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katzuyas · 6 years

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hi! it’s same-face-in-every-selfie kat lmao I was tagged by @nikiviki for the 7 selfies of 2017 meme, so here’s my pick at why-tf-do-I-have-so-much-pink-lipstick year lololol thanks so much for the tag love 💕

I’ll be tagging my angel @tetsya bc I haven’t seen ur sweet face in ages and I need me some of that cute uwu, and then also: @theexitgarden, @relent, @maniacani, @saniika, and @tendou-satori if you guys feel like it!

the rest of the tag games are under the cut ^u^)b

tagged by @evenifidie thanks for the tag!!

Take an excerpt of your writing, put it into Google Translate, translate it into a random language, and then back into English, and see what you end up with!

ORIGINAL:

Yuuri's sleep warm and cuddly, and Victor wants nothing more that to keep spooning him until they can both wake up enough to exchange slow, soft kisses like they do on their days off. Sadly, it's not one of those days and they need to get up.

-- from a little something I have written for @domesticvictuuriweek

CEBUANO TO ENGLISH:

Yuuri's sleep is hot and vibrant, and Victor does not want to keep on blowing him until they both feel enough to move slowly, soft kisses like their days. Sadly, this is not one of those days and they have to get up.

well the last sentence was underwhelming but victor blowing yuuri when he’s hot and vibrant in his sleep is definitely not the vibe I’m going for here ahahah lmao this was a bust

oh man I’m gonna tag ppl for it bc this was fun: @sagechan, @matsinko, @the-world-of-illyas-james, @shslshortie and @kaja-skowronek

tagged by @evenifidie thanks again!!

rules: post the last sentence you wrote (fanfic, original work, poetry, whatever floats your boat!) and tag the same number of people as there were words in the sentence

One that Victor can't wait to be fulfilled.

lol good luck figuring out what this is

and I’m too lazy to tag for this one, sorry tcuhyjbnj if u want to do it, feel urself tagged tho! especially the ppl from the tag above! //winkwonk

tagged by @kaja-skowronek thanks so much for the tag, sweetheart 😘

1) HOW MANY WORKS IN PROGRESS TO DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE?

posted and updated regularly only one (carry on), which is more of a drabble dump than a wip, but I’m working on 5 others which are eating me alive bc I have no chill whatsoever lmao

2) DO YOU/WOULD YOU WRITE FANFICTION?

been there done that still doing it lol

3) DO YOU PREFER PAPER BOOKS OR EBOOKS?

definitely books, there’s nothing better than the feel of turning the pages and the smell of paper and ink while ur gobbling up page after page, it’s awesome. would never change for anything else in the world. now if only we could get fics printed out as well I’d be in heaven

4) WHEN DID YOU START WRITING?

I was probably around 12-13, visiting my dad in the us, and I got completely swallowed by reading harry potter fics. that’s when it all started for me. and then when I got home I wanted to try my hand at it and... now here we are, almost 13 years later lol

5) DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE YOU TRUST THAT YOU SHARE YOUR WORK WITH?

I usually don’t like to share my work when it’s unfinished so it’s v rare for me to do so

6) WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO WRITE?

my room, at night, when there’s peace and quiet and I can focus properly

7) FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD BOOK?

definitely harry potter, no runner ups

8) WRITING FOR FUN OR PUBLICATION?

the big dream is one day maybe publication but for now it’s just for fun

9) PEN AND PAPER OR COMPUTER?

used to be pen and paper, and then I’d be rewriting that mess onto the computer, but now I’m just too lazy and wtf pen&paper hurts my wrist so much how did I even take notes back in school this is ridiculous omg

10) HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN ANY WRITING CLASSES?

mm yea uni classes which were absolute shit eh

11) WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

everything, really. what inspires me? the colour of leaves in the fall, the snow sparkling on the ground in winter, the fog that doesn’t let you see further than a few meters before you, the chilling cold on the morning walks, the dark that’s brightened up only by the dim street lamps, the colour of the sky that isn’t really blue but tints into reds and pinks and oranges and purples

what gives me strength to write? the comments and tags on my fics, that’s the best reward after spending hours on creating something - to see that people love and appreciate your work, it’s awesome

this was a great tag so I’m gonna put a few other writers on the task ;3c I’m tagging: @evenifidie, @saniika, @matsinko, @rayrayswimusic and @nee-saan

tagged by @evenifidie thanks babe ur spoiling me 💕

list five of your favourite fics (that you’ve written!) and why you like them

have yourself a merry little christmas (make the yuletide gay)

yoi | victuuri | nsfw | 9k the reason why I love it is v simple: it’s full of sweet, winter fluff and doting on vitya nikiforov which I always will put before everything else 🙏🙏

if there's a will, there's a way

yoi | victuuri | 17k+ this fic is my baby and I have such huge plans for it that I’m almost scared of writing it but gosh I love it? it’s a historical fantasy au which is totally something of a crown jewel in my writing imo and I’m super proud of what already is posted and what else is to come

to keep you warm

yoi | victuuri | 8k it’s another one of my multiple fantasy au fics bc I live for those and I adore this one especially bc of the imageries, it gives me good vibes and I loved writing it, and I still love coming back to it every now and then

oh ye of so little faith

dna | miyusawa | 32k what can I say? it’s another fantasy au, yes, you guessed it lol I just really love them? and I love this one bc of the characterisation which I’m super proud of and the character development and the actual writing I put into this bc I worked super hard on it and it still pains me that it received only so little attention //sighs

The Matchmaker

hq | kurohina | nsfw | 73k oh gosh there’s so many things I can say about this one but I’ll stop at the most important one: it’s the longest fic I’ve ever written and I’ll forever be proud of myself for sticking it out and finishing it //pats myself on the back

this was actually pretty fun so I’ll tag @kaja-skowronek, @shslshortie, @the-world-of-illyas-james, @starrwinter, @thatravenclawnextdoor and @harmonization

tagged by @kaja-skowronek thank you!!

relationship status: can’t believe I’m actually typing this but... taken ;3c

favorite color: I don’t have only one, but I’m really in love with the pastels recently

favorite hobby: definitely writing!

last song: transit by takaaki natsushiro bc I’m rewatching yowapeda before new season hits

last movie: caught the last scenes of hp and the sorcerer’s stone last night on tv ;3c

top three shows: wow... that’s tough. yoi is definitely the top top, but the other two I’d say daiya and khr bc the nostalgia is strong these days

I’m not tagging anyone for this one, but if someone wants to do it, I’m tagging you personally ^u^)b

phew, this was a lot to go through yhchyvbjn I’m so bad at doing these orz I’m so sorry yall it’s been like months since some of these tags I’m a lazy shit ahaha anyway, thanks so much for all of it, I really loved these!!! 💕

#tag game #me myself and I #wow this was a lot #but I had fun #also an excuse to post my face is always a good one #hi I'm kat nice to meet yall face to face lol

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linssikeittomies · 6 years

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The Place Between Here An There - Chapter 2: Ship Of Fools

Masterpost AO3

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 9(cont’d)

Ugh, Alfred is so hard to write! His POVs are all Thing happens, thing happens, thing happens, he has a thought, thing happens… Ivan’s POV is more like Thing happens, he has a thought about the thing, that reminds him of past thing, thing happens… And Alfred has too many non-plot-important friends, but leaving them out feels even more wrong because he’s a people person first and foremost. He does get more thinkey later, but at this point of the story he doesn’t really worry about anything so he doesn’t have too many thoughts floating around his brain. His parts feel like such filler orz Try and bear with me orz I got so sick of looking at this mess and not being able to write it the way I wanted to so I decided to screw it and let it be, filler-y and bad and all.

–

“Morning, sunshine!” a happy voice greeted Ivan right as he stirred. The grating cheeriness revealed the identity of the perpetrator before Ivan even opened his eyes. The act only confirmed that the annoying idiot was grinning from ear to ear. Seeing that his bedmate was somewhat awake encouraged the American to rise up on his elbows to peer down with an excited look. So he was near-sighted, since he hadn’t put on his glasses.

“Dobroye utro”, Ivan muttered, not sure if he was glad to see Alfred or not. The novelty of being treated like a normal human being was fading quickly now that he wasn’t allowed to wake up at his own pace. “Are you really a cop?” Alfred queried with badly contained glee, leaning in closer with his morning breath. With a grimace Ivan turned his head slightly, and Alfred seemed to get the hint. “Yes, a detective.” “Man, that’s so cool! I applied to the academy a few years back, but I had speeding tickets, and the air force didn’t want me for some reason so I’m still-“ Probably a store clerk. Maybe a cleaner. Likely living on his parents’ money. “- a fireman and it’s great ‘cause I’m saving lives and all, but man, cops! I love cops!” Yeah, right. This infuriating loser seemed barely literate. Pro wrestling would suit him much better: prancing around in embarrassing clothes yelling cringey lines, and no one would notice if he got brain damage. Claiming he actually did important work was the most bold-faced lie Ivan had heard in his life. “But how in the hell did you get in? Did you kill all the other applicants?” “How rude. I was never linked to those cases.” Alfred pretended to be struck dumb, and clutched his pearls like a scandalized granny. “I was hoping you’d claim to be the paragon of justice, but you just ran with it! How am I supposed to make fun of you with that attitude?” he laughed as he sat up, dragging the covers up with him and then letting them fall off his shoulders. The move revealed his toned chest and subtle six-pack again. Ivan contemplated taking a spied look between his legs, but decided against it. His senses were returning slowly, but the insecurity had already creeped in almost full swing. He pretended to be cold and wrapped the covers more tightly around him. “It’s not an attitude. It’s the truth.” Alfred laughed and told Ivan to dress his ugly ass, he was making pancakes. Ivan was not one to say no to a free meal, and the company only left something to desire.

Even if waking up next to someone was a questionable joy, having someone to eat breakfast with was undoubtedly pleasant. Much time had passed since the last time Ivan had a discussion at the table. They used to be common in the old days, and the siblings especially had been practically glued together, but then the thing happened and everything went to hell. Their family dynamics never got back to normal, even after 19 years of stability and moving halfway across the globe. It had no longer felt natural – one was missing and one became an outsider. It was almost more distracting to have his sisters in the same table than eating alone. But with Alfred there was no history so he couldn’t be reminded of anything, and as a result he found himself genuinely enjoying the moment. “Well, ya just don’t look the part, yannow? Think Magnum PI! Ya need a square jaw and a cool baritone voice and a great mustache.” “So what kind of cop do I look like?” “Hmmmm…” Alfred hummed and held an exaggeratedly long pause, took a bite off his pancakes, chewed and then shrugged. “I dunno, the kind who negs decent people and takes advantage of drunk guys?” Ivan shrugged nonchalantly. “Guilty as charged”, he agreed. He doubted Alfred had actually been all that drunk by the time they left the restaurant, and the stumble had been a conspiracy to make Ivan take him home. He still had trouble imagining Katyushka scheming like this, because she had always been the most honest and straightforward of the family. Her saintly nature must have come from a distant ancestor. “So are you gonna go and brag to all your friends about how you finally scored with a conscious person?” “I hesitate to call someone with your level of brain activity conscious.” “But you will brag to all your friends?” “I don’t have friends”, Ivan’s mouth said with brutal honesty before his brain could shut it up. His breath got stuck in his throat as he waited for inevitable pitying look. It always happened. He could be as terrifying as he wanted, the second anyone learned about his sorry excuse of a social life they suddenly saw him a charity case, defective, helpless… Nothing could be further from the truth, but nothing would convince the hypocrites that Ivan didn’t need anyone, people were only in the way, and he didn’t care for backstabbing gold diggers or emotional leeches. Jones was a person, Ivan had no use for him. God spared him just this once. Alfred, oblivious to anything but a jackhammer to the skull, missed his slip completely and continued with the friendly hostility. “Small wonder, with your personality.” Ivan was well aware of his flaws, but could do nothing to change them. His path had formed in front him on its own on that day and there were no side roads. He wasn’t like Jones, who had a say in what happened to him. He had no business commenting on what he knew nothing about, but spoken like a true American, he felt the need to police everyone else and just flap his mouth hole to make noise for the sake of it. And he had such a grating voice, too. Ivan wanted to get out of this apartment yesterday. “More coffee?” “Yes, please.” Watching Jones stuff his face with pancakes made Ivan wonder what he even found appealing about the glutton at this point. He was a slob with terrible table manners who loved putting people down. That answered the question of why he hadn’t gotten laid in ages, at least. He should get drunk more often, it seemed to better his odds. “Do you have the day off?” Ivan asked. He almost regretted it, since Jones didn’t bother swallowing his half-eaten pancakes, choosing instead to spit soggy crumbs all over the table. Ivan quickly lifted his coffee off it. Jones failed to take the hint, as expected. “Yeah, but my cousin’s coming over. I’ll have to kick you out by noon.” Ivan hadn’t been planning to stay after breakfast. He hadn’t planned to stay the night. Having to leave in a few hours was no problem for him. And even if he had been free to stay as long as he wanted, which was not a single minute by the way, he was a busy man. He had things to do. Plans to review. He wouldn’t stay even if Jones begged to blow him. “I’ll be gone before that.” Jones smirked coyly, for reasons unknown to Ivan. “Do you wear the uniform?” Ah, he was one who loved a man in uniform. Ivan could hardly blame him, he himself couldn’t resist a suit with a tie. Wonderful toys they were, so versatile, never failed to make him want to pull. He’d like to put one on Jones, for so many reasons. “Only for special occasions.” Ivan would have liked to have a newspaper at the table. The absence of one didn’t exactly surprise Ivan, Jones didn’t strike him as the type to read, even magazines. It was excusable – in his line of work it wasn’t important to know what had went on during the night. For Ivan, it was both a necessary evil and a questionable joy. Not knowing the latest updates when he walked into the office was considered bad work morale, and that’s where news apps really came in handy. A newspaper, after all, first had to go into print, and then be delivered. While all that happened, ten new things had unfolded. It was still nice to have a physical page in his hands, feel the crinkle. They were easily stored. Ivan had a whole bookcase dedicated to newspaper and magazine clippings: cold cases, cases he’d worked on, PD bashings, survival stories, true crime articles… Lately he had taken to throwing out some of the older things to make room for all the Baton killer related articles. 7 confirmed victims, 5 suspected, and that was only after a year and half of activity. Despite what you heard in popular media, it was actually quite rare for a serial killer to have more than 4 victims per year. Reporters liked to play up the numbers, speculating at least a dozen victims, but even more than that they liked blaming the police department for not catching the raving lunatic. Their words, not his – from the evidence and bodies it was clear as day the Baton killer was not crazy. Yes, he never bothered hiding the bodies well, but there was never any evidence left. Every body was cleaned thoroughly after the act to dispose of any DNA evidence, there was never a glimpse of him in security footage, no one ever reported seeing someone who didn’t belong… It takes meticulous planning and a clear mind to do something that carefully. The police weren’t even completely sure they were dealing with a male killer – the only reason to suspect that was that among the victims were two large men who had last been seen in gay bars, and an unopened condom left on the body of one female who had been reported to be fiercely faithful to her clean husband. Ivan didn’t like not knowing things. He got anxious when he couldn’t be sure. It should have been common courtesy to have one paper at the table. “A suit, then?” Ivan shook his head. He preferred wearing his everyday clothes to work, because they made him look just a bit less intimidating. A suit was a double-edged sword: on one hand, it tended to make people more nervous and slip up, but on the other, it isolated him further. Normal human interactions were few and far between for Ivan, so he cherished every single one. This was why he liked dealing with the the deaf: they couldn’t tell the disparity between his voice and stature, so they assumed he was just a normal, large man. In this Alfred resembled them. The bad thing about Jones was that he was insufferable. Ivan had a hunch Jones would be difficult with the authorities, just for the sake of being difficult. “Betcha you’d look hot in one”, Alfred said, winking. Ivan didn’t agree. He didn’t think he looked hot in most clothes. He still muttered a thank you because he wasn’t on the mood to argue.

~¨:.:¨~

Jeez, this guy was just too cute! No adult man should be allowed to have such an adorable face! The way he shyly blushed and averted his eyes to the side combined with his huge stature did something incredibly pleasant to Al. It was getting the best of two worlds. He tended to go for the big, tough guys, but enjoyed the odd twink every now and then, and here he had two for the price of one! Moving to the big city really was the best damn decision he had made in his life. Rural Kentucky just didn’t have these types. “Unlike you, no doubt”, Ivan answered weakly, and Al grinned again. He couldn’t explain why he liked exchanging insults so much. He did it all the time with Arthur, too, but the Brit always got pissed too quickly. Mattie’s game was too strong, so Al no longer did it with him. But now he had a new playmate! One that liked the game just as much! He hadn’t had this much fun since last night, and with any luck he might be able to convince the Russian babe for round two of that, as well! Maybe one day he could bring the insult game to bed? “Yeah, but I look good naked”, Al shot back. Ivan rolled his eyes and sipped his coffee again. “You get cross-eyed when you take off your glasses.” “Do not! Take that back, fatso!” With a teasing smile Ivan raised his gun again. “And you smell terrible. Have you showered in the last three days?” “Didn’t bother you last night.” “I had a momentary lapse of standards. The culture must be damaging my brain.” Aaahhh, that accent! That was paradise, right there! Ivan really had everything: looks, personality, huge body, huge dick… He should marry the guy before he wriggled away. The way to a man’s heart goes through his stomach, right? “Sure you don’t want pancakes?” Alfred confirmed. He was almost offended Ivan had refused them the first time. While his weren’t as divine as Mattie’s, they could still make a man moan in pleasure. Pancakes were the one food he never made from instant mix or in a microwave. “I am sure.” Al pouted and poured some more syrup on his stack. Fine, be that way!Vodka had probably ruined his tastebuds anyway, so he couldn’t appreciate the pancakes if he wanted to. Ivan gulped down the last of his coffee and got up. “Leaving already?” “I have work. Thank you for the coffee.” Work on Sunday? What kind of breakthrough had they had in whatever case Ivan was working on? Detectives usually only worked weekdays 9 to 5. “No prob. See ya ‘round!” Ivan scoffed as he put on his coat. He was wearing three layers, and it wasn’t even that cold yet. Guess he was just always cold, if he needed two sweaters even indoors. “No one would want to see you again. You are a headache on feet.” Al laughed. A lot of people commented on his loud voice, usually telling him to turn it down a notch. He just didn’t have an indoor voice and he got excited so easily. “And my ears are ringing from listening to you squeaking”, he joked back. He wondered why Ivan decided to use such a weird voice. Obviously he had a much deeper natural pitch, but it hadn’t come out much even last night. He sounded like a prepubescent boy. It added to his cute image, but couldn’t have been easy to produce. Maybe it was an effect of growing up with two high-pitched sisters? “Are you the youngest?” “The youngest what?” Ivan asked, voice muffled from the pale pink scarf. Another cute quirk, didn’t fit his towering height and wide shoulders at all. “Sibling. Katie’s the oldest, right?” “Yes. Katyusha is four years older and Natasha is five years younger.” “Really? You and Natalie look the same age. Do you look young or does she look old?” “It could be a little bit of both.” Ivan had his hand on the knob, but hesitated. Al tilted his head questioningly, and Ivan reached a decision. He dug out a pen from his pocket, but couldn’t find paper, so he wrote his number on the wall instead. “Call me if you want to go drinking sometime.” “After you ruin my fucking wall?! In your dreams!” Ivan gave an infuriating little smirk and closed the door after him. Damn that Russki and his adorable ways. How long should Al wait before he called? The same day would be needy and a little creepy, but he didn’t want to wait two days! Agh, this was just like that one time in Montana! Or, Christ, Tex! He couldn’t handle another bi-curious cutie deciding he wanted to stick to women! The guy was just too much fun, Al really liked just hanging out with him, not that he minded the afterhours, either… After wolfing down his seventh pancake Al did his morning pushups and jog. Artie had been right in that age would eventually catch up with him and he’d need to work harder to stay in shape. With his steady diet of junk food it was really a miracle he was so fit. Musta been good genes. Pissed Artie off to no end. Speaking of, he should clean up the place. Neither of them was looking forward to Mister Cleanliness nagging about Al’s housekeeping skills. It didn’t really even matter, no one in the history in the world had died of a few shirts on the floor, or a few weeks’ dust, or a messy closet, and penicillin had been discovered in dirty dishes. And so what if there was some food gone bad in the fridge, they were in closed containers, the bugs weren’t about to strongarm open the lids. Ehh, Artie was still three hours away, he had time. He could play some Mortal Kombat first. He needed to practice Kenshi’s fatalities anyway. And while he was on the sofa anyway, he might as well try out that GTA swing glitch! Oldie but goodie.

Knock knock. “Who’s there?” Just kidding, Al already knew it was Artie. His British cousin was the only person in the world who knocked when there was a perfectly good doorbell. “It’s me.” “Me who?” “Arthur, you bloody twat! Open up!” Sigh, ol’ Artie never played along. All he laughed at was that Monty Python show. Poor guy, he’d die an early death thanks to never laughing. Al threw the controller on the couch and got up to get the door. Yikes, those eyebrows were still a shock every time. “I swear you grow like twenty new hairs every time I see you!” Al commented, earning an irritated sigh from his cousin. After 17 years he didn’t need to ask what Al meant by that. “And you accumulate more and trash in your place. Three copies of Die Hard 2?” Artie whined looking at the living room table. Well, at least he wasn’t bitching about the dirty coffee cups and plates on the kitchen table. He should be a maid, he was so great at whining about pointless stuff. After setting his luggage in a corner, Artie made a show of placing the Xbox controller on the coffee table and making himself at home on the couch, dramatically throwing an arm over his face. “Never again!” he announced. “This baby screamed the whole flight and my neighbour spilled his orange juice all over my trousers.” Seeing Al eyeing his perfectly dry pants, he explained. “I changed in the airport toilet.” “Wanna throw them in the washing machine?” “Go ahead.” Artie’s suitcases were works of art. He knew just the way to tightroll everything and exactly how much of any given thing was needed, then filled every square inch so perfectly it looked like a Tetris high score. Speaking of Tetris! “Hey, Artie! Guess who scored with a cop last night?” “Alfred, please! I don’t want to hear about your sex life!” “But he was so great! So tall and cool and burly and cute! And I got his number!” Artie gave him a confused look from under his arm. “Burly and cute? That’s a combination you don’t hear often.” “I know! But it was awesome! God, I wish I had a photo to show you, he was just perfect! He’s a detective!” Artie lifted his feet off the couch to let Al plop down next to him. “He acted all cool and aloof and then blushed when I said he’d look hot in a suit! It was adorable!” Al knew he was gushing like a teenage girl about her latest celebrity crush but he couldn’t help it! This was the single greatest thing that had happened to him since… since he first got laid, basically! “And he’s a cop! I’ve never seen a cop like him! He wrote his number on the wall”, Al helpfully pointed at the number scratched on the wall paper. The wince on Artie’s face was great. “You two seem like you would get along swell”, he muttered. “I know! He’s not at all uptight like you are!” “It’s called being a functioning adult! You git!” “A functioning adult would have brought me Cadbury creme eggs!” “The last time I did you thought I was flirting with you!” Oh right, it had been the day before Valentine’s and Artie had been blushing for some reason.

They cleaned up the place together. Artie tried to cook “as a reward”, which would have been about as much of a reward as a death penalty. Al insisted he wouldn’t make a guest cook, so they went out for dinner, even though Artie hardly counted as a guest. He was rarely over, thanks to the ocean between them, but the guy was as much family as Mattie. Every time he stayed at Al’s place it was like a roommate coming home. Artie didn’t buy the excuse, as he never did, and claimed Al needed a good English dinner in him just once and would never go back, as he always did. This was routine for them. Everything about Artie was familiar. He had gone through a few phases in his teens and early twenties, but ever since becoming a premature grandpa the only thing that changed were his clothes. He was as stagnant as Mattie. “You gonna go see Mattie after dropping by our folks?” “I don’t have time”, Artie said. “I only have three days left and I couldn’t get a ticket. I’ll see him on Christmas.” It was something of a tradition for the whole extended family to gather at Mattie’s place on Christmas, since he was one of the few who didn’t switch apartments every year. Not everyone could make it at the same time, some stayed for a few days before Christmas and some dropped in to say hi on Christmas Day. Al always stayed in the guest room, but the sheer number of relatives forced the large majority to stay in hotels. Artie got a mattress on the floor the years his pervert husband stayed home. They had learned from the first time. “Francis is still working out his schedule so I’m not sure if he can make it.” “Good! He’s already got a hubby, he shouldn’t hit on Mattie!” Francis was an okay guy most of the time, but you better not let your guard down or you’d find his hands down your pants. How Artie hadn’t dumped his cheating ass was something Al would never understand. If he ever started going steady, he wouldn’t forgive a single stray ogle. Luckily Ivan didn’t seem like the type to cheat, since it had taken him so long to even realize Al had been hitting on him from the first sentence he had said to him. It didn’t look like the guy had much of a sex drive. “And he better stay the hell away from my date, too!” “Your date? Weren’t you single just a few hours ago?” “I’m talking about that cop!” Artie made a face, but Al couldn’t figure out what he had said wrong this time. “Al, you only met the guy yesterday, and now you’re bringing him to Canada for Christmas?” “No! I mean, I could, I think we really clicked and I’m of course awesome so he totally wouldn’t say no.” Another face, more concerned than exasperated this time. “Oh come on Artie, be a little more happy for me wontcha?” “I am, it’s just that – you’ve been hurt before, because you get so into it far too early.” Right, Tex. But this was different from Tex! Ivan was completely comfortable being with men! He wouldn’t pull the same “incompatible” stunt he had! Ivan and Al went so well together, they liked the same things, they understood each other, and talking was so easy between them. Talking with Tex had sometimes been like pulling teeth. “I’ll be fine! I’m a grown man! And it’s just for fun – I just meant I wouldn’t object to getting serious if he wants to.” “Well – good luck”, Artie muttered. “Thanks!”

The next morning Al woke up to a horrible smell drifting from the kitchen. Not the worst Artie had ever caused, but it still made his eyes water. The sentiment was nice, but Artie just didn’t get that his breakfast would be put to better use in torture chambers. They did the usual song and dance – Artie claiming his cooking was great and Al just didn’t understand the fine undertones of British cuisine, and Al dumping his portion in the garbage and frying a healthy dose of bacon. Then they went sightseeing, since this was Artie’s first time in this city – the last time he had been living in Waynesburg. He’d leave tomorrow while Al was at work, so they had to make the day nice, since they would next see each other on Christmas. Granted, they talked daily but it still felt important to part on friendly terms. The one time they hadn’t, Artie had cut all contact with Al for 5 years. It didn’t matter that it had been over a decade ago, that before and after they were thick as thieves. So the next morning Al let his cousin make breakfast, bravely swallowed one bite and washed it down with half a gallon of Coke, and finished with three sunny side ups. Artie insisted his “baked beans”, that is, a sad, dry heap of something bumpy, and black pudding were delicious and nutritious. That might have been the case with store-bought “pudding” that had no business being called pudding, if the ingredient’s weren’t so god damn gross to begin with. “It’s an acquired taste, that’s for sure”, Al muttered in response. How Artie was capable of swallowing his own hellish productions was a mystery for the ages. He was married to a master chef and still lived in a delusional world where his own cooking wouldn’t be censored in daytime TV. Al left the Brit to shovel his indescribable “consumables” alone, and 15 minutes later arrived at the station. “Morning, guys!” “Morning”, greeted a chorus. A slow night, then, if so many were at the station. José made space for Al at the table and they went over the incidents of the last shift. A couple car crashes, two kitchen fires, one false alarm. Such a big city and so few incidents, that couldn’t last. Today would have to be busy. Stu dug out the playing cards after the last shift went home. They were starting the second round of poker when duty called the first time – a false alarm from an old folks’ home, something had spilled on the stove and triggered the alarm. One of the nurses made eyes at Stu, who never wasted a chance to flirt with a pretty face. “Way to keep it professional, Stu”, Jack sighed back in the truck. Jack was a forty-year old virgin. Word on the street was he’d never had a single girlfriend, or boyfriend, and that was why he was so frustrated. He spent most of his free time exercising and fishing. “I just made her day”, Stu argued proudly. He never went beyond flirting, as far as Al knew – the man worshiped his wife. His phone memory was 90% pictures of her. That reminded Al - should he have called Ivan yesterday? Al knew he wouldn’t mind being contacted the next morning, but Artie did keep telling him he was the most socially clueless bloke in the world, so maybe he shouldn’t trust his own judgment? Why hadn’t he asked Artie yesterday? The old man might not have been in the game for a decade, but he had to still have some memories from his single days! “Hey Jack, suppose you gave your number to a girl. Wouldja think she was desperate if she called you the next day?” Jack sighed exasperatedly, like he always did when Al asked him for relationship advice. “I don’t know. I never know anything you ask! Think whatever you think.” “I just wanna make sure! ‘Cause I don’t wanna drive away a good guy by being creepy.” “You’ll drive him away by being obnoxious”, Jack snapped. “Can we please concentrate on work instead of your sex life?” “I’d rather not think about all the dick my coworker is sucking, either”, Stu commented from behind the wheel. Had it been anyone else, Al would have punched them. Stu was chill, he just had a crass sense of humor and no brain-to-mouth filter. “Honestly though, wait until next evening but not longer. You’ll want to seem interested.” Shit, so was it already too late?! A day and a half had already passed! And the station was still ten minutes away! Had he already screwed up his chance? Jeez, stay cool, man! Ivan was totally into him, if anything he’d be overjoyed Al had remembered him! Yeah, that sounded much better. Al could salvage this. Right when they got to the station he’d call. Riiiiight… nnnnnnnnnoooooooooow! “I need to make a call!” he yelled and sprinted for the relative peace of the locker room.

~¨:.:¨~

Ivan was in no mood for solicitors right now. Staring at files and security footage for hours on end was soul-sucking work enough without some young hopeful desperately begging him to buy just this one amazing supplement that comes free with this subscription of these seven home improvement magazines only for 19.99 per month! Ivan never had problems hanging up on them immediately but that didn’t take away the reminder of outside life. For now, the only place that was supposed to exist was this sleazy alley with dismal lighting where one frame in a week’s worth might or might not reveal that Richard Boyarin had walked by it at some point during his vacation. Incredibly important work. Ivan frowned at the screen. It was a number he didn’t have saved on his phone. That was no news, he had a total of eight numbers in there. Two were his sisters’, one his boss’, one his partner’s, one for the station front desk, three for delivery food. He suddenly had the irrationally hopeful thought that it might be Alfred. Absurd as the notion was, it was tempting. And Toris clearly wanted him to silence the ringing, so why not try his luck? Anything would be better than trying to distinguish the black pixels from the other, slightly less black pixels. Fully prepared to be disappointed, Ivan answered as harshly as he could. “Alyo?” ”Hey Vanya, it’s Alfred!” Thoroughly shocked, but altogether pleased, Ivan felt an unexpectedly honest smile forming on his face, and casually insulted Alfred’s pronunciation. “Oh screw you, I did fine. You free tomorrow night?” Alfred’s nasal voice asked, completely carefree and smiling widely. Typical American, but at least Alfred’s smile wasn’t deceitful. He smiled because he was happy, not because he needed a good tip to pay his bills. Ivan was free, and had the feeling he would even make himself free if he hadn’t been. But the idiot didn’t need to know that, his ego was bloated enough already. “Hmm…” Pausing as if to check his calendar, Ivan lifted a finger to his lips at the nervously disapproving Toris. There was never any evidence in the Baton killer’s cases anyway. Of course not a single hair, spit drop or footprint had been found in this one either, which was the whole reason they had been forced to turn to these good as useless security tapes. The only thing ever found were the bodies, and that they had already analyzed to Hell and back, and of course it had revealed nothing new. Why pour over the same old evidence, hour after countless hour without any breaks? There would be a new victim, perhaps soon, even, there had been a long break between the last two. Then they could actually work. “Yes, I have a few hours after seven.” It wouldn’t do to look too eager. Ivan Braginski did not chase after men. “Great! Wanna go out? Rocker’s has a party celebrating the owner’s daughter’s birthday so they’ll have free booze! See you there at eight!” It better not be punch. “I suppose. What’s the address?” “It’s right next to orthodox church, you’ll find it!” If he found the church. Ivan rarely paid attention to places of worship, and then only to avoid them. Well, he would just Google the place later. Couldn’t be too many Orthodox churches in a city like this. He wondered if Alfred suggested the place because he thought Ivan had an inclination towards the Eastern church. “And hey, you never showed me your badge”, Alfred whined. An adult man, so fixated on badges, how cute. “You didn’t ask.” “Well show it to me tomorrow! You’ll love it”, Alfred said, wiggling his eyebrows so hard they almost rode the electronic waves to Ivan’s desk. He truly did like cops. Alfred was delightfully childish in a way that was funny for a few hours, but no one could take for more than a day at a time. One could only imagine how he had been as an actual child. Ten times as bad, or exactly the same? Maybe some boys never did grow up, as they say. “Only If you promise to stop whining.” “I promise nothing! Come onnnn, I’ll show ya my hose…” Again the eyebrows wiggled and Ivan almost snickered. Such a strange person. How old was he? He had looked a bit younger than Ivan, so maybe thirty or late twenties? A good age, young enough to enjoy fun but not young enough go overboard, old enough to understand life but not old enough to be weary of it. “Well in that case. Will you show me how it works?” “Oh, I’ll show you all right, and let you try…” This time Ivan did snort. “Tone down the eyebrows and I might take up your offer”, he chuckled, making Toris tilt his head in confusion. It couldn’t be that odd to hear Ivan laugh, could it? Surely he had done it in his partner’s presence before. “Eyebrows?” Alfred asked and the eyebrows stopped wiggling. He must have done it instinctively so he didn’t even pick up on it. Ivan wouldn’t be surprised – Alfred hardly seemed the perceptive type. The only things he could think about were probably sex, cheetos and beer. “You want me to pluck ‘em? They’re kinda thin already…” “Nevermind. Just make sure to impress me and you’ll get something good in return”, Ivan smirked, whirling around on his office chair. “Ivan –“ Toris attempted, but a quick hushing from Ivan silenced him and made him go back to studying the badly pixellated security footage. “Oh, do you have company?” “Just my partner. We’re going through some evidence.” Thank you, Toris. Live a little, nerd. “Jeez, you should have said you were at work. Tell me all about it later! Seven at Rocker’s! Bye!” “Bye.” With a heavy sigh Ivan put his phone back in his pocket. Security footage was easily the most mind-numbing part of police work, even worse than paper work, and in homicide investigation it contrasted so badly with the actual interesting part it felt ten times more tedious than in any other department. “Toris, you wouldn’t mind getting me a coffee?” Toris silently nodded and scurried off. The diminutive Lithuanian was an interesting mix of courage and nerves: on the job he wouldn’t flinch even when a gun was pointed at him, but whenever he was alone with his partner, he became a fidgety mess. Brilliant man, great at his job, but very meek. He had joined the force three years before Ivan, and was also that same three years older. They had been partnered seven months ago, after Ivan’s then-partner had been crippled on duty when they had been chasing a suspect. Tragic story, really. She would have survived the car crash with minor injuries, had a freak malfunction not made her gun fire inside the car and lodge the bullet in her spine. One of the finest of the force, she had been. Dedicated, smart.

You might have noticed that Ivan goes back and forth with Alfred and Jones – that’s on purpose. He uses Jones whenever he wants to maintain some distance, and Alfred when he forgets to despise all of humanity. Oh Ivan, you’re not nearly as misanthropic as you tell yourself!

Dobroye utro(Дoбрoе утрo): Good morning Alyo( Алё): Hello

Chapter name comes from Ship of Fools by World party. I should probably mention that the song lyrics have nothing to do with the chapter contents, I choose them purely by title. Also the symbolism mostly only makes sense to me:D Don’t mind if you don’t get what I’m going for.

#hereandthere #fan fiction #hetalia #russiaXamerica #AmeRus #RusAme #linssifanfiction #wiptale

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shingeki-no-scenarios · 7 years

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Title: First Love

Characters: Connie Springer x Sasha Braus

Genre: Fluff

AU: Modern

Summary: She was and always will be his first love.

A/N: No one really asked for this, and I still got requests to work on, but I really wanted to write something based off this video orz Let me know if you want me to translate the narration in the video :)

The boy fidgeted restlessly while he longingly eyed the play area. It was bad enough that the line was long and moving slowly, but to make matters worse, he was dying to run over and jump in the ball pit. However, his mother was firm on them grabbing something to eat first before giving him the freedom to play. He groaned and buried his face in his palm, knowing that he could have made tons of friends and played lots of games in the time they spent waiting in line.

“My, my. Look who it is.” a voice of a seemingly mature woman broke his reverie, making his snap his head to the side. A frown made its way to his face upon seeing the smiling face of a woman he’s never seen in his life. Was she even referring to him?

“Oh, my days!” his mother exclaimed; she seemed to recognize the woman based on the way she squealed and threw herself in the woman’s embrace. “It’s been forever since we last saw each other!” she tightened her hug and fought back tears of joy, while her son rolled his eyes and let go of her hand. He knew that this meant they would need plenty of time to catch up, and he would never get the chance to play given that there wouldn’t be anyone to watch him.

“Are you here alone?” the woman asked upon breaking the hug and smoothing out her dress.

“Oh, no! I’m here with Connie. Do you remember him? He was 4 months old when you last saw him.” she grinned and urged Connie to step forward. He resisted at first, embarrassed and reluctant to interact with a total stranger, but the forceful push from his mother compelled him to go closer and put on his best smile.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” he greeted and held out his hand for her to shake. However, all he got was a rather harsh pat to the head and excited squeals from the older lady.

“Is this really Connie? He’s so big now! Polite, too!” she chuckled and pinched on his cheek hard, making the boy wince. It was one thing to invade his personal space, but physically overwhelming him was another thing.

“What about you? Are you here alone?” his mother asked, returning the question thrown to her earlier.

“I’m here with my daughter, Sasha. Remember her?” was the woman’s reply, making Connie quirk an eyebrow. If this girl was his age, maybe he could convince his mother to let them play together. They could look after each other, after all. Curiously, he peeked over to see this Sasha girl they were talking about, only to find a girl staring longingly at the overhead menu. She looked like she was around his age though she was a bit taller, and had an adorable ponytail on her head.

What took him by surprise, however, was how she had the most beautiful face he’s ever seen.

“Sasha, dear? I’d like you to meet Connie. He’s my best friend’s son.” her mother called out, abruptly snapping her out of her trance. She met eyes with him and offered a warm, friendly smile.

“Hi, Connie. My name’s Sasha.” she greeted through her wide grin.

He was young and had a lot to learn, but at that moment, his fluttering heart and warm cheeks told him that he was in love.

––

The slow service was more than enough to make the kids’ stomachs growl in hunger, which is why the moment they got a seat and was served their food, they immediately dug in, not even bothering to say grace.

“I love ketchup with fries.” Connie commented, happily munching on his food. The women were too absorbed with catching up to notice what he said, leaving Sasha to react accordingly.

“I agree. It’s the best.” she replied in between huge bites of her burger. The way her cheeks swelled made her even cuter in his eyes, thus making him avert his eyes to his meal lest he creeps her out. “Have you heard of fries and ice cream?” she asked, wanting to keep the conversation going.

“What now?” he looked up, face filled with bewilderment. Instead of meeting her eyes, he found her dipping fries into her chocolate sundae. While the normal person would be disgusted, he was amused and curious.

“Ah, as expected.” she hummed, relishing the delicious marriage of sweet and salty once she got a bite. She wasn’t quite sure how she thought of it, though she was glad that she did.

"That’s new.” he commented. Chuckling, he imitated what she did and found himself in paradise upon discovering how delicious it was. She was not only a pretty face, but she also knew her stuff.

Sighing in content, he leaned his cheek on his palm and watched her enjoy her meal. He felt full just from looking at her eat, thus letting his mother have the rest of his fries and half his burger. He was so absorbed with watching her eat that he didn’t notice that she had eaten everything.

“Done!” she exclaimed, raising a hand and grinning widely. “Now, come on, let’s play!” she hopped off her seat and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the direction of the play area.

While his mother called out to tell him to take it easy, he didn’t hear anything but his heart pound wildly in his chest as he let her drag him into the ball pit.

––

Twenty years later, nothing has changed. She was still the same– energetic, jolly, and dragging him towards the play area the same way she did when they were younger.

“Slow down, girl!” he called out, feeling his supply of air dwindle. However, what really took the air out of his lungs was how beautiful her smile was after all this year.

“I can’t help if I’m excited!” she replied with a giggle. Ever since that day their mothers ran into each other, the pair have become the best of friends, no matter how much distance got in between them as a result of university and career choices.

As soon as they got to the play area, she halted and grinned even wider, making him cock his head to the side. He was hoping that she wouldn’t get the idea of jumping into the ball pit, given that they were physically too big for it. Nonetheless, he hoped that she was thinking of it for nostalgia’s sake.

“Uh, Connie.” she started, voice going softer and shyer. He let out a calm hum in response despite his heart going wild once more. Albeit rare, she was so adorable whenever she was shy and rather timid the way she was now– it made his heart beat of control. “There’s... There’s someone I want you to meet.” she uttered, making his heart drop to his stomach in a split second.

Before he had any time to react, a man approached them, immediately asking Sasha where has she been and if she’s eaten yet. The way they seemed to be more than friends made him nervous, but he noticed a little girl clinging onto one of the man’s legs, making him pale with anxiety.

“Oh, Connie, this is Marco, my husband.” she started, making every sensation he had in his body disappear. She’s married, the thought played again and again in his head like a broken record.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Marco courteously shook hands with Connie, who had a sunny expression painted on his face though his heart cracked with every second that passed. “She’s told me so much about you.” he added with a light chuckle.

“This here is my little girl, Connie.” Sasha interjected before Connie could process the fact that she has a husband. “Say hi, sweetheart.” she cooed at the little girl, who took one glance at the stranger before burying her face in her mother’s leg. She muttered an apology before scooping her daughter in her arms, pressing a loving kiss to the child’s heated cheek.

“She’s shy.” he muttered, smiling at her daughter fondly. She looked just like Sasha in her younger years, making his heart warm up even more to the child even if he wished that she was his. “Shall we go eat now?” he offered, wanting to distract himself with a meal before his heart could break even more.

“Oh, you know it!” was Sasha reply before she happily skipped over to the counter; her daughter squealed and delight and clapped her hands, excited by her mother’s happiness. The two men chuckled lightly and shook their heads before following her.

––

Though the scene in front of him was filled with nothing but love and happiness, he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of bitterness and sadness in his heart. While he has dated quite a number of girls in his younger years, none of them were able to made him feel the way she made him feel. He wished that he realized that sooner so he could tell her.

“Are you alright?” Marco’s voice broke him out of his mindless trance, slightly startling him. Chucking lightly, his dismissed his question and assured him that he was fine and just a bit tired.

However, Sasha knew that something was up– she knew him like the back of her hand, after all. As much as she denied that she could have waited for him, the sadness and hurt she was sensing from him told her otherwise. Despite living a perfect life with her husband and daughter, there were times wherein she wished she could have ended up with her first love.

Like a psychic, Connie picked up the sudden drop in the woman’s disposition, making him internally panic. He didn’t mean to let all his emotions out and ruin a perfect day like this, but he couldn’t help it. Never mind what he felt, he was now on a mission to bring back her beautiful smile.

“I’m sorry.” he muttered low enough for only Sasha to hear. Thankfully, Marco was preoccupied with feeding and cleaning up their little girl, giving the other man a chance to lock eyes with her to show how sincere he was.

“It’s fine.” she whispered with a warm smile, albeit having sadness still evident in her eyes. She never meant to hurt her best friend like this, but she did.

“Don’t cry now.” he softly chided, eliciting a laugh from her. Grinning at how she was able to perk back up, he reached over for a handful of fries and dipped them in his chocolate sundae while she watched in amusement and shock. He remembers.

In that moment, all memories of their childhood came flooding back to them like a high quality movie, making them feel giddy and young once more. In that moment, they were able to feel what first love was like.

They may not have ended up together, but they would always love each other the way they did when they first ate ice cream and fries together.

#snk #aot #sasha braus #connie springer #sasha x connie #connie x sasha #springles #fic

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wild-e-art-e · 7 years

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One more bet | Saint FFic Fest

After so long without writing (no, better say, finish anything) I’m happy about this; was funny to write, I like the characters and the topic! I hope you enjoy and comments are always welcome.

This time I didn’t have time to ask someone to hep me to check it orz so, any mistake, remember english isn’t my first langauge but I will glad to edit it later after exams.

UNIVERSE: StS Universe CHARACTER(S): Saori Kido, Dragon Shiryu & Cygnus Hyoga SCENERY: Saori’s piano parlour LENGTH: 2580 words CATEGORY: Friendship / Comedy (?? I don’t know, I hope you laugh)

The big windows of the alley helped to have some nice natural light. Dragon Shiryu smiled feeling the warm over his skin and realised that for sure his Goddess, Saori Kido, was feeling the same.

After a small trip from China to Japan, in comparison the ones he had to Greece, Shiryu already left his baggage in the guest room he would share with Seiya and now was talking with her about the party of that night. Not a party exactly, just an elegant dinner for the Foundation who will help some students with scholarships. And Saori somehow thought would be good for the Bronze Saints to have a normal and calm night. Normal for her, and totally awkward for them.

“I’m glad you arrived at the time, Shiryu.” Saori smiled as both were walking towards the staircase, maybe to get ready for lunch time.

“Well, Athena, I didn’t want to disappoint you. You asked very nice for our help.”

“Shiryu, once again, stop calling me Athena. It feels weird being outside the Sanctuary.”

The Dragon Saints just chuckled and nodded.

“Too much time with my master. But, anyway, did someone else has arrived?” he asked curiously mostly for someone. “Did Ikki say yes to the invitation?”

“Oh, well, you know him better than I do. He hasn’t answer and there are chances he arrives or chances he doesn’t arrive. Shun, on the other hand, was very happy to come and see you guys. Seiya said will come later because of some matters in the Sanctuary.” Saori looked satisfied at least knowing four of the five were there. “And Hyoga, he arrived last night very late so maybe he must be sleeping.”

“Really? Oh… I hope he doesn’t sleep too much. But if Hyoga and Shun are in the same place, Ikki will come running.”

“Of course. One is his brother and one is his husband.” Saori giggled by the surprise of Shiryu, who just looked at her very serious of that last comment. “Sorry…”

“Let me guess, you talked with Shiva last night.” He sighed to then smile trying to don’t laugh about those two and their friendship.

“I would love she comes to save me from this boring dinner. But, in the other hand, she would be flirting with all the handsome guys that will come.”

Both kept in silence, Saori thinking about how much fun would be seeing Shiva around acting as the peacock he was and flirting shamelessly with the other men, while Shiryu was a bit worried to the fact Hyoga was still sleeping. The only good thing about those downs of the Cygnus Saint was that for sure Ikki would appear any moment.

“Well, I hope our old brother arrives and…”

A horrible, thunderous, incredibly annoying and high pitch sound suddenly. And the continuation of said noise was moving from high to low but still terrible. Shiryu and Saori, with both hands over their ears, saw each other; the Dragon Saints expecting an answer from the goddess herself and she was just trying to see if he could have it by any guess.

Quickly as they could, they ran to the source of such atrocity just to find the music room, the one that had a beautiful classical old piano where Saori learned to play when so young, as well some books she used to take breaks time to time. But, something was sure, that sound wasn’t at all her beloved piano.

Without waiting any longer, or the few minutes their ears could survive, Shiryu opened the doors just to find a very funny image. Even the same Saori couldn’t hide a snort and take her phone to try to take a picture, Shiva needed to see this.

It was so noisy, it was a torture for their eats, but then it would be the death for the same Cygnus Saint, he who was causing such apocalyptic sound. Hyoga was holding a bagpipe and his cheeks were red as he was pushing all the air from his mouth, without noticing that he was closing his eyes for the noise and that inflammation inside his mouth. Wasn’t till Shiryu decided to take the bagpipe that Hyoga stopped and realised those two were there, his brother with not such pleasant face and Saori still giggling about that last scene.

“Oh… hello, guys.” Hyoga said with a low voice.

“What were you doing?!” Shiryu asked giving him back the instrument. “It sounded like you were killing a cat… or a bag of cats.”

“C’mon, I wasn’t playing that badly.”

“Hyoga, it was horrible.” Explained Saori looking at him now a bit serious. “We were going deaf.”

“Don’t worry, the speciality of Shiryu is getting blind.” he laughed, being interrupted by a profanity in Chinese.

He didn’t look that happy as he crossed his arms.

“Did Ikki told you to make fun of me in the moment you saw me?”

“No… yes.” Hyoga smiled. “But I did it because I had the opportunity.”

Before a fight pitched began between the Cygnus and Dragon Saints, Saori decided to finished with just moving in the middle of those two.

“I don’t think I’m the one who needs to give you a talk about being respectful towards your own brother, but I would like to know what are you doing here and why playing that.”

For Shiryu wasn’t that hard to calm down and, at a certain point, he was used to hearing those jokes time to time, he even laughed at them, but the whole bagpipe thing just made him go to the border of his patience. Anyway, Hyoga decided to place said instrument over a table and tried to explain those questions Saori just did.

“Well, you invited us to the party.”

“That’s obvious.” Said Saori.

“There you go your answer.” He smiled once again, but the way Saori and Shiryu were looking at him explained they weren't very happy about that answer. “Fine, I was practising the bagpipe.”

“Practising?” asked his brother. “As in ‘I know how to play it so I will practice’ kind of way?” he chuckled a bit. “No, that was like ‘I don’t even know how to play it so let’s give a try’ kind of way.”

“Excuse me? I did take classes before today.”

“How many?”

Saori asked to then see how Hyoga took a pause. He looked around and then at his hand counting with his fingers. Totally, with one hand he could count them and even some fingers were left.

“Ok, maybe I didn’t take many classes but I know how to use it.”

“How to use it? Really?” Shiryu was trying to don’t laugh as he saw the bagpipe.

“Sorry, sorry, ‘Mr. Perfect’, but I still have time. I was thinking in play tonight.”

“Wait, in the party?” Saori asked feeling already the shame of said action.

But Shiryu just denied with the head.

“Don’t worry, his shyness wouldn’t even let him say his name in front of those people.”

“Exactly.” Hyoga nodded. “I just want to practice a bit before Ikki arrives.”

Thanks to this, the owner of the manor and the Dragon Saint looked, once again, at each other. It wasn’t totally needed to ask why in the underworld Hyoga wanted to practice before his brother arrived because their faces said everything. Even so, Saori wanted to let Hyoga know.

“Ikki?” she asked.

“Yeah, he will come tonight, maybe after the party.”

“At least we know he will come.” Shiryu smiled. “But why to play the bagpipes?”

The half-Russian smiled but at the same time looked a bit nervous.

“We did a bet.”

Of course, for sure. Those two ‘birds’ really liked to make those kinds of things. If they weren’t playing pranks around the Sanctuary, they would play them to each other or do bets. A big part of them beginning by the hands of the Phoenix Saint.

“What kind of bet? Let’s see who breaks Shiryu’s patience first?”

“Oh, no.” Hyoga laughed a bit because of this. “We did this bet the last time we saw each other, beginning the exactly next day. We need to learn something new and show it off today. To make it better, Ikki chose for me and I chose for him.”

That, in comparison with their pranks, was almost harmless. If it wasn’t because before open the doors, Shiryu and Saori suffered a bit. But now they were curious about what Hyoga chose for his best friend and brother.

“Crochet, obviously.” He laughed as it was the best idea in the world.

“You gave to one of the most dangerous Bronze Saints two big needles. Great.” Shiryu explained. “Weapons, in fewer words.”

“Anything is a weapon in his hands, anyway. But, here is my problem, I thought he wouldn’t do it because was too… you know.”

“Girly?” Saori said a bit serious.

“Ah… well… don’t tell to Shiva I said that because I didn’t even say it. But, let me explain.” He said pointing at the bagpipes. “I didn’t practice or asked for a teacher because I thought Ikki wouldn’t try it at all. Then last week he sent me a picture of a scarf he did!”

“Ikki is doing crochet?” Shiryu said with big eyes to then… laugh hard. “You must be kidding me!”

“What’s wrong about a guy doing that?” asked Saori a bit annoyed.

“Nothing at all.” The half-Chinese said being honest. “But Ikki doing crochet, that’s another story. I mean, myself I know how to do cross-stitch because of Shunrei, but Ikki?”

Now that he mentioned it, Saori couldn’t indeed picture that in his head. For sure that man burned more than one scarf before the one he showed to Hyoga. And that’s why she laughed.

“Maybe he bought the scarf just to scare you.” She said in the end. “Don’t worry.”

For a second Hyoga thought about it and maybe she was right about it, Ikki would like to prank him a bit before seeing him. He sighed and nodded with a smile, to then being interrupted by one of the servants of the manor.

“Miss Saori?”

“Miss Saori?” another voice interrupted. It was Ikki, holding a bag pack and a suitcase. “Yeah, of course, ‘Miss’.”

“Nice to see you, Ikki.” She answered with a diplomatic smile.

“Brother!” the Cygnus Saint moved quickly to say hello to his brother with a bump fist while Shiryu helped him with the suitcase.

“How was your fly?” he asked.

“Ah, I could use my speed.”

“You asked a first-class ticket.” Saori interrupted.

“Yeah, but the same people of the economic class spend the same hours than me who was drinking a margarita.” Ikki explained.

“And why are you here so early? You said you would come after the party.” Asked Hyoga.

The older brother just placed his arm around his neck.

“The party don’t start till I walk in, bro.”

“It is a gala party, very serious, Ikki.” Said Saori.

The Phoenix Saint looked at her without expression to then chuckled.

“I will not go to that party. Hey, Shiryu, do you want to go to a bar with me?”

“No? Saori invited me tonight to…”

“Ok, ok, fine, then I will go with Hyoga. You both know he will be an awkward duck around those fancy people.” He sighed. “But anyway, I’m here and I’m hungry.”

“We were going to eat something… before your brother decided to put cats in a bag and blow to them.” Shiryu explained.

Hyoga laughed because of this as he removed Ikki’s arm from his shoulders.

“See? I did my part, Ikki.” He smiled a bit proud of himself. “You just bought a scarf.”

“No.” Ikki answered while taking his backpack to open it. “In fact, I did something for you and for Shun.”

Once again, Saori couldn’t wait to take his phone and send that picture to her friend. Ikki quickly placed a crochet hat over Hyoga’s head, one that looked like a white duck with an angry face and the same symbol the Cygnus’ armour had in the helmet. His young brother just saw it and realised that there couldn’t exist a shop that sells that, and much less the scarf that has some kind of chains as patterns.

“Well, I can play the bagpipe for you…”

“No!” said Shiryu and Saori in the same time.

Of course, this made Ikki be a bit serious as he didn’t understand why they reacted like that.

“Believe me, Hyoga did practice. He knows how to use it.” Smiled Saori. “I have a better idea, let’s get ready to eat something. C’mon, Hyoga, I will help you to place the bagpipe in… that… another bag.”

Hyoga felt a bit relieved with this and nodded to then follow Saori to the other side of the room to do as she said. Shiryu now was with Ikki alone and decided to ask him something else as he was speaking in a low voice.

“May I ask you something?” Ikki let him know that he could with a sound. “Why a bagpipe?”

“Why not?” Ikki moved his shoulders.

“Yeah but, why that bet? Lately, you both do weird bets.” The Dragon Saint began to think about it. “You challenged him to learn to cook, he failed a bit, to be honest. Then you had this weird bet about finding a job and now this? Why?”

The Phoenix Saint smiled and nodded.

“I can’t take care of Hyoga 24/7, you know?” he said, with a touch of sadness.

“Neither of Shun, but you don’t do weird bets with him.”

“And I don’t call him every day either.” Ikki said with a low voice as well, but strong enough to make Shiryu know that he was serious. “Look, I know that both of them are capable of many things and even more. My young brother is strong and Hyoga as well, but the difference is that sometimes, some terrible times, Hyoga doesn’t feel like that. So, at least he had his mind busy, don’t you think so?”

The other brother saw him with a smile and some proud and respect to then turn to see how Hyoga and Saori were fighting with that instrument. He sighed.

“I get it. But he needs another kind of help.”

“While he gets it, I will do more of those weird bets.” Ikki chuckled. “Maybe the next one will be doing an appointment with a psychologist, I don’t know, I just help as I can.”

“And that’s great, Ikki.” Shiryu patted his back in a friendly way as the others came close.

“What’s great?” Hyoga said to then remove the hat from his head. “Apart from this abomination of Swan.”

“Adorable abomination.” Said Saori. “At least that’s what Shiva thought.”

“Thanks a lot, you send her pictures.” Sighed Hyoga. “She will not stop bothering me now.”

“Quack, quack, mother fucker.” Smiled Ikki.

“Anyway, what’s great you asked? Ikki decided he will cook for us, right? Some pizza or maybe sushi or what’s on the menu, chef?” Shiryu joked a bit.

“Whatever you want, just give me the ingredients.” He quickly held Hyoga from the neck and placed the hat again over his head. “Let’s go, duck.”

“Oh! Just don’t hurt me!”

Those two began their usual fight as moving outside the room while Saori and Shiryu looked at them and just broke the silence for one single thing.

“Let’s hide that bagpipe.”

#Saint FFic Fest English #Saint FFic Fest Music #Saint FFic Fest 2017 #Saori Kido #Dragon Shiryu #Cygnus Hyoga #phoenix ikki #saint seiya #stsfanwork

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sage-nebula · 7 years

Text

@mywaywardcupcake --- Thank you so much for reblogging one of my fics recently! (This one here---snippets from Tilling a Grave to Keep Things Level.) I’m sorry I missed your initial reblog; my first salty meme that I made for the twentieth anniversary PokéAni movie has been filling my notifications, and tumblr ends up eating some notifications when you receive too many. I’m sorry about that!

That said, I read your tags, and---there is more to that fic, but it’s unfinished. It’s currently resting at 16 pages / 8317 words. I can’t say when it will be completed, but here is another snippet since you were interested:

It was the work he put into this that led him tracking down Jounouchi that Saturday after school—well, that and the fact that Jounouchi had been AWOL the previous day, something Hirutani was not about to let slide. Hirutani found him over by the bike rack, steering his bike away from it, and although Hirutani felt a brief note of confusion for why Jounouchi was choosing to walk alongside his bike rather than ride it, he had his unspoken question answered a second later when he noticed Honda Hiroto by Jounouchi’s side.

Honda. Of course. If Hirutani had to guess, that was the reason why Jounouchi had ditched on the previous day’s activities, too. If that was the case, Hirutani couldn’t claim to be surprised.

As much as he wanted to lay into Jounouchi for ditching him, and as much as he wanted to chew him out for not even bothering to check in today as well, Hirutani swallowed his temper and made his way over. He caught up to them as they made it back to the main path, and circled around so that he was standing in front of Jounouchi’s bike. Honda noticed him immediately and stiffened, but Jounouchi didn’t look up until Hirutani placed his foot against his bike’s tire to impede its progress.

“Oh. Hey,” Jounouchi said, and it took actual effort for Hirutani to not roll his eyes at how casual he looked and sounded.

“You have plans tonight,” he said instead, and while Honda scowled (no doubt thinking all sorts of things he wouldn’t dare to actually say while Hirutani was standing right there, Hirutani was sure), Jounouchi frowned a little, looking confused.

“Uh, not . . . really, no. I don’t really have anything going on. Actually, I was thinking—”

“No, I’m telling you, you have plans,” Hirutani said. Honda exhaled sharply and looked away, while Jounouchi raised his eyebrows.

“Really?” he asked, and he leaned against his bike’s handlebars. “Says who?”

“Me. Who do you think?” Hirutani said. Jounouchi snorted and smirked a little, and it was only because Hirutani knew Jounouchi wouldn’t—couldn’t, really, but at least wouldn’t in this case—say no that kept him from resisting the impulse to knock the smirk off his face. “Listen. Kirishima is throwing a house party tonight since his parents are out of town for the weekend. Not only will everyone from his group be there, but I’m sure there will be plenty of others, too—others that we can secure tonight so we don’t have to do the extra legwork later. We’re going.”

Jounouchi, to his credit, did look interested. “Will there be chicks there?”

This time, Hirutani did roll his eyes. “What the hell do you think? Obviously, but—”

“And it’s gonna be a big thing, right? A ton of people will be crashing it, right?”

“Probably. Do you—”

“Hey, Honda.” Jounouchi looked over at Honda, who looked a bit startled at being so abruptly pulled into the conversation, though probably not as startled as Hirutani felt that Jounouchi actually had the audacity to talk to Honda right in front of him. “Wanna go to a party?”

Hirutani didn’t know where to begin—whether he should point out that Honda clearly wasn’t invited, or that Jounouchi didn’t need to sit there and invite someone when it was obvious the two of them were going to the party for a reason—but before he had a chance to say anything, Honda’s eyes darted to him for a second before he looked back at Jounouchi with an expression that suggested he had swallowed a live insect.

“No thanks,” he said.

Hirutani was grateful that Honda at least knew his place, but the fact that Jounouchi actually looked a little disappointed did nothing to lessen Hirutani’s quickly souring mood.

“Okay. Suit yourself,” Jounouchi said, before he looked back at Hirutani. “Sounds cool to me, man. I’m in.”

“I know,” Hirutani said, and Honda rolled his eyes and looked away with another bitchy huff as Hirutani said, “We’ll meet by the station at nine thirty. You can tell your old man you’re spending the night at my place.”

Jounouchi scoffed. “Like he gives a damn where I am. He’ll probably be passed out by the time I leave, anyway.”

“Even better.”

By this point, the crowds had mostly thinned, with the only stragglers being those who had to cross the schoolyard to make it to their after-school clubs or sports teams. They still had about six hours to go before the party, and there was plenty they could do in that time—plenty that Hirutani wanted to do, anyway—but before he could open his mouth to say anything, Jounouchi beat him to the punch.

“Anyway, I’ll see you later. We’ve got things to do before the party.” He jerked his head toward Honda, who glanced over at Hirutani, but said nothing.

Hirutani clenched his jaw as he looked at Jounouchi. “What things?”

Jounouchi shrugged. “Just stuff, don’t worry about it. I’ll meet you by the station later, okay?”

Though he would be well within his rights to point out that, no, this was not okay considering that Jounouchi had ditched out on him the previous day, Hirutani knew that he would at least have Jounouchi later that night, and what they were set to accomplish at Kirishima’s was more important than whatever petty bullshit Jounouchi had going on with Honda. “Fine. Don’t be late.”

Jounouchi rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. C’mon, Honda, let’s go.”

Hirutani stepped aside so that Jounouchi could steer his bike past him, and he watched the two of them head toward the school gate, Honda suddenly looking a lot more animated (but no less pissy) as he said something to Jounouchi, who shook his head as he replied.

In a few more months, they would be done with middle school. About four months, actually—less than a half a year. Once they graduated, Hirutani and Jounouchi would go to Rintama High, and Honda would go to whatever pissant school he had chosen. Hirutani didn’t know which school it was, and frankly, so long as it wasn’t Rintama (and he felt confident in thinking that it wasn’t), he didn’t care. The important thing was that, in four months time, Jounouchi and Honda would be separated by different schools, and at that point, Honda wouldn’t be a problem for Hirutani to contend with anymore. He would finally have Jounouchi where he wanted him.

Four months. He just had to make it through the next four months.

Aside from that, I saw your note about liking Hirutani’s characterization, and thank you!! In all honesty, I’ve fleshed out Hirutani a lot, and I don’t feel it makes me arrogant to say that I’ve put more care and effort into the king bitch himself (as a friend of mine once called him) than Takahashi ever did. That said, if you liked his characterization there, then I have written quite a few other fics with him, if you’re interested. (And if you’ve already read them and I’m wasting your time, I’m sorry! It’s just that, like I said, Tumblr has been eating my notifications over the past few days, orz.) Those fics are:

A Spark to Ignite --- Jounouchi caught Hirutani’s eye after school one day when they were thirteen. The problem---for Jounouchi, anyway---was that Hirutani never had been very keen on letting things go. [Pre-Canon]

It Will Be Held Against You --- Hirutani intends for Jounouchi to join his gang again, but of course, Jounouchi has always been stubborn. They may have to spend some time in negotiations first. [This one serves as a prequel to chapter 11 of the original manga, but because of that it can also serve as a prequel to . . .]

Whispers in the Dark --- When Yuugi finds Jounouchi with Hirutani and his old gang and pleads with him to come back, Jounouchi forcibly pushes him away. This one decision leads to a downward spiral, but then, Jounouchi will do anything to protect those he loves, no matter what happens to him in the process. [Canon Divergence from Ch. 11 in the manga]

Bound to Leave a Mark --- Hirutani always likes it when he leaves a scar, but sometimes the most significant ones happen by a pure stroke of impulse. [Pre-Canon]

Not a Fan of Puppeteers --- The Millennium Items are stolen from Yuugi after Battle City, and Hirutani ends up with the Millennium Rod. This ends about as well as one would expect.

A Harmless Chat --- On his way home from work one evening, Yuugi is "offered" a ride home by Hirutani, and an invitation to talk. Yuugi accepts, but as anticipated, the talk isn't something he wants to hear. [Post-canon] [Established Wishshipping]

Conversations and Promises --- Yuugi finally tells Jounouchi about the conversation he had with Hirutani, and Jounouchi takes it about as well as you would expect. [Post-canon] [Follow-up to A Harmless Chat]

Hirutani isn’t actually in that last one, but it’s a sequel to a Hirutani fic, so I figured it was worth listing, anyway.

Anyway, I hope to have Tilling a Grave to Keep Things Level finished eventually, and I’m really grateful that you enjoy both my writing and my characterization of Hirutani, because I’ve put a lot of thought and care into him, bastard coated bastard that he is. :) Thank you!!

#mywaywardcupcake #i hope it's okay that i made a post like this #but i wanted to reply somehow

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bottledcake · 7 years

Text

Flower Funeral (III)

I tried my best to keep writing _(:’3_/ I’m not good with writing English stuffs orz

CHPT 3

Xunran opened his eyes in the morning with a different ceiling with his room. The cotton sheets smelled unfamiliar, a faint smell of wood and flower. He climbed out of bed, rubbing his eyes. It was a room with a bed, a simple desk, mirror, and cupboard. A sofa was placed by the window. He wasn’t in his home. He found his cell phone and wallet placed the desk beside bed. The clock showed 6 o’clock.

He found out he had changed his clothes to a soft gray tee and drawstring sweatpants. They were definitely not his. His clothes were nowhere in sight; he opened the cupboard but it was empty. His mind tried to find out what happened last night but nothing came out. He remembered visiting Ah Cheng’s home, having a dinner and wine.

Wine. Was he drunk? Xunran shook his head.

Xunran stepped out the room. He glanced around, finding out that he might be on second floor of Ah Cheng’s house. He recognized the first floor when he reached the stairs down.

The smell of coffee filled the first floor, made Xunran instinctively walked to the kitchen. Ah Cheng wasn’t there, but Xunran noticed bowls for two was placed on the table.

‘Good morning, mister Li.’

Xunran jumped a bit, finding Ah Cheng was behind him. ‘M-morning.’

Ah Cheng was smelled fresh of soap. His hair was down – hadn’t yet been touched with hair products but it was combed neatly. He wore black sweater and gray ankle swinger pants. It was rare for Xunran to see Ah Cheng with casual clothes.

Xunran felt bit embarrassed, he even hadn’t washed his face and he was sure his hair sticking out everywhere.

‘Breakfast is waiting,’ Ah Cheng gestured towards table, offering a seat for Xunran.

Xunran nodded and sat. Ah Cheng came over carrying a jug and poured coffee for Xunran. It had nice pleasant aroma like always. He brought over an earthenware pot filled with warm chicken congee and a plate of you tiao.

Ah Cheng filled a bowl and gave it to Xunran, then filled one for him.

‘Mister Ming.’

‘Hm?’ Ah Cheng sipped his coffee.

‘I’m sorry to bother you. I don’t intend to spend a night here.’ Xunran bit his lip.

‘It’s fine. You passed out yesterday and I thought it was better for you to rest.’ Ah Cheng assured Xunran.

Xunran scratched his head in embarrassment, ‘I should watch my intake next time.’ So if he passed out, could it be it was Ah Cheng who changed his clothes? Xunran gulped.

Ah Cheng snorted, he knew what was going on in Xunran’s mind. ‘It’s okay. I used to change my little brother clothes.’ He casually talked like nothing happened. ‘I have washed your clothes. It should be dry now.’ He continued.

‘Thanks. Sorry.’ Xunran looked down and took a mouthful of congee. His ears were red. He didn’t know whether it was bliss or not he was passed out, imagining those lean fingers unbuttoning his one by one.

Xunran shook his head, trying to erase the thought. It’s still morning, Xunran.

Ah Cheng raised his brows seeing Xunran who shifted awkwardly and hold his laugh.

----------

When Xunran was in the bathroom, he found out Ah Cheng had placed his clothes and a new toothbrush on the cabinet. His clothes were ironed neatly and his shirt fabric felt soft. He didn’t know what magic Ah Cheng used.

After finished showering he combed his hair with his hand, letting his hair down because he didn’t dare to touch Ah Cheng’s hair products – even though Ah Cheng had said to use whatever in the bathroom.

When he was out the bathroom, Ah Cheng was sitting on sofa, reading newspaper. He had change to his usual white shirt and gray khaki pants. His hair already styled.

‘I’ll replace the toothbrush, and wash the clothes and towel.’

Ah Cheng looked up and folded the newspaper. ‘Leave the toothbrush here. It will be useful if you want to spend a night here again.’ He walked to a cabinet and took out a paper bag.

Xunran blinked. ‘Ok…’ He put in the dirty clothes to paper bag Ah Cheng offered.

Ah Cheng looked at his wristwatch. ‘It’s time, or you’re going to be late.’ He took his car key, coat and gloves. ‘I can drop you at your workplace, or do you prefer other place?’

Xunran raised his brows, ‘At my office, please.’ He followed Ah Cheng out and waited him locked his house.

Again, out of his habit, Ah Cheng opened the passenger door for Xunran. Ah Cheng saw Xunran who awkwardly went in then smiled a bit.

‘Mister Ming?’

‘Hm?’ Ah Cheng still kept his sight to the road.

‘How do you know I need to get to my office today?’ asked Xunran.

Ah Cheng drove into highway. ‘Yesterday your friend Chen phoned you many times until I decided to take the call.’

Xunran sighed; it might be when he passed out again. ‘Sorry to bother you again.’ He said weakly.

‘It’s fine,’ Ah Cheng chuckled. ‘It’s like I have another little brother.’

Xunran then turned to Ah Cheng, frowning. ‘How old are you this year, Mister Ming?’

‘Hm? Why so suddenly?’ Ah Cheng laughed.

‘Because you don’t know mine, and I don’t know yours. I should know before I can become your di di.’ Xunran leaned back to his seat.

‘I’m 27 this year, how about you?’ Ah Cheng replied.

Xunran stiffed a chuckle. ‘Mister Ming, you don’t have any right to make me your di di. I’m 28.’

Ah Cheng grinned. ‘Well, it’s just a numbers.’

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

Ah Cheng parked his car and about going out to open door for Xunran. ‘You don’t have to, Mister Ming. I can open the door by myself,’ Xunran smiled then stepped out the car.

Ah Cheng snorted then stepped out too.

‘Thank you very much for the ride, Mister Ming. Also for the food and clothes,’ Xunran showed the paper bag.

This time maybe it was Ah Cheng who was blinded by the smile that the detective made.

When Xunran was about to turn, Ah Cheng grabbed Xunran’s hand, which brought the paper bag. He untangled Xunran’s fingers one by one.

‘Mister Li, you don’t have to insist washing these clothes,’ Ah Cheng took the paper bag from Xunran’s hand. ‘You can come to Jade Porcelain anytime for coffee. We don’t need reasons and excuses.’

Xunran looked baffled at first, and then he giggled. ‘We both have hidden motives, don’t we?’

Ah Cheng smiled and waved good bye to Xunran. ‘Good day, Xunran ge.’

When Ah Cheng had gone inside his car, Xunran blinked. Did Ah Cheng just call him by his name? And he added an honorific?

Xunran couldn’t help to smile while walking to the police office.

‘What happened with your hair?’ asked Chen when Xunran walked in.

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

When it was lunch time, Xunran decided to send Ah Cheng a message.

What should I call you? You have called me Xunran ge. I have to know my di di’s name

Ming Cheng or Ah Cheng it’s fine, Xunran ge <3

Xunran chuckled at the heart emoticon until he decided to stop because Chen seemed ready to tease him again about girlfriend topic.

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

Xunran scanned the board in front of him. He sighed; he might be spending reading the files again before sleep.

He leaned back into his seat and stared at Xiao Jing Rui’s photo. It was for around a year, and the suspect was regularly came back to put flowers. The suspect was very dedicated, especially when Xunran noted the place Fang Meng Ao body was found. It was hard to get to the place. Yao Yao said the suspect might have both respect and regret to the victims. A year was a long time; he would ask Chen or Li to interview more people around the area where Jingrui’s was found.

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

Ah Cheng opened his eyes to a soft cotton sheet. It was still smelled fresh; he remembered he put it on Ming Lou’s bed. He climbed out the bed, turned to window. Sun light glimmered through the sheer curtains. He must be dozen off yesterday.

He checked his phone. It was seven o’clock. Usually when he brought breakfast, Ming Lou already woke up and read his newspaper.

‘Have breakfast with me. You purposely bring breakfast for two, or do you think I can finish all of these?’

Ah Cheng smiled bitterly then stepped out the room. After he made sure he had locked the room, he took his coat that placed on the sofa in living room.

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

The avenue in the morning was always filled with various food stalls selling for people who needed a quick breakfast before work. Ah Cheng sighed. He didn’t have any mood to eat today. Did he ever eat something yesterday? He sometimes wondered how he could still function for these three years.

He passed the food stalls, ignoring the vendors who greeted him and offered their goods. Their voice turned into muddled sound which made Ah Cheng’s stomach felt tightened. He stopped and stood there in the middle of avenue, gulping his breath.

‘For you!’

Ah Cheng blinked. He saw one little hand with a bun. He looked up and a face of young boy was in front of him, who wore a blue jacket and jeans. His hair was tied a bit messily and paper bag filled with buns was in his other hand.

‘For you!’ He repeated while shoving the bun to Ah Cheng.

‘Thank you for your offer, but no. Thanks.’ Ah Cheng smiled to the young boy. When he was about to go, he felt his sleeve was tucked.

‘For you! No need pay!’ He took Ah Cheng’s hand and put the bun to his palm. Before Ah Cheng could reply, the boy already went away and disappeared between the people in the avenue.

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

Xunran walked across the boulevard with a box of affogato cake. At least this was the thing he could do because last time they met Ah Cheng refused his offer to wash the clothes.

He raised his brows when he saw unfamiliar man was sitting at the table by the window, reading magazine. Xunran thought maybe he was a customer.

Xunran pushed the shop door, making a faint tinkling sound. ‘Excuse me…’

The man looked up from his magazine. ‘Ah Cheng ge, I thought you said you would be gone till 1?’ He frowned seeing Xunran over from his head to feet then he seemed try to get his composure back. ‘I’m sorry sir, I mistook you with someone.’ He put down the magazine then stood up. ‘The owner is out for a while, maybe half hour later he will be back if you want to wait.’

‘Thank you, I can wait.’ Xunran nodded with a brief smile.

‘Please,’ he gestured to the seat area.

Xunran placed the box on table then sat. The man walked towards the counter, where Ah Cheng put his coffee machine and back with a cup of warm coffee. Xunran was already familiar with the scent of it; it was Ah Cheng’s special blend. Xunran thanked the man for the coffee.

He sat across Xunran, noticed the gift box that Xunran brought then leaned a bit, ‘Are you friend of Ah Cheng ge?’

‘Ah yes. I’m Li Xunran.’ Xunran nodded. The man called Ah Cheng casually by his name; he might be someone close to him.

‘Nice to meet you, I’m Ming Tai.’ He smiled, offering his hand to Xunran. ‘Maybe if someone doesn’t know my brother well, they will mistake you as my brother.’

‘Nice to meet you,’ Xunran greeted, shaking Ming Tai’s hand. Weirdly enough, a little part inside him felt bit relieved when he found out the man was Ah Cheng’s brother. ‘Most people I meet thought I’m his brother.’ Xunran chuckled and covered his mouth a bit.

Ming Tai turned his gaze to Xunran. This fellow was really like a twin of his brother. The eye wrinkles that appeared when he laughed were almost the same with his older brother. The few differences were more into his character and maybe the style he wore. When he talked, Ming Tai immediately knew he wasn’t Ah Cheng ge. The smile he made was different, his brother was like a night sky and this fellow was the sun.

‘But Ah Cheng ge never once tell me about you.’ Ming Tai pouted. ‘How long do you know my brother?’ His eyes brightened, waiting for answer from Xunran.

‘Maybe about three or four months?’ Xunran said.

‘Hmm Ah Cheng ge made a friend is something new tho,’ Ming Tai muttered to himself. ‘Ah how about you join us for dinner tonight?’ He grinned. ‘Da Jie will be very happy to have more company.’

‘Eh? It’s your family time. I’m just an outsider,’ said Xunran hesitantly, shaking his hand. ‘Also I still have work this evening.’

‘Nah, it’s fine. I can get you after work, where do you work?’ Ming Tai took out his phone. Xunran made an awkward smile, thinking how to get away from the offer.

‘Ming Tai!’ Ah Cheng stepped in to the shop. ‘Xunran,’ He smiled to Xunran and turned to his little brother again, frowning.

‘I didn’t do anything.’ Ming Tai raised his hands while pouting. ‘I only asked your friend to join our family dinner. The more the merrier.’

Ah Cheng stared for a second, and then shook his head. ‘Ming Tai…’

‘Da Jie will be happy,’ Ming Tai interrupted. Then he turned to Xunran, ‘What’s your phone number?’

Xunran looked between Ah Cheng and Ming Tai. Ah Cheng looked concerned and Ming Tai was like expecting Xunran’s immediate answer. That was maybe he was very relieved that he received a phone call from Chen.

‘Excuse me. I… have to go back to work. Please enjoy the cake.’ Xunran smiled. ‘Good afternoon.’ He walked out the flower shop. He tapped his phone. ‘Yes, Chen?’

Ah Cheng turned to Ming Tai who made a ‘what’ face. Ming Tai leaned his chin to his palm. ‘Invite him, Ge. I don’t want to see you just staring down at plates all night. Can I open this?’ Ming Tai pointed at the cake box Xunran left on the table.

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It was a tiring day for Xunran. This afternoon there was a case of robbery which fortunately it was solved in the same day. Although there were lots of leg work to do. He was very tired and a hot shower at home was a good idea. Xunran was tidying up his desk and got ready to go home when a message notification popped to his phone.

I’m outside.

Xunran hurried to the front office. Ah Cheng was waiting there, wearing black turtleneck and navy blue coat.

‘Hey, Xunran.’

‘Ah Cheng,’ Xunran looked at Ah Cheng with question on his face.

‘I just want to ask maybe if you want to join our family dinner,’ Ah Cheng said softly. ‘You don’t have to if you don’t want. Ming Tai kept nagging me.’

Xunran was about to turn him down, because it might be a private family time. But if Ah Cheng had decided not to ask him to come, he would not bother himself to get him to his office; it might be his little brother instead who would come.

‘Ok… but,’ Xunran said.

‘But?’ Ah Cheng raised his brows.

‘Let me change first. I had a case this afternoon and I had to run, lots.’ Xunran laughed. ‘Just give me a minute.’

Ah Cheng nodded. Xunran stepped back into the office. He remembered that he put few spare clothes in his locker. After few minutes he decided with a chambray shirt which was found tucked between his tees. He found a pair of white slim chino pants and changed. Next time he should put more spare shirts in locker, Xunran noted. He hoped this was good enough for a family dinner – though Xunran thought he was still undressed.

Ah Cheng and Xunran walked together to the parking lot. Like always, Ah Cheng opened the door for Xunran and then got in on the driver’s side.

As Ah Cheng pulled away, Xunran could feel his stomach tightened. Was he too early to say yes for going to Ming family dinner?

‘You okay?’ Ah Cheng asked, after a while.

Xunran nodded.

‘Don’t worry; it’s just a casual dinner. Like Ming Tai said, my older sister is always happy to have more company.’ Ah Cheng smiled then focused his attention on the road.

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Xunran was still wondering where Ah Cheng would take him until he stopped at driveway. His mouth went dry seeing a mansion. Xunran was about to question Ah Cheng, but he already stepped out to open the big iron gates.

Xunran bit his lip and stayed silent when Ah Cheng went back inside car then drove up to the curved driveway at the front of the mansion. He parked beside a red sport car.

‘Once in a while we have dinner here.’ Xunran startled. Ah Cheng had opened the passenger door for him.

It was a two floor big mansion, which made Xunran got reminded who Ah Cheng was. He followed Ah Cheng to front door.

In the front room, Ming Tai was sitting on the sofa, reading a book. A plate of sliced apples was on his lap. When he saw Ah Cheng and Xunran stepping inside, his face brightened like a kid who got his candy. He put aside the plate.

‘Oooooh Da Jie will be very happy.’ He clasped his hands.

‘Where is Da Jie?’ Ah Cheng asked.

‘She was having tea with Jiyun in sunroom. Eh, Xunran ge, come with me.’ Ming Tai grabbed Xunran’s hand, made Ah Cheng frowned to his little brother.

‘Ming Tai,’ Ah Cheng made a stern face. He knew Ming Tai was thinking something mischievous.

‘A sec, Ah Cheng ge. I want to surprise Da Jie.’ Ming Tai giggled while dragging Xunran to living room. Xunran throw a worried look to Ah Cheng.

‘It’s ok,’ Ah Cheng replied while following Ming Tai but he waited outside sunroom.

Two women were chatting happily when Ming Tai walked in with Xunran. The one seemed older wore an elegant styled hair with designer white long sleeves shirt and purple skirt. Beside her was a woman who looked younger with shoulder length hair and simple pastel blue dress.

‘Da Jie, Jiyun darling,’ the little brother cheerfully called. ‘Look who is coming.’

Ming Jing turned. ‘Ming Tai, is Ah Cheng – oh Ah Cheng, you have come. I thought you wouldn’t come, you didn’t answer my call. Ah Cheng, why are you hiding behind Ming Tai?’

Ming Tai giggled while Xunran was awkwardly standing behind him.

‘Jie, I think the gentleman over there isn’t Ming Cheng,‘ Jiyun smiled.

‘Eh?’ Ming Jing frowned to the man. She noticed his hairstyle was different with Ah Cheng’s usual hairstyle. And somehow the man had different vibe with her second younger brother.

Xunran was about to speak up when Ah Cheng stepped in to living room. ‘Jie, he’s my friend.’ Ming Jing blinked while Ming Tai was laughing harder. ‘You two, you sure like to play around with me despite your age.’ Ming Jing sighed and shook her head.

‘I’m sorry, Jie. I just can’t help,’ Ming Tai stiffed his laugh.

‘Hello. So you’re friend of Ah Cheng? I’m sorry with our young master attitude.’ Ming Jing approached Xunran with apologetic look. ‘Please have a seat.’ Meanwhile Jiyun deliberately dragged Ming Tai to the kitchen.

‘It’s fine, Miss. Thank you.’ Xunran smiled as he sat beside Ming Jing and Ah Cheng immediately knew Ming Jin had fallen into that cute smile too.

‘Jie, he’s Li Xunran. Li Xunran, this is Ming Jing, my older sister,’ Ah Cheng decided to properly introduce Xunran to Ming Jing.

Xunran greeted. ‘Miss Ming Jing, nice to meet you.’

Ming Jing shook Xunran’s hand with a gentle smile. ‘This kid never once introduce his friends to me I don’t know why.’ She threw an accusing look to Ah Cheng who only shrugged then poured tea for Xunran and refilled Ming Jing’s cup.

As Ah Cheng expected, Ming Jing asked various questions to Xunran, from how they met, his relationship status, to where Xunran worked. Xunran patiently answered the questions, it was like talking to his mother – the older sister was very fond of listening to stories. ‘Jie, I invite him over to have dinner together, not to be interviewed. You will make Xunran uncomfortable.’ Ah Cheng sighed after a dozen of questions.

‘That’s why you should invite your friend more often, Ah Cheng. I think it’s the first time ever you bring a friend.’ Ming Jing said then faced to Xunran.

‘I’m glad that you befriend Ah Cheng, Xunran,’ Ming Jin patted Xunran’s hand then rolled her eyes to Ah Cheng. ‘He always looked up to his older brother. Now I don’t really know what that kid up to.’

‘Jie… I’m fine now, you’re embarrassing me.’ Ah Cheng said.

‘Dinner’s ready,’ Ming Tai appeared and dramatically gestured with his hand, he wore a soft pastel green apron with ruffles; it might be Jiyun’s. Ming Jing scolded Ming Tai to stop playing around when a guest was around. The little brother replied with his signature pout and went back in. Ming Jing gestured Xunran and Ah Cheng to follow her to dining room.

‘Ah Xiang, this is Li Xunran, Ah Cheng’s friend,’ Ming Jing introduced a girl who was placing plates on table to Xunran. The girl bowed politely. ‘Nice to meet you.’ Xunran bowed back as reply.

‘And this is Jiyun, Ming Tai’s wife.’ Ming Jing introduced the girl with blue dress Xunran saw earlier. Xunran politely greeted her and shook her hand.

Xunran took a seat next to Ah Cheng. ‘Ah Cheng, next time you have a friend, you should introduce them to me.’ Ming Jing said to Ah Cheng. ‘Also, Ah Cheng have you seen the photos I sent to you? They are nice ladies from good family.’

Maybe it was the first time Xunran saw Ah Cheng face went a hint of red. ‘Jie, please stop sending me marriage applications.’

‘I do it for you, Ah Cheng. I’m worried about you,’ said Ming Jing with concerned face.

‘Let’s eat before the food cold.’ Ming Tai chirped in. ‘Jie, eat lots.’ He put a meat on his older sister’s rice.

‘Silly, it’s you that need to eat lots.’ Ming Jing gently tapped Ming Tai’s shoulder.

‘Ah Xiang is a good cook, you should try them all,’ Ah Cheng merely placed some food to Xunran’s plate. Xunran thanked Ah Cheng and he found out that Ming Tai winked to him.

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Xunran was viewing a painting in front room when Ah Cheng approached him. He turned to Ah Cheng. ‘It’s a beautiful painting.’

‘My brother called it ‘Home’.’ Ah Cheng merely smiled. ‘He wanted to have a home like in that painting one day after he retired.’

‘Home…’ Xunran muttered. It was painting of lone home beside a river with trees, somehow reminded him of current Ah Cheng’s home. He remembered that Ah Cheng made several sketches with same theme too.

‘Xunran, dear, here, bring this home,’ Ming Jing went it to front room while carrying few containers in her hands. ‘Enjoy it with your family.’

Xunran took them, smiling. ‘Thank you very much.’

‘Ah Cheng, drive your friend home safely, OK?’ She patted Ah Cheng’s shoulder. ‘Don’t worry about me, Ming Tai will drive me home.’

Ah Cheng nodded. ‘Good night, Da Jie.’ Back in his heart, it was painful that the Ming mansion was no longer a place they called as home. He glanced at the door behind his sister who was saying goodbye with Xunran. Sometimes he hoped his older brother would open the door, walking to the kitchen asking for tea like he always did when he worked at night.

Ming Jing turned and made a wan smile to Ah Cheng as she knew what he was thinking. ‘Ah Cheng…’

‘Good night.’ He smiled gently to his older sister.

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