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damistrolls · 5 months

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Goodbyes

helo ive been sitting on this noboru write for a little while

its gone thru a lot of revisions but i think im finally happy, so!!! here it is!

now read my silly self-indulgent drabble, boy

(google doc link)

—

“I loved you once, you know.”

The statement hung in the crisp air for a few moments. Noboru took his eyes off of the grave, glancing over his shoulder, as though he feared someone was listening to him speaking to a plot of disturbed ground. After he confirmed he truly was alone, he rolled his shoulders casually, and looked back at the hunk of white marble sticking out of the soil.

“I don’t know when that changed, if it ever did. We were distant towards the end, and we disagreed on more things than we agreed on, but…”

He trailed off, words failing him. Noboru sighed and glanced over his shoulder once more, before carefully kneeling down on the damp grass with a grunt. He always felt his age most when he sat or stood. He remembers a younger Magpie telling him he made old man noises when he moved, and now he can’t help but notice every time he makes said ‘old man noises’.

“… You’ll have to forgive me. I don’t have anything written and practiced. I didn’t want to come here with some kind of speech. I just wanted to talk, I suppose, since I refrained from saying anything during the funeral. Everyone there already wanted me dead, the last thing I wanted to do was rock the boat more.”

The stone in the ground was silent and still, if a bit wet from the rain that had come down the previous day. Noboru nodded in the direction of the grave.

“Magpie insisted on the marble. I thought granite would be more practical, since it lasts longer, but he said you would want it to be beautiful.”

Noboru goes quiet for a few moments, waiting. It was as if he was expecting a response, though he knew none would come. This was probably the most personal death he’s experienced. Every troll loses a friend or two when they’re young, but losing a long-term matesprit, even if an estranged one, was different. His lips press together in a thin line as he tiredly looks down at his lap.

“He asked me not to touch your hive. There isn’t much I can do if the Empire chooses to reclaim the land, but for now, it’s as it was. Though, it may be collecting some dust now. I think the only one who’s been in and out of there is Magpie. He still keeps things in that room of his, even if he doesn’t ever sleep there anymore. Apparently, he’s staying with this teal. And Lupo, of course.”

The violet plucked a blade of grass from the ground, toying with it in his fingers idly as his eyes stayed trained downwards.

“I’d like to say he’s happy, but frankly, I wouldn’t be able to tell. I don’t know how to talk with him. I feel as though I lost my opportunity to ever meaningfully be a part of his life. Yahiro was more of a father to him than I was. I wish I could blame you for that, like I blame you for everything else, but I can’t.”

Noboru’s chest ached and his throat felt tight, but he simply rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger and straightened his back.

“… There’s too much I could say to you, Fansia... I could fill a novel with all of the things I’d like to say. But I don’t have that kind of time, and I’m sure you have some kind of afterlife to get on with. You never wanted to hear me whine about this-or-that while you were alive, gods know you give even less of a damn now. So I think now’s a good time for me to… say goodbye. Officially. To stop… dragging what happened around with me. It’s a weight I’m tired of holding.”

He hesitated, before patting the pocket on his chest, making sure something was still in there. Noboru then retrieved a small, shiny object from the pocket, holding it out as if the marble grave could see it.

“They buried you with yours, but I won’t let them bury me with mine, no matter how much I loved you. It’s been a few perigees already, and I need to stop carrying this piece of you around with me if I ever want to move forwards.”

The grass near the stone was still loose enough that he could dig at it with his nails and pull back just enough to drop a gold ring into the dirt. It was a waste, but Noboru would have felt worse selling it. He pressed the grass back down over the ring.

“… I’m not going to visit after this. You had a tight grip on my life these past thirty or so sweeps. More, if you count the time we spent when we were younger, with me trailing after you like a lost pup. I’m done centering my life around you, Fansia.”

Noboru carefully got off of his knees, standing with some effort. He brushed the grass off of his shins and sighed.

“Despite everything, I hope you’re happy, wherever you are. You take care.”

And after a moment of hesitation, Noboru turned and left.

#writing #noboru #someone go find that ring it would be funny

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murayamasbandana · 8 months

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"Are they ok?"

"nope"

#high&low #naomi #sannoh hoodlum squad #high and low cobra #Yamato #Noboru #ichigo milk #save Naomi from her idiots

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hamliet · 8 months

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Musings on Free Will: Cobra vs Smokey

Thoughts (not organized enough to be a meta, more like a tumble of ideas) brought to you by this post about High&Low. Soz to all who follow me for serious literature; this silly yet compelling story has me in its vice grip.

Cobra always wants to save his friends no matter what. Smokey says they can't always save people, and his first scene is him refusing to save someone (granted, someone who was like, human trafficking, so). On the surface that seems like it's different, but actually their underlying philosophies are more similar than they are different.

Shion vs Chiharu

Smokey and Cobra's philosophies appear to contrast. This is driven home when, in the same episode, both Shion and Chiharu are caught making drugs for the Iemura group. Cobra forgives Chiharu. Smokey exiles Shion. On the surface, it looks like they have opposite responses.

However, that's not actually the case. The underlying principle of what both Smokey and Cobra are acting on is the same--free will and a desire to save the people they love. Smokey is saving Shion's life by exiling him, and Shion still refuses to abandon Smokey, as we see him slipping Takeshi money for Smokey's medical treatment in season 2. If Smokey told Shion to stay, he would, but he'd certainly be hunted down.

When Cobra forgives Chiharu, he does so in response to Chiharu essentially exiling himself. He tells him that Chiharu is free to leave if he wants to, but that they are his friends and will help him decide; he doesn't have to leave just because he thinks others want him to leave.

Shion, Takeru, & Kohaku

While Shion vanishes for a bit, he does show up again in the first movie, where he helps save Smokey after he gets his back slashed, and then fights on his behalf alongside the Rude Boys at the final battle. Shion showing up there puts him as a parallel to Kohaku, who also joins Kuryu, and a foil as well (Shion originally worked for Iemura to save someone, while Kohaku wanted to destroy someone). It also shows us that there isn't just one way to save someone.

Kohaku has to be beaten into agreeing to come back (thanks to guilt and self-destructive tendencies). What ultimately gets through to him is Tsukumo reminding him that Tatsuya's wish is for them "to ride freely." He has a choice. Tatsuya wanted him to be free, not bound to a revenge quest.

(It's not a coincidence this is also the film that introduces Hiroto and Masaki's search for Takeru, who has, surprise, also joined Iemura with the self-destructive aim of revenge.)

Noboru vs Kain

Kain and Noboru are introduced practically together, when Kain urging Noboru to destroy his past. Whenever Noboru hesitates and tries to give Sannoh another chance, Kain lashes out at him--violently so.

Why? Because Kain is self-destructive and lashing out at himself in Noboru. He wants to erase his past and justify himself in doing so. This is made especially clear when he gives Noboru a gun and his "last meal." Although Noboru takes that gun to Sannoh, and it was never loaded, it's also implied Kain is telling Noboru to either kill Sannoh or kill himself. Kill your past, or kill your fugure.

Noboru has a choice to make. Free will. He chooses at first to try to kill his past, only to realize it's pointless (shooting blanks) and the person he almost killed wasn't even someone from his past (since Chiharu jumps in front of Yamato).

In contrast to Noboru, Kain makes the wrong choices throughout the series. At the end, Smokey asks him about his choice:

Are you here to kill me?

And Kain responds with a lie. He tells Smokey that it's not personal, that he's following orders. He refuses to admit that he has a choice, in other words, while Smokey, Cobra, et al have always affirmed personal choice.

Smokey then brings up Shion, who hasn't appeared in two movies. In some of his last words, he affirms Shion's goodness to Kain and reminds Kain of what he could have if he chose differently.

Shion looked up to you like a brother... you did not deserve that.

Then Smokey turns to face the horde and says that he had truly lived "the best life" (I don't like how netflix translates this as "a good life;" he's saying "best"). Basically Smokey's emphasizing that it’s not just a good life for him in spite of his circumstances, but the best life anyone could have lived. The quality of Smokey's life was determined by Smokey's choices, not by the horrid circumstances of it, not by the poison, not by its end.

I also kinda like how Kain disappears from the narrative after Smokey's death. Yeah, dropped plot point, but it’s kinda fitting bc we don’t know if Smokey killed him (unlikely), if the others did, if he’s sent to jail, if he's on the down and outs again. The thematic implication here fits whether it was intentional or not: it doesn’t matter what happened to Kain, because his life was made irrelevant once he killed Smokey. He wanted to wipe out his past to become someone great, and in doing so he wiped out himself, but made Smokey's influence linger.

It also contrasts him with the choice he offered Noboru of killing his past or his future. By killing his past, Kain ensured he had no future.

He's honestly very tragic.

Smokey and Rocky as Jesus

Through living, Smokey ensures his legacy lives on. He is buried under a cross in a place that Takeshi points out Smokey truly believes is "heaven" to him. Smokey's death brings life to everyone around them and ensures that no one else will die how he has.

(Smokey's also the second Christ allusion in the narrative. Rocky is the first and most obvious one--owner of Club Heaven, a friend to women, refers to himself as "the carpenter," gets stabbed through the palm crucifix style, and invites people like Kizzy and Kaito to leave their life of sin and follow him.)

#high&low #smokey #nikaido #cobra #high&low meta #kinda #not really meta just meta-ish #rocky #white rascals #rude boys #shion #chiharu #noboru #sannoh rengokai

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darumaikkah · 2 years

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'S' of SWORD 「Sannoh Rengokai」

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beatsyncer · 1 year

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𝗜𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝘂 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝟯/∞

Like/rb if saved *ੈ✩‧₊˚ Songs' name and icon artist in alt text

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gojou-violin · 4 months

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High & Low Announcement

Hi, everyone! I know that I have been MIA for a hot second (tbh, will prob continue to be until my interest in anime is back), but I wanted to announce that I will be accepting requests for characters in the "High & Low" series! I know that this fandom is lowkey dead, and it was small to begin with, but for anyone who is still around and interested, I am writing for it! I'm currently in the process of writing a Ryo Suzaki x OC short story (about 10 chapters), which I'll be posting on here and AO3 inevitably, but in the meantime, I'd love to talk about the series and write some drabbles, so please send some asks my way! <3 <3

Characters I'd love to specifically write for (not limited to them ofc): SUZAKI, TSUKASA, COBRA, Yamoto, Todoroki, Amagai, SMOKEY, Chiharu, Noboru, Murayama, Fujio, TAKESHI, Sachio, Rao.

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vocaloid-song-of-the-day · 3 months

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youtube

Shotgun Lovers by Noboru feat. Hatsune Miku

#vocaloid song of the day #vocaloid #hatsune miku #noboru #Youtube

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tiredlittlewriter · 6 months

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Cobra: ...Why is Yamato punching the air?

Noboru: He just found out what misogyny is

#high&low #story of sword #sannoh rengokai #cobra high&low #yamato high&low #noboru high&low #noboru #cobra #hino junpei #sannoh #sannoh hoodlum squad

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insideliascrazyhead · 10 months

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Sannoh Rengokai shenanigans aka Tetsu´s Instagram

Tetsu:Celebrations in Sannoh´s Hoodlum Squad

Murayama:Those are huge ass shot glasses!You might wanna gulp the entire tequila in one go.

Rocky:That´s a new definition of party.

Hyuga:Who would´ve thought Sannoh Rengokai´s full of party animals?

Shiba:We do!When we find them all nearly dead spread through the Diner in the morning.

Oshiage:Next time I swear we´re gonna get buckets of ice water.

Smokey:You sadists really wanna fight with that nasty hangover? Yamato:Nooo.The only ones with nasty hangover will be the kiddos

Chiharu:That´s just because you and Cobra are literally the last man standing each time.

Junko:Poor Naomi gotta clean your mess....

Naomi:No.Party´s in the diner mean you vomit,you clean.You break shit.You clean.

Tetsu:Our Itokan´s Sweetheart <3

Naomi:My local Hoodlum squad dumbasses <3

Oshiage:That´s our bestie,find your own.

Yamato:Nope.:)

Shiba:Poor woman gotta deal with you dumbasses.

Dan:Oh shut your cakehole Shiba you deal with Oya guys on a daily.

Shiba:Because we´re literally blood related!You wanna deal with my brother and his crazy friends?Then be my fucking guest Dan!

Murayama:Oi!You wanna take one full timer then you gotta keep them all!There kinda a shitty package deal over here.

Yamato:Don´t.Cobra won´t take more strays.

Dan:You heard the man.You can keep your strays.Don´t wanna get any fleas.

Chiharu:C´mon Dan!You can have my Oya fleas instead!

Rocky:Naomi the leader of the local loony bin escapee hideout.

Noboru:We´re just gonna peacefully share out emotional support Naomi!

Hyuga:Never thought anyone could come close to my insanity.Suprise I guess...

Tetsu:Painkiller giggles from Cobra!

Murayama:Cobra can smile?!That´s crazy!

Naomi:Can we keep him like this?He´s adorable!

Smokey:Until your precious Cobra-san turns to Cobra twisting.

Noboru:No he´s peaceful like that.He used Yamato as a pillow.

Chiharu:So what?!He said he´s squishy.

Junko:He does eat enough to be squishy.

Yamato:Oi!A hug is better then being Cobra twisted to death!

Tetsu:We also needed to stop at the grocery store because he wanted candy!That´s how dangerous Cobra is medicated Yamato.Not at all.

Noboru:Don´t forget that the day of Sannoh Rengokai´s leader ended in a blanket burrito.

Rocky:Don´t give him any tequila on those meds.someones gotta have a braincell here.

Dan:Well at least sleeping beauty slept peacefully on the way back to Sannoh.

Naomi:Until Yamato and Noboru dropped him brutally on his pretty face.

Tetsu:On the road

Yamato:Cobra says he´s not gonna bail anyone outta jail.

Murayama:Oh Sannoh´s little guys go into big boy prison!

Hyuga:You´re gonna have a great time in prison guy´s I´ve been there.

Noboru:You gotta save money for therapy after jail later

Dan:Cobra can tell me himself if he´s making himself an account like a normal person

Naomi:The world of instagram wouldnt be ready for that

Junko:man probably has onlyfans anyways already that gas station is normally empty as fuck and Cobra never fucking works!

Shiba:Oh shit!That´s crazy.You´re right.I´ve never seen him work...

Hyuga:So Cobra´s gonna retire as leader for onlyfans now?

Rocky:Naah man can multitask

Murayama:Don´t mind me I´m just gonna wait for the link to drop...

Tetsu:Art.I call it Party Hoodlum Squad Style

Murayama:No what´s art would be Cobra-chan drunkenly passed out with lipstick and a cheap wig cuddling tequila as painted portrait.

Smokey:I would love that kinda art.

Oshiage:I mean I did find him passed out next to a dumbster once because he couldn´t find the diner

Naomi:Yes.The dumbster literally behind the damn diner.

Dan:Or when Cobra woke up on the billiard table holding a halloween deko head filled with candy and a bottle of vodka

Hyuga:Oh great.Now I wanna party with Sannoh.Great.Fuck you.

Tetsu:Or the one where Cobra and Yamato woke up bikini tops and covered in body paint.

Noboru:Who tells u all these crazy stories?! Chiharu:Kohaku-san and Tsukumo-san.We learned a lot.

Murayama:I could kiss them

Shiba:We now see Cobra and Yamato in a new light.

Junko:Naah my expectations where pretty low already.

Tetsu:Yeah the glorious light of dumbasses

Yamato:Excuse you?

Chiharu:Dumbassess we love and respect very much as our leaders.

Tetsu:Sannoh Rengokai is back from the dead!Time to celebrate!

Rocky:Not to rain on your celebrational parade but have you told your leader that too?

Smokey:Cobra looks like he´s heavily debating to pretend not to be able to read.

Naomi:At least the others are happy

Yamato:Happy?!They´re in extacy.

Noboru:Cobra just needs a little shove in the right direction sometimes

Hyuga:No my man needs a kick.

Oshiage:At least we´re all semi fluent in Cobra grumble by now!

Tetsu:Violence is Cobra´s love language.

Noboru:He must love me very much then.I´m bruising

Chiharu:Cobra can´t give other love bites he´s poisonous

Naomi:he´s kinky if he loves to bite but not poisonous.

Smokey:Whyyy

Rocky:That info wasn´t necessary

Murayama:No,yeah it was!

Dan:At least Yamato had a great time

Yamato:Yeah I can still hear Noborus;Cobra no!

Tetsu:The minute Cobra-san adopted Chiharu!

Chiharu:I´m not a pet.

Yamato:You´re out Oya stray though.

Naomi:That´s cute though.

Rocky:Yeah tiny Chiharu warmed up Cobra´s heart

Smokey:That ain´t a christmas story.Cobra just recently discovered emotions,he´s still learning

Junko:Then he should stop dissosiating in the corner in the diner and interact with humans that don´t wanna kick his teeth outta his head.

Tetsu:Yamato,what the fuck?!

Smokey:Probably the stool he fell of earlier.

Shiba:Scolding a chair?

Murayma:Bad chair!Go now!Put it in the nearest corner so it can be ashamed of himself.

Naomi:Oww look how emo nemo he looks though poor baby....

Noboru:Didn´t he throw it at Cobra?!

Rocky:Understandable

Hyuga:Wanna do that too,not gonna lie.

Yamato:Screw you guys....

Tetsu:We love you too.

Dan:Cobra caught it anyways and Cobra-Twisted him nearly to death.

Junko:Probably caught it because it looked like a bottle of tequila in his drunken haze.

Tetsu:S.W.O.R.D´s greatest most wanted poster.Shut up Dan,it´s great.

Smokey:You´re gonna search yourself a woman like that?!

Rocky:They got apps for that now kid

Noboru:No it´s not

Shiba:My guy....Nooo

Naomi:That´s cute.I mean a bit pathetic but cute

Tetsu:Thanks.I guess?

Tetsu:Whatever sugary stuff he´s drinking,this man gotta have a fucking sugarush by now cant´s stop giggling.

Naomi:Or he put tequila in it.

Hyuga:Naah this man mentally broke after all this time

Shiba:Sniffed the gas he´s selling.

Smokey:Isn´t it wrong as fuck to drug your leader?

Noboru:Against popular opinion yeah Cobra can smile.

Yamato:Ladies and gentleman the grown man with eating habits of a toddler!

Junko:Great decision.Offing your leader by giving him diabetes.

Tetsu:At least someone thinks we´re funny!

Naomi:No you´re entertaining.

Noboru:Also Yamato fell of the bar stool.

Chiharu:Face planted on the floor.

Shiba:Don´t be mean guys!He probably lost his last brain cell!

Yamato:Oi!It isn´t funny!

Chiharu:Sure and Cobra-san didn´t nearly piss himself laughing

Cobra:Quite emberassing actually.

Murayama:COBRA-CHAN!

Rocky:Today in S.W.O.R.D,Cobra´s new adventure with electronic.

Tetsu:Fucking finally Cobra!

Cobra:You threatened to break into my damn house at night to install it on my damn phone you lunatic

Tetsu:Never been puplicly stated,gonna contact my lawyer.NOBORU!

Noboru:Ain´t gonna do it.Never finished university anyways.Dan in a cheap suit doesn´t count either.You lost.

Tetsu:Excluding Cobra from date night isn´t enough anymore.Dan´s gotta go to!Sorry man.

Naomi:You excluded Cobra from date night?

Noboru:Maybe it´s a mistake to get 3 guys to a date that are all insane.Crazy idea I know.

Cobra:Wow Bastard got lucky.She gotta be in for a great dissapointment tonight.

Dan:What the fuck are you talking about playboy I´m a snack!

Cobra:Yeah a sugar free one.Great hopes,miserable dissapointment.

Shiba:Would anyone else wanna know why the fuck Cobra got excluded in the first place.

Hyuga:He looks so shocked by his own success it´s hilarious.

Rocky:Sannoh´s Hoodlum Squad,chronically single.

Smokey:That´s kinda sweet.They´re gonna grow old together and share a elderly home.

Murayama:Yeah beat each other with their canes and loose their teeth on the way.

Yamato:Great visual,thanks.

Tetsu:„How do you drink fancy wines?!Like tequila?!Fucking help me!“The great leader of Sannoh´s hoodlum squad hissed like a feral kitty cat.

Yamato:I loved Noborus:“Cobra for the love of god behave like a normal adult for once.“

Naomi:No Cobra´s sorry not adulting today was a lot more hilarious

Rocky:Man looks a few wines deep already anyways

Shiba:Get yourself a man that looks at you like Cobra looks at any kinda liqour and you´re great off

Murayama:Isn´t he like super old anyways.

Cobra:You´re grounded then you rugrat.

Noboru:No fighting till you learn to respect your elders.

Hyuga:Yeah like those that could be your grandparents.

Yamato:What´s wrong with you?!

Tetsu:Cobra´s in his early twenties?!

Smokey:Ancient!

Rocky:Ancient but in fancy leather today.At least he now doesn´t look like a crazy person.

Murayama:Yeah hot leather Cobra is better.

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yumartist · 6 months

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Zero ni Natte (Cover)

youtube

✨✨☺️ 🎸

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damistrolls · 8 months

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Death of a Vulture

its taken me a long-ass time to put words to page, but i've finally written the next bit to magpie's movie actor arc! i've been sitting on this forever, and i'm REALLY excited for it, so i really do hope u guys enjoy, even if its a little long

umm trigger warnings for physical and emotional abuse, as well as descriptions of strangulation, major character death, and other unhappy topics. kind of a heavy one, but i promise it's the start of things getting better!

(google doc link)

---

“Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me? To this family? You are making a mockery of everything I have worked to build, Vasyaa.”

“I am sorry!”

“Are you?”

“I am! I really am!”

The scene was hard to watch. It always was. Noboru hated to be here when poor Magpie was getting chewed out by his mother, but she would always snap at him if he’d try to leave. Noboru knew it was less about him being present for this, and more about her maintaining control over the situation. She was always a bit queer about these things, and he wasn’t the sort to argue.

Noboru stayed by the door, back to the wall, arms folded across his chest. Truthfully, this was part of the reason he tried to stay in the office, or at his own hive. These confrontations were more common than you think, and were more like brutal, one-sided verbal beatdowns than anything…

“If you are sorry, why is this a repeated issue? Why do you want to make the world laugh at us, Rybka? Do you hate me that much? To spit on my legacy as such…”

“No! No, I do not hate you! I do not hate you at all! Please…!”

He winced. It always hurt the most when Magpie begged. Noboru knew all too well that all the boy wanted was to be enough for Fansia, and the tears running down the young violet’s cheeks proved it. Her approval was everything to him, and it left him desperate and vulnerable. After a moment, Noboru finally came off of the wall, extending a cautious hand towards his matesprit in an attempt to calm her.

“That’s enough, Fansia. He’s sorry,” Noboru reasoned. And despite the way she whipped her head to furiously look at him, boring holes into him with her intense, predator-like gaze, he didn’t lose his nerve, and continued to speak. “Why don’t we just put him back into theatre and opera? He was popular on stage.”

The hand he had put out was slapped away, and Noboru knew he’d done nothing but work her up more. So he let it go, sighing and looking at Magpie, who was sobbing and scratching at his arms anxiously.

What a vulture she was.

Fansia fixed her gaze on Magpie again, only seeming more heightened after Noboru’s interruption.

“Look what you did, Rybka. You turned my own matesprit against me. You are not only ruining our image, but also corrupting our family from the inside out. Always crying, always making me into the bad guy...” She grabbed Magpie’s wrist, ripping it away so he would stop scratching. It wasn’t a gentle gesture, either. It was rough, and he yelped from how hard she pulled at his arm. That made Noboru’s hair stand on end, and the air in the room had suddenly gotten more tense.

“You would be nothing without me!”

“That’s enough,” he tried to interject again, but a resounding smack drowned out his words. He had hardly even registered the slap until he saw Magpie on the floor, holding his cheek and gasping for breaths between his sobs desperately.

Noboru moved before he could think, and pinned Fansia under his grip against the wall.

“What the hell is wrong with you?! Have you slapped him like that before?”

She shrieked furiously, like a malevolent spirit, and retaliated by digging her sharp, talon-like nails into either side of his neck, like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to choke him or rip his throat out. Noboru was ill-prepared for her rage, and he was unable to pry her claws off of him despite being acutely aware of the fact that she could and would kill him if he failed to get away.

As her grip tightened, and air became more scarce, she was able to wrestle him to the ground, spots forming in his vision as he scratched her wrists– the wounds closing mere seconds after he’d made them.

What a terrible power, he thought. Even if he had sunk a knife into her heart, she would have recovered before he could even get up.

Consciousness became harder to cling onto as his mouth gaped and his gills flared uselessly. The things could only get oxygen from water, not from air, and Fansia was doing a fantastic job crushing his windpipe. He’s certain that if this doesn’t kill him, he’ll need extensive repair.

Funny that this was what was running through his head right now, as he weakly writhes under the woman who he was certain he loved once upon a time. He can’t pin exactly when that stopped. Maybe it never did, despite everything. It was pathetic, but quite fitting for him to love someone who has always been so cold to him. Maybe him and Magpie really were made of the same stuff.

But before Lady Death could have her way with him, Fansia’s hands tore away from his throat, and he coughed and choked on the sudden influx of air rushing through it. He shakily turned onto his side, and then flopped onto his front, still gasping and sputtering. What just happened?

Noboru found the strength to turn and look at the nearby commotion. If he hadn’t been so utterly drained, he would have been more shocked at the sight in front of him, of Magpie holding two ends of a wire of some sort in a makeshift garrote, strangulating the woman as she claws at the thin piece of metal. His gaze briefly flicked to the broken stringed instrument across the room, and it was clear to him that this wasn’t just an attempt to get her off of him. Magpie really was going to kill her. Either he would strangle her to death, or cut off her head in the process. Either one would prevent her from regenerating.

Magpie was crying. Wailing, more like. You would think that the action was hurting him as much, if not more, than it was hurting her. Fansia choked and convulsed, and Magpie heaved and sobbed. It would be almost beautiful if it wasn’t so brutal and utterly gut-wrenching. He sort of understood Magpie’s whole… blood and suffering as art thing at that moment. Only sort of, though. It mostly just made him sick to watch.

But then, the convulsing stopped, and Fansia’s hands dropped, her head falling to one side limply. Her eyes were shock-wide, and pierced through Noboru, despite her being very much gone. Magpie, however, was still pulling at her neck, screaming and crying like a madman. Noboru shakily pulled himself onto his hands and knees, and made his way over to the boy, carefully trying to get him to ease up and put the violin string down.

“Easy. It’s done, Magpie. Easy…” His voice was extremely sore, and his throat killed when he spoke.

Magpie looked at him, mortified. He tried to speak, but only another wail came out, and he dropped the string so he could immediately cradle the corpse he had just strangled to death himself. It’s like he hadn’t realized yet that he had wanted her dead.

Noboru tried for a while to get Magpie to release Fansia’s body, but he was holding on with a death grip, and refused to talk to him. With a sigh, Noboru relented, and allowed him to sob over her. Magpie’s feelings were too strong for him to think and act rationally, and Noboru could hardly blame him.

The man eventually stood, despite how much pain he was in, and pulled his palmhusk out of his pocket, loosening his tie so he’d have an easier time breathing. He phoned Yahiro, turning away from the scene in front of him so he could focus on the call.

“... Hiro? How quickly do you think you can come to Fansia’s hive? I know it’s late. I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t urgent.” A pause. “No, I’m– I’m fine. I’m just a bit hoarse.” Noboru glanced back at Magpie for a moment, and chewed the skin on his thumb. “... No, he’s mostly fine as well. A bit shaken, but fine. Look, I can answer all your questions once you’re here, I just need you to come and handle damage control with me. I’ll be waiting.”

—

It was about twenty minutes before Yahiro arrived at the Izuumi estate. Noboru could see the obnoxious red vehicle pull up from the window, and after a brief glance to the still-crying Magpie, he decided to leave the room to meet him. Yahiro, as always, let himself in.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” Noboru said, offering his hand to Yahiro. The teal took it, giving a firm, but comforting squeeze, his other hand clapping against his shoulder. Noboru could see Yahiro’s gaze flick to the injury on his neck, like he was already trying to put the pieces together.

“You’re always so professional. I’m here as your friend, you know.”

“Well, you’re going to have to be here as my lawyer, Yahiro. Fansia is dead.”

Yahiro’s brows raised, and he leaned forwards in shock, voice dropping to a whisper. Or really, a whisper-yell. He never was good at managing his volume. Well, except in the courthouse. While working, Yahiro always had every facet of himself under total control, like he was a completely different person.

“No kidding?! What happened…?”

“Do you want the truth, or what we’re going to tell the press?”

“Truth first, I need to know what I’m working with.”

Noboru hesitated, before sighing and pulling out of Yahiro’s grasp. He turned to look out the window, stroking his well-groomed beard contemplatively, as if he was still trying to comprehend the quick escalation himself.

“… In short, she hit him, I stepped in, she tried to kill me, and… Magpie killed her before she could. I’m sure he convinced himself that he didn’t mean to, but he immediately went for her throat. It was intentional.”

“Not that I blame him.”

“But the public will.” Noboru turned to face his moirail. “He’s fragile right now, Yahiro. I don’t want him involved. We’re going to put it on my shoulders. All of it. Do you hear me? Magpie wasn’t even here. Fansia and myself got into an altercation, and I killed her. We can paint me as a villain if need be, but I don’t want him to answer a single question about what happened here.”

Yahiro gave a slow nod. It seemed like he wasn’t going to argue. Noboru could tell that Yahiro understood his feelings, given how close the teal was to Magpie. He would take the blame as well, if he were in his shoes. If there was one person Yahiro would stick his neck out for, it would be Magpie. He treated him like his own.

“Where is he?” Yahiro asked.

“I already said I don’t want him involved.”

“Not to question him. Your testimony is more than enough, if we’re gonna plead guilty. I just wanna see him.”

“.. He’s upstairs, more than likely still in Fansia’s room. He’s got an impossibly strong grip on her. Good luck prying him off for even a moment.” Noboru tsk’s. “I don’t know how we’re going to carry the corpse away at this rate… But we do need him away from the estate as soon as possible, so we can get all the evidence in order.”

“Don’t worry about that part. I’ll handle the evidence and Mag’s alibi and all that. You just call the hospital about your throat. You sound like a dying animal.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“I’m serious. It sounds painful.”

“I’m fine, Hiro. Go see him. Just… be gentle.”

Begrudgingly, Yahiro let the issue go, and he began to ascend the carpeted stairway, hand braced on the bannister as he jogged up. This place was always a little bit of a maze, but Yahiro knew the way to Fansia’s room, if only because he was always a little scared of walking in there by accident. She terrified him a little, if he’s telling the truth. Unlike Noboru and Magpie, his feelings about her were not complicated in the slightest. He really didn’t like her.

—

The door to Fansia’s room was wide open, and Yahiro could hear cries coming from inside. He rapped his knuckles against the doorframe gently, before entering. The scene was certainly not the most grisly one he’s seen, but it gave him a knot in his stomach like you wouldn’t believe. Magpie was completely inconsolable, draped over Fansia’s lifeless body like he expected his tears to wake her up in some fairy tale twist. He didn’t even seem to notice Yahiro at first.

The teal very gently placed his hand on Magpie’s shoulder, only for it to get swatted away with a loud “No! Do not touch me! Do not touch her!” Magpie then peeked over his shoulder to see who had entered. He seemed to settle a bit when he realized it was only Yahiro.

“I’m just here to check on you, Songbird.” The teal smiled sympathetically, even if he was in no smiling mood. Magpie still didn’t seem keen on letting Fansia go, and though it brought Yahiro no joy to distress the poor thing, he used Magpie’s momentary distraction to drag him away from the corpse and into an embrace.

Magpie fought at first. Yahiro knew he would. He had specifically said not to touch him, but he wasn’t going to let him keep holding that devil of a woman. The violet kicked and screamed and even bit him hard enough to draw blood, just trying to get back to Fansia, but he eventually calmed down and laid limp in Yahiro’s arms, either because he finally accepted she wasn’t coming back, or because he just tired himself out.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you…”

Magpie finally returned the embrace, sniffling and hiding his face in Yahiro’s shoulder as he was shushed and stroked.

“They are going to take her away,” the violet croaked.

“They are.”

“It is my fault.”

“It’s not. She—” Yahiro paused. He had to watch what he said. Despite everything, Magpie had a hard time seeing her as the villain, and he might get defensive if he said anything bad. He exhaled slowly. “… Things just got out of control. It’s not your fault.”

He didn’t seem to believe that, but he didn’t say anything, simply gripping the back of Yahiro’s shirt tightly, hands shaking.

“… Where’s Lupo?” the teal asked after some momentary silence. Or, relative silence. Magpie was sniffling and taking shallow breaths the whole time. “Is he here?”

“H-he is not.”

“Where is he?”

“He is with Lekthi.”

It didn’t clear up much. He wanted an address or something, but he supposed that so long as they could get him there, it wasn’t a big deal.

“I’ll drive you, okay?”

Magpie shook his head stubbornly.

“What about Noboru? He could drive you.”

Another head shake. Yahiro sighed quietly, and pet Magpie’s hair as he thought. After a moment, the teal summoned a smile.

“.. I bet I can still carry you, like old times.”

“No…” His voice was miserable.

“I know I can. Look, come on!”

“Stop it…”

Yahiro slowly got to his feet while holding Magpie. The boy acted limp, which made it even harder to lift him, and he ended up halfway sliding out of Yahiro’s arms. Boy, it was like he was liquid. But a few quick adjustments helped him mostly hold Magpie up, despite his quiet protests.

“Come on, you’re making it harder on me! That’s not really fair, is it?”

Yahiro’s jolly attitude didn’t do much to cheer Magpie up, however. He was too much of a sad lump to even lift his head enough for Yahiro to see him. Gods, that depressed him. He’s never seen Magpie like this. It really honestly made him want to cry, more so than anything else that had happened in recent perigees.

“Hup!” He tried to hoist the violet up even more, but his attempt was cut short when Magpie stood on his own and shoved Yahiro off of him.

“Stop it! Stop… Please…”

Yahiro’s smile dropped, and he gave a small exhale through his nose. Magpie wasn’t a child anymore. That wasn’t going to cheer him up like that and he knew it. He supposed he just wasn’t sure what else to do about it.

“Okay. Okay, I’m sorry. I just… I don’t think you should stay here, Mags.” Yahiro tilted his head, giving a sympathetic look. “Your father and I will handle everything, okay? I want you to go somewhere quiet and safe for a bit.”

“Am I going to be in trouble?” Magpie asked, finally tilting his head up. He looked utterly miserable. His face was slick with tears and he looked even paler than normal. It was awful to see, really.

“No. No, not at all.”

“But it is my fault.”

“It’s not. Noboru is taking responsibility for everything.”

“But I killed her.”

“No. I mean— yes, but…” Yahiro sighed. After a moment, he approached again, and gently set his hand on Magpie’s shoulders. “He wants to protect you, Mags. Please just let us handle it.”

Magpie quieted down, and glanced over to Fansia’s body again. Yahiro rubbed his shoulders a bit, and craned his head around to try and get Magpie to look at him again.

“Hey… I know. I know how it feels. Believe me, I do. You’ll feel better if you spend this time with people you love and trust. Okay?”

“…”

Yahiro squeezed his shoulders.

“Okay?”

“… Okay.”

“That’s my little Songbird. Now, come on. Let’s get you to your friends, yeah?”

Magpie didn’t answer, but he also didn’t protest when he was guided out of the room. Yahiro knew that he had done a terrible job at cheering Magpie up, but frankly, he doubts there was anything anyone could have done to make him feel better at that moment. Magpie had very strong, very complicated feelings about Fansia. And to have been the one that killed her? He’s sure it ate him up inside in a way that couldn’t even be described.

—

Noboru had been pacing anxiously when the two came down the stairs. He stopped when he saw the two of them, and seemed relieved to notice that Magpie was no longer glued to Fansia’s corpse.

“Hey. I’m gonna drive him to his friend’s place. I’ll call my guys, they’ll clean everything up so it doesn’t look like he was here… All you gotta do is call my office phone, leave a message saying you might have knocked her off during a fight and need legal counsel, and then take your ass to the hospital.” Yahiro paused at the bottom of the stairs. “… You really alright with taking the fall? You’ll be safe, but the press will really hate your guts.”

Noboru sighed, looking at Magpie for a few long seconds, before his gaze flicks back to Yahiro.

“… I am. Negative press didn’t kill my business prior to Fansia, it won’t kill it after her.”

“If you’re sure.”

The man looks to the depressed Magpie, who doesn’t seem all that interested in their conversation. He had never exactly done much to be a good guardian to Magpie, had he? He was better than Fansia, sure, but that wasn’t exactly a high bar to clear. Noboru hesitantly reached out, and delicately brushed a bit of hair away from Magpie’s face.

“… I’m sorry for what happened. Thank you for protecting me.”

Magpie’s hands balled into fists. He didn’t look angry, though. Just conflicted.

“Are you upset with me? You’re allowed to be. It was my fault it escalated like that.”

“No…”

“It’s okay if you are.”

“I am not… You were trying to protect me first, which is why I…” For a moment, it looked like Magpie was going to cry again, but he squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds, breathed out a shaky sigh, and continued. “I couldn’t let her hurt you.”

Noboru pressed his lips into a thin line.

“.. If only I had done as good of a job at protecting you as you did me. That’s why I want to do this. You’ll be doing me a kindness by allowing me to do this for you.”

Magpie said nothing. Noboru couldn’t tell if he understood his reasoning or not, so he left it be.

There wasn’t much of a goodbye or anything after that. Magpie and Yahiro eventually just made their way out the door, and into that obnoxious red car, and drove off. It was unceremonious, a bit awkward, but mostly depressing.

He can’t wait for the headlines. Fansia Izuumi, the Empire’s sweetheart, strangled by her own matesprit. He can see it, all in big headline text on the front page of every news article for the next few perigees. He’s going to become one of the most hated men on Alternia. But better him than Magpie. The boy doesn’t deserve to have his future destroyed over this. It’s the least Noboru can do. He’s kept his head down too long.

… Gods. He needs a drink.

#writing #magpie #noboru #fansia #yahiro

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