwood in a hug too, holding him and his hand gripping tightly onto his back.

This page is just the ribbon flowly throughout the page on the white background, one white ribbon and the other a dark blue. Near the bottom, the ribbon envelopes each other in a loop. A conversation of Vash and Wolfwood is held over these ribbons, Vash starting to say, "What if I hurt you? What if you..?" Wolfwood responds, "You? How could you hurt me?" Vash, "You know what I mean... You see it everyday..." Wolfwood responds, "If you think I'm going to kick the bucket so easily, I suggest you look at me more closely from now on, idiot. I'm not that easy to get rid of."

The next page has the ribbon criss cross over the top of the page. Vash and Wolfwood can be seen in their dancing position again, Wolfwood now resting a hand on Vash's shoulder, as Vash takes the lead. Vash continues, "Well, I know that... I tried." Wolfwood responds, "But you won't anymore... since you want me... around, yeah?" Wolfwood's head cocks to the side, smiling with assurance, cheeks flushed. Vash looks at him with a wide smile and fond, loving eyes. The confetti flows across the bottom of this page and as it eases into the next page, it starts to disappear.

Vash responds, ".. Yeah... I do..." as he pulls Wolfwood into a hug again. Wolfwood says, "Not going to run away anymore, are you?" Vash says, "No... I trust you." A panel shows Wolfwood's turning away slightly with a shy expression, muttering "Geez..."

In a more simplified style, Wolfwood is seen gripping Vash's cheeks now with his hand, "Though... You do remember you avoided me for two weeks straight, right? How are you going to make that up to me?" Wolfwood asks. Vash responds with eyes closed and a pucker of his lips. A vein of irritation appears on Wolfwood's face. Wolfwood starts to squeeze at Vash's cheek with both hands, shouting, "Now that you've recovered, you're trying to be funny, huh?!" Vash says through the squished cheeks, "I'm just happy..."

The next page opens with a closed up panel of Vash's widen eye as Wolfwood's hand moves from squishing his cheeks to gently holding them and Wolfwood leans in. The inner thoughts starts again, "There's a chance I'm not making the right choice... My dreams, my fears of losing you, it will never go away. But you said you won't let it happen... And I want to hang onto your words closely this time. After all, if it's anyone who can make me believe, it's you."  The white ribbon from previous pages flows across the page and it visibly ends at the bottom of the page, enclosing the two of them as they share a gentle kiss with Vash holding Wolfwood's face, a tear in his eye.

The next pages starts with Wolfwood saying, "You cryin' again?" Vash responds, "I'm just grateful..." Wolfwood responds, "But you've always had me." Vash responds, "Being like this is different from staring at you from behind all the time though..." The two can be seen together again, Wolfwood pressing his elbows against the table with Vash leaning over him. Wolfwood is easing the tears out of Vash's eye again, just like earlier. A close panel of Vash's fond expression is seen as he says, "Thank you, Wolfwood." Wolfwood looks up at him with a small smile, gentle eyes. Confetti starts to flow lightly across the page as text starts to appear against the white background, "I'm the one who's grateful...

That you'd embrace someone like me, when I'm not fit to hold you in the first place... But I know better than to hesitate. The moment I acknowledged it, I knew I'd spend the rest of my life loving you. So, have as much of me as you want, Vash."

The final page shows the confetti gently falling down the page and at the bottom shows Vash and Wolfwood pressing their foreheads together, Wolfwood's hands cupping the side of Vash's face gently, and both of them smiling brightly with each other. ID END]

#vashwood #trigun #trigun maximum #vash the stampede #nicholas d wolfwood #its done.... after 2 months.... collapses on the ground #theres a lot of things i would prob change about this but. its so sappy that it makes me a little happy where it ended up #they deserve a little sap too!!! and in the end this is the closest they could get to a first confession #through want! want in each other's life and company since they both have this strained relationship with keeping people permanent in their #lives... and the people or things that are tied to them in the long term tend to be something that harms them. #and as the saying goes -- good things never last! and im sure they prob gave up trying to find a good thing for a long time #vash managed to be found after the moon accident and got his good thing for a bit but even he prob knew itd come to an end eventually #ironically it was wolfwood that ended it. but he really just planted smth new for vash... and now they have some security #or at least vash does. or at least just for this one moment #a moment of bliss and feeling like they are deserving of love is so Fluctuating for vashwood #and ultimately i think wolfwood could only push onwards to initiate because he sensed there was smth vash wanted. and its just #naturally in wolfwood to give to those that he love #but anyway anyway.... i like to think in a sweet universe -- they had the chance to confess like this and got a little bit of time to #enjoy and share their company in this manner. to be a little less restrained and love each other freely #ruporas art

[heartshapedbubble]

Ello can I request a Norton Fools good x fem reader where she came across the blown up mines and sees Norton (in his hunter form) she’s scared at first but starts to recognise him and slowly starts to approach him reaching her hand up to cub his cheeks ( bro this man needs all the love! )

HOO BOY i agree tho... his release made me regain my interest in norton🫡🫡

[not to be a scum but i'm still open for sanrio emma comms btw😭😭]

fool's gold: imagine...⛏️

cut for length!

paying the bills has become a hellish cycle. break your back to pay off the expenses, relax for the following twenty-ish days, and be sent into frenzy again, not knowing if you're going to have a roof over your head tomorrow or not.

you found yourself hopelessly skimming through newspaper, looking for any job offer possible that would easen up the burden on your wallet. The paper was plastered with offers from bars, post offices and restaurants, but those were a always gamble. will you get your wage or not? and if you will, when? too much effort for something so high-risk.

at last, a small offer in the corner of the page caught your attention. pressed in miniscule letters, it said: MINE RESEARCH. EMPLOYEES URGENTLY NEEDED. EQUIPMENT PROVIDED. underneath the text, an attractive number: $15,000 payed off immediately after the job is done.

not only could this solve the rent for the following 3 months, you'd also have some money left for yourself! you rang the number the second you got home and successfully scored the job, due to the urgency of the situation.

it took you a day or two to start thinking about the job. what do you exactly need to know for mine research? probably at least some physical strength and stamina, you thought. surely it can't be too complex.

you arrived at the mine right on time, the sun slowly slipping back into the horizon to let the moon take center stage. to your dismay, you realized no one else applied for the job. maybe this wasn't a good idea after all? crawling through the narrow, rocky terrain all alone doesn't sound like the ideal scenario. no living being in sight, and 20 minutes have already went by.

still, that money is way too good to pass up. you picked up one of the yellow helmets piled up at the entrance, prayed to whatever god out there that your flashlight has enough power to last the following 2 hours and mindlessly rushed into the collapsing mine.

for the following 10 minutes, your sight unfocused while your mind took the lead, in front of and all around you just rocks and grime, shadows dispelled by the flashlight held by your hip like a lance. only after a good 5 minutes of running did you realize that you, in fact, have no idea what you're supposed to do. what qualifies as mine research? mining, inspecting the ores, measuring the surface?

all sweaty and breathless, the tunnel led you to a large room inside of the mine, the roof extending towards what seemed like a pitch black abyss. carts messily thrown around, bumpy and unpolished geodes laying all over the place, when was the last time a living being stepped foot into this mine? it made sense that such a large sum of money was needed to attract volunteers.

you carefully moved through the rubble, trying to avoid stepping onto pickaxes and shrapnel splayed all over the ground. since you forgot about the gloves your bare hand now held onto the unpromising terrain, the other firmly squeezing the only source of light in this limbo.

the surface grazing your hand now seems like it became... smoother? no longer does it cut and pierce your palms. it's bumpy, but at least you're not risking an infection anymore.

moving inch by inch in fear of falling, the stone below changes its form. you don't even pay attention to the fact that you're now grabbing onto cloth and that, below your palm, a steady pulse is faintly beating.

it's already too late when you realize that you're not alone, and the stone below you starts to take shape and morph until it extends towards the ceiling, now towering over you, slouched like a ragdoll.

complementing the cold shades of grey, a face emerges from the shadows. pale, with defined cheekbones, although malnourished. only his bust passes as human, as below his collarbones there's nothing but a mosaic of pebbles and boulders forming his torso, arms and legs. it - or he, perhaps - is breathing with struggle, coughs interrupting his wheezes here and there.

you feel a sense of dread overcoming you. you freeze on the spot, but he doesn't budge, either. lifeless except for the fact he's breathing and his heart ticks like a machine.

you draw back a step, and he lunges forward, seemingly still not used to this monstrous body of his. he could harm me with ease if he wanted to, a thought suddenly manifests in your mind, and with newfound bravery you inspect the cryptid like a sculpture. your hand grazes over his bumpy and unfinished hands, tugs at the remains of his clothes around his chest. he groans, in annoyance, you assume, but doesn't resist. you climb up a cart to reach his face, your fingers pinch his stubborn hairstrands, inspect the cavity in which his other eye once laid. in a moment of either stupidity or courage you roughly pinch his cheeks - they're cold to the touch, but it's funny how naturally does his intimidating face mush like a little boy's. kind of cute. after a minute of cooing to yourself two of his rocky fingers gently pinch your wrists and put them back to your sides, but his one foggy eye doesn't divert its gaze from yours.

perhaps the flashlight can last an hour more.. you've just began getting to know him, and the mystery of the mine and his origin still lay cold for you to discover.

#identity v #idv #idv headcanons #idv imagines #identity v headcanons #idv fanfic #idv scenarios #identity v x reader #idv x reader #identity v x you #idv prospector #prospector idv #prospector #identity v prospector #norton campbell #idv norton campbell #idv norton #norton idv #idv fools gold #fools gold #identity v fool's gold #fool's gold #idv fool's gold #fool's gold idv #identity v fools gold

[helloheyhihowdyheya]

Something Special | p. 2

Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x gn!pilot!reader

Part One Masterlist

Summary: You wanted to hate Rooster for everything he'd done. But you still wanted him to come home. To you.

Word Count: ~1.2k

Warnings: Angst. Allusion toward death. Fluff

A/n: Sorry for the wait on this, life's been a lot. I hope this fixes some of the hurt from the first part lol. I'd love to know your thoughts, thanks for reading! <3

--

You muffled your angry screams into your pillow, fingers gripping the case to have something to keep you grounded. After all these months of guessing, hoping, that you were important to Rooster, he dropped “I love you” before leaving, perhaps for the last time. You threw the pillow against the wall, collapsing on your bed as your fists balled tighter.

Part of you wanted to hate him, to chew him out for what he said to you. It wanted to push him again and again until he was stumbling back, away. Until he couldn’t hurt you anymore. He could fly toward death as much as he wanted then. And you weren’t sure how long you sat with that hatred, minutes slipping past like weightless seconds.

It wasn’t until the other part of you began to appear that you came back, and you realized that you hadn’t said it back. You hadn’t told him that you loved him too. That made your legs move, make your body pace back and forth along the room. It brought on the first hiccup of tears, your hands grabbing your crumpled pillow and holding it to your chest, trying to calm yourself. See, you wouldn’t be crying if you just hated him and didn’t care about him. But you did.

Shoving your tear-stained pillow over your head or playing music loud enough to hurt your ears couldn’t block out your frantic thoughts, or the noise of people excitedly running past your door. Everyone seemed to be trying to get updates on the mission, hurried gasps echoing through the halls when they caught a snippet. Everyone except for you.

It had started in your stomach, the prodding and fluttering that threatened to make you nauseous. The feeling spread outward, down your legs and up your throat until you were almost choking on it. It left your fingers twitching, picking at your nails, and teeth chewing on your cheek. You had told Rooster good luck, and you meant it. Truly, despite everything that’d happened.

And he’d need it if it really was as dangerous as it seemed.

Your chest didn’t rise like it should have, as if a weight refused to leave you. Inhales and exhales felt shallow, never enough. Not when you thought of Rooster up there fearing for his life, his heart pounding through his body.

Moving your hand to your chest, feeling your own irritated heartbeat, you thought back to flattening your fingers across his shirt weeks ago, searching for that pulse in the dark. You’d gotten news one night that your dad was sick, back in the hospital, and it didn’t look good. With watery vision and an emptiness trying to swallow you whole, you heaved yourself out of bed and went to the only place you could.

Rooster had opened the door within seconds of your knocking, probably hearing the sound of your sniffling on the other side. His arms wrapped around you, pulling you in and holding you as if nothing else mattered in that moment. 

In between your staccatoed breaths, he rubbed a hand down your back and murmured, “It’s okay, baby. Wanna talk about it?”

Your throat still felt tight, your crying still racking through your body. So you shook your head and mentally remembered to apologize for soaking his shirt later. But he just walked you to his bed and laid with you, whispering reassurance against your forehead. And your palm found the space above his heart, letting its beating lull you to a calm only he brought.

Your fingers clenched against your own shirt now, an ache inside still existed from his words – from the secrets he’d kept from you. Yet, you couldn’t find it in yourself to wish pain back on him. After all, you’d gone in there yelling at him because you didn’t want to see him hurt. 

Frustration bubbled up to a soft groan in the back of your mouth. You just wanted things to go back to normal, to quiet moments between the two of you and the way he made you laugh so easily. Like that terrible joke he always told people… why a pilot’s least favorite movie is The Little Mermaid.

“Because it’s an Ariel assault,” you whispered, shaking your head as a hint of a smile ghosted your face. 

As you wiped your eyes, attempting to rid your body and mind of the last of its tears, you caught snippets of raised voices passing down the hallway. With more strength than you thought you had in that moment, you crossed the room and crept the door open. You found several people making their way toward the front of the base. 

A pilot you didn’t recognize told you, “They’re on their way back. C’mon.”

In a bit of a daze, you followed. Your feet moved faster as worry ate its way through you, whispering into your ear. What if it had gone all wrong? What if Rooster wasn’t with them? What if he hated you after all that’s happened?

Nearing the entrance, you pushed through the crowd of people. You barely felt the warmth of the sun along your body, your hand coming up to block its brightness. The air buzzed as you saw glimpses of Phoenix’s dark hair, her face tired but happy. Bob stood near, wide smile and bright eyes under his glasses, but sweat drenched him. A question of whether that was a sign things had gone wrong ate at the back of your mind.

Hangman appeared next to them, clasping Maverick on the back. They cheered along with the group of pilots joining them, but where was…?

A breath knocked from your lungs when that laugh rang out, that voice that breezed along your skin. Then you saw him, that stupid mustache that you loved and those warm eyes as they connected with yours from afar. You couldn’t help the grin spreading across your face, especially not once he squeezed around people, fighting through as he made his way toward you.

A giggle escaped your mouth as you did the same, not stopping until he stood in front of you. Where he belonged, with his arms around you and pulling you in close. Where you belonged.

“I’m sorry,” he told you, words spoken against your cheek. You clutched onto the back of him, not caring what this all meant for you two or what anyone might think. He was here. He was alive, and so were you.

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” you said, pressing into him. “I’m sorry too.”

He pulled back, shaking his head, and you already missed the feeling of him. “No, I was an idiot, and I should’ve told you. Was just scared… like you said.” He kissed your forehead, letting himself breathe against you. “You’re all I thought about up there.”

By that point, your smile had grown so wide your cheeks began to ache. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. Knew I had to make it back.” His body rocked side to side with yours, oblivious to anything happening outside the two of you.

You gave him one last squeeze before leaning back, brushing a thumb along his jaw. “Well, for what it’s worth,” you said, unable to draw your eyes away from his, “I love you too.”

--

@reidslovely

#rooster bradshaw fic #bradley rooster bradshaw x reader #bradley rooster bradshaw #top gun maverick #top gun angst #rooster x reader #bradley bradshaw x reader

[nozomijoestar]

AFTER 8 MONTHS OF WRITING AND NONSENSE AND WRITING- I PRESENT 'LA VIE EN ROSE' PART 1

ASULILI NATION MAKE SOME NOISEEEE | thanks to @scalproie , @headlessstar , @pettyeti for your encouragement and feedback

Summary:

'The Seventh Iron Fist Tournament has ended. In its aftermath under the Mishima-G Corp conflicts, the world lays fractured into ravaged wastelands and pockets of civilization under a facade of normalcy. Asuka Kazama returns home, reminded there is no ground she can stand on untouched. And with persistent Lili sticking like a bad itch, their entwined fates form her a lone island.'

-

20k words per part from here on. Three parts total. I will be building the events between Tekken 7's ending for Asuka and Lili into just before Tekken 8 would start. I will be using canon, Harada's statements, and my two essays I recommend reading as guides.

Asuka Essay | Lili Essay

PLAYLIST GO BRRRRRRR

EDIT: I decided to also just dump the entire part 1 on tumblr then decide how I wanna share the rest moving forward

NEW: PART 2 POST

---

1 SE BATTRE C'EST TOUS

She held her breath and the numbers came. One, two, three, four, five…she could still smell the roses piled in the training hall. Sighing she opened her eyes and paced, arms crossed, around and around the doorway until she tripped over a shoe. Asuka threw out her hands, let herself collapse then slide down the wall into a slump. Tightness gripped her chest as she chewed her bottom lip. First had been the roses, roses of every color, size, and shape she’d never attempt counting. Everything was polished blinding like the sun and all things broken were now shiny replacements; Asuka still had no idea which button on the new microwave simply heated her leftovers.

Next had been coming home, standing in their kitchen, to watch Dad’s face worn and lined face split with a grin. The pile of bills that used to sit on the table had vanished, becoming a single check he’d waved like it’d disappear. Then of course Lili didn’t even bother showing up with her for any of it; creating yet another mess before pulling out of reach. The confused silences punctuating arguments between them over the flight home were broken when they’d landed at the airport. ‘Return ahead of me Asuka Kazama. I need a day to arrange my things.’ Lili had said, wearing a smirk before flipping her hair and strutting away. The once in a lifetime thrill at hot meals and extending seats aboard first class had evaporated. How the hell did you respond to that? So she’d braced herself and crossed the threshold of her house, alone.

Now she was crouched here, her mind in knots. Dad would probably be halfway done shopping for the huge welcome party dinner he’d bragged about. They needed to thank Lili properly, of course, his eyes seeming to go right through Asuka when he said so. To the end no matter how she protested or hovered over his limping strolls from point A to point B, he gave her a glare. Said that he’d taken her coddling for too long; the doctors had discharged him for a reason. Her hand curled a fist but stopped short of hitting the wall. No point in ruining what was indeed fixed, even if it could be fixed again. No way would she create another reason for Lili to call her a brute. Then the rumble and crunch of a car tire beyond the door perked up her ears; snapping her from her stillness.

Asuka looked through the peephole.

The white off Lili’s limo flashed orange into her eyes under the setting sun. The thing blocked off their courtyard as the driver’s side opened; out came a wrinkled old man hustling in his tailed suit for the passenger’s side door. She turned away. She’d hold out on looking at her until that final, final second it became unavoidable. Instead she could imagine Lili’s self-satisfied smirk, the confident strut as she dragged her suitcase worth a hundred little hole in the wall houses, the haughty air in her laugh that’d come whenever Asuka so much as stared. She hummed in concentration imagining her perfect hair, perfect poise, flawless as she claimed her prize. No! The brave thing would be looking that dumbass right in her stupid eyes. ‘You don’t get control of everythin’ you want!’

Suddenly the doorbell rang making her jolt and yelp.  She opened the door and there stood Queen Dumbass, lifting pink tinted aviator shades that covered her face. A silver rope necklace glinted around the collar of an outfit Asuka didn’t attempt guessing the price for. The limo was gone. Lili clicked her tongue; somehow her long blonde hair remained flawless. But there was, if only for an instant, tiredness beneath her stare. She leaned over her tall and wiry enough to block the door. Like so many times before Asuka’s words died on her tongue.

“Good day Asuka Kazama. Have you recovered from our flight? We have much to do if I’m going to train, and I can’t have you slacking.”

Stand tall, now.

“I’m fine. Don’t go expecting a summer camp here you ass. Might be your name on the deed these days but I was born here, right in the living room.”

Her thick Osakan drawl dragged and cut the words of her temper by their syllables. Lili stood unfazed, cocking her head in that blurred line between annoyance and amusement Asuka never understood.

“Well then you’ll know which room I’ll be staying in, how many meals I’ll eat, and exactly what our regimen will be already. I am the only student after all. Or are my expectations too high for one as knowledgeable as you? Perhaps you will find some other way to meddle and fuss during my stay. Father’s wealth is why we can stand where we are.”

Lili flicked Asuka’s forehead, swaggering inside and rolling her luggage behind her. A duffle hung from her shoulders, jostling Asuka as she passed. She scowled jostling her right back.

“Wha’ was that for?!”

“For being so very you. Now, my room if you’d please?”

“Yeah, yeah upstairs follow me.”

Upstairs meant passing several floorboards whose every creak made her heart lighter. Some things stayed the same. Asuka carried the suitcase as they climbed, and after a pause realized another floral scent was flooding her senses. It grew stronger each step she watched Lili climb forward.

‘Perfume? Damn it smells good.’

She bit her lip. Give them a week and she doubted this girl would keep primping herself up like a show dog. The gears in her mind whirled rearranging tomorrow’s plan as they reached the top.

“It’s on the left, close to the stairs for any going back an’ forth. I’ll put your things down so you don’t knock nothin’ over.”

“How rude! Don’t treat me like some monkey; I’m capable of minding my surroundings!”

“As capable as those fancy kicks of yours leave you wide open in a fight, sure.”

“Asuka Kazama you insufferable little…”

Growling Lili spun around setting upon her, pride wounded. She spotted the way her body drew back a second too long and rushed forward. ‘You still have that habit?’ One step sideways slid her out the way letting Lili pitch into air. Asuka lunged. It came an instant too late. Grappling and tussling each other had them tripping through the doorway, until forgetting the weight of her duffle saw Lili topple to the floor. Asuka planted her feet on instinct and pulled Queen Dumbass up as if it were reflex. The force thrust Lili clinging against her chest; for an instant she stood close enough to feel her gasp.

Asuka felt her body freeze, her face fixed in confusion finding Lili’s doe eyed expression. Then it was gone when she watched her glance around. Shelves covered in books, photos, and trophies lined the north most wall above a computer desk. The curtains were white around an opened window above a single bed. A dresser with a mirror and CD player hugged the western wall. Several spare bicycle parts were piled in a corner peeking out of a full trunk. At their feet a futon sat atop a plush rug.

“Are we…in your room?”

Asuka let go of her and stacked the luggage aside, crossing her arms.

“This ain’t a five star hotel; there wasn’t no other place to put you. It’s my room, my rules. Don’t go gettin’ ideas. You’re sleeping on the floor.”

She expected protest, an insult, any kind of resistance. Instead Lili nodded and gave the futon a once over. She spent greater time standing in awe like this were a museum exhibit she’d paid a personal tour for. Asuka’s skin flushed, but before her temper spilled Dad’s voice called from downstairs.

“Girls? Asuka? Is our guest home yet or can you help me with the cooking?”

“Cooking? Did he say cooking?”

“Yeah it’s for your moving in an’ all. Just stay here and look pretty. I doubt you’ve ever cooked in your life.”

She stuck her head out and yelled back.

“I’m comin’ Dad! She’s here in my room don’t worry.”

From behind her came the sounds of bags being unzipped. When she turned around Lili knelt knee deep in stacks of clothes for every occasion, dresses included. There were several tailored bags some of them spilling makeup tools next to bottles she couldn’t see the labels of. She watched her lean back and forth from bag to bag; it was like a cat pawing at yarn. Asuka swallowed a laugh. Lili didn’t notice. Instead she shooed her with a wave of the hand.

“Go on then. I need to make myself presentable. Where is your bathroom?”

“Last door on the right down the hall.”

“Don’t sound so dejected. You are killing the mood.”

She didn’t look at her as she spoke. A suck of her teeth felt reply enough. When she walked away she heard a confident ‘Thank you as always.’ Her chest tightened. A breeze followed her wake down the stairs.

Dad limped around the kitchen pulling out pots and setting oil to heat on their best skillets. Meat, vegetables, seasonings, a fruit platter, tiny cakes, even the takoyaki fryer- her mind grew fuzzy just counting everything. For a pause her eyes followed him, the tightness lingered.

“Oh there you are girl. Come and cut the lettuce for me.”

She gave him a once over from his strong and sweaty lined brow down to his quietly bent leg. He must be straining just standing there. Without thinking she set about washing her hands, placing things within his reach before he knew he needed them; then came prepping. Her face felt stiffer than her chopping once they settled into a rhythm. From the corner of her eye she watched him drag his steps a breath too long; at times when she passed on one prepped ingredient, he stood slumped over the counter. Asuka set down her knife.

“Dad. Why?”

Takoyaki sizzled.

“Why what?”

“Selling the house…not chasing after that bastard who crushed the dojo an’ gave you your wounds. Your coma. We could’ve figured it out ourselves.”

“…We talked about this.”

“And it makes no sense to me!” She shouted, slamming her palms and rattling the cutting board with a thud.

He glared dead at her straight backed, cold eyed, impassable. His lips were pursed with the unsaid that no longer bore repeating. Immediately she recoiled and the fire that twisted her face in anger began wavering. Goosebumps shot across her skin. When he spoke it was deep, rough as gravel; resigned but not bitter.

“Asuka, Asuka I won’t say this again. We’ve gotta survive. That’s all there is to it. They can bust me up, they can drive our students away, but there’s always a way out if you’re alive. You don’t spit on a helping hand.”

“I’m your daughter; it’s my job to be the helping hand. I just need to double my training and some time. There’s no point begging from anyone, much less the asshole that keeps picking fights with me! This is another one of her shams Dad; you should kick her to the curb and let me protect us!”

“Keeping my family does not mean I’ve lost!”

His nose flared and eyes shot wide with ferocity, with pain, as if she’d pressed fingers into an open gash. She recoiled, shuddering in silence. There remained nothing left to say. Slowly, slowly her breath returned; her blood warmed again. Then someone cleared their throat behind her. Asuka turned, rushing the break of the spell hanging over the air, to find Lili stood like a deer in headlights. Thinly applied blush and the sheen of lip gloss colored her face. Dad’s stare felt as if it kept burning holes through the back of her head. Whatever kept Lili stunned broke when she gave them a graceful bow. ‘You’re lovin’ this aren’t you.’

Yet the look Lili wore made her chest ache.

“Good Evening Mr. Kazama, sir. I apologize for any disturbances my presence has caused; a pleasure to meet you face to face.”

“Yes, please come in make yourself at home. Help yourself to as much as you’d like.” Dad said softly, ignoring Asuka’s bent, pleading expression as he wiped his hands on his apron.

Only a few finishing touches remained for the dishes. As she worked Lili sat waiting lost in thought each time she glanced a different spot. Sometimes, for the barest instant, she felt her stare linger a second too long. But whenever she glanced back Lili had moved on. When they plated the okonomiyaki, takoyaki, udon, oshizushi, and more around the hot pot center piece- that made her balk. 

It’d been Dad’s idea to offer her everything Osakan and the kitchen sink if need be; Lili accepted bite after bite with firm grace. With turns of phrase she joked, listened, chatted as if Dad were an old friend. Asuka sat mute unless asking for seconds or giving a clipped word or two, or three. Her glares seemed to deter nothing. She watched one of Lili’s smiles, oshizushi stuffed in her mouth. For whatever reason Lili didn’t focus on her, didn’t pry the fresh cuts she’d overheard. ‘I think I used too much broth in the hot pot…’

Steeping in the bath after a wash, Asuka watched the moon hang obscured by clouds.  Heart pounding, she rolled back her head. The ceiling was blank.

Night was giving way to blue dawn when her alarm blared. Fumbling she flipped her phone open to shut it off, eyes squinting as half of her read the time- the other half still dreamed of darkness. The screen blasted full on her face. Five thirty in the morning; time to get up. Various bottles, makeup tools, and pouches littered the surface of her dresser. Hairclips, brushes, ties, and ribbons (one set for the hair another to pin at the chest) were scattered in the space between. A handful of mirrors in a ridiculous range of sizes threatened toppling when she rummaged for clothes; she sucked her teeth. Even her things were starting to smell expensive.  

Her closet had been overtaken until the hangars were bursting, and the most enormous or excess dresses that couldn’t fit hung from wall hooks. What had been hers with its white and aqua walls, bike posters, and her parts box now became something cheaply soundproofed by lace. Lace buried even the flutter she once enjoyed from her white curtains. Everything was pink or silver or both or cream and red and grey and purple and she swallowed a scream. The last drops of sleep evaporated under her anger as she kneeled. Lili slept piled under the futon straight backed; a velvet mask embroidered with flowers over her eyes. A neat collection of stuffed animals ringed her body. Her breaths were so quiet she could pass for dead. Asuka considered it for a split second. She poked her cheek.

“Hey wake up. Training starts before school.”

Nothing, she poked her harder.

“C’mon you can hear me can’t you?”

A sudden mumble then jerk, but still she slept. Asuka groaned into a growl, leaning right into her face.

“Wake the hell up dumbass!”  

“AAAUGH!”

Lili shot upright slamming them together, a breeze from the impact shifting Asuka and sending her rolling across the floor. Pain exploded, purple spots flashed her vision then were gone.

‘Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck-‘

“Fuuuckk!”

“My god what’s wrong with you?”

“You! You and your forehead nearly killed me.”

“What did you expect yelling so close like that? You’re not even bleeding. I thought someone came to kill me! Or rob us, or both.”

Asuka grumbled then settled into a scowl. She felt her face tenderly; Lili was right. Her head throbbed but hadn’t caught a scratch.

“Whatever. Keep your voice down or Dad might wake up. Sorry.”

Lili grimaced as she pulled off her eye mask, tossing it over a shoulder as she stood and yawned.

“Why are we up before the sun anyway? My beauty sleep will be ruined.”

Asuka sighed.

“Training.”

By the time they’d each had their turn fishing in the dresser true dawn dappled through the windows. Thankfully Lili matched her careful pace and save for their footfalls the house laid blanketed between quiet and nature’s white noise. Asuka glanced at her from the corner of her eye. Lili wore her hair pinned in a bun with an upturned tail, a headband cupping her bangs; both were paired by a compression tank top that hugged everything, and flowy sweatpants. From the midriff down were stitched roses and sharp curving vines. It wasn’t bad, and that made her bite her lip.

Her nose twitched when she could smell the training hall before they entered it. The rainbow of roses was now wilted; their grey brittle shells crunching under her feet. Musk of decay mixed with rancid sweetness filled her mouth. Behind her she heard coughing followed by a dry gag. Lili threw a hand over her lips; her eyes startled wide.

“My poor things…”

She watched her shift forward and Asuka threw out an arm to stop her, gently. Lili’s body had a softness to it, but to her surprise she felt muscle only practice produced. A jolt like a warm electric shock raced up her arm. She replied firm like it could restrain a tinge of regret.

“I saved the ones I could but they were already half dead when I came home. Then the ones I threw into vases died a little while after too.”

“You tried.”

Lili whispered absentmindedly, a hint of disbelief. Asuka sucked her teeth. Did she come off heartless to this girl? It was completely unfair, after all-

“None of them had to die if you hadn’t thought to leave a bunch of flowers without water. That’s so wasteful and stupid.”

“Making things beautiful is not stupid; you lack refined tastes. Being an uncouth boor seems to better suit you.”

“Yeah well, whatever that means, at least I have sense.”

They stomped at one another, their faces drawn close enough to feel the heat rising after every word. Asuka bit her lip; her jaw tightened into a scowl. Then, rather than argue and scrunch further, Lili ‘Hmph’d’ and turned away.

“We’re wasting time if we’re going to get any practice done before school.”

“No. I will be practicing forms. You can clean this up; it’s your mess. I’m not showing you squat for however long that takes.”

Before Lili could bark another complaint from her twitching mouth Asuka pointed a finger.

“Look up.”

Above the doorway rested the outline of bright untouched wood versus the rest of the dark wall polished by age. Its straight lines and angles formed the shape of a missing rectangle. Lili cocked her head, her expression stilled.

“What was there?”

“Dad hung our school’s motto on a plaque before I was born. It was nailed right in that spot, until that Kempo bastard snapped it like a twig when he trashed the place.”

Every syllable saw her blood boil, every word guiding the drum of her heart pounding in her ears. The hairs on her nape stood not stiff in fear as it was rage howling for release. In her vision there rested only the naked wall, nothing else.

“I need to get stronger, hunt him, and then I’m taking our school sign back. That one he stole like it was nothin’ but some cheap trophy. When he’s begging mercy at my feet, it won’t be over till he’s pissing, shitting, and eating through tubes!”

Spittle flew through the bite of her last word. Her heart turned to roaring in her ears; not her heart entirely but the rush of air, she realized, when she heard a gasp beyond it. Lili stood, that doe eyed stare returned now bordering on panic as she trembled softly. Glancing at the floor Asuka found her own fists had clenched. Since when? Her body had grown tight, pain beginning to throb in deeper knots along her limbs, her back. She breathed in then out. Her voice became stifled.

“Whenever we’re here we have to bow at the sign, got it? That’s all.”

She did so, half in demonstration and half in fervor; a perfect tilt neither too high nor too in the middle. When she walked away roses parted at the force on her heels. Lili said nothing, but she heard faint shuffling, a pause, followed by more movement fuzzing at the edge of her awareness. Forms, she needed to concentrate on her forms now. Bending down in the middle of the hall she cleared a circle then straightened into position. Breathe in then out.

First came arm stretches followed by meaty pops from both shoulders, she shivered into a sigh at those. Then she bent over feeling the burn in her hamstrings before it fizzled out. Slowly she stretched out one leg at a time for her sitting hamstring work, then ankle flexes. The routine loosening each limb emptied her mind, honed her focus into a single razor point.

There was a nagging presence circling the edge of her awareness, she launched into White Heron Dance. Its sequence was familiar, her roundhouse kicks spinning her with whirlwind momentum into a sucker punch that curved the air in passing. Moon Scent would be next. She threw herself downward, bouncing from a handstand as she speared her legs into an upward arc. Like a looping bird she let gravity carry her backflip, fluid as water. Her stomp boomed when she landed upright again. She caught her breath, readying to jab when the presence danced across her skin, refusing now to hide.

 Asuka glanced at Lili, wrinkling her brow in confusion when the girl kept staring as if mesmerized. She scoffed. A rich girl had probably never seen anyone who worked for their skills, much less the sturdy muscle years of technique carved along Asuka’s body.  Even other girls during P.E. class at school were prissy about it- until she’d once sent a few flying. None of them had ever turned as red as Lili now was though.

“What? Quit grilling me unless you’ve got something to say.”

Lili turned away and swept the roses slower. The flush on her face reached her fingertips.

“Sh-Shut your mouth.” Was all Asuka heard her grumble.

She adjusted her crop top and shifted her shorts. The modest room seemed to shrink the longer neither moved. Then just like that Lili went back to sweeping as she jabbed the first steps of Basho’s Dance.

Together they faced the walk to school. One glance at the battered frame and missing bolts of Asuka’s bike had her tugging Lili along before a word could shoot out her mouth. It was left leaning against the house; her stomach sank at Lili having seen it at all. Then she was under a barrage.

First the streets were nice to walk but crowded easily yet it was better than Monaco. The weather was too cold at a slight breeze despite it being May. They were too far away to smell the ocean. There were no gull calls floating readily through the air in their neighborhood. Despite this the buildings were beautiful, quaint, and street signs were a splendid rainbow. Asuka’s uniform, though handsome with a popped collar and short sleeves, was too typical. Nothing could change it being a sweater vest over a dress shirt and a skirt, how very dull. It lacked the refined precision of a superior tailor- Lili had a dozen points proving as much. And that was why she’d had hers custom ordered to her measurements in a green complimenting her as well as the hand sown cuffs. Her butler, Sebastian, had arranged paying off their principal so she could keep it on. She had something to say after every other block; it took only three before Asuka wished she’d shut the fuck up. Instead she rested her bag over her shoulder, her chin held high, and humored her anyway.

Homeroom finally divided them by school year, and even if she whined about it and rolled her eyes, Lili relented. Teachers shooed her away toward the Second Years by the time Asuka sat her ass in the Third Year class she rightfully belonged with. Everyone else clustered around their circles of the room, chatting about gossip she didn’t understand. Understanding hadn’t been a privilege she’d held since her first time storming back, that Kempo bastard having been nowhere she could reach. It would be almost a year ago since she’d flung desks out the window when one boy joked ‘At least you got to be a tourist while the rest of us took exams!’ The suspension afterwards marred her student record, yet when she’d been yelled at in the faculty office she’d felt nothing. There’d been only the off white of the florescent lights, fury killing the pain into numbness.

Their homeroom teacher whose name she couldn’t remember called everyone’s attention. The pockets of gossip went back to their rank and file seats for roll call and bowing. Waiting for her name to be called she stood, a handful of glances finding her staring at the wall clock. Behind her more gazes merged and bore upon her shoulders. Whispers tickled her ears buzzing like gnats, silenced when their tired teacher asked,

“Asuka Kazama?”

“Here.”

She sat down when he passed her over and leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, brow narrowed. It was every day with this shit. When the lecture started she pulled out her notebooks in silence. Half of her listened; reason kept her anger lidded to a simmer.

History was today’s first subject. It was something about the Sengoku Era picking up off yesterday’s lesson. She hadn’t kept track since chasing Lili at the seventh Iron Fist Tournament; with the bombings, cities in rubble, and armies mowing each other down on the news, studying felt as much a moot point. Her hand clenched in her hair absentmindedly as she took notes on Nobunaga Oda’s last stand at Honnō-ji. His own men had turned and cornered him like a rat. In the crowd around her some jeering or nervous faces turned away when she returned their stares. Many had been weak little squirts running to her covered in bruises when they were in elementary school. She’d charged their bullies and taken blows she’d showed off to Dad wearing a toothy grin. Her enemies were left groaning on the pavement, worthless against the latest technique she’d trained. Asuka’s eyes stuck to her paper, gritting her teeth.

Math came next. An equation that stretched a good width of the chalkboard had her cocking her head, a brow raised incredulously. Then the worst possible thing happened as she squinted in frustration- the teacher locked eyes with her.

“Ms. Kazama, can you tell us the correct answer?”

Two people snickered. She stood and crossed her arms. It was algebra she recognized but never exceled at. If she multiplied, subtracted, carried the one and divided she’d get…

“Er, uh, is it four?”

Pain swatted against her forehead flashing purple spots in her vision. Something clattered at her feet and when she crunched it underfoot she found chalk dust.

“Perhaps you’d know if you took your education seriously. Next.”

She balled her hands at her sides growling into a scowl. Not caring for surrender she flopped back down into her seat and stared into her notes. Then came more whispers,

“Kazama struggles with math worse than I do…”

“Of course she does all she cares about is fighting.”

“Don’t let her hear you or she’ll turn into Violent Kazama!”

Literature class left her tongue tied and head swimming in muddy metaphors. One book’s story could contain a million answers and counter answers, and then there was the view teachers wanted you to have. She wasn’t picked for a read aloud, sighing in relief at that. Still, she tried looking as neutral as her face could tolerate. Her fists clenched on her desk.

‘How the hell am I supposed to know what some author’s going through? Nothing’s going right with me!’

She didn’t even want to attempt English. The straight and curved squiggles of letters on the board were jumbled nonsense. Her notes tapered into messy lines. The borders of her page became busy with scribbles. In one she trampled that Kempo bastard underfoot, holding her dojo’s sign above her head, triumphant. In another Dad practiced his form grinning ear to ear. Then without thinking she drew curve after curve until Lili’s arrogant eyes and unknowable smile framed in a detailed portrait stared up at her. She sucked her teeth quietly.

Lunch came without fanfare when everyone again went in their little corners eating together. Some people scraped their chairs loudly when they moved seats; when she looked around she sat alone. Even the bullied loner kids had made a camp of their own. They shot her nervous, pitiful glances. Tch. She scowled into a sigh. Her lunch amounted to a protein shake and the bento she normally made slapped together without order. The rice, unshaped and seaweed scattered, half buried her sliced sausage. The pickled radishes, lettuce, and sliced carrots spilled over the rectangle cut omelets and nearly the rest of the box.  Her hamburger steak felt fucking pathetic squished at the center of it all. The nonsense that morning, and Lili’s cluelessness doing anything herself made Asuka rush in the kitchen. Before she could wallow her stomach growled.

Whispers beat against her as she ate.

“Stupid.”

“Nosey.”

“Thug.”

“Didn’t you hear? What if she’s related to that Jin Kazama, the terrorist…?”

“Enough people end up in the hospital ‘cuz of her. Even if they’re mostly punks…”

She gritted her teeth and glared like she could punch using her eyes. Her name went quiet after that. After the final bell for the day she checked the chalkboard and breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t on cleaning duty this time, and that made her steps ten times lighter out the door. Her bag went on her shoulder, swaggering even as the tips of her ears flushed. A pair of girls walking toward her staggered and speed walked away at one glance. Asuka growled and the weight in her steps thud off the walls like trampling hooves. She turned the corner to find them opening their shoe lockers. They gasped, bug eyed as they gaped like the idiots they were, fumbling to get their loafers on. The taller one fell against the lockers and yelped letting her lackey drag her away. She dashed forward and yelled after them,

“Go ahead and fuck off! That’s right! I hate you too!”

She sucked her teeth kicking off her school slippers, angry enough to never care again. When she opened her locker a presence hovered by her left-

“These people are largely lacking in the social graces, it seems. How awful.”

The hairs on her nape stood and her grip grabbing her shoes turned her knuckles white. Her jaw clenched, for a breath she stared ahead utterly still. When she slammed her locker shut Lili jolted but recovered as if not a hair were out of place. She threw her shoes to the ground and shoved into them one foot at a time. She didn’t bother looking at her until there were no options left. The heat rose like steam off her skin; her face scrunched into a glare that made Lili cock her head. Asuka stared her up and down. Lili stood rod straight holding her bag in front of her with both hands; a picture perfect schoolgirl waiting poised like some cliché out of an old drama. Like a cat sitting in a high place it didn’t belong; ignorant to any wrong it’d done.

She leaned up right in her face. The air wrapped around them hot, stale, bristling.

“You made it worse.” The words practically spat out her mouth.

“I beg your pardon?”

“First I had to go chase my Dad’s enemy halfway across the world; people gave me shit for ‘overreacting’. People started doubting what I’ve done for them. They think I just want to fight. Then you came along pulling me into whatever this petty bullshit grudge you have is. You made me show up to the Iron Fist Tournament on live TV missing more school, and what do I find when I meet you? You’re not making any sense talking about my family, what fucked up bloodlines I belong to; the drama that’s destroying the world could come after me. Buying my house, moving in! Now they think I’m like the idiots I clean up on the streets and treat me even worse!”

Finally Lili’s brow pinched.

“Petty? You think what I do is petty?”

“What else is this shit supposed to be? I’ve only met you three times and you’re already ruining my life.”

“Ruining- I can’t believe this. Our rematch outside this school was for my honor after you trounced me at our first meeting. Everything since however has been for your benefit-“

“Don’t you dare say that-“

“I just don’t understand your anger over something practical-“

“THIS IS YOUR FAULT!”

A gale roared flinging Lili’s hair wild as a shaking tree; she stumbled then froze in terror. Asuka felt nothing but the stinging of her blood, a burning on her skin. Then she followed Lili’s stare. Her right fist trembled, raised mid punch, her twitching muscle all that leashed it as if it were a tugging dog. Her ears were ringing.  Her tongue felt like pins and needles. Blood trickled down her knuckles from a few tiny cuts. It was so strange; she could see the heat haze rising off her wounds. Her mind went blank.

“Asuka…”

Her tendons flexed as she forced her arm down. The thud of her bag hitting the floor came muffled to her. To breathe shook her body one wheeze after another. Behind her long shadows smothered all warmth from the room.

Her voice was ice.

“Fuck you.”

She took off sprinting outside not caring what direction took her so long as she flew anywhere else. Far, far, and far away; anywhere else. The streets blurred past into denser and denser blocks lined with bright neon or metal signs. Lanes and corners went from mostly empty to small crowds parting at her wrath.

‘Where…where’s some punks…where?!’

The soles on her shoes squeaked as she dipped into an alley. She heard voices pop into existence and her ears perked.

“Got a problem asshole? This is our turf.”

“Not last week it wasn’t, you assholes keep pushin’ your way in here. You got no respect!”

“What’d you say fuckin’ tough guy?”

“Eat shit and give it up!”

Ahead of her figures lunged together until they became two big guys locked in each other’s grip. She flung herself high, tucked in, then thrust out both legs.

“Hold it right there!”

Instantly her heels bashed against their skulls crashing them together; she flipped and rolled safely off their domes. When she stood up there were no exits, just two gangs bunched shoulder to shoulder. At least twelve boys her age now circled her gawking and silent. She got up slowly, catching a deep breath then stopped.

Stand tall, now.

The pair she’d crashed into rolled and groaned clutching themselves before going dead still. They were blacked out. Good. She liked these odds. A guy wearing a jumpsuit stitched with catchphrases and his hair slicked back pointed at her.

“Who the fuck are you?”

She dusted off her hands then put one on her hip and smirked.

“Nothing belongs to either of you; the least you can do is not fight where everyone can see. You’re disturbing the peace. Go knock each other out in private, got it?”

Taking a step forward she stabbed her finger on the flashy guy’s chest.

“That’s me telling you as the Gang Mediator of Osaka, Asuka Kazama!”

A heavy silence passed where only a breeze whistled through. Then roaring laughter burst into her ears without buildup. She scowled but before she could react the guy grabbed her wrist.

“You’re so full of it, look there’s blood on her knuckles and she’s talking about ‘disturbing the peace’ gyahahahaha!”

‘Shit.’

Then something deeper hummed, it liked these odds.

“What’re you gonna do arrest us? Where’s your badge?”

“We can handle cunts like you!”

She tried snatching her hand away but he gripped it tight; his eyes narrowed like he’d stepped in fresh shit. She sighed.

“Put the turf on hold let’s get this bitch.”

As he grinned she gripped him by the hand he held and yanked them together. One of her legs swept his left shin; the instant he stumbled her fist slammed into his jaw. Woozy, he started crumpling when her kick flew into his nose.  The next guy hurled a right cross she dodged, seizing his arm and flipping him to let momentum do the rest. He hit the ground with a smack, her heel stomping his throat. More goons scrambled to corner her from every side; thinking fast she chopped one’s windpipe and shoved another with both palms. She dashed between the gaps he left as he fell into the others, toppling some into a groaning pile.

 The guys left standing chased her into the alley she’d come from, not bothering to look around until she readied herself. By then their mistake sealed them into a single file row but still they raged.

‘Now ya really asked for it!’

She went low planting her hands on the ground before kicking in a perfect arc on her backflip. The rubber of her soles bounced knocking a guy’s chin backwards. A few teeth clattered to the pavement. She caught her breath and ran as more trampled him underfoot. It was a few meters until she could see the sign lined street peeking ahead. She booked it, narrowly emerging in time to sidestep a grab for her hair. Again she ducked sweeping the guy’s ankle; bashing his shin, and then sprung into a one two punch.  In an instant his head knocked around harder than a jiggling water balloon. With a roar she thrust a kick forward booting him easy as a door. They cried and shouted under another pile up. One avoided the spill and charged; two punches whipped together was her answer.

“Somebody hit her already!”

“Stop pushing!”

“Who stepped on my new sneakers?”

“This bitch is stronger than a fucking gorilla!”

Again some lunged after her but she was shorter, faster, and nimble as the wind she sent them falling in a row. Then pain slammed her from behind shooting lightning across her spine. Crying out she stumbled but didn’t slump. Not wasting precious seconds she felt her neck rock sideways as she turned; the boy’s punch glanced her and even half its power crashed like a waterfall.

‘Fuck…’

“I got her!”

Roaring, Asuka pivoted into a back turn throwing herself behind her right shoulder; he slammed against a building, bouncing off the wall. His body dropped useless as a sack of meat. Everything went quiet; every eye had traced the arc of his flight. She gathered her breath, huffing and slinking back into stance. Her hands waited, palms slicked with sweat the same as her hair sticking to her forehead. Her clothes were getting damp; this had to end soon, Dad’s voice chided echoing in her mind. A grimace shut him out. Carefully she watched them and planted her feet. Anger cinched her into one piece, one feeling that demanded nothing but to sit beside her. Whether it was bravery, stubbornness, or still being pissed the boys started getting up.

She shook her head, grinned, and was gone in the fray.

Darkness filled the gaps of the sign lights curving over twelve sprawled bodies. She huffed, bent and holding her knees to stand. Everything from hair to socks stuck against her skin as if she’d spent hours rolling in cement. Her muscles pooled heat in knots. Tenderly she prodded her face; a swell around her left eye would definitely bruise by morning. Blood had long dried just under her left temple too, she wasn’t worried about that. When she tugged her sweater and checked for stains, she groaned finding streaks of it. Swaying she managed getting herself upright. The world wobbled the way your balance tipped lifting a heavy block. Her throat was sandpaper she couldn’t swallow enough to wet.

Someone moaned stirring painfully slow near the edge of the sprawl. Asuka gnashed her teeth into a growl and limped toward him. Winding a kick she slammed his head planting him on his back. Then finally she was alone. She roared into the sky,

“Next time listen to me you dumbasses! No fighting!”

She spat at them and kept going down the cleared street. The fighting must have shooed everyone when she’d been busy. It wasn’t even a long walk, she knew this area the more she looked around, but each step was lead. The streets could have stretched a few meters or several kilometers, time lessened nothing. At least she had her vision, scanning for the familiar signs and lanes that would turn into home. Like an idiot she’d left her phone in her school bag, and she’d never gotten into watches despite Dad swearing by them. Whenever it was she guessed the trains still ran with as many people crossing intersections as there were. That made it late enough though that she’d probably missed dinner. People quickly turned not daring to look her in the eyes. Or they gasped, froze in place, and then scurried off. She sighed softly but never once rested.

When she turned a familiar intersection her chest tightened; another punk crowd lounged outside a Lawson’s. They laughed, pretended to fight, and ate snacks loud enough to set her head aching halfway down the block. She sucked her teeth. To her left opened up another tight alley; if she could just limp across, if she could just stay low then-

“Ms. Asuka? Izzat you?”

“What’s she doing out this late?”

“Yeah that’s her look, look!”

Their sneakers hit the pavement thundering closer and closer. Growling she pulled herself up, readying her hands. Their eyes glinted under the streetlights bouncing from surprise to shock. She squinted and studied their faces, their casual dress. For once her relief seemed like it could melt her pain away. She’d broken these guys in months ago. Their fussing was music to her ears, and when the leader insisted two people help her stand while they walked her home, she didn’t resist. Everyone rained down questions scrambling her thoughts until she swore she might explode. So instead, urging them to shut up for a second, she gave them the rundown start to finish. Lili however, of course, was none of their business.

They ooh’d and ahh’d and that got a snicker out of her. Twelve guys at once, they kept passing it around as if the words were something they could touch. Someone slapped her shoulder. Another offered her an energy drink she gulped greedily. As it dribbled down her chin she asked them if they’d been making nice around town. Silence fumbled in the darkness but when her eyes narrowed they nodded and reassured her. Yesterday they hadn’t even fought anyone, helping a granny cross the street instead. Exhaustion drowned her will to question. They chatted until she had nothing but listening to their jokes.

She said goodbye waving off their good cheer two blocks from home and felt lighter. A dog barked somewhere when she leaned against her courtyard’s fence; her head throbbed. Huffing for breaths she looked up. Lili sat on the front step head in hand and scrolling her phone. Seconds passed and when she blinked they were staring. Out came her next breath and Lili ran toward her; Asuka had never seen her move so fast. She found herself in her arms and managed a protesting groan but didn’t pull away. Lili’s fingers tenderly grazed her black eye.

“My god where the hell have you been, what happened?! Do you have any idea how late it is? You idiot running off like that without even taking your things…”

Asuka’s temper smoldered, fizzled into ash.

“I’m fine, go get my Dad he knows about patching me up. And quit hugging me you’re not making this hurt any less! You’re the idiot.”

“Stop talking or I shall drop you where you stand so you may crawl inside.”

“Damnnit.”

Dad wove the gauze tight between her knuckles. She hissed then shuddered when he glared back. With a sigh she put her chin in her other hand. She couldn’t tell if he read her regret; the ice pack taped to her face blocked half her vision. Her shoulders sagged pathetically. A cold jolt prickled along the cut beneath her eye; on reflex she hissed and instantly the pain began dulling. Lili had a steady hand applying a second thin streak of ointment.

“At least warn me when you’re gonna do that.”

“Hush, there’s no time to waste keeping these from ballooning overnight.”

“Listen to her Asuka. It’s you who went looking for trouble when unfocused in the first place.”

She swallowed hard then huffed quietly.

“Lift your head and hold still, I’m applying your bandage.” Lili said.

Asuka obeyed; this time she could feel their body heat hovering close. Lili’s touch worked so softly on her skin, Asuka couldn’t find it in her to feign annoyance. It didn’t hurt at all like it should. A low gentle hum rumbled in her throat when Lili’s thumb smoothed the bandage, the white noise of an absent mind filled the space. Then Dad cleared his throat breaking the spell; her eyes widened driving that weird calm away like someone throwing stones after a fleeing dog. She rubbed her head and scoffed, crossing her arms in silence. Lili humph’d and did the same.

“So, what started this?”

Dad looked dead at her. Anger rolled when she flexed her tense shoulders, fogging as it curled her voice.  

“My classmates avoid me and talk crap about what we’re going through at school. It’s nothing I can’t handle so don’t worry yourself.”

“You’re the one coming home like this. Defending yourself or someone is what I encouraged you to do, not chase idiots proving how tough you are. What have I kept telling you-“

“Fight with a clear head.” She sighed.

“That’s right.”

“If I might add Mr. Kazama…”

She turned expecting Lili stone faced or cocky. Instead a frown wrinkled her mouth, her eyes narrowed just enough. It was like she’d seen this before; daughters at odds with fathers.

“I saw some of the bullying myself. Anyone would have found it insulting, and though I didn’t mean to contribute, some misunderstandings between us worsened everything. I suppose I played a part in her rage.”

“Played a part, you are-“

“Asuka. I understand Lili and I appreciate you admitting fault. But in the end she is responsible for her behavior.”

He leaned back stretching his sinewy legs, worn into silence. Then he sighed and she saw even his shoulders deflate.

“Just go Lili. Thank you for your help.”

Without a word she watched her bow her head, give her an unreadable glance, then she was gone. Gently Asuka pressed the ice pack closer against her skin. Immediately her body winced, saving her from looking him in the eye.

“Times like these make me not know what to do with you girl.”

“What else am I supposed to do? It’s between this and the world going to shit, I...”

He leaned forward taking her hand with both of his. His face softened. Asuka’s heart seized up her throat.

“I know what happened while I was…getting better. I wouldn’t wish the burden you had on my worst enemy. Watching while what our family built gets sold off piece by piece. The bills. Not a single old student asking what we, what you needed. Whole thing haunts me waking or dreaming.”

Her muscles locked; she hung her head before her lip began quivering. A cry choked and died inside. She felt hot tears dripping into her bangs. Dad smoothed her hair, tucking parts behind her ears. Asuka cried.

“My poor girl.”

“…I’m confused Dad. I’m so confused.”

He kept petting her hair, each new pass making her weightless.

“What’s confusing, which part? Tell me what it is.”

“She just, that girl never tells me what she wants! And if she does it’s wrapped up so fast I can’t keep track. Nothing makes sense anymore and she wants to make that worse. She’s so fucking cocky about driving me in circles.”

He sighed.

“Well, if I know you the way I do, did you press her to talk straight- or did you feel lost and get fed up when you weren’t hearing what you wanted?”

She snapped up glaring, pointed as a knife. He chuckled like he knew something she didn’t.

“You want me sitting there and taking stupid crap?” She growled into a sniffle.

“No. I’m saying sometimes you gotta find out as much as you can before you hold grudges. Can’t punch your way through life kiddo.”

Again her lip quivered, no longer pained. He leaned close. He put on his firm voice.

“Someone like that never wears their heart on their sleeve. Not usually.”

He clapped her forearm and shuffled toward the fridge. She sat there, blinking. Her knuckles stung flexing her hand. Spots of blood seeped into the bandage; the red pinpricks tightening her chest when she couldn’t help counting them.

“Dad.”

“Yeah kid?”

“When…when I got mad and shouted at Lili…my arm moved on its own. I didn’t even feel pain or my skin tearing. I was just making a fist…and the wind went crazy. It blew; around me. I blinked and it shot out everywhere.”

His spine went ridged, lamp post straight. His eyes fixed something hard and tighter than his discipline at training.

“I didn’t mean to!”

“The heat of the moment got to you. I know your temper; you let it blind your mind. You’ll get pissed enough and forget about stopping yourself. And you’ve been stressed. Yes I could tell don’t look at me like that. Rest is what you need.”

He said it matter-of-factly erasing any questions. Not entertaining a single one even if she got them out. Her stomach bundled a knot she felt pinch her breath. She nodded and glanced toward the wall. There was nothing more to say. Already she cast it down her lake of memory, where it sank with a sword’s weight.

Burying under her thin summer covers she stared at the ceiling. A plate of dinner had been saved for her, setting her stomach near bursting now. Only their breathing filled the night, Lili having taken her place among her stuffed animals. Slowly Asuka sat up, squinting to make out her silhouette; the girl was fast asleep. She had no idea how. It never seemed she did much all day save for homework and experimenting ridiculous skin routines. Unless they crossed paths or ate dinner Asuka kept to herself. Though sometimes, without meaning it, she’d overhear soft conversations; phone calls reassuring Sebastian, and other things she was sure. Words slid back down like watery noodles. She lay flat again on her doubled pillows, until her throbbing head lulled her away.

When she dragged herself out the bath the next morning her wobbling steps wanted nothing more than to crawl back into bed. She yawned gripping the towel around her neck; the tips of her wet hair kept passing out at bay. As she stood drying off, a distant thump echoed almost as if it were right beside her. Fumbling into a shitty stance she nearly tripped over the towel, scrambling to snatch it before it might hit the floor. Another thump echoed to match the first. Then a third, faster stomp followed, scared to miss the rhythm of what came before it. Her feet moved toward the training hall; not a thought in her mind giving voice to the goosebumps climbing her arms.

She poked her head through the entrance; Lili landed a perfect backflip.  There came a calculated pause for catching her breath, before she pivoted into a roundhouse kick. Its arc spread a bit too wide but that didn’t lessen how it snapped the air. Her back was turned to Asuka as she wiped her face with a handkerchief. From wall to wall the floors were spotless. A grin touched her. Quiet and gingerly she leaned against the doorway. 

Tucking the handkerchief into a pocket, Lili huffed, hands on her hips. Asuka blinked, and she threw another roundhouse. This one snapped sharp, corrected into something sleek. She watched her throw out five more never resting save for the turn from one to another. Groaning, Lili launched into a somersault; when their eyes met she tumbled out her landing. Asuka laughed so hard her towel shook free crumpling at her feet.

“Nique ta mère!” Lili shouted.

Asuka slid down wiping tears, twitching when her laughs grew louder. She slapped her thighs nearly tipping sideways. Lili slammed her fist, tried to stand, then tripped over herself. In a few steps she towered over her, and offered a hand. It was met with a glare. She cocked her head and shrugged, but Lili grabbed it as she pulled away. Asuka stood her up slow; the girl dusted her hands off, her thanks amounting to a simple ‘Hmph’.

“I could have done without your sneaking around, but what did you think?”

“About the practice or you eating shit on the floor?”

“That tongue of yours should be traded for some manners.” Lili’s dry tone pinched her expression.

Asuka snorted a tiny laugh into her fist.

“At least I can see you’re not lazy, even when you get sloppy. I remember a few students used to quit after barely starting. Just ‘cuz they thought they’d be action heroes in a day. Then when it turned out they didn’t get it perfect in a second, poof.”

Lili smirked.

“Yes well, I do not intend on going ‘Poof’; I intend to win.”

“Against me?”

Lili’s expression hardened sensing wariness.

“Against whatever stands in my way.”

Then she smiled flipping her bangs. She was being a dumbass again.

“And that may include you, or it may not. Time will tell. Now let us ready for school.”

“…You’re so damn annoying.”

Lili curtseyed and walked past with a spring in her step. When she disappeared silence lingered for how long Asuka didn’t count until she heard birds singing outside. The world was waking up. She took in the empty hall. Crisp air cleansed her lungs; everything spotless. A smile came without thinking. Her satisfied chuckle warmed like a cloudless summer. She looked it over one last time, and then left the pull of childhood behind.

Lunch at school was no longer the hard won lesser evil she could tolerate. The left side of her face formed a minor swell beneath bandages and one of several fresh ice cubes in plastic baggies Dad had tossed in a thermal bag. Fixing it to her head had her fumble an entire roll of gauze. Every bite of food brought tiny hammers down on her jaw. The whispers had outright ballooned into normal chatter.

“Whoa look at that! It’s a blue black plum!”

“Did she seriously go look for a fight right after school? So typical.”

“How dangerous…oh my god she glared at me.”

From the side of the room a door slid open. Asuka didn’t bother checking to see until suddenly she heard no sound.  Lili flipped her hair as she swaggered in, sitting right beside her and smirking. She watched her place her briefcase and take out her own boxed lunch like this were some prissy café and dozens weren’t gawking. Several pounding heartbeats passed for anyone to find the mind to speak.

“How the hell did you find my class?” Asuka whispered.

“It’s called asking around don’t be stupid.” 

A few people crowded them, walling Lili off before others got the chance for five seconds of her presence. Keeping the utmost poise, she gave them not a single glance as she opened her food. They may as well have not existed when she began setting the table. It was impressive. A wide faced girl at the front who Asuka recognized as the Third Year gossip bitch grew antsy, tugging the hem of her skirt. Her flunkies flanked her mimicking the shy act better than a clone. The whole thing gave Asuka chills.

“Wow are you the new transfer girl? Hiii, my name’s Ayako and-“

“What appointment did you schedule to interrupt me?”

Asuka watched Ayako freeze in her tracks; the plastic smile now stiff and twitching at the corners. Her robot wiring had short circuited. The circle of her little goons threw their hands over their mouths. They glanced from their leader to Lili and back again.

“…Sorry, we just thought you’d want to eat with better company. Among people who can show you all kinds of things so you’re not lost. Your hair is sooo pretty by the way. What’s the secret?”

Lili unfolded a napkin onto her lap and started cutting the filleted swordfish beside her salad of tomatoes, olives, and bell peppers. All things she had insisted on bringing to Japan in a cooler, of course. Ayako leaned forward sticking her hands on the desk mere centimeters from Lili’s arm.

“Just so you know, for your own good you know, that girl next to you…she puts people in the hospital. She’s sooo unsafe, you know?”

Neatly Lili set down her knife and fork, dabbing the napkin at her mouth. Asuka made a choked sound watching her stand and push past them. Without warning she planted her ass right in front of Asuka’s lunch and crossed her legs. Her hands folded on her knees while Asuka sputtered for the right words. She never found them when Lili cocked her head and bore polite, surgical venom.

“Who told you to wear that cheap makeup and slouch like a slob when talking?”

“Excuse me?! What’s your problem?”

“Oh, nothing. I simply cannot recall when I requested a small minded cow offer their opinion. Much less dictate anything toward me, of all people. Perhaps being so comfortable brown nosing, there’s another ass you should be licking.”

Chopsticks fell from Asuka’s grip clattering into her rice. She stared at her wide eyed and mouth gaping. Ayako burned so red she could be a dynamite stick that sparked itself. All at once the flunkies clung to each other rubbing Ayako’s arms and shoulders. They showered her in nasally compliments, but that didn’t stop her shoving them aside, balling her fists.

“B-Bitch!” She shrieked.

“I must get back to eating, if you’ll excuse me.”

She threw herself to her feet giving them a dismissive wave. Bumping them out her way she set everything as it’d been, and dug into lunch. Ayako moved to snatch Lili’s knife; Lili plucked her wrist mid thrust and twisted it in reverse. She bent it at an angle taking a bite off the fork while the girl sank to her knees, screaming breathlessly.

“Ah ah ah I would not flail if I were you. Run along now.  Adieu.”

She gave Ayako’s wrist a jerk then released her. Wheezing and shaking Ayako scooted on her ass, crawling and tripping over the floor. Together her goons pulled her up. Wobbling they stumbled into the corner they came from. Asuka who stood ready on reflex found herself reduced to a dumb stare.

“Better?”

Lili asked, smiling, eyes studying.  Slinking down in her chair Asuka pinched her brow and held her head in her hands. Gripping her chin couldn’t conceal a tiny smile.

From then on she never ate alone. Each day Lili announced her arrival by striking some model pose or with a hair flip. Then she’d park her ass beside Asuka surrounded by everyone pretending they weren’t scared. At least Asuka no longer heard her name in gossip. For a day someone tried slipping Lili’s name within earshot. No one said so, but the immediate silence could only have been under Ayako’s orders. For her part Lili didn’t seem to give a shit; in fact she’d never seen her so self-assured. At first she felt her skin crawl, that ugly nervousness she hated even imagining. But not a week passed before she started grinning too.

Each day her eye got lighter, the bruise centimeters smaller, and soon she better recognized her reflection. Once, when Dad was out on an errand, she brought it up over tea. Without Sebastian there, Lili kept trying to brew the way he knew she liked. After Asuka showed her how water boiling worked obviously.  So far there’d been no success.

“I haven’t forgotten about the other day you know.”

Lili stopped stirring sugar into her tea. Her tone had a way of looking at Asuka even if she herself wasn’t.

“Then you remember what I said.”

“Yeah I do. Don’t be an idiot.”

A silence passed. A hesitation. She got a tight lipped smile for a reply.

‘Playing the long game huh? I can do that too. I’ll figure you out.’

As long as her head kept pounding she never stepped foot in the training hall; instead she’d park herself at the door, watching Lili move. Each morning brought something new. Tighter swings, jumps and flips that belonged at the Olympics, Asuka chuckled remembering knocking Lili out the air for those. She refused to abandon the most ridiculous nonsense in the name of ‘aesthetics’.

“You need techniques that won’t leave you wide open!”

She couldn’t help but blurt it out while watching her fling herself around. Her nerves grinded like pepper through a shaker the longer she’d watched. Lili landed on her feet this time, wiping sweat as it touched her skin.

“What do you suggest that won’t rob me of my grace? Or will I be rolling across all manner of ground as you’d prefer.”

“Nuh uh, keep that attitude and I’m leavin’.”

Lili stopped running her handkerchief along her nape. Her eyes softened and for once she stood waiting patiently. Asuka grunted, satisfied. Stepping in slowly she bowed at the old sign spot then positioned herself behind Lili.

“I’m gonna have to touch you to explain.”

“Do as you must.”

“Ok so first, you tend to put your front foot a bit too forward in stance. That’s why I’ve never had much trouble sweeping it.”

“This can be done without reminding me of-“

Asuka planted a hand on Lili’s left thigh, guiding it until both legs were shoulder width apart. Against her warmth Lili shivered. But her body didn’t tense, staying loose when Asuka realized they were practically stuck together. An electric feeling coursed through twisting her gut. For a few seconds sounds were sharper, her touch sensitive; she thought she even tasted her. She pulled back just enough. Glancing up, the faintest blush painted Lili pink, even her eyes might’ve blushed if they could.  

“I’m not gonna touch anything if that’s what yer’ worried about! I used this kinda stuff to help our students when we had ‘em.”

“No…do more of that. I didn’t imagine you’d be so bold about it is all.”

“Shaddup you’re makin’ me sound like a pervert!”

“When did I say that? I am not. Are we continuing, or have your suggestions been cut short?”

“Tch. Keep your feet shoulder width apart. And your back should be straighter it’ll keep you balanced.”

Gentle yet firm she pressed the small of Lili’s back easing her into place. Their bodies drew close enough without hugging this time. Asuka felt Lili’s heart pound through the touch of her palm. It couldn’t explain why hers started racing too. Not a single movement was forced. Her tongue tied when Lili gave another unreadable glance and a smile. Like Asuka had once again played into her schemes. Another electric feeling rode under her skin.

“What next?” The smile hiked into a grin.  

“Movement; you dodge well but you over rely on it because your moves come out slowly. Don’t just hurl those complicated flips at an enemy. Make them want to come to you.”

Asuka barely kept her words together; everything had grown too hot. Finding strength she pulled her hands away. Lili smirked.

“My, you’ve studied me with an interest I’d never have imagined.”

“…I fight…any good fighter knows about paying attention.”

“Certainly. But after having fought only three encounters? I’m beginning to think you’re fonder than you let on.”

Immediately Asuka jabbed a finger at Lili’s chest. It was soft to the touch.

“I dunno what ‘fond’ means but we’re not friends! Don’t go actin’ like you know me for me.”

She huffed and stormed off without her heart in it. Her hopes were it read as ‘Screw You!’, but instead it fizzled into ‘Whatever’. Sucking her teeth she left Lili standing there; burying how she’d made her body sing a new song under silence.

That night they sat at the kitchen table, notebooks and worksheets piled between their dinners. Asuka had eyes on her homework and ears for her pencil scribbling. The swell around her eye had shrunk from a plum to a cherry tomato. The long form equation taunting her from the page met her glare. She scratched her head in frustration. A groan died in her throat when Lili beat her to it.

“These damned dates! I cannot believe anyone memorizes so many periods by heart.”

“History?”

“…Yes.”

Asuka snorted.

“That’s easy ‘cuz it’s all copying stuff down. Nobody’s asking you solve their problems that make no sense.”

Lili looked up at her, pencil butt pressed under her chin.

“Math?”

“Yeah…”

“Simple. Give it here and I shall explain, slowly.”

“Fuck off.”

She paused.

“You mean you can do stupid numbers and variable crap, but can’t read a few paragraphs?”

Lili leaned forward, a scowl splitting her mouth.

“And you are a year older than me but can’t do better than counting.”

Asuka’s grip squeezed a groan from the table when she leaned in too. They glared at each other; neither budged. Her brow quirked but Lili kept a straight face; who would break first? Time stopped. Then they each grabbed the other’s work sighing as they swapped.

“I’ll have you know I received top marks at home for this ‘number crap’. Numbers matter in business. And I’d hate seeing Daddy-Father, keel over from worry.”

“Daddy? Are you five?”

“Quiet! You must have your reasons as I do mine.”

She slouched thumbing the pages.

“History tells us what’s happened so we’ll be less stupid. It’s like tradition; you learn what to do and stuff. And why you should do it. That way you’re not confused.”

One glance and she found Lili staring into her eyes.

“And it can be rewritten too.”

Asuka’s face pinched. She looked at the notes.

“Whatever.”

Lili’s handwriting was neat and clear, highlighting chunks in a rainbow of inks, some glittery. Her brow rose. From the corner of her eye she spied Dad washing dishes. He smiled to himself.

The next time she saw her math teacher swagger in she slid a second notebook under the first. Terms and equations decorated its pages in lists. She’d copied them down herself with a pencil, much to Lili’s annoyance at how colorless that was. But she got through class without any chalk or suspicion hurled her way. A full picture stayed out of reach yet now she no longer drowned among the waves, sputtering for answers. When he left she slumped over her books with a relieved sigh. The notebook bent tight in her embrace.

Lunch came and went; Lili only gave her another unreadable smile when Asuka asked about history. She’d shrugged, eating with a silence between them she didn’t mind. Though she swore at some point, if this weren’t her imagination eating away her sense, Lili had shifted her seat closer. Now Asuka reached for her shoes; aching for the walk home, dinner, and beating numbers to a pulp. She saw blonde hair the instant her locker clattered shut. She jumped crying out,

“What the hell? At least say something moron.”

“Since we cannot train thanks to your eye, I insist you show me your city.”

“Ah, not listenin’ to me again. Alright.”

“Please…”

Asuka gnashed her teeth before turning to find a sight so pathetic she giggled. Lili stood pouting. Her hands balled at her sides not as if she wanted a fight, but like a kid about to stomp their foot. The hopeful glimmer clouding her eyes spilled over. It was a plea. Asuka’s breath hitched realizing this girl was at her full mercy. She grinned. She could do something with this.

“You can ask nicer than that.”

“Well, may I please ask you show me the rest of your beautiful home?” 

Asuka kicked off her school slippers for her shoes. She held a hum as she put her heels in one at a time, thinking nothing. When she was done Lili was still pouting, slouched in a kicked puppy way. She crossed her arms and rubbed her chin.

“Hmmm…I dunno how much I buy it. Doesn’t sound sincere enough.”

She knew that Lili knew. It was plain on her face. The girl was too clever not to know, too stubborn for-

Lili turned around placing her bag at her feet. Carefully she smoothed her hair, tucking whatever came loose. Her cuffs, blazer, and skirt were straightened. From her pockets came a compact with a round mirror. She checked her face. Asuka saw resolve in the briefest glimpse of her reflection. Finally ready, she tucked it away and picked up her bag, facing her again.

“Asuka Kazama. This is my first venture into Osaka. I would like your perspective as a native; to see what you feel it offers.”

“…Well…since you put it that way, maybe I will. C’mon.”

She slung her bag over her shoulder and walked off before Lili could react. Not a few seconds passed when she heard footsteps hurrying behind her. If they were going together, then so was Lili’s wallet. Quickly she flipped her phone open.

[To: Dad]

[ Hanging around with Lili after school; do you need anything from the market? ]

Lili caught up just as she hit send. Asuka smirked flipping the phone closed.

“What? Do you have somewhere in mind?”

“Yeah. Of course I do.”

The catlike grin Lili wore vanished the moment they met the swell of Dotonbori. People packed the bridge end to end bringing their bags, their noise, and each other. Open aired boats trucked beneath the underpass, carrying gawking tourists and their readied cameras. Neon signs dotted every billboard and restaurant woven between those lit by paper lanterns. Though their light was dim in the afternoon sun it grew by the second. They had few hours left before the nightlife stirred and nothing would be left for anyone their age. The entire city loved to come crawling out when the sun kissed it goodnight.

She found Lili frozen stiff in place, gripping her bag. A man passed her sending her recoiling against Asuka’s side. More people walked around them, two boulders diverting the stream. Still Lili’s eyes refused to shrink smaller than saucers of wonder as much as uncertainty. Asuka elbowed her gently. Lili stuck closer to her.

“What’s your problem? Changed your mind?”

“I’d seen pictures and heard rumors from Father’s business trips but, these are your streets? Is there nowhere…private?”

“It’s the street princess; didn’t you walk anywhere back home?”

Lili turned her head, mumbling.

“Seriously? No way-“

“Sebastian drives me around! It’s what we pay him to do…and he insisted anyway. And Father gave me my limo so…”

With a roar Asuka burst out laughing and slapped her leg not caring who stared.

“Stop that! Shut up! Idiot! So what if it’s my first time? You should be nicer about it.”

“I can’t, I can’t. I’m gonna pass out.” Asuka wheezed, gripping Lili’s forearm for balance and clutching her mouth. Her hand couldn’t contain another laugh from bending her over.

“Asshole. But you did call me princess so, I suppose, it isn’t all terrible.”

“Eh?”

When she looked up Lili wouldn’t look at her, but her skin turned a furious pink. Asuka huffed. Her heart kept racing.

“Weirdo. Let’s go already.”

She grabbed her hand and parted the crowds. Wave after wave would press them close until a break appeared, then it grew packed again. Not once did she feel their hands slip. When she slowed down descending the bridge stairs, Lili practically tipped them over. Asuka planted them against the handrail and let her right herself. The rest of the city flowed, some people throwing glares at having to step around them. She forgot about their hands feeling Lili’s breaths, her warmth, watching the flutter of her eyelashes. Her face felt hot; sweat started beading her clothes. Lili didn’t notice, instead scanning for their opening to move. Asuka licked her lips and tugged her along.  

The street thinned out beside the river. They stopped beneath a flashy yellow sign with a giant statue depicting Ebisu sitting above that. Don Quijote’s. She grinned.

“Is that a built in ferris wheel?” Lili blurted out, craning her neck toward Ebisu with awe. The lights on the carriages framing him were off.

“If it’s running every damn tourist and their family will want to ride it. It’d be dark by the time we left.”

Lili flashed her puppy dog eyes. Asuka quickly looked at the display shelves.

“What’s more important is the discount store! We need a new frying pan and I wanna check the deals.”

Something smooth swiped across her fingers. She saw Lili’s thumb retreat; they were still holding hands. Sucking her teeth Asuka let go. Taking her coy smile and bottomless poise with her Lili went ahead. It took strength to swallow and straighten her collar. Her phone beeped like a nagging little bird; tension fled her for sweet relief. Flipping it open, Dad’s message was a button away.

 [ Be home before 19:00.  Get a few instant udon, eggs, milk, and some instant curry. If I think of more I’ll text; have fun. ]

[ Thanks. ]

“What is this, a lineup of counterfeits? And so much candy and liquor…”

‘Ah shit.’

“Don’t go touchin’ anything we don’t need. I’m not trying to buy the place-“

She moved beside her with the halfhearted worry of an owner letting their dog free roam. Her words fell on deaf ears. Lili stood checking the bag display; her judging reflected off the glass case.

“This is a ‘discount store’ as you said no? Designer names truly do go places.”

“Those are second hand or something I dunno; can’t afford and don’t care about that crap.”

 “Neither do I; most are hideous and after a dozen or so from Father, simply boring.”

Asuka gawked.

“What? They’re only a few thousand euros it’s nothing.  It’s unlike here, where everything could be worth one but together bring such variety. For instance,”

She reached for something colorful off a shelf and thrust it at Asuka.

“What am I holding?”

“A water bottle.”

Lili grabbed another item. Asuka’s eyes narrowed, confused yet compelled to answer.

“House slippers.”

Another.

“Hair dryer.”

Another.

“Candy box.”

“See? Isn’t it interesting?”

“I don’t see your point. You’re just being weird.”

Lili’s expression soured.

“No. I’m demonstrating how you can gain so much at once for relatively little. There’s so much in fact you may be accustomed viewing it not as it is, but for what it does. And I find that fascinating.”

All her focus stretched and stretched then snapped wire thin. Asuka scratched her head absentmindedly. No matter how she tried there came nothing to say. Lili sighed, gesturing toward the row after row of displays, shelves, and cases boxing them in.

“Though I suppose, in the end, what value is there to anything unless it is beautiful.”

Their eyes met. There was a conviction, sincerity so keen from Lili, the feeling pierced Asuka warm as a sunbeam. She talked not through her but at her. Nothing hurt, and everything seemed a bit brighter. Fumbling for words took too long; Lili moved on checking the next thing over. Asuka spied kitchenware to her left. She wandered rather than move with purpose, winding her way without worry. Rifling through the pans she grabbed what called to her.

She spun a wide set thing whose steel mirrored her pondering in its pan. The handle was basic, sturdy, good. It carried a plain grace, a thing that knew what it was. She smiled. Looking around, there were a few grandmas downwind of her. Carefully she gave it a few swings; balanced weight too.  Playful laughter burned her ears; the grannies had glanced her way. Her face flushed and she scurried to find Lili, setting free a giggle at herself.

When they finally left she found herself loaded with their bags. Really, both were almost entirely for Lili. The frying pan she’d picked was drowned in a bright candy sea. Never in her entire life had she imagined becoming a spectacle at a cash register. Lili’s self-assuredness grew to confidence; embarrassment wasn’t in her dictionary. Asuka stood pretending they didn’t know each other when the clerk rang them up, trying to keep cool. But not a minute later she felt a squeeze on her arm, Lili gesturing toward the bags, wearing a winner’s smile. ‘We must agree you possess…a strength I do not.’ She’d said. Asuka sighed and found she couldn’t resist. It didn’t stop her grumbling and shoving at least one in Lili’s hand though.

She set their steady pace crossing the bridge again. This time Lili wasn’t all but on top of her ass, yet she didn’t stray. Asuka glanced up putting out an arm to stop her. Rainbow lights flashed then danced across their faces.

“I pass by this guy whenever I’m out y’know. Sometimes I tell myself his smile looks goofy but, the colors are beautiful. Then I might smile too.”

The Glico Man posed arms raised in triumph mid running stride. Behind his thick bold lines a sunny day at the track curving into Osaka’s skyline framed a massive rectangle. She stepped back, watching. Lili stared at him, holding her chin, studying. She didn’t look at Asuka as she cocked her head. The curves and angles of her face were outlined in a glow that softened the shadows.

“I suppose I do see why. There’s an aesthetic bringing every element together.”

Asuka’s stare lingered gently, foolishly, opening a smile holding an ember of her heart. She drank her in, unnoticed with nothing to rip them away. A feeling washed over her the way mist in summer snapped sleep from one’s eyes. Again she took Lili’s hand guiding her across the bridge.

“Hey! I was still looking.”

“We can come back whenever. There’s more around before the adult places open up.”

She tried not looking at her, and hoped the heat from her hands would be mistaken for the weather. They wandered keeping off the alleys and anywhere crowd thick. Every once in a while Lili’s nerves made them huddle under an awning. Asuka’s grip slid to her fingers, squeezing gently whenever the street thinned enough. She wanted an answer, tried guessing why she bothered as they walked. Why not let her go untethered? In the end she had nothing. The thought of leaving her helpless just felt wrong. If there was anything Asuka was ever gonna do, it’d be not sinking lower. Dad had taught her better. And such a fact meant she was more considerate. For some reason Lili never pulled away either.

She watched her so busy taking in whatever they saw that for once Lili wanted answers from her.  They found a rhythm. They’d walk silently until Asuka felt her arm tugged. Then she’d nod enduring the waterfall of precise questions and give a matter-of-fact answer. If they passed a food stall they didn’t leave till they each got something. If it went with sauces, Lili wasn’t satisfied unless she asked to try them one by one. More than a few cooks threw Asuka a glare or surprised stare. She’d smile her apology and pretended nothing mattered except eating as much as possible. Whenever they slapped a wad of bills from Lili’s designer wallet, all was forgiven. The more they went on the longer she gave her tour speech bite sized memories or rumors. A place could never stay a place- it was a feeling understood. Still, there were too many people around for Lili’s nervousness to go away.

“C’mon I’ll get us outta here.”

She brought them to the arcade she’d stuck herself in before the Kempo bastard appeared. Every other day after school Asuka would sink a few hundred yen trying anything new before falling back on her favorites. Whenever she wasn’t scheduled for teaching at the dojo, time meant nothing unless Dad showed up and dragged her home. Then she’d get an earful. She grinned. It’d been worth it anyway. The neon sign stood small as ever. Most of the posters plastering the entrance walls were alien to her. Some she remembered by shape only; as forgettable now as they were for the girl who’d once made a home here.  The white walls and checkerboard linoleum floor tricked people into thinking the rows of glittering cabinets were infinite. Half the customers were kids their age or younger. Planted at the fighting games like dried gum under a desk were the same grown men she remembered practically living there. She closed her eyes, and breathed in, at ease.

“What is this?”

“Not even an arcade? This is starting to feel like a joke. You play video or claw type games here. This place’s my favorite but I haven’t come in a while.”

The words were barely out her mouth before Lili dragged them along. A huge neon lit pad on the floor for a dancing game lay at their feet. Techno music banging from the cabinet thumped her chest as a tutorial played itself on the screen. She cocked her head.

“Really?”

Lili brushed back her bangs and cleared her throat.

“Asuka Kazama. I challenge you at a duel of dance!”

“Pft. You’re ridiculous. Don’t cry when you lose!”

They piled their bags against the wall; Asuka rolled her short sleeves further back. She started stretching against the rail fencing in the game cabinet and Lili joined her.

“Father sent me to ballet lessons I’ll have you know.”

“Is everything you have always because of ‘Daddy’?” Asuka taunted.

Lili rushed the stage, punching in a song and readying herself. She stood hands on hips as the bass started pulsing. Asuka snorted, crossing her arms.  Then she watched her move.

Her body all but glided, twirling from direction arrow to direction arrow effortlessly. Her long legs couldn’t take an instant off her speed; Asuka’s brow rose hearing the stage creak. Sometimes, when studying for weaknesses, a flash of Lili’s thigh might catch her eye. Or she’d linger on the flutter as her freed hair spun. Above all else was her face; the shit eating grin wiped from existence. And in its place the hard set of her jaw, a knit brow, and intense gaze.  She found the rhythm and matched it, outpaced it before it might outpace her. What Lili would call grace wrapped her in pure determination.

When the last note faded Lili wiped her neck with a handkerchief. She turned smiling that little self-assured smile; Asuka hummed. Then she made herself scoff, they weren’t alike.

“Do your worst.” Lili chirped.

“Shaddup.”

Asuka jostled her and straightened her shirt. She glanced at the screen; a new high score. She sucked her teeth. Breathe. Picking a song was easy, something fast but steady. Just right to make her heart race through her skin. A guitar strummed; the world narrowed to this moment. One step at a time, that’s all she needed. The notes rushed forward for her to stomp and chase. Sweat prickled her nape but she didn’t lose breath. Guitar riffs wailed rushing her as the arrows raced into each other. Her limbs became a storm; the wind curved softening her blows. She threw herself harder, hit each note faster.

Then her foot slammed through one of the pads like a hammer through a paper screen. Behind or in front she heard a crash. Though it slowed her the wind couldn’t keep her from falling- she felt herself grabbed. She glanced down. A centimeter or two right and her ankle would be finished. Lili sighed in what felt weird calling relief as she pulled her up.

“I suppose we shall call a draw.”

 One fat stack of cash later and the owner whistled on his way to calling a repairman. Her head still rang from panic and insults. They stood on the street, nothing but the summer heat to fog their embarrassment.

“This sucks.”

“You Kazamas and your sheer strength.” Lili sighed.

Asuka turned her head slowly, glaring.

“Don’t lump me in with that stupid dickhead.”

“Never. I find that insulting.” Lili scoffed, all softness gone.

Asuka’s face widened in surprise, her smile was gentle.

“Thanks.”

“…Ahem…You are welcome.”

She watched her move to fix her hair but Asuka’s hand got there faster. Carefully she tucked loose strands behind Lili’s right ear.  The stunned blush on Lili’s face made her stomach flip.

“Dad asked me to get some groceries before we’re home.”

“Perhaps this time you’ll save us both the spectacle of collapsing property.”

Lili laughed, full of mockery and teasing that came up short at the edges. It felt as if laughing would paint over her blush with anything else.

“Will you drop it?! This is why you’re annoying.”

“What does a market look like by the way?”

“Arrrghh!”

Passing under the Kuromon banner Asuka stood just to breathe it in. Fried food, flowers, loud signs, fruits, seafood, store clerks, people- this was Osaka. Her city. This time Lili glanced around and went ahead, strutting like a swan. Asuka cocked her head.

“Let us be on our way. Unless you’d prefer going hungry tonight I presume.”

“I don’t think so…” Asuka smirked.

They fell into another pattern at her lead; she’d hover around what she wanted, working over to the most expensive cut. After a few minutes Lili would find her and question what made that one special, did Asuka get it often, and on and on.  She’d sigh or pretend getting lost in her thoughts. Then she’d throw in a version of “We’ve been too broke for that; wanna try it with me?” or “Duh! Get it all the time, never had it before huh?” reminding her Dad must’ve shortchanged her allowance. Lili would pull out her wallet gasping and crying “That won’t do!” then buy whatever Asuka picked.

In this way, remembering they’d each have to carry a bag home, they bought everything off the top shelf. When they made it home she grinned until her face hurt and Dad stood stunned silent. He gave her ear a twist behind Lili’s back as she shared ‘their wonderful adventure’, stopping when Asuka winced.

“Don’t trick people.” He grumbled, whispering.

Then he saw the premium tuna cuts and marbled beef.

“Well, it can be harmless here and there.”

Asuka snickered into her wrist. Lili read it as a muffled cough, insisting they serve a hearty stew at dinner to ‘keep from feeling ill’. That night and many nights after they ate like kings.

She gripped the ends and tightened her headband. Her hakama was cinched just right as she checked the ties one last time. She straightened her gi collar, it’d picked up the laundry smell from her closet since she’d quit teaching; breathe in then out. Behind her Lili finished stretching, smirking. Her catlike stare couldn’t fog the pure clarity of Asuka’s mind. Strength surged filling her out as it coursed through her muscles, barely held by her smile. Her body had healed. Out of habit she rolled her right shoulder as they stood five paces apart.

“Are you prepared to be humiliated Asuka Kazama?”

“Just show me what you’ve got. I won’t make it hurt too bad.”

“You’ve made me wait long enough.”

Her heart jumped seeing that smile widen. It toyed with her. Her face went hot.

‘Exciting…’

“Let’s go, moron.”

They readied, the quiet held itself tight.

Lili’s kick was slapped away as Asuka closed distance, striking her with a left punch. To her surprise Lili turned with the blow, but even when it glanced, Asuka leaned into a right. That one connected and she wasn’t about to let her breathe; lunging threw her elbow forward, aiming for the jaw. In the move to dodge Lili narrowly escaped but glanced again on her scalp as she ducked low. A yelp cut her ears. She felt her balance waver in the feedback. Asuka stepped into her weight, bringing down her elbow at the blink of an eye. A certain hit- she met empty air.

Barely, just barely, Lili had rolled out the way. A streak of blood stained the back of her hand as Lili wiped her lips. Her already pale face almost dazzled all sweaty as she was. Asuka watched her panting, bent on one knee and big eyed. She watched her and washed in nothing but the clarity of this moment reset her stance.

“Et merde…” Lili sighed.

Asuka didn’t move.

‘That’s right you’re coming to me.’

She knew, and Lili knew she knew. Those glaring eyes calculated, hating how every option ran toward the same end. The distance begged to be closed or they’d get nowhere. Still a grin split Lili’s mouth flashing crimson teeth like a dog tasting raw meat. She felt her heart race. One heartbeat and she saw her launch from a cartwheel into the flight of slamming her heel on Asuka’s nose. No time to think! She sidestepped, grabbing Lili’s shin and tossing her behind. Riding that momentum into another roll, she recovered raining a waterfall of strikes. Most of them Asuka slapped away or dodged but soon her sides stung. Knocking Lili’s fist aside with her forearm she twisted and spun sending a back heeled kick flying up.

Her foot crashed missing Lili’s temple by centimeters. The impact shook her bones; it was enough to send Lili tumbling down. She crumpled on her side, groaning loud enough to wake the dead. Asuka felt herself huffing and shut her eyes. A good pause forced her to center again. The hairs on her nape relaxed.

Grunting and stirring Lili came back to life one limb twitch at a time. Somehow she found the strength to wobble into standing. A gleam shined under her disheveled blonde hair, an animal instinct. Their eyes met in an instant. Asuka leaned back; the strike scraped the tip of her chin. On reflex she shoved Lili aside with both palms flat against her chest. Deflated, Lili lay sprawled on the floor, a heap of sweat, loose hair, hard breathing, and biting shame. Frozen, it took a chill up her spine for Asuka to unclench. Several beats passed silently. She laughed; lightning storming through her veins. An adrenaline rampage withered, hollowing her into a drum pounding thunder in her chest to keep her standing. It was a thrill. It was joy. It was the world.  Her laugher roared, bursting like playful rain.  

Coughing and wincing Lili flipped herself onto her stomach. She curled inside the shape of Asuka’s towering shadow. She crouched and Lili’s stare followed. Reaching over she tilted Lili’s chin.

“You lost ‘cuz you think too much.”

She chuckled at her squinting eyes.

“Laugh at my failure would you…”     

Asuka gave her an amused smirk. She pulled her hand away. The world felt so light and airy with another whirlwind behind them.

“It’s my win but you can come at me any time.”

Again Lili sighed and rolled on her back. She started to pout but the longer it went the more it fizzled. Instead her brow scrunched. ‘Why are you better than me?’ it asked. And she pressed her answers in her mouth. She stood, reaching for her water bottle on the sidelines.

“Where…where did I overthink?”

“Better question is where you didn’t.” The water was still cold, liquid smooth.

Silence. She pressed.

“You waited before dodging, weighing where to go. You hesitated planning your approach when I gave you room. You were so focused on how you’d overwhelm me with your hits that you forgot paying attention to my tells.”

Lili draped her arm over her face. From under it Asuka saw her lips purse.

“…You almost got my chin though. It’s obvious you can move faster than before. And you can lean into a punch now.”

More silence. She started wiping off with her towel even if she didn’t need it as much. When she finished on her hairline Lili was staring at her. Those blue grey eyes were hard; the way a river stone is hard and smooth, anchoring itself against touch. Reassuring but muddied; it left a tingle in Asuka’s brain.

“The Mishimas could come take you whenever they please. Your records are child’s play for them to trace, for Jin Kazama.”

Asuka went stiff; her brow narrowed as if it were a gear turning through rust. Her cold gaze betrayed a drop of fear. She clenched her fist in place of a steady heart.

“He is blood related to you. And his mother Jun is alive, though I have no way of knowing if he’s realized. I’m not sure your father knows either. If Ms. Jun has plans I believe she will track down her son.  Depending on his thirst for war and schemes he may learn about you and grab you to prevent her from asking your help. He can turn you into a bargaining piece. Perhaps Kazuya Mishima will come to a similar conclusion and take you first instead. He was looking into the Kazama Clan after all. It wouldn’t be wrong to assume he knows of your family’s…innate gifts.”

‘Gifts?’

Asuka couldn’t feel her clenched fingers anymore. Her knuckles were fit to split the skin.

“…That fucking moron…and you think I’d just let him take me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Lili snorted.

“Then what do you get out of it? Why are you here?”

Lili sighed crossing her arms over her forehead. She stared into the ceiling.

“It’d be awful if you faced that devil alone, no?”

“…What?”

She backpedaled when Lili sprung to her feet.

“Now I’m afraid I must retire and bathe before this filth turns my stomach.”

“Hey wait, wait tell me more!”

But her long legs carried her from Asuka’s reach before her brain understood the weight of what sat on it. This was as far as she’d get today. Sucking her teeth, every hair on her body stood. Alone and aching she stomped around; a vicious cracking yell scattered her frustration. Then as she caught her breath, its echo faded in the hollow of her chest. She felt exhausted. Her will formed rods that kept her legs from sinking.

When she gathered her things she stopped suddenly. Leaning against the exit, she gripped the towel slung around her neck. Her eyes widened.

‘Does she like me?’

Every morning after they met for practice, took turns in the bath, ate a simple breakfast while making lunch, then they were off to school. Her bike still sat battered in the yard and Lili gave her the peace of not mentioning it. But now, sometimes, Asuka found herself giving it a glance. One tire pump here, a new chain, new brakes, some replaced bolts, and it’d be ready for new paint. She should probably replace the rubber on the grips too, or trim where it frayed. There were a million, million ideas.

At lunch the day they’d sparred, people of course noticed the split on Lili’s lip. Despite how Asuka had made her stay still to press some ice and rub a bit of petroleum jelly, the red and purple mark read as bright as a road work sign. Of course Asuka had apologized, scratching her lowered head and looking her in the eye. Lili chuckled at her. As if it had been a game or nothing at all. ‘Now we’ve each landed a blow on the other haven’t we?’

Asuka couldn’t claim to understand that girl, but it made a sort of sense. They were finally even at something.

She learned many things day by day. While not a genius Lili was a fast learner, diligent as much as she was disciplined. Whatever she did was finished almost as quick as it started with calculated execution. Lateness cut into time for ‘the simple pleasures.’ Asuka had never seen one person drink tea like it replaced water. Despite appearances she wasn’t well read, only keeping up enough to, ‘please my Father’s expectations.’ Yet those put her ahead of most people, and she thought nothing was worse than falling behind, or the idea she might.

At training her moves were explosive when left to herself. There was always more to perfect, another river to cross until her muscle memory submitted. When given a form for practice, she talked of strategies as she shuffled it into her arsenal. No matter the situation, she’d pull some technique or the theory of one out her ass. She had to be motivated with more praise than even the mildest critique or else she turned moody at best, bitchy otherwise. The longer she spent encouraging Lili (at times making Asuka tear at her own hair) the faster something dawned on her.

Maybe it wasn’t that Lili enjoyed toying with people so much as she wanted to never stop moving. There had to be another problem to solve, another scheme, another fun thing to start- enough so that they were never bogged down sharing their feelings. She weaved between teasing, sass, or halfhearted sulking. Anything more earned silence. And the unreadable wall formed in her expressions. Well, even when it made Asuka gnash her teeth this was about patience. Like Dad said.     

It wasn’t that Lili couldn’t remember moves or plan either; she just couldn’t get out her own head when faced with being hit. The possibility didn’t scare her she’d said, and for once Asuka agreed. She could counter Lili again and again, bruise her by occasional accident. Lili would trip over herself if that’s what it took to attack. Nothing dented whatever instinct drove that craving to win. She knew that’s what it was; a person couldn’t abandon themselves unless the rest of the world fell away. Few things matched the living lightning found in a fight.

They were sat on a day off school sipping water and drenched in the sweat of another practice.

“Unacceptable. Absolutely unacceptable! I should have gotten you when I went from low high jabbing to Matterhorn kick. It was the perfect cover.”

“The ‘unacceptable’ thing is you’re still using that. You’re wide open before anything lands.”

“Hush! I gave it a tremendous level of style. Who expects a rising kick with both legs from the ground? There’s an element of surprise worth the effort.”

Asuka squinted then shrugged. Their session replayed in her mind.  This time there’d been no cartwheels or insane flips. There’d been jabs, lots of jabs from every direction pushing Asuka’s reflex but never breaking it; the kicks she answered with her own as they missed each other by a hair. If she couldn’t dodge, she made sure Lili collided against the hardest bones. Her knees and elbows were wearing off from numbing pins and needles. Lili was fast; if only her battle sense could match pace.  Even a sweep kick forced her to adapt on the fly if it didn’t toss her outright. She took a long sip. Whenever Asuka had an answer for one method that moron fell back on what she best knew worked. That routine made her predictable.

Wait…predicable?

“Hey, how long have you been fighting again?”

“Why does that matter?”

Asuka flicked her forehead. Lili yelped and scowled.

“You want help then answer me.”

“…A year, if you must know.”

Instantly Asuka’s water sprayed from her mouth mid drink.

“A year?! And you ran to fight in two tournaments. Is your head on right?!”

“I fail at seeing the problem here. I can guard, I can attack, I train rigorously- there’s no reason I should be denied a test of my skills the same as anyone else.”

“That’s not even…you…I can’t believe this.”

“How many years do you have under your belt?” Lili snapped.

She stared at her in disbelief, gripping her water bottle to make sure this was real. The look on Lili’s face fell and a blush like a wave rose in its place. Neither said anything as they stared into space hugging their knees. Loud traffic revved through the walls. Another beat of gathered silence.

Asuka giggled.

“Don’t laugh.”

She laughed. Her mouth quivered as she set the bottle down. She laughed so hard her chest felt ready to cave in. Asuka tipped over collapsing at Lili’s side, pedal kicking her feet as she clutched her stomach.

“I’m not an idiot! Stop that!”

Softly, playfully, Lili whacked her everywhere demanding Asuka stay still. But not a minute passed before they were piled together roaring with laughter. She sat up.

“No wonder then why you keep being an easy read. You aren’t confident in your style!”

Again Lili scowled.

“You’re suggesting I lack experience.”

A loaded statement already, a question; Asuka groaned. Saying yes would have them bickering until the point ran away.

“What I mean is no one’s a master so quickly. Right now what I’d expect is someone comfortable in the basics. They’ve only started putting a foundation together for what they know and how they’ll use it. What school are you studying under?”

“I’m self-taught of course.” Lili said flipping her bangs and smirking.

Asuka buried her face in her hands.

“Forget feeling comfortable in the basics; you’re stuck at making shit up!”

“Such an accusation is ridiculous-“

“We’re doing you over. From the beginning.”

“This is unfair-“

“You can keep your crazy style. But since you wanna learn my school we do things my way when I think we should. Otherwise you’re not gonna learn a damn thing. You’ll never get any better.”

A growl rumbled her words as she took her hands off Lili’s cheeks, leaning over her. She was stared at as if she’d shot her; being stunned was the best way of getting through the concrete wall Lili had in place of a skull. They stared each other down. Asuka refused to budge her scowl a centimeter. Finally, Lili ‘Hmph’d and looked at the floor.

On their off days they started jogging around the block, staying in the quiet parts. After a rest when that was done they switched to spotting each other’s workouts and stretching. Each week Asuka would ask Lili to demonstrate a move from her flashy toolkit. That became the assignment she worked on until the next week. Lili would show the result of her drills by combining it with last week’s move; only then would Asuka teach her a complimenting Kazama technique.

At class Asuka never said so, but Lili’s notes started covering whatever went over her head. She never missed homework again; getting a test back now meant she got to wear her own smug grin. Not one teacher kept from throwing her a confused glare. Most kept their mouths shut. In their study sessions, Asuka either understood within Lili’s schedule, or else it got carried over to next time and not a second earlier. Even so, there always came a tease if she needed more than one explanation. Lili knew her way around cocky smirks and looking down her nose. It’d piss Asuka off more than it always had, if this time she didn’t need what the cat dragged in. Nothing could disturb Lili’s bubble baths, which she insisted on and Dad allowed so long as she used the tub last. She insisted on writing with fountain pens because ‘they’re mature don’t you agree?’ and easily color coded everything. Once, flipping through a notebook Lili lent her, she stopped dead at the table.

Page after page lay covered in sketches from top to bottom. The scenes included nature, random household objects, and an alley here and there. But those were just the scrap pages. Every picture before and after them showed Asuka. Some were labeled as ‘Her smile’ or ‘After today’s training’. Some were close ups of different expressions paired with figure studies in everyday poses. Did Asuka really look tough and handsome this much? There were the hard angles of her just before she got mad, the obvious confusion and wonder when she had to think. The carefree joy or satisfaction in her smiles, smirks, and grins. The cocky pride whenever she felt in control. The aimless frustration when she showed sadness. That one made her wince.

Each detail touched her greater than the last. Her heartbeats made a home in her throat when she saw their hands holding one another. She froze in her seat.

“Put that down this instant!”

She didn’t fight it when in a heartbeat Lili leapt up and snatched the book. Asuka chuckled nervously, no not nervous, she didn’t know why. She didn’t know what she was saying.

“If you keep drawing like that people will think you’re gay.”

Lili slammed the book closed, glaring. Then Asuka gasped softly; Lili’s lips were trembling, the entirety of her face grappling against bursting into tears. She watched her swallow. Then without a word she gathered all her stuff and stormed off. Asuka wanted to give chase, to throw any excuses but that’s exactly what they’d be, excuses. The air felt thick; a sand pit that’d drown her if she struggled. So she sat there, suddenly very small.

When Dad came home that night after visiting a friend, she told him Lili was too tired for dinner. She didn’t think of it as a lie; anger and sadness knew about killing anything that made you alive.

“You’ve been working her hard like you’ve always done when I needed you teaching. I’ll fix her a plate and you take it up, alright.”

“I guess…” She stirred her miso broth absentmindedly.

Asuka found her room door opened a crack with only her lamp light on. She balanced the food and went to knock- Lili started speaking, soft and hoarse. She must’ve been crying. Maybe Asuka shouldn’t have, but she stood, listening.

“I won’t be returning home Sebastian…of course I thought about it. No, a De Rochefort is not a coward! Spare me the thought…I’d rather die if so. No I don’t need you staying with me. Not yet at least. This is no pain or challenge I cannot handle. Oh but, well, thank you for your words. Yes, good night.”

She heard the thump of a phone on cloth. Lili spoke louder to herself, voice cracked.

“Why God, of all the people in the world why this one?”

Well she wasn’t gonna let her talk like Asuka wasn’t there. She gave the door a push with her foot.

“Yo, brought ya something.”

Lili stayed face down in the futon; her face lost in her pillow and under her hair. She groaned.

“Oh leave me alone you brute.”

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t serious.”

“…If it isn’t serious then why are you apologizing?”

Again Asuka went numbed. She had nothing but her fists when someone stuck their fingers in her own wounds. What was she supposed to do here, hit her? Over what, being mad at Asuka getting her to cry? It was stupid. She was stupid. But she wasn’t, she’d done a stupid thing. She didn’t go around living so that everyone else got inconvenienced. Saying nothing she cleared space and set dinner on her desk.

Her body tingled, restless, her blood vibrating her veins. The shapes of her room didn’t register. She kept herself together as she stepped out and down the stairs. Her mind was blank. She stepped inside the dojo not caring about having her pajamas on. She rushed past the wall sign stopping at the center of the hall. And she trained. The forms were muscle memory, all routine. Safe. They didn’t ask anything except that her body keeps up. In the middle of stumbling some lift kicks she saw Dad watching. He looked more patient with her than she deserved.

“Everything alright?”

“I can handle myself.”

“Sure you can, kicking off center like that.”

She narrowed her eyes. He shrugged and made his way over.

“I’ll observe. Take it from the top.”

A crack called gratitude broke her frenzy.

Lili wouldn’t speak to her. Day after day they still met for morning practice, but did their work in separate corners. Dinner was spent taking turns talking to Dad as they ate in a race to not finish together. He threw Asuka a look sometimes in between but held whatever he could’ve said. She read an understanding on his face. This was their problem. Breakfast was cold silence without him; a performance where they tried everything stupid or practical to not make eye contact. The study sessions stopped. She tried giving a sign to ask about it. Lili pretended she didn’t exist.

The next week she got back a failed test, a red thirty two took up a huge corner so anyone could see. Her math teacher adjusted his glasses, condescending down to his walk. He let her stew in failure as she curled against her desk. Her failure, again. The rumor flies picked her clean with the feel of their stares.

At lunch Lili did stay near her, but ‘near’ became moving her desk six meters apart facing away. Not really sitting with anyone else and not a message she couldn’t read either. It made her collar itch. Try as she might there’d be no way she could approach without causing a scene. Burying herself in her food and keeping quiet became the new routine. Once after a few days of this, Ayako and her goons saw opportunity. Lili glared at them as if she were a knife, like she might snap them as easy as a twig. It gave Asuka hope.

Hope? Why was she letting this matter the way it did? If Lili, the nail sticking her ass whenever she appeared, finally stopped annoying her then how was this bad? It was stupid.

‘I did a stupid thing.’

That was the reason; it had to be.

‘I hurt someone just because.’

The truth, then, cut sharper than everyone else’s lies.

On their off days Asuka started solo training, putting wherever her sulking half was out of mind. The basics were forever there. Shadow fights imagining opponents carried a real challenge. There was always more to try, more to perfect, a feeling of faster or stronger. She started with one random punk then added them in twos. She dodged; swept their legs, whipped their momentum around until they opened for punches. Kicks were a whirlwind leaving rippling winds in her wake, force whistling as it cleaved the air. Her foot bounced whenever she launched herself high; her body rocketing along the flight she’d set herself. As if she switched from floating into a pebble flying from a slingshot. The tip of her nose brushed the ceiling. A jolt of panic fried her; she killed it and tucked into a roll as she fell.

What the hell was this?

Her skin turned hot where the wind had touched it. Not a burn or ripping of blood; this time it passed over her like hands of sunlight. Under the summer heat it breathed into her as if the first clear day of spring. She lifted her head, standing, comforted by its embrace. All her worries blew, carried on the breeze. Then being the wind it passed and settled faster than it arrived. Every part of her felt light. Clenching her fist, she smirked. Whatever this was, it seemed ready to help. And that meant…

‘Time for a test!’

“I’m headin’ out!”

“Be back before nightfall.” Dad called as she slipped on her shoes.

“I know.”

Lili came down the stairs minding her business. Had Asuka left a second earlier she would have missed the slightest curious glance thrown at her. But that was it before Lili disappeared into the kitchen. Her chest jumped. Whatever, she could think about that later.

The sky stretched clear forever with the sun hanging gold smack in the center. People were a guarantee. Today she didn’t run, stuffing her hands in the pockets of her shorts and drinking in the day. People started crowding as she hit the main avenues; no one paid her any attention. Even if someone did, they’d see a friendly smile not the hunger leashed in her eyes. She kept her ears sharp ignoring any chatter; she wanted shouting. She wanted action. Asuka waited and walked and waited. Then she crossed into Shinsekai. A wolfish grin twisted her mouth.

In the middle of a shopping square some boys were in each other’s faces, seven altogether by her count. Lined up and shouting enough to spit they’d clash at the drop of a hat. Immediately she broke into a run. Someone at the front raised his fist; she jumped, flipped, and tucked in the air.

“Hold it right there!”

Scattering like bugs they yelled in surprise and cleared some space. Her effortless, cool landing left them speechless. When she stood she gave them a smile; camera, lights, action! Justice!

“Who the hell- oh not you again!”

“Ms. Asuka? Crap, crap, crap!”

Dusting off her hands Asuka shook her head. One gang she recognized not as the guys who helped her home, but a separate group she’d left in pieces before them. The others made her right eye twitch to remember. They’d get theirs as many times as it took till they learned their lesson.

“I’m disappointed. Haven’t I already told ya off? No fighting! No fighting where people are either. What if you dragged some grandma into your mess or busted down a shop? You can’t go around doing that.”

The boys who she thought knew better bowed their heads; someone she assumed was a new member had his head forced down by a senior.

“We’re deeply sorry Ms. Asuka. For sure, for sure we won’t lift a finger!”

“Don’t apologize to me. Just play nice like I ask.”

The leader guy with slicked back hair, his nose had healed crooked after its visit with her fist, got right in her face.

“I’m not like these pussies you little bitch. Try harder. We can go right now.”

Asuka sighed. His gang glanced at each other, afraid, backing him up anyway.

“If that’s true you wouldn’t bother talking. But you brought me on yourself!”

Roaring he threw out punches she knocked away, lunging himself in pursuit until she glanced the wobble of his left leg. Now! She went low sweeping him so fast it wasn’t a question of waiting for his fall, he just hit the ground. One moment he was a body under gravity, then the shutter on a camera, and he laid a groaning wreck. Her kicks would’ve gone off course as she reined them in within an instant. Her rhythm needed a new tempo. Her limbs were free and her muscles flowy, like how paper streamers became part of a breeze.

‘Amazing!’

Leader boy stumbled up as she flung her knee into his stomach. The wind wheezed from his lungs; her elbow drop swiveled his head with a thud. In that same second she wheeled around and with a single kick slammed him into the pavement. His gang threw themselves out the way. A tailwind curled from the force of her leg, cracking the concrete of a building behind them. The crash vibrated for longest blip in their lives.

At her feet leader boy made no sound. She saw the shallow rise and fall of his back; at least he was still alive. His friends took a look at him, then back to her, and back to him. Without build up their screams exploded; each one bundled into shrieking fear. They sprint away white as ghosts, clinging to any value they saw left in living.

She breathed in. She exhaled, giddy. Her mind blanked.

Asuka turned around and found the remaining boys gawking. Stunned until not only had they forgotten words, their eyeballs were gonna pop out their sockets. Her movement carried more energy than she knew what to do with. She could fly around the sky till the Earth itself was just a blue ball. Say something, anything to come down again!

“So, like I was saying! If you guys wanna be good then make nice with each other. Cuz’ if you don’t…”

She rested her foot on leader boy. Finally he groaned.

The boys watched, their mouths hanging open. Someone cried out,

“If we behave enough can we feel your boobs?”

Sailing in midair, everyone placed bets on how long till he came down.

Another morning at training she finished early and watched Lili work. Bit by bit she started leaving the simple behind. She weaved in and out of jabs and kicks, and backflips into stomps. She threw herself twisting into a cartwheel that became a flip. Down went her foot preparing a heel drop; Asuka remembered the hawks diving for fish on one of Dad’s favorite nature shows. Lili landed safe doing a split. Her sweaty face turned red steadying her breathing. A picture of focus came to Asuka’s mind.

She sat cross legged and watched, resting her chin on her hand as Lili got up. Then the routine reset. The forceful flurry of Sunrise Sunset’s striking twirled into a somersault that brought Lili low against the floor. When Asuka asked her about the silly name Lili had scoffed, ‘because I’m hitting high then low obviously.’ Of course, she angled herself, sticking her legs together and launching high into Matterhorn. Sweat splattered off Lili’s brow; her grimace carried the strain holding her muscles in place. Practicing or on the street under chaos, they earned the same effort. Tired, Lili finally flopped on her back.

“You’re not so bad at this, y’know.”

No response. Lili stared at the ceiling catching her breath. Reaching to undo the bun her blonde hair spilled around her slender neck. Her heart shaped face looked outlined by a gold brush. Her pink bow shape lips parted for sweet air, not pursed or confusing Asuka like she knew everything in the universe. Lili was so, normal. Normally pretty. Asuka tried imagining her real smile.

“I’m sorry, Lili.”

The spell broke; they stared into each other’s eyes. And for the first time, joy and joy alone bloomed open across all Lili was.

‘Wait a minute. This is my first time saying her name!’

Lili giggled playfully, honestly, waking herself from a bad dream and relieved. She sat up.

“My, you’re in agony after trampling a beautiful flower.”

“Don’t push it.”

Lili chuckled.

The next day off Asuka stepped out the bank. She walked smiling for herself alone. It was time to fix her bike.

#tekken #asulili #asuka kazama #lili de rochefort #i'm so happy to be done with this shit but also so happy to start and share it #my writing

[johnniestheme]

simon and stellas lore

heavily based off the hawaii pt ii album by miracle musical

(early summer) 

determined to impress his deadbeat father, simon sails off to hawaii on a fishing trip. he finds himself caught in a storm which destroys his ship and leaves him washed up on the beach with nothing but the clothes on his back. stella finds him and gets him help. the octangulas offer simon a place to stay, in return for working on the small family orchard.

(late summer now, simon and stella have established a relationship together)

the city holds a yearly ball to celebrate the end of summer. simon asks stella to go with him and she agrees. after a while they sneak out the back and run off to "their spot" 

(an abandoned stone lookout on a cliff, with a view of the ocean)

as they jog through the forest together, simon catches his foot on a small branch. not realizing her date is currently on the ground, stella keeps running. simon scrambles up and immediately starts yelling out her name. his shouts grow more frantic as he hears a scream in the distance. blood seeps from her chest as he finds her collapsed on the stairs of the lookout, a knife sitting not far from her body. he gives her one last quiet goodbye before running off to the local police station for help. the group of men follow him to the spot of her murder, and simon is detained as one of the officers notices the blood on his hands. 

uuruurgghhh the court stuff is boring but basically the evidence is stacked so high against simon that he decides to plead insanity for what he assumes will be a lighter punishment. he is sentenced to electro shock therapy (before anesthesia was common) and is to be shipped off back to the mainland of the states to spend the rest of his life in an institution. 

(mid/late winter)

simon escapes after months of enduring the torture of the asylum. by the time he got out, the electro shock therapy had done a number on him. he forgot almost everything about him or his life, including stellas death. he only knows that he longs for someone, and that someone is in hawaii. determined to find her, he steals a small wooden rowboat, planning to sail off back to hawaii to find her. 

with absolutely no plan or preparations, simon takes off in the dead of the night. his mental health worsens the longer he is alone at sea, considering hes slowly starving to death. 

(this next part is planned to dsism, down to the very second, but ill try not to be too wrapped up in their every move)

in the middle of the third night, simon hears the sound of the water stirring. lifting his head, he sees stella standing over the water, looking no different than the night of the ball. she reaches out her hand, and as he grabs it, he is suddenly in his suit. the feelings of hunger and worry wash from his body. he doesnt feel tired anymore, just at ease. they dance on the water, and slowly up into the clouds, where they reside happy in heaven together

the end :3

and just to clear a few things up:

-the story is set in the 1960s

(in the original ref sheet drawings it says 1940s but my dumbass forgot hawaii wasnt a state until 1959)

-i have 2 versions of my hpii story. the first one (this one) is less realistic and has a few unnecessary changes because i just decided i wanted to

the second one is my hpii movie concept ideas. the movie concept is pretty similar with 2 exceptions. 

1: its more realistic (stellas last name isnt octangula, the court system is more true to life ect ect)

2: it sticks to the album better 

-last thing to know is im dyslexic so pretty please ignore the grammar mistakes. because of the built in spell check, spelling isnt usually a problem, but i do sometimes overcompensate with my punctuation, so theres probably a few out of place commas out there.

[talktomeinclexa]

Eternity In Your Arms

By: TalktomeinClexa

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Biting and Blood (I mean, it's a vampire story...)

Status: WIP (1/2)

Summary: How far will Clarke go to save her dying brother? Will she dare make a deal with a creature of the night as beautiful as she’s ancient?

***

Chapter 1: The Monsters Come At Night

“Get out of here,” the large man yelled, his rubicund face red with anger.

He didn’t dare to grab the girl, too afraid of catching the plague decimating her family one member at a time. His tone, however, would have made a weaker soul cower — someone who still had something to lose.

“Please,” the maiden begged, the resolve in her eyes contrasting with her voice weak from lack of food. “Winter is almost here. We need blankets, furs, anything that will protect us from the cold.”

The merchant stepped forward, using his superior size to force her back. “To hell with you! You’ll scare away the customers. Leave before my whip finds your skin.”

Defeated, the young woman fled the stall and its heartless owner. She hurried down the village’s dirt roads, her head low and a shawl covering her blond hair as best as possible. Stubbornly, she refused to let her tears fall, even when children recognized her and threw old tomatoes at her to chase her away. She endured their parents’ contempt and fear-rooted hatred without flinching; those ignorant little monsters were nothing to her.

Once she was out of Arkadia, the glares and threats mercifully ended. The villagers rarely went out once the sun began to disappear behind the trees, and none ever took the narrow path leading to her hut.

Clarke headed for the forest first, her stomach growling under her thin dress. She hadn’t eaten anything since a handful of roots for supper the night before. Another day like that, and she would collapse, too exhausted to continue.

For a moment, she considered lying on the cold ground, face turned toward the sky, and closing her eyes. Bending under the weight of her sorrows and finding the eternal respite she craved. The rest she deserved after taking care of her sick parents for months, after all the efforts she put in only to bury her father and then her mother. If God had any mercy left, He would reclaim her soul quickly and without pain, pulling it from under her gaunt face with a strong gust of wind.

“Not yet,” she growled, forcing herself to take another step between the trees. She couldn’t give up, not when one person remained, counting on her.

Fate wasn’t done with her, it seemed. A dead rabbit lay in the snare she had placed in the morning. A small gesture, but enough to feed the two Griffins and give her the strength to get up the following day. Foxes and wolves abounded in the forest, and she untied the carcass and pocketed it before they came to fight her for it. She repositioned the trap with care — hopefully, there would be another rabbit in the morning — and returned home.

They hadn’t always lived in the crude hut. Long ago, when her parents still drew breath, they owned a house near the center of Arkadia. With her father working as an architect and her mother as a healer and a midwife, they had enough to be comfortable. Everyone knew the Griffin family could be relied on, and their neighbors didn’t hesitate to visit them often. Until Jacob Griffin caught the plague while working in the city.

Her mother did everything in her power to stop or slow the disease, to no avail. Soon, Abigail became sick, too, leaving Clarke to care for both of them. And when Jacob died and the news of their affliction spread, they became pariahs. Shun by the village, the young woman and her brother had no choice but to move to that abandoned cabin at the edge of the forest.

They buried their mother two weeks later, away from the grotty habitation, hoping to rid themselves of the disease. Alas, their precaution wasn’t enough.

Keep reading

#clextober2022 #clextober22 #31nightsofclextober #idea 4 creatures of the night #clexa #clexa fanfic #clarke griffin #vampire lexa #Eternity In Your Arms

[guesswhojusttt]

Chapter 2: take it, cause I’d give it for free

when I've learned how to love (Covey!Reader x Sejanus Plinth)

Summary:

What are you to do but let her walk away?

Part 1 | AO3

“If you know what’s good for you-“

You pulled her bun back with a snap of your wrist, so her neck was arched up so she would fear it breaking it if you so much as tugged the bun a just little further back- and your other hand, still clutching the white liquor bottle Lucy Gray had passed you, smashed it on her mouth, the satisfying shatter slamming into her delicate lips and rattled teeth- you were sure at least one tooth would be loose, and if you were really lucky, she’d lost it. While others pushed and shoved against each other in the dark madness of the bar brawl, you dragged her closer to the stage, and she staggered in front of you- her back pressed into your torso. “I’ll have you arrested-“ she choked out through the blood you could smell, if not see, filling her mouth, “you and anyone foolish enough to consider you a friend. I’ll have you hanged-“

“When? After I use this bottle, now so prettily halved-“ you trailed its jagged shards, clutching its stem of the half that was still intact, along her cheek, “to gouge your eyes out? Now, since it’s just a bottle, it won’t be as clean and easy of a job as it would be if I had a knife-“ and you dug the pointed glass into her skin, dragging it dangerously close to her eyelid, “it’s a shame, really. I wanted to punish Billy Taupe first, but I guess you’re my consolation prize. You don’t mind, right?” You could feel her warm blood running down your arm, slick over your palm and fingers- whether from her mouth or from the lines you’d trenched into the soft, delicate skin of her cheek, you didn’t know, but it thrilled you just the same. This is what she gets for the nightmares she’s brought upon Lucy Gray and Maude Ivory. The constant anxiety of Barb Azure and Tam Amber, the ill-concealed guilt of Clerk Carmine who, by being Bully Taupe’s brother, somehow finds a way to blame himself. “Which eye do you like more?“ Giving her a chance to answer, you brought it right to the corner of her eye, relishing in her whimpers, her trembling limbs, her jelly-like legs that surely would have collapsed were you not using her hair to hold her up like a marionette. You clicked your tongue in irritation. “Fine. No matter. Once I’m done with you, they won’t find your body: the mockingjays will enjoy feasting-“

Loud, blaring horns. Flashing lights. The horns again, a sharp whistle blow piercing the air- people rushing to the exit, and you would’ve smashed the bottle over her head for good measure were it not for the blinding lights growing closer- so you shoved her away, satisfying yourself instead with the smash of her knees to the ground- and backed behind the blanket, to backstage- to the shed where Tam Amber sat on a tire, and Barb Azure paced- stopping short when she saw you.

“I warned you!” She fumed, “I told you not to, and what are you, a deaf snake?”

You held up your hands defensively, which didn’t help your case, as it gave the fresh blood an easy stream down your arm to your elbow, staining your sleeve. As Barb Azure (well-meaning, caring Barb Azure, who had every right to scold, to worry) lectured you, you were overtaken by a tang filling your nostrils. The pungent, coppery scent of blood was somehow… cleaner? Than you thought. The blood you were used to smelling every month was mixed up with discharge and clots- but this was a strange feeling. This wasn’t blood that came as a natural part of life. This wasn’t something everyone deals with, something you get used to. At least, you hoped you wouldn’t ever get used to it.

“You’re a better family than I deserve, really,” you said, as Tam Amber silently stalked away, out, “but… now that the adrenaline’s gone, I’ve realized something.”

“Now you realize!” Barb Azure grabbed your face, cupping your cheeks with both her palms. “Look at me. Please, look at me. You can’t go on like this: you’ll get yourself killed.”

“I don’t- I didn’t think it through. We didn’t bring any water to wash off this blood, but don’t worry, I’ll wash this with the rest of the laundry so I won’t end up costing us a drop. Not a drop, I promise.”

“Water… cost? You’re worried- you think the problem is that you’ll be wasting a cupful of water?”

“I won’t waste it, that’s the point! I’ll do the clothes altogether, so this sleeve will-“

“When will you learn that you’re the priority? Not food, not money. You . What if the lights had gone on and you were on display for all to see? What if Mayfair schemes against you like she did Lucy Gray?”

“She and I haven’t talked before, she won’t recognize-“

“She’s heard your voice now. If she ever hears it again- she was so scared the memory is now stamped into her head. Every detail, she’ll think about again and again, and the moment the tiniest detail tips her off-“

“I’m sick of living in fear of her and of the Peacebreakers and of the Capitol. I don’t want to be scared all the time.”

“Better scared than dead.”

“I’m just…” your voice cracked, and still she held your head in her hands, “I’m just so angry, all the time. And I hate everyone who isn’t us and I’m just so frustrated and I have all this- this rage and nowhere to channel. Barb Azure, all I really am is fed up and tired.” You rested your head on her shoulder, and no sooner had she brought up her palm to stroke it than Tam Amber walked in, victoriously wielding a bottle that was maybe a fourth (or fifth?) filled with white liquor.

“Had to wait for the Peacebreakers to clear out, but this was lying on the ground,” he pours a moderate, careful swig of the bottle onto his threadbare rag, the same one he uses to clean his mandolin, and takes your hand- the one that hadn’t been holding Mayfair’s bun, the one that clenched the shattered bottle. He rolls up your sleeve, bunching it to the elbow, and wipes up the now-drying blood off your forearm. He gently dabs the smears of blood off your palm, and you hiss, snapping your hand back as a sharp reflex. “You’re hurt,” Barb Azure chewed her lip, white teeth digging into soft flesh, “is it deep? Let me see.”

She steps forward too, and cradles the back of your hand to keep it steady while Tam Amber gingerly pats the rag over your palm. When it’s too bloody to be doing any good, he pours more of the liquor into it, wrings it out- the blood thinning out as it mixes with the alcohol and drips onto the floor with every squeeze of the rag- and gets back to your hand, working the cloth between each of your fingers.

As the adrenaline drained from your system, a flush of warmth in your chest burst and bloomed like a flower, flooding you. Yes, Barb Azure had scolded you, but not to condemn your actions- out of concern. And now she was holding your hand while Tam Amber washed away the blood, and you didn’t deserve it, or at least, you don’t think you deserve it, this kindness. It was an act of violence, physical assault, and still they were concerned for you. Your well-being. What is it a metaphor for, to have friends who wash away your self-inflicted blood stains? Is it poetic, to be in a dingy shed after a bar fight, the three of you huddled together with the cheap white liquor used as medicine to disinfect the messy slices along your palm and sides of your fingers from clutching the shuttered bottle?

And they had waited for you, not wanting you to go back alone. Not wanting you to be alone.

The three of you trudged home in tow, and the night was mercifully cooler than the day, the dark sky blanketing over you, some pale yellow lights still pulsing in the houses that gradually dimmed out, one by one, kids long since tucked in bed. The street, packed dirt and clumps of pine-green weeds, wound this way and that like a river, leading to houses with dilapidated wooden roofs above coal-grimed windows. The thinnest veil of clouds drifted overhead, and this late in the night, everyone had headed home from the Hob after the fight, so it was eerily empty, but in a comforting-silence sort of way. A paradox, a liminal space.

With your uninjured hand, you picked at a particularly juicy blemish on your cheek, knowing full well you'd be creating a crater in your face already nothing but criss-crossed scars.

“We’re all thinking it so I’ll say it: the cut on my hand will be bandaged. The mayor's daughter may be an idiot, but I honestly think that even if I said it was an injury from chopping up food or an accident, she’ll somehow put two and two together. I’ll try to lay low, if that’s okay, so I can’t help with shopping and errands. But don’t worry, I’ll still be working, just not at the Hob-“

“It’s not about that. When will you learn it’s not about you contributing, it’s not about how you’re of service? We’re just worried about you.”

Though everyone both said it and acted like it, for some reason you never could believe it. If you couldn’t bring something to them, if you weren’t useful, why keep you around? Who cares about family and friends if you don’t provide value, provide something ? If you don’t give something of physical and emotional worth, you’re a parasite.

Maude Ivory has a nightmare, Barb Azure soothes her.

Lucy Gray wakes up panting and sweating, you wipe her hair from her head and murmur words to lull her back to sleep.

The constant interruptions at night- though you neither blame nor resent them for it- mean you end up sleeping in later and later. Considering the responsibility you have to babysit and tutor, you can’t afford to sleep like this, but maybe now that the Covey are back to performing as usual you could cut back on these hours anyway.

But then Tam Amber is in the kitchen, picking moldy green patches out of a slice of bread, and suddenly cutting back on even one hour of work is no more than a pipe dream.

And when Maude Ivory hauls the stash of nuts from last year to shell outside, you decide no amount of sleep deprivation excused any less work, and decide to ask a couple of your busier clients if they needed an extra hour or two of you watching the kids while they unwind from a full day of work.

You’re explaining this to Barb Azure- a moment for Barb Azure.

Her hair is thick and dark- her long eyelashes, her bushy eyebrows, her neat dreadlocks- the kind of thickness one could kill for, all volume and definition. Her face is oval, her nose long, her skin and eyes the warm sienna brown reminiscent of a cozy autumn. If books were easily available, she’d be a bookworm. If you had access to universities like the Capitol does, she’d be the kind to live inside of libraries and work too hard to get perfect grades and be too shy to answer questions she knows better than the professors do. She would smell like pumpkins and cinnamon.

But books are scarce, and universities are not a privilege afforded District 12, and scented candles and perfumes are as unrealistic as a diamond crown, so she sits on a couch older than Clerk Carmine, scrawny arms and legs, gnarled from years of work braiding tight locks of hair. She smells like soap from the laundry she did that morning.

And you explain to her that you think you might not be home as often now, that you could take up more work- when Maude Ivory runs in, nut dust beneath her nails. “You’ll never guess who’s here!”

“Billy Taupe,” you said irritably, “he really can’t take no-“

“Not him!” She pointed eagerly out the half-open door, and you exchanged a wary glance with Barb Azure before trudging out.

Instinctively, you step before the two girls as if to shield them, “how did you find us? Use your little Peacebreaker intel to stalk her all the way here?”

“We didn’t know the house. We heard this one singing and found it.” Says the blonde-buzzcut, and hefts a clear bag of melting ice to gesture to Maude Ivory, “I was hoping to spend time with Lucy Gray, I’ve… missed her.”

“And you just so happen to be in the area?” You hadn’t noticed you were doing it, but you were: stretching out an arm to guard, to create a barrier, “It was me: at the Hob, I asked around for where we could find Lucy Gray, and a nice man told me about the Seam.” This one, you didn’t recognize from Lucy Gray’s televised interview, nor did you find her staring at him during her comeback performance. Tall, well-fed, strong jaw- but something in the dark beneath his eyes, in the sadness (what would he have to be sad about?) made a home in his soulful brown eyes, in his awkward, uncomfortable-in-his-skin posture, his shoulders and backed curved as if he wished to be smaller.

“Right. And what are your intentions with my friend?”

At once, the blonde straightened- chin up, shoulders squared. Years of manners drilled into him. “My intentions are as pure as my name: I’m Coriolanus- Maude Ivory says Lucy Gray told you of me?”

An impatient sound from the base of your throat, your fingers itching to pick at your skin, “your intentions are?”

“To do what I’ve been doing since I’ve met her: take care of her. I did it when I stole her food from the Academy, risking my own expulsion. I did it when I helped her cheat, providing her with the idea to use rat poison so she could win. Survived, all because of me. I did it when I lost a full-ride to the University, forced away from my family and my home, just so I could ensure the snakes wouldn’t bite her as they did the others.” He said it with such pride, such confidence. His brown-eyes friend gazed at him with newfound admiration- had he not known of these feats?

“You seem quite satisfied with yourself. Been hoping for some credit, have you? Must’ve chewed you up inside to do so much but not again a morsel of praise for it. Must be nice to finally be able to get some acknowledgment for the sacrifices you’ve made out of the goodness of your sweet, blessed heart.”

He was undeterred, persistent as a blizzard. “I did it because we understand each other. She wore her mother's dress to keep herself together, I used my mother's powder to calm myself. Our fathers, both lost to the rebellion. I can honestly say no woman, Capitol or district, has incited as much affection as me- except my cousin, Tigris. You saw the interview, no? She’s the one who retouched her dress. My family and I have been rooting for Lucy Gray from the start.”

“Didn’t ask,” you muttered, as he once again sought accolades.

When Maude Ivory led him away, to Lucy Gray’s meadow, of all places! (What right does he have?), the tall companion turned to follow before pausing. “Coryo’s genuinely a good person, you know. Not just to Lucy Gray, because I know that’s often easy for even the worst of people to display extra affection to someone they find attractive or consider a romantic prospect. But you should’ve seen him when he raced to Arachne’s aid, should’ve seen him rescue me again and again. Should’ve seen how he always-“

“Look, buddy, I get you’re trying to be a wingman, and you’re doing a fine job, but none of that means a thing. You two- you’re friends?”

“We’ve known each other since elementary, and we’ve become- I hope I can say it, anyway- best friends as of late.”

“Then how can your assessment have any weight? It’s easy to be kind to someone who’s kind to you, as I presume you are to him. You can see someone’s true nature when a bird snatches up their only meal for the day, when waiting in line for hours in the heat, when a child breaks an object important to them. You’re his friend: of course you’d voice for him.”

“I’m… sorry. Your hostility towards Peacekeepers is understandable.” His eyes were so guilty you’d think he’d killed a kitten, and the slightest twinge of guilt plucked at you before you dismissed it, dismissed him, to help Maude Ivory shell the nuts when she’d come back, and you sit back next to Barb Azure. “Thoughts?”

“It’s sweet he brought her ice. And the Peacebreaker base is a little far from here so it’s nice they walked all this time. But I guess we can’t know if he’s the cake with the cream till we watch him interact with Lucy Gray.”

“Hm.” Your hum is displeased as you watch Maude Ivory, her tiny hand guiding Sejanus’s finger around her rock in proper form, so that his thumb wouldn’t hurt when he cracked the rocks down on the nuts. Your index finger wanders to pick at the swollen bump on your cheek.

(They say, acne is caused by stress. They say, most skin conditions are the lack of hygiene and hydration and good nutrition. Of not washing your pillowcase regularly, of, say, the coal and grime that works its way into your pores).

“You know, about the extra hours I’m picking up. A lot of people like going to the Hob.”

“Yes,” she said slowly, working her bony fingers (and someone her age shouldn’t have bony fingers) through another strand to braid.

“A lot of these people are parents.”

“Oh. Oh.” Her teeth sink into the flesh of her lips. “But, you can’t just- I mean, we need you!”

“Anyone can play the tambourine,” you dismissed, keeping Sejanus in the periphery of your vision in case he- well, you don’t what, but just in case.

“It’s not the skill, it’s- get it through your head, your skull’s as thick as lard. I didn’t say we need someone to play the tambourine, I said we need you. You’re-”

“Someone’s outside,” Maude Ivory sang,

“It’s got to be Billy Taupe this time. I’ve got it. Keep an eye on Sejanus,” you added in an undertone to her, “just in case he…” but Barb Azure nodded firmly, and you knew she understood. Your gut instinct, fear-hatred, towards Peacebreakers wasn’t paranoia, it was learned. Adapted.

Outside, the sun in the clear sky beat down on the back of your neck, instantly breaking into a sweat (though you already had a sheen of sweat when inside, anyway). You wear wearing your favorite pair of sandals- sturdy layers of tanned goat skin patched together, two leather straps giving it what you thought was a fashionable design [2]- the withered grass poking your toes, and you shut the door behind you.

A moment for Billy Taupe. Billy Taupe wasn't bad to look at, and some would even say handsome, in a rugged kind of way.

The kind of man that looks like the sort to say he wants a “big, cold mug of ale” or “it’s none of your business” or “so you’re all siding with her now?”

A mop of oil-black hair fringed over his forehead, a beaten-up blue cap fixed over his head. A hat you’d often see him fix on Clerk Carmine and Lucy Gray and, on occasion, yourself and the rest of the Covey. You didn’t see it yourself, but Lucy Gray said his eyes were obsidian, drawing you in, she said his voice could be so sweet, and his smile, too. But for the past few months, his face had been permanently set in a frown akin to someone who’d eaten a nut that had, in fact, turned out to be rotted after all.

(If he had access to a university, you didn’t think he’d be much different: tutoring a girl and turning into something more behind his girlfriend’s back, kicked out of a band while studying music and staying out too late. He would smell as he does now, faint scent of cheap white liquor).

“Why?” You said softly, “I’ve been wracking my brain and I just can’t figure it out. A family that loves you. A girl to warm the bed with each night. Performing on stage, at weddings. Why would you leave her, or us? Was Mayfair really so appealing, and if so, why couldn’t you just communicate that instead of juggling them both at once? And- and lying is wrong but forgivable, cheating is awful but forgivable, but why- how could you stay with her after she sent Lucy Gray to the slaughter? How- even if you’re in love with her, or you’re angry or whatever- why didn’t you cut ties with Mayfair the moment you saw her kill Lucy Gray?”

“Lucy Gray didn’t die-“

“You didn’t know that! The whole time she was gone, you didn’t know if she’d survive- isn’t that enough cause to leave Mayfair? How can you say you love Lucy Gray or Clerk Carmine or any of us when your loyalty is so easily bought?”

“You wouldn't get it,” Billy Taupe spat, “you don’t even believe in true love. You’ve never been in a relationship, never had a partner. You can’t understand-“

“I smell love when we try to make butter for Maude Ivory. I hear love when Tam Amber sings me to sleep. I taste love when your brother laid out food for Lucy Gray every day she was in the Capitol. Don't mistake my lack of experience in shoving a tongue down someone else’s throat for a lack of love.”

His glare was a nasty, childish thing. Obsidian eyes, indeed. “I only came for my things.”

“You hear that, girls?” You called into the house, yanking the door open, “he wants his things!”

Not 20 seconds later, you saw Barb Azure’s scrawny army toss out a weathered brown bag that likely weighed as much as she did. It clunked and rolled on the grass before stopping a few feet from Billy Taupe. And Maude Ivory, because she was Maude Ivory, tossed out open-air, free-flying missiles- a tallow candle (made of sheep fat [1]), his favorite pillow, a boot of his too ragged for Clerk Carmine sailing over his head.

“Something the matter?” Sejanus stepped out of the house, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard some arguing, and both girls inside seem upset. Is everything okay?”

Is everything okay?

“Fine.” You snapped, “this isn’t your problem. Billy Taupe was just leaving. Weren’t you?”

“Oh, now you’re consorting with Peacebreakers? You, who hate them more than anyone?”

“I’m not here to hurt anyone.” Sejanus approached Billy Taupe cautiously, “I’m sorry if-“

“Your hand.“ Billy Taupe said, “Mayfair said some lunatic smashed a bottle over her mouth. Got a tooth loose and everything.”

You bit back a smile, tamping down your satisfaction. “No, she was running from the brawl last night, slipped, and cut her palm open on a broken bottle. Saw it myself.”

Covering for you. Why was this man you’ve never spoken to, never interacted with, covering for you? You doubted he knew even your name.

“Hey,” Sejanus said calmly, toeing to Billy Taupe like one would a rabid dog, a startled horse, “hi. My name is Sejanus. I think I saw you at the Hob yesterday, right?”

Referring to last night's public humiliation was not the right move, but whether he was incapable of minding his own business or had a savior complex, you didn’t know. Couldn’t talk. You stepped back inside, left them to talk because- How could you focus? If Mayfair had told Billy Taupe, you could bet she’d told her father. And her father would tell the Peacebreakers. And the Peacebreakers would take one look at the rags wrapped round your palm and, idiots that they are, put two and two together.

But, no. The Peacebreakers like the Covey. Surely they wouldn’t… but of course they would. It’s their job, whether they’re happy about it or not. If the mayor told them to, they’d do it.

You couldn’t even blame it on the heat of the moment. Couldn’t say it was a rush of passion, couldn’t say you weren’t thinking straight. Who were you kidding? You’d been wanting to hurt them both since Billy Taupe had first started staying too late for those piano lessons, and this desire to inflict pain had developed into elaborate schemes of torture when Lucy Gray was reaped. Even if you hadn’t cut up Mayfair’s face that night, you would’ve done something else, some other time.

Your regret was that you had not been more discrete- not that you’d done it.

It wasn’t until Maude Ivory poked you in the cheek for the third time that you snapped out of it.

“Lucy Gray and her friend are back, they’re kicking Billy Taupe out,” she informed importantly, “are you okay?”

( Is everything okay? Sejanus had asked).

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry I worried you.” You pick her up, sit her on your lap. “Maude Ivory, fair princess, as wise as you are fair, I beseech thee: how do you judge the two gentlemen our fine friend has brought?”

She giggled, bubbly and clear and bright. She deserved to never be anything but. “Sejanus is very very nice. He’s the nicest person ever.”

You placed a dramatic hand on your chest, “surely not! What of Tam Amber?”

“Well, all of us are nice. But he’s an extra kind of nice.” She bounced a little lap on your lap, though she was plenty old enough to neither sit in laps nor bounce. She was eight and a half, old enough to work, really, but you never wanted her to feel like she wasn’t a child- not when the concept of childhood was to be greedily hoarded and guarded, a mother bird flaying out her wings over squeaking chicks. “Oh? And what of Corny?”

“No, silly, Coryo! Coriolanus!”

“Corgi?”

“No. I’ll teach you,” she said firmly, “core.”

“Core.”

“Yo.”

“Yo.”

“Lay.”

“Lay.”

“Nus.”

“Nus.”

“Good job.” She clapped, “now put it all together, dummy. Coriolanus.”

“Coronavirus.”

“Noooo,” she groaned, a grin on her face nonetheless, and that was enough. How quickly the crimson anger that had flooded you was replaced with lavender peace.

Barb Azure pushed the door open, Sejanus following in tow.

“I was just giving him directions, that’s all.” Sejanus was saying, as naturally as he’d assured Billy Taupe he’d seen you slip and fall.

Maude Ivory hopped off your lap. “You were consorting with the enemy.”

“I was just-“

“No more shelling nuts for you, that’s an easy job. We’re milking Shamus.” Maude Ivory declared, and you were on your feet at once. As if you’d leave her unattended with him or with anyone: Barb Azure had kept an eye on them while you’d talked to Billy Taupe, so now it was your turn. As the three of you headed out, you heard Lucy Gray’s voice.

Half of you hoped she’d tear him to pieces, the other half worried about how such a tender wound was to heal when he comes back to open it again and again.

The way you walked- Maude Ivory in the middle, holding your hand with her right and Sejanus’s hand with her left- caused such revulsion beneath your skin you wanted to rip your hand away. The image it painted, the feeling and look of a man and a woman and a little girl holding their hands caused an immediate desire to vomit: no family really looks this idyllic, and more importantly, for this stranger to so quickly encroach on your home was beyond unwelcome.

“You mustn’t talk to Billy Taupe,” Maude Ivory stated, and Sejanus listened intently. Not indulgently, the way most people do when talking to kids, but actually listening. Not amused, but taking her seriously. “He hurt Lucy Gray and Clerk Carmine and all of us. He’s nice sometimes but also not very honest.”

“Sometimes, if you need to protect someone, it’s okay not to be honest.” Was it your paranoia, or did his eyes flash to you for a moment? Since he’d lied for your sake?

“Barb Azure says I shouldn’t listen to adults who try to teach me bad things, like lying.”

“Then why don’t you teach me? I haven’t a clue how to milk a goat.”

When you reached the goat, you sighed. “The bucket. Such a rush to get out of there I forgot-“

“I’m on it!” She dashed off, and you called after her,

“Be careful!”

“You take good care of her,” noted Sejanus, sitting on the grass. If the reason you didn’t sit too, if the reason you stayed standing, was because you wanted to be ready to run, he didn’t need to know. “Really. And… I’m sorry for talking to Billy Taupe. I can tell he’s really hurt you all. It’s not my place to pry, but…”

“What were you really talking about? And don’t say giving directions, you’ve already proven you’re a good liar.”

“I just-“

“You know, he once got an awful, sweaty fever. Consequence of days of heatstroke. Clerk Carmine thought he’d die. So Lucy Gray, she uses her charm, finds this nice Peacebreaker, pours out her honeyed words and gets him to not only give her ice, but an ice compress straight from the nurse’s clinic. And rather than being grateful for her flirting with a man twice her age to save his life, he got so furious- you wouldn’t believe it, being angry is one thing, but yelling while knowing the kids are listening?- calling her words Maude Ivory shouldn’t even know the meaning of, then stormed out and ignored her for a week. That’s the kind of man you’re choosing to mix with.”

Sejanus grabbed fistfuls of bright green grass, plucking out long blades and attempting, albeit pathetically, to braid them together. It was quick to stain his fingertips, his grey trousers, his face pensive. Considering.

(Taking time to respond, rather than listening just to argue).

(Debating how much he can tell a perfect stranger).

“It’s… not about him, specifically.” He admitted finally.

“You’re being cautious; you don’t need to. You’re talking about the rebel stuff. What, you don't think he would've brought it up in the years we've known him?” His shoulders coiled, jaw set, neck rigid and tense. If you wondered about the muscles and tendons in his neck and watched how they pulsed, he didn’t need to know. “You protected me with a lie? Let me protect you with the truth: Billy Taupe will get you killed, like he almost did with Lucy Gray. Listen,” you said hurriedly, “helping with Arlo is great. You want to be a rebel, that’s wonderful. You want to be a spy? By all means.”

He stood up so fast, you were certain he’d get a head rush. All up in your face, like a little kid who was assured his hyperfixation on trains was okay, actually. “You mean it?”

“Sure. All Peacebreakers are awful anyway, you might as well use it to be a half-decent person.”

“You’re not just saying that,” he said slowly, “you really mean it?“

“Honey, listen. Feeding the hungry is good. Feeding the hungry with rotted apples is not. If you want to make a difference, please, don’t do it with Billy Taupe. You’ll get hurt- it’s the consequence of quick, thoughtless action. Disregard for consequences.”

“Then what do I do?”

“If I knew the answer, the Games wouldn’t exist.”

When Maude Ivory came back, you asked her why she took so long, and she said Lucy Gray and Coriolanus had finished the confrontation with Billy Taupe as well as their meetup in the meadow.

She taught Sejanus and he listened, and you observed, scrutinizing Sejanus or any microexpression or inflection in his voice that would be a tell in his personality, his intentions, his thoughts.

Unlike Coriolanus, no underlying jealous-arrogance-possession seemed, but more likely than not, he was better at hiding it is all.

There was no such thing as a good Peacebreaker. Watching him listen to Maude Ivory’s every order, watching him stroke Shamus’s white fur, scritching just behind her pointed ears, did nothing to change this opinion. You’d seen a Peacebreaker propose to another in the Hob, you’d seen one give Tam Amber a full bowl of potatoes just because “you looked hungry, man”, you’d seen another whisper to Lucy Gray that one of his buddies was eyeing her up and down and to please be careful on her way home.

But that didn’t make them good, because of their guns, and how they used them. Because every one of them had either arrested someone innocent or watched someone innocent be arrested and did nothing. Each of them had killed someone, or stood by and let it happen, serving as backup to the murderer. So it didn’t matter what their everyday acts of kindness were- if someone is polite to the waiter, but goes home to beat his wife, does that politeness mean he’s really a good person?

And so no matter how Lucy Gray loved Coriolanus or how Maude Ivory latched to Sejanus, you loathed them both. But it was a general hatred- an I hate you because of what you are - rather than the specific hatred you’d recently developed for Billy Taupe- an I hate you because of what you’ve done - or Mayfair- I hate you because of who you are as a person.

When you came back to the house, Barb Azure serving the freshly-retrieved milk and all of you sitting down at the table, a family with two intruders, you’d intended to take Coriolanus aside and lecture him. Give him a very long and stern essay on what you thought of him and all the things he’d better not do. In the end, while everyone was putting the dishes away, all you could do was snatch his arm and hiss in his ear:

“You break her heart, her bones, or so much as a nail, and you’ll spend the rest of your nights sleeping with one eye open.” And you release his arm and give him a cordial smile.

When they leave, Lucy Gray sighs, plopping down on the green, paisley couch. “Let the vultures feast.”

“Me first.” Said Tam Amber.

A moment for Tam Amber. With his long legs and equally spindly arms, he was reminiscent of a scarecrow. His skin, a soft brown, was a few shades lighter than Barb Azure’s, but while Barb Azure liked to neatly keep her hair in dreadlocks or cornrows, Tam Amber kept his hair always loose, long, and flowing.

(More than once, people had commented how it was unprofessional, dirty, even animal-like).

(Peacebreakers tend to shave their heads to a buzz. It’s no wonder he chooses to grow his out).

If he had access to a university, you could see him keeping quiet, often absent, then showing up on the last day of class and scoring the highest score, likely on some complex maths and sciences. But he didn’t, and thus was the best cook in the house- smelling always like clean green herbs. His voice is calm, observant (it always is):

“Did you notice, when he was at rest, his hand would sometimes drift to his belt? Where his gun would be? Now, that’s as common as a scorpion scurrying, but his friend didn’t do the same.”

“Because they’re new recruits,” you dismissed, digging your nail into a small and unwelcome blemish practically embedded in your chin, “give Sejanus a little more time, and he’ll default to grabbing a rifle too.”

“He seemed kind of awkward. Has he never dated anyone before? Or at least, not seriously, since you basically took him home to meet the family?” Clerk Carmine wondered, sipping at his chilled milk. Clerk Carmine, with the same shaggy oil-black hair as his brother, the same eyes- but you didn’t see obsidian, only rich black earth.

“I don’t think he’s been with anyone.” Lucy Gray stated, trailing the pad of her finger over the rim of her glass so it made the faintest whistling sounds. “At least, from the way he talked, and how jealous he was when I sang about Billy Taupe, I’d say he’s inexperienced. Which is… nice.” She didn’t need to say that it was also the opposite of Billy Taupe in that regard.

“Me next,” said Barb Azure, absently stroking Maude Ivory’s halo of wispy hair. “I was watching when Coriolanus stepped in front of you to protect you from him. He looked like he was ready to beat him for you, which- I’m glad you have someone to protect you. You’re so often the one protecting us.”

You wanted to say, he was obviously doing it because he’s possessive. You wanted to say, if a man is so quick to resort to violence, that’s not the credit to his character you think it is. You wanted to say, I can’t believe we’re having this conversation, I thought we’d established all Peacebreakers are bad? All you said was- all that mattered was: “how does he make you feel?”

“Does he make you feel like the cake with the cream? Are you the mockingbird to his jabberjay?” Maude Ivory asked eagerly.

“He makes me feel… Hm. Baby, when we first met I was just glad someone had bothered to come see me. No one else’s mentor did- I know he only did it to look good, but… Then I was glad he came to visit me and feed me like it was a picnic, unlike Brandy. Her mentor taunted her with a sandwich through the bars and…” her throat pulsed, her eyes flitted down, and you all tripped over each other to help.

“So, Sejanus, he’s tall,” you said hurriedly.

“And Coriolanus is shorter,” [3] Barb Azure added, “I bet he’s not very happy about that.”

“Personally I wonder what their families are like. Do you know, Lucy Gray?” Clerk Carmine took a prolonged sip of his milk.

“Thanks. All of you, thank you.” Lucy Gray’s sniffle was a subdued thing, as if she didn’t want anyone to hear. Of course, she didn’t. Not with her sparkly stage persona- but it was on each of you to remind her she existed outside of that. “I guess I have to accept that a consequence of living is the memories. And the more stressful or more intense a memory is, the more firmly it’ll be imprinted, just like how a heavier object leaves a stronger imprint on the couch. Oh, I had thought it sad when the old lose their memories. Oh, how I wish…” she inhaled a shaky, water breath, blinking rapidly, and rose from the table abruptly, chair scraping against the ground. “I’ve started drafting a new song. I’d like to fine-tune it a little.”

What are you to do but let her walk away?

~~~

Notes:

[1] “The first dipped candles were made by the Romans from rendered animal fat called tallow. Since tallow is cheap and easily available, tallow candles were the most widely used types of candles for centuries.” - Smith College Museum

[2] “Even many layers of leather stitched to the sole of the shoe might not last that long. Shoe repairs and the reuse of leather was common, especially on the thin soles. This is known because of surviving commentary from the London Cordwainers Company which details various disputes between shoemakers and cordwainers” -

[3] the book mentions Sejanus is tall + Coriolanus complains about how he's shorter than he should be due to not having the food and nutrients he needs and such, soooo Sejanus is canonically taller and I'm sure Coryo's v bitter about it :)))

This is your weekly reminder to email and call your representatives to demand they stand with Palestine, and if you can, to donate e-sims and attend protests (see my pinned post.. if you're broke and busy like me and can't do these last two, go to arab.org for click-to-donate- in which it's by ad revenue, if you don't have the resources yourself!)

Please leave your thoughts on this fic in a reply below (comments>>> likes), and check out the full story here

https://archiveofourown.org/works/51862513/chapters/131130484#workskin

#sejanus plinth x reader #sejanus x you #sejanus x reader #sejanus plinth #tbosas #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #ballad of songbirds and snakes #lucy gray #lucy gray x coriolanus #lucy gray baird #coriolanus snow #the hunger games #hunger games

[gamerbearmira]

I posted 3,666 times in 2022

That's 3,666 more posts than 2021!

3,347 posts created (91%)

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I tagged 3,465 of my posts in 2022

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#encanto alma - 667 posts

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#encanto isabela - 455 posts

#encanto dolores - 376 posts

Longest Tag: 72 characters

#shout out to the ones who have been here when i only had like 4 or 5 aus

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Hey y'all I got a sort of prologue for the cocoon au! It doesn't have a name yet, but I wanted to show this to y'all anyway. Hope y'all like it, if you feel like I should add or take away something let me know! When I get it done, I'll be posting the Prologue and (hopefully) the first 2 chapters on AO3. By the way, the prologue is short, but usually my chapters are about 1200+ words. Hopefully y'all enjoy this angsty introduction though. :)

Original Au Idea by @raefever ! Go check them out! I got permission to do a fic on this :)

Written by: Me, your truly!

Warnings: None!

Type of Chapter: Angst, Sadness, Hurt/No Comfort, Pain, Grief

Words: 638

Cocoon Au

The Prolouge: Casita Falls.

----------------

Cracks shot through Casita. On the ceiling, through the floor, the walls. Everywhere.

Everyone was shocked, but soon frantically were trying to leave. Mirabel, went for the candle. A dresser was about to hit a very scared and confused Antonio, but luckily, Felíx barely caught him.

"We gotta get out here!" He yelled.

Isabela and Camilo shot after Mirabel, only for their powers to fizzle out. They fell to the ground. As Mirabel was about to grab the candle, she looked to see her tío Bruno in the grass by the trees.

"Good, he's out." She thought.

She grabbed the candle.

Dolores shoved Alma out of the way of falling debris, Casita rippling its tiles to push the matriarch out the collapsing threshold of the front door, Dolores left behind.

Julieta and Agustín were screaming for Mirabel to leave the candle, to get out. Casita rolled the floor, making them fly out the door after failed attempts to get back in and grab their children.

Pepa was already out, but called for Dolores and Camilo.

"Camilo? Dolores? Come out, hurry!" She screamed, cloud no longer above her as the magic faded out.

See the full post

178 notes - Posted February 19, 2022

#4

Papa Antonio AU

Swap!AU where it's Antonio who has to look after Mirabel.

Like he got his gift and stuff and the engagement is ruined, with Dolores getting with Mariano, but Casita doesn't fall, Bruno stays in the walls and Mirabel is just pushed aside after that. Antonio still hangs out with her and stuff, but Abuela pushes him away from her more and more. The family is wayyyyyy more neglectful and kind of just...forgets she exists. Except for Antonio, he's far too attached to her. Then Mirabel just randomly disappears (much to a now what, 9? 10? yr old Antonio's dismay,), and her portrait on the tree and mural disappear.

Antonio mopes and sobs for a month straight. Then, on Mirabel's birthday, there's just some baby, a newborn laying in his hammock in his room. The baby is Mirabel. He keeps her a secret (he's surprisingly very good at keeping secrets, even from Dolores) and she basically lives in his room til her 1st birthday. On her first birthday, Mariano points to the family tree, where a baby is directly connected to Antonio. Did I mention that during the time he's caring for her before her 1st, he regularly visits Bruno in the walls to ask for help? No? Oh, well, good Tio Bruno (since he had previous child care expeirence).

I still love Mirabel but I also love angst.

See the full post

199 notes - Posted April 10, 2022

#3

Isabela, Dolores and Mirabel run into the dining room where the adults were waiting to start lunch.

“Mama! Guess what!” Mirabel said, bouncing in her spot by the doorway, Dolores and Isabela doing the same.

“What is it niña?” Julieta smiled, setting the last plate down.

“We brought our new friend! He’s here!” Mirabel beamed, pointing to the supposed friend that was currently out of the room.

“Oh, did you?” Julieta said, sitting down.

“Oh, you mean that kid you’ve been hanging out with?” Fèlix said, shifting to get a better look at the door.

“Papá! We already told you, he’s a big kid! Like hermano mayor Mariano and you!” Dolores huffed.

“Sure he is,” Fèlix chuckled, rolling his eyes.

As the 3 children in the dining room continued to try and prove he was an adult, the adults could hear Luisa, Camilo and Antonio laughing and squealing, the sounds becoming louder as they got closer to the dining room. They were obviously talking to someone, who they had assumed was their “friend.”

“By the way, what is his name?” Alma said, smiling down at her nietas.

Isabela smiled back, slowing her bouncing slightly. “He said his name is Mr. Pedro! He even has the same last name as us! He looks a lot like Abuelo, but older…so we call him Abuelo!” At the mention of that name, the room froze, save for the 3 little girls giggling. Pepa had a cloud forming, but the girls seemed oblivious to it.

“Isabela what are you—“ Pepa was cut off when Isabela, Mirabel and Dolores ran out of the room, seemingly towards a person.

“Abuelo!” The 3 of them shouted.

The six children had all made it into the room. And as they said, they had their special friend with them, both Luisa and Antonio holding his hand. A tall man who bared a striking resemblance to the man in the large painting by the stairs. He was obviously aged, more than likely just a few years older then Alma. He had white to black hair, and his goatee had streaks of grey in it. He wore all white, save for the ascot and waist scarf, which were a mix of red and maroon. His eyes wrinkled in joy as he gave a warm smile, one that Alma knew far too well.

Camilo smiled brightly as he waved at his family. Gesturing to the elder man next to his prima, he said 3 simple words that seemed to take the breath out of the room.

“We found Abuelo!” Camilo grinned.

Just an idea for the cocoon AU where Casita/the miracle brings back Pedro and the children find him when they were exploring (set before their ceremony).

All of the adults after Pedro walks in:

See the full post

201 notes - Posted March 25, 2022

#2

Mama Mirabel au things

Antonio drew this for Mirabel on mothers day. Mirabel loved it, and cherished it, but had to get him to make one for Pepa, much to his disdain. At the time he didn't really comprehend that Pepa was his bio mom, and Mirabel didn't want her tía to be upset with her.

270 notes - Posted February 18, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Mama Mirabel with a twist

By: Me, @ismaet and @alternaterey

Mama!Mirabel, but instead of just Antonio, it's like all of the village kids 10 and under. All of the townsfolk find it normal for her to have like 10 kids following her around like ducklings. She brings them to Casita, plays games, teaches and sings to them, repairs their clothes and embroiders for them, etc. They call her 'Mamabel'. When her family starts to notice and ask around, the people are just like:

"Oh Mirabel? She's always kinda been like a second mother to the kids, it's cute right?"

And the family starts to notice just how close she is with them, to the point where they wonder if they've just not paid enough attention to realize something as big as that.

Mirabel is called: Mamabel, Mama, Mira, Mirabel

Casita is called: Abuelista, Abuelita, Cassie, Casita

She has about 30 kids that collectively join her over the years, all 10 and under.

Mamabel AU starts when Antonio is born.

!A little bit of an angst alert!

Mirabel is "assigned" to care for Antonio. Pepa and Felix are more like parents of convenience. Julieta is busy and Agustin is too. Abuela doesn't seem to notice a difference, still giving a lot of credit to Pepa and Felix. Mirabel ignores the pained feeling in her heart. She often wonders if her family really cares. But deep down, she knows they don't. Mirabel goes out to town often with Antonio, and an adult is eventually like:

"Can you hold Diego for a moment?"

And Mirabel just holds him while Antonio is shifted to her back. Diego is only ever actually given back to the mother when Mirabel has to go home at the end of the day. Now? She's kind of like the town babysitter (she's not complaining!) And it snowballs from there. The townsfolk still love her though, and give her tips and tricks when they see she's struggling. At about 11, she accumulated about 10 kids and this is about when they started calling her "Mamabel". (She doesn't correct them, the townsfolk even called her that in an adoring manner at times.)

The town built Mirabel her own special little house for her and the children on her 12th birthday, so they can have mass sleepovers. It's like a small house that sits between the town and Casita, a bit towards the back. None of the Madrigal's know it's there because the town kept it a secret. They knew that Abuela would somehow try and pull some "We should turn it into a store!" crap. (Mirabel cried like a baby that day.)

When the Madrigals DO find it, they're surprised. In the scenario that Mirabel goes into a coma after Casita falls, the older kids bring her to the little house (with the other Madrigal's behind them), and settle her into the bed (which is bigger than her small twin sized one in the nursery, which does NOT go unnoticed).

See the full post

575 notes - Posted March 27, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #thank all of you #so much for sticking around #like y’all have no idea #this account is the only thing keeping me sane

[becausewhatiam-iswhatimnot]

3!!!!

drumroll 🥁🥁 you got Luka Verity!

His Spotify Playlist

he's one of my favorites that I've ever made tbh, I've had him since? the 5-6th grade but he's gone through a lot of changes but I'm fairly happy with how he is now.

He was created for a literal years-long roleplay of me and my friends originally as a side character but he eventually became one of the mains.

He's 15 currently and uses he/him pronouns. He attends the school in our roleplay "Rise Up High" on a scholarship. The roleplay itself is set in a realm of angels and demons, and he's a demon. He has a girlfriend, named Julie, who he started dating about a few months into the 10th grade, but he knew her for about a year/year and a half before. (his backstory will be under the cut because of TW's)

Some random facts for him:

1. He was originally made to be a creep so we'd have some backstory for him, but in our recent redoing of the roleplay, he was made to be nicer as a side character and like I said eventually became a main.

2. He's autistic (projecting? never)

2a. To more expand on that, kind of a reason he was developed as a creep at first was more people misunderstood him more than anything else. He tiptoe walks and doesn't make eye contact, which sometimes led to extreme eye contact to try to "fix it" or people thinking he's staring at somewhere else and thinking he's being inappropriate. But when he met his current friend group, they got more understanding of it and it eventually led to him meeting his now girlfriend.

3. His powers! He is a demon like I mentioned and every demon/angel in this verse has a power. His power, he's able to summon chains out of thin air and use them. This has its drawbacks though, if he overdoes it, it leaves him in pain for a few days after because of it.

The first picture is him for around the entire year in the 9th grade. Over that time he grew his hair out and for half of 10th grade it was like the second picture, but halfway through the year he cut it short again and dyed it blue.

And another random picrew I did for him

tw for abuse and suicide

this is his backstory copy and pasted from a doc that I wrote for him (if there's mistakes I apologize I wrote this at? 3am a while back and never went back to fix mistakes or inaccuracies so some might be outdated lol)

Link if y'all want it

The Christmas kids and their parents were always

well known around the town.

Roman Christmas was the only demon in town that could control water; it made him popular with the kids who enjoyed his tricks and gimmicks he always did to make them smile.

Lucy Christmas, while a stay at home mother, was loved as well. Whenever their son or daughter had kids over she was always described as caring and motherly, bringing food and drinks and playing with the kids as well.

They would be your average nuclear family, as far as demons went. Their family was full of love and laughter and joy. It had always been this way, as far as Luka could remember.

Luka always had mostly fond memories of his mother. Her smile and her hugs and how she made the best food. How she always came into his room at night when she thought he was asleep to check on him. It had always been like this for as long as he could remember, the whole 8 years of his life. Everything was good.

He didn't have very many memories of the day his mother died. He remembered it was just him and her in the house; his father and sister were on a trip. He remembered being hungry that day. He remembered going to ask his mom when dinner was going to be done. He remembered the chair on the ground, the ringing in his ears, the silence of his world collapsing around him. He wasn't a dumb kid. He knew what this meant.

He remembered going to the phone and dialing his dad, but he doesn't remember much after that. He lived the next few weeks in a foggy haze, just little bits and pieces. He remembered the day of her funeral, having to hold himself together while his father sobbed on the ground and he held his little sister.

He remembered everything that came after it. After a few months, his father had their names changed. He was no longer Luka Christmas. He would forever be Luka Verity. It was apparently his father's old last name before his parents married.

He always remembered the house being clean and bright, but after his mother died it never was again. The blinds were always shut and there was always stuff everywhere. Homemade dinners were a thing of the past, the kids always ate whatever Luka could find in the cabinets and cook for them. That was one thing she left with him. The knowledge of cooking.

His father changed after. He was no longer the soft and loving dad he had had for the first part of his life. He was cold now, sharp and cruel. Loving words and soft touches turned into spat out sentences and bruises. He vividly remembered the first time his dad hit him, screaming that it was his fault and that Luka wasn't his son anymore. That was the first time he cried since his mother died.

Shortly after, they moved. Somewhere more rural, away from the town of judging eyes and gossip and pity.

As Luka entered his middle school years, he shut down from the rest of the world. His sole purpose was to get a job, make money and move him and his sister out of the god forsaken hellhole that was where he lived. His worst years of abuse were endured there.

When his scholarship for his high school was sent, he considered it the best day of his life. An out, he considered it. It was amazing.

…until it wasn't.

He wasn't allowed to bring his sister. He had no way to leave then. Shortly after he accepted his fate that he wasn't going anywhere, his life changed yet again. An aunt he somehow didn't know about showed up, proving that their dad was unfit to take care of them and earning sole custody of both him and his sister.

His life was somewhat back on track. His sister was safe, and he left to finish his teenage years in peace. (Hopefully…)

~

#my ocs #luka verity #i guess ill add to this whenever new things develop about him 💀

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

10th February >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saint Scholastica, Virgin 

on

Saturday, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time.

Saturday, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: White: B (2))

(Readings for the feria (Saturday))

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading 1 Kings 12:26-32,13:33-34 The prophecy of the separation of Israel.

Jeroboam thought to himself, ‘As things are, the kingdom will revert to the House of David. If this people continues to go up to the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices, the people’s heart will turn back again to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will put me to death.’ So the king thought this over and then made two golden calves; he said to the people, ‘You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here are your gods, Israel; these brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ He set up one in Bethel and the people went in procession all the way to Dan in front of the other. He set up the temple of the high places and appointed priests from ordinary families, who were not of the sons of Levi. Jeroboam also instituted a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth of the month, like the feast that was kept in Judah, and he went up to the altar. That was how he behaved in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made; and at Bethel he put the priests of the high places he had established.

Jeroboam did not give up his wicked ways but went on appointing priests for the high places from the common people. He consecrated as priests of the high places any who wished to be. Such conduct made the House of Jeroboam a sinful House, and caused its ruin and extinction from the face of the earth.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 105(106):6-7,19-22

R/ O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.

Our sin is the sin of our fathers; we have done wrong, our deeds have been evil. Our fathers when they were in Egypt paid no heed to your wonderful deeds.

R/ O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.

They fashioned a calf at Horeb and worshipped an image of metal, exchanging the God who was their glory for the image of a bull that eats grass.

R/ O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.

They forgot the God who was their saviour, who had done such great things in Egypt, such portents in the land of Ham, such marvels at the Red Sea.

R/ O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 4:4

Alleluia, alleluia! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Alleluia!

Gospel Mark 8:1-10 The feeding of the four thousand.

A great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat. So Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them, ‘I feel sorry for all these people; they have been with me for three days now and have nothing to eat. If I send them off home hungry they will collapse on the way; some have come a great distance.’ His disciples replied, ‘Where could anyone get bread to feed these people in a deserted place like this?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves have you?’ ‘Seven’ they said. Then he instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them among the crowd. They had a few small fish as well, and over these he said a blessing and ordered them to be distributed also. They ate as much as they wanted, and they collected seven basketfuls of the scraps left over. Now there had been about four thousand people. He sent them away and immediately, getting into the boat with his disciples, went to the region of Dalmanutha.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

------------------------------

Saint Scholastica, Virgin 

(Liturgical Colour: White: B (2))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Song of Songs 8:6-7 The flash of love is a flame of the Lord himself.

Set me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is strong as Death, jealousy as relentless as Sheol. The flash of it is a flash of fire, a flame of the Lord himself. Love no floods can quench, no torrents drown.

Were a man to offer all the wealth of his house to buy love, contempt is all he would purchase.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 148:1-2,11-14

R/ Your glory fills all heaven and earth. or R/ Alleluia!

Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host.

R/ Your glory fills all heaven and earth. or R/ Alleluia!

All earth’s kings and peoples, earth’s princes and rulers, young men and maidens, old men together with children.

R/ Your glory fills all heaven and earth. or R/ Alleluia!

Let them praise the name of the Lord for he alone is exalted. The splendour of his name reaches beyond heaven and earth.

R/ Your glory fills all heaven and earth. or R/ Alleluia!

He exalts the strength of his people. He is the praise of all his saints, of the sons of Israel, of the people to whom he comes close.

R/ Your glory fills all heaven and earth. or R/ Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation John 14:23

Alleluia, alleluia! If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him. Alleluia!

Gospel Luke 10:38-42 Martha works; Mary listens.

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[cloud-hc]

Things I also consider that Zack must have done while on the run with Cloud, on top of being a full time nurse, but having to give him muscle exercises several times a week so he could keep his strength up.

Researchers found the eight who exercised in intensive care reached recovery milestones such as standing and walking faster, had reduced delirium and improved physical function compared with their peers who did not. They were also able to return home up to three weeks earlier. The study, the first of its kind, will now be expanded to assess up to 80 patients.

“We really are interested in exercising early, rather than trying to play catch up,” she said. “It’s much harder to rehabilitate patients if they are really weak.”

I do have it headcanoned that Cloud was found by Zack’s body by a passer-by who got him the rest of the way to Midgar ( because I really do not like the ending of CC in that specific part where Cloud just… walks off, totally aware, then boom forgets in Midgar? what? ), but he also had to have the strength to crawl to Zack in the first place, then have the muscle and ability to quickly re-established his life as a mercenary. It’s not mentioned anywhere that Tifa found him in such a state that he needed physical rehabilitation, so I’m assuming he didn’t. 

We also don’t know how long his body was immobile. Due to Zack and Cloud exchanging messages about an escape plan that day, and Cloud seems to have completely collapsed from Mako poisoning just before this happened ( as he was aware enough previously to exchange back with Zack ) - I feel comfortable leaving his body in complete non-use in the 9 to 10 months range. I do not believe they were in mako tanks the entire 4 years.

For every week in bed, you lose about 1% of your bone density, making your bones more brittle and easy to fracture.

In that same week, you also lose 1% of your muscle mass, particularly in your thighs, butt, and shoulders, which you’re no longer using. Now, normally, those muscles would suck sugar from your blood for energy to function, but after just 10 days of bed rest, this process slows down. The result? All of that unused sugar can build up in your bloodstream and lead to Type 2 diabetes.

Meanwhile, those muscles are wasting away faster than ever. After just two weeks, you’ve lost a whopping 10% of your muscle mass. And that causes a new problem, because the less muscle you have, the less oxygen, and therefore blood flow, they need. So, after a month in bed, your heart pumps 30% less blood per beat. And with less oxygen circulating through your body, you feel more tired. Even though you’ve been resting for a solid month.

AND IF YOU DON’T GET UP SOON, WELL, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME EVER GETTING UP AGAIN. BECAUSE six months, maybe a year in, MOST OF YOUR MUSCLES HAVE WASTED AWAY. YOUR BONES ARE TOO WEAK AND FRAGILE TO BEAR YOUR WEIGHT, AND YOUR HEART ISN’T STRONG ENOUGH TO DO MUCH WORK ANYTIME SOON. 

Cloud’s muscles were not wasted away. He was fairly weak, not able to lift the Buster Sword truly and had to drag himself - and going into CC’s canon, dragged the Buster Sword on the ground as he finally walked away.

If Zack wasn’t doing routine muscle exercises on Cloud, Cloud would have died of exposure and quickly, if not dying under the effects of the consequences of losing his muscle mass and blood sugar which Zack would have had to maintain. Yes, the handy dandy excuse of “well he has jenova cells / mako-” stop it right there. I am not god-moding an easy solution because there is no evidence to support that being bathed in mako stops muscle from being deteriated. I’m sure it slows it down, since it does inhance physical abilities - I assume muslce included, but to be honest, the FACT that Cloud was bathed in Mako severely reduces his chances of survival in this situation. 

According to President Shinra in the final fantasy vii remake, the mako infusion process SOLDIER candidates undergo GREATLY REDUCES THEIR LIFESPAN DUE TO ACCELERATING CELLULAR DEGRADATION, claiming it being their leading cause of death

It strengthens them, but it also severely damages their bodies in the process.

#.other

[blitz33]

[2] Dance perspectives

Sitting next to girlfriends of a friend at a dance recital I'm attending to a) support my co-worker, who's in a tap dancing number à la Tom Cruise in Risky Business and b) to distract myself from the Work to be Done, Pages to Write. Dangerous to take yourself to a performance with things on the mind, the whole show a battle of attention. Bodies collapsing in on themselves repeatedly, faces I recognize, focused on the continuity of the movements. Watching the body express itself can be liberating, a reminder of the fluid potential we all have, the degree of physical control we can exert and apply to art. It can also be a reminder of how stubborn your own relationship with your body is. The impossibility of certain choreography punishes me. For some reason, YouTube recommended this video to me a couple mornings ago. L'Après-midi d'un Faune. I watched it nearly as soon as I was up, bowl of yogurt and nuts next to me. How the body knows itself and narrates its knowledge! Could simply not be me. I've always been a bit shy about my body in movement. Those weird angles are a private matter. Except, funnily enough, when nearly naked in the middle of a pool. I went swimming yesterday for the first time in months. I never feel rickety plunging back in, shoulders just quick to get sore. Flip turns after flip turns, I felt myself breathing back into the muscles I neglect as a student (which is to say, most). I didn't last longer than 30 min in the pool, but afterward, there was such a strange vibration running through me. It was like walking off a swaying ship you'd stood on for a while, the sea legs still haunting you on sturdy ground. That, but my whole body. It's not anything I get from weightlifting or running or other modes of movement I entertain on a weekly basis. This was a more kinetic and holistic feeling. Those are the feelings to seek. It's a post-kiss buzzing. The levity of an assignment turned in, burned from the consciousness. The rest of the week, it's yours! Your body, repossessed. Watching bodies in possession of themselves and thinking about how that always seems to be a fraught project for myself. It's just about knowing your personal methods. It's about that, and how we narrate it to others.

AA 12.9.23

[aitseleci]

deceived pt. 2

details: angst, albedo x gn!reader | cw: death / injuries / blood 

word count: 1840 | part one !

note: do i like this? idk mixed feelings tbh  — didn’t bother to add a picture for this one. but like here is part 2 as many requested 

It’s been months since the day Albedo broke up with you. A relationship that Albedo didn’t cherish, as he states. As time continues to pass, your heart aches as you recall those joyful moments with each other. Your affectionate feelings still lingered on edge; holding closely to the past. The nostalgia had you at ease in times of distress. You’d still loved him. No words can express your desire to stop loving him. But what else can be done? You were nothing but a victim to his research. He used you and admitted it, after all. 

Melancholy thoughts seem to be on your mind lately. You wonder how Albedo was doing, how he’s been, what he’d accomplished. You’d still cared, in fact getting over him wasn’t a no brainer. Everywhere you looked reminded you of him. His own essence loiter among commodities. The residents of Mondstadt and Dragonspine didn’t assist in your healing; the reminisce of the things you two did together: exploring, sketching, finding materials, indulging the savory dish of Sunshine Sprat. He taught you how to recreate this dish, lecturing you how to properly cook the salmon. 

“You make sure that the salmon becomes a dark orange and stiff,” the blonde whispers as he observes you flipping the meat over the stove. You nodded, eyeing the salmon carefully, letting out giggles in response. 

“I can’t believe we’re so focused on salmon ‘Bedo.” 

“Hm, you think so?” he answers in an amused tone. 

Whenever he shows you his special dish Woodland Dream, the prince himself had a smiled painted in his eyes. Indeed proud of himself with his culinary masterpiece. He describes the dish to be sweet and tender  — a blooming flower with each bite. You can still remember the tangy flavor that danced on your tongue. Despite this savory dish, this prince seemly has a sweet tooth. To him, he finds the sugar rush that washes throughout his body quite pleasant. A childish nature that you didn’t expect yourself.  

“You find it pleasant... a sugar rush?”

He was hesitant averting his eyes from your stare, “Well the ‘hyperactivity’ feeling, gives me a boost in energy... It's refreshing.”

“Hm, okay..” you smiled. How cute. 

Those wistful moments will remain to be daydreams of your little mind. It was a facetious act he pulled to test you. With the little hope you were attached to, you hope maybe Albedo didn’t mean what he said. At least a little. 

You didn’t bother going to Sucrose or Timaeus for your answer to your questions. Your relationship wasn’t public and doubted anyone would understand. Moving on shouldn’t be onerous, it’s not compared to your daily tasks. Ugh, you sighed in frustration. 

You were exploring the land of Dragonspine, wondering to find new discoveries. Despite Albedo’s influence to pique your curiosity of Dragonspine, your shrewdness needed to go beyond your understanding. It’s been a while since you stepped foot in the land of snow. Not after how much of his essence remained for your little heart. 

You trudge up along the path of Dragonspine, slowly recalling the time you had with Albedo. The crunching of the white snow underneath your feet, digging deep in the ground. The noises you can hear over the screeching winds. A path of fresh footprints laid behind you, displaying where you came from — not where you’re heading. In honesty, you don't know where you’re heading. All that was known was that you are going somewhere. Discover something. Get your mind off of him. 

The Adventurers’ Guild was still trying to post expeditions and catch the eyes of others. Though many adventurers have turned down these pleas. The cold condition was much too dangerous for them to handle, proper preparation was needed but expensive. Dragonspine was menacing for their safety and that was understood among the citizens. 

You briskly rubbed your hands for warmth. The icy winds swirled and sighed around you, sweeping against your skin. Sending chills throughout your body, the fabric of your clothing keeps you warm. Warm enough to make you at ease with the temperature, but not your cold thoughts of gloominess. 

“[y/n], you need my coat? It’s quite cold today, I wouldn’t want you to freeze,” Albedo sighs with the hinges of concern, already starting to slip off his coat.

“Huh, you sure, what about you?” 

A slight curve plastered on his face. An expression you don’t usually see besides his familiar blank expression. “Yes, I don’t exactly get cold and of course I insist.” 

He placed his coat on top of your shoulder, instantly feeling the warmth. The soft fabric rubbing against your cold skin. Your nose was occupied with his scent, filling you with wonder and interest. At times, his scent would be simple than complex. That day it was simple, calming and reassuring you with solace. 

You looked up to the sky, it was filled with ominous mackerel clouds. The dark sky was kissed by the high mountains and bare trees. The sudden wintry breeze whooshed passed you, overwhelming your body. You were missing the sunlight spilling its rays among the land of Mondstadt. How much time has passed? Who knew you would be homesick after wandering in the land of Dragonspine. And Albedo’s company, you couldn’t grasp the fact that he’s no longer in your life. The warmth and bliss of both the recollection of fond memories. Face lit up, feeling your own embarrassment in your cheeks. 

It’s been months, why can’t you get over him? 

“Ya!” the strange noise alerting you. You looked frantically trying to find the source of those gurgling sounds. It was deserted, the possibility of small rodents roaming around the area is surely high  — no wait; trying to think rationally. Then finally you see a monster camp right in front of you. 

You were ready to whip out elemental reactions and attack — oh no. Your vision illuminated its bright color. Still, nothing was released and hilichurl fighters were running at you. No way you were going to stand with this commotion, resorting to run for your life. As you huffed and puffed, accelerating your speed. The cold oxygen filling up your lungs, fingers were numb. Vision started to get foggy, decreasing your pace. You gaze down to notice red blood drizzled on the white blankets of snow. 

Blood? 

You felt the arrows that shot your head and leg. It must have been the hilichurl shooters. There were gashes on the back of your head and leg that began to rip you with pain. You touched the back of your head and felt the wet blood. With the energy in your had left, you continued — you looked back to see blurs of mitachurls with huge axes. Axes that can slice you in half. Your head and thoughts were swirling, unable to focus. Numbness seeped through your legs — stability was lacking. You were trembling, feeling your own body was out of your control. The snowy scenery swayed underneath you as your vision bathed in black spots. You collapsed in the snow, unable to pick yourself up. Legs and head were throbbing with agony and anguish. Pain that you never thought could exist, groaning in pain. The urge to scream came to you but no noise came out of your tired lips. You pushed yourself to crawl, eyeing a tree. Glancing back to see the monsters were leaving you alone. In the vast distances, struggling to hang on to dear life. Faint soft footsteps were heard, the soft slushing of the snow. Must have been an echo or from your imagination. Left alone suffering in the sub zero condition. Your mind was so foggy, eyes half-lit before seeing a glimpse of a familiar figure along the path. It was a blur of colors, you squinted in attempts for a clearer image. Just before you could make out what or who it was, darkness swallowed you whole; lying face down. 

“[y/n]!” 

You blacked out, unconscious in the cold. 

Albedo came running towards you, surely was shocked to see your body stiffly laying there. But noticing your wounds and the wet blood on your clothes — he had to take action. Still seeing that your vision was glowing, he didn’t worry as he checked your pulse. You were bleeding profusely, as Albedo swiftly wrapped you up with cloth he had on him. No words can explain how Albedo felt, as he threw your arms on his shoulders and back. Lifting your body up and holding on to your thighs; securing you. 

Albedo felt your pulse, beating with each running step. His pace started getting quicker, the desire to keep you alive. Not sure what to think of it besides the want to face you. His thought process was incoherent and he wanted it to be resolved.  

Little time. 

After sending you off, Albedo handed back to his camp, straight back to work. Focusing was an issue though. He had mixed feelings of frustration, unsure what these feelings could mean? He hoped you would be alright, but again, why would he care? Ever since the end of your relationship, Albedo noticed that he’s more sensitive than usual. Reactions seemingly to be more livid, stronger. New unfamiliar emotions that he can’t wrap his head around. This all left him at a dead end. 

He felt himself drowning in his own unwanted guilt. The princely blank face wasn’t there, instead contrasting it was the void of such strong rage. Teeth clenched, eyebrows arched. Face painted with pain and remorse. The look on your pale unconscious face... What was the source? His body heats up from this confusion, slamming his gloved hands on his desk. Palms sweating, soaking the leather, as he tossed them off. Papers and documents were flying everywhere, his arms swinging with tension. 

Is this what you're doing? It must be. 

Maybe as a vision bearer, you found a way to manipulate others. Nonetheless, Albedo needed answers. But with your crucial state, are you going to be alright? 

Albedo never felt this rage towards anyone: his master, Alice, Klee, Sucrose, Timaeus, The Knights of Favonius...

If only times were different. 

Weeks, months had passed, you were pronounced dead from your fatal wounds. On your deathbed, the glow of your vision had dimmed to a gray color. You were truly gone. Word got out and Albedo couldn’t pull himself together. Your death has left a void in many lives and memories. 

If only he cared. 

The blonde was choking with despair, gasping for a change... hope. As he flipped through the sketches of you, he stared blankly at your face. The little details that made you, you. He repeatedly muttered incoherent words: If only, if only.

There it was a sketch of you and your smile, if only he could see it one last time. He sighed, letting his head drop. His blonde hair was unkempt as he exhaled heavily. 

Once that first tear fell on the paper, more followed. 

If only he loved you. 

© aitseleci 2021 ✰ do not modify or repost

#🌧; angst-cele #albedo x reader #genshin angst #angst genshin #albedo genshin impact #albedo angst

[angstymdzsthoughts]

There are a lot of yzy giving away wwx AUs so lemme add one more to that pile.

When the wens came and demanded for wwx to be given to them as compensation for the things he had done against the wens sect and for sparing lotus pier from the consequences of his actions, yzy really didn't need to think twice. The boy was a servant, one she wanted to be gone the very day he set his foot inside the sect grounds. What's more is that now she really has a reason for his destruction. She knows this situation has won over the care and protectiveness jfm had for wwx when she sees him looking at wwx distantly, almost as if he was apologizing and pretending not to care. Afterall the choice was either their own children or wwx and it was about time wwx knew he never belonged to the jiang family.

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When lotus pier is again attacked 3 months later, the jiang sect is prepared. They had trained every one of their disciple and always been on high alert, taking care about setting up traps and array for the wens army that might March upon them. Afterall for yzy, wwx's life only had this much value. Fair trade she thought, 3 months for the jiang sect to prepare.

But what the jiang sect wasn't prepared for were the fierce corpses that descended upon the pier like moths around a flame, obscuring its light and plunging the sect in chaos.

Yzy was fighting alongside her husband. In the three months they had sent yanli away to meishan yu when she had had enough of yzy screaming about her poor cultivation and what burned she was.

The jiang sect fought but they where loosing ground and being pushed back step by step until everyone who was surviving was surrounded in the main training grounds.

They would not survive this, yzy thought. She and jfm were engaged in a fight with wzh and a fierce corpse. The latter having visible advantage. She slashed at the corpse, trying to cut one of his legs to tip the fight in their favour when she felt a hand hovering over her abdomen and radiating so much spiritual energy in such a small span of time that she felt her core crack, the light leaking and burning her meridians which were near the core and then the spiritual energy seeping down from where her core used to be like water splashed on sand. It might've taken an eternity, it might've lasted for a second but yzy felt her will crumble and sucked out of her as she collapsed, followed by jfm as he received the same fate when he tried to save her.

Coreless

A shrill note echoed from one of the highest roofs between the battle sounds just as jfm's kness hit the ground.

Some of the swords froze, as if time had been stopped for the chosen few.

And then turned, readjusting their targets as they slaughtered the wens and gained upon them. The jiang sect, few who were surviving, looked at the fierce corpses fighting their own army of living. The wens retreated, not many were even out of the threshold of the jiang sect before thy were slashed through with the swords or torn with bare hands.

As soon as the last wen fell, the fierce corpses also fell down, becoming just corpses in the blink of an eye.

And then they spotted a lone figure on the darkest blacks and the deepest reds lowering his flute, the moon painting his silhouette black. His robes were bellowing in the wind which flowed, the only small noise in the now deadly silent pier as he turned and left without another glance.

Wei Wuxian.

Jfm knew even before he saw his side profile when he turned his face and the moon illuminated it as the right angle to be visible.

And somehow even if he raised the child, he felt horror crawling up his spine as he saw the wide eyes of his wife and the corpses now lying unanimated around them.

---------------------------

He knows why he saved lotus pier and he knows why he saved when he saved it.

After all they had done, they deserved their golden core taken away.

And if not the burial mounds, they deserved to suffer surviving the type of life their forced wwx into.

He couldn't let them die this soon and easily.

(Okay this is quiet long and it's 2 AM pls ignore the grammer and typos)

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#lack of reply #wei wuxian #jiang fengmien #madame yu #mdzs