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#(tch. might not be here generally speaking)
celestialwife · 1 month
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sometimes i just think about poe and it's like. i can't believe you mean this much to me? literally ahead of tfa i just kept scoffing at the descriptions of him, completely expected to be benevolently annoyed with him or meh at best and didn't understand why everyone went off abt how oscar was attractive (like i could tell objectively, but it's rare that i find someone subjectively attractive on a deep level), and then i just. saw poe for the first time on screen in theaters and that was it. instant attraction, and then a few minutes later realizing that oh, no i'm genuinely in love with this man. instant ride or die, we just clicked. i got him on a deeply intimate level just from those few minutes of screentime he has in the movie, that nothing about him following that ever surprised me? just. yeah that's him this makes sense.
and i remember writing what was absolutely self-insert masquerading as canon where r.ey was his best friend and i genuinely meant for it to be platonic but i kept accidentally writing a little bit something more and i genuinely think looking back on it that i probably had a crush and a squish on poe? and he may have started queerplatonic, leaning on alterous (if i'm understanding the term right). like it wasn't straight platonic because i genuinely had/have such a crush on him but it definitely wasn't straight romantic at the time either (and i still have moments where i'm like. yeah i'm definitely feeling qp feelings for him and not romantic ones). and then sometime in 2017, something I guess shifted and I wrote in an oc into that same fic who had a history with him and they both still had feelings for each other and they kissed at the end of the story but didn't wind up with each other, and then i started reading reader fic for him that same year and was like. oh I actually don't mind the idea of kissing him....i kinda wanna. and i also don't mind the idea of a relationship if it's with him, i even want it?
and like ofc things went sideways from there. i stopped reading fic bc my friend made fun of me for reading it and i felt like i was doing smth "wrong" and then the gaslighting of everyone hating him in t.lj when i didn't also severely impacted my ability to be able to enjoy him properly without trying to fold up my actual opinions to 'fit in' more and feeling anxious and not getting to enjoy it, but he was still such a cornerstone of comfort for me at the time. i even wrote my first reader fic in late 2018 to get some comfort from how awful things were in my personal life and it was of him. and then t.ros happened and the fandom got so toxic along w some friend stuff that my spin in poe almost broke (or so i thought), but like?? i spent the whole next year constantly drawn to things that reminded me of poe....read a book that was compared to the st and him a lot....bought a lot of orange things without thinking about it, developed a crush on a character that's like. basically poe with the serial numbers scratched off. all until i found my way back to him at the end of 2020 🥰 and after that i started embracing reader fic again and my romantic feelings for him and then lmao the physical/sexual attraction came in like a wrecking ball shortly thereafter which was New To Say The Least, but.
eeee i don't know i ended up gushing a lot about him but i just. sometimes i really think about the journey i've had with him, and how much good he's genuinely brought into my life. i get to feel all these emotions i never thought i would!! because of him!!! i get to explore new avenues that i wouldn't be interested in or comfortable in pursuing even mentally bc of him!!! he's helped me work through various triggers for my trauma bc they feel safe with him involved? and most importantly - i wouldn't know any of my lovely friends or partners if it wasn't for him? i stuck around in the fandom bc of poe, and that lead me right to my queerplatonic partners and family. i genuinely would not!! be the same person today if i had not fallen in love with that silly flyboy december 20th 2015!!! and isn't that just love in a nutshell?
#hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i don't normally gush but i'm heavily caffeinated rn moreso than i've been in months#i just!!!!!!!!! i cannot believe!!!#sometimes i worry when i like. mildly dissociate thinking about him and my love/interest in him bc one time that genuinely broke a spin bc#i realized it was not doing anything for me positively. but with poe everytime i'm just like#my life would genuinely not be as joyful as it is if it weren't for you. i would not be who i am today if it wasn't for you.#(tch. might not be here generally speaking)#i just. i really went from scoffing at him to 'oh no he's hot' to 'oh i'm in love' to 'i want to be his best friend in a really intimate#way' (cos i didn't know what qp/alterous was at the time) to 'i might want to kiss him but i wouldn't imagine myself w him'#to 'oh. actually i don't mind thinking about kissing him or being in a relationship w him. actually i /want/ that.'#to having to swallow my feelings for him to be diplomatic/avoid conflict for two years while still utterly adoring him and being in love w#him to subconsciously finding my way back to him!!!!!#and deciding with grim determination i'd continue loving him as much as i wanted no matter what anyone else said and YES that meant getting#kiss him on his pretty mouth. and shipping my self insert with him PROPERLY where they end up together.#and then realizing stuff that's less pg-13!!!! but no less mind blowing. like i had THAT setting. what the hell.#i just. what a journey.#he's my sweet flyboy my absolute beloved my best friend my starlight i love him to pieces u guuuuuuuuuuuys#i've had a lot of comfort characters over the years and a handful of special interests - none of them have meant as much to me as poe#he is genuinely a part of me and who i am he's my soulmate and i wuv him#okay i'm done#nym speaks#flyboy 🧡
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an-aroaces-harem · 1 month
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Ellis Chapter 3
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DISCLAIMER: I just deepl and google translated my way through this because I wanted to know what’s going on, so there are definitely mistakes but I believe I managed the general gist of the story. Anyway, it’s just a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes. Ikemen Villains belongs to Cybird.
Another note: I know Ikemen Villains is set in victorian London, but I will use the japanese suffixes because I prefer them.
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Ellis: Guard?
At the breakfast table, Victor was told of my unexpected first job as a 'fairytale writer'.
Victor: Yes! Jud and Ellis protect Kate, so that our secret is safe.
Victor: Kate was able to observe and record Ellis and Jude up close ...
Victor: She can also fulfill her duties as a 'fairytale writer', killing two birds with one stone!
Ellis: If it's okay with Kate-san, it's okay with me.
Ellis: I don't know if something like yesterday will happen again, so ... I want to stay close to Kate-san.
Victor smiles at Ellis-kun's response and then looks to Jude-san.
Victor: Of course, Jude will take responsibility, right? You hate making loans, don't you?
Jude: Tch ...
(Although I think I'd feel safer if I stayed close to Ellis-kun ...)
I was mistakenly identified as 'Jude Jazza's woman', and my life was threathened just because I was with Ellis-kun ...
I can't help but be wary of Jude.
Jude: Don't cry when you get scared, princess.
(I'm scared ... but Victor made a good suggestion, so I can't be timid here.)
Kate: Don't worry, I'm surprisingly resilient!
Jude: ... Hah!
Jude-san snickered at my best smile and looked down at the newspaper.
Ellis: Then, it's decided.
Kate: Yes, thank you very much.
When I smiled at Ellis-kun, he smiled back softly, unlike Jude-san.
Ellis: Speaking of which, you can speak in a more informal manner.
Kate: Eh ...
Ellis: A "yeah, thank you" would be nice.
Kate: U-um, yeah ... thank you.
Ellis: Hmm, that's nice.
The air of warmth that Ellis-kun exudes is soothing and relaxing ...
Victor: Now that we've got that settled, let's get right to the task at hand.
Victor's words made my spine straighten.
(This is my first real job as a 'fairytale writer'.)
I brace myself, thinking that the first step is the most important thing in order to earn people's trust.
Victor: I actually want you to gather some information.
Victor: We've been talking about kidnappings all over London.
Kate: Is this ... a kidnapping case?
The disturbing words brought back the nervousness that was etched into my skin when I first met the members of 'Crown'.
Victor: Yes. The ages vary. From toddlers to teenagers, and, of course, adults.
Victor: The common deminator is that most of the adults are prostitutes and street performers.
Victor: The songstresses who were once popular at bars have disappeared ... but there are many people who don't have a fixed address.
Jude: The victims are not very nice people, and since they don't have a permanent address, they can't be reported missing.
Jude: And, as usual, the police refuses to act.
Sadly, as Jude-san says, those who work in the entertainment district are looked down upon.
Behind the salubrious world, they are treated as if they are being swept away.
Victor: So here's the thing ...
Victor: Did you know that there's an art fair in London right now that attracts performers?
Kate: Yes. It's not as busy as the social season, but it's pretty lively.
Victor: I want Jude and Ellis to go out there and gather information.
Victor: They're rootless, but they're more connected horizontally than you'd think.
Jude: Why do I have to go, too? Such a pointless mission.
Victor: I'm wondering if it might have something to do with the human traffickers that you just took down in private.
Victor: You're on board, right? And ... I heard today is your first vacation in a while.
It was information that Victor couldn't have known unless someone had told him ...
Jude-san cursed right next to him.
Jude: ... Ellis.
Ellis: He asked me, so I answered honestly. Sorry.
(Maybe the power balance between these two is more equal than you think ...)
Victor: So, have a good day!
Victor's cheerful voice sent us off on our way to our mission.
(It's even more crowded this time ...!)
Appetizing aromas waft from the gorgeous stalls lined up at the art fair venue.
It's not just the food that makes people happy.
There were people painting on the streets and others performing on large stages set up on street corners.
Walking along the street, one can almost smell the lively and joyful atmosphere.
(I'm totally excited and need to focus on the task at hand.)
(Yes, let's listen to them now.)
Kate: Ellis-kun, Jude-san, can you tell me about your curses?
Ellis: I don't remember if we've talked about that yet.
Ellis: I'm cursed with the curse of 'thorns' and Jude is the '13th Fairy'.
Ellis: It's the curse that became the motif of 'Sleeping Beauty'.
(The curse of thorns and the curse of the 13th Fairy ...)
The 13th Fairy is a villain who resents not being invited to the princess' birthday and tries to kill her with a curse.
(I can kind of understand why the fairy is guilty, but ...)
(What is the sin of 'thorns'?)
As I was thinking about it, Jude-san stopped and looked back at me, unamused.
Jude: We three don't have to get along with each other. You go gather information on your own.
Ellis: But, what about guarding Kate-san?
Jude: You alone are enough.
After saying this, he quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Kate: ... Does he hate me, even if he doesn't have to?
Ellis: He's like that to everyone, so maybe he doesn't hate you.
Ellis: Maybe so Kate-san won't be in danger if she's seen with him again.
(Hmm, that's not going to happen ...?)
I swallow the words that are about to come out of my throat.
Kate: ... If that's the case, he's a pretty kind person, right?
Ellis: I don't think he's nice. He loves to make people he doesn't like suffer and hear them scream.
Kate: ...
(I'm afraid I can imagine it ...)
He is the complete opposite of Ellis-kun, who spreads kindness to everyone he meets.
As if to prove this point, after we left Jude-san, he was approached by people from all over the place.
Red-faced man: Oh, you! Thanks for taking care of me the other day!
Ellis: You're welcome. Don't drink too much today.
Kate: This person is ...?
Ellis: He was drunk on the street, so I carried him home on my back. I don't know his name.
Kate: Oh!
(Did you bring a stranger home and even take care of him?)
And that's not all that's surprising ...
Furniture Craftsman: Ellis introduced me to people that helped me get my business off the ground! I'm so glad he did!
Student with glasses: Good to see you again! I'd like to thank you for helping me repair my bicycle, and I'd like to get your contact information ...
Cat: Meow.
Ellis: You're welcome.
(Even the cat thanks you ...!?)
(I can't believe so many people thanked him in passing ...)
It just goes to show how many good deeds Ellis-kun usually does.
Kate: You know more people than me, who works as a postwoman ...!
Ellis: I don't know. I think it's normal.
Seeing them smiling at him, Ellis-kun also smiled happily.
(I'm sure things like what you did for me yesterday are really ordinary things for you, Ellis-kun.)
When he sees someone in need, he extends a helping hand to anyone.
A person who sprinkles happiness.
These words came to mind as I watched Ellis-kun happily chatting with the people of the town.
(I wonder if there's any 'sin' I should write about such a person ...)
(Or rather ...)
(Why does such a kind person work for an assassination organization or in the company of someone like Jude-san?
Even though I have witnessed so much of his kindness ... the doubts that suddenly come to mind make my heart flutter.
Ellis: Kate-san, Kate-san.
Kate: ... Oh, I'm sorry! I was thinking.
Before I knew it, Ellis-kun was tilting his head and peering into my face from nearby ...
Ellis: You're thinking about me?
Kate: ... Eh!?
Like two lovers looking into each other's eyes, my heart pounds as he stares at me, so close that we're almost touching each other.
(Ellis-kun doesn't seem to be aware of it, but ... the distance between us seems to be very close.)
The same was true when he visited me in my room the morning after they took me to Crown Castle.
This is the second time I've been this close to his twilight eyes, and I look away as I feel a warmth radiating through me.
Ellis: Oh, I guessed correctly.
Kate: How do you know?
Ellis: Hmm ... somehow?
Ellis smiles and hands me a mug with steam rising from it.
Ellis: While Kate-san was thinking about me, I got a milk tea from the store there.
Ellis: Thank you for helping me with the delivery the other day.
(... Ellis-kun, I'm afraid ...)
Ellis-kun pushes away his curly hair and takes a sip of his milk tea with a sigh.
Ellis: If you have any questions, just ask.
Kate: ... Yes.
Ellis: "Yeah", right?
Kate: ... Ellis-kun, why are you a member of Crown?
Ellis: Is it because Victor recruited Jude and Jude said yes?
(Does that mean that since Jude-san is a member, Ellis-kun is a member as well ...?)
Kate: Why are you with Jude-san?
Ellis: You're full of questions.
Ellis-kun smiles and wraps his hands around the mug.
Ellis: Before I met Jude, I was living from place to place.
Ellis: I happened to meet Jude when I came to London.
Ellis: A lot of things happened, and I made a promise.
Kate: Promise ...?
Ellis: In exchange for working for him, Jude will do me a favor.
Ellis: So ... until then, we're in this together.
The feeling that something might happen when I listen to him makes my heart beat wildly.
Kate: What did you ask for, Ellis-kun ...?
Ellis: It's ...
Performer with flashy hat: What!?
(Eh ...!?)
I was surprised by the loud voice, and when I turned my head, it seemed that right behind me was the back of a special stage.
The performer was scratching his head in confusion.
Performer with flashy hat: Can't you two come? ... Oh god ...!
(He probably means two other performers ...)
Kate: Ellis-kun.
Ellis: ... Hm.
... "The common deminator is that most of the adults are prostitutes and street performers."
We exchanged glances and stepped toward the distressed-looking performer.
Kate: Um, excuse me.
Performer with flashy hat: Hmm? Yeah, I'm sorry, but I have to be onstage in 10 minutes!
Ellis: You just said two people couldn't come ...
Performer with flashy hat: The I was supposed to perform with have been out of touch.
Performer with flashy hat: How many people and days does this take ... It's been a bit strange lately.
(No communication and more than one person ...)
(If we could talk to this person, we might learn something.)
Ellis: I'd love to hear more about it, if you don't mind.
Performer with flashy hat: I'm sorry, but I don't have time for this right now! I have to think quickly about what performance I can do on my own.
After waving us away ... he stared at us again, as if a thought had just occured to him.
Performer with flashy hat: Unless you guys are willing to help me stage it.
Performer with flashy hat: Haha! What a surprise. No matter how much we're in need of manpower, we can't just bring in a bunch of amateurs.
He shook his head as if to say it was a momentary distraction, and Ellis closed the distance between them lightly.
Ellis: Cooperation? What do I have to do?
Performer with flashy hat: Haha! What's the matter with you? I'm just kidding.
Ellis: But if coorperate, you'll tell me the details, right?
Performer with flashy hat: ... What, are you just a couple of guys who are looking for something new?
He stared at us, his good-natured face twisted in puzzlement.
Performer with flashy hat: But, you know, selling information about your friends is a risky proposition.
Performer with flashy hat: I can't even guarantee that you guys don't have bad intentions. After all, we've never met before.
Kate: How do we get people to trust us?
Performer with flashy hat: I guess so ...
Performer with flashy hat: If you're not going to complain about being the target of a knife-thrower or being tied up and dunked in a tank, then ...
Performer with flashy hat: I wouldn't mind trusting you.
(Target of a knife-thrower ...!?)
Ellis: No problem. I'm good at that.
Unlike me, who was perplexed, Ellis-kun proceeded with the negotiations without fear.
(As expected, having been involved in business negotiations with Jude-san, he is used to the situation ...)
I thought that Ellis-kun had cooperated with the show and that negotiations had been concluded, but ... reality wasn't so sweet.
Performer with flashy hat: Tsk, tsk, tsk ... you can't do it alone, boy. You've got to help me out, too.
Kate: What ...!
Ellis: ... Why?
Performer with flashy hat: Of course, it's for the show!
Performer with flashy hat: A tragedy that tears lovers apart, followed by an emotional finale! You're sure to get a big cheer out of this one.
(Knife throwing ... tied up ... tank ...)
Ellis-kun peeked at me with concern as I grew increasingly pale.
Ellis: Kate-san, you don't have to do this.
(He was the target of Victor's knife-throwing, and I'm sure Ellis-kun will be fine.)
I would never be able to duplicate his extraordinary physical abilities ...
It's up to me to get information from this person.
(In this case, I have no choice but to trust Ellis-kun and this performer ...)
Kate: I understand. I will copperate.
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pinkroseblooms · 4 months
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Hippity-Hop into Your Heart
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Summary: Usahara is all too happy to play the role of boyfriend so you can shake off a creep, but of course, the night ends with him developing an all too real crush. 4.1 k A/N: Art from Gaku Kaze! Usahara Tobikichi/F!Reader. I have a soft spot for this dumb bunny and I think he needs more love. Enjoy! TW: Stalking, cursing (mostly for reader getting called a b*tch by said stalker).
Usahara’s drunk. Again. 
The night has hardly begun and he keeps slumping over the table, cheeks flushed and eyes bleary while he struggles to sit upright. “I wish I was funny.”
“I wish you were sober.” Uramichi slides another glass of water, moving aside the collection of empty shot glasses. “I thought we were only doing beer.”
“We should order motsu nikomi for him.” Kumatani suggests; he’s only on his third beer. 
They did start a bit later than expected for a weeknight. There’s hardly anyone else at the tables around them; hopefully Usahara doesn’t end up getting them kicked out for disturbing the peace. A server comes around with their next round of beers and Kumatani speaks up to request more water while they look over their options for food.
“I want gyoza!” Usahara slurs. “And a girlfriend. Ugh. I really want a girlfriend.” 
“You can have one of those things.” Kumatani glances at the paper menu. “Seeing as how gyoza’s on the menu and you’re a degenerate, let’s keep this based in reality.”
“I’m not a general!”
“Let’s leave him here.” Uramichi whispers, leaning over to Kumatani on his left. “He’ll pass out soon enough.”
“I’m drunk, not deaf.” Usahara grumbles; he sighs and sheds his jacket. “It’s hot. Can we get ice cream?”
“Why do you drink so much when you know you can’t handle booze?” Kumatani rests his chin on his hand. “If you think I’m paying your tab, you’ve got another thing-”
“Honey! There you are, sorry I’m late, I was stuck at the office.”
Usahara raises his head up; there’s a girl sliding into the booth seat next to him. For a split second, he thinks he might be having a hallucination, but you scoot closer and touch his arm with a strained smile. Not to mention Uramichi and Kumatani are also staring at him and you, visibly taken aback at this stranger joining their table, so Usahara is 100% positive the alcohol isn’t making him see things.
“I’m sorry.” You’re leaning in to whisper in his ear, still smiling but now your voice is considerably less cheerful. “A man’s been following me since I left my job.”
“What?” Usahara straightens up and stares at you, bewildered, trying to keep his tone low. “Did he come in?”
“He followed every time I changed directions.” You pretend to look at Uramichi and Kumatani but you’re actually sneaking a peek at the entrance. “He’s outside in the smoking area. I think he’s waiting.”
Usahara glances at the door; there is a man outside. It’s not easy to make his features out, but he can see him turn his head to look into the bar. 
“I’m sorry to intrude.” You drop your fake smile. “This place is the closest building with people and I thought he would keep following me if I sat down by myself. Could I wait here until he leaves? I’ll pay for your next round.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Uramichi frowns. “Do you want to call the police?”
“No, I mean, what could they do?” You release your grip on Usahara’s arm and give him some space. “He could just say he’s going the same way as me. I just didn’t want him to know where I live.”
“I’m going out there.” Kumatani stands up. 
“Oh please don’t!” You say hurriedly. “You really don’t have to get involved.”
“Scum like that need to have their asses kicked before they get the message. He looks weak.” Kumatani glares over at the door. “I’m not gonna be intimidated by some gross stalker.”
“But he could have a knife.” You say worriedly. “Even if he doesn’t, you’ll get in trouble for making things physical. Please, um…”
“Kumatani.” Usahara supplies. “He’s Kumatani, I’m Usahara, and that sad sack over there is Uramichi-”
“Kumantani, let’s use this drunk as a human shield.” Uramichi addresses the still standing Kumatani but his cold eyes are directly on Usahara’s. “If the creep has a knife, you’ll do your part as a concerned citizen, right?”
You glance around at the three of them. “Look, I already feel bad to bother you guys. I can get a ride; I doubt he’ll chase after a car, you know? I just,” you swallow hard; the last thing you want to do is start crying, not now in front of these strangers you had basically forced to be involved in this. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt, okay?”
“Alright.” Kumatani finally takes his seat. “You’ve got a good point.”
“You must have been scared.” Uramichi looks at you with some sympathy. “I’m not eager to do any heroics myself and I don’t blame you for not wanting to stir the pot. How far away is your work?”
“About ten minutes. I work for a family, well, a few different families in the area.” You explain; your teeth have stopped chattering and your heart has stopped pounding. “I actually do babysitting and cleaning jobs. Today the parents went out for a date: they offered to drive me home, but they had a few drinks at dinner and I didn’t want to spend money on a ride share app when my place is so close. I actually come here every now and then to wind down after work…I didn’t think I’d be coming in tonight to escape that asshole.”
“Uh, so,"  Usahara clears his throat. “Why did you sit next to me? If you don’t mind my asking.”
“Dude.”
“Are you serious?”
“What?” Usahara holds up his hands as if to block himself from the death glares being shot his way. “Just curious!”
“The seat next to you was empty.” You answer honestly. “Why else would I?”
“Because I’m…cute?” Usahara grins but it fades as you raise an eyebrow at him. “Sorry. Okay, no more joking: are you hungry? You might as well eat something, my treat.”
“I thought you were broke?” Kumatani snips. “I told you, I’m not covering your tab.” he turns to you. “Order what you want.”
“Ice cold.” Usahara crosses his arms. “I just so happen to have some extra funds. I helped my folks in their store earlier, so they floated me a few bucks.” he winks at you. “Since I’m playing your boyfriend, I should treat my girl to something nice.”
“You made your poor parents pay you for helping them?” Uramichi shakes his head somberly. “I didn’t think you could sink lower.”
“They insisted! I’m not gonna turn down money in this economy.”
“Don’t blame the economy for your piss poor spending habits.”
“They’re so mean.” Usahara pouts to you. “Aren’t you going to stand up for your boyfriend?”
You look at him for a moment before your face breaks out into a smile, a real one. Before you can stop, a laugh escapes you and you keep laughing until you start wheezing slightly. 
“Wow, I think you broke her psyche.” Uramichi comments lightly. 
“I’m so-sorry, really, I don’t mean to laugh at you!” Your voice cracks as you press your hands to your mouth. “Usahara? I’m sorry, you’ve all been so great to help me out.”
“I’m glad.” Usahara smiles bashfully, rubbing the back of his head; he realizes he must seem hilariously pathetic, but hey, it’s not like this is a real date. “If you’re laughing, it means you’re feeling better, yeah?”
Your giggles die off and you wipe your eyes. “I am.” with a deep sigh, you’re able to calm down and breathe normally. “I was really scared. Thank you. I feel better mostly.”
“You need a good laugh, I’m your guy.” Usahara hands you his untouched glass of water. “Here, it’s just plain water. Do you want a beer or something?”
“You know what? I could use a drink.” You confess tiredly. “So, what brings you guys here?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nearly two hours pass in the blink of an eye; Usahara plays his role well. He pours you drinks, stays close, but not too close to you, and even hand fed you a couple of snacks. To the casual observer, the four of you would never know you were all strangers.
Despite the cordial mood, Usahara kept up the charade, just in case the man outside was still lurking around, though they haven’t seen his profile in the window for some time now. It’s an unfortunate truth that some men will only back off if they know a girl already has a boyfriend who can potentially beat them up. Usahara, although not quite as intimidating looking in comparison to his friends, is the tallest and he does spend a good amount of time training on his own. He’s confident that if nothing else, all three of them are more than enough to take down one shady weirdo. 
It’s too bad though. Usahara can't smother the twinge of bit guilt he feels at how much fun he’s having; there’s no need for him to put up a front or try to play it cool since this is very much not a date. There’s no pressure to look good in front of you, so Usahara can relax and not think about what he says too much or how he holds himself. 
“I’ve never heard of that.”
“It’s awesome!” You tell him excitedly, hands grabbing onto his arm as if to shake sense into him. “An absolute classic, how the heck have you never heard of Killer Clowns from Another Dimension? Do you even watch movies?”
“Sometimes” Usahara sips a new glass of water you made him order. “I can’t believe you’re judging me.”
“I saw it.” Kumatani raises his hand. “The effects are next level.”
“A man of culture.” You give him a thumbs up. “This guy knows. Uramichi, make Usahara apologize.”
“Don’t drag me into this.” Uramichi drones. “I don’t get what any of you are saying.”
“Now who needs to watch more movies.” 
“I saw one recently.” Uramichi cocks his head to the side. “It was a comedy; some idiot didn’t know when to stop running his mouth so his co worker buries him alive.”
“That’s a horror movie! If I go missing, you’re gonna be the first one the cops talk to.” Usahara clings to your arm. “Babe, tell him to leave me alone.”
“If you coddle him, he’ll never learn to shut his trap.”
“There, there, honey bunny.” You pat Usahara’s head lightly. “I promise to light a candle for you until they find the body.”
“You won’t even look for me?!”
“I think it’s more likely you’ll be disposed of by some loan sharks.” Kumatani deadpans but even he has a hint of a smirk on his lips. “Keep up the gambling and you’ll be found in a river instead of a shallow grave.”
“You guys are terrible and when I hit the jackpot none of you are seeing a cent.” Usahara tells them before leaning his head on your shoulder, sticking his tongue out at the both of them. “She’s been way nice to me and we only just met.”
“Because she doesn’t know how insufferable you are yet.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” You glance down at Usahara as he gives you puppy eyes. “He’s doing a pretty good job of letting me know.”
“Babe, not cool.” 
“Sorry, honey.” You giggle and poke his flushed cheek; it’s funny how comfortable you feel right now and you don’t think it’s because of the beers. Maybe it’s because Usahara has no filter; you were so tense before, yet now you’re joking and chatting like this was the plan, to show up and hang out with these odd characters. “So, what would you do if you won the lottery?”
“Hm…”
“You should pay your rent on time.” Uramichi remarks; he’s eating his own plate of mackerel, sashimi style. “It would be nice to never have to get up for work again.”
“I want to take time off and buy a boat.” Kumatani closes his eyes. “Just floating out to sea, nice and quiet, fresh saltwater air.”
“Lame.”
“Usahara.” You smack his shoulder lightly. “Knock it off.”
“Hey why are you defending that jerk?” 
“This jerk is going to leave you to pay for all our food and drinks if you keep running your mouth.”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.” You shake your head somberly in disapproval as Usahara sulks. “Apologize or you’re sleeping on the couch, mister.”
“You sound more like a naggy wife than a cute girlfriend…”
“What’s that?”
“Sorry.” Usahara bows his head. “Sorry, Kumatani.”
“Good one.” Kumantani reaches over to refill your glass with a fresh pour of beer. “I’ll lend you the Man-Eating Salmon boxset if you can keep him quiet for the rest of the night.”
Usahara sips his water as you grin at Kumatani; oh well. He gets it. On paper, Kumatani makes sense: even he admits, it was pretty cool how Kumatani was going to go out there and take on that creep head on. It’s not Usahara’s style; he’s scared to get beat up and can barely throw a punch. Sue him. Still, it stings that even on this pretend date, Kumatani is still showing him up. 
“Hey guys?” It’s Uramichi that breaks the silence. “I think that creep got tired of waiting.”
They all look to the door; it’s not clear at first, but from your shaken expression, it’s apparent the man who’s made his way inside the bar is the same one who was stalking you. The smile is gone from your face; he’s approaching the table with an almost apologetic smile. He looks like a fairly normal person, to Usahara’s slight surprise, not like a thug or anything. Hell, he looks more intimidating. 
“Sorry to bother you, but I was hoping to get your number?” 
“What?” You sink into your seat. “That’s why you followed me?”
“Followed? I didn’t do anything like that.” The man looks surprised. “I go here all the time. I just saw you, thought I’d shoot my shot, you know? Besides, I don’t need anyone’s permission to come inside and have a drink-”
“Excuse me, but we’re trying to have dinner.” Usahara stares at the man blankly. “We saw you out there. If you just came to eat here coincidentally, why were you lurking outside?”
“I wasn’t-”
“Cut the bullshit.” Kumatani glares at the man, grip tightening on his mug like he wants to smash it against the offending stranger’s head. “Get the hint already, asshole.”
“You’re making everyone uncomfortable.” A dark look crosses Uramichi’s face; he’s poised as though he’s about to rise from his chair. “I think you ought to leave. She’s not interested.”
“Let her tell me herself-”
“She shouldn’t have to talk to some freak hounding her in the dark.” Usahara takes his jacket and drapes it over your shaking shoulders; he puts his arm around you. “You’re bothering my girlfriend; who do you think you are? She doesn’t owe you shit.” he forces himself to temper his anger and speaks to you gently. “Don’t feel like you have to say anything, okay babe? You haven’t done anything; it’s not your fault this loser is bugging you.”
“Fuck you.” The man snaps, posture rigid; he’s shaking, but he doesn’t move any closer. “I didn’t do anything, this bitch-”
“Don’t call her that!” Usahara stands up, but doesn’t try to attack the man; he stands in front of you, arms out slightly to obscure you from the stranger’s eyes. “You can either get your ass handed to you by my buddies-”
“Really? What are we, you bodyguards?”
Usahara ignores Kumantani’s dry stare. “-or leave in handcuffs.” he makes sure you’re blocked from view. “Your choice.”
“Go to hell.” 
But the confrontation ends there. With a sneer, the man storms out of the bar, rather quickly in fact; one of the staff members comes out from behind the counter with a concerned frown and asks if she needs to call the cops. Kumatani explains the situation and Uramichi actually goes himself to check if the man is just hiding around the corner of the bar. Usahara stays with you; despite how relieved you are, tears come to your eyes, dripping down your face.
“It’s okay.” Usahara hands you some napkins. “Do you need these?”
“Thank you.” You sniff and blow your nose into the offered napkins, but the tears aren’t stopping. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t even tell that asshole off, it was like I couldn’t even speak. I feel so dumb for being scared.”
“Not gonna lie, I was kinda scared too; Uramichi still has him beat in the dead eyed stare competition though.” Usahara chuckles; he tentatively holds one of your hands; your palm is clammy and your fingers are cold. “Sorry you had to go through that. I really thought he had left; I think the owner’s gonna call the cops anyway, dude seemed unhinged.”
“Oh, your jacket,”
“You can hold onto it. Your hand’s freezing.” Usahara ignores the slight chill he feels as you squeeze his hand. “You want me to get you a hot tea or something? Sorry, I have no clue what to do for these kinds of situations.”
“You’ve done more than enough.” You smile at him; your cheeks and eyes are red and puffy. “Thank you; the only reason I was able to feel okay at all is because of you guys being so kind. I’m so sorry for all this.”
Usahara feels bad for your gratitude; he’s also angry. He’s half tempted to go outside himself and chase after that creep, but more than that, he could cry himself from how sad you look, how you actually felt like you had to apologize for someone else's horrible actions.
“Don’t apologize. Hell, I didn’t do anything.” Usahara has to stop himself from trapping you in a big bear (bunny?) hug. “Look, do you want one of us to take you home? It’s past midnight and sometimes you get creepy drivers on that app if you request a ride this late at night.” Usahara averts his eyes to the table, trying to sound assuring despite the pit forming in his stomach. “Kumatani seems grumpy, but you won’t find anyone more reliable and Uramichi is a decent guy, even if he mopes a lot. They’ll keep you safe on your way home.”
“What about you?”
“Me?”
You look nervous. “I trust you…of course, you’ve already helped me so much. I can walk home alone, I’ll pretend to be on the phone.”
“No, not at all!” Usahara scrambles to talk. “I’d be totally okay walking you home! Just leave it to Tobikichi Usahara, you won’t have anything to worry about!”
“Are you trying a stand up routine?” Uramichi reenters the booth, unmoved by Usahara’s objections. “Anyway, I think he’s really gone this time, but the owner’s still going to call the police and have them take a look around. I guess this isn’t the first time they’ve had a problem, she’s pretty sure it’s the same guy too. With any luck, he won’t be bothering anyone again.”
“I hope so.” You wipe your eyes. “Thank you, Uramichi; where’s Kumatani?”
“Settling your tab.”
“What?!” You gap at him, almost expecting this to be a joke. “That’s way too much, I was going to pay for you guys-”
“Give it a rest.”
“Uramichi!” Usahara is scandalized. “This is why girls don’t talk to you.Would it kill you to show a little tact? She's upset.”
“Are you seriously telling me that? Who asked you anyway? Look, I’m just saying, it’s no trouble.” Uramichi’s eyes soften a smidge as he looks at you. “Don’t get me wrong, I really hope this never happens again, but tonight was almost fun.”
Kumatani approaches the table, tucking away what you assume is a receipt in his wallet. “Let’s finish up and call it a night: Usahara, you owe me half the tab.”
“Saw that coming.” Usahara shrugs and manages a weak smile. “Fair enough; but I’m only paying for her and my stuff.”
“Okay.” Kumatani chuckles. “I expected you to put up a fuss like usual. We should invite your girlfriend out every time we get drinks.”
“Dude!” Usahara’s already flushed face turns bright red. “Jokes on you, I’m never inviting you guys out with us.” he sends you a lopsided grin. “If I win the jackpot, it’ll be dinner for two, wherever you want to eat.”
“Actually,” You fiddle with the sleeve of his jacket. “I was hoping we could all do this again sometime; you know, without the looming threat of being stalked. Is that weird?”
“You want to put up with us again?” Kumatani asks, but you can tell he’s mostly teasing. 
“I guess.” Uramichi concedes. “It’s nice to have a buffer.”
“Buffer? What, so you can ignore me and get drunk in peace?” Usahara sighs dramatically. “Well, that’s fine with me; having another person around makes your mood swings less stressful-ow, ow, ow! I’m sorry, I give up, you’re not moody!”
Uramichi stops grinding his fists on either side of Usahara’s temples. “Just take her home already and try not to fall over in the street.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So, that’s us.” Usahara laughs somewhat embarrassed. “Did you really have fun tonight?”
“Yeah.” You say honestly; you’re leading the way to your apartment, walking slow. “You’re looking pale; do you always drink that much?”
“....yeah…” Usahara admits reluctantly. “I know, I know, I’m a mess.”
“Without a doubt.” 
“So mean…”
“But you’re very nice.” You offer him with a half smile. “And brave.”
“Me?”
“Uh huh.”
Usahara stares at you from the corner of his eye; the street lights overhead shine a dim glow on your hair and face. You’re still wearing his smelly old jacket, a grease stain on the front from dropping fried chicken on himself the other day. It looks better on you.
“Uh oh.” Usahara could slap himself. “Dude, not cool. She’s been through enough tonight. You were pretending so she could feel safe. It’s not like she actually wants to date you. Don’t let yourself get caught up in the moment. She’s a nice girl who needed your help and as it stands, she doesn’t think you’re a complete loser. Let’s keep it that way and call this a win.”
“This is me.” You come to a stop in front of a complex Usahara has gone past quite a few times before. “I’d invite you in for tea, but I should be going to bed. Can I give you my number? If you want to hang out again sometime.”
“Sure thing.” Usahara switches phones with you. “Call, text, whatever; let me know when you’re free.”
“I’ll do that.” You nod and hand him back his cellphone. “Wait, don’t go yet.”
Usahara was about to leave. “Is everything alright? I can wait until you get inside to-”
“You’re sweet.” You take off his jacket, putting it around his shoulders; you peck his jaw, not quite able to reach his cheek. “Next time, maybe we can go on a real date?”
“Am I passed out at the bar?” Usahara touches the spot where you had pressed your soft lips against his skin. “Sorry, let me get this straight: you want to see me again? Me, Usahara, specifically? For a date? Like a ‘date-date’?” he frowns, examines your face carefully. “Are you drunk? I don’t want to take advantage, I mean, you might have second thoughts later, which is totally okay, I-I don’t mind just being friends-!”
“I am a bit tipsy, but I don’t think that’s affecting anything.” You smile a little. “Maybe you should text me first thing in the morning? Just to make sure.”
“I’ll probably be super hungover.” Usahara looks at you like you’re too good to be real. “I usually go to this breakfast place, if you’re interested. It’s a cheap spot but the food’s good. Sorry, I-”
“Are you treating?”
“Yes! And I’ll pick you up?” Usahara is on pins and needles, utterly failing to reign in his excitement. “I have a spare helmet, if you don’t mind riding on a motorcycle. I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“It’s a date.” You start to walk away. “Tell the guys I said thank you, again. Do you think they’ll want to get breakfast too?”
“NO!” Usahara hates how his voice pitches so high in panic; he looks down at the ground, a little ashamed of himself, but not enough to be unselfish. He really is shameless. “At least for this time, I want it to be just us. You can see for yourself if I’m worth your time; I swear, you won’t be disappointed.”
“I’m holding you to that.” You smile playfully. “Honey bunny.”
Usahara blushes so much he thinks his face might be on fire, waving in a daze as you disappear into your apartment. 
“Oh crap." It almost hurts how hard Usahara's smiling as he thinks about seeing you again. "I'm so screwed.”
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innerchorus · 3 months
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Arslan Senki Chapter 126 (Part 2)
And unlike Kmanga you don't even have to pay twice for the privilege of having it split into two. SPOILERS for this chapter, I can't stress enough that the ending is a huge fucking cliffhanger so if you don't want to get spoiled please don't look.
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That's a piece of the (Un)Holy Master's cloak...
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Nicely dealt with by Andragoras!
Anyway, this is proper confirmation that Team Zahhak's clothing has magical properties / a life of its own and can potentially be dangerous even when separated from the wearer.
Given how fast the Master can dodge (or more correctly this is a teleportation style of evasion that I mentioned before where he reappears behind them) it's impressive that Andragoras actually landed a blow, though it's not even close to being a fatal one. Still, he looks like he's aiming to finish the job until the Master tries to regain control of the situation by attempting to blackmail Andragoras with the location of his child!
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These panels of a shocked Hilmes in the background just watching all this drama unfold, lol
Anyway, it turns out Andragoras cannot be blackmailed and he'd rather renounce his child than be manipulated like this, which is... very on brand for Andragoras, regardless of what the truth about the child turns out to be in Arakawa's manga.
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The Master: tch! Hilmes: Yikes
(Is anyone of the Parsian royal line a good father? Doesn't seem that way in recent generations. Hilmes, please reverse this trend with Irina by your side, I'd love to see you both happy with a family!)
Anyway GUESS WHO'S KNOCKING AT THE DOOR IN THAT LAST PANEL? THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S ZANDEH, PUPPY BOY TO THE RESCUE! And he's still got that little guy who was one of Kharlan's soldiers with him, and that warms my heart for some reason, I hope he gets to live.
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Hilmes... 😭
I wonder what Zandeh thinks? It's clearly not 'nothing at all'.
Anyway this makes me really sad because where we saw Arslan open up to his followers and receive their support, Hilmes... can't bring himself to do that. Personally, I feel that at this point, Zandeh would support him regardless (as would Sam, who unbeknownst to Hilmes already knows the truth) but Hilmes can't bring himself to admit it, to admit the fact that he's based his whole life around a lie. Without his claim to the throne, who is he?
It's sad that he can't see that the right to rule and the qualities that might inspire loyalty and love are based on so much more. I'm not saying that he's a worthy ruler right now, unlike Arslan he hasn't even thought about how he'll govern the country for the better, but I do find it sad that his mindset leaves him so isolated here when it doesn't need to be that way.
(I'm going to need an Irina mention soon. At least show that Hilmes is thinking of her, even if he feels he can't speak with her.)
That's it for Team Hilmes content this chapter, anyway.
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Who should Team Arslan bump into on the way to Mount Demavant but the Zot with a leashed Don Ricardo, still clinging on to Rukhnabad! So while Arslan did deliberately set out to get the sword, in the end it looks like it's going to happen via a chance encounter (well, if anyone can ever persuade Don Ricardo to let go of it).
Gieve recognising Rukhnabad is a great moment! Even he is so shocked that it seems like he's struggling to form the words as he processes what he's seeing.
I feel pretty sorry for Don Ricardo, he hasn't really recovered mentally from his encounter with Zahhak, he doesn't look to be in a great state, and while the Zot are merely intending to hand him over to Arslan, they can't communicate with him so presumably all he knows is that he's their prisoner, he has no idea what his fate will be and nobody to reassure him. Likewise, they don't know what he's been through.
Team Arslan try to figure it out thanks to Estelle, but Don Ricardo is too distressed, so they decide to find a village to stay the night. It's at this point that alarm bells started going off in my mind.
Narsus says "It's too quiet." (I start thinking of the village he stayed in with Alfarid where Arzhang had killed all the villagers.)
The horses start freaking out (we know they react this way to Team Zahhak)
Team Arslan find bodies of villagers with only their brain eaten (and who do we know of who has an appetite for brains?)
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OH FUCK, OH SHIT, OH FUUUUCK
A weird mist begins to seep into the scene; Zahhak in the novels was described as exuding a miasma of sorts, I think it provoked fear in those who were close to it?
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PANELS THAT FILLED MY HEART WITH PURE DREAD
Gods, I hope everyone survives this encounter. I don't know how it's going to go down but it strikes me that this could be it, this could be the actual deciding fight as far as Zahhak is concerned, because we have Rukhnabad on the scene right here, it could really be happening in Arakawa's manga right now, and I'm not sure I'm ready?
My head is ringing with questions. What does Zahhak's full form look like (we see the snakes clearly but not what they're attached to)? Is he fully resurrected or are the shoulder snakes just operating on the instinct of hunger? What happened to Kaykhusraw's body? Are any members of Team Zahhak here with the Snake King? If Team Arslan do fight Zahhak here, how do they go about it? One on one? As the strongest warrior, will Daryun take him on? Will Arslan (with Estelle's help) manage to persuade Don Ricardo to hand over Rukhnabad, and will he opt to take on the Snake King himself with the sword's powers?
Man I wish Kubard were here... I've always said he'd set everyone straight about the notion of taking on a being like the Snake King in single combat... Just kill it, any way you can.
Part of me feels like Zahhak won't be defeated yet and this encounter will serve its purpose mainly in showing Team Arslan that he truly has been unsealed, so now they'll know what the sorcerers were working towards and they'll know what they're up against. But will they come through this unscathed? I'm not ready for character deaths!
My working theory as of this post: Zahhak is not fully conscious and is mainly being driven by the snakes' hunger; he is heading for Ecbatana for some sort of ritual involving the head jars where he will truly return in full. The final confrontation will take place after matters in the capital with Andragoras and Hilmes have been resolved, and may involve entering Team Zahhak's lair beneath Ecbatana (ArAkAwA sHoW mE tHe DaRk TeMpLe).
Guys... I am utterly exhausted, this chapter has wrecked me. I'll keep an eye out for raws / somewhere to read the simulpub for free and post a link if I see it.
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I wrote about EarthquakeClan's first ever political crisis! I've been meaning to write something with Lynxstar for so long, but I did not have the energy to make illustrations for it, sadly. Not for a lack of trying.
Lynxstar is just my special little princess I love this pixelated cat SO much, you gotta understand
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"How long has it been? A moon and a half?"
Riverfur's voice broke Lynxfang out of his concrentration. The brown tabby's comment was so sudden that he had to clarify what he meant: "Since Pikestar's death."
"How is that more important than catching prey?" Asked the gray, spotted tom. "We've been keeping up just fine without him."
"I don't know, BrokenClan was acting strangely at the last Gathering. Brightnight had to represent us, and Sunstar looked so strangely at her. What if they are planning to attack us now that we're weak?"
"Tch, and break apart the alliance between our clans? Sunstar is young, but he's not mouse-brained, Riverfur, he knows he needs us."
"If only Wishwhistle was still around…"
"Wishwhistle was a medicine cat. What would she even do?"
"She would've understood it was her duty to lead EarthquakeClan!"
Lynxfang moved his long ears. The bat he had been trying to catch before the conversation started was long gone, and he moped its loss. A full belly would have helped him handle Riverfur's needless whines. "And I guess Asterkit isn't fit for leadership either, traditionally speaking."
"You're not taking this seriously!" 
"Riverfur, darling, I'm only following your logic here. I'm aware a cat can not be mature enough to lead a clan if all they've got is five moons, but by appointing the right regent, I don't see why we can't turn the little catworm into Asterstar."
Riverfur and Lynxfang had been close friends ever since teenagehood, but that habit of his of always giving out the worst solutions to his problems was growing older and older by the day. Going to the happy place was not enough sometimes.
"Why don't you go to the Moonstone then,  Lynxstar?" 
Riverfur stomped away, angrily.
"I mean, if it'd make you happy! I'm all over you, honey!"
And just like that, Lynxfang was left all alone. He refused to feel bad for the sarcasm he had employed, as much as he knew he had upset Riverfur for good. You can't just interrupt a guy when he's trying to get out of his comfort zone for the sake of the clan! He was already lamenting the lack of violent physical contact between cats, and he wasn't about to lament the lack of a leader too. He could feel bad about this after he found that bat again, and gorged its eyes out of its skull for thinking he could run away. 
He brought a couple of prey back to camp as compensation for breaking the Warrior Code with that bat — and its mate —, but his generous contribution did not stop the side eyes his clanmates gave him as he trotted towards the fresh-kill pile. With an open mouth, Riverfur's scent came in easily and he became content with the fact that his friend came back safe and sound despite the separation. He'd charm his way back into his heart, he was sure of it!
"Huh," whispered Leopardwillow, which he managed to overhear "You might not believe in me, but he trained under one of the most honorable warriors EarthquakeClan had since it's Renaissance."
"Did he?" Hootwhisker whispered back, sharing her attention between the gossip and Stemkit. Both were just as important to the queen.
Leopardwillow nodded as she complemented: "Darkstripe, his name was. Our first ever tragedy." 
Tch, since when was Darkstripe honorable? Since he tried isolating him from the other apprentices? Since he started going around saying he was too unstable to be taught advanced fighting skills? Since he had assured Ravenpaw, now Raventuft, that he was going to get killed by his paws someday? He didn't even do his job! Lynxfang owed his warrior name to the rogues he met around the forest, and the fierce kittypet Cece — a kittypet! Imagine being so incompetent a kittypet is more of a mentor to your apprentice.
When Lynxfang passed by the two she-cats, he did not do so much as to even greet them, and walked immediately towards Raventuft. He was welcomed with his lover's friendly tongue, but then his purring stopped and was replaced by a yelp of betrayal.
"You already ate?! This isn't fair," Raventuft commented.
"Not you too."
"Who am I going to eat with now, everybody else is so dull," he threw himself on the floor, dramatically. 
"It's critical, but you'll live. I just had to gather more patience to myself on patrol today."
"Let me guess: it involves Riverfur, Pikestar and Asterkit?" 
Great, he had been talking about it to the entire forest. "He doesn't chill, does he?"
"She," he corrected. 
"What?"
"She's been meaning to tell you, but you kinda blew it up with your sarcasm there, so she told me to give you a headsup. Said you did not deserve to know by her mouth until you stopped being a huge fox-dung; her words, not mine."
As much as he'd kill and die for Raventuft, Lynxfang knew better than to believe in everything he said. He was probably trying to create discord between he and Riverfur by adding that last part. Riverfur wanted him to know, but was too angry to face him; she'd never call him fox-dung, though.
"Was that why she mentioned Wishwhistle?"
"Riverfur? Being subtle? Come on. She only mentioned her because she wishes that incompetent goofball could be half as good a leader as her father was. I don't need to remind you how unsubtle Riverfur was when we were younger, do I?"
"Please, spare me." 
Raventuft purred. "The hedgehog spike on your bed was pretty funny."
"Glad my suffering brings you joy, love, because it only brings me regret."
He purred some more. "I have no idea why she still sticks around with us." 
"Maybe she finds you handsome."
Raventuft stopped purring. He looked at Lynxfang. He looked with murderous intent. "You did not need to say that."
"What, you'll just let this chance slide? You could go in there and trash talk about me, and then you lie your head on hers, and then—"
"She likes mollies, Lynxfang!" 
Raventuft looked so cute when he was upset, but Lynxfang knew better than to overdo it. As much as he looked funny, it was never a good idea to tease him for so long. He shrugged. "Worth the shot." 
"Besides, I already have you," he muttered, as he laid his head on his back. "That's more than enough for me." 
"I love you too, ducky." 
From that corner of the warrior's den, Lynxfang could see the cave tunnel in which Pikestar would go inside to rest. It looked spacious, it looked distant — it looked safe from the side eyeing and the prophecies of destruction Petaleye had made about him. He was always jealous of Pikestar, keeping a den all to his own. He remembered how his clanmates would look at Pikestar when he came around, even when he was growing senile and his decisions were not always reinforced. There was respect in those eyes. There was admiration. There was fear. 
As unreasonable as some of her fears were, Riverfur was right about two things: the first thing was that EarthquakeClan was seen as weak and unstable by the others and it could be exploited; the second was that Lynxstar did not sound so bad. It sounded right.
"Hey, ducky?"
"Hm?" Raventuft raised his head to look at him. "What is it, Lynxfang?"
"Do you want to make an announcement with me?" 
Raventuft tilted his head, but followed along. Everytime that Lynxfang became nonchalant, it meant trouble, and Raventuft loved watching trouble unfold. His legs became more and more paralyzed, however, the closest the two of them became of the leader's den, and his eyes were slowly opening more and more. No, not even he could go that far...
Lynxfang jumped gracefully from rock to rock until he reached the top, and then he yelled as loud as he could: "Let all cats old enough to cat their own prey gather in the middle of our camp, for a clan meeting!"
StarClan above, he was going that far.
There was only one word to describe the clan cat's reaction: bewilderment. In the middle of a breezy snowstorm, their furs all spiked up, the clan gathered around to listen to the announcement. 
"EarthquakeClan has been leaderless for longer than it should have been," Lynxfang continued, "and the rightful heir is not of age yet. I decided to appoint myself as temporary regent of EarthquakeClan, and Raventuft as my deputy. To honor my clan, I shall go to the Moonstone with Brightnight in the evening, and come back with the nine lives of a leader."
"How would that be temporary, if you get the nine lives?" Leopardwillow immediately protested. Keeping peace is going to be so much harder with him as a star..., she thought to herself.
Lynxfang bared his teeth at her, but kept the calm demeanor. "I shall pass them all down to Asterkit once he comes of age, and has taken at least one apprentice to himself."
"You never trained an apprentice before!"
"Oh, but I will. I'll start with Asterpaw."
There were no verbal protests, but there were no excited screams of Lynxstar! Lynxstar! Lynxstar! echoing through the rocky walls. The clan was speechless.
Riverfur took a deep breath and broke the silence: "I'm with Lynxfang. Right now, we need a strong leader to intimidate our rivals. EarthquakeClan vanished from existence once, it could vanish again!" 
Leopardwillow was shaking her head repeatedly. She whispered: "Riverfur, he'll ruin our diplomacy…!"
"He'll be Lynxstar temporarily. Once Asterstar takes leadership upon himself, we'll restore whatever allies we've lost."
Leopardwillow lowered her ears. There was nothing she could do.
Brightnight agreed to take Lynxfang to the Moonstone in the evening. Raventuft was starting to come around to the title of deputy. All that Lynxfang needed right now was one last visit to the nursery before departing. Just for fun.
Asterkit had listened to it all, and was hissing to the tom as he walked in. He could not so much as reach his head, but he still showed his claws at him, spitting: "Mom told me about you! She said she kept seeing horrible things about you, from StarClan!" 
He had to laugh. "Little one, your mom was never trained to be a medicine cat. Who's to say her visions were real?"
"I'll run away before I'll be your apprentice!"
"And where would you go, huh? There's a snowstorm, tiny, and your coat is not as thick as mine. But it's whatever, really… if you die, all my problems are gone with you." 
Asterkit began cowering down, as Lynxfang's shadow covered him. He was such a big cat. It would be such a hard fight. 
"Oopsie, I wasn't supposed to spoil my future plans. Owies, I did it again. Ah, I guess it can't be helped. Unless…"
"Unless…?"
"Unless you help me. In whatever I ask you to do."
"W-what do you want from me?"
"Oh, but it's too complicated to explain right now, since you see… I gotta skedaddle. Keep that eagerness for a chit-chat for when I come back, alright, kiddo? Can you do that for me? Good."
"Leave him alone!" Horsekit jumped in front of Asterkit, hissing. "Go away!"
He purred. "You're such a funny molly, I might make you my apprentice as well, so you can protect him all the time! Later!"
Lynxfang walked away, feeling free for the first time in his life. He came back Lynxstar, leader of EarthquakeClan.
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adamwatchesmovies · 7 months
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The Human Tornado (1976)
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Dolemite is back and he’s… better than before? worse than before? Hard to say. One thing’s for sure, The Human Tornado is not a good movie but it sure is fun to watch. With great quotable lines, cartoon characters for villains, a self-deprecating sense of humour and plenty of technical flubs for you to poke fun at, it’s continuously enjoyable and always in new ways.
After Dolemite (Rudy Ray Moore) is caught in bed with the racist sheriff’s wife, he is framed for her murder. On the run with his friends, they head to California to meet Queen Bee (Lady Reed), a succesful club/brother owner. The local mob boss, Joe Cavaletti (Herb Graham) isn’t too happy about his diminishing profits and has kidnapped two of her girls. Dolemite and his impossible charm & virility is just what she needs to find out where they’re held.
You might consider this a better film than “Dolemite” because the script is better organized than its predecessor's. Moore’s trademark rhyming standup is still here, but instead of the plot coming to a screeching halt in a parking lot so he can impress people who just happen to be there, we get a scene setting up his newfound success as a comedian before the plot kicks off. His patented expressions and speech mannerisms are peppered throughout as ways for him to express his disdain for others (you rat-soup eatin’ mother f#cker!) or his surprise (b*tch, are you for real?!) writing them down does not do them justice. His delivery is hilarious. Something must be said about the film being perfectly aware of what it is. On one occasion, Moore/Dolemite breaks the fourth wall and re-plays one of the film’s “better” stunts to prove to us that he really did do that jump. The racist Sheriff on his tail is so racist and so over-the-top he might as well be an R-rated Yosemite Sam. It’s hard not to laugh at him or at the scene where we learn why Dolemite is called The Human Tornado.
Everything that made Dolemite a bad, but enjoyable picture is here too. The fight choreography is awful. Kicks and punches obviously miss by a mile and scenes are clearly sped up to make them seem more dynamic. Anyone with eyes can tell Moore could never, ever defeat the enemies the way he does in this film - martial arts training or not. As for the writing, "amateurish" is a generous term. When Dolemite and his buddies get to California, the film wastes time by having them wander from one place to another, looking for Queen Bee. It’s almost as if the clubs they visit are only there because they helped pay for this shoddy production. It makes you wonder how much of what you see was made “bad” on purpose, which makes it delightful. There's a psychedelic sex scene during the second half whose setup is ludicrous. I’ve seen more realistic scenarios in XXX-rated films. You think it’s just a gag but the follow-up is trying to be artsy in such a weird way it kind of makes you want to see the whole thing again, just to determine how you should feel about it.
There’s A LOT of nudity throughout, which might make some viewers uncomfortable. I say if you can’t be good, be sleazy. It makes up for the lack of over-the-top and shoddily-created gore I usually like to see at this level of filmmaking. Some of the intentional gags get tiresome pretty quick, however. Dolemite doing fake screams while revving himself up for a brawl is smile-worthy - at best - the first time around. Whenever he does it again afterward, you start reaching for the tomatoes.
I must also speak to you of another scene, one of my favourites because it unintentionally sends the wrong message. Dolemite and his (mostly useless) buddies are hitchhicking to California. They realize no one in America will stop their car to pick up this many Black men at once. It’s a harsh truth. So what do they do? All of them but one hide in the bushes and when a car stops, they pull out a gun, hold the driver hostage and force their way in the car. Guys! THIS is the reason why people don’t stop their cars to pick up Black hitchhickers!
With stereotypes aplenty, too many bare breasts to count, action scenes that’ll have you howling, a ridiculous plot and genuine enthusiasm from people who really wanted to make the best, most entertaining film they could, The Human Tornado is a great movie to sit down and watch at with friends. It’s what Moore would’ve wanted and he probably wouldn't even mind that you're laughing at the film, rather than with it. (April 9, 2021)
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kutyozh · 1 year
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portuguese, my love 🥰
HIIII my love!!
so this is a bit difficult bc i know u speak european portuguese, while i'm more familiar with brazilian portuguese, but i'll try to say something about both!
general: nasal vowels!!! 10/10, high german doesn't really have them unfortunately
european portuguese: i don't fuckin know when that happened but some years ago my mum watched one of those super cheesy romances on the telly and it was set in portugal so ofc they included some portuguese music and that's how i found Deolinda. to this day i really really love some of their songs <3
brazilian portuguese: spanish but in fancy?? spanish sounds extremely dry to me - little to no aspiration or voicing* (depending on the accent) there, no native 'sh' sound... and then theres br. portuguese with all the 'zh' and 'tch' sounds (like in 'gente' - people) and the 'lh' (like in 'olha' - look) and 'nh' (like in 'minha' - my) it's DELICIOUS it just tastes sparkly some of these things might be applicable to european portuguese too but idk 🥺👉👈
*speaking about latam spanish here ok
send me a language and I'll tell you what i love about it
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jinanreona · 1 year
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@liliavanrouge​ sent:
" There you are ! " the fae said cheerfully while holding a plate with...well it can't actually be made out what exactly is on that plate, just the fact that it has an uneven shape and has layers which makes it a little tall
" For this special day I took the time and care to make you your favorite food ! Meat ! I heard about a recipe that combines stake with chocolate sauce, quiet an exquisite and interesting type of combo I'm sure you will love " oh god the poor meat is beyond recognition
" However the recipe was kinda boring so I added some extra ingredients and also made it in layers so it kinda looks like a nice cake ! " the so called meat was black which would make you think it's burn but if you look closely it actually is so disgustingly soaked and wet that is impressive. The chocolate sauce that coated the layers of meat was way too thick and had chunks of spicy pepper, banana, sardines, tuna and some passion fruit.
Lilia cuts out a piece, careful to get a good amount of sauce on it too and brings it to his mouth " Here you go say aaah "
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The stench hit his nose before he even saw the other approaching him, ears laying flat on his head. He didn’t bother hiding the look of horror at the unsightly concoction Lilia was claiming to be his ‘favorite food,’ wondering why Malleus hadn’t tried to outright kill him instead of torturing him.
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“What th-,” he started, but no amount of words could accurately show his dismay in that moment, unable to get a word in as the fae explained the cooking process behind his gift. Even if he was too stunned to speak, internally he was screaming and cursing a certain horned bastard for setting this up.
He pulled his head away instinctively when Lilia tried to feed him a spoonful, the fur on his tail puffing up as he waved his hand dismissively. “Tch oi, I’m not like yer housewarden that needs to be spoon fed everything.”
As for him accepting the gift... “Gee thanks, but I just ate, so I can’t enjoy your... generous gift yet.” Or ever, if he had any say in it. He held out his hand, a silent request for Lilia to hand over the plate. “Give it here and I’ll take it home for later. I might even share some with your dear dorm leader. Bet he never gets enough of yer cooking huh~”
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MONARCHIA DORM - BIRTHDAY VENUE
SCENE I
PUPPET: [Upon this blessed day, we bring to you an offering that seeks to satisfy your whims. On behalf of us, servants, we present to you the one which the fates considered worthy: LEONA KINGSCHOLAR.]
LEONA: Tch- what a pain.
DIANA: Leona Kingscholar. Welcome.
LEONA: Diana, huh. That's why the damn thing insisted I had to come today. I figured that might be the case.
DIANA: Mm. I'm honoured that it was you they chose. Dad would be happy too. He always admired the royal family.
LEONA: ......
DIANA: ......
LEONA: ......
DIANA: .....
LEONA: ... You say that but your expression doesn't change one bit, heh. You have the same dead-eyed stare you always do. Who would know if you're lying or not?
DIANA: You've always been good at looking through people's intentions, however. I doubt this actually poses a question for you at all.
LEONA: Tch. Still sharp, huh? Nevermind that. Let's just get this over with. It was a pain in the neck getting all the way out here just to interview you, you know? Better not waste my time.
Here.
DIANA: Hm? Ah, I see...
LEONA: That's all you have to say, huh? Thought you would know a little bit about this sort of stuff since Ruggie says that you're into singing.
DIANA: Mm. The animals enjoy it when I play songs for them. It's very soothing. This kora looks like it's finely made so I'm certain that they'll enjoy it when I play it for them.
LEONA: Huh, is that so... So you can even play this sort of thing?
DIANA: Mm. My mother studied under a jali for a few years, so he ended up learning the craft. She taught it to us as well when we were younger, and we ended up picking up on a lot of things thanks to it.
LEONA: She did, huh... That's rather bold of her. It explains a few things in the end.
The royal family used to have a jali back in the day as well. An old remanent from the days of the King of Beasts, but nowadays the position isn't what it used to be. There's less and less of them each generation, aren't there? Wonder why, hm?
DIANA: People always fear the truth, but that's not something they can change. Living one's life in accordance with your own beliefs... That's the sort of lesson my parents taught me. That's why I always want to stay true to myself. No matter what.
Leona. Thank you.
LEONA: Hah, seeing you bow your head like that never gets old.
DIANA: You are the second prince of the country. I must show you the proper respect, as part of your pack.
LEONA: That again, huh. Well, whatever, I don't mind as we keep it moving. There are still a bunch of questions I need to ask you, it seems.
DIANA: Very well. In that case, I will make sure to visit your dorm whenever I can and play you a few songs on the kora as a sign of my gratitude.
LEONA: Oy, don't do unnecessary things. It's a hassle having you visit and start scolding me during that time.
DIANA: Kings must listen even to things they don't wish to, otherwise they cannot govern. Isn't that so?
LEONA: Tch. Let's just get this over with already.
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SCENE II
PUPPET: [Shall I proceed with the game?]
LEONA: I don't have all day to waste on this, so make it quick.
PUPPET: [Understood. I shall now proceed to ask a question that Diana Arrow will answer and which Leona Kingscholar will be tasked to interpret.]
LEONA: Interpret? What is the point of that? This woman always speaks her mind so there's nothing hidden behind her words. Get on with the next game.
DIANA: Leona.
LEONA: Huh? What is it?
DIANA: The puppet worked hard to put all this together. We should try our best to play along for its entertainment.
LEONA: Hah? You want to do its whims just like that? Aren't we supposed to be the ones entertained by it? Don't make me do work that's not part of the requirements.
DIANA: This is for the sake of the party. We must comply with it.
LEONA: Tch.
DIANA: Please go ahead. What's the question?
PUPPET: [You are in an old, abandoned building where no human has set foot for years and have discovered a staircase leading underground. As you descend you hear all manner of sounds. How do you proceed?]
DIANA: What sort of sounds are they?
PUPPET: [Moaning and weeping.]
DIANA: In that case, I would go check to see if they're hurt.
LEONA: Hah? Are you serious?
DIANA: Mm. If the sounds are loud enough for me to hear them so clearly, it must mean the other person is in trouble. If it's a human, they might have gotten lost and stumbled across wild animals and disturbed their peace. If it's an animal, they might have been hurt by another or by poachers. Whatever it is, I should make sure that things aren't dire enough for anybody to be hurt.
LEONA: Huh? So you want to play at being a good samaritan, hm? What a noble goal.
DIANA: There is no need for condescension. The balance between civilization and nature is a fickle one. Humans will hurt animals for little reason at all. It's my job to make sure that they are not mistreated in any way. If the animals are in pain, I have to make sure to evacuate the humans who disturbed them immediately before they do any more harm.
LEONA: Hah, I see. So you will prioritize animals over humans in that case, huh?
DIANA: If it's necessary. In any case, someone must be hurt so I will have to act according to my instincts and values. Isn't that something we all do?
LEONA: Is that so? In that case, perhaps someone's instinct is just to ignore the sound and move on. After all, nothing good can come out of investigating strange sounds, isn't that so? What do you make of that?
DIANA: That's their nature. One cannot ask more from them if they do not wish to give.
LEONA: Tch. Just the sort of answer I would expect out of you. I knew this was pointless. Let's just move on with it.
DIANA: If that's what you desire.
LEONA: Hmph. Straightforward women like you are difficult to deal with. I wonder how that octopunk does it, hm?
DIANA: I doubt Azul would appreciate you tormenting him like that.
LEONA: Heh.
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SCENE III
PUPPET: [Please proceed to the last part of the interview.]
LEONA: What an annoying thing.
“If you were stuck on a deserted island with somebody, who would you want it to be?”
DIANA: Rosalia.
LEONA: ... Hah? That pipsqueak?
DIANA: Mm. She said that always wanted to try and escape from a deserted island as a test of 'wildness' so I think this would be an experience that she would enjoy.
LEONA: Are you planning on babysitting her while there? Treating it like some sort of family vacation?
DIANA: No, we would learn some survival techniques that might come in handy for her one day and help her built-up muscle. She said she's started exercising in order to achieve that, but so far she seems to be taking it too lightly.
LEONA: Hmph. She keeps showing up to Savanaclaw to go running with Jack every time she visits.
DIANA: Mm. I noticed that. But true exercise should be more focused on discipline rather than romance. Jack is her mate so he can't bring himself to be too harsh with her. I understand.
LEONA: And you're saying that you'll make for a better training partner.
DIANA: I would make sure to keep her on schedule without coddling her. The deserted island would make for a good training ground, given the rough terrain, limited distractions and enough free time for her to learn all she needs before we leave.
LEONA: So you're not worried at all about being stranded, huh?
DIANA: As a child, I used to spend a lot of time alone in the wilds. They're like my second home. And it's the sort of place that suits me most. Even if I end up on a deserted island I would be able to leave eventually. If I so choose.
LEONA: If you so choose, huh? Heh. So it's all for that pipsqueak's sake. Hmph, this sort of sentimentality...
DIANA: I enjoy looking after my little sisters and brothers too. It would be nice to develop that sort of relationship with Rosalia as well. She's always looking for an opportunity to hang around me.
LEONA: What a pain. But with that, the puppet should have its answer, right?
[*]
PUPPET: [Congratulations. The interview portion has been completed. Please proceed to the last event of the celebrations. A bottle has already been prepared for you.]
LEONA: Heh, it's finally time for the big finale, huh? Let's make it a memorable one.
DIANA: Mm. Then if you would, Leona.
LEONA: I know. Then, Happy Birthday, Diana.
You don't look too bad soaking wet like this either, hah.
[champagne pops]
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mephinomaly · 2 years
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[TL] Amusement Park Show/Chapter 2
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Rei: Ohoho. Has Kaoru-kun finally come to his senses? What a good boy, let me praise you…♪
Kaoru: Ehh~. Stop acting like you’re so mature when you’re literally one year older than me. I’ll get angry.
Look, Wan-chan’s looking over here like he wants us to explain.
You can leave me out for all I care, especially with all your yapping and biting. Can’t we just get to the point?
Rei: Kukuku, Kaoru-kun’s a boy too..♪ So is it embarrassing to be teased?
Kaoru: Sakuma-san, don’t play with me like that. How about messing with Wan-chan over there~?
I’m not going to play into the palm of your hand, I’m not as easy as him.
Koga: “Wan-chan” this “Wan-chan” that— quit with the teasing, Hakaze……senpai[1].
Kaoru: Hahaha, you try biting me yet still call me senpai. It’s super cute, Wan-chan~. If you keep being so obedient, I’ll treat you to some beef jerky ♪
Koga: GYAH, I’LL KILL YOU PLAYBOY!
Rei: Kukuku, such a heartwarming spectacle…♪ Now then, if I can ask for your attention for a few moments, I can get right to it.
Wanko, Kaoru-kun, if you’d just listen to me for a moment or two.
Adonis: Oogami. Listening to Sakuma-senpai will help calm you. I am confident it will be worthwhile.
Koga: ...Tch. I'll get you next time, Hakaze-senpai[2]
You said about an amusement park live, so did you request to do one or somethin’?
Rei: Yes. We’ve been quite active in idol work as of late, haven’t we? It was only natural that we put a request in.
Koga: Fufu~♪ Has our strength finally been recognised? As it should be…
Kaoru: You look pleased. If you had a tail, you’d be wagging it enough to generate electricity, hm?
Sounds good to me. If we perform at an amusement park, it’ll mean they’ll probably be a bunch of cute girls to check out~ ♪
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Koga: Oh my God. Is that all you think about?
Kaoru: It’s an amazing incentive, right? Getting on a first name basis with lots of different girls is pretty good for an idol.
Koga-kun might have different plans, but I’m looking forward to performing together either way. No need to be so cruel~♪
Koga: Fuck off. Sayin’ it with that smile on your face just pisses me off more.
Hakaze-senpai, when we perform you better actually show up and not be chasing after some girl and her ass. If you can’t even do that—
Kaoru: Back off with the threats, Wanchan.
Hey, I can be serious when I need to be. Girls are important but… as a senpai, it would be lame to not show off my best assets.
So there's no need to worry.
When we all perform together as UNDEAD, it’ll prove how serious I am about this ♪
Time: An unspecified amount of time later
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Adonis: Oogami. How are you doing?
Koga: It’s been decided. The song and performance are perfect, and I’ll take turns with the vampire bastard and loverboy ♪
Adonis: You seem really pleased. It makes me happy when my friends are happy.
But the real thing is not until tomorrow. We should stop and start preparing for it.
Koga: Ah…Yeah, you’re right. Wouldn’t be funny if we ended up collapsing tomorrow. Let’s wrap this up.
Rei: Wanko……and Adonis-kun too. Were you, perhaps, practising together?
Koga: Woah. But we was jus’ finishin’ up things. What, did you wanna join or something?
Rei: …………
Koga: Oi, you’re meant to be energetic once the sun goes down, vampire bastard. Are you doin’ alright?
Tomorrow’s the big day, so your body needs to be in tip-top shape.
Me, Adonis, ‘n Hakaze-senpai will handle everything else, so just get some shut eye in your coffin.
You better be bright-eyed and bushy tailed in the mornin’. I know the sun makes ya weak, but on the day you need to—
Kaoru: Koga-kun.
Koga: W-what do you want. Don’t interrupt me when I’m talkin’~
Kaoru: My bad, Koga-kun. I know there’s a lot you want to say, but just listen to Sakuma-san for a sec, ‘kay?
Koga: ……Tch. Make it quick.
Rei: I have made a mistake regarding the amusement park live. I signed us up to perform a live targeted to children.
That’s why I came here to speak with you all.
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Koga: …What. The fuck you mean by “mistake”!?
Then, our live… so all this practice has been… it’s all been for nothing?! For fuck’s sake!
Rei: I was aware that you were looking forward to it, Wanko. That’s why I asked around to see if there was anything we could do.
We might not be able to perform on stage, but I am confident when I say we will be able to perform in one way or another.
I spoke with the little miss, and she is trying her best to figure out something for us.
Though, that is still up in the air. So please don’t forget that performing may not be possible.
So I give the decision to you three. Please decide as to whether you’d still like to perform tomorrow at the amusement park.
Each of your opinions hold equal weight. Nothing is more important to me than your thoughts.
Kaoru: I say we perform.
Koga: …Are you fuckin’ serious!? Whyd’ya say that for?
Kaoru: Children show’s still get the crowd going, right? Besides, it’s not exactly like we can just pull out now.
If we put some effort into it, we could actually do a live performance. So we might as well give it a go.
Adonis: I agree with Hakaze-senpai.
My body is big, so I will scare the children. If I’m honest, I’m worried if it’s even okay for me to perform in something targeted towards children.
But if I back out now, I will be unable to truly satisfy any customer. That’s why I want to do it.
Koga: Adonis, Hakaze-senpai…
Gygahhhhh. You two know if you say shit like that, I’ll join in!
Hell yeah, I’m gonna put everythin’ I’ve got into this. You better be prepared, chibi-chans…!!
koga leaves a gap between saying 'hakaze' and 'senpai', showing his reluctance to give kaoru respect lol
and now he stops with the gap
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truckreincarnation · 8 months
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Missing the Mark | Luz | Trial 1.1 | RE: Testimony Sharing, Shin, Bian, Harriet, 19
Of course, the trial room would be here of all places. At least they were all out of the water, but it didn't take away how soggy and cold this place was in general. However, all that was really the last thing on her mind. They were here to solve a murder. Now, Luz wasn't feeling the heartfelt grief and sorrow at the loss of a life, no. She was more honed in on the fact that one of them could be a killer. She takes her spot, sending a glance over to the empty seat of Francis' next to her with the slightest twitch of her eyebrows.
"Tch." She stares forward coldly, eyes scanning over the faces of everyone around her. 
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"I'm gonna be honest, I don't know a goddamn thing about anything. Not what Francis was doing before this, or anything relating to it. I've never moonlighted as a detective while I was alive, so I think it's pretty shitty to be forced to play one suddenly with someone else's- my own included- life on the line. So I'm gonna go off and continue with creating this timeline by adding that we've been trying to establish."
She picks up the quill, if only to have something to do with her hands. She jabs into her paper with it.
"Starting from 9 PM, I was doing some light reading with the most boring book I could have ever gotten from that tree in my room. Eventually that got old, so I ditched my room and went off to the lounge."
There's a vagueness in there, but she leaves no room for anything but continuing on.
"I ended up seeing Manami right before we both went into the same location. Just my luck."
Luz speak for 'I see her way too often'. She even adds a little eye roll.
"If you want me to be specific, it was around 11:02 PM by the time I entered the lounge. Manami was there, like I said, Miles, and Cowboy with his cat."
She glances off to the side.
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"And Shin, too. Snoozing away on the couch. I was looking for a little fun, so I thought I'd try bothering him. The old man wouldn't budge, though, so I found my amusement with some knitting needles. Cowboy left around some time...I want to say 11:34, and all was well up until we were called to the practice dungeon."
Like she said, she was no detective. Still, listening to the theories surfacing she figures she could throw in her two cents.
"Well, if we're arguing that Francis was Mark, and that she might have been setting up a trap to kill someone, then we should consider the motive. Like Shin said, she was recently king, so why would she set something like this up? However, there is one more underlying motive. Killing, and getting away with it, means that we get some kind of power boost right? Isn't that what the pixie said?"
As long as that loomed over their heads in this dangerous world, there could never be the possibility that someone wouldn't go for it, in Luz's mind.
"I dunno what kind of person Francis was, so I can't say much about these theories and if that's something she may have been aiming for. Plus, if we're able to take out multiple weapons with the intention of planning a murder, then what if she is both Mark and Gun? To throw out a red herring or whatever by making the handwriting seem different. I never asked if we could, under all these circumstances, take out a weapon under a different alias by then. Oh. But don't take my words too seriously, I'm just throwing things out there, trying to sort everything out. Honestly, to me it make more sense if she was Gun since one was close to her body."
She ends with a nonchalant shrug, but her body is way too tense to keep up her normal unbothered attitude with such grace.
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booksandwords · 2 years
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One Summer in Paris by Sarah Morgan
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Read time: 3 Days Rating: 5/5
The quote: You know what I've always said a man is icing on the cake that's all. And with all the new research on the dangers of sugar, maybe you're better off without. — Mimi (p.93)
One Summer in Paris was an enjoyable fairly fast read, building on female friendship, hurt and similar histories. The leading characters Audrey and Grace are at very different points in their lives but have exactly what the other needs. Confidence, knowledge, honesty and friendship. Audrey 'Audie' Hackett is an 18-year-old British girl travelling to France to get away from her alcoholic mother and figure out what she wants to do with her life. Audie is fiercely independent, dyslexic and doesn't speak a word of French. As far as travelling in France, Paris specifically, goes it's a mixed bag. Her way of making money since she was in her early teens was by washing hair in hairdressers. In contrast, Grace Porter is the mother of a 17-year-old, married for 25-year and American. She is travelling on her own after her husband, David, told her at their 25th-anniversary dinner that he is having an affair. Grace and Audrey meet when Audrey goes all badass and stops a guy from stealing Grace's bag days after Grace arrives in Paris. Their friendship develops from there as Grace starts to realise exactly how much Audrey needs her and Audrey realises Grace also needs her for that little push.
There are surprisingly limited cast and settings but somehow that feels advantageous to the story. The reader becomes comfortable in the locations. It makes it easier to visualise the locations when there are so few of them to remember. Mimi... Mimi's intro had some of the best lines in the whole book. "Maybe it's time to stop dancing. You might lose your balance." "If I'm going to fall, I'd rather do it while I'm dancing. Unless I fall out of bed having sex. That would also be acceptable—although unlikely, unless the men around here get their act together." (Mimi and Grace, p.18) Mimi is Grace's French grandmother only ever referred to as Mimi. She has spent her whole life defying the stereotypes, including being a single mother. Her eccentricity shines and her advice makes me laugh. I came to a realisation quite late in the book that Mimi is a female version of Philippe.
Etienne, Philippe and David are almost a study in contrasts. Or perhaps Etienne is the middle ground between Philippe and David. A sign of the potential improvements in the next generation, the potential Audrey has to have a happier life than Grace did. Sophie, I was perfectly fine with right up until her self-absorbed Mom and Daddy get back together b*llsh*t (b*tch you're 18, welcome to reality). David is written poorly maybe. He's written as a bit of an oaf. He's saving the stereotypical divorce with the much younger woman and is just dumb enough to leave his wife for her. It could also be said that it may be good writing, with Grace being an unreliable narrator.
Dot point comments and quotes
The formatting/language doesn't appear to be quite as clever as Annika Martin and Joanna Chambers' Enemies Like You which remains for me the best use of language I've ever seen. Ignoring the relationship dynamics, Kit and Will and Audrey and Grace have similar language dynamics. Kit and Audrey are British, Will and Grace American. Whereas Martin and Chambers make that language adjustment at all times, spoken words and thoughts, Morgan doesn't appear to. She seems to only adjust it for some spoken words. But this is why Enemies Like You is one of my fave books.
It is written in alternating perspectives primarily switching between Grace and Audrey. There is the occasional Mimi sprinkled in for details and interest.
Sophie is a brilliant protector to Grace in the immediate aftermath of the divorce. She is quite a lot like Mimi in that respect.
There was a moment where I felt something was truly off about Etienne. You don't abandon a girl at a party when she is clearly wasted and doesn't speak the language. There are some age discrepancies in the party guests and turns of phrase that made Audrey (and me) uncomfortable. His reasons helped but still felt offputting.
"Get out of here, and if you come near Meena again I swear I'll hurt you." "You and whose army?" "I don't need an army. I'm my own army. Now fuck off back to wherever you came from, which is probably the sewer." — Meena is Audrey's best friend, this is in the earliest Audrey chapter. We see her as the fierce defender she is here. (Audrey and Rhonda, p.49)
"Now stop letting them get to. Be mad, not scared. And if you can't actually be mad, then ace mad. You need to be meaner than you are. You to be meaner-Meena" — This is the best piece of advice a girl can receive. Boys too. But girls are societally conditioned to be less aggressive. (Audrey, p.50)
• "A career is within your control. I am going to work my butt off in college and get a brilliant job. I am going to shatter glass ceilings into so many pieces that all the men around me will cut their feet on the shards." — This is from a pissed off hurt daughter. Honesty it works so well. (Sophie, p.82)
Grace tumbled through the door into her arms, and Mimi almost staggered. It was as if grief had made her heavier. — I appreciate this physical manifestation of grief. (Mimi, p.90)
She slid the key into her pocket, feeling grown-up. Maybe that was all it took. A key. A place of your own. The ability to decide what you did with your day. To make choices that weren't driven by compensating for other people's mistakes. — I adore this as another idea of manifestation. Because Audrey is probably right about this whole idea. (Audrey, p.105)
"Friends and family all have opinions and feel they have to fix things, and somethings all you want is someone to listen." — The truth to this is undeniable. I'm guessing this is why counsellors make so much money. Audrey learnt her listing skills in the hairdressers, they too are used just so people can get information off their chest. (Audrey, p.121)
"No offence, Grace, but you're not looking that married from where I'm sitting. It takes more than a ring and a piece of paper. It takes the man to be present. He isn't present, and that is his biggest flaw." "Good point. Brutal, but good." — (Audrey and Grace, p.173)
Philippe had always had a book under his arm, the pages marked, corners turned in. They'd argued about whether it was right to defile books. He'd believed that a book should live a life, show signs of age and use. Battered was good because it meant someone had read and read. Best of all were notes, above the text and in the margins. — Oh my librarian self and my book-loving soul is so torn on this quote and the thoughts behind it but to each their own. (Grace, p.219)
My Goodreads review has a longish discussion of the conclusion here. I needed to talk about it. While I do have issues with the ending I was left with the overwhelming feeling that Sarah Morgan was telling us that each generation has it just a bit better. Have hope.
Despite my reservations about the ending, I do recommend this. It is a powerful female friendship done well, it shows the power of a shared path across generations and to a degree how time is changing social issues. I appreciate Sarah Morgan's writing, the way she can make things feel quite physical almost visceral when needed. The plot isn't all that complicated but to me, it is more about Grace and Audrey's friendship than the broader plot.
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Happy back-to-school y’all
I’ve attended and worked at a couple of super liberal universities. I avoid the gender studies departments for obvious reasons and I still had a lecture in which the female prof gave a brief overview of TERFs and proclaimed her hatred of JKR. Being openly critical of gender ideology, the porn industry, kinks, and ‘sex work’ are the kind of things that can ruin your future in academia. Not to mention the fact that any speech or actions that could be labelled transphobic (ie. defining woman as adult human female) can get you a suspension according to many universities anti-hate-speech policies. 
So, here’s a list of small and smallish (small in terms of overt TERFery, some may require more effort than others) radical feminist actions you can take as a university student:
(this is a liberal arts perspective so if you’re a stem gal this may not apply. but also if you’re in stem maybe you can actually acknowledge that women are oppressed as a sex class without getting kicked out of school. idk)
(Note for TRAs hate reading this: One of the core actions of radical feminism is creating female networks. This is not so that we can brainwash people into being anti-trans. This is because female solidarity is necessary for creating class consciousness and overturning patriarchy. It is harder to subjugate the female sex when we stand together.)
Take classes with female profs. Multiple sections of a class? Pick the one taught by a woman. Have to chose an elective? Only look at electives offered by women. When classes have low numbers they get cancelled. When classes are super popular, universities are forced to consider promoting the faculty that teach them
Make relationships with these female profs. Go to office hours. Chat after class. Ask them about their research. Building female networks is sooooo important!
Actually fill in your end of year course feedback forms. Profs often need these when applying for tenure or applying for a job at another university so it is very important (especially with young and/or new profs) that you fill out these forms and give specific examples of how great these women are. Go off about what you love about them! Give her a brilliant review because you know the idiot boy in that class who won’t shut up even though he knows nothing is going to give her only negative feedback because he thinks any woman who leaves the house is a feminazi b*tch. 
(note: obviously don’t go praising any prof - female or male - who is blatantly racist, homophobic, etc.)
(Also if you have shitty male profs write down all the horrible things they have done and said and put it in these forms because once a shitty man gets tenure they are virtually untouchable)
(also also, leave a good review on rate my profs or whatever other thing students use to figure out if they want to take classes. idc if you copy paste your feedback from the formal review. rave about the class to your friends. do what you can to get good enrolment for that prof for reasons above.)
Participate in class. Talk over the male students. Say what you mean and mean it. Call out the boys when they say dumb shit
Write about women. If you have the option to make a text written by a woman your primary text in an essay, do it. Pick the female-centred option if you’re writing an exam-essay with multiple prompts. (Profs often look at what works on their syllabus are being written about/engaged with as a marker of whether to keep those texts the next time they teach the class. If there are badass women on your syllabus, write about them to keep them on the syllabus) Use female-written secondary sources whenever possible. 
(pro tip: many women in academia are more than happy to talk to you about their papers. expand your female networks by reaching out to article authors through email and asking them about their cool shit)
Get your essays published! Many departments have undergrad journals you can publish in. This will ensure more people read about the women you write about and will demonstrate to the department that people like learning about women
Consider trying to publish your undergrad essay with a legit peer-reviewed journal. If you can do it, your use of female-written secondary sources boosts the reputations of the women who wrote those secondary sources. Also this helps generally to increase scholarship about women’s writing!
Present your papers at conferences! Many schools have their own undergraduate/departmental conferences that you can present at. Push yourself by submitting to outside conferences. Bring attention to women’s works by presenting your papers. Take a space at a conference that would otherwise be reserved for mediocre men
Talk to your profs and/or your department and/or your university about mandating the inclusion of female works in classes if this isn’t something they do already
Sit next to other women in your classes. Talk to them. Make friends. Form study groups. Proofread each other’s essays. Give each other knowing looks when the boys are being dumb. Just interact with other women! Build those female networks!
Be generous with your compliments. A female classmate and I were talking to a prof after class and the classmate told me (out of the blue) that I always have such interesting things to say. I think about that whenever I’m lacking confidence about my academic skills. Compliment the women in your classes for speaking up, for sharing their opinions, for challenging your classmates/profs, for doing cool presentations, etc.
Talk to other women about sexist things going on on campus. Make everyone aware of the sexist profs. Complain about how there are many more tenured men than tenured women. Go on rate my professor and be explicit about how the sexist profs are sexist
Be active on campus and in societies. If a society has an all male executive or is male-dominated, any women who join that society make it less intimidating for more women to join. Run for executive positions! Bring in more women! 
(Pro tip: Many societies’ elections are super gameable. You can be eligible to vote in a society election sometimes just by being a student at that university — even without having done anything with the society before. Other societies might just require that you’ve taken a class in a particular department or attended a society event. (Check the society’s governing documents.) Use those female networks you’ve been building. If you can bring three or four random people to vote for you, that might be enough for you to win. Societies have trouble meeting quorum (the minimum number of people in attendance to do votes) so it is really super achievable to rig an election with a few friends. And don’t feel bad about this. The system is rigged against women so you have every right to exploit loopholes!)
(Also feel free to go vote “non-confidence”/“re-open election” if only shitty men are running. Too often people see that only candidates they don’t like are running and so they give up. But you can actually stop them getting elected)
Your campus may have a LGBTQIA+alphabetsoup society. That society definitely needs more L and B women representation. It may be tedious to argue with the nb straight dudes who insist that it’s fine to use “q***r” in the society’s posters and that attraction has nothing to do with genitals, but just imagine what could happen if we could make these sorts of societies actually safe spaces for same-sex attracted women and advocated for our concerns
Attend random societies’ election meetings. Get women elected and peace out. (or actually get involved but I’m trying to emphasize the lowest commitment option with this one)
Write for the campus newspaper. Write about what women are doing - women’s sports, cool society activities, whatever. Review female movies, books, tv shows, local theatre productions. Write about sexism on campus. We need more female by-lines and more stories about women
Get involved with your campus’s sexual assault & r*pe hotline/sexual assault survivor’s centre/whatever similar organization your campus has if you can. This is hard work and definitely not for everyone (pls take care of yourself first, especially if you are a survivor)
(If your campus doesn’t have an organization for supporting survivor’s of sexualized violence, start one! This is probably going to be a lot of hard work though, so don’t do it alone)
Talk to your student council about providing free menstrual hygiene products on campus if your campus doesn’t already do this. If your campus provides free condoms (which they probs do), use that as leverage (ie. ‘sex is optional, menstruation is not. so why do we have free condoms and no free pads?’)
If you’re an older student, get involved with younger students (orientation week and such activities are good for this). Show the freshman that you can be a successful and well-liked woman without shaving your legs, wearing heels, wearing make-up, etc. Mentor these young women. Offer to go for coffee or proofread essays. 
Come to class looking like a human being. Be visibly make-up less, unshaven, unfeminine, etc. to show off the many different ways of being a woman
Talk to the custodial staff and learn their names. (I know there are men who work in this profession, but it is dominated by low-income women) Say hi in the hallways, ask them about their lives, show them they’re appreciated
Be explicit with your language. When you are talking about sex-based oppression, say it. Don’t say ‘sex worker’ when you mean survivor of human trafficking. This tip is obviously a bit tricky in terms of overt TERFyness, so use your best judgement
That’s all from me for now! Feel free to add your suggestions and remember that feminism is about action
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palbabor-writes · 3 years
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Impetuous
Pairing: Gojo Satoru x Fem!Reader
Warnings: Adult language, SMUT/18+only, cunnilingus, switching, bratting, face-riding, Satoru being Satoru, so he’s chatty & in general the worst  
Words: 12,815
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“Knock it off,” you huff, doing your best to ignore how your breasts press against the flat planes of his chest. Then his fingers are under your chin, gently tipping your head up and leaning so close that his lips are inches from your own. 
“But what if I don’t want to?” he teases, his voice falling into a lower, hushed pitch before he relaxes his hold, letting you slip from his hands.
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Notes: this thing has been languishing in my drafts since like, January. because it was my first step away from BNHA i’ve sorta over analyzed it & edited it, likely to death. but anyway, without further ado, here is my first venture into the JJK fandom! thank you for edits & suggestions: @albinoburrito, @kugutsuu​, @kogo​ & everyone else that i’ve forced to look at this thing. love you all sm & ty for putting up with me!
& it’s gojo because of course it fucking is. 
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Impetuous im·pet·u·ous /imˈpeCH(o͞o)əs/ adjective done quickly
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“I hate to be a harbinger of bad news, and I can understand your frustration, but that’s what they asked me to do. Doesn’t matter what continent we’re on, elders are elders. Honestly, I’m a little shocked that this teaching pathway is even an option for him.” Although you speak softly, your voice seems to carry more in these close meeting rooms, clattering off the tatami mats and gleaming leather couches.   
Yaga massages the bridge of his nose and adjusts his dark sunglasses before lifting his eyes to yours. “I understand, but I still feel that he would be an asset to our school. As long as his motivations remain pure, that’s all I can ask for, at present.”
“Pure or not,” you continue, lacing your fingers as you cross one leg over the other. “It’s vital to see how he handles himself on these missions. What if he has a student with him? I’ve never seen his fighting style, but I’ve heard he can be reckless. How can he foster confidence and proper growth if he’s not measured on the basics? There’s the additional worry of taking him off of the higher ranked missions. Or, if you elect to keep sending him on them, can he handle both? Can he teach and still be a successful sorcerer and asset?”
“He’ll be expected to do both. He knows this,” Yaga sighs, reaching for his lukewarm cup of tea. “While he’s not known for his conventionality, I don’t think that will interfere with his teaching. As I said, some recent events at the school have helped to illuminate the importance of managing the coming generation. Satoru is confident, and I believe that will translate well to any future students. He’s already taken on some responsibility with young Fushiguro and the boy is doing well under his instruction.”
“Fushiguro?” you ponder. Your school administration and the head elders had given you a list of names, people who represented the top families among Japan’s sorcerers, but you don’t remember seeing a name like Fushiguro among the others.
“He’s related to the Zen’in family,” Yaga explains, spreading his vast hands open as he replaces his tea cup against the low table that rests between the two of you. “So, if I’m understanding correctly, your superiors in America have sent you to Japan to collect a series of reports. One is on the influence of curses and how our alumni comport themselves in the field. The other is the analysis of our teaching styles and to, how did you put it, ‘further diversify your own teaching abilities as a jujutsu educator.’ And, as if that wasn’t possibly enough, to observe our newest teaching candidate, Satoru Gojo.” 
“In a nutshell,” you confirm, a smile quirking the edge of your lips. “We’ve got some missions lined up, right?”
“Yes. You will enter the field with Satoru and one other returning alumna, Shoko Ieiri. She’s finished her medical degree and will join our research facilities in the coming weeks.”
“Oh! She’s the one who can use the reverse healing technique! I’ve heard of her.”
“Yes. She was in Satoru’s class. I realize your report is the main aim that you have here, but I would ask that you keep an open mind. While your report is of value to our school, it will not affect my decision on the matter.”
You lean against the stiff cushions of the couch and cock your head at Yaga’s impassive expression. “Of course,” you assure him, noting that nothing in his outward appearance shifts as you give him the response he was waiting for. “Should be an interesting week, at the very least.”
“Oh,” Yaga replies, finally cracking a less than reassuring grin. “Satoru will make sure of that.”
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“Hey! (L/N)-san! The next report is up and they’re sending a manager for us, hurry up! Stop scribbling things in that little notebook. What are you writing anyway? Is it some kinda biography? Oooh! Is it on me? Is that why you keep looking at me? It is, isn’t it? Ahh, now I’m gonna feel self-conscious.”
You snap your notepad closed and slip it into your hip pouch, stepping toward the two fellow members of your team. “It’s just routine notes and you don’t need to call me (L/N)-san. I realize it’s likely force of habit, but please, just call me (Y/N).”
“Ahhh! We’re already on a first name basis! I’m blushing. I’ve never had a girl be this forward with me!” Satoru sighs, clapping his hands against his cheeks and leaning over you. “You’re so bold!”
“Ugh,” you scoff, rolling your eyes at him. “Liar, and stop that. I’m still the senior sorcerer in this party. I–”
“But you’re just a grade 1,” he interrupts, bracing his hands on his hips and exaggerating his stance, moving his face close to yours. As he looms ever nearer, you raise your chin and hold your ground. This invasion of personal space is a tactic he loves to use. 
At first, you’d figured he was just another one of those guys who weren’t aware how intimidating their sheer height and presence came off to others. However, as the days wore on, you noticed his intentional maneuvering. He would press at Shoko too, but she was better at ignoring him, so he soon turned his full attention to you.
“Yeah, I might only be a grade 1, but they have given me the command on all of our missions. It’s my job to file the reports, a task that you, as the technical ‘junior party’, aren’t trusted to do.”
“You’re so right! That’s a tremendous responsibility. How do you stand under all that pressure (Y/N)! The role of the pencil pusher is such a big job. I should act right! Or I’ll never be a real jujutsu sorcerer! God, look at this Shoko, we need to get our shit together! At this rate, we’ll never be able to file our own reports!”
“Now, now,” you tut, raising a finger in front of your face, forcing him to take a subconscious step backwards. “Watch what you say, after all, you’re wanting to become a teacher. So some part of the masochism of endless paperwork must appeal to you.” 
Satoru’s smooth lips raise into a broad smirk and pulls away, arching his arms behind his pale head. “Hmm, I’ll give you that one (Y/N). Mainly because of your choice of wording. Masochism. What a word for it. And why’d you have to say it so straight faced? Oh, that reminds me, what time is our next mission at?”
“Uh, why did masochism remind you of that?” you pause, lifting your wrist so you can check the time on your watch. “I think it’s in two hours, give or take traffic.”
“Hmm, and it’s in the Chiba district?”
“Yeah, that’s in Tokyo, right?”
“It is,” Shoko chimes in, twirling a lock of her long brown hair between two of her fingers. Her low voice reminds you, and you turn to face her. “Speaking of names, I never asked, would you prefer Shoko or Ieiri?”
“Doesn’t matter,” she replies, lifting her tawny eyes to yours, catching some of the bright sunlight as it fades into the deep circles under her eyelids. The contrast makes her skin look even more pallid. “First name, last name, whatever is easier.”
“Shoko okay with you then?”
“Sure,” she nods, the ghost of a smile lifting her lips. 
“Oi!” Satoru interrupts, slinging an arm over Shoko’s shoulder and fixing you with a pointed look. Or you assume he is, it’s hard to tell where he’s looking because of those white strips of cloth that obscure his eyes. “You know what’s in Chiba, don’t you?”
You blink at him, unsure if this is another one of his aimless questions or something genuine. “No. Should I?”
“You’re a tourist and you really don’t know what’s in–”
“We’ve already been over this Satoru; I am not a tourist,” you protest. “I’m here on official business from my administration to–”
“Yeah, yeah. Look, special, ‘top secret’ assignment or not, you’re still basically a tourist because it’s your first time to Japan. You’re honestly telling me you didn’t look up anything before you arrived?”
“Um,” you waver, eyes narrowing at the cheerful leer that’s drifting over Satoru’s angular features. “I looked up some basic things. I know about the Shinjuku and Roppongi districts. Oh, and Harajuku, that’s a big one too.”
“Mmhm, very good, my little tourist, but do you know what’s in the Chiba district?”
“Don’t call me that and stop screwing around Satoru. If this has nothing to do with the mission, then I’m not interested. I could care less what’s in the district–”
“Might just be rumors, but I’ve been hearing about an increase in cursed activity. Especially around that theme park. I’m sure you’ve heard of it,” he looks upward, pearlescent hair tumbling behind his wrappings. “I guess it’s not surprising that it’s a hot spot, what with all the people who are always checking it out. It’s pretty famous.” 
Tch. He’s not gonna tell you. 
You suck your teeth and twist your hand back to your hip pouch, digging for your phone. As you peer over the search results you can hear him rambling on about the notoriety of the unnamed place but as soon as you hit the second result, your head whips back up. 
There’s no way. 
Of course you’d heard of it, you’d even thought about it when the higher ups asked you to take on the assignment to Japan, but never, not in a million years, would you have figured that you’d have a chance to go. Not on this trip.
“Are you serious?” you breathe, blinking up at his smug face. Satoru doesn’t answer, just pops one hand under his chin and gives you a shit-eating grin. You look back at your phone and bite your lip, doing your best to contain your budding excitement, double checking the map for the district.
If he’s not pulling some kind of elaborate joke, it looks like Tokyo Disneyland is the location of your next mission.
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“What… what the fuck is this, some kinda elaborate joke??” 
The gates to the amusement park are warped, and the paint is peeling; one side looks like it’s about to melt off of the frame, all twisted metal and faded rust. Just past the gates you can see what looks like an old merry-go-round, complete with lions, tigers, bears and several sets of horses. At the tip-top of the ride rest a star, and atop that star is a wraith like curse. It spindles around the flecks of gold and cool bronze, baring its teeth at the three of you and sputtering a long line of broken speech as it twists and turns. 
“Huh, still looks about the same. This place was enormous when I was a kid. Now it’s a trendy spot for ghost hunters and thrill seekers! I think five or six people died here last year.” Satoru grins, tucking his hands into his pockets as he strides forward. In seconds, he’s beside the curse on the merry-go-round, silencing chittering of its inane dialogue, letting an eerie quiet seep over the rest of the abandoned grounds.
“So stupid. I cannot believe I let him make me think we were going to Disneyland. You know what he’s like, Shoko! Why didn’t you tell me? He–”
“I honestly don’t listen to him. No idea he was making you think this was Tokyo Disney,” Shoko interrupts, already following the path Satoru took, tucking her brown hair behind her neck with a loose hair tie. “But since we’re here, could you lower the curtain and take care of those level 2 curses on the ticket booth?”
You let out a long sigh and toss her a quick affirmative, reciting the familiar incantation, watching as the darkening shield slopes its way down from the skies, sheltering the three of you within its haze.
The first set of curses are easy enough and you swiftly take care of them, unleashing your cursed technique and splicing them into faded dust. How ridiculous, you think, opening the door to the booth and dodging an ill timed lunge from a sneakier curse who was hiding inside. Satoru honestly had you thinking that you’d be going to the Disneyland theme park. On the way over, he’d even told you about the layout of the park and what potential curses might be lurking about. 
What a jerk. 
Still, you muse, turning toward another shrieking hulk of a curse that’s lumbering toward you, it’s impressive he’d led you on so easily. You make a mental note to get back at him later, for now you need to clear this area and focus on the task at hand. 
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“I cannot believe that you led me on like that!” you pout, knocking back a small swig of beer.
“Pfft,” Satoru chuckles, wagging one long finger at you. “Didn’t ever say it was gonna be Disneyland, did I? You came to that conclusion all on your own.”
“Oh please! Making me look up what ‘famous tourist spots are in Chiba’ and then nodding each time I said I was excited to see some of the rides on the way over.”
“You could have really been into haunted carnivals. How was I supposed to know?”
“Ass,” you snap playfully, sticking your tongue out at his pleased smile. 
After the mission and spotting your peeved expression, Satoru had insisted that you let him take the two of you out for a drink. According to Shoko, the bar in this neighborhood was highly rated and had some of the best specials in the entire district. 
The place was packed; but somehow Shoko had secured three seats up at the bar top, ushering you to sit between her and Satoru, informing you there must always be a three foot buffer between her and ‘that loser’. The bartender seemed to know her and, before you could pull yourself into the worn leather seat, three foaming lagers were passed across the rough surface of the bar top, one for each of you. 
“Thanks,” you’d murmured, cupping your hands around the glass. On your right, Satoru pushed his lager toward you, raising two fingers at the distracted barkeep as he chatted with Shoko. “What’s wrong? Don’t like beer?” you’d asked, bemused by his disgruntled expression. 
“Nah,” he’d confirmed, wagging his digits a little faster, chin lifting as he let out a huffed exhale. “Messes with my eyes. I want something to eat, though. Hey! Shoko! Stop flirting with him and ask if they have anything sweet! Shokooo! Don’t ignore me!”
Shoko made a show of rolling her eyes but, a few minutes later, a plate of piping hot fried sweet buns appeared and he’d swiftly grabbed up one, popping it in his mouth and smacking it hungrily. You’d turned to ask Shoko what they were, but by the time you’d twisted back to Satoru over half of the cakes were gone. 
“Damn, you inhaled them,” you’d exhaled, a little shocked he could scarf them down that quickly.
“Well, they’re not bad and hit the spot, for now,” he’d grinned. “Want one?”
“I’m good. You might bite my finger if I get too close… mistake it for one of the buns…”
“Awe, what’s wrong? Think you wouldn’t taste good?”
“Yikes,” you laugh and Satoru hums, clearly pleased with your genuine mirth.
Shoko, who was soon engrossed in conversation with a few of the other patrons to the left of her, kept ordering rounds for the both of you. To keep up, you diligently sipped at each fresh beer, careful to keep abreast of the thrum of the alcohol with several responsible swigs of water. Satoru seemed content with his small order of sweets and peppered you with questions about life in America. He asked about what grade year you taught, the ins and outs of curses within the states and how you liked Japan. He kept things lively and made a point to throw in a few lighthearted jokes at you, beaming each time you laughed at his barbs. 
“So, what you’re saying is there’s no one in America quite like me?” he teases, stretching his long arms dramatically before leaning closer to you.
“Stop that! You’re gonna hit someone,” you grin, trying to shove at his side, watching as your hand freezes in midair, held off by his limitless technique. “Seriously? You’ve still got that on?”
“Mmhm,” Satoru intones. “24/7, 365!”
“You would,” you try to jostle him again, bemused by the fraying and shimmering sliver of infinity that rests between the two of you.
“It’s a tremendous strain on my brain, you know,” he bemoans, dropping his head and fixing a long frown over his lips.
“You deserve it.”
“Ack!” Satoru cries out, clutching at his heart. “Wow! No sympathy! You really gonna treat me like this? My senpai?”
“May I remind you - Tokyo Disneyland,” you intone, glaring at his haggard expression. 
“WOW. You’re never gonna let that go, huh?” Satoru cracks a face, arching his mouth and hollowing his cheeks, letting a high pitched, cracked voice leech from his lips. “Ahhh, that damned man! He deprived me of my dreams! The chance to see Tokyo Disneyland, one last time!”
“What is that? Me? But… old?”
“Pretty good, right?”
“No.”
“Well, I think it was uncanny!” he crows, nodding.
“What in your warped mind makes you think I’ll sound anything like that when I’m old?” you ask, pushing your empty beer pint forward as you purse your lips. 
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so excited over the idea of a theme park,” he ponders, tapping a bent index finger against his smooth chin. “Don’t you guys have them in the states? The Disney parks, I mean.”
“We do, we have two. But, since you made me think we were coming to Tokyo Disneyland, I looked up some rides,” you snatch your phone from the counter, scrolling through a few photos before you land on the right one. “Ah! Here it is! Look at this! See?” you chirp, pushing the gleaming screen of your phone toward him.
“Uh. What am I looking at?”
“It’s the Tower of Terror!”
“Which is… ummm… a ride?”
“Yeah? And look at it! It’s upside down! I don’t think the one in America does that,” your finger reaches toward your phone and you blow up the closest image, tapping at the bright colors. Satoru laughs and waves a hand up, attracting the bartender once more and gesturing for another beer for you. “Imma get you another drink, you’re fun like this, plus, you’re just too cute with that little smile.”
You miss his last comment, wholly focused on finding another set of images. “Oh my God! Look! During Halloween they have a night parade in front of it! And… ahhh! Satoru! There’s a green ghost at the top! It’s almost like that curse we saw tonight at the carnival!” 
His long fingers snatch up your bright device, and he yanks it away from your wide eyes. “Ok, that’s enough of that. I’m worried you might end up cursing me for not taking you.”
You give him a sour look and vainly try to grab your phone back, fingers unable to pass through his unseen barrier. “What? No fair! I still don’t understand how you can always have this up!”
“Practice,” he taunts, shaking his head at your determination and wandering touch, chuckling each time you bounce off of his cursed technique. “On another note,” he begins as your new lager is placed in front of you. “What’s in that report that you’re working on?”
You decide to ignore the fact that he’s still holding your phone and cautiously sip past the foam of your fresh beer, peering up at him, studying the lines of his white cloth. It doesn’t tell you much, so you look at his lips instead. They’re pale, but they’re held in a serious line, so you carefully construct your response. “What makes you think I have a report?”
“Why else would you be here?” Satoru counters, rapping his nails against the warped wood of the bar top. “I know you met with Yaga and you’re too cautious and overpowered to be sent on missions with Shoko and me. So you must be here for something else.”
“Officially,” you concede, “I’m here to observe the teaching techniques and skills of the alumni of your school. I’m sure this will come as no shock, but curses are getting more powerful, both here and overseas, and we’re doing our best to keep ahead of those changes. I’m supposed to pick up what tricks I can and bring them back home, to see how we can implement it.”
“Reasonable,” he allows, spreading his fingers before coiling them under his palms again. “But that’s not everything, is it?”
No, you think it’s not. 
You lower your beer and look over at him. He’s braced himself against the bar and his head is dipped so his chin is almost against his breastbone. He doesn’t exactly look dejected, but you can see that he’s thinking deeply and something about that openness makes your heart squeeze. He looks a bit like a kicked puppy. 
Ugh, he’s not a bad guy. He’s funny, and he knows what he’s doing, plus he has the confidence to get where he needs to go. In all honesty, he wouldn’t make a terrible teacher. Maybe not the best, but he certainly wouldn’t be the worst. 
“I–there… there’s some concern you’d be too divided - that it’s not practical to have you teach and go on missions. I also don’t think your own elders trust you much.”
“Ah-ha!” Satoru beams, springing upward and pointing two finger guns at you. “You are here to look in on me! Knew it!”
You can’t help but laugh at him. “Fine, fine, you got me. Let’s get this over with, huh? So we can get back to talking about things other than work, I liked that. What’s the most direct thing I can ask? Hmm, oh! I’ll start with something easy–Why do you want to teach?”
“That’s easy?” he whines, head falling again. 
“It’s straightforward,” you bargain, propping your chin on your fist, looking him over. 
“Sure, let’s pretend that’s not a deceptively loaded question! Alright, well, it’s the best way to change things.”
“Change things?”
“Yup. Like you mentioned, lately curses have become more powerful and lately it feels like I’m the only one who’s being sent on these high-level missions. Frankly, it’s stupid to rely on just me that much, you know? That’s not practical, or even realistic. So, to my mind, it’s vital I throw my support behind some of these up-and-coming kids. You know, foster the next generation and all that. I want reliable allies in the field and to have that, I’ve gotta make sure they’re taught right. Give them everything I know, make them better than me, stronger than me.” 
You’re quiet for a long breath, eyes wide, fingers frozen around your glass, which was midway to your lips. “Damn,” you smile, letting the word hang. “You know, that was actually a pretty good answer.”
Satoru clicks his tongue and curls his lips in a grimace. “Don’t sound so surprised.” 
“I mean,” you chuckle and look up at him, eyes bright. “Well, your attitude doesn’t always inspire confidence.” 
“Ahhhhhh,” he groans, thumping his covered forehead against the bar. “Such a low blow! Bartender! Another round for me!”
“Please,” you sigh, finally taking a sip of your beer. “Do not call your sweet buns ‘another round.’” He grins at you and leans across the bar top, shifting his weight toward your bent arm. The pressure of his shoulder is warm and you nudge at him a little, playfully. He tuts at you but continues to stare ahead, a faint smile teasing the edge of his lips. 
As the bartender slides the requested plate of sweets down, you suddenly realize that you’re touching him. Your eyes widen and you slowly turn your head toward his. He’s not looking at you, content with chewing on his sweet bread, but he’s still braced against you. It’s like all of your senses are finely tuned to that one spot of faint friction between the two of you. You can feel the lines of his muscled arm as he shifts and you involuntarily gulp, doing your best to ignore the abrupt thudding of your heart. 
He said he always kept it up, didn’t he? Something about 24/7 and all the days of the year, so why is he…
“Hey,” Shoko’s voice startles you and you instinctively slide closer to Satoru, arm dragging against his shoulder as you try to right yourself again. “I’m gonna go win this drinking contest these guys have started. You two sticking around for a bit?”
“Uh,” you begin, but Satoru cuts you off, draping an arm over the back of your chair. “Yeah, we’ll be here. What are the stakes?”
“Not sure. But the pot is likely against me, if you’re in a betting mood.”
“Sure, I’ll put 20,000 yen on you.”
“Is…” you start, but Shoko is already walking off, one arm pumped into the air as she shoulders her way to the long table that’s filled with five or six others, all of them holding a full pint glass of beer between their hands. You turn back to Satoru and let out a long breath. “Is that safe?”
“Huh?” he asks, face close to yours. You can smell his cologne from here and the heady scent of him and crisp patchouli fills your senses. “I mean Shoko, will she be ok?” you elaborate, eyes studying the space where his own would be, silently hoping that he’ll pull down the barrier that covers half of him from your curious gaze. 
“Ah,” he nods sagely, leaning back a little to look out at where Shoko is sitting, quietly waiting for the start of the game with her full beer. “She’s got a ridiculously high tolerance. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s part of her cursed technique. She’ll be fine.”
“True, she likely knows the limits of the human body better than anyone else. But… I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so… excited?” you muse, sitting against your chair and running into the flat palm of Satoru’s hand. For a moment, you debate shifting away, but he’s not really doing anything, just letting the tips of his fingers rest against the curve of your spine, tapping a disjointed rhythm as he watches the start of the contest, that all too familiar smile still tugging at the corners of his lips. 
“She used to be a little more laid back, you know?” he replies, leaning a little harder into your side as he lowers his voice, keeping close to your ear so you can hear him. “She always looks so tired now and her whole outlook has changed, but I suppose four years of med school will do that to you. Although, I did hear that she cheated her way out.”
“No!” you gasp, eyebrows lifted in shock. Satoru laughs, and for once, you’re not thinking it might be at your expense. “Yeah! Just the word on the street. But I wouldn’t put it past her. Shoko’s always done her best to avoid things, namely confrontation or extra work, so it makes sense she’d jet outta med school as fast as she could too.”
“That’s crazy and frankly, terrifying.”
“Riiight?” he shivers, lips raising in an exaggerated wince. “But that’s our Shoko. I’ve got a feeling she’ll do well at the school and I’m grateful I’ll have time to work with her again. It’s been way too long…” Satoru trails off and you can feel his hand slip up your back, fingers ghosting over your shoulder blades.
“Stop that,” you scold, shaking him off with a quick jolt and twisting around to look at his roguish smirk. “What happened to always maintaining your barrier?”
“Awe” he groans, dunking his head against your shoulder with a thump. “Come on, I’ve gotta win you over somehow!”
“Are you serious?”
“Well, I mean, I want the job.”
“I’m gonna hit you,” you threaten, doing your best to keep your bubbling amusement contained. 
“Try it,” he taunts, lifting his head and keeping his face close. His nose is inches from yours and you can barely make out his sharp grin, but you can feel the drag and pull of his breath as it passes over you, leaving a lingering sweetness against your skin. Instantly, your hand lifts to him, fully intent on shoving him back, but you can’t move any closer, trapped by the sudden emergence of his infinity. 
“Ass,” you prickle, shaking your head at his antics. Another peal of laughter falls from his soft lips and you can’t help but smile back, caught up in his infectious joviality. “Tch. Don’t make me find more Tokyo Disney pictures.”
“You can’t,” he informs you, cocking his head at your confusion. “I still have your phone.”
“Hey! Give that back!” you gasp, snatching blindly at him. He shifts back into his seat and yanks your device out of his pocket, waggling it tauntingly in front of you. “Uh-uh! Gotta get past the barrier first!”
“That’s not fair!”
“Never said that I’d make this… oh! Shoko! How did it go? Win me something?”
You twist and spot Shoko’s dark head approaching the two of you. She pauses beside Satoru and flips a large stack of bills down on the bar top, a wide grin on her usually impassive face. “As expected, I won. Here’s your cut, Satoru. Don’t spend it all in one place or on another order of sweet buns, would you? Think you can do that for me?” 
She and Satoru bicker back and forth playfully as you unfold several of the notes, aimlessly organizing them on the countertop as their brisk conversation winds back down.
“So,” Shoko murmurs, pulling a pack of cigarettes from her back pocket and knocking one free from the carton. “You two gonna head out soon? I don’t really see a need to call one of the managers, the school’s close by and so is (Y/N)’s hotel.” 
“Yeah,” Satoru replies, finally passing your phone back as he collects the neatly stacked set of yen from you. “Figured, I’d see her back.”
“I can find it!” you protest, jamming your phone safely into your pouch once more.
“Sure,” he mocks, arching toward you as he braces an elbow against the bar. “You can barely speak Japanese and I know you can’t read much kanji, but sure thing, let’s let you loose in the city. See how far you make it before you’re calling one of us, hmm?”
“That’s not… I–”
“Yeah, yeah,” Satoru waves his hand back and forth and turns back to Shoko. “I’ll let her finish her drink and then we’ll head out. See you tomorrow?”
Shoko nods at his question and, for a moment, you think you spy a knowing look pass between the two of them, but before you can call out to her, Shoko is already making her way toward the door.
“What was that?” you ask, eyes narrowed as Satoru looks down at you, white hair gleaming under the low lights. “What?” he asks innocently, propping his chin onto his open palm. “That look that the two of you just gave each other.”
“No idea what you’re talking about. You sure that beer didn’t hit you a little too hard?”
“Ugh, shut up.”
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Despite it being late August, a cool breeze greets the two of you when you step out of the bar. “It’s so nice out,” you comment, readjusting your boots as you hop onto the sidewalk. 
“Mmhm,” he agrees, bracing his arms behind his head as you make your way down the street. “So did you decide what you’re gonna write in your report?”
You glance up at him and make sure he can see you rolling your eyes. “Back to trying to butter me up?”
“Never! Just asking. If you wanna say I’m crazy and can’t be trusted, that’s fine. I can think of a few others who’d agree with you.” 
“Oh? Who?”
“Most people,” he laughs, stepping a little nearer and bumping against you, shocking you with the actual weight and warmth of his body again. As you continue on, you lift your hand to his arm and press the pad of your finger against his sleeve. This time, nothing bars your way so you run the digit slowly along his arm, smiling when he shivers and bats you away. 
“Stop that! Someone’s gonna see and think you’re taking advantage of me!”
The laugh that explodes from your chest at that mental image makes you stop dead in your tracks, arms lacing around your shaking stomach. Satoru scoffs at your bent figure and leans down, shaking his head at your guffawing.
 “The… the… fact that you… think that anyone… would think that… I–” 
“You’re lucky your laugh is so cute,” he muses, bracing his arms over your bent back, playfully pinning you down as he crosses his forearms.
“Hey!” you protest, squirming under his hold. “Let me up!”
“Tell me what you’ve written about me!” he threatens, chuckling as you squirm under him.
“I only said that Satoru Gojo is an absolute monster and shouldn’t be trusted with anyone’s future,” you cry out, overly pantomiming your overwrought expressions, peeking up at him from under his laced arms.
“Oh? Just that? Well, you’re right. So, fair is fair!” Satoru replies, slipping off of you so fast that you nearly tumble to the hard concrete. Half a beat later, he’s back in front of you and lifting you back to your full height, fingers soothing over your arms as he tugs you toward him. “Would it kill you to toss in a bit of praise? Talk about my undeniable prowess and skill? Wax poetic about my stunning efficiency? You know, make them think that I’ve won you over with my charms. After all, you can’t resist me, can you?”
“Knock it off,” you huff, doing your best to ignore how your breasts press against the flat planes of his chest. Then his fingers are under your chin, gently tipping your head up and leaning so close that his lips are inches from your own. 
“But what if I don’t want to?” he teases, his voice falling into a lower, hushed pitch before he relaxes his hold, letting you slip from his hands.
A distant quake dashes up your spine, but it’s not from the chill in the air. “Uh, you sure you didn’t sneak some shots under the table? The way you’re pawing at me, you’d think you were the one in the drinking contest.”  
“Nah, I told you, I don’t drink. Messes with my eyes.” Satoru pats his index finger against his white wrappings for emphasis.
“Mmm, the six eyes, right? Powerful ability, from what little I’ve heard of it.”
“Yeah,” he hums. “It’s a rare technique. Wanna see?”
You’d walked on, but once the question leaves his lips your feet swivel back, as if they have a mind of their own. He’s standing where he was, hands dug into the pockets of his pants, a lazy smile resting on his lips. The moonlight makes his hair shine, and the gleam is bright against the darkness of the street. The glow makes him look taller, imposing. He’s quiet as he waits for your answer and you take advantage of the extra time to mull over the strange man in front of you. 
He’s enigmatic; a force to be reckoned with, for curses and fellow sorcerers alike and, like most jujutsu users, a little crazy. Even knowing all of this, there’s something about him that’s drawing you in. It’s like the pull of a magnet. It tugs at the forefront of your mind and makes you step closer, wanting to see if you can unravel the puzzle that’s Satoru Gojo. 
“Fine,” you hear yourself reply, crossing your arms, steadfastly watching for his next move. “Go on. Let me see what all the hype is about.”
He grins and that mischievous look makes your heart beat race against your breastbone as yet another quake slips up your back. “Ready?” he asks, right thumb hooking under the fabric that covers his eyes. You nod once and the pad of his finger starts that short, upward, pull. 
He’s slow, painfully slow, in his unveiling. 
The smooth angle of his upper cheek peeks out, and he’s careful to roll up the white cloth as he goes. Then, right as he hits the groove of his lower eye, he stops, a frown pulling over his lips. “Mmm, I don’t know…” he contemplates, holding his thumb under his wrappings. “What if I don’t live up to your expectations? Can’t let you down. Not when you’ve been so patient. I know you’ve been wanting to ask, I can see it in your face. Every time we’d start an exorcism you’d look at me, like you were waiting, watching to see if I’d finally take off the coverings.”
Did you? 
Does it matter?
Do you want it to matter?
Flabbergasted by his all too true accusations and entirely eaten up with curiosity, you march up to him and wrap your fingers around his raised wrist, not noticing that you’re actually touching him and completely unaware of the alluring smile he flashes when your hand coils around his. “Ugh, come on! For once in your life, stop being such a tease! You’re never fair, always so… so pompous and… and–”
You’d shoved his hand upward as you began your preamble but as soon as the tightly wrapped cloth passed over his right eye you feel your breath leave your tensed body. 
His eyelashes are pale, the same ashen color as his hair, but they contrast beautifully with the lone eye that peers down. Beautiful? No, it’s more than that. It’s… it’s…
Truthfully, it’s indescribable and unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
It’s blue; but it’s not an ordinary shade. No, the color seems to meld and shift before your shocked gaze, drifting from hue to hue as the color deepens and lightens. Clouds. It’s like clouds passing over a summer sky. The brightness of the cerulean ensnares you, and you can feel your mouth go dry as you stare up at him. 
His eyes are stunning, perfect, and irresistible, hauntingly so.
“So, what do you think?” Satoru asks, pulling his wrist from your grasp and snatching your limp hand in his, twining his long fingers between your own. His skin is warm and you need to say something, anything, but your mind is stuttering, lagging miles behind as you fall headfirst into the overwhelming pull of his presence. 
Finally, you unstick part of your tongue. 
“They’re… uh… I don’t… ha… God…” You shake your head roughly and the familiarity of that motion slips out of the trance he’s placed you under. As soon as you can think again, you jerk your hand from his and blindly walk down the darkened street. Your heart feels like it’s about to fall out of your chest and you can’t stop nibbling on your lower lip. 
It’s not… this isn’t how this is supposed to go, you think, trying vainly to get the shine of Satoru’s eyes out of your mind.
“Never answered my question,” Satoru coos beside you, his long legs quickly catching up with you. “What’s wrong? You like em’ a little too much?… Or…” 
“They… they’re kinda creepy,” you blurt out, fingers curling into your palms. 
“Creepy!” he gasps, hopping in front of you and lifting up both sides of his wrappings, granting you a peek of both eyes. You do your best to avoid looking at him head on, turning and weaving from him, but he dances closer each time you shift. Damn it. His animated performance makes you exhale a quiet chuckle, and he takes your amusement as a sign to continue, constantly placing himself in your way with a broad grin. 
“Stop!” you plead, openly laughing at his sudden burst of silliness. “Now you’re acting like a creep! Satoru! Don’t! Stop showing them to me! You’re losing all of your appeal! Isn’t part of your charm the mystery? Actually, that’s likely all of your charm. Come on, stop it, there’s a cop on that street corner, he’s gonna think you’re drunk and harassing me!”
“Whaaat!” Satoru gulps, whipping his head around to look at the tired policemen that’s leaning against a dim street lamp. “Oh no! The police! Quick (Y/N), before he spots us!” His long fingers snatch up your pliant wrist and he tugs you into a dark alleyway. 
“Hey! Where are you taking me? Officer!” you call out playfully as you balefully follow him, dragging your feet along the dusty ground. “He’s over here! Help!”
“Oi! Knock it off! You wanna get me arrested?”
“Oh please, there’s no way that guy is about to follow–”
“Shit! Shhh, he’s coming this way! Come on!” The sheer force of his grip yanks you forward and you stumble after him. He takes the corner of the next alleyway and the pair of you dash along the wet patches that litter the broken concrete. He’s moving at a tremendous speed, but his feet barely make a noise as he glides over the grimy ground and it takes everything you’ve got to just hold on and keep up.  
A few twists and turns later, you can finally see the bright lights of the busy street that your hotel is on and you feel a heavy exhale of relief leave your burning lungs. Satoru skids to a halt right before he tumbles onto the safety of the sidewalk that rests a few paces ahead and pulls you beside him, grinning down at you as you try to catch your breath. 
“I think we lost him!” he beams and you suck your teeth as you bend over, hands bracing themselves against your knees. “There…there’s no… he wasn’t actually chasing us. Even if he was, I doubt he can catch up now….” your voice trails off as you hear a distant shout from the alleyway and the thud of heavy boots. 
No. There’s no way you think dumbly as you stare into the darkness, eyes searching for movement. 
“See? I told you he was on to us. He’ll see us if he comes this way. What if… Oooh, lemme try something,” Satoru’s broad hands grab at you and he swiftly maneuvers you against the damp brick of the nearest building, careful not to scrape your back as he pushes you against the rust colored siding. “Just play along, I doubt he’ll notice. Don’t give me that look, it’s your fault he’s following us!”
“My fault? I didn’t… oh–”
His lips are sleeker than you’d imagined. 
That first, teasing kiss he gives you already has you lifting your head, following the beguiling smoothness of his mouth, silently asking him for another caress. When he leans down your hands bunch into the dark fabric of his uniform and you can feel his smile against your slackened lips. He doesn’t touch you; his fingers don’t wander to the back of your jaw or the dip of your skull, instead he opts to flatten his angles against your curves, pressing until you can’t feel anything but him. 
The next kiss he gives you has a little more bite behind it, literally. 
His sharp nose bumps your cheek and his teeth worry against the plush swell of your lower lip, sucking and nipping until you’re snatching for his shoulders, searching for some kind of leverage. His mouth parts and right when you think he’s about to deepen his strokes and teasing pecks, he leans back and cocks his head at your flustered expression. “I’ve always wanted to try that,” he tells you, bracing one of his arms above your head. “It looks so fun in the movies.”
That cop could be right behind him, could be waiting for you both to stop your ridiculous routine and face the harsh gleam of reality, but you don’t care, not right now. 
Your hands had fallen from him when he pulled back, and the absence of his warmth makes you desperate to touch him again. But, when you snatch at the corners of his dark jacket, you’re met with that damned barrier. 
“Really?” you bemoan, licking at your kiss slick lips, trying again. “You’re the worst, you know that? You let me get used to the idea of having access to you and then just cut it–mmmph…” 
With a faint shudder of space, his barrier is lowered once more and his lips are back against yours. This time, his hands join in and he cups his fingers behind your ears, tilting you up as he glides his soft touch over you until you’re groaning. 
“Could have just told me you wanted more…” he rumbles in between his caresses, fingers tracing over the line of your jaw, your neck, and the slope of your shoulders. It’s like he can’t decide where he wants to go and you love the momentary burst of indecisiveness that’s broken over him. 
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More, apparently, entails you asking him to come up to your room. 
He’d laughed when you’d mentioned it, your lips swollen and glassy from his attentions, and you’d almost taken it back, peeved by his genuine amusement at the idea, but then he’d plucked you into his arms and smoothed any lingering doubts with another flurry of nips and kisses. 
“This gonna make it into your report?” he grins, yanking his high collared jacket off and tossing it carelessly onto the floor. “I should,” you barb, pulling the long band of your hip pouch off, letting it clatter to the ground as your fingers work up the buttons of your own uniform. “Let them think that you’re abusing your status.” 
“Tch, me? Abuse my power? Never. Hey, I think you’re supposed to go slower with that. Don’t just yank all of your clothes off. You know, take your time, tease me a little,” Satoru chuckles, jerking his chin toward your busy hands.
“Oh? Wanting a show?” you ask, threading the last button and spreading the heavy material apart, revealing the thin shirt that’s obscuring his view of your breasts and stomach. “Well, that’s too bad, because taking all this gear off is never fun, or sexy for that matter…”
“Not with that attitude,” he hums, stepping closer, peeling his skin tight undershirt off and revealing the sleek planes of his rippled muscles. Most sorcerers are fit; and many boast beefier sets of pectorals and curving arches of biceps and triceps, but there’s something about the streamlined leanness of Satoru that’s making your hands itch. He’s not far, you could reach out for him, slip your fingers over the dips and beveled lines of his abdomen and follow that tempting strip of white that winds down the front of his pants, but that makes this too easy and there’s nothing about Satoru that’s easy.
“Mmm, that’s a new look.” His voice is distant to your ears, but the satisfied note that’s vibrating through his words makes you snap your head up, fingernails scraping against your palms. “You look like you wanna eat me (Y/N)… or maybe, taste is a better adjective. Awe, what’s the matter? Worried I won’t let you?”
You run your tongue over your lips and lift one hand, holding it steady and crooking your index finger at his brazen expression, pleased to see that cheeky smile of his falters a little. “Do me a favor, come here and take off that blindfold.”
“Ah-ha, so bossy,” he growls, voice sinking into that sinfully lower octave as he raises his broad hands to the back of his wrappings, unwinding the fabric and slowly advancing toward you. He stops when the tips of his toes are inches from your own, bracing his palms toward his face, holding the last strip across his eyes. “Wanna do the honors? Or are you expecting me to do all the work tonight?”
“As if. Besides…” you snicker, pulling two fingers to the remains of his blindfold and peeling it down, watching as his hair falls forward, slowly divulging the top of his forehead, pale eyebrows and that shock of avid blue that’s already gazing down at you. “I think you like when I tell you what to do, don’t you?”
“Ahh, looks like she figured me out,” Satoru groans, letting the ivory bindings fall to the floor, his hands already reaching for your waist. He doesn’t give you an opportunity to study him, but they’ll be time for that later, you reason, arms lacing around his chorded neck. 
This kiss is hungrier and his tongue immediately dances along the seam of your lips, pressing until you give in. It’s an awkward angle, but he expertly adjusts himself to you, slotting a warm palm against the small of your back and raising the other to curl into your hair, lifting you until it’s perfect. 
He’s greedy, devouring every inch you give him with a ravenous edge, but when you suck on his lower lip, he slips into something that’s clearly a little more unhinged. 
Suddenly, he’s the one who’s bending forward, trying to get as close to you as he physically can, hunching until you can trace your fingertips over the sharpness of his jaw. His teeth clink against yours as he snatches you up, and you can feel the sharp bulge of his length, the hardness grinding down your hips and stomach as he yanks you nearer. It’s hard to breathe, but he’s refusing to let you budge, lips avariciously seeking and pulling, leaving you with nothing else but the sheer enormity of his touch.  
“Fuck,” he gasps, finally letting you fall from his grasp, heaving out a few unsteady breaths. “You’ve got way too much on. Why do you still have so much on?” He plucks at your shirt but stops when he frees the edge from your pants, cerulean eyes bright in the moonlight. “Take it off,” he heaves, forehead pressing against yours, lifting his fingers from you. “Take it off for me, please?” 
You nod, a little taken aback by his sudden desperation, and he watches closely as you yank the thin material up, blue eyes shining as you unveil yourself. When the shirt passes over your breasts, he gives you a distracted kiss to the temple before he pulls away, freeing you to pull it over your head and sighing happily when it finally hits the floor, leaving you partially bare. As soon as your arms lower, he’s back against you, hands cupping at your hips, jerking you forward. “Whoa,” you gasp, bracing your palms against his chest. “Slow down. Let me get the rest of this–”
“No, no, no, no,” he chants, fingers smoothing up your spine. “Stop, for a second… just… just gimme a minute. You feel so nice. Your skin, it’s… it’s so warm and so fucking smooth, ahhh. Ohh, yes. A few more seconds (Y/N), just let me… It’s been so long since I’ve touched someone like this. I kinda forgot what it felt like and I don’t wanna let go, not yet.”
His head is bowed and that hauntingly blue gaze is covered by his winced eyelids, but he can’t seem to stop moving. Even as he asks you to hold still, to let him touch you, feel you, he keeps shifting his weight and burrowing his brow into the dip of your shoulder. 
“Can I take this off?” he asks, nails scritching at the clasp of your bra. “Please? Lemme take it off. Come on. I know you wanna touch me too, I saw how you were looking at me a minute ago. You’re so fucking cute, I can’t… ahaha, fuck, I sound insane. Look, I’ll slow down, I promise, just gimme a little more of you.”
When he mischievously snaps the strap of your bra against your shoulder blade, you can’t help but laugh at his infectious exuberance. His head lifts from you and he turns his attention to your neck, soft lips sucking and nipping at you until you’re wriggling in his hold. “Alright, alright! Just step back, Satoru! I’ll take it off,” you placate, knocking him away and huffing at the long face he gives you in return. “Here,” your fingers unhook the two pronged clasp and the delicate lace slips from your shoulders, falling to the carpeted floor with a hush. “Okay, that’s everything on the top half. Now what are–Ah! Satoru!” 
He takes full advantage of his superior speed and before you can blurt out a proper retort, he’s against you. 
His teeth worry at your earlobe and he immediately hoists you upward, seizing the lush curve of your ass and pulling you into his powerful arms, urging your legs to wrap around his trim waist. When you shakily oblige, he cups one lean arm under you, but the other drags you forward, scraping your newly bared breasts and stiffened nipples against the planes of his powerful pectorals. When he walks, you jostle in his grasp and coil your fingers around his neck, smiling when he moans contentedly at your reliance on his firm hold. “Damn,” he grunts, cocking his head so he can lick a wet circle into your pulse. “You feel fucking good (Y/N). So damn smooth, how are you so soft? God, I want more, I wanna feel everything.”
The front of his shins hit the edge of your bed and he tumbles you down, a dark grin spreading over his face as he watches you stretch out teasingly. He plants a knee into the soft bedding and braces both arms beside your head, leering over you. 
For a long breath, both of you study each other, eyes whisking over gleaming skin and the curves of your faces. Without the added heft of that blindfold Satoru’s snowy hair hangs loosely over his face, straight tendrils clinging to his brow, making him look younger, mellower, and so very handsome. Opting to take advantage of this lull, you reach up and thread your fingers into the silken strands.
When you reach the edge of his temple, you scrape your nails against his scalp, grinning as he lets a heavy exhale fall between his lips, cerulean eyes falling to a pleased half mast. “You’re trying to distract me,” he accuses, gliding a wide palm up your side. You shake your head and keep twirling his hair across your fingertips, marveling at his own softness. “No. I just like your hair.”
“That’s a first,” he snorts, cupping a palm underneath one of your breasts and pulling his thumb over the swelling bud of your nipple. “Here I am, trying to feel you up, and you’re too distracted by my hair to appreciate it. How rude.”
“Shut up,” you gasp out, arching into his hand as he tweaks and plucks at your pebbled tip. “You’re lucky I’m even… mmm… letting you do this.”
“Please. It was your idea, remember?”
Satoru lowers one of his braced arms, letting his weight fall heavily to one side as he keeps his deepening ministrations up. Your fingers are still buried in his hair when he drops his lips to your breast. You feel the flick of his tongue first, and the light tap has you bowing your back, gasping out a faint cry as his rough appendage continues to swipe and twirl over your sensitive flesh. Instinctively, your hands tug at his pearlescent strands and he tilts his head up, fixing you with a lazy stare. “That’s better, looks like I just need to refocus you, huh?” he muses, his words half garbled as he sucks your plump breast into his mouth. He keeps flicking his tongue over you as he suckles, lapping and nipping until you’re writhing under him. 
Once he’s satisfied, his free hand lowers to your grinding hips, forcing you to lay flat against the bed, switching his attention to the neglected twin, sucking and pressing open mouthed bites to your damp, shaking skin. 
A tight heat is coiling in your core and your thighs rub against each other, trying to cool the sharp pricks of arousal that are coursing through you. As soon as your hands fall from his head, Satoru picks up his pace, licking his sloppy tongue under your breasts and nibbling his way down your quivering stomach. “You’re still wearing way too much,” he scolds, fingers toying with the gold clasp of your pants. 
“It’s… oh… difficult to take things off when you… ah–won’t let me move more than two feet from you.” You’d meant it to sound a little firmer, but his constant touch is wearing down your focus, distracting you with brilliant flashes of his luminescent blues and whites. 
“Awe, (Y/N),” he whines, popping his hand against your hip, long fingers digging into your swelled curves. “That’s not fair. I told you, I always have my barrier up. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve touched someone, anyone? I mean really touched them?”
“Daw,” you sigh, propping yourself up on your elbows and peering down at him. “You poor thing. The all powerful Satoru Gojo, too honed and practiced with his neutral technique that he can’t even hold anyone’s hand.” 
“Ha, such a jerk,” he laughs, exaggerating a wounded frown. “I bare my soul to you and this is how I’m treated?” 
“Stop being so dramatic,” you scoff, yanking your legs from under him and popping up on your knees, hands reaching for him, curling under his jaw and urging him upwards. His eyes lock onto yours and the grin that tweaks the corner of his lips gives you an idea. “You said you wanted to touch more of me, right?”
As you wait for your answer, you scoot backwards, making him follow you across the bed, finally luring all of his sprawling form onto the cool sheets. “Mmhm,” he grunts, doing his best to keep close, teasing fingers inches from your skin at all times, always ready to stroke and cup each time you pause. When you hit the headboard you stop, studying his features, admiring the growing hunger that’s screaming its way out of his wide eyes.  
“You ever eaten a girl out?”
The question hangs for half a second and you can see his pupils dilate, the black threatening to swallow up the sky streaked blue of his eyes. Then, right when you’re about to tease him for his gaping mouth and flushed cheeks, he’s bowling past you, splaying out against the mattress and pulling you on top of him. 
“Fuck, that’s by far the best thing I’ve heard all day. Hell, all month. I��ll likely go to my grave thinking about that question. Ouch! Stop squirming, you’re kneeing me in the ribs.” 
“I wouldn’t… Satoru! I can’t breathe if you hold me like that!” His arms are like cables, all tensed muscle and raw strength as he pins you against his heaving chest, lips kissing and nipping at any part of you he can reach.
“Whatever,” he grumbles, sucking a bruise into your arched collarbone. “Hurry up and take your pants off. And don’t say you can’t do it like this, you’re a grade 1 sorcerer, you can do anything you put your mind to.”
“Is that going to be part of your teaching regime?” you smart, bucking your hips up so you can unclasp and wiggle your pants down your legs.
“Oooh, you’re right, that sounds good. Damn, I gotta start writing this shit down. That way I can have a whole list of euphemisms. Can you imagine? Molding young minds and helping them to stand up to all the bullshit that those so-called elders make everyone suffer under. All those rules and regulations, the stupid ins and outs they make us all jump through–”
“Hmm,” your voice falls to a gentle hum as you snatch at his chin, stilling his chatter with a single finger against his lips. “That sounds ambitious, but why don’t we take things a little slower, give that mind of yours something else to focus on?”
“Oh?” Satoru smirks, arching an ashen eyebrow at you. “Then you better get up here, before I get distracted again.”
“Don’t you mean down?”
“Huh, down? Ah, I see where the confusion is. Nah, I want you to ride my tongue, baby, so hurry up.” His long arms help him jerk you upward, easily lifting and enticing you forward. That early impatience is peeking out once more, and he pops his head up, nostrils flaring as your uncovered cunt drifts nearer. “Ah, God, I bet you’re so fucking wet. I can smell you from here. Come on, grab onto the headboard and let me get to it.”
Your legs shake as you plant them beside his head and you do your best to steady your pounding heart, pulling a thin stream of air through your parted lips. As soon as you touch the wood of the headboard, he’s gripping your thighs so tightly you’re sure he’s going to leave bruises behind. The tip of his nose is the first thing you feel, and it’s so close to your pulsing clit that you inadvertently cant your hips forward. “Ooh, sensitive, are we?” he crows, nestling himself under you, his breath hot against your dampened folds and wet curls. 
The following slick slurp of his tongue and the slow pass of his lips make your head tip back. He’s surprisingly gentle, slowly licking his way along your labia, pulling and sucking as he goes, teasing closer to that tight bud that’s waiting, just a little bit higher. 
At first, you worry about crushing him, too caught up in the placement of your weight to fall into the haze his mouth is begging you to slip into. But then his lips latch onto you, careful to mouth in time with the thud of your clit, suckling and squeezing until you can’t help but grind down, earning yourself a sharp groan that reverberates against your trembling skin. Using the weight of the headboard as leverage, you roll your hips over him, shifting in time with his well-placed rhythm. 
He’s good, but even the great Satoru Gojo isn’t perfect, not all the time.
When he nips at you a little too hard you shift back, depriving him of your wet heat, loving the petulant sighs and moans he gives you when you do. “Ah, sorry. Gimme a little more time,” he bargains, fingers sinking into the voluptuous curve of your ass, tying to urge you back over his glistening lips. “I’ll do better, (Y/N). Besides, I want you to cum for me. You taste so fucking good and I want it, I want all of it. Hey! Don’t be like that! I said I’d do better. Come back here.”
God, he’s such a brat. 
Every time you shift away he’s got another string of exasperated pleas ready, twitching his fingers and shaking his pale head at your impudence. “Less talking,” you moan, shivering as he delves his tongue into you, feeling his grin as your cunt squeezes around his intrusion. “Ok, ok,” he growls, using his brute strength to overpower your tensed legs. “Mmm, yes baby, ah–just relax, I’ll take care of you.”
Fuck, you think as you sink your fingers into his hair, spurring him on, this feels way too good.
When he captures your clit between his teeth and tweaks the tip of his tongue against you, you can’t help but fall to pieces. Your orgasm hits you like a battering ram, seizing hold of your muscles as it rolls through you and scattering a faint spark of spots across your vision. Satoru’s arms wrap around your blindly pistoning hips, helping you to sink closer, ravenously slurping and swallowing down each wave of arousal that hits his gluttonous lips. 
You’re still shaking when he pulls out from under you, flipping you bonelessly under him as his hands finally rid himself of his clearly tented and damp pants. Your eyes are just clearing when you catch sight of him, studiously following that trail of white curls to his impressive length. His cock is long, curving proudly toward his chiseled stomach and bubbling a clear string of pre-cum from the flushed tip. You do your best to sit up, but as soon as he catches sight of your movement, his broad palm is pressing you back. “Ah-ah,” he taunts, stroking a hand over his swollen cock and wiping the last of your slick from his face against his shoulder. “Keep still for me, ‘kay?’” 
His wide palms spread your legs apart, and he soothes his fingertips along your skin as he tugs a few heady groans from himself. “Fuck, you look so good. You’re so goddamn pretty. When you were sitting there at the bar and you looked so fucking happy I couldn’t take my eyes off you, you just looked so nice. Haven’t even known you a week, and I’m already obsessed with hearing that laugh of yours. You put some kinda spell on me, huh? That what this is?”
“Ugh, stop talking, Satoru,” you threaten, watching the steady ebb and flow of his clenched fist. His cock looks so smooth and you’re desperate to reach for it, to take hold of velvety flesh and see how long it would take for the world’s strongest sorcerer to be putty in your hands. 
He arches a pale brow at your blatant stare. “You want it?”
“I want you,” you correct, and the smile that breaks across his handsome face makes your heart squeeze. 
“Awe, how can I possibly say no to that?” he asks, gleefully lining himself up with your slit. Despite his early eagerness, he’s taking his time with this part, running the bulbous head of his cock over you, gathering up some of your gossamer strands, slicking himself with your dripping arousal. “Sorry,” he amends when he makes another pass along your folds. “It’s been awhile and I want to take it all in. I don’t wanna rush this.”
“It’s fine,” you smile, lifting your hands to pass them over his stomach, watching as his muscles ripple under your delicate touch. “Just don’t take too long or you’re not going to be on top for much longer.”
“That a threat or a promise, baby?” Satoru leers, finally slipping his tip past that first, tight ring of your entrance. Despite his bravado, his lips curl over his teeth and he lets out a low hiss as he sinks into you, inch by shallow inch. The pressure of his cock makes you arch, legs automatically wrapping around his waist, heels digging into the small of his back. He bows his head and his ethereal gaze falls behind his shaking eyelids as he thrusts forward, edging himself along until he bottoms out within you. Fuck, you feel so full.
The stretch of him makes you shake and you’re grateful he’s taking his time when he stills, lips smacking distracted kisses over your heated cheeks and parted lips, giving you time to adjust to him, and he to you. After a few steadying breaths, his teeth bite at the hollow of your throat and he pulls his hips back, grinning as your hands grasp into the sheets, a sharp whine escaping you. He echoes your sentiment, letting a gasping string of curses tumble from his shaking lips as he ruts forward again, one hand gripping at your right leg, prying you from his waist and slinging the trembling limb over his shoulder.
This angle has him pressing against something wonderful and sharp, and you can’t help but gasp out his name as he starts to methodically ram into it, over and over. You can feel him swell at the sound of your pleading moans and you savor the feel of his cock throbbing against your tender walls. “More,” you shudder, fingers trying to hurry his steady hips as he diligently cants into you. 
“In a minute,” he grunts, biting at your pliant skin, arms coiling under your back. “This feels too fucking good. Let me just… ah… fuck…” 
He slows, moving at a pace that sets your teeth on edge, and you thrash under him. Although his cock is digging against that aching place that’s sending dots and stars across your eyes, it’s not enough pressure. Licking your lips, you worm one of your hands between the two of you and pinch and roll your fingers over your clit, easing some of the tingling bittersweetness that’s pulsing over you. 
“Alright, alright, point taken,” Satoru chuckles, releasing your leg from his tight grip and re-lacing it around his hips. “How do you want it, baby? You want it fast? Or do you want it hard? Tell me.”
“I don’t know,” you murmur, peeking up at his enthralling cerulean, willingly ensnaring yourself in the intensity of his gaze. “I just want more of you.”
“Tch,” he hums, cupping a hand against your warm cheek. “Don’t say shit like that, I might end up falling for you.”
The laugh that echoes from your lips is swiftly cut off by a gasp as he abruptly ups the pace of his thrusts. He’s quick, but he’s still listening and watching for what you like. When you moan he’s right there with you, steadying his rhythm, and when you call out his name, he digs a little harder. 
It’s too much. It feels raw, like you’re scratching at a cut. Like there’s some itch that you just can’t reach. 
All of it, the feel of his meaty balls slapping against the sticky plushness of your ass, and those breathy moans makes your head spin. The intensity of the moment slips your fingers from your clit, but he makes up for their loss by grinding down each time he sinks into your cunt, scraping the hard edge of his pelvic bone against your throbbing bud. 
He’s good. Fuck.
You can feel the hazy slope of your orgasm approaching and you blindly arch up each time he careens downward, ensuring that he’s hitting right where you need him to. His movements start to hit a lull as he slips into his own fog of lingering pleasure, dipping his head to your neck and sighing contentedly when you kiss at his temple. But the tenderness of your touch must knock him out of his own whirring thoughts and he rewards you with another set of rapid fire thrusts, his lips pulling from your neck to seek out yours, kissing and nipping until you’re gasping for air. 
“Mmmm,” he moans, breath hot against your skin. “You feel so good and you’re getting so fucking tight. You gonna’ cum for me? One more time?”
You do your best to gulp out a reply, but the abrupt press of his calloused thumb against your clit makes you shake instead, a tingling rush of heady arousal racing its way up your spine. Smiling down at your awed expression, he lifts his fingers away and uncoils your legs from his waist, flinging them both over his broad shoulders, his knees settling forward as he continues to roughly thrusts his hips forward, driving you quivering body into the soft sheets. 
“You like that? Does it feel good? Does it? Fuck baby, I’m begging you, give it to me one more time. Can you do that for me? Can you cum for me? I want you to cum on my dick, ah, come on (Y/N), just once more, that’s all I’m asking. You can do it, can’t you?”
He’s rasping his questions against the shell of your ear, hands cupping at the side of your face, keeping you close as he races toward his own end, voice lifting into a frantic plea as he hurtles closer, desperate to feel your satisfaction rippling around him before he completely looses himself to the aching pleasure of your body. 
“I–” you choke out, arms lacing around his back, nails pressing half moons into his skin. He moans at the bite of your touch and tilts your hips upward, seeking more of you. 
That change is all it takes. 
The tip of his cock presses down, lifts, and then suddenly you’re seeing stars. 
“I’m… yes! Oh, fuck. Satoru, just like that. Don’t… don’t stop!” For once, he doesn’t tease. He just smiles, his face flushed, pale cheeks dusted a pleased pink and repeats the motion, careful to keep everything absolutely steady. The repeated push and pull, the warmth of your cunt, the feel of your skin, it’s making his cock throb and his heart race, but he’s determined to see you break. 
There. There it is. Fuck, you’re so pretty.
On an outward pull of his hips, your back arches and your thighs tense and he lets out a long growl, quickly breaking his fastidious rhythm and sinking back into you, gasping as you flutter around him. A new flush of wetness leaks out of your cunt and squelches between your pinned legs, dripping over the cleft of your ass.
He only lasts a few extra ruts, but the feel of him swelling and pulsing inside your tender pussy almost topples you over the edge again and you cling to him in the aftermath of his release, your heaving breasts catching against his flat pectorals. 
With a quick peck, he slowly lowers your legs and eases himself out of you, blue eyes widening at the sight of his softening hardness leaving your leaking pussy. “I don’t know which I like better,” he contemplates, leaning back on his haunches and slicking his index finger up the pooling dribble you’ve both left behind, spreading the spidery traces across his hand. “You wet and dripping for me or filled to the brim with my cum.” His lewd comment makes you huff out a low groan of exasperation and you roll off of the bed, shaking your head as you steady yourself and walk toward the bathroom. 
After a brisk rinse in the shower, you pad back into the darkened room, fully expecting to see an empty bed. You’re not sure why that’s your first thought, but something about Satoru doesn’t scream: I’m the kind of guy who likes post coitus cuddles. So the sight of him, bundled under your sheets, white hair poking just above the edge of the blankets, is a surprise.
“Oh,” you pause, dropping your towel on the floor as you openly gape at him. “You’re still here… I, well, I figured you’d take off.”
“Huh?” Satoru croaks, popping his head up, his face comically askew. “What kinda guy do you think I am?”
“Apparently the kind that stays over,��� you snicker, digging around for your discarded bra and panties. 
He lets out a mock gasp, popping a hand against his cheek. “How could you say that! And after I gallantly brought you back here?”
“And fucked me,” you remind him, slipping your lacy underwear back on and re-adjusting the clasp of your bra.
“That too!” he qualifies, arching a pale eyebrow at your impassive face. “I’d say I was pretty generous. You did cum twice after all.”
“Oh my God,” you sigh, crossing your arms across your chest and perching beside the edge of the bed, shaking your head at the sprawling man under your covers.
“Come on, you wouldn’t seriously make me walk all the way back to the school at this hour. What if something happens to me? How could you live with yourself, knowing you kicked me out into the cold?”
“It’s summer,” you point out, rolling your eyes. “And you’re… what six foot three… and you have the legendary six eyes… I mean, I think you’ll be ok.”
“(Y/N),” Satoru begins, narrowing those bright blue eyes at you.
“Yeah?”
“Is it your habit to sleep with helpless guys and then kick them out? You’re so cruel.”
“Stop it,” you warn, snatching at the sheets and yanking them off of his naked form.
“No!” he protests, fingers clutching vainly at the thin cover. “Your bed is so nice! Come on, I’ll be good and I don’t snore. Well, not that I know of anyway…”
“Ugh, fine. I don’t have the energy for this and we have to be up in four hours. Just shush and scoot over.”
“Oh? Do you not have the energy because I fucked it out of you?”
“I’m sorry, were you wanting to stay the night?” 
“Alright, alright,” he splays his hands up in supplication and makes room for you, watching closely as you curl up beside him, a smile playing over his lips. “Hey,” he asks once you’ve closed your eyes, leaning close to your reposed form. 
“What?” you groan, cracking an eye open.
“Can I be the little spoon?”
“Satoru…”
“Mmhm?”
“Shut up.”
notes: hehe. i feel like he’d be so freaking chatty in bed. plus, how could i not make him a little touched starved? stop making me like characters that just wanna be held universe, gosh :3c
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kiribaku-queen · 3 years
Text
The Blood King and his Queen [12]
Pairing: Bakugou x reader
Romance, Angst, Drama
Word count: 1.9K
Summary:  From being a mere servant girl to marrying the scariest prince in existence, your world changed right before your eyes. Exchanging places with the princess, you knew, wasn’t going to be easy. But could you have found love on the way? Or was it never meant to be?
A/N: Short chapter today, and I know it’s not much but I hope you still enjoy it! I promise next week’s chapter will be so much better and I’m still working on those requests! Just give me some time to recover 😊 happy reading!
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Bakugou sat grudgingly on his throne, looking out into the sea of dancing people. Lounged back in his seat, legs spread, head resting on his fist, and a permanent annoyed expression. He wanted to be anywhere but here, but he was stuck here. No thanks to the princess.
He couldn’t see you go.
He couldn’t see your pained expression as you were forcefully kicked out of the palace.
He didn’t want to hear your cries, how sorry you were or how your voice cracked with excuses.
He stayed looked away, fists balled at his side. When the door closed, leaving him alone, only the sounds of his heavy breathing could be heard. His chest heaved up and down, feelings of confusion and betrayal were strong, and his hands were itching to hit something. Soon everything he was wearing was getting too tight. With a quick rip of his shirt, he removed the restricted clothing, leaving his chest completely bare. He could finally breathe but he was still itching with uneasiness.
Not paying attention to where anything was, he punched walls, ripped down everything and anything on his walls, destroyed his bed, anything he could get his hands on he threw or ripped up. He let out his anger and frustrations with a forceful, belching scream. So much so that he felt his throat clench up and his heart went heavy. Fuck this. Fuck you. Fuck this party. Fuck everything.
Bakugou wasn’t even going to go to this party. It was to be called off. But did this princess have tricks up her sleeve. His father had already met the princess before Bakugou could say anything.
“The marriage must go on!” his father insisted when Bakugou tried to call off the party and the engagement.
“But Father,” Bakugou tried to impose but was quickly shut down and Bakugou had to seal his lips.
“Silence!” The King’s voice echoed in the empty halls, silencing everything around him, including Bakugou. “What are we waiting for? Let the party begin.”
And so here he was, the only one not enjoying his time. He watched as everyone around him was dancing the night away. Couples waltzing their way through the dance floor put Bakugou in a sour mood. That could have been you and him.
Bakugou shook his head from any thoughts of you. Why would you pop up in his mind out of all people? You were a traitor. A liar. A no good peasant who was using him and for what? Tch, he didn’t need you. In fact, he didn’t need anybody.
“Hello, my prince,” the princess said sweetly yet sarcastically to Bakugou, batting her eyelashes like she was so innocent. Bakugou didn’t even spare her a glance.
“What do you want?” he spat. And the princess did not like that.
“Watch yourself, your highness. We are in public. Don’t want to cause a scene,” she warned. Bakugou could only scoff at her.
“Oh, princess. Don’t you know who I am?” he asked and leaned into her, close enough where his breath was on her ear. “You better back off before I slice your head right off those pretty shoulders of yours. How’s that for a scene for ya?” The princess slowly backed away, clearing her throat as she softly touched her neck.
“I don’t want this marriage anymore than you do,” the princess said.
“Then call it off,” Bakugou rubbed his forehead. He had a headache now.
“You know that is impossible,” the princess argued.
“Nothing is impossible.”
“It’s for the good of both kingdoms. At least pretend that I’m her,” she said. But Bakugou was quick to get in front of her, blocking her view of everything and he was the only one she could see.
“Don’t you ever speak of her again,” Bakugou warned, making the princess shrink in fear. He hadn’t gotten a good look at the princess until now. She looked a lot like you. For a minute, he thought she was you. His emotions faltered for a minute and his heart did a leap, but it wasn’t until he really looked was where he noticed the difference.
He let out one huff and backed off, slouching in his chair again. The princess frowned and continued to sit next to him the entire night, frowning that you had made the prince feel like this.
You had returned back to the palace, with the help of a few guards who escorted you back the entire way. In handcuffs, might you add. With the courtesy of the princess, she had allowed you to return back to being a servant, but got demoted to lower servant. You would no longer be serving the princess directly. Instead, you would be getting all the hard labor jobs. And if need be, then an extra hand for the princess.
You didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed. Relieved, because you were still alive. The princess could have had you killed. But here you were, still working at the palace, doing the same job, able to live another day. She was being lenient towards you and you should be grateful.
But on the other hand, you were disappointed. Disappointed that you were back to living this life again.
As soon as you got back to the palace, you were placed to work. And of course, the girls wanted to know everything that happened.
“What was the Blood Prince like?”
“Did he try to kill you?”
“Why were you there so long?”
“Where was the princess?”
“Are the rumors true?”
There were so many questions yet you didn’t know what to say. You were not in the mood nor in the position to say anything about the vicious blood prince.
“Girls, I just came home. Must you know this very moment?” you tried to steer the conversation away.
“You’ve been gone so long, we just have to know!” one of the girls persisted. You knew you weren’t getting out of this any time soon. Just say something and maybe they’ll leave you alone.
“The Prince… is nothing like the rumors,” you simply say and put on your familiar servant outfit that felt foreign on your skin.
“What was the Prince like then?”
“Was he kind?”
“Or more vicious and blood-thirsty than we thought?”
Your eyes welled with tears when thinking back to your memories together and what could have been. A sad smile appeared on your lips but was quickly turned upside down. What could have been? What will never happen. You were no longer living in a dream. You were back to the reality that you are a servant. Here to serve the princess. Not marry a Prince. Become Queen? You couldn’t have pulled that off anyway.
Strangely, it felt good to be back to a place that was so familiar to you. You were back to roaming the familiar halls, talking to the same girls you grew up with, doing the same chores that was ingrained in your mind. But now you longed for something different. Something better than here. You now longed for a life that wasn’t here. After experiencing a world outside the palace, you realized how big the world was. You realized how much you were missing out on by being trapped inside the palace walls. But that reality didn’t seem plausible either at this point.
It wasn’t long until you were able to laugh, joke, and gossip around with the girls, getting accustomed back to your old life. You were helping the royal doctor grind up some medicinal herbs when you heard news of the princess coming back home. It was urgent that every servant was to greet her when she got home. So you dropped everything you were doing to join your place with the rest of the girls, bowing your heads down, waiting for the princess to arrive.
With one wide swing of the double doors, in came the princess. She walked slow and deliberate, taking her time to take each step. It was quiet. Only the sounds of her heels clicking on the ground could be heard. Her footsteps were coming closer to you and for some reason, it was making you nervous.
Step. Step. Step.
Until you heard her footsteps come to a halt and she was standing right in front of you. You gulped but tried your best to keep a poker face. The princess turned to you and lifted your chin up with a fan she held in her hand. She wouldn’t dare touch you with her bare hands. You had closed your eyes before your eyes reached the princess. You couldn’t look royalty in the face, especially not after what happened.
The princess took a good look at your face and let out an annoyed click of her tongue before harshly letting go and continued on her way. You could only bow back down and step back into place, blending in with the rest of the girls.
You had thought that you had gotten your old life back when returning to the palace, but you were treated more cruelly than before. You were demoted to a general servant, doing more labor than most servants. You weren’t supposed to be serving right under the princess. But she was calling your name any chance she got.
“Where is (y/n)?!”
“I want (y/n) to do this!”
“Fetch (y/n) for me!”
“Why is (y/n) not here!”
The princess demanded for you at least 20 times throughout the day, making you stop in the middle of your work to tend to her. The princess never really needed you. She just wanted you to run around, making you more tired than you should be. But because you couldn’t do your work properly due to her highness constantly calling for you, you were being punished.
You couldn’t count how many times her hand made contact to your cheek, the sharp pain was becoming regular to you now, because her laundry wasn’t done properly or you were being too slow. Your cheek was a constant red color with slight swelling. The other girls watched as you were getting smacked around and punished more than them.
The girls had to look away when one day. The princess snapped, making you lay out your hands as she used a stick to whip your hands. You wanted to cry out in pain but the more you resisted, the harder she hit you and the more slaps you were going to have to endure.
Granted, the royal doctor would treat you behind the royals back because you were so close to them, basically like a daughter more than an apprentice. But you would have to go back to work the next day to hide suspicion. And the punishments didn’t stop there.
Hot tea was spilt on you too many times to count, daily smacks in the face, more running around, being spat on, more beatings, marks and bruises all over your body. You couldn’t catch a break. And all you could do was apologize. Over and over again, you apologized. In the moment, you may not have done anything wrong, but she was the princess. Everything and anything you did to upset her, you were at fault. So you kept your head bowed to the floor, taking any punishments she gave you. Because you deserved it. She’s holding a grudge against you because you didn’t follow her commands to break off the engagement. She has every right to do whatever she wants to you. You were in the wrong. You deserved all the punishments. Because you were a servant, and that’s all you were ever going to be.
A/N: I’d love to know your thoughts and if you want to be added to the tag list! All are welcome!
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thatsthetriick · 3 years
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Y/n looking at Jojos as competitions/rivals (hcs)
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Summary: You consider the Jojos a rival, and competition when it gets to grades and all, they never did anything to you but you’re just generally annoyed at them because you think they’re better than you and you’re annoyed that they are better than you, you’re not jealous just annoyed that they exceeded you. (basically enemies to lover for short) Inspiration: Based on real life thoughts with a person honestly lmaO I really think they are a compeition(they don’t know) but in the end it’s just a friendly thing. Disclaimers: Underage smoking (Just because this action is being done here it doesn’t mean you should do it too, for both my adult and teen audiences i rlly don’t recommend this and just because I used it in this fic doesn’t mean you should do it as well) , and  mentions of violence, or implied violence, drugs are also mentioned( i repeat i do not encourage these behaviours in real life) Header: Orange Other writings: Masterlist/Taglist Requests/questions: Ask/Request Box
Jojos as your Rivals
Jonathan Joestar
  ✧ God. To you he was really annoying, teachers praised him and he was a top student in the rankings and a teacher’s pet, you’d never see him complain, cry, or anything at all.
  ✧ Of course he was the class president and a student council so it annoyed you more since he was kind of like a mary sue in your eyes, the fact that he got good grades and doesn’t seem to have a hard time in the things he does really annoy you.
 ✧ You were in the top 3 top students except you’re in 3rd place and you could never beat Jonathan, moreover he’s also an athlete and you were bothered that girls were practically drooling to him. But despite this you’ll never do anything to seek revenge, you won’t embarrass him or frame him because you still have morals.
 ✧ Though you were just grumpy and passive agressive to him sometimes whenever the teacher asks him to help you, you really didn’t like receiving help from him because for you, you think that’s a sign of weakness.
 ✧ Of course you get parterned up with him a big project that was considered as your examination and you hated it. You treated it more of a individual work, but after knowing him a bit from that project you kinda like how he acted, polite, kind and patient.
  ✧ Everytime he sees you struggle and you decline for help he’ll just go behind you or besides you and either guide your hands to fix it or he’ll fix it himself and he’ll just smile afterwards, it was really cute and you’ll mentally slap yourself for liking him, were you forgetting he was rival?
 ✧ He’ll slowly consider you as a friend and he would really really feel guilty for assuming that you were a rude person base on you act towards him but he eventually thinks that you’re a kind person in the inside but a bit stubborn and he finds that cute.
 ✧ If it’s a love story you and him will secretly date and its not obvious to the world that you two are dating, you were never touchy with him in public, you two still acted the same honestly, a bit stubborness coming from you and stubborness from Jonathan because he’s really willing to help you with everything, eitherway you two only have playful fights and a few REAl arguments here an there but you two eventually make up again a few days later.
 ✧ If it’s a platonic relationship you two would be the bestest of friends and you two would have playful arguments and some people would literally ship you two because of your friendship.
 Joseph Joestar
 ✧ This guy was intelligent but lazy and yet he still gets 1st place in the class as a top student with A+ grades, and you found it also annoying that he was naturally talented and effortlessly got them, you sometimes wonder if he cheats.
 ✧ And because you think he cheats you go out of your way to site his essays and public works to see if he uses references or anything, but no this guy is just naturally talented and you felt like he didn’t deserve especially with his laid off attitude.
 ✧ Now you don’t show your passive aggressive side to him because you know better not to make him think that you’re literally angry at him, for you he’s just a competition and another boss level to defeat, it’s not personal just a fun thing you do so you don’t take out your anger out on him.
 ✧ He is also an athlete, of course the Joestar bloodline and legacy literally revolves around the sports they take, so it was no surprise, you on the other hand is also an athlete and you would most likely take the competition seriously whenever there’s a boys vs girls basketball game, you were the MVP let’s just say, sports was like your whole life.
 ✧ Of course there’s an annual event that the high school hosts where as every student will be competing against each other, the remaining 4 players will be the ones set out to compete to another sports festival in a different school. They will choose 4 players per sport.
 ✧ Of course you chose to marathon since you were honestly swift and that was more on your main sport, running. And it was Joseph’s as well and you two had to compete with each other among other students, he’ll say something cocky to you that is enough to motivate you to defeat him.
 ✧ Eventually you and Joseph were one of the 4 people chosen to compete in another school, and though it took awhile for you two to agree on things you two won the tournament with teamwork and ever since then your friend consists of constant and non stop teasing and playful banters.
 ✧ “What do you mean? I clearly made our team win!” he’d say and you’d just roll your eyes at his cockiness. Though you’d retort with something cocky as well.
Jotaro Kujo
 ✧ You honestly don’t know why this guy was even a top student he often gets into fights and the teachers just shrug it off,  you find it annoying he gets to answer everything before you and finish quizzes before you and you get so pissed and can’t understand why is he quick and he doesn’t seem like a type to review.
 ✧ He’s pissed at every fangirl he has and he is pissed at you sometimes as well because you try avoiding him, yeah he’s aware of your competitiveness and he doesn’t really care that much.
 ✧ But you do so you basically you’re like legit pissed at him and you think that he also doesn’t deserve his intelligence since he’s just wasting it away by smoking cigarettes at the back of the school and fighting people it was honestly annoying and you wish you had his intelligence at the same time.
 ✧ Unlike the others maybe in this one you’re being constantly pressured by high grades so you started smoking as well to relieve your stress, you’d somberly sulk at the back of the school as well smoking your problems away it made you feel calm for some reason.   ✧ He sees you there and mumbles a “Tch” while he adjusts his cap and walk near you and light up his cigarette and doesn’t say a word, he doesn’t honestly care what you were doing, anyone was allowed to do anything they want to do so he left you there.  ✧ Honestly he started getting concerned of you when you were often doing it, even he knew that too much is too much. “ That’s enough” he’ll say and take your cigarette pack away, “Touche” you’ll just roll your eyes and walk away. He’d always stop you from smoking, you were getting addicted honestly and it’s not helping since every minute you were getting stressed out.  ✧ When you’re not listening to him he’ll agressively tell you to “cut it off bitch.” or something along those lines, and you didn’t really know he was a person who hid his feelings so you snapped and scolded him that you were a mess because of him  and took out all of your anger and left honestly.  ✧ He couldn’t care less what you said about him and tried to accompany you at the back of the school or in the rooftops everytime it’s break or the end of classes, he didn’t speak that much but he was a good listener and constantly listened to your problems, eventually this is a routine and you treasured every second of it.  ✧ It became a thing that you two basically  sit on the rooftop talking to each other, from then on he’d accompany you outside of school as well and you two would hangout and it would be nice quiet moments when he’s around, he’s also a very protective friendship. Josuke Higashikata  ✧ This guy really doesn’t care about his grades and yet he gets high score it was also annoying that teachers adore him, and that every girl adores him as well. Unfortunately you two were partners for a spelling Bee. Only professors were allowed to choose who participates, and though Josuke might not be accurate with his english pronounciations and spellings he still had high grades and it annoyed you that he got to participate his weak subjects just because he has high grades.  ✧ Honestly he’d hate it as well and would just play games all day long instead of studying or anything, and during the spelling bee he didn’t help at all and you were pissed at him. Even though you were softly and passive agressively scolding him he didn’t get mad back and just said a “Okay okay! I’m sorry.” he’ll apologize and try to study but he’ll get distracted.  ✧ Teachers still continued to praise him and gave no praise to you at all even though you carried your partner to the finish line, that’s why you hated Josuke, he was loved by everyone and you never understood why, was it his personality? Smarts? What was it?   ✧ From that then you’ll break into his house with no permission and catch him playing video games. You’ll scold him to study the words and act like a strict teacher towards him, he dozed off a lot and was laid back and distracted, yet he was still able to answer some of them.  ✧ This is why you didn’t like him he was too laid back and didn’t seem to take things seriously, because of this you suggested a break and he went back t o playing his video games and getting frustrated, and even though you were tight while teaching him he was kind enough to still offer you to play with him. You were going to decline but you still accepted it.  ✧ This is where you saw his true personality, he talked about a lot of things and you two ended up having fun as you two play, you didn’t mind this moment and you’d want it to treasure it forever honestly. You brought up your personality as well to him, you started showing your true colors and he really liked the fact that you weren’t an overbearing person at all.  ✧ ever since then you two manage to win the competitions and manage to play at the same time. You two became the bestest friends which was unexpected since you considered him as a rival, though you’re still annoyed because everytime you ask him to teach you he’ll teach really badly and you wouldn’t understand anything from him. Giorno Giovanna   ✧ This guy was a quiet yet smart type, he often sits at the back of the class dazing off the window and yet still able to answer questions of the teacher even when not paying attention.   ✧ Though you compete with him you know not to mess with him honestly, though a lot of really negative rumours constantly spread about him. Like his family problem and things like that so you pity him at some times.  ✧ Girls adore him, something about the Joestars getting fangirls annoys you a lot. They baby him, and even though sometimes he gets annoyed and straightforwadly tells them to go away sometimes he’d entertain them and be kind. Teachers always saw him as a role model student it makes you barf.  ✧He’ll also probably hangout with his school gang, nobody knows what this gang does honestly, the teachers just leave him be just because they want to just leave him be and they’re too naive; thinking that it’s just a normal innocent gang where it’s a group of kids hanging out.  ✧ You caught up his ‘gang’ beating up someone and since you were a witness he saw you as a immediate threat(or so you though) and this quiet kid did a whole 180 with his personality and looked at you menacingly.  ✧ You don’t know how to approach him that you won’t tell anyone you’ve witnessed and always ran away everytime he approaches you or everytime his gang approaches you. Now your rivalary and competiting against grades is now ruined because this guy could always beat you anyday when it gets to physical fights, or so you thought.  ✧ You always ate lunch at the rooftop so he kind of took this opportunity to calmly sit besides you and talk to you about what you saw, he just wanted to give you context so that you wouldn’t get the wrong idea. Apparently that guy was an adult selling drugs to a bunch of graduating elementary kids.  ✧ You were relieved he wasn’t gonna beat you up and put you in the sewers, you took this time to also talk to him to actually see he was a nice guy, a gentle man and that you thought he was a cocky student because you always assumed him like that, not only that but you assumed him being a playboy as well since he gets so much attention.  ✧ You confess all of this to him and he let’s out a quick chuckle and you just laugh as you confess all of your thoughts and competitiveness against him, he was a good listenered actually, and didn’t take it really personally, he knew deep inside that you were a good person even though before you used to give him a scary glare when you two didn’t talk yet.  ✧ From that day on you start catching up to him in the hallways and talk and all his fangirls would practically hate you and give you glares as you two are having a good time.  ✧ He’ll make sure you’re out of his school gang businesses and arguments with other gangs, he may not say or sometimes express it but he always cares for you and tries to be supportive in littliest ways such as listening and remembering to every detail you tell him.  ✧ you’d still playfully compete with him and if he wins you’re okay with it unlike before
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Thanks for reading! Reqs are open! My only requirements is no nsfw and probbably not part 5 yet since im not there hihi.(P.s I do canon x oc :) ) Sorry for not uploading for awhile
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