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abbatoirablaze · 5 months

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Catered To You, Yuki Tsunoda

Word Count: 791

“Just go in there and fuck things up,” Danny Ric smirked as he clapped his fellow driver on the back, “say you’re trying to help and then mess things up…but in a way that she has to help you. I mean, she won’t be too mad. It’s the end of the season…and it’ll give you an excuse to talk to her over the break.”

“That’s stupid advice,” Pierre said with a shake of his head and an eyeroll. He looked to the smaller man, “Yuki…just go up to her and ask her out. You don’t need to hide behind anything.”

“I don’t know,” the Australian shrugged, “I heard last week Lando tried to ask her out with the whole straight-forward method, and it didn’t work. Offered to buy her a plane ticket to his flat and show her the sights…he’s still walking around with his tail between his legs over it.”

“Lando’s not interested in her!” Pierre grumbled, “stop messing with him. Yuki. Trust me. Savannah likes you too. You just need to walk up to her and tell her that you like her.”

“How do you know that she likes me?” The Japanese driver asked quizzically, “she-“

“She made you a whole birthday dinner on her day off…” he reminded his friend, “and she always brings you little treats from catering…remember when you got homesick after we left Japan and she made you a whole Japanese inspired feast? People don’t do that unless they like you.”

“She was just being nice!”

Both Danny Ric and Pierre looked at one another, Daniel in a state of disbelief, “Wait…she did all that for him?”

“Yeah!”

“You didn’t tell me that,” the Australian said quickly, “yeah. If she did that then she definitely likes you.”

Yuki felt a blush rising to his cheeks as he looked between his former partner and his current one, “you really think so?”

“Yes…now go and ask her out already!”

Yuki felt his nerves racing as he stepped through the back doors of the catering area and into the kitchen, hopelessly looking for Savannah.

He smiled when he saw all 5’1” of her in the back making some desserts. His heart thudded wildly in his chest as he started heading back to her.

But he was stopped by one of the kitchen leads, “what are you doing back here?”

“I-uh-“

“Drivers and mechanics aren’t allowed back here. You know that, Yuki,” he said with a frown. He raised his pen from its clipboard and pointed at the small wrapped bouquet he’d brought along, “just like you know that you can’t bring non-food items back here, Mr. Tsunoda..”

“I-I’ll only be a se-“

“Out!” the leader of the kitchen said firmly, pointing towards the door, “get out before you contaminate my kitchen.”

“I-“

“Jeffrey, it-s’okay. I’ll escort Mr. Tsunoda out!” a voice replied quickly.

The lead moved and Yuki felt a blush rising to his cheeks as he saw Savannah quickly removing her apron.

“I’m counting this as your break!” he grumbled, disappearing.

“Yuki, wh-what are you doing here?” she asked quickly, looping her arms through one of his and turning him towards the door. Yuki felt like his throat was closing up as she walked him back out of the kitchen and through catering’s cafeteria, “Yuki, are you alright? Daijoubu desu ka?” (Are you alright?)

Yuki’s eyes went wide as they stopped outside the front door. “Nihongou ga hanase masu ka?” (You speak Japanese?”

She paled. Yuki felt his heart racing even faster as he watched her. His lips moved quickly as he felt the adrenaline, “Tsukiatsu te kure mase nichi ka?” (Will you go out with me?)

Savannah stared at him blankly as he held the flowers out to her.

“I-Yuki…”

Yuki frowned, and his adrenaline plummeted. He had thought that she would accept a date with him. With a heavy sigh he turned to walk away, before he died of embarrassment.

“Yuki wait!” she said quickly, turning the man to stop him, “I-why are you leaving? What’s wrong?”

“You said-“

“I-I don’t know what you said,” she said quickly, cutting him off, “I-I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to learn Japanese, but I-I haven’t gotten very far. I-“

“You don’t know what I said?”

The young couple stared at one another for a minute while Yuki processed her reactions. She shook her head and Yuki smiled, “I-I thought you knew Japanese when you asked if I was alright.”

“I know how to ask if someone’s alright and to say that my name is Savannah…I-I didn’t-“

“Go out with me?” Yuki tried again as he cut the young woman off. A blush rose to her cheeks as he held out the flowers, “I-will you go out with me?”

#formula 1 #f1 #motor sports #motorsports #alpha tauri #yuki tsunoda

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curewhimsy · 1 year

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I decided to write original fiction for the first time in ages and get inspiration for my characterizations of Vocaloid and UTAU

Vocaloid and UTAU have no canon personalities so any personalities I made for them are really much like having an OC. I decided to fully make them into OCs in the story

Anyway I just wrote an infodump about the story

If you’re a longtime follower of me you should remember some of the old OCs I’m featuring here

———Overview———

The story is inspired by the vivid dreams I have at night.

There is a wacky school where everything is surreal. Despite its whimsical magic atmosphere, it has many dangers and strict rules. Every day attending there is like a high-stakes adventure, or just plain strange.

The school is for people from the ages of 4 and 44. Groups are often divided by age.

The school is fun and wacky but also stressful and kinda awful. Life is never boring though. It’s just really crazy!

The school has an unfair hierarchy based on how many friends a student has. The more friends, the more perks. Outcasts? They get nothing.

The school lunch is cooked in a volcano, and the dishes have magical properties and very eccentric. Firework popcorn, anyone?

The classes cover all the bases. There there are even oddball classes such as “nap time,” where you get a failing grade if you can’t sleep that day!

Finally, if you miss the regular school bus to the dorm homes, you have to ride the Tragic School Bus, that takes “the long way home.” Chances are, you’ll be home past midnight.

Also, super-corrupt villains are totally not running the scenes the school and there’s TOTALLY NOT gonna be an arc where the students rebel against the school system. What makes you think that? :3

There’s more too but I just need to write lol

———Concept brainstorm———

Queen Rainbow is Queen of the whole School. (Don’t worry, she’s not a villain, she’s a student and she’s wonderful and eccentric and lovely)

The school is divided into 4 groups, named after the seasons. They are each ruled by monarchs named for the respective season. (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.)

Each group is kind of like a school team or a like… a DND class, but I have yet to think and elaborate. Perhaps it’s like, the group that scores the most “school points” the previous month gets perks for the next month, and the worst one gets penalties.

Also I just think the concept of “four character attribute options” or whatever is cool and I would hate comparisons to the HP books

There are also rivaling school idol groups just for drama and shiz

Each of the 4 groups has a different student council since I like Seitokaichou characters, I just need to decide who’s on the seitokai

School cliques. There will definitely be drama

———Characters and rationships——— (Not all are listed, because there are a lot planned. I plan on giving a lot of characters a spot in the limelight because this will be more like a franchise than a linear story or series…) (This also isn’t a bio list so I won’t be going into detail about their personalities here at least.) (Vocaloid and UTAU have no canon personalities so any personalities I made for them are really much like having an OC. I decided to fully make them into OCs here)

———Spring group——— (This group mostly has the first group of main characters, and Vocaloid expys)

Amelie Sugar- She’s me and y’all should know her

Sumi Shimizu- Based on Haku Yowane, specifically Clarith in Daughter of White. Is albino with white hair.

Sada Oyamada- Based on Neru Akita. She goes by Oya so her ship name with Sumi can be Oyasumi which means good night. Has blonde hair

Joy Smiley- OC turned UTAU. Has chestnut red hair

Soyi- Based on Utane Uta, but as an only child. Has black hair

Kiri Takamori- Based on Hatsune Miku, more specifically Michaela in Daughter of white. Has clover-green hair.

Kasumi Takamori- Kiri’s little sister based on Chibi Miku-san. Has darker clover-green hair

Haru Asaga- Old OC from 2012. One of my first. Originally from my first series Nichijou no Niji. Has rose red hair

Rosa- Sumi and Amelie’s daughter from the future. Don’t tell anyone. Has pale pink hair

Princess Spring (idk the royal titles could change)

———Summer group——— (This group mostly has a group of less-major but still important characters, and OCs I created back in 2015-2019)

Rhona Hydra- Formerly Rhona Aequor, I changed her last name. OC who is also an UTAU with my voice edited. Has blue hair

Nagisa Onda- Rhona’s gf, also UTAU with my voice edited. Has dark magenta hair

Luana Kai- Chaotic pirate girl OC. Also an UTAU. Has dark teal hair

Rie Hibine- From 2012’s Nichijou no Niji. May or may not also be an UTAU. Has spring green hair

Nina Rivera- Side character from Nichijou no Niji who got her spotlight in a story about a cruise I wrote in 2013

Natasha Evans III- One of Nina’s friends from her cruise, from the 2013 story. Likes to be called Kitty.

Sasha Oddison- One of Nina’s friends from her cruise, from the 2013 story

Mora Oddison- Sasha’s little sister.

Vivian Star- Originally a teammate of Joy Smiley’s in a story called Whimsy Quartet. Has yellow hair

Reisei Kiyone- That poet guy I created in 2015. He has a chronic illness. He was inspired by a dream I had when I fell asleep to Seiko-P (Vocaloid producer) music

Tamika Towa- Reisei’s best friend. Created in 2015. She and Reisei have become adults in my writing.

Sowon Moon- Reisei’s boyfriend… he is also kind of my male alter-ego. I kinda ship him with a lot of OCs too. I created him recently.

Princess Summer

———Autumn group———

(This group mostly has the second group of main characters, and UTAU expys)

Lanyue Fei- Based on Taya Soune. Has dark blue hair. His first name means blue moon in Chinese

Jihong Cha- Based on Ritsu Namine. Has scarlet hair. His first name means scarlet in Korean

Kanade Yozora- Based on Defota. Oldest sibling in Yozora family. Has cool lavender hair

Shigure Yozora- Based on Defosuke. Second oldest Yozora sibling. Has indigo hair

Arata Yozora- Based on Utane Uta/Defoko. Second-youngest Yozora sibling. Has dark purple hair

Kiwa- Based on Koe Utane. Youngest Yozora sibling. Has warm lilac hair

Emiri- Based on Momo Momone with a side of Yui from K-on. Has red hair.

Aimi- Emiri’s sister. Kinda based on Ui from K-on. Has magenta hair.

Yuiru- Based on Teto. Has pink hair

Seiya- Based on Ted with a bit of Momoraro vibe. Has pale pink hair.

Leimi- Based on Ruko. I’ll go into more detail because she honestly super cool. Kaoru’s outgoing younger sister. Has wild black hair with red and blue streaks. Loves mecha and those transparent sparkly machine and robot aeshetics. Loves Coke more than Pepsi. Kinda goth, kinda scene. Neon and rave aesthetic. Nightcore. Age 22.

Kaoru- Based on Rook. I’ll go into detail because he’s honeslty super cool. Leimi’s edgy older brother. Has wild black hair with green and purple streaks. Is a furry and likes sparkledogs. Loves Pepsi more than Coke. Kinda emo, kinda scene. Neon and rave aesthetic. Nightcore. Age 26.

Celia- A random character from a random Rainbow Week story who got promoted to a major character. A spooky banshee woman. Has periwinkle hair.

Noemi Kise- From Nichijou no Niji back in 2012

Maia Mei- another Whimsy Quartet girl created along with Joy

Nikamowin Takwakin- Celestine’s good friend. Originally named Alvarina, I decided to give her a name to reflect her Native Canadian roots. She was originally going to marry Celestine into royalty, but I realized it has racial connotations for a Native woman to marry into (white) royalty so she’s just going to be a friend to Celestine and possibly on the student council.

Princess Autumn

———Winter group———

(These OCs are mostly new with some exceptions (the exceptions mostly are the ones listed, and I don’t know what to do with this group yet.) (UPDATE: this group also features characters from my old first original work Whimsica Saga)

Margot Nocturne- The dramatic disaster monocle lady

Octavia Forte- Another dramatic monocle lady, but they’re genderfluid and not as much of a disaster

Aria Dolce- Octavia’s wife who is also dramatic. What’s with winter group and these people.

Sonata Coda- She wears a monocle but she’s just grumpy.

Setsuna Usui- The dramatic angsty girl from Nichijou no Niji. Had a ship subtext with Rie

Bonnie Lace- Dramatic and theatrical member of Whimsy Quartet. I guess winter is the dramatic season

Souko Okuda- From Whimsy Quartet. A timid genius

Momoka Misaki- Souko’s best friend who is gyaru (Japanese fashion subculture) and is cheerful and sweet

Bianca Luna- Main character from Whimsica Saga. That title makes me nostalgic. Did you know Whimsica saga was originally a Vocaloid fanfic and that Bianca replaced Yowane Haku?

Camille Rainer- From Whimsica Saga. Replaced Neru Akita

Candy Corn- From Whimsica Saga. Replaced Kaito

Pepper Corn- From Whimsica Saga. Replaced Akaito

Pop Corn- From Whimsica Saga. An extra sibling

Ruby- From Whimsica Saga. Replaced the role of Yukari Yuzuki

Kuma- From Whimsica Saga. Relaced Len Kagamine

Kuri- From Whimsica Saga. Replaced Rin Kagamine

Puma- From Whimsica Saga. Kuma’s older brother

Emi- From Whimsica Saga

Nova- From Whimsica Saga

Jay- From Whimsica Saga

Princess Winter

———Royal group——— (These are the “royal” students who don’t fit anywhere. Despite being royal and special and all that, I stilll want to make them feel normal. Also they generally don’t like their royal status much, and/or don’t feel it very much important, unless they are jerk)

Queen Rainbow

Stelle Shimmer

Lunette Shimmer

Celestine Shimmer

Simone

Jasmine

Jolene

Serena (became royalty due to being Celestine’s girlfriend)

Tally (Serena’a royal hand puppet. I mean she is literally a puppet.)

Harmony (Queen Rainbow is engaged to her)

#My writing

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elainevalerie · 4 years

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The most satisfying palette. Inspired by the colors of our Sunday walks. 💅🏼🌿🌾🌼☀️ . . . #nails #nailpolish #diynails #athomemani #palette #aesthetic #plants #inspired #nichi #jhannah #hm #odeme #colorful #fun #satisfying #manicure #doityourself https://www.instagram.com/p/B_z44WCp3Mm/?igshid=huazssjt5756

#nails #nailpolish #diynails #athomemani #palette #aesthetic #plants #inspired #nichi #jhannah #hm #odeme #colorful #fun #satisfying #manicure #doityourself

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earlgreymon · 3 years

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Koushiro and Hikari's Summer Break ☀️🏮 ft. Jenrya Lee (Digimon Tamers) and Hoi Brothers (Digimon Adventure 02) for @digiweek 2021 day 5 // crossover

(click the images for a more readable full scale!) remember when i said: 1) i had a friend with jenrya/hikari as otp, 2) she made me write a 8k words fic of koukari going to hongkong where she met jenrya and ended up dating? it would be a hassle for me to translate it and trust me it was so cringe lmao, so i made this instead. it was hard and tedious, but i told myself i had to show some love for koukari in digiweek—and i did! i could even show some love too dear jenrya too! i always wanted to make something again out of my #digicentfancast anyway~

inspired by @dianaagron’s digimon social media edit some usernames taken and inspired from @tangledupblue’s instagram edit and @fromsorawithlove ;)

fancast by maysnow - deng enxi as hikari yagami - fei qimin as koushiro izumi - leo wu lei as jenrya lee

more ramblings and further explanation below the cut!

let’s assume hikari and jenrya are in the same age.

the series never mentioned hoi brothers first names, so i took the liberty of choosing them; using bruce lee and donny yen’s first name. i know a lot of hongkongers have a western name, but i have a hunch that the hois are quite the traditionalist.

hikari is indeed an avid nichi users.

and yes, koushiro is trying his best to look cute.

i had to open my instagram and looked how my japanese friends named their account. i remember they rarely use their full names. instead, from what i learned, they often: 1) prolong some alphabets (like miiiiiyako), 2) use a lot of numbers, 3) also use repeated dots and underscores. idk whether this is true or not, but that’s just base on my investigation.

14 is taichi’s shirt number in da:2020

koushiro should’ve been born on 1989. i took @dutchforstrangers headcanon where she said koushiro was born on august, hence 898.

1 in japanese is “ichi” - so you can read 1jouji as ichijouji.

also, sora’s username was created by mimi, and even though she’s kinda shy about it (“why do i have to blatantly use the word ‘love’?!”), she didn’t have any other username idea.

yes, takeru and hikari just love to tease each other and never really date. gah.

her “oh” is more because she was surprised, not she was being mean.

hikari posted a lot of cats in her instagram. no surprise.

howlatthemoon is the script’s song yamato’s username, of course.

jenrya lives permanently in hong kong in this universe, but his family is planning to move to japan anyway. DO YOU THINK THEY WILL END UP DATING? #theoriesarewelcome

#digimon #digiweek2021 #by me #graphic #digigraphic #digiedit #koushiro izumi #hikari yagami #jenrya lee #hoi brothers #koukari #jenkari

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wickfursfanfics · 3 years

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DCMKEmogust2021 28/08

My entry for DCMKEmogust 2021 - Saturday 28/08

My prompt Inspirations for this one:

My own work shenanigans

Song 02 - Sweet Tooth By Scott Helman Spotify//YT

Intended Genre: sadness and fluff.

Rating: General

Starring: Kaito and Shinichi. And me as the clerk. KaiShin

I had another idea for this prompt originally, but it was just vibes so I didn't know how to continue it. And then a few days ago at work I witnessed a sad and sweet scene.

For some context. I work at an ice cream stand in my city, scooping ice cream to the summer happy masses. And since our season is slowly coming to an end we are running low on the more popular flavours.

Anyway, I turned the little scene into a little fic scene with our resident detective of the east and phantom thief boys.

Enjoy~

Shinichi had found an ice cream stand in downtown Beika. It was strategically placed at a plaza where many people came by every day. It had no wheels but it was a temporary establishment that flocked the masses over the summer months. A box shaped stand that interestingly enough had a roof that could lift at the turn of a key.

He had gotten a tip from Takagi-keiji that they had some of the best ice creams he had tasted and it was so worth the little extra money it cost. So naturally Shinichi got intrigued.

The first time he went there he got the mocha flavoured one. He was surprised to note it wasn't too sweet and tasted enough coffee that he had to go back and get another. The sweet lady scooping the ice cream giggled a little good naturally and scooped a slightly larger than average scoop and gave him a smile as she served it. He ate it gratefully.

The second time around it had gone by a month or two. He went up to that same lady and asked to get some mocha. She smiled apologetically and explained it was gone this morning. And they might not get another shipment for a while. Shinichi felt a bit sad but asked if she recommended anything else.

She hummed and said that it depends on what flavours he liked. Then she said that the Blueberry cheesecake was a favourite of hers. She gave him a little spoon of the creamy goodness and Shinichi tasted it. He was surprised by how much he actually liked it, it wasn't overly sweet and the cheese cake crumbs in the ice cream really made the flavours pop. So he took a scoop of that with little complaint.

The third time he ordered from the stand, he chose the Blueberry cheese cake once more. It tasted just as good as the last time.

When he got home he was greeted with a hug by Kaito. He was finally home from his tour, a little early even. He told Kaito about the ice cream place and about this new flavour he had tasted. He told Kaito that he really would need to taste this one, it was right down his alley despite him being more of a chocolate addict. Kaito was really excited, there was finally something they could eat together that suited both their tastes.

So the next day they both went to the ice cream place. Kaito was a ball of energy and very much hyped about finally tasting the flavour Shinichi had bugged him about.

There was a cue and they patiently waited for their turn. There were two orders ahead of them and the ladies in front of them kept ogling the prices with frowns on their faces. When it was their turn they ordered one scoop each. The first lady pays for her ice cream but the second lady refused to.

"It was 320¥ last time" she says a bit bitterly. The lady just doing her job told them that "No it has always been 408¥"

The lady wouldn't have it and insisted

"That was the other ice cream place down the road, they had 408¥, here it was 320¥" she says, her friend agreeing with her.

The clerk looks a bit uncomfortable but continues to insist that no, it has always been 408¥ for one scoop and 536¥ for two and 664¥ for three. She continually points at the prices listed on their little sign telling them so.

Shinichi knew for a fact that it has always been 408¥, what were they trying to do? Harass her into giving them another price?

They continued to harp at the poor lady until Kaito and Shinichi butted in.

"Excuse me ladies" Kaito says with full charm "But if she says it has been 408¥ the entire time, then you can't keep holding up the line"

"Excuse me!?" She hisses while turning around. When she sees that it's thee Kuroba Kaito, she changes tune immediately. She giggles innocently "But I could have sworn it was 320¥" she says, fluttering her eyelashes.

Shinichi gives her a flat look "Well, it isn't the price you remember, so please pay and be on your way" she huffs but grudgingly pays what she owes. Muttering all the way.

"I won't come back here that is for sure!" She calls as she leaves.

Kaito chuckles at their childishness "The prices were listed very clearly, what was their problem?"

Shinichi snorts "They probably thought paying 408¥ for a scoop was expensive"

The lady bows slightly and thanks them for helping her out with a smile. She then asks what ice cream they would like.

Kaito immediately say they should get two scoops, so that's what they will get. He asks her what flavour shw would recommend together with Blueberry cheesecake. She said that she really enjoyed it with Seasalted caramel. And so he took those flavours. She started with the Blueberry, bringing the container up on the counter as it was nearing empty. When she was done with it she set it to the side to disposr of later. She then put a nice scoop of Seasalted caramel on top and gave it to him.

She then turned to Kaito and he smiled and said he wanted the same. Her face fell into an apologetic one, her expression looking sad. "I'm sorry, that was the last of the Blueberry cheesecake.." she said dejectedly.

Kaito's smile fell into a sad one. His expression turning into a kicked and sad puppy, he was distraught. She continued to look sad right with him and urged him to try something else she had. Shinichi suggested the Saffron and Honey flavour. Kaito shook his head a little. She took a spoon and a small piece for him to try. Kaito put it in his mouth and hung his head shaking it "no" he said in the most sad tone he had heard. Shinichi frowned, maybe he had hyped it up too much.

"Come on Kaito, don't you want something else?" He and the lady both urging him to pick something else. He dejectedly picked "Then an Italian Chocolate and seasalted caramel… please"

She apologised again and scooped the requested flavours. They then paid and started walking away. The lady called after them that Shinichi should let Kaito taste the flavour later. Shinichi sent her a smile over his shoulder and called back "I will do that!"

Kaito continues to look very sad as he licks his ice cream. "At least the seasalted caramel was good" he says off handedly. Shinichi sighs at his behaviour and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Cheer up, you can have half the scoop when I get to it"

Kaito lit up immediately and started devouring his ice cream with vigor. Giving him a happy smile "Thank you Nichi!"

"Idiot" he says and continues to eat his frozen goodness at a more normal pace.

In the end Kaito got to taste the flavour and was very happy.

END.

Now, the ladies that refused to pay actually gave in pretty easily after being told that it was the right price in the real scenario. But it was more fun having the boys interfere.

Until next time!

//Wick 0v0

#dcmkemogust2021 #emogust2021 #dcmkemogust #Detective Conan #dcmk #magic kaito #wick writes sometimes #kaishin #kuroba kaito #kudo shinichi #humor #sadness #fluff #ice cream

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isobelicious · 5 years

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heavenly mornings

1 9 7 9

#heavenly mornings #nichi #vintage inspired #vintage inspired card #aesthetic #70s aesthetic

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wisteria-aa · 3 years

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The poem which inspired Horikoshi for Deku’s nickname

Japanese:

ame ni mo makezu

kaze ni mo makezu

yuki ni mo natsu no atsusa ni mo makenu

jōbu na karada wo mochi

yoku wa naku

kesshite ikarazu

itsu mo shizuka ni waratte iru

ichi nichi ni genmai yon gō to

miso to sukoshi no yasai wo tabe

arayuru koto wo

jibun wo kanjō ni irezu ni

yoku mikiki shi wakari

soshite wasurezu

nohara no matsu no hayashi no kage no

chiisa na kayabuki no koya ni ite

higashi ni byōki no kodomo areba

itte kanbyō shite yari

nishi ni tsukareta haha areba

itte sono ine no taba wo oi

minami ni shinisō na hito areba

itte kowagaranakute mo ii to ii

kita ni kenka ya soshō ga areba

tsumaranai kara yamero to ii

hideri no toki wa namida wo nagashi

samusa no natsu wa oro-oro aruki

minna ni deku-no-bō to yobare

homerare mo sezu

ku ni mo sarezu

sō iu mono ni

watashi wa naritai

English:

Unbeaten by the rain

Unbeaten by the wind

Bested by neither snow nor summer heat

Strong of body

Free of desire

Never angry

Always smiling quietly

Dining daily on four cups of brown rice

Some miso and a few vegetables

Observing all things

With dispassion

But remembering well

Living in a small, thatched-roof house

In the meadow beneath a canopy of pines

Going east to nurse the sick child

Going west to bear sheaves of rice for the weary mother

Going south to tell the dying man there is no cause for fear

Going north to tell those who fight to put aside their trifles

Shedding tears in time of drought

Wandering at a loss during the cold summer

Called useless by all

Neither praised

Nor a bother

Such is the person

I wish to be

#my hero academia #boku no hero academia #bnha #mha #midoriya izuku #kohei horikoshi

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dreamidoodles · 1 year

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inspired from "glimpse of us." twit. 07.31.22.

#dreamidoodles #departure verse #post canon verse #sora #riku #vanitas #sorvani #sovani #soriku #nichi inspired

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junipers-cave · 3 years

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I made a couple wallpapers inspired by Florence + the Machine! Feel free to use them, and please credit me if you repost. I do not own any of the images used. Created with the app Nichi.

#florencemachine #florence #florence + the machine #only if for a night #useless magic #wallpapers #flossie

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origami10 · 4 years

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Ajin Week 2020 Day 1 Infant/Day 2 Schoolboy/Day 5 Headcanon/Slice of Life

———

“Tadaima! Uncle Kai, I’m home!” Kazuki threw his backpack down on the ledge in the entryway and stepped on the backs of his shoes to kick them off. His socks slipped over the boards of the floor polished smooth by years of foot traffic as he skidded around a turn and jumped over the threshold into the kitchen.

Kai was there, putting the finishing touches on some apples cut to look like bunnies. Kazuki grabbed more plates with cucumber and miso from the counter and put them on the table in the living room, coming back for the bowls with the apple as Kai poured them each a glass of cold barley tea.

They settled down at the table, and Kazuki said a quick “Itadakimasu!” before digging in to his afternoon snack.

Kai had made himself portions of snack too, but dug in more slowly. “How was school today? Are you getting used to your new class?”

Kazuki didn’t bother to stop chewing when he answered, “Yeah! Me and my friends played dodgeball at recess, and pretty soon our whole class joined in!”

“That’s great. I bet you’ll be excited to show everyone around when you come on your field trip to plant rice. Are you ready to keep practicing again today?”

“Yeah!” Kazuki’s glass thunked as he set it down on the table, dishes already empty. “I’ll go change!” He whizzed out the door, and Kai heard his footsteps thump up the stairs to the room they kept for him here.

—

Ten minutes later, the two of them stood in the entryway, armed with overalls, wading boots, and wide-brimmed straw hats. Kai picked up a tray full of bundled sprouts, and they walked out towards the rice paddies just outside the house.

They could hear Kotobuki in the distance, running the tractor to plant the other, bigger fields with neat lines of rice. Meanwhile, Kai worked with Kazuki on rolling out the lines in the mud, and planting each individual sprout with adequate spacing in the thick squelching earth of the paddy. It was slow work, but were doing part each day, to get ready for the field trip Kazuki’s class had been invited to, where each student would get to try planting rice in the traditional way.

—

Kei saw their backs first as he drove up the hill to the gravel driveway in front of the house. They looked up and waved, and Kei waved back, before pulling the car in and turning the engine off. He opened the door into the warm spring day, and picked his way carefully through the grass to the paddy, doing his best to keep the mud to the bottoms of his shoes and off the hems of his ironed pants and long white coat.

“Welcome home!” Kai tossed out the loud, friendly greeting. “Are you staying for dinner?”

“Yeah, I figured we would.” Kazuki let out a small exclamation of excitement. “If it’s not too much trouble, since Kou’s running a late exercise with the fire department tonight.”

“Will he make it by?”

“Not tonight, but I expect you’ll see more of him this weekend, especially if you still need help with the fields.”

“Dad, what do you think of the rice today? Uncle Kai’s been helping me figure out how to plant it faster, but it still looks messy. Good thing Uncle Takeshi’s using the tractor on all the rest of the fields!”  

“It looks good, Kazuki. I’m sure you’ll be an excellent teacher for your class.”

Kazuki stood up, his last bundle of sprouts all planted, and before he knew it, a pair of invisible black feet had swooped out of the sky and hauled him out of the mud of the paddy and onto the thick grass between.

“Thanks!” Kazuki shouted a greeting to Takeshi and his winged IBM, and started pulling off his muddy boots, as Kai squelched up onto the firm embankment.

“Whadda you say we go get ourselves cleaned up and ready for dinner?” Kai said, to Kazuki, but smiling at Kei.

Kazuki raced ahead as the two of them turned to the house, followed by the silence after the tractor and swooping wings bringing everyone in together to share a meal.

———

This is a continuation of a fic I wrote for secret santa this year, about Kei and Kou’s child, Kazuki! More background info/the first chapter can be found here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22249771 My posts are running late anyway, so this is a combination of days 1, 2, and 5- it was inspired by the infant (Kazuki), but I wanted to do something a little later on the timeline, so I was imagining him in third grade, around the same age when Kei and Kai played as children.

Also inspired by the picture book Natsu no Ichi Nichi, by Koshiro Hata!

#ajinweek2020 #Ajin #Ajin fanart #I'll do a bunch of quick drawings and stories I said #I won't make it complicated I said #proceeds to draw dozens of individual rice sprouts #Kazuki

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7team7 · 5 years

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SasuSaku Month Day 6: Sharp Edges

Title: a paper crane for a paper heart // rating: T (warning: major illness, angst) // Sakura is very sick. Sasuke wishes she would just get better, so he folds one thousand paper cranes. // ao3 link

A/N: Inspired by the book “Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes”, it was one of the first books to ever make me cry as a kid. My mom was a teacher and she used to read it to her class and she gave me to book later. Based on a Japanese legend, making a thousand origami cranes is said to make a wish come true.

---

“And then you fold this part over like that, and you have a crane! Well, yours is looking like it could use some work, Sasuke-kun. Make sure to fold it so you have clean, sharp edges. Like mine.”

Sasuke hated this. He didn’t see the point in this. He didn’t know all of the details, but Sakura was very, very sick. Even dying. The fact that they were folding cranes while she sat in her hospital bed said it all. He grew more frustrated by the day; she should be back at school, at his house for dinner, at the gym, at the sweets shop—anywhere but here. He yearned for their younger days when they daydreamed about the future and folded paper airplanes full of hope instead of cranes weighed down by tragedy. The hospital made Sasuke exceedingly uncomfortable, but he’d be damned if he missed even a moment of what could very well be Sakura’s final days.

And Sakura, ever the curious one, ever the optimist, took the experience as a time to learn. She was a great patient, allowing a million tests to be done on her for research purposes, asking all sorts of questions because she was genuinely interested in medical practice. When Sasuke asked her why she kept prodding the nurses for more information instead of relaxing in her bed, she just smiled at him and replied, “I’ll need to be prepared for my future career, right?”

If it were anyone else, Sasuke wouldn’t humor them, but this was Sakura, and he’d do anything for her. Really, even fold as many paper cranes as he could manage. Even when she was napping, which was becoming more frequent as her strength left her little by little, he folded. This side over that, taking care to make sharp edges. Nothing but neat, clean cranes would do.

---

Once, he was so distracted while fiddling with a half-finished crane, he gave himself a nasty paper cut. He had been staring at the tiny form on the hospital bed, consumed by his thoughts of a future without her when he sliced a thin line clean across his palm. Stupid cranes. Stupid sharp edges.

He hated how that phrase said by her soft voice kept ringing in his head. That’s what Sakura was: pink, soft, warm. If someone was all cold and sharp edges, it was Sasuke.

When he wasn’t with Sakura, it was more apparent than ever. He snapped more easily, got less sleep, zoned out when others spoke to him. His mind was always on Sakura, Sakura, Sakura. It felt pretty twisted: he had always felt happiest with her, but her condition made his mood incredibly sour. The only person he had ever felt comfortable enough with to talk about his feelings was Sakura. But he couldn’t burden her with his fears and grievances, not when she was the one teetering between life and death each day. Sasuke’s heart hurt so much, he sometimes felt like he was dying too.

So he kept folding, if not to just have an excuse to stay by her side without speaking. He wasn’t sure what he could even say to her at this point. His mother had already tried talking to him about the stages of grief he already seemed to be experiencing, like anger and denial, but he just walked away from the conversation to go visit room 707.

It had been a month since that talk and she hadn’t attempted to reason with him since. After he came home from the hospital that day was the first time he had allowed himself to cry in a long time.

---

Sakura’s illness scared him even more because it seemed devastatingly similar to Itachi’s. His beloved older brother was sick for a long time before he couldn’t hold on any longer. If the same thing happened to Sakura, Sasuke wasn’t sure what he could do to keep himself together. She was such an integral part of his life; losing her would be like getting half his heart scattered to the wind.

He loved Itachi deeply, but differently; their relationship was something he was born with and could always count on to be there, no matter what he did. Itachi would love him always. But he made the choice to love Sakura everyday, instead of pushing her away like he did in the past. She was the first to offer comfort when Itachi died, even when he lashed out at her. She had helped him to restore a sense of normalcy, but he couldn’t return the favor.

But where had he gone wrong? He couldn’t take any of it back now, even if he was hurting. Maybe if he had made different choices in the past, he could’ve protected her from something, anything. Maybe they wouldn’t be in the situation they were in now. He felt so helpless. What was the point in having her by his side, knowing her, loving her, all in the past when she was about to be ripped away from his future?

---

Even as his thoughts walked themselves in circles, he couldn’t imagine a life without Sakura, no matter the situation.

So he kept folding. Sharp edges on all the cranes: big, small, patterned paper, plain paper. Lots of pinks and greens. A part of him thought that maybe, just maybe, if he had wished hard enough and folded enough cranes back then, his brother would still be with them. So he would keep trying for Sakura.

---

When she first showed him the stacks and stacks of papers for the cranes, he asked her what she was going to wish for. She laughed at him, “I can’t tell you! If you tell someone your wish, it won’t come true.”

Even though she was smiling, Sakura didn’t bother asking Sasuke what his wish would be. They both knew what Sasuke was going to wish for and it was breaking their hearts.

He kept folding.

---

He was quite proud of himself and ready to show Sakura when he finally reached the last crane to fold. He swung by room 707, just to find the bed empty. His stomach dropped and he immediately thought the worst.

“Where is she? Where is Sakura?” he started shouting to no one in particular. He started to panic when no one answered and he slid his back halfway down the wall with his head in his hands. Was she...? Why didn’t anyone tell him? They knew him since he was here almost everyday, they had his phone number after he insisted on being added to her emergency contacts list.

A kind nurse hurried over from the counter, “She’s not here anymore. I guess it all happened too quickly for anyone to let you know.”

Sasuke thought he was going to vomit.

“They moved her to a different unit this morning.”

“A different unit? So she’s not...dead?” his voice cracked and saying the word out loud nearly made him choke. “She’s okay for now?”

The nurse smiled gently at him, “I think she’s going to make a full recovery. The esteemed doctor Tsunade came to town yesterday and it turns out she’s been doing years worth of medical research related to Sakura’s illness. She’s going to be able to help Sakura.”

Sasuke didn’t realize how much he had been shaking until his knees gave out and he fully collapsed to the ground. “Can you tell me where she is? I have something to give to her.”

The nurse took pity on the kid and told him, even if protocol might say otherwise. Young love was really something.

---

Sasuke rushed up the stairs to the fifth floor, going through what felt like an endless maze of stark white, fluorescent lit hallways. His heart was pounding, nearly drowning out the sound of the hospital’s endless conversations and crying and beeping equipment.

He finally rounded the corner to face a huge pane of glass. Sakura. It had to be her, there was no one else with that hair. But he couldn’t get a clear view, a blonde woman he had never seen before was talking to the many other doctors, who he recognized as Sakura’s doctors, in the room. It almost looked like she was teaching them something. Even reprimanding them. Was this the doctor the nurse downstairs had told him about? Sasuke didn’t care who was in there, as long as they could make Sakura healthy again. He took a seat across from the window so he could still glance inside while folding.

Just one more. One more crane with meticulous sharp edges, and he could make his wish. The paper he chose for the final crane was a beautiful floral pattern, all pinks and greens and the feeling of spring and hope. A new beginning, a new life.

“Hey kid,” a voice called. Sasuke looked up from the crane to see the blonde woman poking her head out of the door to Sakura’s room. “She keeps asking for you so hurry up, get in here.”

Sasuke scrambled to get out of his seat, nearly dropping the crane in his haste. As soon as he reached her bedside, Sakura sat up. It had been a while since she could do that on her own. She smiled with more brightness than he had seen in a long time and said softly, “Dr. Tsunade is so smart, I’ve learned so much.”

“And I’m going to be fine.”

Sasuke didn’t trust his voice at the moment, so he wordlessly presented the thousandth crane. Sakura carefully took it from his hand to place it on the bedside table, next to the very first one he made with her. “Thank you, Sasuke-kun.”

His heart felt like it was made of paper: it had nearly been torn in half, but it was going to be all smoothed out soon enough. What mattered was that his was still beating along with hers.

One thousand paper cranes, one wish.

One boy and one girl who would do anything for one more day together.

---

A/N: Who would I be if not a writer who includes happy endings every time (even if it is kind of deus ex machina ish lol)!! Hope you still liked it

After I wrote this I realized I could’ve gone with something inspired by AKB48’s 365 Nichi no Kamihikouki/365 Days of Paper Airplanes, so I added the paper airplane part in the beginning. I really love that song :)

something fun is coming tomorrow so please look forward to that!

#ssm19 #sasusaku month #ssm19d6 #my writing

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yogaadvise · 4 years

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Teachers thoughts: what is your intention for the New Year?

Esther Ekhart - journey towards relaxation

All I desire at this phase of my life from my yoga practice is for it to relocate me in the direction of being my most kicked back, open, existing, kind self feasible in all situations off the floor covering. Yoga for me can be meditation, a solid flow, a long centering grounding Yin session or just walking in nature existing to my breath. Knowing what to do when to aid me be my most loosened up self is the journey.

Nichi Green - being here now

My emphasis currently is corresponding in my practice. I can conveniently obtain sidetracked which yoga exercise assists with extremely. Whether my technique is Vinyasa design, Ashtanga or Yamuna I'm hopping on my floor covering each day just to tune right into my body and also greet. I'm also working with Handstand which has created a whole lot over the last year as I've got stronger in my core as well as top body. I attempt and do it everyday which is invigorating and also I love being upside down.

What I wish to take with me into the New Year is a feeling of existing. I lately saw a terrific interview with the star Bill Murray that, when asked what he wanted, said' to simply be here regularly. To be actually present.' This reverberated massively with me and also I've embraced his little rule of 'Return Bill' to advise me.

Irina Verwer - authenticity

I love to begin my everyday practice and also my courses with an intention - and also setting an intention for a new year is a wonderful way to open to assess what is functioning, what isn't and what needs some great tuning or reformation. My recurring purpose is to be authentic. This beams with in every choice I make. It assists me to be open, to connect with myself and others on a much deeper degree, to take care of myself, to relax, to consume the foods that really feel excellent to my body and also to pay attention before talking. Desiring you a really joyous New Year!

Sandra Carson - offering the most to myself and also my world

Intention for me is what distinguishes the technique of yoga exercise from any type of other kind of workout or motion technique. I locate my practices have always been the most powerful when I established a purpose. If I don't set an objective of any kind of kind, I end up just doing the asana and also moving and taking a breath. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, however it leaves my practice a little completely dry and also not really satisfying.

An objective for me can imply to address something physical, psychological or emotional. It can likewise be an offering to a person or something. It actually depends upon where I remain in my life what purpose I establish, when I am struggling or not in an excellent room, I require to remain near to myself and also will set my objective on something more individual. When I really feel balanced and clear, I established my intention as an offering.

So my method usually revolves around the inquiry: what do I require to resolve to be healthy and balanced in my body and also mind? Just how do I require to practice in order to see myself, to understand and also feel myself far better? Just how can I relocate a way that opens up rigidity in my body and also to get strengthens where I really feel weak? Exactly how can I be much more open, kind, loving as well as understanding and also less narcissistic?

My objective is the driving pressure that aids me to connect to myself and also to attach to the globe around me with even more understanding and also clearness. Currently in my life, with all the ups as well as downs that come with it, I have actually been really feeling a change in myself. In general, I am extremely satisfied and also happy for where I am and I really feel quite satisfied, both in my physical and also spiritual method. Although there is constantly function to be done, I feel my energy moving away from myself and I am concentrating much more on what it is that I can offer to the world. The globe is a large area as well as 'supplying to the globe' may come across as a lofty or grandiose effort. For me, 'the world', simply means my spouse and children, my neighbour, my pupils and pals, the cable car driver or whoever I run into in my life. How can I remain in the world in a manner that does not only make me feel happy as well as meaningful, but additionally in such a way that offers to others?

David Dodd - presence and exploration

I work at two degrees in my own method when it pertains to intention. At a general level I constantly collaborate with the objective to merely 'Exist'. I often tend to spend a great deal of time in my head, so for me existing means most importantly bringing my attention to my body and right into the breath when I practice. This basic purpose has offered me well over the years to ground me each morning before I go out as well as do my point in the world. I will certainly remain to work with it going forwards both during technique as well as off my mat.

At a second degree I usually function with several particular purposes with regard to the interest I give my physique. For example, presently I am exploring what is going on in my butt muscle mass when I raise up right into back bends, and also the differences in feeling when I loosen up as well as re-engage these muscle mass in different methods as well as at different times in the pose. The various strategies for asana technique give different viewpoints on what is the 'appropriate means' to exercise in this respect, so I am just spending some time discovering this for myself. I invested a few months doing this a couple of years back and I am discovering equally as much - and having as much enjoyable - the second time around!

James Reeves - rest in the moment

My life's purpose is to rest in my interconnected integrity in all minutes of life so my everyday and yearly intents constantly support this. This year my intent is to remain to instruct and expand in my research and understanding, whilst taking ample break for my own meditation as well as technique. It's so simple to obtain shed in all the 'doing', all the research study, and all the 'understanding' as well as forget that often we just require to relax back right into the minute. Here's to a large New Year!

David Lurey - present in the state of love

I am maintaining with a clear purpose to be extra conscious in my asana method in the hope that it performs to the rest of my life. I am not so thinking about becoming more versatile or more powerful in my presents these days, but a lot more concerned with maintaining existing and also alive in every circumstances. It entails 'more' body recognition however is much more focused on involving my mind in the moment.

The intention of being extra conscious is to keep me much more in the existing minute where I believe Love to exist. I intend to be in mental as well as physical state of love as long as feasible. Oh ... as well as a couple of swimsuit handstands too!: o)

Francesca Guisti - being open to what unfolds

I don't truly assume concerning objective when I hop on my floor covering. It's not regarding 'What I want to accomplish' or' just how I intend to really feel' with my method. It's a lot more about the energy degree that I have at that specific moment, as well as how it advances as I enjoy my technique. Sitting as well as Pranayama have a profound result on my energy, and also typically afterwards I am prepared to move my body. If there is an intention, it's simply the deep understanding that once I get on my floor covering I am always a lot more in tune with my body, with my breath as well as with my mind. Clearness and equilibrium come whether I put my intent there or otherwise. I invite my fellow specialists to keep their intent light: being open to what unfolds is the most effective intention!

Anat Geiger - understand the underlying actions

What constantly helps me is to ask the inquiry: what is the purpose behind the act? I think it is the determination to please even more than our hungers that matter, our willingness to comprehend that every single action we take have consequences that surge via our lives and also the lives of others.

I think that a person of our greatest troubles is what I call 'objective shuffle': we think we have one inspiration, while deep inside there is another, more complicated and commonly much less rather intent moving the engines.

I frequently state in classes that I believe the yogi's most useful prop is sincerity. When we absolutely look inside ourselves as well as truthfully access what is our inmost intent, we will certainly concern recognize our actions and its results better, as well as we will be able to much better affect them, if that is our choice.

Resolution and intention

Rather than making a New Year's 'resolution' - which, by its very meaning, can be stringent and uncompromising, just how around making an intention rather - something that you can function towards, that doesn't have a 'success' or 'fail' outcome attached to it.

Find your intention

Shoot the intention arrowhead - locating our real motivations as well as looking them right in the face is sometimes the finest means to reconnect with our technique and also our life. Work to locate your true intentions and also position them where you can reach them in this half an hour Vinyasa Flow with Anat Geiger.

Have a pleased and serene Brand-new Year!

Love, EkhartYoga x

n. b. This post, has been lately updated.

#asana #bikram yoga #hot yoga #meditation #pilates #pranayama #restorative yoga #spiritual #yoga #yoga for beginners #yoga poses #yoga practice #yoga works

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victimhood · 3 years

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The one in which the Euros 3rd place playoff is abolished after Italia 1980, and then restored at short notice for Italia 2028, making it the historic occasion in which a whole country cockblocked their captain Nicolò di Genova.

It is June 1980. The European Championship is taking place in Italy. It is the first edition of the tournament with eight teams, divided into two groups. The winners of each group move on to play in the final, and the runners up of each group move on to battle for third place.

It is the final edition of the Euros to have the third place playoff. With dwindling attendances and television viewers, UEFA deems the fixture unnecessary for future editions of the tournament. Italy hold Czechoslovakia to a 1-1 draw, and the match is decided on penalties. The final outcome? 9-8 to Czechoslovakia.

For as long as it has existed, there has been vocal opposition to the third place match. There are those who question its purpose, who see it as a meaningless extension of the tournament for advertisement money. A kinder commentary on offer is from those who see it as cruel to make losers play yet another competitive fixture, for little to no reward. Just think of the fourth-placed team—they played better than the rest of the competition except three—yet they must go home with the bitter memory of having lost twice.

On the other camp, there are those who recall with great fondness the third place match of the 2002 World Cup between host nation South Korea and Turkey. If that doesn’t work for you, what about the consolation it offered to the host nation in the 1990 World Cup, a breakout tournament for Italy’s Roberto Baggio?

Now we skip to June 2028. The European Championship is once more taking place in Italy. There are twenty four teams divided into groups, followed by a knockout stage. There is no third place fixture on the schedule. The much-beloved Italian captain takes his team on a blistering dream run, in front of an adoring home crowd, beating a well-regarded Portugal and incumbent holders Belgium along the way. He has declared his intention to retire for good, once this tournament is over.

Picture this: you are Italy. You play England in the semifinal in Napoli, at the Stadio San Paolo, also known as the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. You arrive in the stadium, or you watch from home, full of hope, with faith in your captain and your squad. Your team scores one at the 20th minute. Perfect opening. England try but they can’t get past the deadbolt across goal, past your much vaunted defensive line. At the 63rd minute, Foden puts one past your goalie, but VAR rules it offside. At the 89th minute, the scoreline is still 1-0 and you’re nearly through, and some egregious fans are already cheering, and then Foden gets it in for real in a stroke of sheer luck. The ball hits the crossbar but somehow bounces downward into goal. The game goes into extra time, and then to penalties. The final result? England wins 4-3 on penalties. This is a brutal game. At the end of your match, your captain sheds tears and apologizes for not being able to do more to push the team through to the finals. No! You want to scream. Caro Nicolò, il nostro capitano, it’s not your fault. You have done so much for us. You begin to blame yourself: it’s us, it’s our fault. We dared to dream too early. You were so busy dreaming of your beloved captain raising the trophy that you forgot the game wasn’t over. In fact, even before this semifinal you were already dreaming of the trophy. This is how fate punishes you. You hate to see him end his career this way. He didn’t let you down, you let your captain down! Can we do this one over? You’ll do right by your captain this time.

Picture this: you’re the president of UEFA, and the tournament is hosted in your home country. It would have been the honor of honors, to award the winner’s medals to your compatriots. The papers are raging over the match outcome: England squeaked through on a razor’s blade, and Italy were the more inspired team. The fans are out in the streets. The people have spoken! Let us bring back the third place match! Let us see our captain off with dignity and honor! Your colleagues say: this is preposterous. We got rid of it years ago, because of Italia 1980. But does anyone really remember why? The advertisers tell you they’re willing to pay. One extra match means extra revenues. Worse things have happened in the pursuit for money. What’s the harm in a consolation match? An emergency meeting is called. Who’s playing in the second semifinal? France and the Netherlands. Both their feds agree to the third place match. From the next tournament onwards, there’ll even be a sweet cherry of a coefficient bonus—all the feds agree to this, but it would not be fair to the rest to apply it this ongoing tournament (and you hear minor grumbles from the FIGC, FFF and KNVB, who think they should be compensated for the inconvenience). No matter; the people have been given what they want! Another football match in the grand machine of things! The meeting takes so long that France beats the Netherlands 3-2 in the meantime, and now someone has to do the unpleasant job of telling the players. Were any of them consulted in this affair? What a preposterous concept. That’s not how UEFA works. UEFA says jump and they say how high.

Picture this: you are Nicolò Di Genova, and you’ve played the final match of your professional career. It did not end in the way you wanted, but such is life. You are ready to put your former self in the grave. You say goodbye to your treasured teammates, and the very next morning you check out of the training center to make your way to Turin, to see your fidanzato in the semifinals. Well, he crashes out too, his downfall orchestrated by that paraculo of your club teammate, Sébastien of the number 23. And so it is England vs France in the final, to be played in Italy. The thought of it turns even the strongest stomach of any citizen of this noble country. The only silver lining to this cursed final lineup is getting to whisk the love of your life off into the secluded countryside, and maybe with a few rounds of passionate lovemaking you can even forget the pain of loss.

You’re in the car. You just picked up your inamorato from his team hotel. You want to push him into the backseat and blow the brains out of him but you have better self control than that.

“How does retirement feel like?” he cracks a joke at you.

“You know full well my plans,” you return cheekily.

You’re driving off into the E70 when your phone rings. It doesn’t stop ringing so you pull over to take the call.

It’s your national team coach. “They just restored the third place match. Can you come back to the training ground?”

Who agreed to this? Your mind is reeling from the preposterousness of it all.

“They love you, Nichi. The people want you back.”

You exchange a look with your lover. Now his phone is ringing too. It’s his coach.

Due to this unfortunate turn of events you end up having an argument with your lover. You are principled, and having principles means not giving in to this total farce of a circus show, the third place match. Your lover is an incurable romantic, and pleads on behalf of your people. They did this all for you—show them some love in return. And what was the meaning of the past 31 years of your life again? You have already given them everything.

If only the people of Italy knew how much they had to thank Yusuf Al Kaysani. It’s because of him—it’s because of his beautiful deep brown eyes that glisten with all the stars of this universe that you cave and you agree.

“Get out, let’s switch. I’ll drive, and you call your mom and tell her the news.”

How do you begin to articulate how much this man knows the answers in your heart before your brain catches up to the same conclusions?

And so, like Lazarus, on the fourth day of your death you come back to life.

ITA vs NED

Picture this: you’re the cameraman, in the tunnel. The teams are lining up. The two captains emerge from the dressing room and compliment each other on their good looks with wry smiles. Some good natured ribbing, you think. They’re old friends. They played together for eight years at the same club. The Italian captain puts his hands on the Dutch captain, and then, like magnets, his hands seem incapable of leaving the Dutch captain’s back. You start to feel uncomfortable, like you’re seeing something that you shouldn’t be seeing. You look around. Everyone else in the double file of blue and orange is just chatting away, acting normal. Maybe...it’s just your imagination? You train your camera on the chatting crowd, giving the captains space. The match officials appear, taking the lead in front of both teams. You get in position for the money shot, following the two teams out of the tunnel and into the adoring crowd.

Picture this: you have never missed a single football match your grandson plays in. So when there’s a surprise third place match announced, you have to bail on karaoke night with the girls to watch the match on tv. Your friends don’t watch football, but if they do, they watch for the “hot guys on the Italian team”. Oh yeah, he’s playing Italy, you tell them. Feel free to come over to my place, if they don’t mind your oldest son and your rowdy grandchildren. Karaoke night swiftly becomes football night. There is an argument between Hamza and his dad over the pointlessness of the third place playoff. So...your family has been behaving in an unusual manner for several months now, and you suspect it’s because your grandson said he is gay. The papers here don’t report it, because they still want to claim him to some extent, but you have noted that the coverage is more conditional than before. You don’t live under a rock, and you’ve seen the news on YouTube even if no one around you is prepared to talk about it. As the two teams walk out of the tunnel and onto the pitch, you notice the Italian captain letting his hand slip from your grandson’s back, and Hamza suddenly jumps in front of the TV screen to adjust the volume.

“What the heck are you doing?” Mehdi, Hamza’s father and your eldest son, yells.

“The audio was...wonky,” Hamza replies sheepishly. “But I think it’s okay now.”

The match begins. At a corner kick, the Italian captain practically plasters himself all over your grandson, and it’s Hamza messing with the TV remote again, this time accidentally switching channels. Mehdi slaps him in the back of the head. You think that maybe it’s time you called Ibrahim. Someone needs to tell you the truth they’ve been so bad at hiding. Your grandson is not just gay, he seems to have a lover, and it’s that evil-eyed captain, the man who curses all who cross him.

Picture this: you’re a fan from the friendly town of Muggenbeet, watching from the San Siro. You came all this way to support the Oranje and they had to concede that final goal to France in front of your face. Sore and in denial about your loss, you start to make jokes about Waterloo to cope, handing the French off to the English. And then—out of nowhere, UEFA announces that they’ll restore the third place match. You think it’s the most shameless attempt for the host country to award themselves something ever. But, you know, does anyone really want to watch an England-France final? No. Never. For forever. We hate them both. It’s not football. It’s a circus of clowns. The viewership for this third place match is through the roof, higher than for your semifinal vs France. Let’s just treat this as the real final. What a galaxy-brained idea. Your country could steal it from the hosts—no hard feelings to Italy. You’ve enjoyed the pizza and the pasta, maybe it would be fun to crush their team like little peppercorns to sprinkle on your food. Based. Now you want a cacio e pepe after the match. Wait, you’re not in Rome, where the real (fake news!) final is. Boo. There is a corner, right at the end where you are sitting. Poepjes is taking it. Dekmijn and Blootgat are running up. Your captain is being felt up by the Italian captain. (No literally, that guy isn’t even looking at the goal? He’s just...pressing himself against your captain? Why are his hands encircled around Al Kaysani’s waist like so?) Anyway, the ball pings between the Italian keeper and Blootgat, and then it flies into Di Genova’s rather shapely calves...and bounces into the goal.

Uhhhhhh, THANK YOU? Grazie mille Nicolò Di Genova!!!! You gave us one goal!!!

The Italian fans must be flabbergasted. Isn’t this the dude’s retirement match? Or whatever. Who knows. Italy is a place of the greatest contradictions, so you’ve been told. But you’ll take what you can get. You kinda feel bad for the guy, who has buried his face in his hands. Maybe...you should cheer for him. And so...the lot of you, the orange lot, sitting in the Curva Sud, you start singing for the Italian captain. Nicolò Di Genova! There’s only one Di Genova!

The third place match is the most lawless ninety minutes in the historical timeline.

Picture this: you’re an Interista and season ticket holder. And of course you support your national team. You were heartbroken when the England keeper denied Marcuzzi to progress to the finals. You cried when your captain cried. And then, out of nowhere, they said, let’s bring back the third place match. The finals are in the Stadio Olimpico, so...maybe let’s have the third place match in the San Siro? You score a ticket at your usual seat. You get to see your captain one more time before he rides off into the sunset? What more can you ask for? This is romance of the highest order. The San Siro loves Nichi, of course all the staff and volunteers come together to make the event happen in a matter of days. You can’t believe this is happening. And then...your captain opens the scoring with an own goal. The Dutch fans are singing for him. What do you do? Well, if you can’t beat them, join them—you can sing louder for your captain! He’s your captain! And you know, their captain, he’s kinda your guy too, because Sempre Inter. Revenge is served, sweet and cold like a scoop of gelato, when your captain heads in the equalizer. The crowd goes wild. He’s taking this match seriously, but you knew he always would—that’s why you love him. He could ask for your firstborn and you would gladly give it up. You can always trust your capitano. There is a penalty call in the second half of the match and his teammates give it to him—a little unorthodox—but like a deadly sniper your captain sneaks a cool and calculated one past the Dutch keeper. You cheer. Does it count as a hat trick when you’ve scored at both ends? What a scoreline to retire to!

Picture this: you’re Yusuf Al Kaysani. You just lost in the third place match, a match widely panned as the least necessary match in a tournament by those who don’t know better. And yet, the third place match is the purest expression of love for the beautiful game. All other matches are clouded by the temptations of fame and fortune. The third place match you play for love and honor. You watch from the sidelines as your boyfriend leads his team to collect the medals, from none other than Paolo Maldini. Maldini, who’s doing an admirable job as UEFA President. Who knows where and how they got these medals at short notice—sometimes this country pulls miracles like a rabbit out from the magician’s hat of chaos. Everyone in the stadium is acting like this is the final. It’s not—it’s something a little better, a match born of love, played for love, with nothing to win and nothing to lose.

There is no trophy to lift, so Nico’s teammates lift him. They’re yelling for you. You’ve played with and against at least 90% of that team. Come join us, the men in blue say, and everyone forms a circle, arm linking arm, bouncing to the music. There are no losers here—your whole team is invited to the celebrations. The Dutch fans are singing: Second place! Second place! Let’s pretend we’re second place!

Let’s be real, for this one night, in this exact stadium, there’s only one captain, and the ones in the know push you towards him. Here’s your man, the unspoken acknowledgement. But you know your place—this is not your night. This night is for him. It’s for the country that loves him, and for him to say one last goodbye. Daniele Pirozzi jumps on the captain’s back, and the captain carries him for a while, laughing away. Pirozzi, whom you spent countless hours training how to read the field, in a fashion after yours. And then there’s Boselli, Marcuzzi, Poepjes and more. From one generation to another, the baton is passed. Nico, look around, these are our boys, as good as any. They’ll be better than us, and we are happy to see it, for the love of the game. Pirozzi jumps off the captain’s back and jumps onto you, asking you if you want to lift the captain together. You laugh and agree. On the count of three, uno, due—

Picture this: you’re Nicolò Di Genova, and you’re sitting on the shoulders of your protegé and your lover. Here we can mark the passing of the guard—tonight you are unburdened and the only thing that’s left, you realize, is love. Yusuf was right. Look, look how much they love you. Even San Paolo did this for you. Could you ever have denied all of them this? You almost screwed it up at the beginning, but perhaps God was just reminding you to take your responsibilities seriously. You are but a servant of the game and this ground is your ground, your hallowed ground, the church of your sins and glory.

It’s the final competitive match of your career, and you get to walk off the field, arm in arm with the love of your life, cheered on by a country you gave everything to.

Now, for the rest of your life to begin.

(chapter 106: nel blu, dipinto di blu, of The Beautiful Game)

#the old guard #joe x nicky #kaysanova #immortal husbands #nicolo di genova #yusuf al kaysani #this is fanfic!!#football!AU #soccer!AU #this chapter cracks me up each time #tog: the beautiful game #tog fc

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