#there were hints she likes ko; but if ko is suddenly shown to like her that's sus | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

perpetuelledaydreaming · 2 years

Text

Are we still friends? | chapter eight

summary: oh, so we're having a date date. Jake's actually nice but he's not... you know.

listen to: deja-vu -olivia rodrigo | friends - chase atlantic (playlist here)

word count: 1.6k

series masterlist + read the next chapter early on my ko-fi!!

Jake arrived with the drinks at the small table that was shown to you by Penny. Her eyes were gleaming when she saw you entering the place with Hangman in civilian clothes; which she knows exactly what it means. You were wearing a long slip black dress and looked like a million bucks while Jake was wearing a loose beige shirt with brown trousers.

It was a date date.

Jake insisted to go to the bar for more drinks after you finished eating but as soon as he left, some other men came over, you could tell they were students, still kids, and they were wondering about your day and your name. You recalled the attention you received when you were at your mission, it’d been a while other than Jake flirted with you so shamelessly. Though, you’d struggled to think about anyone other than Rooster’s face. Soon, you scared them off telling them that you were a lieutenant and so was Jake, they said their goodbyes before Jake returned.

“Does this happen often?” Jake asked as he sat on the table softly while glaring at the kids.

“What? Naval officers?” you asked, acting innocently.

Jake smirked.

“You getting hit on,” he explained while he raised his eyebrows. “While on dates?”

You thought about it for a second as your gazes met, and you shrugged as you thought about it. It had happened once or twice before but you never thought much about it until recently when apparently you were undesirable to everyone.

“Actually yes but lately, it has been weird,” you muttered softly, Jake nodded but you could see the hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“Don’t tell me,” Jake muttered sarcastically.

You frowned.

“You know something that I don’t?” you asked.

Jake’s lips parted for a second but then they closed as quickly as before.“No, it’s not that,” he said as he shook his head. “So, how about you tell me more about yourself?”

It was about 11:00 pm when you decided to go home. Jake, the gentleman he was, was holding the door for you as you walked to his truck that was parked in front of the Hard Deck. The warm summer breeze hit you as you walked out of the bar, taking in the smell of the salty sea with a large breath. You loved San Diego, you loved being back home.

It remained you about so many things, it remained you of Rooster.

“I’ll bring you to my parents' ranch someday, they would love you,” Jake said and you turned quickly towards him, your thoughts snapping away.

He’d told you about his family, you’d talked about yours. He had a traditional family, filled with sisters and nieces that he was head over heels in love with them. You loved how Hangman talked about his family, his eyes gleaming as he showed you the videos of the last Christmas he’d spent with them, about how close they were, about his father and his mother begging him for a grandchild, even though they had over six at this point.

It made your heart warm, getting to know the other side of Hangman, getting to know that underneath that cocky smile and snarky attitude, there was a tenderness that honestly, not many people had.

“Please do so, I’d love to meet your nieces,” you agreed with a smile as you walked towards his car. “And your horses too,”

Jake chuckled slightly as you reached his car, you didn’t open the door since he’d insisted since the beginning of the date that he would be doing all that jazz.

“Can I ask you a question?” he asked as you leaned against the car, watching him softly.

“Isn’t that what we’ve been doing for the last two hours?” you joked.

Jake rolled his eyes as he smiled, you’d come to the conclusion that you liked his smile.

“And why no boyfriend?” he suddenly asked, giving you a look, the look.

The question made your stomach turn upside down as you watched him. You told yourself too many times before that it was because none of your past partners could handle your job, your schedule, or yourself; then you couldn't possibly be dating someone from the Navy because it could get messy, you’d seen it with your father.

Deep down you knew it wasn’t anything like that. Deep down, you knew that it always came back to him. To the boy that you’d loved since you could remember, to the honey-burnt eyes that would watch you tenderly when you saw him, the sun-kissed skin that was always warm to the touch, to his caramel curls.

It would always be Rooster, no one could compare to him.

Not that it would ever happen or that you would ever mention it.

“Not interested at the moment, relationships are too much work,” you lied as you shrugged your shoulders, looking away from Jake for a second.

“Maybe, unless you’re with the right person,” he replied.

For a second you didn’t notice how close he was, you didn’t notice how your chest flushed against his as he trapped you between him and his car. Your mind snapped when he quickly leaned forward and cupped your cheek, brushing some hair away with his thumb.

“Oh and you’d be that right person, Hangman?” you teased, warmth rushing through your whole body as you stared into Jake’s sea-foam gleaming eyes.

“I can be,” he whispered, you didn’t say anything but you leaned in just as Jake did.

His lips touched yours with urgency, clouded by the sounds and the smell of the sea. Your hands flew to the back of his neck for a second as his other hand looped your torso, pulling you closer to him. The kiss was hot and messy, everything you would want from a date that had gone so well, Jake rolled his lips against yours in a way that made you gasp as you pulled him closer for a second, arching your back against him. Jake was a good kisser, he was a great kisser, everything was perfect; but it wasn’t comforting, it wasn’t tender, it didn’t spark something in you.

You pulled away suddenly, foreheads pressed against the other, breathing heavily before you opened your eyes. He stared at you fondly but not with the same gleam that he usually had, you stared at him for a second, knowing deep down in your gut that maybe it shouldn’t have happened.

“This is how you pictured it?” you asked him, letting go softly of his neck.

“Yeah, but I don’t-”

“Same,” you agreed, nodding. Jake grimaced as he let go of your waist with a sigh.

“Well, it was worth a shot, y’a know?” he said as he scratched the back of his neck, his accent coming through.“You’re an incredible woman,” he said honestly, with the same soft gaze he had.

“You too Serensin, even if you can be an ass,” you joke softly with a smile.

He opened the door like he promised to then you drove off.

***

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @thehouseofevangelista @sergantbarnesbitch @tallrock35 @maverick-wingman @notanordinaryprincess95 @hey-its-kayla-claire @lonelywitchv2 @abaker74 @tallyovie @shadowsndaisies @chaoticweirdogeek @unluckymonaghan @chaotickyrith @allie131313 @anotherr-fine-mess @nemtodd-barnes1923 @mak-32 @rintheemolion @affabletimelady @k-k0129 @bluelicious

***

author’s note: as always thank you for reading!! thank you for your patience but I'm so excited for the next chapter, this is a filler but we love hangman in this blog.

***

feedback is always welcomed!!

want to invite me a glass of wine so I can write the smut?

259 notes · View notes

jaegerbroshoe · 4 years

Text

I wish Akane’s development wasn’t so sudden. She was fumbling around her job for 90% of the season and all of a sudden, she’s all Sherlock? I don’t know, the transition is hard to swallow for me.

#also I don't get the whole supposed romance #why is it in anime that the male character doesn't show any signs of romantic interest #and yet they still push a heterosexual agenda #the only character who actually showed consistent interest in someone and therefore him ending up with the girl wouldn't be weird on his +#+ part is jean #anyways #there were hints she likes ko; but if ko is suddenly shown to like her that's sus #misc #my opinion #psycho pass

2 notes · View notes

primofate · 3 years

Text

Smile for Me (Part 4) Zhongli x fem!reader

Summary: Zhongli never smiled at you the way that he smiled at his memories of Guizhong. Thinking that the only way Zhongli would ever be happy is for Guizhong to come back again, you secretly set off on a journey to bring her back to life. But it comes with a price: Your life.

Warnings: pining, angst, one-sided (at first), hurt, angst again, drama, some Guizhong x Zhongli, hints of Xiao x reader, MAY NOT FOLLOW THE ACTUAL LORE, not proofread.

Notes: Sorry this took so long! I was actually a little stuck as to what should happen, and also real life stuff took a turn for the busy. But, here it is! Finally! THANK YOU so much for your patience and for tuning in~

Read: (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 5) (Part 6)

"...Guizhong...”

Zhongli watches as she elegantly picks her head up, eyes brightening at the sight of him. “Oh! You’re back,” she’d always been a gentle one. Kind and patient. She was about to stand and greet him with a hug, but Zhongli’s face is painted in confusion.

“...Guizhong, where is the painting?”

She stops and leans back on her seat. An ethereal smile on her face. “Painting? There wasn’t one when I arrived home, dear,” her voice is as smooth as silk and soft as clouds.

Zhongli would never, never doubt her.

Except for this time.

It was only him and her who had access to the house and he swore over his 6000 years of life that he had left the painting on the table.

There was no way Guizhong didn’t see it.

“Guizhong,” Zhongli’s voice start to teeter over the edge of impatience.

How could he not when he was starting to panic over not remembering your face?

And now the painting, the only evidence of your existence, was suddenly missing.

“I would not accuse you of anything,” Zhongli shifts and watches her carefully. “But you must understand that the painting is valuable. I would like it back, Guizhong,”

“The painting is valuable? Why not just have another one painted then? One of us?” She doesn’t even bat an eye or think about her reply. He’s rather taken aback, because his Guizhong would not do such a thing. In a matter of seconds, he feels as if something is amiss.

"So you acknowledge that there was a painting here, on this very table?" Zhongli asks again. His gaze turns hard. This time Guizhong smiles. This Guizhong is looking at him rather menacingly. The soft smile and tender gaze is gone. Zhongli glares back at her, unsure of how to react. It seemed as if there was a staring contest going on.

“...Had we always been this way?” Zhongli’s voice lowers. In his memories he flits about moments with his long lost lover. How she had been kind to everyone she met, and how she didn’t question things. “I do not think...this is what we were,” He could not remember a time where Guizhong had opposed him, or had done something to anger him or upset him. Maybe unintentionally, but not like this.

This Guizhong was hiding something.

Zhongli realizes it as she scoffs, a look of mockery crossing her face. She stands, still elegant as ever, but her sneering face had spite written all over it. “Rex Lapis,” Zhongli tensed. “What would you say if I had burned the painting?” Her voice had gone up an octave, this was the voice of someone else.

“What would you say if you were never to remember who she was?” The lady screeches, insanity spilling in her voice, like a wailing banshee. Zhongli nearly loses his grip at his own temper, he controls the shiver of slight anger that runs up his spine. “...You’ve deceived me,” his voice is even lower than normal, eyes trained on the lady.

The lady cackles and turns around, head slightly tilted back, her face out of view. When she moves back around to face Zhongli, the Geo Archon feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand.

You’re standing in front of him.

His mouth slacks open, yet unable to say a thing. His eyes run up and down your face. Tracing your jaw, your nose, your eyes, your hair. Trying to memorize every curve and every dip, in fear of forgetting it again.

“THIS is the girl you’re looking for, correct?” The lady with your face starts off with a low giggle, the noise turning up until she’s laughing aloud. “Would you like her back, Rex Lapis?”

His eyes snap up immediately at the offer.

“Say her name Rex Lapis, and I’ll return her to you,” A taunt.

Nothing but words to provoke him because she knew that he couldn’t remember.

This time he doesn’t control the way that his spear appears on his back, his eyes gleam a dangerous gold and a snarl is ready on his lips.

But he watches the smile that blooms on your fake face, the hope that presents in your eyes and the way your head turns up to his. “Rex Lapis is a beautiful soul. He cares for everyone, except himself. He doesn’t wish for anything, except for Liyue to flourish. That’s why...” your eyes turn down towards the ground, and slowly closes, “That’s why... I’d do anything, to make him smile again. He deserves it, and so much more so...” your voice trembles at the right places and Zhongli falters, “I’ll gladly offer myself up for his happiness, even if it means...our time together is erased,” there’s a lone tear that slips down your cheek, Zhongli steps back in horror.

He realizes that he’s being shown your last words.

A cross of hurt and regret appears on his features. The hole in his heart starts to fray at the ends, opening up more and he could feel the hollowness in him widening.

“So you see, Rex Lapis, she’s happy where she is, you don’t have to worry about her. She’s thought long and hard about reuniting you with Guizhong,” the fake you starts to talk in a normal voice, but there was still a malificent grin on your face.

Guizhong was long dead. Zhongli remembers it now. He remembers how he fondly held on to his memories of her but he had also long accepted that memories are just figments of the past, never to return again. He had missed her, yes, but he had moved forward confidently for the sake of his land. He had let himself grieve, but he didn’t let himself be paralyzed by the loss.

And along the way, what pleasure it was to have you.

You who had always stood by his side and believed in him.

You who got angry when anyone so much as doubted the strength of Rex Lapis.

You who had taken care of him and watched over him when he was too focused on taking care of others.

“...She isn’t happy,” he’s surprised by his own conclusion, but his eyes are downturned towards the ground. Sadness emanating from his form. “She has the tendency to...keep things to herself and it turns out that I... have not paid enough attention to her,” he’s frustrated that he doesn’t remember your name, like a misty cloud in his mind making his memories of you blurry and distorted.

The fake you turns silent, and watches as Rex Lapis ruminates by himself.

“She may have a smile on her face but sometimes she...is merely attempting to hide her pain,” his hand reaches over for his polearm and he slowly maneuvers it to his side. “So I do not believe that she’s happy, wherever she is, at this moment,” he points the polearm at the fake you with a different resolve, his eyes gleaming gold once again,

“And that is precisely why, I will take her back where she belongs,”

Taglist: @larkspyrr @rim0na @sweeti-pie @l3mon-mxshroom @hai-q-haikyuu @tkshoki @kyquu @kimbapsana @leefletter @hentaje @tempehlust @rinnesy @hallohun @softlybeloved @volleybloop @ssalamanderr @ben6ett @rytszk @guilixi @reiluvbot @mondstadts-favourite-traveler @xxcrowfeatherxx @b-trld @mkazuyuh @shittyeditsofwhatiwant @ayra2452008 @simpingover @soft-like-sunshine @lnrchii @scheophi @multifandomgeeks @sacredmouche @risasblog01 @mai-m4i @foxxtrot-116 @maple-leaaf @lucy-roo @bluepinkpink @myday6-studies @thraiaiscrying @missbuwan @the-one-that-lurks @adeptitao @xibrokensunriseix @ilovemyleftboob @marblesphere @allinduetimethefirst @nortdreww @jjsjjsjsjsjjsjjs @how-simpy @loltartaglia @nootgi @fkng_kumiko @keiq0

Please do consider supporting me at my ko-fi! I’ve fixed the payment link so I think you can love me more now <3 (haha jk, it’s optional, but it would greatly help and make me happy!)

https://ko-fi.com/primofate

Masterlist

https://primofate.tumblr.com/post/653296890583154688/masterlist-for-mobile-version-main-links

Taglist (Want to be notified when something new comes out? Sign up!):

https://forms.gle/VZmJXQssHcv7YzQc6

#zhongli x reader #zhongli smile for me #smile for me #primofate fics #zhongli x reader angst #zhongli angst #genshin angst

2K notes · View notes

danniburgh · 3 years

Text

The way you make me feel (Javier x f!reader x Steve)

Pairing: Javier Peña x f!reader x Steve Murphy

Summary: It was on how you three had softened to each other. There was nothing wrong with it.

It was in the way you made each other feel. The only man Javier and Steve were willing to share you with was each other.

Word count: +2.7k

Chapter warnings: mentions of The War on Drugs of course, a hint of jealousy, lots of teasing and kisses, a sprinkle of angst here and there

A/N: so... yeah i made this lmao, this is fluff and i love it and MUSTACHE BOYFRIENDS NATION RISE, also, thank you so much to @bella-ciao for the help with some ideas and @queenofthefaceless for helping WITH THE TITLE ilysm guys

ao3 // Masterlist // ko-fi

comments and reblogs are eternally appreciated 💓

gif: @pajamasecrets

“Whose turn for dinner?” Steve asked, standing up from behind his desk.

“Yours” you and Javi replied at the same time and you looked at each other. Steve huffed as you smiled at Javier and then at him.

“I want chicken,” you mumbled.

“You?” Steve turned at your partner and Javier only nodded, “fine, see you at home,” Steve put on his jacket and walked around his desk towards yours, you looked up at him and smirked when he turned to the office door window just to make sure no one was looking inside, leaned down and gave you a soft kiss on the lips, “drag him out of here on time,” he mumbled on your mouth and you rolled your eyes, nodding.

Steve then walked towards Javier and did the same, a soft kiss and some words, then he walked out.

“He told you to not be late?” you asked Javier, who was lighting up another cigarette.

“You know him,” he mumbled, eyeing the closed door of the office Steve had just crossed through and lingering his gaze there for a second as you studied his face. It was as if he was remembering how you all got into the mess that was your relationship. He then turned to see you, winked and drowned himself back into the pile of paperwork in front of him.

You tried to do the same but failed, at the assumption of Javier thinking about the start of your relationship you couldn’t help but to think about it.

Colombia was a beautiful but hard place.

The War on Drugs wasn’t easy, and as a DEA agent you knew you had it easy. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t hard.

And certain situations, those that had brought the three of you together, made it even harder; for you it was both your courage and your gender, being a woman in the agency wasn’t easy at all, almost everyone doubted you and you had to get used to prove yourself worthy of attention before even proving that you were good at what you did, and when you met your two partners, they made it a lot easier, they already believed you could just by watching you pace around the embassy like you owned the place. So that was something that made you soften to them; for Javier it was between his reputation and the fact that he had been in the country years before you or Steve, he was known for making dubious things to get intel and you knew how much it weighed on him, he was a man who cared, who had a deep connection with not only the country and the culture but the war in itself, and he was a man willing to do what it took to keep on fighting, but you and Steve had shown him tenderness and had shown him you cared. So that was something that made him soften to you; for Steve it was both the fact that the country wasn’t what he expected, if he ever expected anything, and his divorce, he had showed up years before with wide eyes and so many ideas and a beautiful wife that just got tired and grew scared of everything that went on around her, so she took their daughter and left, and if Steve was a mess before hand he turned into an even deeper mess, but you and Javier pulled him out of the misery of what he thought his life had turned into and cared for him. So that was something that made Steve soften to you.

And the thing you three had, then? there wasn’t even a name for it.

You liked to call it a thruple, but Javier growled every time you mentioned it, called you both children even though he wasn’t that much older than you or Steve, and that made you and Steve laugh.

The only thing you three knew is the deep care, the deep understanding, the deep knowledge and the deep love you had about and for each other.

A soft tap on your desk brought you out of your reminiscence and you saw two light tanned fingers on the surface, the owner of them demanding your attention.

“Let’s go home,” Javier said, and waited for you to put files away while sitting on the edge of your desk and admiring the way you moved through the office.

For Javier, falling in love with you was something he didn’t even have to put effort on. You were beautiful, gorgeous in his eyes, smart as hell, strong and delicate at the same time. You were young and self assured and a badass and Javier couldn’t stop himself from falling in love with you even if he tried.

As you were making sure you had everything in your bag and went on to check Steve hadn’t forgotten anything, his mind traveled to the utter and complete mess he was when he realized he also loved Steve.

Javier always knew he wasn’t indifferent to men, and he knew he was attracted to Steve ever since they met. But Steve was married and that was the end of it. It wasn’t until Connie left and his friend sank into himself that he realized he cared deeply for him, as you did.

And once, while you made dinner at Steve’s place while the blond man tried to take a shower he blurted everything to you. Because the few moments Javier allowed himself to be truly vulnerable was only when he was in your arms, that was something he kept only for you. And it wasn’t out of distrust for Steve, he knew he could confide in him and he did. But you and your precious mind always knew how to soothe the restlessness of his brain even for an hour or two.

“Sounds to me like you’re in love,” you had told him, and Javier had huffed while his eyes went to the picture of Steve holding Olivia that was pinned on the fridge “you know there’s nothing wrong about it, right?” you had tried to reassure him and he had only nodded.

“It’s not that,” Javier had mumbled and he had let his deep brown gaze fall upon you.

“You love me too?” you had questioned and Javier only smiled at you and your incredible ability to read him like a book.

“I think I love you too,” you had confessed while fixing three plates with equal amounts of food.

“And Steve?” Javier had teased, reaching for three forks.

“And Steve,”

“Shall we?” you called him and he shook his head to make the memory fade. You walked next to each other out of the CNP headquarters towards the car, hopped in in silence and drove the fifteen minute way to the house you three shared while stationed in Medellín.

None of you said anything because the drive home, even if it was by yourselves or the three of you together, was a moment you used to shed away the DEA agent persona, it was something you all had agreed on taking as a way to let the work at work, at least as far as the circumstances allowed it and be just yourselves.

When Javier used his keys to open the door and let you in you saw Steve in the kitchen holding the phone between his cheek and his shoulder, struggling with a tray that Javier took from his hand.

“Yes, I sent those as well,” you looked at Javier with a questioning gaze and he shook his head while taking off his jacket “I understand,” Steve looked at you and you saw his deep blue eyes conflicted, you tried to give him a reassuring smile but you weren’t sure it had reached the place you wanted it to “can you put her on the phone?” he said, Javier was emptying his pockets on the kitchen counter and then walked to take your bag from your hand and put it next to his and Steve's badges “hi baby,” Steve’s face lit up and Javi and you instantly knew he was speaking to Olivia.

As you had made sure Steve was okay you fell into your now old routine. You served dinner while Javier cleared out the table and Steve reluctantly hung up the phone and reached for three beers in the fridge.

“How is she?” you asked once the three of you were seated and dining.

“She’s good, stopped teething,” Steve muttered and you noticed Javier narrowing his eyes, as if he was trying to grasp the concept.

“And… Connie?” your tone was tentative and you searched for his ocean eyes, as you and Javier liked to call them.

“She’s good, sends her regards,” Steve drank from his beer and Javier snorted.

“Javi,” you half chastised half whined.

“Sends her regards?” Javier smirked as he lit a cigarette and gave it to Steve.

“Her words, man,” Steve took it and puffed from it.

“I mean, it’s weird, cut her some slack,” you said, taking the cigarette from Steve’s fingers.

“So you’re defending one of your boyfriend’s ex-wife, now?” Javier teased and Steve chuckled, shaking his head.

“I’m just saying, it’s an odd thing,” you shrugged and puffed from the cigarette.

“I mean yeah, your ex-husband suddenly starts fucking both his partners, I bet is odd,” Javier muttered, Steve and you sighed at Javier’s words and before either of you could say anything to him the house phone rang.

“Not it,” you and Steve called at the same time and Javier rolled his eyes, standing up to answer it.

“Yeah,” he answered, Steve turned to look at you and leaned to give you a kiss that tasted like the store-bought roasted chicken, lager and smoke, “no she’s here, one sec,” Javier walked back to the table and looked at you “it’s for you,” you frowned and stood up “it’s Morales,” he muttered, serious faced, and you saw him and Steve both tightening their jaws, making you roll your eyes.

You walked towards the phone feeling two pairs of eyes on your body and you smiled to yourself when you picked up the receiver and answered.

Javier and Steve looked at you and then at each other.

“I don’t trust him,” Steve muttered to Javi, who only shook his head “he clearly wants something with her,” Javier huffed.

“He wants everything with her,” Javier said between gritted teeth and both of them grunted when you let out a soft giggle and said gracias, Luis to the phone. “I wanna hurt that man,”

“I’ll hold him,” Steve muttered, you caught the last part while you hung up the phone and smiled at them.

“No one is gonna hurt anybody,” you lifted a finger to emphasize.

“He clearly wants you,” Javier frowned and Steve agreed with him.

“Well I already have to take care of two men, do you think I want another one?” you laughed out and sat back down, grabbing your bottle of beer “I like him, but as a friend.” you assured them. Steve visibly relaxed but Javier didn’t.

“That’s what you told me and look at us,” he said, Steve narrowed his eyes at you and you rubbed your forehead.

You loved them, you really did, and the fact that they loved each other as much as they loved you made your heart swell with happiness, but they could be pricks and jealous assholes. The only person they were willing to share you with was each other. No one else.

“Can you stop?” you pleaded, looking at both “I don’t want to be with anyone else but you two,” you reassured them, Steve smiled at you and took your hand in his, Javier took a little more convincing “I love you,” you smiled, looking at him and tightening the grip on Steve’s hand.

“Jav,” Steve called out to him “tell her you love her,” he demanded, making you laugh. At the sound of you laughing Javier’s feigned mean face broke into a smirk.

“I love you too,”

Steve let go of your hand and after that you fell into work chatter while you finished eating, because Morales had called you with new intel about the cartel and it was you. Of course you were gonna talk about work over dinner.

A couple of hours later you were resting on Javier’s naked chest, sitting between his legs while chilling on the bed and sharing a cigarette, your free hand roaming up and down his tight while the both of you were looking at Steve getting out of the shower.

“Are you seriously getting dressed right now?” you teased him when you saw him reach for some briefs inside the closet, feeling Javier’s chest move with his chuckle.

“You know we're gonna undress you anyway, right?” Javier teased as well behind you, making Steve huff and drop the underwear on the floor.

“Fine,” he grunted and crawled on the bed to lay his wet head on your lap.

Your hand found its place playing with Steve’s blond hair and while you did that and shared a cigarette with Javi, Steve let himself remember how he realized he had fallen in love with both.

His divorce wasn’t messy, Connie had talked to him about it and it was an agreement, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt any less. As his life as he had known it for years was about to change permanently. The only thing that gave him a small sense of stability was you and Javi. Always there, always present, always willing to help.

You, with words, always reassuring him and caring about him and asking how he was doing and checking up on him; Javi, without them, bringing him food and making sure he ate it, knocking on his door and dragging him out of the apartment to take him to dinner with him and you, calling him at exactly six fifteen each morning to wake him up and make sure he got to work on time.

He didn’t know he could feel something like that for a man, he was scared at first, and he told you that. Because while Javier confided in you his vulnerabilities, Steve confided you his deepest fears.

“I just… I don’t know why I feel like this,” he had told you, halfway drunk, gripping your hand. And you had smiled at him.

“It’s the first time you feel like that for another man?” you had asked and he nodded like a child caught with his hands and clothes all muddy “but you know there’s nothing wrong with it, right?” the same question you were to ask Javier about a couple weeks later.

“It isn’t,” Steve had mumbled to himself, and to you it sounded like a question.

“It isn’t” you had told him in reassurance, and when he looked at you with those big blue puppy eyes you knew it. And Steve had thrown himself at you and kissed you for what it felt like hours.

And then, when he was about moving on, cleaning his house of the rest of Connie’s things to send them to her, Javier helping, he had cornered him and with pleading eyes asked him to kiss him. And Javier did it without hesitation.

Steve would never forget the way Javier’s lips felt in his that first time, and how a single kiss from the only man he had ever loved in his life made his body feel tons lighter.

The sound of you moaning woke him up from his reminiscence and he turned around to see Javier’s hand cupping your breasts and his lips devouring your neck. Your eyes opened and you bit your lip, raising a hand for him to take.

He took it and you pulled him to you to grab his lips on a kiss while Javier’s hands roamed around your body.

You broke the kiss and leaned up to lick and nip on the skin of his neck, as Javier’s hands kept exploring your skin and Steve grabbed Javi by the nape, trapping his lips on a kiss.

It was going to be a long night.

pedrito's perma list: @queenofthefaceless @northernpunk @pascalesque @sleep-tight1 @cheekygeek05 @bii-aan-ckaa @letaliabane @starlightmornings @mouthymandalorianalso

Javi's babies: @pulplorrd

300 notes · View notes

yandere-sins · 3 years

Text

Routine

I had the absolute pleasure to write for @bellanovas who wished for a continuation for the events after Different ♥ Thank you so much for your support over Ko-fi and then continously as a commission, you’re awesome!

Characters: Yandere!Atsumu Miya x Fem!Reader x Yandere!Osamu Miya (For clarification: While they reader in the previous one-shots used they/them pronouns, we used she/her here) Warnings: Yandere, Kidnapping, Emotional Meltdown, Forced Affection, Attempted Feeding

Even you knew the charm of routine.

Even though you were kidnapped and held in this apartment against your will by not one but two crazy men, you understood how a routine helped you to look forward to certain things and not so much to others. Still, it was nice knowing Osamu woke up first, letting you and his brother pull the blanket over your heads a few minutes more until Atsumu had to get up for his morning run and you for your breakfast. You always looked forward to them leaving for the day, despite it meaning they were going to lock you in your room, but at least you had some alone time to either keep napping, read a book, or play a game. It was also the only time you were able to shower or bath without always having the nagging feeling of someone waiting at the door for you, trying to get in even though they knew you locked it.

Routine meant knowing that your peace would be disturbed with either of the two coming home. There wasn’t a pattern to who returned first and when, the two of them communicating it throughout the day without having a way of letting you know - and not always wanting you to know either. If it was Osamu, you knew you’d at least get dinner soon. If it was Atsumu who walked through the door, a big idiotic grin on his face when he saw you, you sighed, wishing he’d still be at practice. At least, if Atsumu let go of you, he let you roam the full apartment and often brought you new things to get busy with.

However, that was only your day. The meaning of ‘routine’ meant something different entirely for the twins.

Cornering you against the wall, you averted your face to escape the smell of a deodorant shower mixed with sweat. It couldn’t be helped; Atsumu was what he wanted to be - an athlete. Nonetheless, he liked to disregard your personal space in favor of getting closer and closer, even if he only just returned home after a long day, immediately causing a ruckus.

You see, for the twins, you were the height of their days. No matter how much they enjoyed their daily activities, once they were done, you were the only thing on their mind. No amount of desire and yearning could come close to the drive they felt rushing back from their work to their home to continue their routine of loving you. A feature of this routine was that things you did once had to be shown again. Had to be experienced again, especially if they were cute.

Thus, your current suffering involved a grown man cornering you, trying to squeeze out the sweet, sweet ‘Welcome Home’ you muttered to him while your mind was foggy from the pleasure you had experienced on that day. It had become a part he’d have liked to implement in his routine, especially with how stubborn you turned out to be when it came to repeating it. You weren’t raising your hands or struggled as much as you did at first when they kidnapped you, but this was a matter of principle. Once you gave in to Atsumu, you’d always have to do it, and once they had this little bit, they’d demand more enthusiasm and more work. You’ve been with them long enough. You knew how these things would end.

It had been foolish, you couldn’t lie. Even though you had only tried to soothe the flared tempers of your captors with these words and were driven by serotonin and other feelings of happiness, you could only blame yourself for doing what you did. Never before had you shown even the smallest enthusiasm over their return, and having, especially Atsumu, latch on to that now, was just an immediate consequence. Any piece of affection you gave him was swallowed wholly and manifested in his head as a new routine for him. Had it been anything else - a kiss, a hug, an apology - you’d be in the same predicament, but it just had to be this silly greeting.

Perhaps you should have tried humoring him just to please him and get him off you, but the thought alone made you want to throw up. Once you’d allow this to fester in his routine, Osamu, too, would demand the same treatment. Before you knew it, the words alone wouldn’t be enough to satisfy their growing hunger for your attention. Suddenly you’d have to be affectionate with them when they arrived at your door, and they’d start to crave for more than you had to offer. There would be no avoiding or forgetting about something they made their routine, and soon enough, it would need to become part of your schedule too.

“I’m home,” he cooed, leaning forward to kiss your forehead. He was prompting you, fishing for what he wanted. Atsumu had a gift to ignore failure, simply trying it again even if his endeavors hadn’t been successful yet. ‘No’ wasn’t in his dictionary, and his understanding of you entirely revolved around loving you and gaining attention and praise from you. Fighting him was the worst. Though Osamu scared you more on a general day-to-day-basis, Atsumu was undeniably trickier than his brother. At least Osamu knew how to take a hint, while Atsumu ignored any and all that didn’t suit him.

“Home,” he continued, lips fluttering against your temple. “Home~” Another kiss to your chin. Arms started to crawl around your body, feeling like caterpillars wandering over your skin. Knowing what was about to happen, you tensed up, feeling your flight instincts setting in. But where to? Atsumu was already all around you.

Reluctantly you complied with Atsumu’s demands, his pulls and pushes leading you to the nearby couch. You knew if you wouldn’t move by your own efforts, he’d drag you with him, and not very gently so. At least that much you had already gone through, experienced, and submitted to. You preferred moving over bruising from his grips and pulls. It still wasn’t easy to give in to the fall when Atsumu plummeted onto the cushions, making you lose your steady feet on the ground in favor of seating you on his lap. Still, even that was manageable, though you wished you could have chosen any other position than straddling him.

The two of you settled like this, his deodorant still filling your nose with its pungent smell, but the hand placing upon the back of your head pushed you forward into his chest relentlessly. It was dizzying but not the worst thing you ever smelled, even though you’d have preferred his deodorant not to be as strong and musky.

Satisfied, Atsumu embraced you tightly for a few seconds, taking a deep breath of you in return, until you started to stir from the uncomfortable hug. At least for now, you figured he had given up on demanding your sweet voice to welcome him home, if only so because he wanted to cuddle. It may seem like a compromise to him, but you knew it was him forcing you to decide which was the greater bad of the two options he was giving you. Nothing was stopping Atsumu from burying his hands beneath your shirt, his skin noticeably colder than you after he just came home, enough to make you flinch lightly and dig your hands into his arms.

You tried to get up and free yourself. Still, Atsumu merely chuckled, his response a joking yet demanding, “No! Warm me!” as he reached up all the way over your back, well-maintained, soft hands digging into your sides roughly. Taking a sharp breath, you had a hard time toggling the pain and uncomfortableness that rose in you, wondering what he was up to while Atsumu remained calm and indifferent about your struggles. A few more shifts were all you did, feeling his fingertips squeeze you harder every time you moved, forcing you to give up if you wanted him to release you from the pain.

Immediately, his hands became soft again as he felt you slump in his hug submissively, Atsumu too taking a deep breath before rubbing his cheek against yours affectionately. The areas he had just clenched down on burned up quickly, but you felt the relief set in as the pain slowly subsided. Littering the side of your face with kisses, he finally pulled out a hand from your shirt again, directing your head against his chest once more. You could feel his body relax as he followed your example to slump into the couch, one hand caressing the back of your head with slow, tender strokes while the other one held you in place around your waist precautiously, so you wouldn’t jump up. He held you like a precious, loved child, though he was nothing even remotely close to a parent.

There was no escape from someone so eager to pretend this was a healthy relationship. That you were an actual couple hugging and embracing each other, even if you were more of a limp doll in his arms, barely able to bring up the enthusiasm to hold him in return. All you did was fixate your eyes on the entrance to your room while your ear rested against Atsumu’s chest, hearing an excited beating through his shirt.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

“I did really well today! Everyone was praising me for my setting,” Atsumu began to recount.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

“And Bokkun, he--” Interrupting himself with a laugh, Atsumu shook his head, heart beginning to race a little faster. “He tried to look extra cool, but he totally jumped into the net today and got stuck!”

Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

“What about you?” he shifted his attention, and you knew he looked down at the top of your head from above, his thumb coming forth to brush over your eyebrows. “I played Mario Kart today,” you whispered, unwilling to create an awkward silence and cause him to urge you on with more painful touches.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

“Let’s play together after dinner!” Atsumu enthusiastically exclaimed, and you knew it wasn’t an invitation, but a firm statement of how you were going to spend your evening. It also didn’t surprise you that despite talking about Volleyball before, his heart only began to race now that you had spoken up. Atsumu could be that easy to read if he allowed it.

You thought of the possibility of a nap as he kept spluttering excitedly about how he was going to win against you and how much better he was at games than his brother. Atsumu called it ‘the perk of being the older twin’ that he was winning so much, despite you remembering that he lost almost all the games lately, suspecting it was because he tried to gain your approval by letting you win.

But your stream of thoughts were harshly interrupted by a sudden hand grabbing you by the arm, pulling you off Atsumu’s lap and out of his embrace. Atsumu’s merrily blabbering came to a halt, and you caught a glimpse of his face wrinkling while you fought with getting to your feet alone. “Go shower, you stink, ‘Tsumu,” you heard Osamu’s familiar voice raise behind you, another help coming to support your struggles.

“It’s not like [Name] cared,” Atsumu hissed, rising after you, their two bodies giving you a feeling of menace as they kept you between each other. “We just enjoyed cuddling, what’s wrong with you?!”

“It’s dinnertime, and you’re still not showered and changed, that’s what’s wrong, Dumbass.”

Atsumu did a short, upset flinch, a huff falling off his lips before he trotted off, pouting. Nothing angered him more than admitting his faults, and Osamu pointing them out didn’t help his swollen ego. Finally, after what seemed to be a quick pat-down, Osamu’s hands disappeared too, and he muttered a short “‘am home,” when you finally turned around, though other than Atsumu he wasn’t as persistent on you returning the greeting as you avoided your eyes and ignored it. Still, he waited for a hesitant, unsure moment, and you supposed the stakes were high when even Osamu considered delaying his routine just to hear your response.

But nodding slowly, his patience took over, and he turned to leave, having you trot after him with a relieved, inwardly sigh. Passing by the twin’s bathroom, you heard Atsumu’s phone play music as he started up a shower behind the door, but with Osamu being unbothered by it, you couldn’t care much about it either. Instead, you felt your stomach grumbling, your last meal having taken place well over five hours ago.

Absentmindedly as you thought back to the bread and egg you had in the morning, you stepped behind the kitchen isle, only to gain a very sharp, alert glare from Osamu, catching you by surprise. Understanding quickly, you were back on the other side, sliding onto one of the three stools on the other side of the kitchen counter, waiting patiently, for this was Osamu’s routine and not yours.

Where you got your food depended on what either of the twins was feeling like. For Atsumu, it could be a quick plate of pasta on the table in your room or convenience store-bought items on the couch while watching TV. But for Osamu, when it came to be his turn - and luckily that was more often than Atsumu’s - he had you sitting pretty and proper at his side as he finished dinner, mostly served in the kitchen for convenience.

Cooking was a skill he had in his blood. No wonder he raised ‘Onigiri Miya’ to be a famous hotspot in no time. But besides lavish onigiri, he also was decent with everything else he tried out and wasn’t stingy on bringing home fresh ingredients to feed you and his brother. Even Atsumu’s unique needs for his sports career were met by Osamu’s food, and though he did it with a straight face, you knew he enjoyed cooking very much.

Being dependent was despicable, that much you knew, but even so, his food could make the world a little better. Even if you wished it wasn’t, well, from someone so toxic and sinister. Someone, whose greatest pleasure was watching you eat the food he prepared for you. Someone who was that kind of crazy.

It was criminal that the plate before you smelled so damn good.

Going without food for a long time, or even just a few more hours than usual that day, it was heaven to smell the curry whose steam rose to your nose sweetly. Without doing anything lately to upset Osamu, he even picked out the vegetables and ingredients you liked. A trick he liked to use on you whenever you ‘misbehaved’ was feeding you with only the things you despised. So right now, it was pure bliss, even though you knew it was nothing short of being the reward part of his carrot and stick methods.

You started to scoop a spoonful of it up, not waiting for any signal - you didn’t have to do that, luckily - before putting it in your mouth, letting the hearty taste lay down on your taste buds and the comfortable warmth spread in your body. Usually, you cursed Osamu in your mind, but this day all you could think of was how wonderful the nourishing this meal was for you. Enthusiastically, you kept stuffing your mouth full with it, hoping you’d never get full and your plate never empty.

At least for a while, it truly seemed that way, as you ate and ate some more. However, soon enough, your tummy started to feel stuffed, every spoon getting harder and harder to swallow. You weren’t sure why you were feeling this way when you snapped back from your food trance, hesitating to take the next spoon, only to catch an entirely different spoon putting rice and curry on your plate. Confused, you looked up and at Osamu, who had a very pure and tender smile playing on his lips as he kept taking small portions from his plate, to leave them on yours.

“Uhm…” you mumbled, blinking a few times in confusion, and he, too, seemed to snap out of his thoughts, meeting your gaze wordlessly. “I’m full, so…” you tried to explain, putting your spoon aside. “Why? Don’t you like it?” It was almost laughable with how much his voice dipped low in disappointment as he said that, Osamu’s eyeing your plate gloomily, shoulder’s slacking. “N-No, it was delicious,” you muttered, a pang of nervosity driving through you. The last thing you wanted was to get on his bad side now.

“Well, then,” he chirped up again, continuing his curry transfer. “You had no dinner yesterday, after… you know…”

Oh, you knew. And frankly, remembering it now made you feel even worse about the kitchen counter you had sullied the day before with your actions than you usually felt sitting here and contemplating your life choices as Osamu cooked. “Breakfast wasn’t much, so I wanted to make sure you eat enough today.”

“I’m fine, really,” you assured him, but Osamu biting his lip with a doubtful shine in his eyes almost made it seem like he couldn’t believe it even after you ate your portion and most of his. “One more,” he prompted, holding up the hill of rice-curry-mix on his spoon to you, and you felt your stomach turn both from thinking about consuming any more and from letting him feed you. Backing away ever so slightly, you bit back on the urge to decline his offer verbally, instead taking your own spoon to eat from your own plate with your own cutlery.

Osamu merely watched, a shade falling over his eyes. Still, unprompted, he proceeded to leave the fill on his spoon on your plate again, proceeding to push you to eat more. You didn’t like to acknowledge this side of him, always wanting to believe he was more mature and tempered than his brother, but Osamu, too, could take too much pride in his doings and get pouty when he didn’t get the recognition for his work. It was a bad trait they shared, and though you tried to ignore his watchful eyes whenever you ate his cooking, you knew he was watching you with boundless joy because it was his cooking you were eating. Sometimes, like that day, you even ate with pleasure.

It made you aware that he reveled in this feeling of being your provider, the hand feeding you, and you wondered if he always thought this way about himself, or only now that you had allowed him closer than ever to you, caressing the remnants of doubts into security. Perhaps, he felt more confirmed in his beliefs after you led him on, believed more in a connection than he did before.

Scooping only the smallest amount of curry onto your tool, you proceeded to have some more tastes, hoping it would satisfy Osamu if he saw you eat at least a bit more. You dared to think not even he really knew what he wanted from you, and his actions were only placeholders for his true intentions. The intentions of watching you do things that were pleasing to him.

Even though the hand enveloping yours suddenly came as a shock, it was almost a saving grace if not for the person behind it. Cooling drops of water fell onto the side of your face, and your shoulder as Atsumu leaned over your side, pulling the spoon to his mouth with a loud, “Aah!”

Before anyone could react, he had already taken a mouthful, wiping the corner of his mouth with his thumb while his other hand held up the towel around his hips. “It’s good!” he announced, letting out a fond sigh while licking his lips. “Where’s my plate?”

“Where are your clothes?” Osamu retorted sharply.

“In my room, why?”

Staring each other down while Atsumu used your hand casually to keep feeding himself curry, you were both baffled by the exchange as well as him not getting his own spoon or not use your hand to navigate food to his maw. Mannerly, you turned a blind eye towards the towel or the lack of clothes thereof, but an uncomfortable friction began to spread in the air nonetheless.

“Get some clothes and stop spreading water all over the floor, and we can talk about you getting dinner.”

“You’re too sticky with yer damn rules,” Atsumu complained, finally letting go of your hand and turning to leave for his room. “What if someone slips? What if she,” Osamu worried, pointing to you though you weren’t comfortable with being used in this conversation, “falls and hits her head? You want that?”

“‘Course not,” Atsumu quietly admitted, sounding offended, a little worried even, but mostly pouting. “At least get me a plate too,” were his last words before he toddled off, and Osamu sighed, rolling his eyes at his brother before getting up. He wasn’t fooling you, you knew you weren’t a child anymore, and you wouldn’t slip on a few drops of water on the floor - at least, not seriously. It would have made sense for him to think so little of you, simply to undermine your being, but you couldn’t believe it yourself. Watching as Osamu filled another plate with steaming, delicious curry, you pushed your plate away from you, making it very clear you were done.

However, before you could go, Atsumu returned, taking the seat at your other side for himself and using your spoon to get an up front fill on the food, Osamu returning shortly after, scolding him for eating your food. “Don’t steal from other people’s plates, ‘Tsumu.”

“She’s done,” he confirmed what you had wanted to tell Osamu all this time. “You’re just jealous because I get to eat from her plate.”

“‘Am not.”

“Tell that someone who believes you.”

Their bickering continued, a laughable display of their sibling relationship. As if they could not go a moment without a tease or a snappy comment. As if this was normal, and to some degree, it seemed like it. By the corners of their mouth ever so often twitching upwards, as they joked on each other’s expenses, or the plates being put into the sink to be washed off later, it was all so normal. Just an ordinary evening, on a typical day, with not so sane individuals around you, but overall it appeared so awfully normal.

Supposedly, that’s what routine did to you. It made a situation that was nothing short of abstruse seem alright and normal, even though the tears welling up as your heart clenched with the realization, weren’t at all a sign of normality. Rather, it was desperation, pity, and fear of what was going on. What was becoming of you when even you started to adapt to this routine of your new days, a routine brought to you by the twins rather than from your endeavors and your life going forward. What would happen? Where would your life lead to?

You couldn’t care about the gazes you earned, two conflicted bastards watching the tears leave lines as they rolled down your face, cold and calculating. Still, neither of them reached out to comfort you yet. They wanted to see where the situation was going, what was happening. If you’d lash out again at them, throw a tantrum, or just fold into yourself. Fulfilling your needs wasn’t always easy with the relationship you three had, and they glanced at each other, hoping their twin would know more about what to do than they did individually.

But neither of their routines included tending to a meltdown, and yours didn’t either. They could pretend to be normal as much as they wanted. Still, the paradise they tried to uphold daily was rotting and decaying under the surface even if everything seemed to be fine. Laughs, fun, and forceful measurements couldn’t bring them what they really wanted, but it broke you into pieces more and more every day. Their routine and their acting slowly made you wilt and lose yourself, and neither you nor they knew how to deal with that. How to deal with your own routine of slowly succumbing to their forcing.

They didn’t know.

They didn’t know, so Osamu emerged from the kitchen to help you up, drag you back to the couch in your room, and sit you down between the two brothers as they put on the TV, latched a big blanket over you three. Their hands rested on your body, but you weren’t even uncomfortable with their touches at that moment, one palm rubbing over your lower back and one on top of your thighs comfortingly. A thumb drawing circles over your knee, while Atsumu pulled you to rest against his chest again, experience the warmth and comfort of another person wanting to help you through whatever you were experiencing. It was something they couldn’t understand, but didn’t intend to happen, at least, that much you took from Osamu’s worried frown as he wiped away the tears escaping your eyes.

You simply hoped that these meltdowns wouldn’t become a part of your or their routine ever.

Especially not when they took turns in gazing at you lovingly, adjusting their bodies so you’d be comfortable, and leaving tender kisses on the top of your head, learning that despite it all, they were the closest you’d ever have in terms of comfort ever again.

257 notes · View notes

dessarious · 4 years

Text

The Angel of Death Pt4

Inspired by this Story Starter by @someone-ev

AO3 Prologue Beginning Previous Next

Lady Justice followed Hawkmoth’s pull. It was obvious he still thought he was in control of the situation and that was how she wanted it. There were a couple of issues ahead that she just had to hope worked out properly. Her plan hinged on him either leaving her Akumatized, or not losing her memory if he didn’t. Yes, she had planned extensively just in case she didn’t remember but it was still far better if she didn’t. She’d only have a short window of opportunity and being disoriented could waste it.

She approached the mansion she was being led to cautiously, despite the pull getting more insistent. She knew this house. Yes she remembered walking past it as a child, but she’d been studying Paris for weeks now and knew all the major players in business and politics. Gabriel Agreste was a name that had shown up in both, on the legitimate side as well as the underground. She had to wonder if he had any idea he’d been fighting his own son. Given the current situation she doubted it.

As she approached the side of the house the pull was coming from she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Staring at the butterfly themed window she started to wonder if she should have just done more research to find him. The man was not subtle. As she got closer the window opened just wide enough for her to enter. So not subtle and paranoid. What a wonderful combination. She landed silently on the floor and couldn’t help the irritated frown on her face. The man had his back to her. Paranoid but stupid. He held a hand out to his side.

“Give them to me.” His imperious tone was enough to make her consider using the same sedative on him that she had the heroes. The only thing that stopped her was the need for him to know exactly who it was that defeated him. She wanted him looking her in the eyes when she killed him, just like all the others.

“What about my parents?” The man gave an irritated sigh and turned to look at her. Seeing his suit made her understand both why the Akuma’s were so hideous and why his brand was in decline.

“You’ll get your parents back once I have those Miraculous.” He sounded like he was lecturing a toddler and it took everything in her not to punch him in the face.

“How do I know I can trust you?” He narrowed his eyes at her in annoyance before letting out an irritated huff.

“You don’t, and you shouldn’t.” She felt her powers being drained. This was the moment of truth. Closing her eyes she tried to focus on everything that had happened since she’d been Akumatized instead of the nausea and dizziness that threatened to overwhelm her. It wasn’t easy and she felt disoriented, but once the powers were fully gone she still knew where she was and what she had come here to do. That’s all that really mattered.

She opened her eyes slowly and acted confused while she glanced around the room. It was sparse and didn’t offer much for her to work with, but she had everything she really needed on her. The knives on various parts of her body felt like they were vibrating in anticipation. When she focused on Hawkmoth the man was glaring at her.

“Where are they?” It was that same demanding tone with a hint of ‘how dare you waste my time?’ mixed in. She put on her best confused look.

“Where are what?” He continued to glare at her as she pretended she had no idea what he was talking about. If he wanted them he’d have to search her and the frown on his face said he wasn’t looking forward to that kind of effort. A sound of irritation left his throat before a bright light took over his body. When she looked up again she was staring at a very pissed of fashion mogul and a very panicked floating creature like the red one that had appeared when Chloe detransformed.

“Where are they Nooroo?” The little purple creature looked close to tears and was wringing its hands, or paws, together in agitation.

“In her left jacket pocket Master.” The words came out choked and servile and Marinette suddenly had one more reason to finish this job. No one should sound like that, ever. As Gabriel came closer, greed and anticipation fighting for dominance on his face, she just watched him. All his mistakes were piling up in this one moment to come crashing down on his head. She wondered vaguely if anyone had considered calling her Karma instead of The Angel of Death.

She locked eyes with the floating creature and whatever it saw there caused warring emotions of relief and panic. She could see it’s internal struggle plainly on its face as Gabriel reached for her pocket. It fell into an apologetic grimace as it opened its mouth.

“Master! She’s not what she seems.” She saw the man roll his eyes as he continued to reach for her and she almost did the same. Such arrogance. Before the creature could do more than try to warn the designer, Marinette slipped the knife out of her right sleeve down into her hand and then up into his chest. It was almost without thought the way she slid it between the ribs, directly into his heart.

The look of shock on his face was one she’d seen many times before. She couldn’t remember how many times Talia had told her that her greatest asset was being small and looking innocent. No one saw her coming. Her eyes darted to the floating creature who didn’t seem to know how to react. Well, no human at least.

“I suppose you deserve to know exactly who is responsible for taking your life, though that’s all you deserve.” She twisted the knife and could tell he was losing the ability to focus. “The Angel of Death has come to your door.” She saw recognition flash right before he collapsed on the floor. She stared at him and felt… nothing as always. She was fairly certain she was supposed to feel something.

AO3 Prologue Beginning Previous Next

Ko-Fi

Tag List

@kceedraws @theatreandcomicfreak @krispydefendorpolice @magic-miraculous @chocolatecatstheron @mooshoon @northernbluetongue @interobanginyourmom @rebecarojas07 @dast218 @abrx2002 @damianette-is-life @yin-390 @fontegagrilledcheese @bigpicklebananatree @tbehartoo @nobodyw8s4evr @linim2503 @ladybug-182 @marinettepotterandplagg @daminett4life @thethirdwheelfriend @corabeth11 @emotionalsupportginger @shizukiryuu @toodaloo-kangaroo @worlds-tiniest-spook-pastry @hauntedfreakdeputyhero @sassakitty @my-name-is-michell @multplelifes @sassydepression @danielslilangel @winter-gardenflower @animegirlweeb @romanoff-queen @nanakeid @paradoxal-occurance @theg0ddesspersephone @hinata3487 @irontimetravelflower @the-real-gingakid @heaven428 @peachedpocky @justafanwarrior @gentlemanoftimetravel @18-fandoms-unite-08 @kittycatwowmeow @pale-lady-dreamer @i-is-mysterious @captainartsypants

#maribat #marinette dupen chang #kidnapped AU #assassin Mari #major character death

280 notes · View notes

watayaaratamblr · 3 years

Text

Chihayafuru chapter 226 [long] impressions:

This is more of "everything that went through my mind while reading every page of the chapter"

naturally, gonna be super ..like SUPER long.

1) Shinobu in her fine Kimono was happy or proud? What are the flowers around her? Who knows, we only know that anything they might symbolize is already clear on her face and pose. She played a very strong opponent, she had “special” fun and she won. Only one remaining win and she will preserve her title for the 4th year in a row. Chihaya on the other hand was lost… She did everything she could “come up with” but she still couldn’t win any of the two matches… maybe “come up with something new” was her mistake? Could it be that it’s impossible to defeat the queen in her world, should Chihaya bring her out instead, Chihaya probably didn’t even thought of this because she is completely lost, she worked very hard and her hard work paid off somehow but it is not enough Chihaya seems unable to have any fun; it’s all about needing to win for some reason, why the passionate Chihaya feels so far away?

2) Arata is shook! He is no longer seeing the Meijin in front of him, he is rather calling Chihaya’s name! On the Meijin board we can see 4 poems, (one was shown clearer behind Hiro who was confused with Arata’s sudden distraction; Sudo also noticed and wondered + the 4 poems seem all on Suo’s side?)

30/Ariake no: the poet expresses his hate for dawns after he had to part from his lover at a dawn with a moon that looked so cold and indifferent. 76/Watanohara-ko: This is the second “Arata” poem (as it starts with the word WATA). The poet describes white waves rolling onward which can be mistaken for the white clouds up in the heavens. 20/ Wabi nureba: a consuming passion poem in which the poet tells the woman he loves that he is willing to sacrifice everything to continue their relationship and that he will go meet her despite the heavy price he knows he will have to pay. 74/ Ukari keru: The poet is in distress because the lady he loves is cold to him and his prayers to be happy with her were futile.

The choice of these poems might be clarified when the cards are read but (because Suo seems shadowed somehow and the focus is on Arata), we can still think that they are about Arata’s feelings and what he wants to do about Chihaya’s state now and how she will treat him after her loss .. She already turned her head away from him after her 1st loss, she avoided him, and now she lost again and Arata who is in love with her is really worried.

3) Arata assesses the situation, Chihaya has 2 losses which will put a great pressure on her for the next games and give Shinobu the chance to be more relaxed. The image of Chihaya’s back when she rushed out with her hand on her face as if she was crying was so strong for Arata, the background intensifies what he felt, he was really worried and repeating her name while sweating (dunno if this was intentional, but he wasn’t sweating before he noticed Chihaya (on ch225)) On the other hand, Suo was still completely focused.

4) 78/Awaji shima: was read and Arata was late. Suo took it

This poem tells about the sleepless nights of a guard at some gate caused by the cries of the plover birds crossing the place known as an exile (the plover is also used to symbolize winter) so this poem might invoke the feelings of loneliness and nostalgia.

65/Urami wabi: was the next one and Arata was also late, the difference is now only 1 card. Sudo was cheering for Suo and wandering if a luck of the draw will be the fate of this game. Arata was taken aback!

The poet of Urami wabi is a lady who is separated from her husband so she felt resentment to him, she cried and her sleeves were always wet but what concerned her more was her reputation tainted because of her failed relationship.

These two poems didn’t appear on the board (because only the upper part was showing) but 78 was on Arata’s side & 65 was on Suo’s. The fact that 78 was the poem read to pull Arata out of his thoughts and keep him focused on his match makes me see it as the plover birds keeping the guard from going to sleep. It can also hint at the distraction itself, if sleep is what we do at night but the plovers prevent it, then Arata should focus on his game but his worry for Chihaya also prevents it, so his feelings or Chihaya’s state is the plovers. As for 65, I can’t think of many possible reasons but it might be the “reputation” part, maybe it’s a hint at Arata’s “name” as the “grandchild of eternal meijin Wataya Hajime” that everyone was eager to see through him which might soon be challenged.

5) Murao & Kuriyama wondered what happened to Arata after he achieved such good result till now. Suo had his eyes glued to the Tatami, his aunt was there, he knew but he didn’t try to look. Arata’s club-mates explained that this was a sign of Suo’s strength: he would use the least of your mistakes like losing your focus for even a sec. Riza specifically was very nervous. Arata started to revise what was read and what wasn’t. he kept good track of all read and unread cards, including the dead cards (Taichi was always praised when he did this but now that Arata is doing it, it feels normal and so like him, I believe we all know that Arata is stronger, Taichi showed us the process to arrive there but Arata was the first to arrive there, he definitely passed by most what Taichi experienced.). With this review, Arata knows what he can use his cross sweep on: Wabi & Wata-ko. Ariake is the 3rd remaining card on Tatami (besides the two above & the thress are drawn earlier on the board) but there are also 3 A cards not read yet (dead cards) which are 58/Arima+ 39/Asaji+ 64/Asaborake-u, Arata expects that Suo will wait to make sure of the 3rd syllable. Arata was worried & his grandpa’s ghost came to support him like Taichi and Harada’s ghost too, Hajime analyzed Suo before and he noticed that he wasn’t good with the cards on the outer edge of his own formation, this is something Hajime noticed back when he was alive and sane, was it like 5 years ago? So is Suo’s condition worse than back then?

6) Hajime’s teachings calmed Arata a bit, he is ready to fight again (he moves so handsomely), those where only words told to him by his mentor, but he is also a real deal, his body is ready, his hands are used to attack, he practiced enough to be able to go under his opponent’s hand to take a card, luckily an ‘A’ card on Suo’s side was read, Arata attacked and he practiced enough to be able to protect that card until the kimariji is decided (also Suo didn’t practice enough to know how to break that defense, it was a card on the edge of his playing field too, but there are only 3 cards left, so he could commit it to his memory as Arata said before on ch 223, the most important thing is memorization, having a card in your sight Then committing it to your memory, you’ll be able to see it even with closed eyes and Arata played like that before when he couldn’t find his glasses)

7) 30/Ariake is the one read, Arata put his hand on it when he made sure and Suo couldn’t find a way to it. Among the 4 poems initially shown on the board, this one was read. Who does it refer to? (if it does). Who is the unpitying moon? who parted with what? who feels longing for what? I can’t really think of an answer and I can’t even tell if there is an answer to begin with. But, it might have something to do with the idea of “committing the card to memory after sight” because when this principle was explained on 223, this card was among the ones shown around Arata & Suo. Arata’s family members where happy contrary to Suo’s family members.. These two panels made me think that in these matches between these two, the families of the players are as involved as the players themselves. (And Akira looks more surprised than happy, maybe he still doesn’t realize how his own words back at the hotel are true: “Arata, you are strong”.) The commentator confirmed the greatness of Arata’s move and there was a suspicious man behind him LOL (why was this man drawn there?)

8) Arata’s cover seems to be a high level one too, this is all Arata’s Karuta because he is the one using his body for it. Suo now seems in danger like Chihaya. Kuriyama & Murao are overjoyed and Arata went out with rather an indifferent face? there are no signs of relief or happiness, he looks rather lost in thoughts.. I was thinking that Suo acknowledged Arata’s strength (that beat him), but for some reason and contrary to Harada sensei, it’s not only “I don’t want to play anyone who is not strong”, he seems like he doesn’t even want to play this strong Arata, even when Kyoko tan who gives him enough motivation to play, he still couldn’t bring himself to use enough strength to defeat Arata…it’s like he is disappointed, he wants something else from him that Arata isn’t showing him… Anyway, Arata now doesn’t even look tired or invested in his win in any way.

9) Now he looks surprised, is it because he can’t see Chihaya anywhere? the half black & half white background was used before and in my case, it represents “Confusion”. In addition to the blush, Arata makes a completely unrelated face with the one he made after he won, it’s like the moment he came outside, he became someone else, or better, he was someone else but the moment he came out, he became himself again (can we then take the blush as an “Arata is himself” sign & its disappearance as a “Hajime mode” sign? XD) The SFX isn’t BAM right? because who is still taking cards? According to Google, it’s rather (バツ/ turn suddenly); And seeing Kana searching for her confirmed that she was nowhere around so he went to look for her right away, even before he reports his win and gives back the cards. (he looked like an old man in the 3rd panel lol) and in the 4th, he looked very concerned for Chihaya suddenly sweating and turning around in a hurry. Kana’s way of searching was by shouting loudly everywhere, while Arata’s reflects more of his personality and I like it, he won’t do random things, he goes to the places where she might be, calmly & silently.. I really love this. So he asks around, the bathroom was a good place to look in but she wasn’t there (and he was so amusing being all shy but asking anyway) These few panels tell me more about Arata’s character; he really is used to take matters into his hands. He didn’t go to ask Kana when was the last time Chihaya was seen and where etc. he didn’t approach those who were already searching for her, he went to do it himself. I already said that, but I guess, his parents & his family conditions made him this way. he couldn’t get support, he was rather the one asked to help so he learnt not to ask for help and to take care of things himself instead. The outside was the last place to look in, is it because Arata was more intuitive that he could find her before Kana who was already searching before he even finished his match? Who knows, but I certainly see Arata as a reliable guy, he always was and he is also now. And there she was, Chihaya was crouching on the cold snow…

10) Arata stuttered like usual before he gets Chihaya’s name out; A whole page just to tell us Arata found Chihaya crying desperately in the snow and her bare feet were red from cold. No special backgrounds, no hinting no indirect messages, it’s all snow and white and they were the only ones there. Arata put his hand on her back casually then lowered his head to see her face (imagining this in slow motion is so warm) and then noticed her freezing toes..

11) As Arata noticed Chihaya’s feet, he held her up on his shoulder, no blushing, no shyness, no hesitation, no clumsiness, his familiar self was buried and Chihaya is what matters now! Arata is strong! He is 177cm and weighs 65kgs while Chihaya is 167 and weighs 54kgs, not much difference right? And this wasn’t the 1st time he carries her, He did before when she fainted in her 1st nationals, he carried her bridal style, now it’s an OTS carry (yep, read about this on TV tropes and they gave it an abbreviation lol “Over The Shoulder carry”) Chihaya was surprised but her focus soon was turned to the box of cards that Arata dropped while carrying her, She started to apologize, she certainly sees the cards as living humans now, Arata wasn’t as concerned, she was 1st for him and everything will come after. When the box fell, 4 poems were revealed:

6/kasassagi no: The misty bridge between distant lovers that will bring them together for sure. 51/Kaku to dani: This is about a fierce love that the poet feels burning inside him but doesn’t know how to express it to the woman he loves. 26/Ogurayama: The poet tries to invite an emperor to visit a certain pretty place that his father visited before and he wished his son would come to see it too. He uses the maple leaves to express the felt desire & longing to see the emperor-son. And half shown, 72/Oto ni kiku: it’s about the known waves of "Takashi beach" that the poet doesn’t want to approach not to wet her sleeve, but it’s actually about her not trusting the invitation she got from a man and fearing a love affair that will end in tears, this poem can be used to express avoiding something not to get hurt by it…

Again, none can say for sure why exactly these poems but I strongly believe that they are a hint. And for me, they are saying something about the relationship between Chihaya & Arata (they are a love story!!).

Looking back on the history of poem 6, we can expect that Suetsugu is going back to the idea of "there is a distance between Chihaya & Arata which is like the distance of the two legendary lovers Orihime & Hikoboshi" but this time, Arata is the one who is preoccupied with this distance more... Kaku to dani: needless to say, this is about Arata’s feelings for Chihaya, they are burning again because Chihaya needs something to cheer her up so he needs to convey them somehow. Ogurayama: I believe this is about the maple leaves carrying Arata’s feelings. Even if he doesn’t try to show it or be vocal about it, even though he used his phone only 3 times to send something to Chihaya (was only a msg through Taichi, then a message to her & Taichi and finally a call-what a progress lol), but he longs for her and wants her to be happy like how the emperor would have felt if he came to see those pretty crimson maple leaves. He wants his feelings to make Chihaya happy somehow. And the half-shown Oto ni kiku is about fear of love and tears. This is about Chihaya who isn’t allowing herself to be involved with love yet! there is something she feels lacking which is necessary before she lets herself love and I believe it’s the thing making her turn her head away from Arata ..

Then Chihaya realized, then looked at Arata’s head, he won his much! he now has 2 wins and one more win and he will achieve the dream he shared with her, the kinda promise: “this weekend, let’s make our 1st dream the reality”

12) Then Chihaya cried, helplessly. She congratulated Arata through her tears but she was rather miserable… It’s so hard to be happy for him right? this is not a win which will be enough to get by either him OR her, whichever happens should be good if they are friends right? but no, this is about her!! I have a feeling that if Chihaya won & Arata not, she wouldn’t be very sad for him.. There is something telling me that Chihaya is only scared of being left behind by Arata, as long as he doesn’t, she will be fine, but if he does, she will feel devastated. this is such a strong word, but I mean it.

13) And she voiced a bit of her concern, she was afraid she can never win, even though she lost only by 3 cards, personally, I’ll think that from 7 cards to 3, I can make it in the next game, but Chihaya seems to think that the strongest she can be is the way she was in this second game, then she can only get close to Shinobu that much, not to lose with more than 3 cards. Arata was surprised; maybe he never thought she could lose hope? or maybe he is confused how she can say so when he believes that she can win against Shinobu.. And ofc, before he says anything Kana & Tamaru finally found Chihaya. Kana is as wary of Arata as ever, the n°1 Taichiha shipper. But apparently, she didn’t see Arata bringing Chihaya from outside, she saw only when he put her down and that looked “too close” for her and “hurry up, let’s go to your waiting room, it’s like she is saving her from Arata.. While our gentleman was putting Chihaya down so carefully while looking at her feet whether they are fine or not.

14) Kana is indeed a typical Taichiha shipper, I have seen it a lot, no matter what Arata does, he is always a target for hate or at least disdain. Approaching Chihaya is a big no for them let alone take caring of her. I tried to laugh at this panel, I thought that sensei really is referring to those fans, she might have wanted it to be a comical moment but it’s not. What I saw is that, again, Kana is putting Taichi & herself before Chihaya & it sucks. Arata didn’t even notice her though, thankfully, all he could see was Chihaya, the painful face she was making & her tears (The background of confusion as I call it).. Arata suddenly took us for another rare moment inside his stubbornly concealed heart, the clumsy guy who seems shallow & insensitive to lot of readers.. Chihaya’s weight alone made him look so deep into her and see so much…She is unfamiliar to him, he didn’t get to learn earlier about her everything, but in every second he is given, we saw him pay a lot of attention and see her with more than his eyes. Chihaya’s tears meant that she worked so hard and that didn’t pay off, she wouldn’t have cried this much otherwise. And he can already learn that much about her by just imagining what he wasn’t there to witness, she worked so so hard. Looking at his hands (Chihaya was there lol), he looked so deep in thought, but he remembered the cards he left on the snow..

15) He rushed to bring them but his thoughts were full of Chihaya and how to cheer for her, Arata acknowledged her strength, she is an amazing strong player who can really defeat Shinobu (he seems to believe he can also defeat Suo).but he is not good at communicating his feelings & thoughts, he is clumsy & he knows it..so will he hide his clumsiness to look cool like Taichi does most of the time? No, that wasn’t what Arata thinking, he was rather wondering about a way to make her know what might save her.. He took the cards getting now wet from the snow, he took 77/SE while he was wondering.. “Se” is about the separated ones who will certainly meet again.. it’s like Arata feels a boulder blocking his thoughts and feelings from reaching her and he wants to find a way to bypass it & reach her. “Se” has always been a special card for Arata and it is because of Chihaya..

16) It was the 1st card Chihaya took from him and he already got it back from her in their match but for Arata, SE is more than that. It’s the card that started Chihaya’s journey in Karuta. and Arata is confident that he is the only one who knows, and he is confident that the level she showed in her match with him is the highest she reached, or the highest anyone can reach, or at least, if she is defeated by Shinobu in 2 matches today and was already defeated by her in ch169 then it’s a level she didn’t go to again after her match with him and she still can do it. Arata’s head was really full of Chihaya, he is so focused on her that he totally forgot he too is where he worked to be for so many years, longer and maybe even harder than Chihaya herself (for almost 12 years, more than half of his life, no it’s 2 thirds of his life!!!), so the Murao twins came to remind him of what he forgot since the match ended, of the Meijin title & his grandpa. Only one other win to be were Hajime Wataya seems to have wanted Arata to be (or at least that’s what Arata thought)

17) Yep, Hajime is telling him to focus, to forget about Chihaya & concentrate on him & his goal. “Se” was shown again with the words “the mejin title”, is that the boulder separating the stream of the river?

18) Arata placed Se back on top of the cards in the box next to another card:

18/Su mi no e no: This poem is about hiding from people’s gaze when going to meet the lover, trying to avoid exposure even in dreams.. Doesn’t it suit the moment perfectly? when the twins came to remind Arata of the Meijin title and his status, he hid “SE” (representing also his feelings for Chihaya) in the box, it’s like how the poet who is an aristocrat from the great Fujiwara family (Fujiwara men are known to choose their wives in the family) is afraid of being exposed.

Arata closed the box, it’s also like “Se” keeps him the real Arata (he said that he lacked love to be himself, so maybe Se is his love poem to Chihaya, his love saves him regardless of whether she reciprocates it or not contrary to Taichi, his love always hurt him, like a curse) The Karuta officials are the happiest for Arata’s win it seems, he pleased them, he revived Wataya Hajime for them again, they are blessed, for them, it’s all about them & Hajime it seems, Arata isn’t really seen for who he is… Arata remembered when that man told him that because Arata’s Karuta is exactly like Hajime’s, he was able to see Wataya sensei again. Back then Arata cried, he said that he really loves Karuta.. Could it now turn into a curse? because it’s too much? Because he is losing himself? because he is not seen? Why was Arata happy back then? and is the reason weaker than any probable desire now to be seen for who he is?

19) Suo was upset! His dear aunt that he didn’t meet for 8 years suddenly came all the way from Kyushu to see him, but he wasn’t happy..He lost two games but he doesn’t seem worried about that... Yukiko was kind and looks like the sweets are a family thing? Sudo is confused (he is amusing when he is like that) & Suo’s cousin is more impressed because Suo had lot of female friends lol Suo was nervous, he wanted to ask how and why they were suddenly there but he stuttered and According to Yukiko chan’s answer, we learn that Suo developed the habit of soft talking after he quit Kyushu.

20) After 8 years of separation, she wanted to touch the boy she loved so much and cared immensely for, maybe it’s because she can’t see him well too, but she failed to reach his face, she couldn’t see well, and Suo felt so hurt, but like anyone else with pride, his reaction was based on his suffering not on hers. And instead of being hurt herself, she rather was worried about him, why would he be cruel to her unless he too is suffering from her same illness.

21) The whole conversation in this page feels weird. Suo raised his voice from frustration and these relatives didn’t try to listen to him before. The cousin rather teased him about his loss as if it’s nothing, (he highlighted the fact that Arata is a youngster too) And Yukiko’s answer was soething I didn’t expect! She doesn’t seem to care much about the Meijin thing, she rather looked hopeful (notice the sudden blush), she thought that if Suo is no longer Meijin then he can go back home. What was even more surprising is that Suo looked agitated but his answer wasn’t what I expected, he asn’t worried that his title doesn’t see precious that his relatives would want him to keep, he was rather worried that what they are offering is impossible because he grew up to become a stranger and going back to his home is impossible.

22) Seems that Suo would consider his home any place Yukiko owns, but he knew that she didn’t own the house she told him to go back to. (isn’t this a reason to work harder in univ then get a job and buy a house to bring Yukiko to live with him instead?) The cousin got angry because things like these aren’t considered in a warm loving family where elderly are respected and considered owners before what papers say.. Suo didn’t seem to want to listen, and he left hurriedly causing his condition to beclearer to his aunt as he bumped with many things in his way out. (BACKGROUND of confusion in the last panel)

23) Still, Suo couldn’t leave before knowing why they suddenly came. and the description was so easy to tell him who, Suo realized it right away, the boy with big eyes who would wish for Suo’s family to come watch him (because he is incredible & wants his family to know that? or bc he pities him?) The boy with big eyes was “Mashima kun” they called him this many times, now they didn’t mention the name, I wonder how Sudou would have felt if he knew? would he realize that Taichi really got the closest to Suo, somewhere he couldn’t go?

24) Chitose left, Chihaya’s mom knew but didn’t understand why, Kana, tsukuba & Nishida stayed out of the room while Chihaya, Tamaru, Namida, Sumire & the last boy from Mizusawa that went to Shiranami were all inside, Kana told the mom it’s better to stay out and those inside were all experiencing the reason lol Ah no, Namida was doing great, he is such positive and hard working boy, he is not wasting his time by being afraid or nervous, he is taking notes instead! Chihaya is the most nervous because she is the reason Harada sensei is furious. Harada never taught Chihaya to send back a card because the opponent will place it again in its original place that they remember well (and we know that Chihaya sent it to provoke Shinobu -see ch222), provocative Karuta based on the knowledge of what Shinobu hates and the cards she won’t place next to each other was Watarai’s teaching.

25) Yep, Shiranami’s way is to target the opponent’s memorization as much as possible, Shiranai members are scared of Harada but can’t deny that he is right, he is a great teacher, has a good experience in Karuta and in teaching, maybe them being present here to hear & learn is the biggest proof. Chihaya also didn’t lift her head, she knew he was totally right, she can’t think that losing was because she was unlucky in front of the strongest queen, it’s because of those small mistakes she allowed herself to make.

26) Harada’s words kept hitting hard for Chihaya. Maybe he didn’t say that she was wrong, she learnt a new way in 2 months but she already had a strong way that she could fortify in these 2 months too.. Chihaya focused on Shinobu’s cards and neglected her own? isn’t this beneficial for an offensive Karuta player? I don’t get it well But Harada didn’t understand much of Chihaya’s new method either and he was honest & fair, he acknowledged what Chihaya still achieved: she got a strong reaction from Shinobu. Did Shinobu’s smile mean that she wasn’t indifferent with Chihaya? that she enjoyed the “strong” opponent? Harada told Chihaya that Shinobu seems to have enjoyed her match with her like she enjoyed her match with Arata which means that Chihaya played at Arata’s level back then and that is an achievement!

27) He smiled to her to make her feel better, because she really did great by learning new strong weapons in 2 months.. And now it’s time for the 3rd game. at this point, we don’t really know if Chihaya was better? if she calmed down? While Arata seems to be still in his grandpa mode, (he looks really like an old man here, calm and silent, he wasn’t like in the 1st break And he was completely the opposite of his father who was so energetic and very satisfied with Yuu’s gift, a design with the word “TOP” inspiring more will to do one’s best to reach the top! Akira seems quite fond of Yuu (I am too), she was admitted to her school of choice & he is happy for her, the Watayas talk so familiarly about her like she is really a close relative except Arata…

28) Akira is really hard to deal with, he does whatever he wants and he is very fond of Yuu. Asking for Arata’s phone to call her & thank her, Arata rejected any try to involve him in this mess (he didn’t even react when Akira said that he will make up a lie and say that Arata was touched because of her gift, Yuu would have probably known it’s a lie because Arata wouldn’t react like that… But it’s IC if he does for Chihaya right?), he was trying his best to focus, he didn’t show any enthusiasm about Yuu; Her, his father, the food or anything of the sort couldn’t break his grandpa mode. And finally, Taichi’s message was discovered, Arata didn’t want to read anything before his game but knowing it’s about Taichi, would that be still the case?

29) Arata stopped! getting a message from Taichi who didn’t come to watch made him really stop, Taichi is really special to Arata. And turning back he found Chihaya there too, she heard what Akira said & her face showed surprise!.

30) Chihaya seemed lost in her desperation, she didn’t say a word she just turned quickly wishing to find something for her too from Taichi, she needed him, when Taichi was around he could somehow find a way to make things better and she needs it now because she is not fine, Harada’s words didn’t seem to heal her fully, she sighed when she didn’t find anything.. Arata was confused (the BACKGROUND), and when Chihaya saw him she blushed & turned her head away in embarrassment, Arata lifted her suddenly earlier and she didn’t have time to do this back then. Why? if it was because Taichi now then what about the 1st time? It wasn’t because of Taichi, it was because she looked weak in front of Arata. Chihaya has always worked hard to reach him, to become someone who can meet his passion, to be worth sitting across him in Karuta.. but she kept losing where he kept winning, he was always ahead and she could never arrive there. Chihaya was embarrassed of her weak self who showed more weakness and dependence of Taichi’s help, it’s like she can’t go anywhere without his support… Arata knew that wasn’t true. Akira asked again if Arata wanted to look at Taichi’s message and Chihaya passed him just now without a word (and Kana still looked at him sideway lol) …so many distractions, Hajime Wataya’s voice was calling him again to focus, just a bit more & he’ll be the Meijin, that’s all he was about after all right?

31) NOT RIGHT!!! That wasn’t all Arata was about, not for those who care to look at him properly! Arata wasn’t worried about being ditched, or about what Taichi’s message might contain, he rather remembered when Chihaya showed him her special bond with Taichi that day when she crushed him.. This was good reason to feel jealous or upset but that’s not who Arata was… He took Chihaya’s hand and disobeyed his grandpa’s words!

32) Arata’s face looks desperate trying to reach Chihaya to make her see the truth he believes about her, she can defeat Shinobu & he means it, he knows her strength too and he could compare, he knows when Chihaya was the strongest and how Taichi is the last piece in what Chihaya fought for and became the strongest… The blush on Arata’s face says how much he wanted to make it through to her, how many times does Arata show emotions? the calm and collected guy, what does it mean when he shows such face? “You shouldn’t go play with Shinobu chan in her arena” Harada sensei pointed out Chihaya’s mistakes but he didn’t show her a way to follow, it’s like he no longer has an advice for her, he gave her everything he got and when she strayed from his path he reminded her, but that’s all, And Arata’s advice was something else, like a Karuta expert, he knew what to tell Chihaya, even though he didn’t watch her matches or maybe he did? because he didn’t seem in a pinch in his own vs Suo, maybe he got time to look sometimes…

33) Arata really had what to say, and Chihaya listened because what she heard was useful. She wanted o go where the lonely Shinobu is but she couldn’t face everything in that world and she came out leaving a still lonely Shinobu inside, Arata tells her to bring Shinobu outside instead, to show her the wonderful things outside that can give Chihaya the same strength as Shinobu, something she might want to come out to get? Chihaya saw an illusion for the calm Queen, the plant in the frame was always used for Shinobu too and it seems (and I’m not sure) that Suetsugu uses it for Shinobu who is Shinobu and not the Queen.

34) Chihaya found Arata’s words interesting, that was some good technical support but she had to think more to find her arena Though, Arata wouldn’t let her, he gives her now the emotional support, he knew Chihaya needed Taichi (not the person, but at least sensing his presence in what he left) so he decided to give her that, anything she needs, he wouldn’t be jealous or needy or immature, he put her 1st and I admire the way he loves even more!

35) Everyone saw what Arata wanted to show, it wasn’t a secret or personal message to Chihaya, and Taichi is the captain of Mizusawa, he pushed that team, and Arata brought it to push it again. Arata persisted bc he knew very well how much Chihaya values Taichi & her team, he didn’t need to be there for 3 years to know, he is very attentive and intuitive too and looks at Chihaya really properly!.

36/37) Arata’s words were moving to all Mizusawa members, they all blushed emotionally, and Chihaya cried, maybe because she missed this or maybe because she somehow betrayed it by forgetting it and not working for her team like she said she would before…(this chapter looks so direct, no BACKGROUNDs, no shoujo effects)

38) Arata held Chihaya’s hand so gently (I wonder why sensei drew this panel, it’s totally unnecessary for anything other than highlighting Arata’s love (romantic love because I can’t imagine him do this to Yuu if she ever goes through something like this)) He mentions his loss to her as something big which is a compliment to Chihaya & an acknowledgement of her strength & level. He says it with no embarrassment because her win was well deserved (I want to see Taichi make a confession like this to Arata). And Mizusawa captain was strong because she played for her team, she used all she had for them… so Chihaya again, only has to play her own Karuta, this is the opposite of what Chihaya told Arata in his match against Harada, she told him to play like someone else.. Amusing!

39) In Shinobu’s waiting room, Shinobu was acting like a child, so carefree; she only has 1 remaining win to keep her title after all. She also seems so close with Kokoro chan now (Kokoro called her Shinobu without “chan” or anything, it implies so much familiarity right?) also Shinobu is a bad example it seems lol. Though Kokoro mentions something that might be a hint to Shinobu’s next loss (a 3rd game is tiresome). And then when Shinobu was about to get up, something was off, she felt something but she didn’t see what it was? Kokoro asked but she didn’t answer? Chihaya was shown right after that still having her tears while Arata kept explaining what he wanted to say, like he himself does, he gave her an image he knows will push her to win, she had to think that she is playing in a team tournament, her team is losing, they have two losses and 0 wins, now the remaining 3 members should all win at all costs and Chihaya will play the role of the three players, it’s like when they played in the finals of last year’s high school team tournament vs Fujisaki where both Tsukuba & Tsukue kun lost and Chihaya, Taichi & Nishida felt the responsibility to win each their game, Taichi was the one who voiced this desire 1st (ch81). (That was the game Chihaya felt upset because Arata told her that he didn’t care for teams and now, he is showing her the opposite of what she feared back then, he treasures "teams" & knows exactly how important one is for any member.)

40) And Arata impersonated Taichi for Chihaya! He should have felt jealous, he already experienced that feeling and wanted to be the one Chihaya sees, but now & for her sake, he accepted Taichi and even revived him in her memory to get as much strength from that as she needs. He wasn't there but he must have known Taichi would say that for Chihaya so he reminded her of it for her sake instead of being selfish & feeling miserable or jealous (reminds me of when Chihaya hid in the closet after she lost, the way Taichi brought up Arata’s name all miserable & helpless, he couldn’t forget about himself for a bit for Chihaya contrary to Arata even though he didn’t have anything to be confident about, Chihaya was closer to Taichi, she cared for him so much, she showed him this care in front of his eyes, he had every reason to feel threatened but he didn’t, Chihaya mattered more than that to him …)

#Chihayafuru #arata wataya #wataya arata #ayase chihaya #wataya hajime #Harada Hideo #chapter_impressions

1 note · View note

iwouldhavelovedyoustill · 3 years

Text

EP5: Wedding

They promised.

Both of them have promised in the past that they will be present at each other's wedding. So Myk takes time off his schedule and reaches out to her best friend for her current address. He wants to deliver the invitation properly in person; he's a man of his word after all.

Hannibal takes five days to reply; he says he asked for her permission and it took her a while to agree. Myk doesn't actually understand why she deactivated her Facebook after they broke up. Em doesn't usually stray too far from social media and it is so unlike her not to keep a single account on any platform.

But she actually went off the grid. No one can talk to her easily without going through mutual friends. Moving on from the break-up had been really a hard time for him and her being out of touch is the only reason why he never had the opportunity to ask for a second chance.

It was embarrassing enough that he sent several I love yous and Please talk to me kind of messages to her sister when he got drunk.

The house standing at the given address looks really, really weird. It is way too far from what they have imagined when the two of them are still dreaming about their future. Em will always make it clear that she wants a small, two-story house with enough space for the cats she'll adopt.

The place does not look pet-friendly.

There are no plants around the property, either. No signs of life at all. It is hard to imagine that her once bright smile would live inside these walls. It is made with unfinished concrete with a rusty iron gate that will not even serve security purposes.

A kid, presumably around the ages of 8-10, appears near the door. The boy sees him standing awkwardly outside their gate and he hastily calls for Mama.

Myk starts to wonder if he got the right address, but his heart sinks upon seeing Em in the doorway.

The Em he remembers is full of bright smiles. She occasionally pouts and acts disappointed, but he's always well aware of her real feelings.

Now he's completely clueless.

She smiles at him apologetically and invites him inside. The woman he once loved apologizes, once again, for all the mess in the living room. He doesn't even consider it a living room, but she mentioned that it is the sala. Her words do not convince him that this is the environment she deserved.

The first words out of him were, Sa inyo 'tong bahay?

She laughs. At least it is a real one now, he thinks. "Hindi," she dismisses him. "Sa mother-in-law ko."

His face must have shown a hint of betrayal because she immediately adds, "Hindi pa kami kasal. Live-in lang." She stands up and heads for the kitchen. "May gusto kang inumin?"

Myk shakes his head as he watches her scramble with the few ingredients she has to work with. Life has been obviously so difficult for her and this must be the reason why she suddenly disappeared. It only took him an hour to get there and had he known that she's too close, he would've visited her sooner.

To take her away.

He shrugs off these thoughts. She must be happy now, he convinces himself. Hindi naman sya mag-stay kung hindi.

She comes back to the table with something that looks like a sweet drink. "Sorry 'yan lang," she smiles sheepishly. "Hindi pa nakakapag-grocery si Mister eh."

Admittedly, it hurts a little bit. "Kailan kayo nagkakilala?"

"Hmmm," she loses herself in her thoughts for a while. "Last last year?"

Tapos live-in na agad? Myk couldn't get these thoughts off his head. He knows it's not his problem and her life decisions aren't something that he can easily meddle with. They're over; they cut ties five years ago. "Masaya ka ba?"

He can't help but ask. He has to know.

He has to.

"Hmm... hindi?" She is obviously messing with him. "Ano gagawin mo kung hindi?"

He's a loss for words. Well... what is he thinking, anyway? It's not like he can take her away from her current life. "Hindi ko alam," he admits. "I... Gusto ko lang malaman."

"Hindi ganoon kasaya lagi," she admits. "Pero okay naman. Nakaka-survive. Ganoon siguro talaga ang buhay, 'di ba? You just have to make do of what you've been given."

But you don't have to endure, he wants to argue with her. Myk can recall a few stupid choices that Em did when they were younger but nothing comes close to this. "Pwede kang umalis."

"Saan naman ako pupunta?" She uses a challenging tone.

"Hindi ko rin alam," he confesses. "But you don't belong here."

"And where do I belong?" Em begins to raise her voice. "Say, Myk, where?"

He struggles to find an answer.

"I didn't simply end up here, Myk," she reaches out for his hand. "I placed myself here. I rooted myself here and this was my choice."

"Mag-alaga ng anak ng iba at tumira sa ganitong uri ng bahay?"

Her eyes look cold. "Yes," even her tone is cold. "Okay lang sa akin na mag-alaga ng anak ng iba at mamuhay sa ganitong uri ng bahay."

"I didn't mean to -"

"I know," Em intervenes. "You just want the best for me. I understand that. But I'm okay. I'm really okay. And to be frank, you don't have a say in my life anymore."

That hurt. Again. "So akin na 'yung invitation and you can go on with your day."

How.. did -

"Syempre pina-stalk na kita kay Bal. I just need confirmation. Feel ko rin naman ito lang dahilan kung bakit mo ako kikitain ulit. And I'm really happy for you," she looks like she just stopped herself from hugging him. "It's about time that you settle down."

Myk feels like he's cheating, but he feels he has to say it:

Tayo sana 'yun. He hands the white envelope over. Pangalan sana natin 'to.

Em traces the ends of the delicate paper but doesn't actually open it. This is the only time Myk gets to observe her, and how she had aged over the years without him by her side. Her eyes have lost their spark and even her fingers look old and wrinkly. The only thing he can't figure out is why is she wearing a sweater at 2 in the afternoon.

"May sakit ka ba?" He tries to grab her arm to get a hold of her temperature, but she flinches at his touch. It takes him a while to realize the situation and he pulls her arm forcefully towards him. Myk pushes her sleeve away from her wrist and fresh bruises come to light.

He looks at her accusingly, demanding an explanation. Instead, she claims her arm back and distances herself from him. "Nakuha ko na 'yung invitation," she guides him towards the door. "You can expect me to be there. May gagawin pa ako."

"Em -"

"Please," her voice is desperate. "Don't make me look and feel helpless than I am now."

Her designated seat during the wedding remained empty until the reception ended.

2 notes · View notes

occasionalfics · 5 years

Text

worth my while // p. 8

main masterlist | thor masterlist | ko-fi | p. 7 | p. 9

Summary: After being banished from his home, Thor Odinson has stopped at nothing to prove himself worthy of his throne, title, and power.

After losing the love of your life, you turned to a power you didn’t understand.You know you shouldn’t get involved.

But how could you not?

Pairing: Thor x Reader (Hercules au…kind of…)

A/N: So the yelling has already started but...it’s only gonna get worse before it gets better ;)

(Y’all know me though - I can’t not end on a happy note. So stay tuned.)

Warnings: Violence, lots of angst, borderline abuse and definite manipulation, way too many feels, major character death (eventually). Hades is still a huge creep.

Words: 2,320

“I hate to inform you of this, Oh Wise One,” you say, sardonic irony dripping from every word, “but the God of Thunder is practically perfect in every way.” You pet Cerberus’s head once more, anchoring yourself in enough comfort to stand up to Hades if you have to.

You’re not going further with whatever he has planned. You will not hurt Thor, not even for your own freedom.

You love him. More than yourself. More than life. More than freedom. Admittance the hardest part, despite how easy it is to act on the knowledge you have.

Hades seems unfazed. He sits and stares at you, then shrugs. “Sounds like that’s a you problem,” he says. “No flaw, no freedom.”

At that, your face drops. How could you have possibly thought you’d be able to get around Hades like this?

“I am disappointed, of course.” He comes around the coffee table, stands over you, and crosses his arms. “I asked you do to something-”

“You definitely didn’t ask-”

“And, time and time again, you’ve come back empty handed. Not really getting my powers’ worth out of our deal.”

“That sounds like a you problem.” You don’t even miss a beat. Your eyebrows lower, and the glare you shoot at him would otherwise be enough to kill.

Despite his reputation, despite the myths and the interpretations, Hades has never gotten really, truly angry with you. He’s never shown pure rage. Frustration, sure. Disappointment - it’s in his navy eyes now. But he saves anger for those beyond the mansion.

Still, you’ve learned that there are deeper ways to cut, more dangerous emotions to feel and show than to rage.

When Hades stays calm and collected, your skin crawls. When he chuckles, you slink back against the couch.

“I’ve made bad deals before,” he says. “You’re not the first. And I know how to deal with servants like you, (Y/N). Now, I don’t want to have to go there.” He shrugs. “But you seem to think you’re playing my hand for me.”

All you can do is stare. Your Cerberus whines for you, but your hand has stilled on his head.

“I’d say I’m giving you one more chance, but you don’t have much of a choice.” At least he acknowledges it. “This time, you do things my way.”

The airy, cloudy restraints on your ankles, wrists, and around your mouth should not be so stable. They are, but they don’t look like they should be unbreakable.

They taste like death - or what you imagine death to taste like. They taste like Rick did after you brought him back. They remind you of every mistake you’ve made since you watched Rick storm out of your apartment and into the street - every moment you’ve decided to do something unnatural or abhorrent that’s led you to this.

Hades doesn’t have to carry you. His magic does that for him - another dark, swirling cloud beneath you that smells like the end of the world. You stopped struggling ten minutes ago, because you know that this is always where you were meant to end up. From the moment that you agreed to whatever Hades wanted for the sake of Rick, you stepped onto a path that only continued in one winding direction.

Apocalypse comes to mind. Hades has never called it that, but you know now, and it’s fitting.

He wants to raise the dead.

The Avengers guard the living.

He separates them, gets his Four Horsemen to occupy and imprison them a few at a time, raises the dead, and controls the guardians of the living all in one fell swoop.

But first, he brings you as an offering to the God of Thunder. Thor is the only Avenger that Hades has no manner to successfully hold. He’s too strong, too good, too determined to prove himself worthy of returning home. He’ll agree to anything that might deem him as such.

Hades seems to think that includes bargaining for you.

One tear slips out of your left eye as Hades steps out onto the field behind Avengers’ Compound. You haven’t been here before; you and Thor have only ever spent time in the tower, in Manhattan.

This place is massive. You can’t appreciate it right now, but you can tell it was crafted specifically with someone like Thor in mind - someone who, in theory, should be able to travel inter-dimensionally with the assistance of his hammer. This is where Hades has lured Thor with a whole slew of monsters. This is where he gets the God of Thunder alone, does whatever it is he wants to him, and leaves you to clean up the mess you know is coming.

Like clockwork, his massive frame falls from the sky. You can feel the ground shake, despite being cloaked for the moment and despite not even touching the ground.

Hades stops in his tracks. He leans back, crosses his arms, and chuckles pretentiously. “If it isn’t the Mighty Thor,” he says.

Thor stands tall. His long hair looks freshly washed, despite absolutely having fought monsters no less than forty minutes ago.

In any other circumstance, you’d run right to Thor. You crave his arms around you, want nothing more than to say what’s inside to him, to have him repeat it back. You want to prove yourself worthy enough of Asgard, to go with him and never look back at this forsaken place, this planet that took your heart and sold it to the highest bidder.

Speaking of, Hades holds out a hand and introduces himself. Thor just stares, brows furrowed. You know he can’t see you, but you try to mumble around the cloud in your mouth. He, apparently, cannot hear you, either.

Hades can, though. He glares at you over his shoulder, a warning in his navy depths.

You slink back, a sob caught in your throat. This is all too much. You hate yourself for ever getting into this; you hate Rick for dying; you hate Hades for taking advantage of your broken heart; you even, for just a second, hate Thor for attempting to put it back together.

But that just restarts the whole cycle, and you know it’s not fair to hold that against Thor. Not when you kept going back to him because it felt good and right and all manner of shiny, magical descriptors.

You look up at the sky and pray - you hope Odin can hear you, wherever he is, hope he has telekinesis and that it can work at such a distance between Midgard and Asgard and that he’s listening to some random mortal because you pray for Thor. You beg Odin to bring him home, to save his son, to protect the only person who’s even attempted to restore your faith in humanity.

He’s not even human. The irony sinks in as just one more tear falls from your right eye.

“I’ve got something you may want to consider,” you hear Hades say. He snaps, and suddenly a veil you hadn’t even been aware of lifts. The world is brighter - harsher - and you squint as the cloud your on brings you out from behind Hades.

Thor lunches for you, but he phases right through you.

“I wouldn’t try that, friend,” Hades says. “You want the girl? You give me your strength for 24 hours - let’s say the next 24 hours.”

Thor must hear it all. He gets up slowly, watches you carefully, then drags his eyes to Hades. “If I agree,” he says, voice a dangerous growl from low in his chest, “if I give you my strength, you have to swear no harm will come to her.”

Hades glances back at you, this time with a hint of dramatic teasing alight in his eyes. “Of course,” he says. He thrusts his hand out further toward Thor. “Not a single hair out of place.”

Thor’s nostrils flare. The lines etched in his face make him look much older than you’re used to. Much more aggressive. Lightning fits this man.

“I don’t really have all day,” Hades says. “You either want her, or you don’t.”

You hate the way he says that. Like he can convince you both, with just one sentence, that you either mean nothing or everything to Thor.

You know better. He’s an Avenger for a reason. You are just one human - one measly little girl he’s spent too much time with, invested too much emotion in. He’s a hero because he always puts the people first.

Except...for when he doesn’t, apparently.

“Fine,” he nearly whispers.

Your breath hitches when you watch his hand stretch out toward Hades’. You shake your head, hope he sees, but his fingers move in and around Hades’, and suddenly he’s on his knees, groaning as the strength within him is pulled from his essence.

Your throat is raw as you yell around the cloud, shaking your head. You know that Thor is more than his strength. Mjölnir knows it, too. But without it, you know he can’t go up against a hoard of zombies. Without his strength, Mjölnir could easily rip his arm from its socket before he could even think of joining the fight.

When the job is done, Thor falls back onto his heels. He kneels and breathes deeply, and Hades snaps.

The clouds fall away from you. You fall forward, your hands catching you at the last second, wrists exploding with jolts of pain after having been bound together for so long.

More sobs spill from between your lips.

You could’ve stopped this. Except, no, that’s not true.

But you could have prevented it.

“Oh, and isn’t she just...the best little actress?” Hades asks. His fingers grip your chin and pull you up so you kneel at his side.

There’s no fight left in you. You don’t even try to pull away.

Thor breathes heavily as he asks, “What?” His eyes dart to you - those electric blues sending static shocks all over your face as he glares.

“She didn’t tell you?” Hades asks. He tsks, shakes his head, looks down at you like the disappointment you are.

You can feel something inside of you is about to break. No, not just break - shatter.

“This whole time, your little friend here, has been working for me.” The smile Hades shoots at Thor churns your stomach, makes you want the grass around you to swallow you whole so you don’t have to see the look of absolute heartbreak on Thor’s face.

A dull peal of thunder rings, but it’s far off. The day is, otherwise, sunny. Annoyingly so.

You pull your face from Hades’ grip and try to scoot closer to Thor, but he leans back. It’s a subtle shift, but it’s all he can manage and all you need to know that he does not want you close. Not like you so desperately need to be.

“I-I tried to stop him-” you offer, but it comes out pathetic and defeated. “I couldn’t tell-”

He shakes his head. His bottom lip trembles, but you’re sure you’re the only one that sees it.

You can’t force yourself to keep eye contact with him as deserved and heated shame fills you. The thing - your heart - inside does, in fact, shatter. Into a million and a half pieces, now littering the field beyond the compound.

“I’m so sorry,” you whisper, folding in on yourself.

At first, Thor doesn’t let you help him up. But after a while, when his brain finally recognizes that his mass is too heavy for his ability, he lets you touch him. He pulls on you as lightly as he can, but you end up doing most of the work anyway. Somehow, you manage to get him standing.

The second he’s stable, he pulls away from you. You watch him slowly trudge back to the main compound building - or what you think is the main building, anyway. You still don’t get a good look at the grounds, but if you stray too far from Thor, you’ll never get to explain yourself.

At least you’re free, now. You know you are simply by feeling.

There was a weight before that no longer presses on the knot between your shoulder blades. It evaporated with the clouds that bound you.

But your freedom has come at the cost of every other living soul on the planet. And even you know that that is not a fair trade.

“Why did you do it?” you ask Thor. The only other sounds are occasional birds and the rustling of grass as the wind blows and the two of you walk.

“Why did you?” he asks, brows still lowered as he looks at you.

Silence reigns. You know your answer - you were drawn to him, you made rules to keep you both safe, and then you systematically broke each of those rules until you were so far deep in love with Thor that the only thing you could do was put his journey first.

The thought that he’d done the same for you should make you feel happy. Weightless. Loved.

But knowing what Hades will do because of that choice drowns out any semblance of positivity.

He continues through the compound - doesn’t stop at a bedroom, doesn’t find the kitchen to even attempt to replenish his energy. Thor just keeps going. And you follow him.

When he reaches the main doors of the building, you jog to step around him. “Where’re you going?” you ask.

“I have to find the others,” he says.

You shake your head. “You’re weak now,” you tell him.

The fire in his eyes is not the kind of fire you like. It’s not meant to make you feel wanted and secure. It burns you, just like he wants it to.

“If you go out there, you’ll die.”

He pushes around you and says, “There are worse things.”

#thor x reader #thor odinson x reader #thor au #hercules au #thor fic #worth my while fic

68 notes · View notes

degreeprojectjg · 4 years

Text

Photographs Reflection

As I’m about to enter competitions and various open calls. I thought it was time to organise a small collection of photographs that were the strongest in terms of creating a narrative and showcase the project cohesively and individually. I don’t want to just pick the best images but I want photographs that communicate the most appropriate message for the project.

I didn’t want to sequence the images chronologically, since I wanted to leave the work to be ambiguous in it’s narrative. For me, what was more important was that the photographs should be able to create a narrative arc that carries the reader from the first page to the last. I wanted the collection to have a thematic sense of my identity, it would inform the audience of my identity but also be mindful in it’s approach to not being too obvious.

Gurkha Beret

For the opening image, the photo above is a striking and compelling image as it informs you of the project. It’s a metaphorical image such as the Gurkha hat hanging on the bed post is more appropriate as it provides an enigmatic introduction to the project. As the observer progresses through the project the meaning will become less ambiguous and narrative clearer.

Taku, Gorkha

For my landscape images, I picked the photographs, see above and below. For the image above (Taku, Gorkha), I thin the photograph works as an effective image near the start of the collection since it informs you of the setting, it’s an establishing shot which informs you of where the project is based and what the landscape means to the project. The photograph is quite hazy and soft which is a running look of the project which suggests a dream like sense of nostalgic experiences.

I picked the image above as it suggests a metaphorical and subject change in the project which hints at migration, moving away from the place previously shown. The sea represents UK, as Nepal is a landlocked country. The image departs from my homeland into a new horizon. The discolouration of the sea also adds a layer of ambiguity. A further intrigue in the image is that in the distance is that you could see a ship which suggests the physical distance of myself and for what it could be my homeland in the metaphorical sense.

Aama in the garden

Mother= Aama

The two photographs above and below are the two strongest photograph of my mother. They both are visually striking and compelling. The use of black and white worked really well as it shows the figure of my mother, making her seem prominent in the photographs. Although the photographs seem straightforward, they are photographs with a strong framework of exploration of my mother’s identity and my very own, of my home and what it means with careful examination of it.

Mero Aaama

My mother= Mero aama

The image feels quite nostalgic. It’s a representation of how I see my other or how I’ve seen her throughout the years. My mother is a prominent figure in my identity, she has transcended the ideas of Nepalese identity throughout my life. The photographs seems like romanticised ideas of my mother, it’s how I see her, striking and dominant whilst also it depicts a soft, delicate overview.

The portraits of my mother evoke the questioning of home, my very own sense of belonging and identity since I began my life with her. My identity started from her. Photographing my mother is a way of confronting my identity and it’s a way to build it as well. It’s this strong urge to preserve my Nepalese identity that drives me as I attempt to rekindle my relationship. The whole project has been a way of creating a sense of attachment to my Nepalese identity but also my separation from them.

Ex Soldier

The ‘Gurkha Beret’ image introduces you to the theme of the project whilst the photographs (see above and below) hones in on the owner of the hat. I picked these two photographs as they reflect a sense of nostalgia as my father wears his beret which he hasn’t worn in a long time, which just about still fits him.

Baba

Father= Baba

I picked the photograph above as my father appear prominent as his figure is authoritative and bold. Whilst the previous photograph offers a closer insight on my father, this photograph makes my father appear more physical and dominant which suggests his involvement in the project and my life.

These images of my father are quite important in the project as I explore the notion of being a ‘Nepalese man’. In the project, there are some universal themes of having a sense of belonging and questioning of identity. Through the portraits, I’m confronting the notion of being a Nepalese man, they’re my ideas of a Nepalese man.

Aama ra Baba

Mother and father= Aama ra Baba

Since the collection / sequence didn’t two subjects in one. I included the image above as it suggests togetherness and it’s quite informative in the sense of adding a narrative to the project. The image depicts the two prominent figures of my life where they are seen to be wearing traditional Nepalese / Gurung dress against the backdrop of my homeland. My father is not wearing the full Gurung dress which can suggests the influence of eastern lifestyle as he wears his jumper and jeans.

Baje

Grandfather= Baje

For more variety in the sequence, I decided to include my grand father in the project which is a major influence in the project. He’s a very important figure in both my life and my parents. I chose the image above as it doesn’t give too much away, it’s very simple the image seems off with it’s off kilter composition. My grandfather appears striking yet grounded which suggests his character. By choosing a simple photograph, I want the viewers to interpret themselves my relationship with this man and others.

Boy in the hill

I wanted to sequence to be playful with it’s subject matter. I chose the image above as it’s anonymous, I have captioned the image as ‘Boy in the hill’ which plays with that idea. It may hint at the viewer that it’s a self portrait, it’s very ambiguous in that sense. I really like the warm tones of the image, it’s quite revealing in that sense yet feels distant as the subjects are far away. The boy in the distance overlooking the hill can suggest a nostalgic viewpoint.

Ghar

House= Ghar

The reason I chose the image above is that it depicts our home in the UK which is quite reminiscent of Nepal with it’s evergreen nature of the garden and the love for which suggests affiliation with nature which is prominent in the landscapes of Nepal. The image has a soft evening light, hinting a peaceful time which is accentuated by the use of soft, pastel colours with warm tones. The image balances and warms the sequence.

Aaam ko Maala

Mother’s necklace= Aama ko Maala

The images above, below and beneath it suggests a nostalgic view upon the Nepalese culture, the images gives you soft glimpses of the objects in my house in UK which informs and reminds you of my identity despite the migration. The images works effectively in the sense that it acts as a memorophilia.

Puja

(Place to) Worship= Puja

Nepalese Calender

Homeland

I chose the image in the sense which it acts as a metaphorical image in which it depicts a reflective outlook on the project, it doesn’t provide with you any setting or clues to where the place might be. It just silently offers you a glimpse of my life and my introspective moment, thus the image balances the sequence, taking you back to a reflective standpoint.

Overview

As most competitions that I wanted to enter required maximum photographs of 15, I compiled 15 of the photographs that not only were strong images but they were images that worked effectively together to create a narrative around my identity.

Personal Intake

The project explores intimacy, distance, and often tensions between my torn identity. I wanted to bring out these themes in the sequence. I also wanted to sequence it visually with similar colours, subject and form but I didn’t focus too much on this as it would detract the audience from the narrative. Although the photographs are quire straightforward in terms of creating a narrative, the photographs remain ambiguous and metaphorical. There isn’t one way to sequence images. It’s entirely subjective, the project comes from me and is about me, I have a story and this is what I want to tell, this was my approach to the sequencing. It’s not the best (aesthetic) images that communicate the most appropriate message. I simply hope to make my audience understand the context in which the work will be viewed.

Reference

Magnum Photos. 2020. The Language Of Pictures: Exploring Sequencing With Mark Power • Magnum Photos. [online] Available at: <https://www.magnumphotos.com/theory-and-practice/mark-power-the-language-of-pictures-exploring-sequencing/> [Accessed 17 April 2020].

0 notes

mistleto-3 · 6 years

Text

Awakening: Part 6

When another crisis looms, Mikoto has to learn to navigate a world of Kings as a regular man.

AU in which Mikoto and Tatara survived the Colourless King incident.

Pairing: Mikoto/Tatara

2,010 words. CW for canon-typical violence, mentions of depression and other mental health issues.

Previous part | All parts | Next part

AO3 | Ko-Fi

“GET OUT HOODLUMS!”

The words were graffitied across the doors and windows of Bar Homra in red spray paint. It had been about a week since Homra had started to reform, and already the backlash had flared dramatically. Whispers had started to bubble between clansmen that Jungle might be behind getting the news out so quickly and orchestrating the harassment – they seemed to have an impossible amount of influence amongst the general population, and nobody would have been surprised if they had marked Bar Homra as a target. They just didn’t have any proof for it yet.

“Damn it, again?!” Rikio cried in frustration as he and a few other clansmen arrived at the bar and were greeted by the crude inscriptions. “Throwing stones, and graffiti; they broke the pipes so there’s no water; they put up papers with insults about Homra all around the city, and when they put an erotic photo on Yata-san’s back he almost became incapacitated…” He broke off his rant with a sigh of exasperation as Misaki shot him a glare.

Already, it had been deemed unsafe for Mikoto, Tatara and Anna to stay in their usual home above the bar, and Izumo had arranged for them to stay in a hotel for the time being until they could be sure it was safe. Mikoto had protested at first, but it was clear he was relieved – as much as everyone believed in Anna’s ability as a new-born King, they worried what might happen if they were attacked in the night. Besides, without running water, the place wasn’t really liveable anymore anyway.

“Kusanagi-san also said that Homra’s customers already received threats, those we socialise with flinch away. Already, reopening the bar would be…” Shouhei trailed off as he and the others entered the building, not wanting to speak the uncomfortable truth that everyone seemed to be thinking.

“Damn! If Mikoto-san was still King, they wouldn’t make fun of us like this!” Misaki caught himself as soon as the sentence had slipped out of his mouth, and he bit his tongue, glancing at Anna remorsefully, who was sitting by the bar eating a bowl of soup. The conversation moved on around Misaki before he had a chance to correct himself, and he hit his forehead with the palm of his hand with a click of his tongue, then went to take a seat beside Anna.

“S-sorry…” he mumbled, and Anna turned to look at him, her wide eyes expressionless.

When she didn’t respond, he continued: “I-I was just thinking… Mikoto-san was strong, extremely dangerous, and absolute. Everyone feared and admired him; following his back without wavering had been enough to make us happy. Within that space, I had always been able to do anything… but I never thought about what Mikoto-san was thinking. Totsuka-san said he nearly died because the burden was too much. So I don’t wish for Mikoto-san to still be King, I just miss how easy everything seemed back then...” He spoke quietly, despite the fact that nobody else was in earshot, and the words came out as a sort of garbled rush, as he couldn’t quite stem the flow of rambling once it had started.

“…Maybe things would not have turned out like this if it had been Mikoto,” Anna replied, equally quietly.

“Hey, Anna…” Misaki’s fists clenched remorsefully; it should have been obvious that she was worried about not living up to his legacy, and it was a bone-headed thing for him to say. “Is it okay if I tell you something a little pathetic?”

She nodded.

“I am… kinda stupid…” he confessed, and tried not to act too offended when Anna once again nodded.

“Ahh… because I’m stupid, I fail even if I give my best, and I don’t really understand other people. I probably don’t understand a thing about Mikoto-san either… I hate being left by people without me ever understanding them. Because I’m stupid, you have to tell me, or else I won’t understand, so Anna, if there is something you want to do or don’t want to do or want to have done then tell me, whenever you want!”

She smiled softly. “Okay.”

At that point, Tatara took a seat the opposite side of Anna, and Misaki’s head dropped, unsure of how much he’d overheard.

“What I think Misaki is trying to say is that he thinks you’re going to be a great King. But people outside of Homra haven’t quite gotten that message yet.”

“Y-yeah! I wanna help you, because you’re my King. It doesn’t matter if you’re not Mikoto-san – those assholes just don’t know you’re just as great as him. They underestimate you and they think you’re just a little girl, but they’re gonna learn the hard way!” Misaki suddenly seemed fired up, and he put his hand on Anna’s shoulder encouragingly, his eyes brimming with optimism.

Tatara smiled at his expression, then turned to Anna: “Kusanagi-san says he wants to speak to you upstairs.” Over the past week, Izumo and Tatara had led the operation to find out who was carrying out the assault on Homra, so Misaki suspected it had something to do with that. “Yata-chan, you should probably come too – you’re Homra’s vanguard.”

Perked up by the inclusion, Misaki followed Tatara and Anna upstairs to the study above the bar where Izumo had been working. When the three of them arrived, they found Izumo staring intently at a laptop while Mikoto sat nearby, half paying attention. At the sound of the door opening, Izumo spun on his seat to face everyone. He waited for the door to close behind them before speaking.

“Based on the intel we’ve obtained, the culprits’ objective is this: a few groups who hold a grudge against Homra say they won’t allow our revival, and temporarily joined forces.”

“So it’s not Jungle?” Tatara asked.

“Nah, thankfully it’s smaller-scale than that. Even if these groups don’t go as far as dirtyin’ their hands, they’re tryin’ to make it seem it’s best if we give up like this, as it’d also help those groups. Their means of cornerin’ us ain’t bad; all things considered, it’s difficult for Homra to stay in Shizume City. They’ll show that nothin’ good will come from bein’ involved with us, and we’ll be isolated.”

Misaki’s face fell. “They really hate us, huh?”

“There are several organisations which we hold friendly relations with who told me that they’ll maintain those. After that, we have to settle things and regain our honour. Investigations are going on – I’ve been in touch with an informant who reckons she has some solid info, and she’s willin’ to talk to us, so you should go down there and see what she knows, Yata-chan.” As Izumo spoke, he pulled out his phone to send the address to Misaki.

“I won’t let ya down!” Misaki declared, then promptly hurried from the room.

“Once we’ve got all the info, we’ll start makin’ plans for a counterattack. Everyone on the same page?”

Mikoto and Tatara nodded in agreement, but Anna remained silent.

“Anna, are you alright?” Tatara asked.

“I want to think by myself for a little while,” she said quietly.

“Okay, don’t go far.”

Anna nodded, then got to her feet and headed for the door. Mikoto let out a sigh as she left, which was the first hint of emotion he’d shown all afternoon. The tension in his neck betrayed how much he hated her being out of sight after what had happened last week. Tatara lay his hand on top of Mikoto’s in an attempt to comfort him as they watched her leave.

True to her word, Anna didn’t wander far from the bar – barely a few streets before she reached a bridge where it was quiet and there weren’t many people around. There, she stopped to look out over the water, but she didn’t take in the sight.

Mikoto had been a King just by being there – people kept saying that under his leadership, nobody would have dared attack Homra. But she was just a little girl, not even a teenager yet – who would be intimidated by that?

“I am so small… Can I even do anything?” she found herself murmuring out loud.

But she was dragged from her thoughts by a shadow lingering too close behind her – the figure of a man. She turned to see who it was, but before she could get a good look at his face, his hands were on her wrists, unshakeable. She struggled against his grip, looking around frantically for aid, but the streets either side of her were empty, and the rough, sweaty skin of her assailant’s palm was over her mouth before she had a chance to cry for help. She continued to flail, kicking out at him, attempting to claw at his fingers, but she wasn’t strong enough to loosen his grip. It didn’t even occur to her to use her aura. It had never really been powerful enough for her to use it for fighting before, and in her panic, she barely remembered they existed at all.

Within seconds, her eyes were covered with strips of fabric and her wrists were bound, and she felt herself being carried and haphazardly dumped in the back of a vehicle, probably a van by the sounds of it. Her first reaction in her panic wasn’t to be afraid for herself though, oddly enough. Instead, she was more worried for her family. What would Mikoto think, that he hadn’t protected her? What would Tatara and Izumo and Rikio and Misaki do when they heard she’d been kidnapped for the second time in as many weeks? What would her clansmen think? Most of them already had their doubts, and there was no question that Mikoto would never have let this happen to him.

What kind of a King am I? she thought as the door slammed shut.

When Misaki arrived at the address he’d been given, he was greeted by a middle-aged woman with curly hair tied behind her back – a regular informant of Homra’s. What he hadn’t been expecting was that Masaomi and Yo were already there.

“Oh, Yata-chan, come in~!”

“Y-you guys! What are you doing here?!”

Yo looked sheepish. “W-what, you ask…”

Masaomi continued the sentence for him. “We heard there were some strange attacks on Homra…”

The woman chimed in: “These two came in here with extremely scary faces, you know. They said they wanted information on the groups cornering Homra. I already located a few of the meeting points those groups use, but Kusanagi-chan asked for those, so I can’t really tell these two~.” She paused and seized Masaomi by the arm. “Though Dewa is to my liking, so I hesitated a bit.”

“Ha?!” Yo seemed affronted by her stage-whispered confession.

“Hmm… going to people outside of Homra, huh? Are you saying it would be a pain to come back?” Misaki glanced between the two fellow clansmen with a seething frustration, and the two once again looked admonished, saying nothing in their own defence.

“Chitose,” Yata continued.

“What?”

“Earlier you said that Anna is not like Mikoto-san for you, right?”

Yo paused, seeming suspicious. “Yeah…?”

“For me it’s the same. It’s obvious… I mean, Anna isn’t Mikoto-san. Anna is Anna. The way I admire Mikoto-san, and how I wanted to work under his command, it’s not like that. But I want to support Anna and protect her with all of my strength.” He straightened up as he spoke, and there was a look of recognition in the faces of his friends, as though what he’d said had resonated with them.

However, before they could reply, a notification chimed from Misaki’s watch, and he excused himself to glance down at the screen. “Sorry, a message…”

Misaki didn’t recognise the number. He opened the photo attachment.

If the brat is important to you then get out of Shizume City. The caption went alongside a photograph of Anna, her wrists bound, her eyes covered, and the muzzle of a gun pressed to her temple.

#mikototsu #suoh mikoto #totsuka tatara #k project #k fanfic #fic: breathing #fic: awakening

7 notes · View notes

arnavsinghraizada · 7 years

Text

A Hard Pill - Part 1

WOW GUESS WHO IS ON A ROLL TONIGHT? Not me, haha, no I wrote this a long time ago, and am just now putting it up.

Am I going to force all of you to read my crappy fanfics? But… of cOurse?

I’m sorry

Arnav Singh Raizada had lived through many things. He had survived his mother committing suicide in front of him, braved being thrown out of his own home at fourteen years old, even managed to come to terms with the woman he loved using him to get to his slimy brother-in-law. Unprofessionalism, however, was something he felt he would never be able to wrap his mind around. The cancellation of an internationally attended conference at the last possible minute was potentially the biggest mistake a businessperson could make. Then again, it was Multani’s funeral, he couldn’t have cared less. Some part of him realized that he was being incredibly irrational, the irritation and stress of a multitude of events piling up causing him to lash out the way he had. Being stuck on a red eye flight back to Delhi, back to his wife hadn’t helped matters in the slightest. After the way their last encounter had ended, he had been looking forward to some time away from her. Some time to sort through her words as well as his own feelings.

Khushi.

She was - he didn’t know what to believe when it came to her. On one hand, he wanted more than anything to blindly believe whatever she had told him about Shyam. He wanted to believe that she felt nothing for that snake - that maybe she felt something for him. He couldn’t afford to think like that. He wouldn’t be blindly sucked into another trap. Not again.

“Sir, hum ghar pohonch gaye. We’re home.”

Mohan’s voice broke his reverie and Arnav found himself fighting the pool of dread building up within him at what his arrival back at Shantivan meant. Khushi. Shyam. The entire situation was one big mess that he had thoroughly found himself stuck in the middle of. Gesturing for Mohan to bring his things inside, he turned and began to walk slowly towards the house that signified the destruction of everything he held dear.

He hadn’t taken 3 steps into the house when Di was there, overbearing and questioning as always. As much as he loved her, a small part of him had to admit that she was not who he had wished to see. A larger part of him had hoped Khushi would be there to greet him, look at him with that unspoken glint in her eyes, that devotion that he loved so much. Alarmingly enough, more often than not, he was less concerned with whether or not it was a lie, and more concerned with whether she looked at only him that way. It was a hard pill to swallow when he was forced to acknowledge that if she promised to only look at him that way, he could forget everything and spend his life giving her whatever she wanted. There was not a sum of money in the world, no priceless jewel that he couldn’t acquire for her - if she promised to only gift him with the pleasure of her warm gaze.

“Tum itne achanak se kaise agaye? How did you come back so suddenly?” Di asked, ushering him down onto the sofa as she called for Hariprakash to bring him a coffee.

“Di, voh akhri minute pe conference cancel ho gaya. At the last minute, the conference was cancelled. So I just came back.” He leaned his head back against the cool fabric of the sofa, closing his eyes for a moment.

“Acha kiya! Aapko pata hai, humne aapko kitni baar phone kiya! You did good! We called you so many times!”

There was definitely a scolding note present in her voice now and Arnav barely managed to suppress a groan at the upcoming headache he was sure to have.

“Khushiji ko kitni chinta ho rahi thi, unki toh halat hi kharab hogayi thi! Khushi was so worried, she was a wreck!”

For a second he felt as if his heart had stopped. Khushi had been worried about him?

“Maine message toh kiya tha. I texted, didn’t I?” He hoped his voice still sounded casual enough, that his desperation to hear more about Khushi’s concern for him wasn’t heard in his tone.

“Chote! Sirf message se kaam nahin chalta! Khushiji aapki patni hai, voh aapko miss toh karengi, na? Arnav, a text is not enough! Khushi is your wife, she’ll obviously miss you when you go away, wont she?”

Obviously. It seemed simple enough. A wife would miss her husband the first time he went away from home after their wedding. Except theirs wasn’t a simple marriage, an ordinary love story.

Love. He could’ve laughed aloud. He would’ve too, sheerly at the ridiculousness of his situation, if it wouldn’t have alarmed Di.

“Hum toh unhe aapke peeche peeche London bejhne vaale teh. I was about to send her to London after you.”

Arnav felt his heart thud erratically, absentmindedly running a hand over his chest to soothe the sudden ache. In another world, Khushi could have come to London with him, he could have shown her the entire world, watched her face light up at the different sights and foods.

“Chote, aap fresh ho jaiye. Vaise toh Shyamji aapke bathroom ko istimaal kar rahe teh, lekin ab tak toh unka hogaya hoga. Arnav, why don’t you go and freshen up? Shyam was using your bathroom, but he should have finished by now.”

And just like that, he was brought crashing back to reality. Shyam. In his bedroom. The bedroom he shared with Khushi. Some primal part of him roared in outrage, infuriated at his brother-in-law’s audacity. Struck with a horrible thought, it was suddenly difficult to breathe as he wondered whether that was the reason Khushi was nowhere to be found? He had to know.

In that moment, Arnav hated himself and his masochism. Why was he so desperate to cause himself further pain? To cement the fact that Khushi did not feel for him what he did for her. She never had and she never would.

Without another word, he strode determinedly towards the stairs, taking them two at a time as he advanced towards his bedroom.

The low murmur of voices made his heart stop cold as he realized that there were indeed two people inside. Ice seemed to be spreading through his chest as he moved close enough to hear what was being said.

“…Vaise bhi aapke Arnavji toh ghar pe hain nahin toh hum sochein ki unki kami hum hi poori kar de. Your Arnav isn’t at home anyways, so I thought that I would fill his place.”

There was no mistaking that voice. Arnav would recognize the crooning voice of his slimy brother-in-law anywhere. It was another minute before he realized just what was being said. He could almost hear his blood thundering through his veins, a knot of rage building inside of him.

“Vaise gaur se dekhe Khushiji, toh kami bhi kaisi? Voh ho ya no ho, na aapko farq padta hai na aapke shaadi shuda zindagi mein gehra badlaav aata hai. Kyun, sahin keh rahe hain na Khushiji? Well… if you look closely, Khushi, what absence? Whether he’s here or not, it doesn’t make a difference to you, nor does it affect your… married life very much. Am I right?”

Arnav felt his hands curl into fists, blunt nails digging into his flesh. There was no mistaking the insinuation present in those words. That Shyam would have the audacity to speak to Khushi, his wife, in that way under Arnav’s own roof - he could feel his heart thundering in anticipation of the upcoming confrontation. The two of them had the nerve to - when Di was at home?! Pushing his own hurt aside, he let his anger take hold of him, anger at the injustice against his sister overrun his broken heart, agonized over what it considered a second betrayal. He had just readied himself to storm inside when he heard her.

Khushi.

“Bahar nikal jaiye yahaan se! Get out of here!”

She didn’t sound pleased - far from it. It would take a fool not to hear the derision, the anger present in her voice. Every muscle in his body seemed to freeze at her words. Her voice was like a wave of - something - crashing down over him. Something that seeped into his heart and melted the ice he had built up around it.

Khushi was telling Shyam to leave? She didn’t want him near her? His heart began its erratic thudding again, a balloon of hope rising in his chest. Could she-

“Arre vah, aapne varna nahin bola? Chalo hum hi bol dete hai, varna? Wow, you didn’t say ‘or else?’ Let me do it for you then. Or else?”

Arnav’s temper flared again. Shyam was the worst of all predators, so grossly oblivious to his own nature.

“Humne kaha na aapse- Didn’t I just tell you-” Khushi began, a hint of fear seeping into her words now, and part of him wanted to call out to her - let her know that he would never let anything happen to her. A larger part of him urged him to remain silent. This was the moment he would learn the truth.

“Arre Khushiji, humari baat samajhne ki koshish keejye na. Hum ab bhi aapki pasand ban sakhte hai, ek zamane mein toh teh hi, na? Oh Khushi, try and understand what I’m saying. I can still be what you want, at one point I was, wasn’t I?”

He could almost see the lecherous smirk that would have crossed Shyam’s face with those words and felt a strong desire to throttle the life out of him. To put an end to the man who had attempted to destroy his sister’s life, and was now attempting to harass his wife. The implication of Shyam’s words, that there had been a time when - that Khushi didn’t want - it wasn’t something he could bear to think about. If Shyam’s words meant what he thought they did, then he had a lot more repenting to do than he ever could have imagined.

“Nikal jaiye yahaan se! Get out!” Khushi cried and Arnav could imagine the fear she must have been feeling at Shyam’s words, the anger. Wordlessly pleading with her to hold on for only a while longer, Arnav’s hand braced against the wall, going white with the pressure of his grip.

“Humari kamzori. Aapki yeh ghusse bhari aankhein. Vaise bhi, aap Arnavji ko inn nazaron se kaha dekhti hogi? My weakness,” Shyam said, drawing out the last word in a way that made his blood boil. “Your anger filled eyes. You probably don’t look at Arnav with those eyes?”

The mention of her eyes, so pure and open - how could he have been so blind? Khushi’s eyes had always been open for him to find the truth in - why had he never bothered looking?

“Apni gandi zubaan se unka naam bhi mat leejye! Don’t you dare say his name!” She snarled and Arnav felt his eyes fly open, a kind of warmth gripping his chest at the protectiveness in her tone. …Was there hope after all?

“Hum unki nahin, aapki nazar ki baat kar rahe hai. Toh kahiye na Khushiji, sach hai na. Iss tarah toh aap sirf humein dekhti hogi. Aur aapka yahi dekhne ka tareeka humare dil mein bas gaya hai Khushiji. I’m talking about you, not him. Tell me though, you only look at me that way, right? And it’s that very gaze that has stolen my heart.”

Enough. He had heard enough. Striding forwards, he was met with a sight that caused red to begin to seep into the corners of his vision.

Shyam. Standing shirtless in his bedroom, hovering over his wife.

Both of their attention snapped to him upon his entry, and the horror on Shyam’s face was almost comical when Arnav began to advance.

“Arnavji!” Khushi cried and his focus was diverted momentarily when she ran towards him and threw herself into his arms. He could feel tears dampening the fabric of his shirt and his arms came up to hold her to him, revelling in the way she clutched him tighter.

“Aapne humein phone kyun nahin kiya? Hum kitne pareshaan teh! Why didn’t you call me? I was so worried!” She cried, her small hands moving to form fists and bang against his chest.

“Khushi,” he muttered quietly, one hand moving to catch hers and still its movements, “we’ll talk later.”

Something about his tone must have gotten through to her because her face was suddenly tense as she pulled away from him, the fear in her eyes apparent now. Evidently, she thought he had misunderstood the situation, yet again. Oh, she had no idea.

Moving her aside, he gently tucked her behind him, turning his attention back to Shyam who looked like a cross between furious and ill.

“I warned you to stay the fuck away from my wife, Shyam Manohar Jha.”

“Saale Sahib, hum toh bas - I was just -”

“Now you’re going to get it.”

A cliffhanger? But…of course! Stay tuned!

#ipkknd #iss pyaar ko kya naam doon #arshi #arnav singh raizada #khushi kumari gupta #ipkknd ff #arshi ff #a hard pill

53 notes · View notes

exitexis · 7 years

Text

part one: morning, chapter one: morning

original title: “do not hope, do not regret”

notes:

- the family name “ui” was only chosen because it rhymed with “madotsuki” and it was only appropriate to have her parents’ names rhyme also.

- ui hiroyuki and akiyama yumiko’s names are puns within themselves. “yuki” (雪) means “snow,” but he is not the “cold” parent, while “yumi” sounds similar to “yume” (夢), meaning “dream,” but she is not exactly the “dreamy” parent. yumiko’s character is based upon the yuki-onna, oni effects, and the snow world in the game.

- early on, it is mentioned that ui madotsuki drinks formula instead of breast milk, hinting that akiyama yumiko’s issues with alcohol.

- hiroyuki was given agoraphobia to set an “example” for madotsuki of someone who does not go outside.

edits:

- date changed from “march 12, 1980” to “march 13, 1980,” because Madotsuki was born on the twelfth at a late time (23:07 to be exact), so it would be logical that her parents would return home the next day, not the same day.

- explicit mentions of ui hiroyuki being the dual landowner of the apartment complex he resides in, instead of his job being ambiguous.

- masada’s name changed from “seccom masada” (english pronunciation) to “sekomu masada” (japanese pronunciation) and alternate explanation behind name provided.

- slightly more backstory of akiyama kumiko given – mentions of her moving from nagasaki to fujisawa.

- in the outline of the story, masada, hiroyuki, and yumiko all become good friends. this was later scrapped once the chapter was written. masada and hiroyuki become close friends while masada and yumiko remain acquaintances.

part one: morning, chapter two: kids

original title: “the world of people and things”

notes:

- the summary quote is foreshadowing to the next chapter.

- monoko’s real name is “momoko” (桃子, “peach child”) so that the girl would easily confuse the two when she introduces herself. the same goes for monoe becoming “momoe” (百恵, “hundred graces”). “monoko” and “monoe” aren’t exactly names, but luckily “momoko” and “momoe” are and they could be used in place.

edits:

- masada’s age is explicitly mentioned as being sixteen in 1986, making him officially ten years older than madotsuki (which she mentions). originally madotsuki mentions that he is nine years older than her – making her seven years old before her age was pushed back to officially be six years old.

- in the outline of the story, monoe would drop off monoko at masada’s and sleep with him while the girls played. this idea was scrapped once the chapter was written.

part one: morning, chapter three: crash

original title: “exploding head syndrome”

notes:

- komatsuzaki mariko’s (小松崎鞠子, “small pine peninsula,” “ball child” – i… don’t have an explanation as to why i specifically chose the “ball child” kanji for mariko’s name, it could be taken as a dark joke because of the relationship with her father… but those weren’t my intentions) character is based upon mafurako and the hat and scarf effect.

- monoko is hit by a car because of her event in the game – her body suddenly growing disfigured when you use the stoplight effect on her. she also has the appearance of a young girl, which is why the incident takes place when she is merely a junior high student. her color scheme and the setting she resides in being in black and white also adds to the fact that her event takes place in the past as a memory in madotsuki’s mind.

- the last appearances of monoko and monoe and the first appearance of mariko are in the same chapter because they are connected in the game. mafurako (“mariko”) is the one who leads the player to monoko and monoe.

edits:

- the chapter summary inspired the original chapter title. the current chapter title is a reference to crash by jerry spinelli.

- it was originally mentioned that madotsuki was the runner-up for learning the most characters in her class, but her placing is moved to fifth as an early hint towards her reading troubles that are mentioned frequently later on throughout the story.

- originally, komatsuzaki motonobu (小松崎元信, “small pine peninsula,” “former trust” ) was yumiko’s cousin – they both shared an uncle – who she briefly dated in high school before they quickly called it off once learning that they were related. then, motonobu became madotsuki’s biological uncle (relationship unknown, because he was never mentioned as being yumiko’s brother). finally, it was changed so that he was the boyfriend and later husband of yumiko’s former stepsister, abe sakura. abe sakura’s father was married for yumiko’s mother for some time but are currently divorced, making them former stepsisters. madotsuki calls him her “ex-step-uncle” for these reasons.

- motonobu’s original name was “uncle junichi.”

- in the outline of the story, monoe visited madotsuki and masada to inform them that monoko had died in a car accident where monoe had been driving the vehicle. since madotsuki was not invited to the funeral, masada takes her to put lilies on monoko’s grave. this idea was scrapped once the chapter was written. because… in japan aren’t typically buried, they’re cremated.

part one: morning, chapter four: goddess

original title: “how to befriend an american goddess”

notes:

- poniko’s name is “pomona coe” because: a) so that the teacher would mispronounce it as “poniko,” b) the city that poniko is from is pomona, california which is part of the los angeles county, and c) pomona was a roman goddess and wood nymph, ruling over fruitful abundance, gardens, and orchards.

- the title of poniko and madotsuki’s story is a reference to the rpg maker game space funeral.

edits:

- both of the original and current chapter titles refer to the roman goddess, pomona, who shares the same name as pomona “poniko” coe.

- since madotsuki’s age was lowered from around an ambiguous age of fourteen-fifteen years old to the official age of twelve years old, her descriptions of poniko were edited to appear less sexual sounding.

- a date is given on madotsuki’s letter to poniko.

- in the outline of the story, motonobu, then named junichi, would tell madotsuki that if the money and alcohol he keeps hidden in her room goes missing, then she will be punished accordingly. yumiko would have a cold and madotsuki would take care of her. yumiko apologies to her daughter for being “useless” and says that once she gets better she will find a proper home for them to get away from “uncle junichi.”

- poniko’s original name was “purificación trujillo” and she was going to be from the spanish canary islands. she earns the nickname “poniko,” when a student jokingly calls her it because her name is “too long” and she has a ponytail. she then would have agreed to go by “poniko tuhiro” to make it easier on everyone. this version of poniko had a grandmother, mother, father, older brother, and younger sister back home in the canary islands.

part one: morning, chapter five: party

original title: “house of balloons”

notes:

- mr. and mrs. watari’s names are references to quillsh “watari” wammy from death note.

- the quote from mrs. watari: “there would be a global crisis if i said no, hm?” – is a reference to the song “jessica” performed by hatsune miku and produced by kururingo (“it’s a global crisis, my headaches and dizziness won’t stop”).

- the name violette is a reference to violette from my candy love.

- poniko’s interaction with madotsuki before the party was important because madotsuki was not educated in sex. if she had been attacked at the party without this prior knowledge, she most likely would have not seen it as an attack and thus would not have even known what happened.

edits:

- the house of balloons is a reference to house of balloons and “house of balloons,” a mixtape and song performed by the weeknd. the reason why balloons are alluded so much is because of poniko’s location in the game. the pink sea is surrounded by balloons, thus meaning that madotsuki associates poniko with balloons – this was interpreted as some type of celebration or party that was significant to madotsuki’s life that poniko was associated with. the current chapter title is a reference to “the party & the after party,” also performed by the weeknd.

- poniko’s original surname was “ko” instead of “coe.” an alternate spelling was chosen to make her name appear more american.

- since madotsuki and poniko’s ages were lowered from around an ambiguous age of fourteen-fifteen years to the official ages of thirteen and fourteen (respectively), descriptions of the sexual interactions was made much less mature than before.

- more dialogue between madotsuki’s attackers was added.

- in the outline of the story, madotsuki and poniko would have accidentally taken drugs at the party and madotsuki would take her to motonobu’s home. when she wakes up in the morning, poniko is gone along with some of motonobu’s money. motonobu, then named “uncle junichi,” would have slapped madotsuki and accused her of stealing the money. he then would have stopped short of assaulting her because of yumiko arriving home early. madotsuki would leave to spend the day with masada and then return home to see yumiko threatening to stab motonobu with a knife. yumiko would demand why madotsuki hadn’t told her that he was hurting mariko. motonobu would have then gotten arrested. these ideas were scrapped once the chapter was written.

part one: morning, chapter six: afterparty

original title: “the hour of separation”

notes:

- madotsuki receives her trademark purple skirt from her father here.

- lucky the cat is based upon the cat effect. the cat effect itself is based upon the maneki-neko as the game madotsuki is shown waving one arm and having a coin in hand when equipped with the effect in the game, so lucky’s appearance was altered some to match the description.

- poniko’s abrupt departure from the story is based upon uboa. poniko in the game refuses to look at the player and when provoked suddenly turns into a monster. this event was interpreted as madotsuki associating poniko with someone who suddenly ignored her, departed from her life without a single word, and left on negative terms.

final edit:

- the original summary quote was: “love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” ―kahlil gibran, the prophet before it was changed. this quote also inspired the original chapter title. the current chapter title is a reference to “the party & the after party” performed by the weeknd.

- originally, the madotsuki, her father, and masada were celebrating tanabata, or the star festival. so, when the chapter was edited to take place during winter, they celebrated new year’s instead because tanabata is a summer festival.

- madotsuki used to always refer to her father as “chichi” (父) until it was edited for her to refer to him as “papa” when she was younger – a common childish way to address one’s father in japan – and “chichi” – a more mature word for father – is saved for when she is older.

- since the setting was changed from tanabata to new year’s, more additional details were added, such as: hiroyuki mentioning for madotsuki to bring masada a card and leftovers (it is common to eat certain foods and to send cards out on new year’s in japan), masada gives madotsuki a dog ear headband instead of a star one (as 1994 was the year of the dog), and masada teaches madotsuki beethoven’s ninth symphony (oddly, a traditional new year’s song in japan) on the piano instead of a traditional tanabata song.

- the cat’s name was changed from “popcorn” to “lucky” and changed to a white calico japanese bobtail, which is the traditional breed of the maneki-neko, a japanese figurine that is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. lucky’s appearance was changed to match this description more instead of just being just a simple white cat.

- poniko’s letter had a date added to it and the title was removed (a callback to how madotsuki preferred no titles for her writings). mentions of the new year was also added in the letter.

part one: morning, chapter seven: siesta

original title: “leitwortstil”

notes:

- it can be implied that mariko stole the money that motonobu kept hidden throughout the house (mentioned in chapter three) to help her escape.

- the quote: “she was twisting. she was screaming (on the inside). he was uncompromising. every inch, every iota of her body was screeching an ode of the banshees for him to get the fuck off of her.” – is a reference to shitty horoscopes: book iv – resolutions by amrit brar (“aquarius: twisting/screaming/uncompromising; every inch; every iota”).

- the quote: “she felt her wrath plant a seed, take root, sprout and grow, and put forth flowers in her heart.” – is a reference to fellow yume nikki fanfic every girl does it by jackofnone (“but still, she thinks about it. she wonders. and when an idea enters madotsuki’s head, it takes root in the dream, grows, and puts forth flowers.”).

edits:

- the original summary quote was: “leitwortstil is the repetition of a wording, often with a theme, in a narrative to make sure it catches the reader's attention. an example of a leitwortstil is the recurring phrase, "so it goes", in kurt vonnegut's novel slaughterhouse-five. its seeming message is that the world is deterministic: that things only could have happened in one way, and that the future already is predetermined,” before it was changed. this quote also inspired the original chapter title. it is a reference to the repetitious words seen throughout the chapter. the current chapter title is spanish for “nap.”

part one: morning, chapter eight: high

original title: “king of the fall”

notes:

- doi “cookie” gidayu (土井犠打湯, reference to takemoto gidayu, a creator of a style of narration for japanese puppet theater – this reference is made because of cookie’s family history in traditional performances) is based upon the fat effect and strober: a character that appears to be eating a cookie, can be found in the docks b, and gives madotsuki the fat effect.

- matsumoto hatsuyo (松本はつよ, “base of the pine tree”) is based upon closet madotsuki, a character that can be found hidden a closet in the checkered tile path, but can only been seen using the severed head or midget effects, as all of the other effects are too big to see inside of the closet properly, and kamakurako, a character found sleeping inside of an igloo in the snow world.

- fujisaki umi (藤崎海, “wisteria small peninsula,” “ocean”) is based upon the fisherman, a character that can be found in the windmill world and the docks a.

- fuji and cookie are introduced together because their in-game characters (the fisherman and strober, respectively) both appear in the docks.

- the black mall is based upon the mall location in the game, right down to the chilly shoppers and the cat on the roof.

- the characters fuji, cookie, and hatsuyo are also based upon the train passengers. as in this chapter, madotsuki is mainly either with cookie and hatsuyo or just fuji – a reference to how the player can either be with a single train passenger going one way, and two going the other.

- the song that masada was teaching madotsuki on the piano was a reference to “hirai, hirari” performed by hatsune miku, written by nayuta momoka, and produced by tamaz, as it is mentioned to be “…an emotional ballad about missing a lover. madotsuki liked the slow, mesmerizing tune of it.”

- the quotes: “the train station was having a special in its shop. she remembered that because a colorful flyer advertising a new herbal-chicken roast with blue cheese was practically shoved in her face as she was descending the staircase to the train.” and “her word-hungry eyes then scanned over the other posters of the train station. there was a sign that announced that the city museum had a new exhibit about mars.” – are references to fellow yume nikki fic space oddity by injusticeshallfall: “she remembered this because the special at the subway's restaurant was a roast chicken on tuesdays. herbal-roasted chicken, with grated blue cheese melted on top. madotsuki was on her way into the city, because the museum had opened up a new exhibit about mars.”

- masada jumping in front of a train is based upon the significant location of mars in the game. masada’s spaceship crashes (his “crashing” in the story was of him by being on drugs and jumping out in front of a train) and once the player reaches the underground area of the game, they arrive to a location that resembles a train station with sober piano music playing in the background (masada’s spaceship featured a piano) and meet a character, mars-san, that appears to be crying.

- hiroyuki’s character is also somewhat based upon mars-san.

edits:

- the original chapter title was a reference to “king of the fall” performed by the weeknd. the current chapter title refers to the “high” of madotsuki and masada’s relationship and masada’s “high” from drugs and from jumping off of the train platform.

- fuji’s name was changed from “fuji umi” to “fujisaki umi” only because i wanted to make a reference to fujisaki chihiro from danganronpa: trigger happy havoc. ♡

- in the outline of the story, fuji was going to confess his feelings for madotsuki on a train ride from the mall and she would have rejected him. this idea was scrapped once the chapter was written.

- in the outline of the story, madotsuki confides in fuji about masada’s strange behavior and he proposes that perhaps masada is on drugs. with madotsuki’s frustration with masada, she turns to fuji for affection. she then walks in on masada while he is using heroin. he confesses to being on drugs and she confesses to “cheating” on him with her friend. this idea was scrapped once the chapter was written because… it’s melodramatic (as if this story isn’t melodramatic enough tho).

part one: morning, chapter nine: milk

original title: “apprehension for dummies”

notes:

- the vending machines that madotsuki and fuji use are based upon the vending machines in the game that give pink drinks if the player uses the money they collect. it is to be noted that the money system and the energy drinks in the game do nothing for the player!

- madotsuki and fuji watching kiki’s delivery service in the black mall is based on the witch’s flight event that occurs on the mall rooftop when the player equips the witch effect and begins to fly off the roof.

- the sleeping man in the hospital who sneezes in his sleep when madotsuki walks by him is based upon the e-man character that can be found in the mall, who sometimes sneezes if the player is around him for too long. (this man is toriyama eiji, the brother and assistant of toriyama orochi, madotsuki’s therapist.)

- abe sakura (安倍さくら, “double peace” – because her name is written in hirgana, the meaning of “cherry blossoms” is taken away) and yamaguchi usagi (山口兎, “mountain mouth,” “rabbit”) are based upon the toriningen, bird-like women who are the only chasers in the game.

- usagi’s name and appearance is a reference to tsukino usagi, or sailor moon, from sailor moon.

- masada’s inability to walk and vocal cord paralysis – resulting in a deeper, raspier voice – are based upon how after the spaceship crash event masada’s character in the game moves sluggishly and makes slower and deeper noises than before.

- mariko’s disappearance is based on how the character mafurako is invisible to the player until the stoplight effect is used.

- madotsuki’s miscarriage is based on the floyag characters found on the infinite road – they appear to be uterus shaped and one stares at the player – and the henkei shita characters found mainly on the footprint path – they appear to be beheaded pregnant women with mouths for stomachs.

edits:

- the original chapter title was a reference to the for dummies series. the current chapter title is a reference to milk and honey by rupi kaur and “milk and cookies” performed by melanie martinez.

- originally, yumiko mentioned moving to the next prefecture over, but it was changed that she moved to the city of kawasaki instead, still within the kanagawa prefecture which contains madotsuki’s hometown of yokohama.

- in the story’s outline, madotsuki gradually became sick before happening the miscarriage to the point where she stayed home from school and sakura watched over her in the medical center. this was scrapped once the chapter was written and instead the effects of the impending miscarriage were somewhat unnoticeable and the event happened suddenly.

part one: morning, chapter ten: chum

original title: “pick your poison”

notes:

- madotsuki’s fetuses having trap syndrome (twin reserved atrial perfusion) is based upon the takofussen event that occurs in the white desert, as the character appears to resemble twin fetuses having said syndrome, since this event occurs in an area that is black and white, this was associated as something that happened in madotsuki’s past. since the takofussen event has a one in three thousand and six hundred chance in appearing and appears for about half a second every half hour, it was associated with an extremely sudden and unexpected.

edits:

- the original chapter title refers to the term “pick your poison.” to pick your poison means to have to choose between two worse cases. the current chapter title is a reference to “chum” performed by earl sweatshirt.

- since madotsuki and fuji’s ages were lowered from an ambiguous age of fifteen-sixteen to an official fourteen, the phone conversation that they have together reflects on their younger ages. fuji’s response to madotsuki telling him about her miscarriage was also changed to be more emotional since it originally seemed impersonal.

- originally, fuji asks what’s happening in the prefecture that madotsuki is in as at first her mother had gotten a home in another prefecture completely until it was changed that yumi had moved to another city, so fuji instead asks madotsuki what it is like in kawasaki. he was then also added to call himself a “little yokohama boy” so that madotsuki’s hometown location can be explicitly mentioned.

part one: morning, chapter eleven: beautiful

original title: “monday, 13 november, 1995”

notes:

- sakura’s father, abe junichi, is only divorced from yumiko’s mother because if they had still been married then yumiko’s mother would have been invited to mariko’s funeral and introducing yumiko’s mother to madotsuki before introducing hiroyuki’s mother (baba) was not preferable.

- usagi’s disturbing photograph is based upon the disturbing photographs / drawings that the player can encounter in various places, such as the mall or the sewers, in the game.

edits:

- the chapter was originally called “monday, 13 november, 1995” as that was mariko’s death date before it was changed to the fourth of july, 1994. the chapter also takes place in only one day – the first time for a chapter to do so in the story. the current chapter title is a reference to “pretty” performed by the weeknd.

- sakura now mentions how she does not like to sit around and do nothing because of her narcolepsy. before, motonobu had mentioned sakura having narcolepsy, but it was not mentioned again (because, to be honest, i forgot about).

- in the story outline, madotsuki and usagi would have started a relationship and madotsuki would only tell masada that she has started a new relationship, but not with who, causing him to believe that she has started going out with fuji. this was scrapped in the final chapter since the situation created an unnecessary love triangle and there was no solid reason for madotsuki and usagi to be together. now, any chances of said relationship are gone with madotsuki and usagi officially aged fourteen and nineteen, respectively.

part one: morning, chapter twelve: runaway

original title: “drink more water”

notes:

- mariko is given a buddhist funeral, as evidenced by the rituals everyone undergoes by placing coins in her casket, a mention of the river of three crossings, the women keeping vigil all night, and madotsuki being given incense and condolence money.

- the quote: “her mother removed the shawl that came with her dress and threw it in the corner of the room. her thin dress straps had fell from her shoulders. yumi’s posture was hunched over. the setting sun was against her back. she looked like a skinny imp with no shoulders.” – is a reference to “hold my liquor” performed by kanye west, justin vernon, and chief keef (“then her auntie came over, skinny bitch with no shoulders, telling you that i’m bogus, bitch, you don’t even know us”).

edits:

- the original title was a reference to “drink more water” performed by mick jenkins. the current title is a reference to “runaway” performed by kanye west.

part one: morning, chapter thirteen: delivery

original title: “it is useless to go”

notes:

- yumiko’s family is from nagasaki, a location in southern japan that’s sunny with beaches, and hiroyuki’s family is from hokkaido, a location in northern japan that’s snowy with mountains, for a reason. there are no beaches or overall too “sunny” places in the game, but there are plenty of references to forests, mountains, and snow. yumiko’s family remains unknown to madotsuki as she barely remembers yumiko’s parents’ names and does not even know yumiko’s sister’s name. madotsuki goes to hokkaido because a place with the aforementioned forests, mountains, and snow are prevalent throughout madotsuki’s dreams and thus were significant to her in real life. since she resides in an apartment complex and there is the neon world, it can be assumed that madotsuki is originally from the city and visited the mountains, or vice versa. since the backdrop of the apartment in the game changes and is ultimately vague (except for one, more on that later), one can assume that madotsuki is from anywhere.

- madotsuki and fuji going out at night with streetlamps around them is based upon the streetlamps seen in the puddle world, the lamp world, and the lamp effect.

- madotsuki watching kiki’s delivery service on the airplane and having a dream about being a witch whose broom suddenly disappears beneath her, causing her to fall, is based upon the witch’s flight event where when the player disables the broom midflight, madotsuki falls out of bed in real life and wakes up.

edits:

- the original chapter is a reference based upon the chapter summary. the current title is a reference to kiki’s delivery service and madotsuki being “delivered” to the mountains.

- madotsuki was originally going to stay in hokkaido for the summer, but it was changed to a year because japanese schools work on a trimester system, meaning that when students go on summer break they are still in the same grade once the summer is over – they do not start a new school year.

- in the story outline, madotsuki slept with fuji, but this was scrapped once the chapter was written.

1 note · View note