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yeyinde · 1 year

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omg if you could, would you please write literally anything about soap?? If not then would you possibly write some jealous ghost? (,,: maybe the reader and Soap are really close and fuck around together and ghost just watches from a distance until it's taken a little too far and he does something drastic ? Reader and Soap are goofing around and end up in a compromising position and ghost just yanks them apart and at first they're like "that was so unprofessional I'm in trouble oh no" but it turns out ghost was just enraged with jealousy lmaoo

i absolutely write for Soap (and Price, and Alejandro, and Gaz, and "Alex"... honestly, all these COD boys got me simpin something fierce).

i'm so sorry this took so long—i had a lot of ideas about Soap, but i mostly wanted two pining idiots in a pub! i tried to add elements of the Ghost request as well (messing around, blink and you'll miss it Ghost jealousy), but i really just enjoyed that almost comfortably claustrophobic feeling you get when you're with someone who ensnares your full attention until everything just completely goes away. that "oh, are we still in public?" dazed feeling.

i really hope you enjoy this! 🖤

tw: none, mostly just fluff and banter; gratuitous use of Scottish slang

Ghost’s Version

He slides you a glass filled with amber, eyes dancing in the low, golden glow of the pub. Fairy lights. They catch on the green in his irises; a boscage in hazel.

There is something warm in the air—the taste of victory, of scotch (Price insists, buys two bottles, and offers up Maduro cigars to anyone who looks at him)—and you cling to it, wrapping your hands around this feeling, and tucking it close to your thudding heart. It's comforting.

Everyone is together again. Price knocking his hand against Gaz's shoulder, loudly telling anyone who'll listen about the time the kid was hangin' out a helo. Fuckin' nutter. Laswell nursing a glass, pad in her hands. Ghost beside her, eyes drawn to the names of men you'll eventually have to go after flashing in his dark eyes.

Gaz shoots you a glance. Help me, it says.

Your return smile, a wave. No way.

If you get close to Price now, you'll never get loose. You'll end up walking away with the taste of a battle on your tongue, scotch in your belly, and cigar smoke clotting inside your lungs. He always leaves you feeling dazed, whiplash sick.

It's best to avoid your captain when his voice is a raw scrape, a wheeze, after yelling in the trenches for so long.

It might, of course, be said bottles of scotch that permeate inside of you; a low heat in your belly. You feel giddy with it.

"A'right, bonnie?" His voice is a thick fog in the morning. A blanket of white over the pastures. Sun peeking through.

"Aye," you murmur, riding a very thin line between that confidence only being a shade away from drunk can bring, and coy—coquettish. Teasing. It's been like this all night.

(Maybe even longer—ever since he knocked his knuckles to your shoulder, bottom lip between his teeth to stem a grin, and said, not bad for a bonnie lass.)

Soap's hand jerks. The glass scratches across the tabletop.

"Oh, aye?" He thickens his accent, lets the twang of the highlands congeal in the space between you.

"That's it, bonnie."

He's close—leather, plastic; he smells of polymer and oak—and the flecks of caramel in his eyes remind you of the sun. So close, you can feel the rays scorch your cheeks when he leans in, when his white teeth flash, blinding, in your periphery.

"That right?"

"We'll make a Scot out of you, yet."

It happens in between everything.

A break in the clouds between rainfall—turadh.

That's how most things happen with Soap, you find. Small moments here or there; little snippets. They stack up slowly, a steadily filling dam until the levee begins to crack, and crumble.

It spills over; a splash. A lull.

He's meant to be teaching you cuss words that you can hurtle at your enemies, or a secret language meant for the two of you if you'd ever gotten into a tight spot together. Maybe, even a way to annoy your Lieutenant. It's slipped in somehow—between it’s a dreich day and whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye! —and sits heavy in your chest.

Turadh.

(Is there even a word out there more beautiful?)

His chin is pointed up toward the arching ceiling when he mutters it softly, a ghost, perhaps, from his childhood. It slips out like it wasn't meant to. Like it was lost somewhere in his mind, his memories, and slowly buoyed the surface, captured between trembling hands. A forgotten piece of home dipped in the evanescence of nostalgia.

It feels like the end of a storm when his eyes drift to you. A crooked smile pulls at the corners of his mouth.

"Heard it from me granny," he says, shrugging, bashful. "Heard a lot more than that, too. Cussed like a sailor."

He says nothing more. His past, like most of the men whose company you keep, is a secret. Held tight to the chest under a thick bulletproof vest. Untouchable. Unreachable.

Your fingers itch all the same.

"She definitely raised you well."

"Is that an insult?"

You flash a light smile his way. "If I wanted to insult you, I'd call your haircut naff."

"Cheeky little—," Soap huffs. "No one appreciates the mohawk anymore."

"Did they ever?"

He leans down, eyes honeycomb golden in the gloaming, and smells of alder and wych elm. "I happen to think so."

The fissure splits. Water leaks. You wonder if he'd taste of the highlands.

"You happen to think a lot of things," tremulous words, barely above a whisper, slip from the seam of your wobbling lips. "Doesn't mean any of them are right."

"We'll see, bonnie." He motions for you to take your drink. "I'm sure you'll find I'm always right."

"Is the clause in that always ironclad?"

"Aye, and you best know it, lass."

Another word is learned— fadachd —when he smiles at you; a soft crook of his lips, shadows catching on the jut of his mouth. His eyes are warm honey; molasses. If you stare too long, you think you might just get stuck.

A shudder, then, rolls through you.

(You've had worse ideas, really.)

"You're not teaching me the good stuff," you pout, thumb brushing over the curve of the cup, dragging through the impression of your mouth left on the rim.

"I'm not much of a teacher," he shrugs, bringing his glass to his lips.

Your throat is dry. Eyes locked on the way his Adam's apple buoys with his swallows; on the smooth column of his neck, on the stubble that falls beneath his chin, jaws.

You can't look away quick enough when he turns to you. His eyes burn into yours. The glass clinks against the table.

"What do you want to learn?"

"Everything—," you choke, fingers curling over the cup. "I—I mean… what are some, y'know, stuff I can use on a date."

His voice is thick, raw from the alcohol he drank. "A date?"

You nod. The glass is cool against your palm. You bring it to your lips, and let the sharp liquid sit on your tongue.

"With who?"

You mimic his shrug, swallowing. His eyes are on you. You try not to tremble.

"Anyone. Just—," your voice is a rasp; a shade under a whisper.

You take another swig—liquid courage—and try not to grimace. The alcohol burns through you.

(His eyes are suns. Dizzying. Blinding.)

When you turn to him, you flash a slow grin; eyes lidded. Teasing. Kittenish. You feel a little bit like an imposter. "How do I get myself a Scottish man?"

You can see him swallow. Hear the click in his throat.

Beside his sternum, you watch his vein tick. Wonder, dazed, what it would be like to sink your teeth into his skin. To mark him as yours for the world to see.

Soap— Johnny —MacTavish: all yours.

You shiver.

"A Scottish man, aye?"

"Well, if you teach me right, I'll know how to seduce one."

His elbow rests on the tacky tabletop, knuckles pressed into his chin. He leans over you until all you can see is him.

"And if I teach you wrong?"

In the triangle of his arm and jaw, you find Ghost in the corner—sitting beside Price and Laswell (you wonder, for a moment, if any of them ever really stop) as they pour over documents—and tip your chin toward him.

"I might end up with an Englishman."

Soap raises his head, peering over his shoulder. He pauses for a moment, eyes darting between his Captain and Lieutenant.

It's satisfying to hear him huff through his nose. A heavy exhale. You wonder if he's jealous.

It makes you think of Madrid. Of that stunning woman draped in Chantilly.

Aye, lass. It was a pleasure to meet you.

You turn to your glass, mulling over what he might say in response, your comeback, but his grip on the glass catches your eye.

His knuckles are white. Nails red, flat against the surface.

"Soap—"

He turns back to you. The tight grip around the glass eases.

When he smiles, it feels like a cloud cover, hiding away the blaze. "Lt? Might be good for him."

"Yeah…" you murmur, words quiet in your slurred panic. You don't know how to salvage this. The teasing, the banter—it was bordering on flirting, and now—

Distance.

He's just Soap. And you're just you.

(Aye, lass—)

It stings. Prickles between your ribs and your heart, and the ache of it makes the alcohol in your gut churn.

"I doubt he'd go for it."

"What? He's been keekin' you all night." There is a divot between his brow. When he turns his head, the fairy lights behind make his stubble look darker. "Yer aff yer heid!"

You blink, a small smile growing. "D'unno that one, yet, professor."

"It means: you're talking rubbish. He can't stop lookin' at you."

He enunciates the words for you, even adapts a spiteful English accent to go with it, but it's the burn in his gaze that makes you feel like you're floating. Bubbly and light and reaching for the stratosphere.

You don't want to lose this.

(The ever in that is ironclad.)

"How do you say I'm drunk?"

Soap shakes his head, tension dissipating. It's a relief when humour cuts into his grin. "Too many ways to count, lass."

"C'mon," you slide forward on the barstool, elbows perched on the table, palms cupping your warm cheeks. They feel blistered, sunkissed. "Just one? It'll even be the chef's choice."

"Oh, aye?" He mimics your pose, leaving only one hand to grasp the glass between his palm. He rolls it between his thumb and fingers for a moment, eyes downcast as he thinks. "Yer mad wae' it."

You roll the words around your tongue. "Mad with it?"

"Aye."

"I like it."

"Are you?"

"Am I…?"

"Mad wae it?"

"Just a little…"

Soap levels you with a look that knocks the wind from your lungs. "You're blootered, bonnie."

"Awa' an bile yer heid!"

Something sits in his brow at the sharp words that spill, unpractised, from your lips. A rumble in the distance warning of approaching rain.

You think the deluge might drown you.

"Careful, bonnie," his breath smells of scotch. Tastes like a sunburn. "You might just bite off more than you can chew."

The burn of the alcohol does little to abate the itch in your throat.

"Bonnie," you murmur, numb. You can't hear much past the thudding in your chest. "Why'd you call me bonnie?"

(Aye, lass—

Bonnie. Bonnie. Bonnie—)

His head drops when he huffs, a soft laugh spilling—almost reluctantly—from his chest. He stays like that for a moment, head bowed and the corner of his mouth twitching. When he raises his head, his cheeks are stained rubescent.

The alcohol, you think, dizzy. The world spins, and then narrows into a pin-drop where only the ruby smear on the bridge of his nose exists.

"'Am no diddy, but—"

"Sergeant."

There is a misty cloud surrounding you; a gossamer spooling over your eyes. You blink the cobwebs away, but they're stuck to your retinas.

Ghost stands shrouded in the smog. His dark eyes slide to you. Endless black. Unfathomable.

"Soldier."

The command is clear. Stop muckin' about.

His voice is a warble when he speaks. Gruff, low. "Lt, comin' to learn some Scottish, too?"

"Negative." He says, clipped. Then: "can barely understand these pissed Glaswegians as it is."

"It's a lovely accent," you murmur, grinning. Stupid, dopey. It feels like waking up after a long nap on the beach.

His eyes are liquid pools of black when they slide to you. "Bloody hell. Must have knocked your head one too many times if you think that's lovely."

"It was more of a smack."

"Christ. With a rifle?"

You like it when he's loose like this. Relaxed. When he isn't barking out commands, and orders, and keeping a chasm between everyone.

"No, with a hand."

"Better see the medic. Don't need you suffering any more brain damage."

It's on the tip of your tongue— aw, you do care —but his words stick to the gummy lining of your scotch-filled head. Any more.

You pout. "You're a stone-cold bastard, you know that?"

Somewhere under the mask, you like to imagine that he's grinning. "Never said I wasn't."

"What do you need, Lt?"

Liquid eyes slide to him. "We're heading out. You stayin', MacTavish?"

He nods, sharp. "Aye. Might wander around Glasgow for a 'mo."

"And you, soldier?"

Ghost stares down at you. Soap's words surface—keekin' you all night—but you see nothing when you match his stare. When the heavy brunt of his full attention falls on you.

Soap glances at you, eyes a half-sun. Your hands prickle. You wonder if wandering around might include a trip to the Cairngorms.

(You imagine you could reach up and kiss the sun.

Maybe, him, too, if he'd allow it.)

"I—," you tilt your head, nervous suddenly. "I'd like to learn more Scottish. If you wouldn't mind the company."

"Aye, bonnie." There is victory in his grin.

Ghost gives a sharp nod, and doesn't wait.

You watch him leave, suddenly tense. Soap hasn't looked away from you yet. It simmers inside; another fissure. Another crack. The levee wobbles.

"So…," he says, his voice a tickle in your ear. "About wantin' to seduce a Scot…"

"Not just any Scot," you murmur, eyes low. Framed by the hazy fairy lights, his grin feels like the sun cresting through a storm cloud.

"Got my heart flichterin‘," he mutters. His hand is warm when it touches your wrist. "Wanna feel, bonnie? Feel what you do to me, hen?"

It feels like you're underwater when you nod. Like you've been dragged below the surface, then spat back up on the sandy shores, drenched in the rays.

The heat kisses your palm when he presses it flat to his chest. His pulse hums under your lifeline; the grand wings of a bird fluttering in his ribcage. Your nails sink into his shirt, curling over the fabric until it's knotted in your fist. You could hold on to him forever.

His eyes feel like a dawning sun when they land on you, wrapped in that equinox between day and dusk when you can still bask in the warmth that curtains over you. Liquid honey. Melted wax. It seeps over you, filling the cracks.

(You, the earth; him, the sun: a perfect perihelion. You bloom under his cosmic heat.)

When you were younger, you'd stand on the hills, and gaze up at it in the aether. Your eyes narrowed into slits, watering from the blaze. The smile on your face was warmed under the rays.

They warned you, then, when you'd come home with a headache, rubbing your tender eyes, that you'd go blind for it. That the sun would ruin you, that it wasn't meant to be stared at so nakedly.

You think of it, now, when your eyes begin to crease. When the blistering intensity of him—luminous, bright, blinding –stares, open and raw, back at you.

—you fucked in the upper car park at the Cairngorms, nestled near the base of a hill. he took you under the setting sun, and whispered how pretty you looked bathed in ochre and desperate for him

—it was Price who bailed you both out after getting slapped with public indecency ("haven't you two ever heard of doggin'?")

—he takes you to a football game for a proper date, your well-won Scottish man, but spanks your ass at home when you cheer for ManU over the Celtics; it's blasphemy in this household

—Gaz doesn't even want to know why you're barely able to sit in the chair, and why Soap looks so damn satisfied whenever you wince

(you tell him, anyway.)

translations (forgot these, oops)

—turadh: A break in the clouds between showers | dry spell

—it’s a dreich day: miserable day

��whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye: what’s meant to happen will happen, or what will be will be

—naff: boring, rubish

—fadachd: yearning, longing

—keek: looking

—yer aff yer heid: acting stupid, someone that's too drunk or talking nonsense

—blootered: drunk

—diddy: coward

—flichterin‘: soft fluttering, as in the wings of a butterfly, or the flame of a candle.

—bonnie: used by older gens; used to describe someone pretty or attractive (is actually gender neutral - could be bonnie lass or bonnie lad)

—hen: used for a younger lady (can also be patronising) but kind of like sweetheart or honey)

#requests #john soap mactavish #john soap mactavish x reader #soap x reader #soap x you #john mactavish x reader #john MacTavish x you #john mactavish #call of duty modern warfare #cod #cod mw2 #cod fanfic #soap call of duty

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the-traveling-poet · 6 days

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ooohh, Levi with a very playful, all smiles, carefree, flirty (maybe even a little promiscuous), cunning and smart reader (basically like an ENTP personality, or even Dazai Osamu from bsd if uk him). She's like known for her looks, personality and rebellious streak, and her fighting style too (very agile, incredibly flexible and has impressive reflexes). And maybe she's known Levi ever since back when he joined the Survey Corps.

Headcannon no. 12

Captain’s Captain

Warnings: brief mention of alcohol, brief mention of sexual content.

A/N: Anon I love Dazai so this is perfect xD I hope you don’t mind I made this a hc format, but if you do I’ll happily redo! Also, same applies to making reader a Captain to fit the part of the idea I had for your request. I apologize for how long this took me, I had some things come up!

Taglist: @21aurora @deepzombieyouth @braunsbabe @pelicanpizza @humanitys-strongest-brat @raginginferno267

Enjoy~

As if the world above the Underground City weren’t foreign enough to the trio of thugs, Levi supposed it was only fitting that Farlan, Isabel, and himself had to be placed under an even stranger Captain during their forced stay in the Survey Corps.

Captain Y/N, he was made to remember her name while briefly under her command, was one of the strangest people he’d met in his first few weeks of training in the Survey Corps. Second only to Section Commander Hange.

She was eccentric; always had something to say and two cents to give to anyone who’d listen. Though, even if they didn’t, she’d continue on to herself.

She was crass; as bold and unpredictable as they came. Though skilled at her job, she was perhaps even more experienced in finding loop holes in any order fired her way from a Section Commander or even the Commander himself. Yet it wasn’t as thought she ever slacked off; Levi had seen her, on several occasions, merely wander off to another task that held more of her attention.

As odd as it had been at the time, he’d even seen her slip in a white lie to Commander stating she was taking the newest editions out into the forrest to hone their omni-directional mobility skills up in the trees; only to drag Farlan, Isabell, and himself out to a clearing for a hike instead.

She was clever, Levi had to give her that. And after some time, he grew accustomed to her strangely always upbeat personality.

Did she ever not have a smile on her face?

Although, one thing Levi hadn’t seen coming, was her absolute focus in combat; both on the training grounds surrounding HQ and out in titan territory on expeditions.

He may or may not have been in speechless awe of her effortless flexibility that she occasionally would flaunt to the newer cadets when training them. Farlan hadn’t let him forget, for an entire week, the way his face had turned scarlett after she had demonstrated a full split.

Though he wasn’t under her command long, as soon enough he held the same rank she did. But even after years of working side by side, she’d still refer to him as ‘cadet’, almost always followed by a coquettish smirk that made his cheeks flush pink.

From annoyance or embarrassment, he couldn’t quite discern; and he didn’t plan on finding out any time soon.

But when this continued, and even became more frequent behavior towards him in particular, he eventually found himself becoming flustered and lost for words every time she chanced a promiscuous comment thrown his way, and he was forced to ponder within himself how he really felt about her.

But it was all so oddly endearing despite the initial embarrassment?

All the sudden, people’s talk of her outstanding looks started to make sense…

Long after their friendship had blossomed, Levi would find himself seeking out her company whenever she was available; her relaxed and nonchalant demeanor always seemed to pull him away from stress, and her charismatic charm could pull even the most stubborn of smirks to his face.

Sometimes, he’d have tea with her. And sometimes, she’d convince him to have drinks with her. It wasn’t something he was used to, but quickly became accustomed to with her eager encouragement. Though, it had taken a bit more convincing for him to relax in such a way.

On one such occasion, late into a night of catching up on more personal matters outside of work, Levi had relied on liquid courage to throw one of her quick witted quips back at her in hopes to flustered her the way she had him for years now; and oh, how that backfired.

“Drinking whisky straight? Didn’t picture you drinking someone rougher to swallow than your tea. Say…I wonder what else you take rough?” She had teased him over a split handle of whisky she’d purchased from Sina, eyeing him up and down in her usual cheeky fashion from across the coffee table that separated their chairs.

“Dunno…Why don’t you come over here and find out?” He had responded, with a confidence he didn’t quite fully possess. Perhaps she had seen that, and maybe that was what prompted her making the first step towards their new romance late into that night and early into the next morning.

Either way, he didn’t regret making a fool of himself trying, and failing, to turn her red that night; as now he could call her his and endure her unique antics to a whole other level than anyone else had the pleasure of experiencing.

#lynn’s requests #attack on titan #shingeki no kyoujin #aot fanfiction #snk fanfiction #aot #snk #aot fluff #aot x reader #aot x y/n #aot x you #levi ackerman #levi ackerman headcanons #levi ackerman x reader #levi ackerman x y/n #levi ackerman x you #levi x y/n #levi x reader #levi x you

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guyfieriii · 11 months

Text

Turn Me To Ashes

This one's an angsty little piece written for this ask. Its a self-indulgent little piece that's got a bit of everything: Price before he was a Captain, some angst, Price on a motorbike, some more angst, and finally that last bit of angst to cap things off nicely.

The biggest thank you to @mvtthewmurdvck who read this thing piecemeal and gave me the support to post it as well as @soapskneebrace and @yeyinde for indulging my crazed Price thoughts.

Pairing: John Price x f!Reader Warnings: PAIN

You will your eyes to deceive you like they have in the past. At moments most inconvenient they fashion a mirage so cogent you’d think it’s all they’ve ever done.

And now—

“J—”

They don’t.

It’s your heart that betrays you instead. “John.”

There’s an unmistakable flinch in his bearing at the sound of your voice, but he turns around, nevertheless.

He looks different but also the same.

There are tufts of grey where there used to be pure chestnut. A weathered face carved of grit, chiseled down by years of bellicose.

He looks tired, you think.

Or maybe it’s you that brings it out in him.

Had the years not passed in his absence, you’d have made a dig at him. Something along the lines of ‘People know we’re the same fuckin’ age, John, and you’re makin’ me seem older than I am’. Or maybe ‘At least you committed to the beard — spent a good couple years wondering if y’were gonna grow one’.

Instead, you stand there awkward and silent, imagining a conversation that isn’t really happening.

He watches you, wistful. Like he’s doing the same.

After a moment, he’s entirely expressionless and you’re not sure whether you’re more disappointed or surprised. Foreseeably the prior, more like. He’s a captain now. SAS. The ever-dependable island of a man surrounded by oceans of unpredictability.

“We draw the line where we need to.”

“Not we, John. You.”

It’s been over a decade since and the memory of it still blisters.

Bluebird. Blue.

That’s what he called you. You suppose it was fitting. You were protective, bordering on territorial — especially when it came to him.

“Is that an insult, Price?”

“It’s a compliment, dove.”

It was hard not to be. You came up together, joining the army within months of each other. Through sheer contingency, your paths crossed enough times for bonds to be made and friendships to be forged. Nothing more.

Nothing either of you would openly concede to.

It started the night of your birthday, a few years in. A party in the mess hall took a turn and so did the line that stood firm between the two of you. In a flurry of hasty fingers, impassioned moans, and your breath tinged with the burn of scotch, you allowed the levee to break and out poured months of hidden impulses that burst at your seams. Now they flowed freely across your tongue, gliding onto his against the beaten brick wall of the outer barracks.

“Just this once, hmm?” He promised.

“Just this once.” You quickly agreed under a high miasma of his lips and molten touch. Writhing and panting beneath him, you’d have committed to any oath at that moment. Part of you knew you didn’t mean it, but you said it anyway.

You later realized he didn’t much mean it either.

So, yes — you felt entitled to him in some way. Especially when the paramedics made eyes at him, and the rookies fought reason to have him indulge them in conversation. He’d grant them one, of course. Of course. You’d watch them, coquettish and wide-eyes and it was hard not to wonder if this was what he wanted.

You, inversely, snapped back. While there was an immense amount of mutual respect and understanding between the two of you, you had to make it noticeable that you weren’t beholden to him. It wasn’t for the benefit of your fellow soldiers or the watchful eyes of your superiors.

It was for you and him.

There was the silent yet ever present threat of impermanence. An occupational hazard you had come to terms with, or so you thought. But then the thought of his ephemerality burned a hole in your chest.

You could die. You had no qualms with that, you had planned for it. You even wrote him a letter.

You hoped he hadn’t done the same.

The other women — they were easier, straightforward. You weren’t. You were an exposed live wire of harsh candor and even harsher pain. An irritant holding up a mirror, a challenge with no end. It made sense at times to think that you were better left aside than with him.

What’s that story about the man pushing a boulder up a hill?

But then once the sun withdrew from the skies and the stars took its place, he’d only ever go searching for you.

You brought it up once in a canopy of post-coital bliss. The sound of his heart beating in a steady metronome, his fingers dancing up and down your spine, the way you just lay there in comfortable silence was all too perfect. It made your walls descend and your insecurities awaken.

So, you asked. “Why me?”

“We match, Blue.” He simply said and you believed him.

Until you didn’t.

He asked you home with him, once.

He looked just as surprised as you at his invitation, but your hasty ‘Yes, okay. Yes, I’ll come home with you’ didn’t give him a chance to backtrack.

His answering smile was one you etched into your myocardium. Always hoping for the best and expecting the worst, you knew you might need it.

You try your best to mimic it and give him something in return.

You match.

It was painfully awkward — that first flight back. You sat side by side in an aircraft with other home bound soldiers, chatty and eager.

Not the two of you, though.

He slept for most of it, or he pretended to; the lip of his beanie pulled over his eyes, head resting against the window, arms crossed at his chest. His shoulders would shake in sync with the aircraft’s rumble through some mild turbulence, but the man didn’t so much as shuffle out of his REM.

Not pretend, then.

You finally let out the breath you weren’t aware you were holding and make the snap decision to use this time to your advantage. There were people around, much to your relief they were entirely unaware. You allowed yourself some indulgences, letting your eyes dance over his sleeping form and zeroing in on all those details you hadn’t had the luxury to appreciate.

The scar hidden in the five o’clock shadow now forms across his jaw. You remember how he got it — narrowly avoiding some shrapnel a few months back in Astana. All he walked away with was a bit of metal half a centimetre deep.

Your fingers embarked on an expedition of their own as you absentmindedly traced the back of his hand that peeked through the crest of his elbow. They followed a patterned dance of up and over around each finger, through the valley between each knuckle, and down the risen veins and back.

Ad nauseam.

You pretended not to notice the irregularity in his breathing, the slight twitch in his lips as you continued on.

Eventually, his arms uncrossed, and you bit back your disappointment as he hooked a thumb over the flap covering his eyes to meet yours.

“Glad to be able to entertain ya, Blue”

You wished he’d go back to his feigned sleep, and you’d go back to your little game.

“It’s not the worst thing I could have done, John.” You kept your voice steady. Lighthearted. There was a hint of embarrassment trickling at the back of your throat, but you wouldn’t dare reveal it.

“Oh?” He shifted in his seat, leaning towards you. Your eyes quickly veered to gauge your peripherals for any possible interruptions.

This was a clandestine moment. One you weren’t keen to share.

He seemed all too unbothered, his eyes downcast glancing upon your hands fidgeting with the hem of your shirt.

“Simmons— he, uh, wanted to draw a cock across your face. Good thing I stopped him.”

“How’d you do that?” Without a moment’s pause, he took your hand in his, large palm eclipsing yours entirely as his fingers wove their way through yours.

“Shot his bollocks off.”

It was so painfully tender. You’d have captured it in a globe for your mantle if you could. It bled such intimacy for which you felt entirely undeserving.

You were harsh people. You and John. Forged and brutalized to the point wherein moments like this feel like a vain, almost opulent purchase of your time. Frugality in all matters of heart was an imperative choice to be made.

Sink or swim.

Perish or survive.

And the two of you. Well—

“And you let me sleep through it?”

He invited you home and you schooled yourself to let it all be about a good time. A bit of R&R and some sex.

Wasn’t it?

He promised to show you around.

“I’ll show you where I had my first kiss, love.”

“Careful, John. A girl might get jealous.”

A glance into his past made the possibility of a future bloom.

The bait. It was too enticing. It had too much potential, the thought of you and him. Having a life outside of iron, lead, and dirt.

You couldn’t just—

You pulled away from him with about a tenth of the delicacy you were hoping for. His expression shifted five times over in the span of a second. Hurt. Confusion. Anger. Resignation. Apathy.

“You looked like you needed your solid eight.”

It was better that way.

It was a vintage Honda. John’s motorbike. It suited him to a T.

There is always something to be said for a reliable classic.

“Wanted this exact model as a lad, but my dad—“

He paused, swallowing down like he’d just tasted something bitter before continuing.

“Bought it as a beaten down clunker an’ I built it up.”

He looked at you, a bit self-effaced, in hopes of earning your admiration.

You couldn’t dare to disappoint him.

You recognized it as a point of pride within him. To him, it epitomized his freedom. His steadfast nature. To you, it was a death machine with a chassis built around it. But it wasn’t a fear that lingered.

The moment you were seated pillion, your body molded to the back of his. Every turn along the road, you were counterpoised by him. It was more graceful than you would have imagined. A delicate kind of waltz wherein he led you so intuitively, you felt as though you’ve been his passenger for a lot longer than you have.

It was the subliminal trust you had in him. What was usually conveyed with a look, if that, was now a tête-à-tête of his parity and your belief.

He did make good on his promise.

For the time you spent with him, morning rides were routine. You raced daybreak, cruising against asphalt, feeling the thrum of the engine behind the settling in your sternum. The amorous backcloth of the gliding mist at your feet, the ever-present chill of morning air curtaining the warmth of his body. At every stoplight, his hands would stroke the length of your calves, palm tightening around the exposed skin of your ankle.

The roads lay bare at that early of an hour, your only companions were the even-spaced streetlights along your way.

“That one there. Right under the hood of it. I was fourteen. Her same was Iris”. He said.

“Was it a good first kiss?”

“Oh, the best.”

You mapped it out like the route to a treasure. All this trivia, the stories. You harmonized every likened memory of his with one of your own.

The fantasy of the path untraveled remained your consolation prize for when your time with him came to an end.

It was near perfection.

All good things, however—

Betrayal is an ugly word, you think, and often misrepresented in its severity.

What might be a disappointment is deemed as grievous as betrayal just because it’s coupled with heartbreak.

Death in its unfortunate certainty is commonplace in a world like yours. The fact that it comes before it’s due is a bitter pill you’ve managed to swallow.

You grieve. You reminisce. You move on to the next.

But there are some that stick. It’s not the ones you don’t see coming. It’s the ones you do and fail to stop. They are the ones that linger well past the descent of ironed cloth on a closed casket.

What do you do when reliable foundation crumbles and you’ve lost all footing? You change.

John changed.

Something in the blood of his fallen comrade stained more than skin and cloth.

His perception turned — uprooting philosophies of adherence to something more uncontrolled.

There were lines he began to cross. Ones he expected you to cross with him.

John wasn’t a man you made a habit of denying. The very thought of it lit a match of unease within you. He asked and asked, and your resolve nearly collapsed, but you remained planted across the underscore of his reasoning while his hand remained outreached.

You just didn’t take it.

I’m sorry, okay?

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ancientgoddessofegypt · 3 months

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LIBRA PLACEMENTS : WHAT MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL ? PICK A NUMBER

INSPO of the day is the fortune cookie messenger 🤭 but no seriously this inspired my reading for you guys. Anyone with sun,moon,rising etc. doesn’t matter. If you feel like it resonates with or without Libra placements, than this is for you too.

So let’s get to the bottom.

Pick a number :

5 7 12 22 41

Ready? Let’s go!!

If you picked 5…

Charismatic, emotional breakthroughs, captain-save-aaa.. 🫢 purttyyy, delightful.

This group of libras are special because they carry grace with so much power and boldness. They forgive others because they can’t hold in jealousy or hate in their heart. It’s just not worth it. It’s not in them to hold grudges for so long because it stunts their growth. Very beautiful creatures and very prone to be creative especially at a young age. Can show off to be very unique in certain avenues that requires the use of their hands. You tend to throw people off with the way you move as the way people perceive you it’s outside of how they see themselves which can be very interesting from time to time.

If you picked 7….

This group is pretty interesting. Starting with the fact that you guys are really good at picking good restaurants, good food, great places with good aesthetics. It doesn’t matter. You have a really good eye for the fine things in life. Your growing following will make you feel more of a star in the next few weeks to months because you’re allowing yourself to glow. This group could have had some ups and downs in the past, but now you’re transmuting all of that pain and making it into gold. It’s starting to show. Your modest but have a graceful presence. Your style is really cool and inspiring and you carry the energy of a trendsetter whether you know it or not. You are mysteriously good at giving people that good stare to let you know you want them. It’s intimidating but people like it ;) enjoy the party, you’re the one giving us life after all.

If you picked 12….

Gorgeous Beauty, Attractive, Soulful, Everyone’s Dream Girl.

Yes honey. YES, YOU! The beauty queen, the life of the party, the girl people fantasize over. You’re the one everyone wants to have but aren’t willing to get to the work! Very coquettish but so much calmness and grace to your stance it’s hard to ignore it. Your aura is a shiner baby! And hyenas can feel you from afar and may try to taint it, but they are no match for a Royal like yourself, you get it?

Just keep being you. You got it. The world creates inspo just off your presence alone. If you picked this number, you could be in your receiving energy as it is a permanent mark for people in this group. Whatever it is you desire you can acquire it. Manifestation works in your favor when you pay attention to what you want. It’s easily made for you to get what you want in life. Don’t you ever forget it.

If you picked 22….

Angelic Beauty. The Siren. The One Who Gets There Way.

Libra’s are known to get their way a lot so it’s a no brainer that this is one of your strongest characteristics. You guys are the type of muse people would take a painting class just to draw. Idk, I’d get into that lol. Anywho, you guys are amazing at making a mark wherever you guys are and that makes you stand out from the rest. Your beauty makes others star struck. And you’re capable of making a way for yourself no matter who’s there to help. There’s a ‘no damsel distress attitude’ that you carry, although you could be that way you figured its best to be more independent. And that’s always good. You guys have a charisma that gets you noticed easily. Use it to your advantage, you just don’t know who you’d come across ;)

If you picked 41…

The Popular Kid. “That’s so n so over there”. Exception. Power. Control other forces with your mind and physique.

This group is gifted in magnetism. Their charm is unmatched for any one they come across. What makes them special is their ability to be a light no matter where they are and people appreciate the heck out of your presence. Trendsetters, the one you want to invite to your birthday party. The person who just knows the best spots. You got it. You could be popular on social media or someone who has a lot of followers. Take a picture. Going to the mall and just experience the joy of being alive is how your magnetic prowess just grow. The simple life. That’s all that matters. You should try expanding more in different avenues in this lifetime however. Try something you probably never thought to do like riding in a ATV or scuba diving. Just some little examples lol. Anything that brings out that fun, full of life energy is key.

#Libra reading #psychic reading #intuitive reading #intuitive libras #astrology #love astrology #Libra placements #astrology observations #astrology games #oracle games

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natjennie · 11 months

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when the captain reads the comunique from hq and flails and drops it and scuttles over to the window all nervous like "ah! the germans are coming!" and havers looks at the paper as it falls and back at him with a little smile and "I don't think they'll be here just yet, sir" like!!!!! they're so silly goofy and havers is so coquettish and sweet. and he suggests they start lockdown protocols and it's clear the other troops don't really respect cap like they roll their eyes but havers goes "you heard the captain" and... the way he doesn't tease captain for getting nervous and excited and he laughs along with him and looks at him with big fond eyes like... do you get it.

#the way his soldiers and the ghosts treat him like a joke but havers laughs WITH him #do you understand #they could've been so happy I need to believe it #redding weddy #roxy made me think about redding weddy blame him #bbc ghosts

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qrttt-takk · 7 months

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Webecca/Rebesker HC's p2

🏷️: SFW, Age Gap, AU where Umbrella doesn't exist, Continuation of S.T.A.R.S

-Rebecca's first day in S.T.A.R.S was in the middle of August. Wesker had heard that Bravo team was receiving a new rookie but could have honestly cared less, he had only made an appearance because he was one of the two captains, it was one of his many responsibilities. A simple introduction and back to dealing with his own team, Alpha and Bravo only collaborated as a whole when there was a "big deal" type of mission and of course those were as rare as blue moons..

It was really nerve-wracking for Rebecca though, fresh out of the academy and she's already hired at the RPD with a whole team, it was a bit disappointing when there were no other girls but she sucked it up and happily made friends with her new co-workers, they made her little puzzles and games so they could all get to know her better

In the middle of her welcome party she was introduced to Wesker, he had come into the office looking already done with it, not one for small talk or unnecessary pleasantries he carried on with the hope to quickly be over and finished

He was utterly intimidating to say the least, her heart was practically beating raw out of her chest as she nervously introduced herself to Alpha team's captain, his handshake was calculated and confident. Compared to Enrico she would have never guessed that they were both on the same level of authority, the contrast between them was drastic, jarring almost..

Enrico of course had noticed her nervousness and quickly joked to ease her, telling her that he isn't as scary as he wants to be. Albert on the other hand pretended but in a way felt terribly weak, the sight of Rebecca, the sound of her meek introduction and her coquettish demeanor made his stomach twist and knot....he felt that it was almost illegal, no, inhuman to even be as cute as she was

She was everything. Soft, clever, ambitious, and humble. Rebecca was a bit naive but she wasn't dumb, she wanted to prove she belonged and work hard to keep her position. The moment Captain Wesker left, Rebecca couldn't help but to ask everyone more about him, he didn't smile once but she didn't mind-- there would be plenty of opportunities for them to talk again

-Courting went just as well as Albert expected, he could only do so much before playing the waiting game. He would request for Ms.Chambers' presence in the RPD lab room and ask for her honest opinions and thoughts regarding new developments in the field medicine the medical team would use...Rebecca felt important and special under his attention and after a while she grew out of her initial shyness, falling into a comfortable rhythm with him where she could talk about almost anything. Either complaining about the lines at Starbucks or having heated debates, if Rebecca had any free time to spare, she would always be happily chatting away with Wesker

-Rebecca was the one to start the relationship, she watched an embarrassing amount of motivational YouTube videos the night prior and asked the big question during lunch break in his office, Albert damn near had a stroke that day (he honestly didn't expect his awkward off and on flirting to actually take effect on her whatsoever) but they officially started dating in early winter ❄️☃️

-Rebecca likes annoying Wesker just because she has the privilege, she's aware there's a good handful of people in the RPD who would want to antagonize the captain without retaliation nor consequences, so it makes it even more fun. Either in his office or out in public, she will bring his hand to her mouth only to nip at his fingers or just headbutt his chest or arms when she's feeling silly

Of course, it does bother Wesker to an extent but he lets it slide since it's admittedly very adorable

Sometimes if she feels really bold, she'll purposefully approach him when he's talking to another co-worker and casually take the sunglasses off his face, she thinks it's really funny when he doesn't seem phased, not sparing her a glance and continuing conversation. Rebecca has done it so often it's become an inside joke within both teams

-She likes indulging his photography hobby and posing as a model, at first she was super camera shy but eventually got eased into it. Rebecca is stunningly photogenic, she's not beautiful like a model but rather like a modern goddess. He has 3 cameras filled with nothing but her, Albert is always buying her lots of cute clothes and costumes despite her protests (⁠*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠)

-Wesker likes to teach Rebecca how to shoot various firearms and often spends hours with her in the shooting range. She's the only other person who he lets handle and shoot his own custom Samurai Edge (which she thought was super cool)

Of course, it's a heavy gun and the recoil is pretty strong for her so it gives him the chance to get behind and guide her correctly. Sometimes his touch lingers for too long or he presses himself too close to her but Rebecca pretends to not notice, she basks in his careful attention and honeyed praise

However, good things come with a price, the price being the eventual headaches she gets from the gunpowder smell..

-He is so utterly possessive it isn't funny. The only place Rebecca can really be alone at is work and even then he's always showing up to visit or asking for her at least 2 times a day. In public he gets antsy if she leaves his sight...Wesker isn't a big fan of PDA but when he wants he's subtle about it, having his hand on Rebecca's waist or pulling her close to himself, it never fails to make her feel even more precious ꒰⁠⑅⁠ᵕ⁠༚⁠ᵕ⁠꒱⁠˖⁠♡

-On the rare occasions Wesker does get jealous, it's when the other rookies are clearly trying to make moves on her....over time he has learned to relax though, he trusts Rebecca and does kinda abuse his position of power sending those poor souls heaps of tedious paperwork

However Rebecca definitely gets 10x more jealous, if she hears or sees others flirting with Wesker she gets upset and ignores him entirely or tells him off with the excuse of how "busy" she is at the moment..

it makes him utterly depressed and he does try his best to make it up to her (个⁠_⁠个⁠)

-Rebecca naturally smells really sweet, whenever she's alone in the vicinity Wesker likes to wrap his arms around her and smell her for a moment, just quietly leaning into her small frame. Her scent strangely soothes him, especially after a long day-- he's considered trying to find a scientific way to bottle it up...

-She is NOT a still sleeper by any means, always tossing and turning at night and hogging all the blankets, Albert doesn't really mind because he sleeps as still as a corpse. Ever since they started dating he has bought a whole bunch of pillows and blankets just for her

-Rebecca loves planning cute little dates for them... theme parks, museum tours, indoor movie nights, Ect. Her love language is definitely quality time whereas Wesker's is both acts of service and gift giving

-She's one of the few people that make him laugh, either by her actions or a joke he can't help dropping the serious attitude and genuinely smiling/laughing at her nonsense, it makes Rebecca strangely proud

-Wesker drives an expensive black SUV with all the windows definitely too tinted for it to be legal, Rebecca drives a small and simple car like a Honda or Nissan. They park next to eachother just because she thinks it's cute

-Her hair is super soft and fluffy meanwhile his is hard and definitely has damage. Whenever they're bathing together she likes washing it, feeling the gel turn into mush and slowly deteriorate. She uses a sweet smelling honey-vanilla shampoo and he uses like head and shoulders or something weird smelling like that

-With Rebecca, Albert has started to indulge in things he normally would judge others for indulging in, like fast food and awful movies/TV shows. They're both on season 6 of The Kardashian's and admittedly he looks forward watching it with her every time she comes over, her reactions and expressions to the dramatic show are even more better to observe

-On the field, Wesker almost always pushes Rebecca to her limits, he's confident in her abilities and wishes to see her believe more in herself. He may come across as stern or harsh but that's how he shows he truly does care and worry about her

-Wesker secretly likes sweets, Rebecca eventually finds out when she catches him in the break room nibbling on a chocolate donut from the box Barry brought for everyone, she giggled like it was the funniest thing on earth. He was a bit embarrassed but she reassured him when she brought homemade brownies the next week

-Compared to him, Rebecca has a significantly bigger social circle so sometimes she gets busy hanging out with friends or simply going out. She doesn't do it often but when she does Albert is always missing her dearly, he tries distracting himself with something productive but his thoughts always wander back to his darling and her wellbeing, he's briefly considered putting a tracker on her phone...

When she eventually does return, he becomes shamelessly clingy, beckoning her to the couch or bed to cuddle until the next day, a request in which Rebecca happily agrees upon 🌅

Hope the 5 fans of this ship enjoyed, I want to incorporate more dark themes in the next part, these sillies are the best (⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)

#resident evil #resident evil headcanons #rebecca chambers #albert wesker #webecca #rebesker #wesker x rebecca #rebecca x wesker

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hyprmemes · 2 years

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tv tropes starters - topical tropes > body language > A-G - CREDIT send one in to have a starter/drabble/meta written revolving around the trope as described click on trope name for more info & interpret/adapt as you may!

[Accidental Unfortunate Gesture] - Someone accidentally makes an offensive gesture.

[Affectionate Gesture to the Head] - Touching a kid's head affectionately.

[Almost Holding Hands] - A character considers holding their crush's hand, but then decides not to.

[Angry Eyebrows] - A character gets a different face than usual when very angry.

[Angry Fist-Shake] - Shaking your fist at someone who's angered you.

[Attentive Shade Lowering] - When someone lowers their glasses beneath their eyes when something has peaked their interest.

["Be Quiet!" Nudge] - Hitting someone when they're about to say something that could get you in trouble to gesture that they should shut up right now.

[Berserker Tears] - Crying out of anger.

[Bicep Kiss] - An arrogant character, usually a man, kisses his bicep to show off his muscles.

[Bicep-Polishing Gesture] - Rubbing one's bicep to try to appear muscular.

[Blind Shoulder Toss] - Tossing an item considered unimportant over one's shoulder.

[Blowing a Raspberry] - Sticking one's tongue out and blowing to make a fart noise. Used to show disapproval or defiance.

[Cape Swish] - A character wearing a cape swishes it around.

[Captain Morgan Pose] - A casual, adventurous, lustful (if a man), or attentive character puts one foot on a raised object, leans forward, and puts one hand on their knee.

[Characterizing Sitting Pose] - The way a character sits tells us something about their personality.

[Character Tics] - Body language quirks unique to a character.

[Coin Walk Flexing] - A character walking a coin across their fingers is usually showing off how cool they are.

[Conducting the Carnage] - Someone waves their hands as though conducting an orchestra or plays an instrument while brutal things happen, the implication being that the person finds the atrocities entertaining like music.

[Coquettish Lip Biting] - Someone bites their lower lip to suggest romantic interest

[Cover Innocent Eyes and Ears] - Parents try to cover up their kids' eyes and ears whenever something inappropriate for children comes up.

[Cuckoo Finger Twirl] - Twirling your finger beside the temple of your head to indicate someone is acting insane.

[Dance of Despair] - Dancing to cope with severe sadness.

[Death Glare] - Staring angrily at a person to indicate that you're very pissed off at them.

[Deep Breath Reveals Tension] - Exhaling after narrowly escaping something serious.

[Deranged Dance] - Dancing indicates a person is not of sound mind and is affected by mental illness.

[Determined Expression] - A character looks determined.

[Disney School of Acting and Mime] - Realistic, but hammy, body language.

[Disapproving Look] - Giving someone an unamused glance.

[Dissonant Serenity] - Someone looks and/or acts serene despite something serious or crazy going on.

[Dope Slap] - Slapping someone for saying or doing something stupid.

[Dramatic Downstage Turn] - A character turns/walks towards the audience a bit to signify them as important or going through a lot emotionally.

[Dramatic Drop] - A character drops something out of surprise.

[Dramatic Sit-Down] - A character is so shocked that, while not unconscious, they can't stand so they sit down.

[Dull Surprise] - A character ought to be surprised, but they have a blank expression instead.

[Evil Slinks] - Seductive villains moving elegantly.

[Eye Am Watching You] - Pointing at your eyes, then a person, to signify you're watching them.

[Eyebrow Waggle] - Someone waggles their eyebrows after making a lecherous comment or a joke.

[Eyelash Fluttering] - Repeatedly blinking to appear innocent or flirty.

[Eyelid Pull Taunt] - Pulling a lower eyelid while sticking out the tongue to show disdain. Common in Japan, and usually portrayed as childish.

[Face, Nod, Action] - Two characters face each other, nod, then perform an action.

[Facepalm] - Pressing the palm of your hand against your face after seeing someone do something stupid or embarrassing.

[Facial Dialogue] - A character doesn't talk but emotes with their face.

[Fainting] - Passing out. Usually means the person is wearing a corset (if a woman), anemic, pregnant (again if a woman), or tired.

[Fascinating Eyebrow] - Arrogant or bemused characters raise an eyebrow.

[Fat Flex] - A fat character tries to look buff by pulling up their belly fat.

[Feeling Your Heartbeat] - Taking someone's hand and putting it on your chest so they can feel your heartbeat.

[Film the Hand] - Sticking one's hand over the camera so as not to be filmed.

[Finger-Forced Smile] - A character physically forces themselves or another character to smile.

[Finger Framing] - Making a rectangle with fingers and looking through it, associated with cameras.

[Finger-Lickin' Evil] - Evil women with claws lick them.

[Finger Muzzle] - Putting a finger on someone's mouth to silence them.

[Finger on Lips] - Putting your finger on your mouth instead of swearing while singing a profane song.

[Finger-Tenting] - Villains steeple their fingers.

[Finger Wag] - Wagging one's finger to say, "No" or "Nice try".

[Fist of Rage] - Someone forms fists because they're angry.

[Fist Pump] - A character holds their fist to their shoulder, with the palm facing in if a man and out if a woman, to express determination or pride.

[Flexing Those Non-Biceps] - Someone flexes their bicep but there's no muscle.

[Flipping the Bird] - Extending your middle finger at someone to insult them.

[Flourish Cape in Front of Face] - Sub-trope of Cape Swish where they bring the cape over their face.

[Frozen Face] - Somebody's expression can't change because their face was injured.

[Giving Someone the Pointer Finger] - Pointing your index finger at someone.

[Glasses Pull] - Taking off glasses for emphasis.

[Gloved Fist of Doom] - Villains making a fist while wearing gloves.

[Glove Snap] - A doctor, usually a Mad Doctor, puts on gloves and snaps them.

["Good Luck" Gesture] - Crossing fingers, holding one's thumbs, doing a Thumb's Up, making a "fig sign", knocking on wood, or making a box shape with one's hands for someone to break, in order to wish someone luck or avoid bad luck.

[Greeting Gesture Confusion] - Characters don't know which greeting gesture (handshake, hug, bow, kiss on cheek, etc) to use.

#writing prompts #rp prompts #action prompts #scenario prompts #writeblr #tropes prompts #ask prompts #inbox prompts

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yallemagne · 1 year

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I was thrilled to see that today's email is a bit longer bc there could be no explanation other than Nemo showed up again and he DID! THERE IS NOTHING MORE SAPIOSEXUAL THAN THESE TWO MEN.

“One can easily see,” I answered, “that those historians didn’t navigate aboard the Nautilus.”

“Indeed,” the captain replied with a smile, “and in this respect, the moderns aren’t much farther along than the ancients. It took many centuries to discover the mechanical power of steam! Who knows whether we’ll see a second Nautilus within the next 100 years! Progress is slow, Professor Aronnax.”

“It’s true,” I replied. “Your ship is a century ahead of its time, perhaps several centuries. It would be most unfortunate if such a secret were to die with its inventor!”

Captain Nemo did not reply. After some minutes of silence:

“We were discussing,” he said, “the views of ancient historians on the dangers of navigating this Red Sea?”

During this entire interaction, I'm picturing Aronnax sitting cross-legged and very coyly sipping a smoothie each time he says something a bit sassy that gives Nemo pause. Perhaps I'm reading the tone wrong, but I see Aronnax as being all wide-eyed and wondered until Nemo enters a room, at which point he just gets very coquettish. Like??? "Yeah, you're such a genius and you're so handsome... *sighs* it's a shame that the secrets of the Nautilus will all die with you."

“Is it indiscreet to ask how you discovered this tunnel?”

“Sir,” the captain answered me, “there can be no secrets between men who will never leave each other.”

I ignored this innuendo and waited for Captain Nemo’s explanation.

LIKE??? THIS. This isn't the first time Aronnax has ignored one of Nemo's casual "we'll be together forever" comments, and it isn't because he's displeased with his life on the Nautilus. Any time Aronnax thinks about Nemo and the Nautilus, he thinks about his admiration and not wanting to leave. But he does not humour Nemo whenever he mentions it. HE'S PLAYING HARD-TO-GET WHENEVER NEMO IS AROUND!! I love him so much, oh my god.

#voyage of the nautilus #twenty thousand leagues under the sea #aronnemo #pierre aronnax #captain nemo #why isn't there more smut written

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lidoshka · 3 months

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Red Potion

Time got hurt but Hyrule knows how to make red potions now!

I did this image from scratch, as in, I didn't draw this with pencils or paper, just opened a new project and started.

and damnit, I regreted it!

because there were just so many things I had to FIX later! there are still like a hundred details that need fixing now, but I'm bored of this so ... YEEET!

#mis trazos #linked universe #a pink salty bunny #a fluffy haired fairy boy #the coquettish captain #smol but savage #the cute sleepyhead with puffy pants #the tiniest boy holds all the braincells of the group #baby gremlin #old man Time #cute farmboy

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kith-cats · 4 months

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Chapter; 111 ⎯⎯⎯ ຯ.. The lovetaker!

”Picture a palette of dreamy pastels—blush pinks, soothing lavenders, and minteu greens—creating a visual symphony that reflects O’ serene essence of SoftGirl <3”

𝄞— It such an enchanting world! a whimsical journey into the realm of softness and tranquility, her name is Klavender Chamomiles sparkle like dew-kissed petals at dawn. No need to worries, she already reaches 17 :D with astrologycal zodial Sagittarius as the fire sign, her Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is ENTP-T along with her Enneagram is 4w3 The Enthusiast ៶ ๑‌.. she loves pink stuffs, blue-thingy, also coquette styles so much ｡˃ ᵕ ˂ she adores catto and rabbit! 🐇 she owned both since childhood, in stream of joys; she is a sweet-tooth! she is shy sometimes but have a-million-charms so please don’t hesitate to get closer or chit-chat with her. ✦ ੭

Chapter; 222 ⎯⎯⎯ ຯ.. Now Step In!

”Love-shaped-nails, beautiful, O’ looks coquettish. ribbon-pin on the right-left corner of my head that brightens my aura <3”

𐙚♡ 𝅄 ⟋ : She could turns 143 into a story! She loves writing, change a person or memories into wors that describe something we can’t talk about. Go.. find her masterpiece at here 🪥🧼 During her break-time, she likes to make something yummie! *nyom-nyom* also painting, singing, and dancing are the activities she repeats everyday ୨୧ ๑‌ ₊ ˚

𐙚♡ 𝅄 ⟋ : She holding her attention on some self improvement books! She mostly read books from Haemin Sunim, Tere Liye, Alvi Syahrin, and other. Because she opens the possibilities to read every self-improvement nevermind about the author is, as long as it makes her comfortable!

List of books 𖹭 ֹ 𝅼 ⊹

𐚁. It Ends With Us (Colleen H.), On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (Ocean V.), Autumn In Paris (Ilana Tan), Love For Imperfect Things (Haemin Sunim), Jika Kita Tak Pernah Jadi Apa-Apa (Alvi Syahrin), Filosofi Teras (Henry Manampiring), Atomic Habits (James Clear) How To Respect Myself (Yoon Hong Gyun), Di Tanah Lada (Ziggy Z.), Fantasteen (Zigggy Z.), Laut Bercerita (Leila S.), Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austin)

𐙚♡ 𝅄 ⟋ : Movies or series which matched her interest are from horror genre the most! ˚ ʚ ᗢ ₊ ˚ And.. if someone want give her any recommends romance-comedy or action genres, she wouldn’t mind. {prefers sad ending if it pure romance} She usually watch Asian movies or series in daily __@

List of movies & series ♥︎

𐚁. The Twilight Saga (2008-2012), Five Feet Apart (2019), Me Before You (2016), More Than Blue (2018), Man In love (2021), Clouds (2020), Nice View (2022), Seobok (2021), My Annoying Brother (2018), Gonjiam (2018), Koizora (2007), Death Bell (2008), All The Bright Places (2020), I Give My First Love To You (2009), Love Rosie (2014), City of Fathers (2009), Revenant (2023), Moving (2023), All That We Loved (2018), The Guest (2018), School (2017), Kill It (2019), Hotel del Luna (2019), Sweet Home (2020), Happiness (2021), Sell Your Haunted House (2021), Okaasan Ore Wa Daijoubu (2015), All of Us Are Dead (2022), Oasis (2023), Time (2018), Save Me (2017), Memories of The Alhambra (2018), Let‘s Fight Ghost (2016), Strangers From Hell (2019), and moooore!?

𐙚♡ 𝅄 ⟋ : She also enjoys cartoons, Barbie-series, and animes as well ^^ List of them which she had watched are; Code Lyoko, Paw Patrol, Doraemon, Naruto Shippuden, Tokyo Ghoul, Scooby Doo, My Little Pony, The Powerpuff Girls, Pororo, Avatar: The Legend of Aang, Oddbods, Spirited Away, Rainbow Ruby, Tom and Jerry, Totoro, Captain Tsubasa, Kiko, Larva, BoboiBoy, Spongebob Squarepants, Cells At Work! ೀ ㅤ۫ㅤ /)／)ㅤ۪

𓇼 ₊ ᳸ ۪ ︵⃨‿⃛ ₊ ୨ 𓈒 🫧 𓈒 ୧ ₊ ‿⃛︵⃨ 𓇼 ₊

𐙚♡ 𝅄 ⟋ : Notes her music preferences, she likes calming songs along with lullaby melodies 🎀📄 She choose Taylor Swift, NIKI, JVKE, Kodaline, AKMU, Sundial, Girl In Red, Conan Gray, 92914, Colde, Novo Amor, Red Summer, One Direction, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, Olivia Rodrigo, Panic! At The Disco, Geisha, Naif, HIVI, Dewa 19, Nadin Amizah, Tulus, Feby Putri, Idgitaf 🎼🎧 .. II

𐙚♡ 𝅄 ⟋ : Last but not least, we gonna write about her group-stans 👩🏻‍🍳🍰 #%^ so far, she fancy many groups from third-gen until fifth-gen!🤚🏻 here’s the list; NCT especially Dream unit, Red Velvet, Twice, Seventeen, The Boyz, Stray Kids, Enhypen, Gidle, Treasure, NMIXX, ASTRO, Newjeans, Kiss of Life, Zerobaseone, Riize, and other since she is multifandom {freely hype groups} 𖠗 🧸🪄 ۫ 𔓘

”.... 별이 흩날리는 아름다운 밤 – ⭐🍓”

Chapter; 333 ⎯⎯⎯ ຯ.. Furthermore!

‘ 𐚈 .. Before you follow,

Her account contains real-life thingy such as her face, her activities, her school-life, or something related! so please be careful... can you?

Her type of account is unlabeled, so don’t get her wrong if she doesn’t really follows cyber rules :D

She sometime tweets with kinda harshwords, if you find it uncomfortable. Free unfolllow me 🤓

She often rts-qrts cute stuffs, change her layout so chronically, tweeting with English or Bahasa, forget to put any tw/cw on some content might panicking someone. She is so sorry.

At her busy days, she doesn’t pay enough attention to interact with mutuals. 뉸 ㅡ 뉸

’𓇼⠀.. Don’t follow if,

You are zionist, doesn’t care about Cease Fire at Palestine, still using and hyping products which supporting Israel. Please go away.

You are under 14 and over 24, NSFW account.

You are a salty peeps, often brings spill-the-tea and hate threats to someone on your timeline.

You are an ignorant person, don’t want to interact with my tweets even for once.

For LGBTQIA+ phobic, don’t ever come.

Story-telling end! 𖦹⭒°｡⋆

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3 notes · View notes

shoichee · 2 years

Text

Paradox

[Kise x f!Reader]

Chapter 1-2 can be found here!

Chapters 3-4

Word Count:

Part 3: 3740 | Part 4: 2913

soulmate!au, enemies to lovers!au, manga!kise, cursing!kise to bits, LONG SERIES FIC

Hana is the name I decided to give to the brunette who flirted with Haizaki in s3

Synopsis: Kise despises people like you more than anyone else, the type of people who are shallow, coquettish, and so high-strung on acquiring a soulmate more than anyone else. Nothing good ever comes out of someone who hangs out with the brunette girl along with Haizaki.

You despise two-faced people like him... that's what you like to tell yourself. After all, you're only honest about what you want with people, and if it can help you get a soulmate faster... Where's the crime in that? High-and-mighty people like Kise who didn't believe in soulmates were pretentious, and he was no exception. And you'll do whatever it takes to get what you want, even if it means throwing away your heart in the process, because happiness will come to you once you're with your soulmate... you just know it.

current 🏷: @nadav-ii @carinacassiopeiae @kendrex13 @roppongiperfume @thesongstressayre @kimigiri09 @takatul @evierena @one-one-one-one @seijurosempress @inum4k1

Chapter 3, Kise’s POV

———

“Wh-Wh-Wh-What?!” Kasamatsu sputters, with the brightest crimson on his cheeks. You only give a lopsided smile at his reaction, but your eyes show that you weren’t joking in the slightest. “Wh-What the hell?!”

Moriyama only bemoans the development, arm slung over his face in such a dramatic way that Kise completely ignores him to focus on the back of your head.

Is she fucking serious? There’s no way…

“Yet another cute girl escapes from me—my soulmate is still out there waiting for me to rescue her…!” Moriyama cries out, though still, no one bothered to heed his words at all. “Surely, you must have mistaken our captain for me? I sense a connection between us!”

You merely turn to Moriyama before you smile that uncanny grin. “Sorry, sorry! I think Kasamatsu-senpai is the one, though!”

Ouch. Kise looks to see Moriyama absolutely heartbroken from your words. She definitely pulls some punches of her own.

Kasamatsu, frozen this entire time, barely recovers with a cough. “... H-Have we met before?”

You laugh, mirth seeping into the sound as Kasamatsu turns redder, clearly affected by your reaction to his dumbfounded question. “Well, it’s fine if you don’t remember me, but last week, we briefly talked… And, I accidentally bumped into you when I tried leaving in a rush!” You stop dramatically, holding your finger up for effect. Clearly, Hayakawa was buying your theatrics. Kise rolls his eyes. “Then you made the effort to run all the way to me, tapped my shoulder, then shyly gave back my notes. And like, that’s totally unlike the you from your matches! And I thought… ‘oh my gosh, I think he might fulfill my requirements from my soulmate letter!’ So the next week came, and here we are! I was hoping to find you guys at practice… lucky me!”

Kise stops listening to you halfway to pick up a ball across the court. Everyone else remains stuck in their spot, as if you had somehow forced them under a spell to listen to you ramble.

“Uh… yeah…” Kasamatsu clears his throat, before he whips his head around to shout at everyone around you two. “Well, what are you guys waiting around for?! Unless you really want me to kick your ass, then get moving!” Instantly, everyone scrambles to do something and to look busy, but every now and then, they steal a few glances while the captain’s attention is on you.

“Look…” he turns back to face you, voice instantly turning into more of a mumble once more. “W-What’s your name…?”

You beam at him. Kasamatsu bursts into a flurry of nervous coughs again at the sight.

“I’m (l/n) (y/n), ehe!~ ♪ It’s nice to meet you!”

Shut the hell up already, Kise groans in his mind. He dribbles faster to block your presence out, racing down the court to deliver a punishing dunk and letting the rim go with a rattle. How much can one person talk this much anyways? Kasamatsu-senpai, you’d kick me in the face right now if I did the exact same thing… you go way too easy on girls. He stops to look up in thought after the ball bounces unceremoniously away. Then again, I guess I go too easy on them too.

“R-Right.” Kasamatsu clears his throat. “So…” He averts his gaze, thick brows furrowed. “C-Could you… just… Could you wait here until we’re… done, so—”

“Sure thing!” You lean forward to catch his gaze, but Kasamatsu shrinks even further at your forward gesture. You even make the effort to pout at him, reducing Kasamatsu to nothing but a puddle. Kise turns to look at his captain, before he sighs.

Kasamatsu-senpai might need a bit of help here…

“Hey,” Kise briskly jogs over to the two of you, putting on a friendly smile to ease any tension. “Sorry about him. He’s not really used to this type of thing. Can you ease up on him?”

“You—!” Kasamatsu does a 180, ready to whoop Kise into oblivion, but you speak up before he grabs for him.

“Oops! Sorry, sorry! I’ll sit right over here… Don’t mind me! I won’t disturb any of you guys.” And you do exactly that, sitting on the raised platform of the stage overseeing the gym, dangling your legs and crossing them primly with your hands on your lap. You still had the same huge closed-mouth grin on you, though.

Her smile is… so weird.

Kise merely raises a brow, trying to get a good read on you. Something about you irritates him, and he knows plenty of reasons why. But before he can list them out in his head, Kasamatsu interrupts his thought process as he kicks him to get back on the court.

“O-O-Ow!! Kasamatsu-senpai?!”

“If you have time to ogle at someone, then you sure as hell have more than enough time to do eight laps around this perimeter!”

Kise glares at his captain. “I wasn’t ogling!!—erk—okay, okay! I got it, I’m running…!”

———

You sit there patiently, watching everyone nearly barf their lungs out from the drills and practice one-on-ones, but your expression hasn't changed for the most part. Kise can’t help but glance at you every so often. He can’t help it—not when you’re eyeing every single person on the court with scrutiny that doesn’t really suit your facial features. Worst part is, you keep your body near immobile, and you don’t blink much either. It’s off-putting—especially when only your pupils trail after Kasamatsu for extended periods at a time… It’s that unsettling and invasive, the way your gaze has that knowing, expecting glint to it. He looks around to see everyone doing the same thing he was, and hopefully, thinking the same sentiments.

So it’s not just me that feels off about her.

Still, he can tell that everyone’s trying to be polite and disregard you as much as they can, trying to ignore the fact that you’re a distraction. It’s probably because the Kaijo team has never had a girl like this up close to them.

But finally, grueling practice thankfully ends with no real casualties from Kasamatsu’s discipline, and everyone wearily begins to move to refresh, change, and pack up.

Of course, Kasamatsu immediately goes to check up on you even despite his obvious embarrassment. Even through great reluctance, his pride of having great responsibility overrides that hesitancy. While Kasamatsu stumbles over his words, Kise continues to stare at you suspiciously.

… What’s her plan here?

You were clearly friends with that girl from Teiko and somehow even on friendly terms with Haizaki. This can’t be good, not with you showing up out of nowhere and declaring such a bold statement to someone like Kasamatsu… and Kise had plenty of experience with girls who've done that to him… like that girl—Hana, was it?… who just happened to be past friends with you. Which makes a full circle. Who knows what you want from his captain?

It’s troublesome to go out of his way and interfere, but seeing Kasamatsu tripping over by being just in your presence… there’s no other answer than to figure you out and warn his captain of your true intentions. As he sorts out his next plan of action, he watches you give a coy smile and then even giggle when you see Kasamatsu’s reaction. His gaze sharpens.

The captain says something to you despite his shy stupor, and you reply something cheekily. Kise squints his eyes and strains his ears to try to eavesdrop in some way, but he sighs after a few seconds, deeming the effort fruitless. So he opts to wait outside the gym, leaning against the wall next to the door. While he waits, he ignores his teammates exiting the gym, too busy wracking his mind in trying to recall anything he knows of you back in Teiko. Luckily for him, it’s dark enough outside for him to be hidden in plain sight from unsuspecting people. Unfortunately, Kise was never someone into gossip or rumors (rightfully so), so any information in his brain about you is nearly nonexistent. He groans into his hands at the realization.

“Well, well! Look what we have here!” Your bright voice cuts through the still of the night, even louder than the incessant cicadas. He jolts, his face suddenly rising from his hands to stare at you. Has he been mulling over this for that long? How did you manage to spot him? Though, granted… he was standing near the door. He looks behind you to see that you’re the only one left; it looks like even Kasamatsu went home on his own.

You shoot him what he assumes a concerned look and walk to him, but he only gives you a raised brow, still debating whether or not to put on a cheerful front to dissuade you. But before he can stand up completely straight to face you, you suddenly jump to his side and sling your arm over his neck to further bring him down to your height.

“Ehhhh? Now what seems to trouble you?” you muse, giving a little laugh. “Kise-kun, right? I remember you. Quite a reputation you’ve got for yourself all these years, huh?” He immediately glares at your face—unbelievably close to his, by the way—and roughly shakes himself from your grasp to step away from you. He gives you a pointed look, that arrogant aura he’s so acquainted with using for people he knows doesn’t deserve his respect.

“What’s your deal?”

You only blink at his question and tilt your head, crossing your arms to mull over his words. He doesn’t know if you’re doing this to mock him or if you’re that slow.

“My deal?” you inquire. “Eh… well, I guess I like communicating with people so openly. Oh—oops, that’s a scary look on you! My bad, my bad! I won’t throw an arm over you anymore—”

He gives a frustrated quick huff, deciding to get to the point. “What are you planning to do with Kasamatsu-senpai? You think just ‘cause you’re a girl, you can push people around like this? You don’t just go up to anyone and declare that they’re your soulmate or whatever.”

“Ohhhh. You’re concerned about your captain, aren’t you?” You smile at him, but Kise doesn’t like the implications of your “epiphany.” Did you just completely ignore what he said?

Yeah, I’m more concerned about the shit YOU might pull on him, rather than Kasamatsu-senpai himself. But he keeps that thought to himself. Saying that to you may cause you to get the further wrong idea. Besides, he supposes there’s some merit to your words… he does care for his captain, even if what Kasamatsu does is his own business.

“Whatever you’re doing…” Kise says, trailing off to watch your face. “You better not plan anything fucked up, or I’ll be there to pay it back tenfold before you know it. Better watch yourself.”

“My gosh!” you gape comically at him. “Are you really threatening a girl? Honestly, you’re such a brute! I haven’t done a single thing, and you’re getting on my case…” Even despite your words, your facial expressions remain quite placid, though Kise can see a slight furrow of your brows to show that his warning actually does hold some water.

Kise only rolls his eyes as he decides to walk past you. “Look, whatever Kasamatsu-senpai does is none of my concern, but you…” He turns around to briefly face you. “People like you who like to take advantage of the idea of soulmates to manipulate others like that—I don’t like your kind. You might’ve fooled the entire team, but I know who you really are.”

You finally give a real reaction, jumping at the spot and staring at him with genuine widened eyes of surprise. There it is, he thinks. But he puts his guard back up when he sees your next move. You give a crooked grin and that irritating titter that sounds unbelievably ingenuine.

“The ‘idea of soulmates,’ you say…” you repeat what he said, sounding almost offended somehow. “You say that as if it’s not a real thing in our lives. Like it’s just some concept.”

“Don’t twist my words,” he says evenly. “You know what I mean.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you reply. “You’re, like, so weird, Kise-kun. I just want to look for my soulmate… that’s not malicious in intent at all, is it?”

“You don’t need a soulmate to do what you want,” he coolly counters. “Ever thought about that?”

You give him an unreadable look before morphing your features into an exasperated smile. “Haha! Sounds like someone’s a miserable man! Cheer up, Kise-kun! Surely, someone as well-loved as you can find anyone with your preferences to take as your soulmate~ The rest of us normal folks actually have to try to look for ours. Woe is me, especially!”

Kise hardens his glare at you, clearly having a nerve touched by your words. You’re the umpteenth person out there constantly telling it to his face how his search for a soulmate is as easy as he breathes air. Easy? Yeah fucking right. You think you have me all figured out, don’t you?

“I’ll have you know that I don’t care for the soulmate shit. Don’t impose your values on me.”

“Well, then…” You lean forward with your arms crossed, giving him a wink. He scowls. “Don’t ‘impose your values’ onto me either. You’re just as suffocating as the people you look down on, you know.”

You then turn around, back to him but your face is still turned to the side to face Kise to stick out your tongue almost provocatively, as if to piss him off on purpose. And it’s working. “How about you keep your nose out of this? Honestly, people like you who act like they’re better and more righteous than everyone else are the worst.” You finally turn around completely to depart in the opposite direction of Kise, as if you had the final say.

He stands there to watch your back (oh, he’s boring holes into your back) as you skip away, not in the least reassured that you’d refrain from trying anything starting tomorrow. Especially from how you responded to him.

You’re even worse than that Hana chick.

———

“Kasamatsu-senpai…” Kise calls out, looking over to see Kasamatsu in deep thought. Another day, another practice, he would have thought, but immediately walking into the gym today, Kasamatsu isn’t at his usual spot of critically eyeing his teammates before practice. In fact… he’s distracted by a creased piece of paper. “... Don’t tell me that’s…”

“Huh? Oh, it’s just you.” The Kaijo captain flits his eyes from the paper to look at the 1st year before he goes back to concentrating on whatever’s written on the sheet. His thick brows knit together as he goes over the same line over and over, judging by how his pupils were moving back and forth. Kise cautiously walks to his side to try to get a peek… and every other team starter coincidentally has the same idea.

Kasamatsu doesn’t even bother to kick them off to practice, and everyone looks at each other with immense concern and confusion before Kobori is the one to call out his oddities. “Captain, is there something wrong? You’ve been a bit too quiet. You’re unnerving the team a little.”

“Yeah…” was all he absentmindedly said, and Kise shared a knowing look with his upperclassmen. Is it that bad…? Kise flanks on Kasamatsu’s right while Moriyama settles himself on the left, both peering over his shoulders to read the letter as fast as they humanly can:

Addressed to Kasamatsu Yukio:

Your soulmate has been to places you’ve never been before, yet you two will meet for the second time in a place they’d never normally wouldn’t be in. You will ironically meet them the first time in an ordinary commonplace where people utilize to travel about. The place is never a means to the end of a destination and is always bustling with eager activity of all kinds. You will accidentally encounter someone that is completely unlike you among a particularly busy crowd. The floors will be cold and gray, and the walls will be modern. It is long vertically but does not have much depth widthwise. Many doors are located in these types of places as a must. Your fated location, in particular, has many windows and plenty of sunlight shining in with ample ventilation. You do not—should not—think much of this location, like anyone else normally does not. Do not try hard to look for them, or you will certainly miss your first encounter with them. This location is not at the ground floor.

Kise only gets through half a page before Kasamatsu breaks through his stupor, doing an insanely quick prep before he lands a shoe on his cheek.

“K-K-Kasamatsu-senpai?!”

“Idiot! Who said you can snoop around?!”

“What?!” Kise rubs his cheek sullenly before he points an accusatory finger at the other team starters. “They were looking too!! How’s that fair?!”

But when Kasamatsu menacingly spares a glance at where Kise was pointing, the rest of the players already had the keen idea of feigning warming up, putting themselves a fair distance from the captain to avoid retributions. Kise merely balks at the turn of events.

You guys… You guys are so mean…!!

———

After many hours of kicks and spartan orders, Kise somehow finds himself trapped between Hayakawa and Moriyama when he starts heading for home. How do these things always happen to me? He inwardly groans, but truthfully, it’s not so bad with them… you just… need to get used to their quirks. VERY strange quirks. And Kise thinks he’s somewhat grown used to them. Somewhat.

“What was up with that ®ette(l)!?” Hayakawa exclaims, damn near shouting into his own eardrums even if he wasn’t trying. He never needs to try anyways. Kise winces at the sudden volume, putting his fingers into his ear holes to help alleviate the burst of pain. “The captain… he was acting ve(l)y st(l)ange, wasn’t he?!”

“Hayakawa-senpai… you’re a bit… too loud.”

Always too loud.

Moriyama answers the question as if Kise never spoke up to begin with. “Our captain was merely experiencing the awakening of the ultimate blessing… unforgettable romance!! Oh when will it be my turn…!”

And here, Kise thought he was the dramatic one. He merely gives an awkward, polite smile at the woe of his senior. “Though, Moriyama-senpai, the content of the letter was very simple and to the point… It’s not something to freak out over, anyways.” He shrugs with a heavy sigh. “Is it really that bad for Kasamatsu-senpai?”

“... We shou(r)d encou(l)age him to do his best!”

Unsurprisingly, both Kise and Moriyama squint at the offensive rebounder to decipher his words. There’s a moment of uncomfortable silence while the trio walks down the smooth concrete, dappled by the sunset rays filtered through the trees in the neighborhood. As if on cue, gentle wind tousles through their hair strands to emphasize the unnatural… silence? Lack of response? Kise opens his mouth.

“... Anyways. We should mind our own business. It’s his to deal with, you know?”

“I agree!” Moriyama nods aggressively, holding his chin with his forefingers in a “thoughtful” way. “This is the only way Kasamatsu can truly become a man and lead the rest of us! Then, we can utilize his newfound experience to help us all get a cute date… yes, yes… It’s truly a win-win situation!”

“... Right, Moriyama-senpai. Exactly what I said…”

———

Kise knows that he said to mind his own business… regarding Kasamatu and life in general. Definitely more of the latter than anything else.

But what the hell is going on?

Another day, another lifetime of mental toil arrives as he deftly avoids mobs of heads bobbing around him, his mind blurring voices of nauseating adoration as a form of his psyche’s first line of defense to protect the remnants of his sanity. He yawns, faintly registering more shrieks of devotion at the mundane action as he steps past Kaijo’s gates to face another army thrown at him—who, no doubt, were all at his beck and call if Kise truly wanted to take advantage of their blind loyalties. He could’ve been a great general of some sorts, using the crowds to fulfill the desires and whims he sometimes cooked up in his mind, but that idea itself—to use them how he pleased—is also equally revolting. They are always his enemies, so naturally, he never wanted anything to do with them. These are things he’s accepted long ago (actually recently, but that’s besides the point), but what he witnesses at this moment is something he definitely can’t bring himself to ignore and “mind his own business.”

Somehow, your giggle manages to pierce through the disorienting fog of all the censored murmurs and coos of everyone around him—grating and coquettish. He could’ve ignored it all the same—you weren’t the first (and certainly not the last) person to act in such an unashamedly way. But the sight of Kasamatsu with you completely forces Kise to focus his attention on you.

What the fuck is she doing?

Your arms are wrapped around his left arm, pushing yourself up to his side as your lips form a pout with a practiced innocence that Kise recognizes all too well. He’s pissed—no, terrified for his captain, but most of all, he feels sick. But Kise isn’t Kasamatsu’s caretaker or father—hell, he’s not even an upperclassman. He’s more than capable of shrugging her off if she goes too far, he reasons, even if he knew that line of logic is a pile of shit. And if he really needs help, the other senpais can help him out of there. He will mind his own business. For now, he finishes his thoughts with finality. With that note, he briskly walks to his first class of the day, relieved when you and Kasamatsu are gone from his field of vision. His shoulders relax and he releases a steady stream of air, closing his eyes for a momentary recovery. There are too many things to worry about right now, but for now, he’d rather focus on his upcoming English quiz than the what-if’s of your motives with someone like his captain.

You’re just like everyone else, after all.

Chapter 4, Reader’s POV

———

They say that when your soulmate is close within your proximity, your mood begins to lighten up substantially as a sign. It’s just a dumb rumor people spread around, you knew, and yet…

You want to believe in it so badly.

What’s the truth? What’s the lie? All you know is that your soulmate letter is the truth, and all the kisses you shared with countless people ended up being lies on top of lies. You want to believe that your emotions are telling you the truth for once, and that he isn’t like the others. Why would Kasamatsu look so genuinely surprised? Genuinely flustered? Genuinely trying to be nice to you? Why else has your heart begun to beat so fast around him—the first time it’s ever happened to you?

Turning to your side, you curl up your body, clutching your blanket closest to you in the hopes that you can force your body to fall asleep. Ever since you got that momentous letter, sitting daintily on top of the table two years ago, things haven’t been the same. But that should be a good thing, right?

Your fingers automatically move to touch your own lips, tingling at the memories of other countless lips it had already firmly locked with. Your heart just keeps sinking further down the more you run through every single moment.

I have to keep going, you insist, tossing to your other side to dispel those memories away into the backburner of your mind. I have to find my soulmate, I have to…

Otherwise, I…

“You don’t need a soulmate to do what you want…” You subconsciously conjure up an image of Kise back at the gym, eyes cold and brows harsh with a ferocious frown. At the intrusive thought, you form your own fierce frown. “Ever thought about that?”

That stupid ass motherfucker—you curse at him as if he was really there in person—I’ll show you…! When I get my happy ending, I’m gonna rub it in that ugly smug face of yours.

I’ll prove them all wrong, I’ll prove them all wrong, I’ll prove them all…

Somehow, through the cacophony of mantras to yourself, you fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

———

[Your soulmate is of similar age.]

You sigh to yourself as you recall the contents of your letters again, mind so distant from the current reality of your situation. But you’ll never sigh outwardly; instead, you give a placating smile to the people around you as you walk down the hallway, then up a floor to continue down another corridor. Because people always like girls who are friendly, sweet, and outgoing… Those girls are what draw in people the fastest. It’s quite a huge generalization, and you’re aware of that fact, but you also consider that it does hold some truth to it. Your face twitches with a familiar discomfort, but you refuse to let your smile fall, letting your eyes crinkle in an inviting, sweet manner that no person would ever have the heart to deny you a friendly greeting. The brightest flowers always attract the bees, so to speak. Naturally, you have to do your best to attract as many people as possible to you. How else would you find your soulmate?

[You will finally meet them when there is a fresh start—a new chapter—in your life.]

It’s midway through October, approximately six months since you became a 1st year at Kaijo. There must be something wrong… shouldn’t your “first chapter” happen when you first graduated out of Teiko? Or maybe around the time of Kaijo’s opening ceremony? The demoralizing realization almost makes you drop the grin, and to compensate, you grin even wider. Just in case.

“Ah, (l/n)-san!” a classmate called out, catching up to your skipping stride with hurried steps. “You’re so cheery today! Woke up on the right side of the bed today?”

“Awwww, Saori-chan!~” you chime without missing a beat. “Aren’t I always cheery? You’re teasing me, aren’t you!”

“I’d never!” She gave a mock gasp, but her slight giggle after the last syllable immediately gave her away. “I’m just pointing out the truth! It’s really refreshing whenever I see you happy… I think I can speak for most of us when we’re near you… I must be sounding super strange, huh?”

The truth… you wonder about that often.

“Honestly, it really does sound all weird, ehe! Buuuuut…!” you pause dramatically, pleased to see her leaning in out of anticipation. “Hearing that from you makes me happier, of course~” You playfully pinch her cheek with a wink, and you skip away when she immediately blooms a cherry red. You debated whether to blow her a kiss too, but if you were going to win over Kasamatsu’s heart, then you needed to remain steadfast. Of course, it’s a nice change of pace that you don’t have to do anything drastic for once to get someone’s heart beating. For once… you feel a great weight lifting from your shoulders at the realization. No more of any of that anymore—the kisses, cuddles, the games you force yourself to play to find the one. After all—

“W-whoa—!”

“E-eek?!”

Of course, you get distracted when you think too hard about these types of things. Saving a mental berating for yourself during class starting in half an hour, you immediately focus your attention on the poor person you accidentally manage to assail. But your eyes widen when you register a stuttering, comically red captain.

“… Kasamatsu-senpai?”

… After all, he is someone who can have blood rushing into his cheeks from just a simple gesture like a wink and a smile. He is an anomaly—a one-of-a-kind person who you’ve never seen anyone like before. Isn’t he also around your age?

[You will meet them once again when they are most unlike themselves…]

“S-S-Sorry…” He’s already stuttering before he can even face you, and you figure it’s because he recognizes a female-sounding voice coming from you. You quietly watch him pick up the stray papers that manage to flutter out of his binder from the untimely collision, and after he straightens himself, he cranes a neck, rubbing the back of it with his free hand. On second thought… you note. It may actually be harder to win over his affection if he can’t even look at me. And to think he was able to talk to me with such authority in the gym a couple days ago. Oh, what will I do with him…

“H-Huh…? Y-You…?” Kasamatsu finally brings up all of his nerves to at least hold proper eye contact for a solid four seconds before he darts his gaze back to the gray floor. There is no way for him to properly lead the conversation, from the looks of him cowering in your presence, so you decide to speak instead.

“Ah, sorry, sorry!” you say, hoping to break the ice with him. If you are more “normal” with him, as opposed to being your usual outgoing self, maybe he’d see you in a better light? “I wasn’t completely paying attention to my surroundings, and I really messed up, huh? Totally my bad!”

“I-It’s…” Kasamatsu dares to sneak a glance at your face before he turns away again. “... f-fine.” You open your mouth to perhaps talk about the weather or perhaps his class schedule for you to memorize later, but you falter when you see him glancing at you again before averting his eyes. Was there something on your face? You owlishly blink before a flirtatious grin finds its way onto your face again, and immediately, his cheeks predictably lights up a bright pink again.

“Wahhh…!” You lean forward up to his face, hands held together in a gesture of being in love. “You’re really adorable, did anyone tell you that before?~ I’m definitely the first, aren’t I? Right—right?”

“I—!” He’s balking at the shameless assumption, mouth half-opening… half-closing… his mind is in a state of limbo, and he’s being sent into overdrive. “I-I’m… I… mm… nn…” Instinctively, he stumbles a couple steps back, clutching the fabric in the front of his shirt in an attempt to calm himself.

“And wow!” you continue. “Didn’t we also have the same type of run-in the first time we met? I don’t think this is just a coincidence…” You stick your tongue out playfully, fully rendering him speechless and robbing him of any chance to recover his voice.

“N-nn…”

What are his habits? What are his likes? Dislikes? What are his passions and hopes and dreams? You wonder about the countless things you can elicit out of him. Any tidbit about him would be a good start in getting to know him—you tilt your head at him cutely while you continue to assess your options—but how do I ask for it when he’s constantly stuttering or avoiding girls in general? After all, you tried to charm him the other morning, but it was apparently too much for Kasamatsu to even think of any coherent response.

“There you are.” A flash of yellow catches your eye as swoons of mainly women follow close by. “Kasamatsu-senpai! Kobori-senpai has been looking all over for you… you’re going to be late at this point if you don’t hurry up, you know!” Almost as if his voice is a trigger, Kasamatsu whirls around to hurl the usual serving of insults.

“Hah?! Since when were you so confident to tell an upperclassman what to do again? You really want to have your ass kicked again, huh?!”

“Like I said—! They wanted me to go look for you! Not like I had a choice!”

Damn, way to ruin an opportunity like that. You give a quiet sigh as Kasamatsu waves at you shyly before he storms off to find his other teammates to berate them, though you know it was more out of politeness than care from his end. Interestingly, the ace of Kaijo remains behind, watching his senior disappear before he seemingly remembers that you are also here. Flashing a breezy smile at you, you resist your instinctive reaction to twitch an eye as screams fill up the hall in response. But of course, you deliver your own captivating curl of those lips, and suddenly, you sense an aura of hostility spiking towards your end. Ah… so it appears that they view me as a rival, hm?

“Ah… (l/n)-san, right?” Kise laughs, fiddling with a few strands as he tucks them behind his ear, revealing his piercing. “Are you alright? You look like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” Try as he might, but his cheeriness wasn’t able to hide his voice from slipping into a steely tone. … Is he taunting you?

This guy!—you give an airy laugh in response—He’s the fakest asshole I’ve ever seen! Who the fuck is buying this discounted act of his?! When you dare to look around casually though, everyone is hanging onto his every word.

“I guess it’s been getting chilly lately!” you reply. “Maybe I should see the infirmary later for a check up… Thanks for the concern though, Kise-kun!~ But um… shouldn’t you also head to class, too? The warning bell’s gonna ring soon, right?” Even with the friendly tone, you place your hands on your hips while raising a suspicious brow, making sure to jut out your dominant hipbone to emphasize your figure. There’s only so much patience you have in trying to be diplomatic with someone like him. You see no benefit in doing so either, but then again, maybe being on good terms with Kise would allow you to get closer with his captain. Still, Kasamatsu doesn’t hesitate to dropkick him and knock down his ego a notch at all… maybe it wouldn’t matter as much if you just openly hate him. Options, options… Perhaps for now, you’ll see what Kise’s up to.

Ah… You slowly blink. What if he was actually trying to get Kasamatsu away from me just a moment ago? Wouldn’t his upperclassmen classmates come get their captain themselves instead of sending a 1st year to him? Either possibility can happen, but logically… the first option would’ve been more convenient and probable to happen. You scowl at the realization, but just as quickly, you form a tight-lipped smile in an attempt to recover. I warned his ass to stay out of my business too! And to think he’d try to butt in…

“You’re definitely right!” Kise interrupts your train of thought with a bright affirmation. “So I’ll be going on my way to class. You should go too, before you end up late!” You don’t miss the way his eyes go flat on you before he turns to walk away, back to you, immediately pulling away the entire crowd along with him.

“Kise-kun!! Who was that?!”

“Please look at me!”

“No, me!!”

“She’s nothing special at all!”

While it doesn’t hurt to think about his motives, there’s only so much speculation can do within a situation like this. Being openly hostile in front of everyone would serve no one good, and your reputation would tank. And if you lose your reputation, finding soulmates would end up being more difficult than necessary. Besides, if Kise wants to keep playing this farce of roleplay game of “shining knight,” why not join him as another player of “femme fatale sorceress”? Two can play this game.

Don’t worry, you muse to the mobs ahead. That imposter’s all yours.

———

Obviously, anyone can see just how passionate Kasamatsu is about basketball… more than anyone else. Probably even more than the Generation of Miracle guy, Kise. You giggle to yourself, ecstatic to have some type of progress in getting closer. If I learn about basketball, you reason, then maybe he’d have an easier time talking with me? You knew what the “Generation of Miracles” were all about; you’d have to live under a rock to not hear a single thing about them. They’re on the local news, the latest mags, and on the biggest media trends. Many people constantly speculate about their potential soulmates and what they’d be like, even going so far as to associating their known ideal types as holy decrees. But you don’t have a single inkling about what basketball truly entails, and that’s where you’ve been going wrong this entire time.

Nowadays, you find your eyes constantly scanning out in the crowd for a certain individual with cropped black hair, thick brows, and impossibly striking blue eyes. He probably doesn’t even realize just how charming he is. But maybe that obliviousness is also part of his overall charm. But before you can even hit on him, you really need to overcome the obstacle of his stuttering; after all, that was the main aspect that prevented every other girl from being able to talk to him in the first place. You take out a beginner’s guide to basketball rules and guidelines from your bag and lay it out on your desk, not caring about the teacher droning on about the necessity of Japanese literature. You turn to page one and settle yourself into a comfortable position, careful to hide the booklet from the prying eyes, yet you swear you feel a prickling chill down your spine from a piercing stare two seats behind you to your left.

It’s Kise, isn’t it? You can’t help but let out an inaudible chuckle, hand pressed over your lips as you continue to voraciously take in all the information in the book. Weeeell, he can look for all I care. I’m gonna get the last laugh when I play my cards juuuust right…

You manage to reach the last page before the bell rings for the next period, slightly jolting you out of your concentration, and after closing it and placing it back into your bag, you finally decide to turn and spare a look to the model student behind you. He’s putting most of his body weight on the desk, propping the side of his head up with a hand, elbow on the table. Although his body is facing forward to the blackboard, his eyes are honing in on you.

“What?” You stick your tongue out at him. “Can’t resist me after all? You’ve been staring at me all period—gosh, why didn’t you just tell me? You know I’m not someone who’d judge others at all~”

Unlike you.

Your own beam begins to grow at the sight of him gripping his pen so hard that it almost seems like it’s going to snap in half. You knew he couldn’t snap back—not when there were twenty pairs of eyes on him. Imagine your surprise when he barely manages to conceal his revulsion at you… whether he’s disgusted by your words, the way you provocatively stick out your tongue, your delighted smile, or all of the above… you don’t know and you don’t care enough to find out.

“What can I say?” He starts, lips twitching up to force a friendly smile. “I’ve never met anyone like you.” Everyone but you appears to buy his shoddy act, turning to face the front when the next teacher enters the classroom for the next lecture. You shoot one last wide grin at him to signify your triumph, but Kise unapologetically returns a freezing stare… the staredown only lasts for a few seconds before the teacher claps her hands to begin the session, both of you simultaneously breaking eye contact.

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