#TheForest | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kinomiakai · 2 years

Text

Word game!

I was tagged by @sio-writes with the words string, color, bath, and fright! This is such a cool idea, I love this!! Thank you so much!

Okay this is super long, so I’ll put it under a read more. But if you want some excerpts, here you go!

STRING - I wrote this one recently in The Forest! Some spoilers in there for you :> This one features Braith (a human traveller who stumbled into the very magical forest not really knowing what he was doing) and Fern (one of the wood elves that lives there. He’s very protective) - but we’re almost 100k words in at this point ;)

“You can ask,” Fern said softly, and it was a permission that Braith…hadn’t expected. Hadn’t expected so easily. He’d at least expected something tight, strained, hurting in Fern’s voice, but…

Braith looked down.

“I—” he said, twisting the frayed bits of his sleeves together. “You mentioned your mother, once, but I thought that—she’s not—”

“She’s alive,” Fern said. “She…my parents are…in the heart. Of the forest.”

“Oh,” Braith said, letting the relief and surprise mix in his breath. “You don’t…”

“They are not in a condition to be…visited. Often.”

Braith felt his eyes widen, and he quickly looked away. Not quick enough, though, with the way Fern sighed.

“They are alright. They…here.”

He breathed out, and Braith stared at him as he sat up.

“Hold out your palm,” he said, taking something from his neck. There was a string, nestled amongst the leaves—tucked underneath them, or maybe they’d grown overtop—

He pulled the string free, and a small leaf fell into his hands.

Braith’s uneasiness grew.

“I—” he said, staring. “I don’t—”

“You feel it,” Fern said, and Braith didn’t need to nod. He knew it was written all over his face.

“I don’t—” he said, flinching as Fern let the weight grow heavier—he still held the string, but Braith held the leaf, and he felt—he felt— “What am I—”

“In times of great pain,” Fern said softly, “some of us need…time. Some of us need to heal. Away from the world, that keeps going without us.”

Braith stared at him.

“My parents are in this form,” Fern said softly. “This is a leaf of their tree.”

He twisted the string back around his fingers, and Braith stared as it lifted back into his hands. He resisted the urge to catch it, to flinch towards it—

“You understand, now?” Fern asked, and Braith’s nod felt quick and hurting. Nowhere near Fern’s hurt, obviously, but he—but Fern—

“They did,” Braith said, “they needed that, but you—”

“I was needed elsewhere,” Fern said, looking away. “I know nothing of the form. I don’t know that I could do it if I tried.”

Braith opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He stared at Fern for several seconds longer than he should have before he finally tore his eyes away.

“Will they…recover?”

Fern breathed out.

“I’m told so. I don’t know any better,” Fern said, looking out into the brambles, the trees… “It may be foolish to hope.”

Braith let out a breath.

“Well, I…I wouldn’t say that,” he said. “But I guess I’m not the best person to talk to about that sort of…stuff.”

Fern looked back at him.

Braith shrugged, looking back down at his shoes.

“My mom didn’t just leave,” he said. “She left without her magic. The main way she survived. It’s not—there’s really no way that she—”

Braith shook his head and looked away. It was like he couldn’t even talk without crying.

“I hope anyway,” he said, persisting. Clearing his stupid, stubborn throat. “I have to. At least I could find out what happened to her.”

COLOUR - This scene is from The Forest as well - featuring Fae (a fairy, and witch in training) and Lola (a human carpenter). They’re working on sending a letter to Lola’s home town, Woodhaven.

She twirled back around, taking the cloth with her, and Lola watched the way her dress fluttered with her. It was blue and purple today—that sort of layered, translucent colour that changed with the way she moved. It was like Fae had something different and beautiful every time she saw her…

“Do you mostly wear dresses?” she asked, and Fae turned back to her. “I’m not sure I’ve seen you with anything else.”

“Yes,” she laughed, tucking the cloth away. “Yes, I like having my legs free. Nothing to catch to my ankles, you know. The sleeves can catch in the branches, but I love the way they feel in the wind.”

Lola ducked her head.

“I remember,” she said, and Fae’s gaze grew warmer. “Do you have many of them?

“Many? Mm,” she tilted her head, “I suppose. Too many for storage. Not enough for my messes.” She laughed. “I keep them tucked away and shrunken, if that’s what you were wondering about. I have to share the space around me, and not all of my walls will leave fabric healthy and happy.”

She gave Lola a teasing glance, and Lola smiled.

“Not really a traditional closet,” Lola said. “Or, well—I suppose it’s only traditional for me, but—”

“No, yes, I know the one you mean,” Fae assured her. “I do miss the ease of a closet, I will say, although I never had one for long. In Woodhaven, though, maybe,” she said, frowning thoughtfully, “I did. I’m fairly sure. Speaking of!”

She straightened up and hopped across the room, grabbing—oh, a piece of paper—

“Oh!” Lola said, standing to move to her side. “oh, yes, we’ll—I can write.”

“Well, we’ll have to go back to your cabin to grab the redcurls anyway, but for now—let me spell it and test the weight.” She scribbled a bit of ink on the page, and folded it one…and then again, and once more. Each fold was different and angled, and Lola peered over her shoulder before—

Oh.

A butterfly.

It sat on Fae’s finger and gave its wings a few slow, calm flaps.

“There. They need to have wings, of course,” she said, and Lola laughed. “Now, if I tie something here…”

The butterfly dipped and fell before it righted itself again. Fae followed it with her hands outstretched, ready to catch it—

“It seems to be holding,” Lola said, and Fae’s eyes didn’t waver as she nodded.

BATH - Immediately thought of this scene - from Enter Naruto! Sasuke’s had a pretty bad day. This is a modern AU fic!

Sasuke wandered over to the bedroom door, but Naruto grabbed him before he got there.

"Nope," he said. "We're taking a bath."

"A bath?"

"Mhm," Naruto said. "Go to the bathroom. I'm gonna get my laptop."

Sasuke didn't question it. In spite of being wide awake, he felt completely exhausted. He could barely keep up a conversation; every word felt as if he was tearing the energy out of himself, and he had yet to recover any of it.

He sat down on the bathroom floor, waiting for Naruto.

"Sasuke." He heard a whisper—he opened his eyes, not realizing he had closed them.

Naruto was back, taking the mug of wine from his hand and putting it on the counter. He could see the blonde was tired, but the worry in his eyes hadn't wavered all night.

He knew Naruto was scared that he was upset, or angry, or that he blamed Naruto for his father leaving, but…right now, he didn't feel much of anything. He was just...hollow. Weak. Numb.

Naruto bent over the tub, feeling the water with one hand, before straightening and pulling his shirt over his head. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the blonde as he slipped off his pants.

"I mean—you can wear clothes if you want..." Naruto gave him a sheepish grin. Sasuke let out a puff of air through his nose before dutifully undressing.

"Mkay, here." Naruto laid down in the bath, and held his arms out.

The water was hot—very, very close to being unbearable. Sasuke slowly lowered himself into the tub, not quite able to relax into it. He shifted, not really knowing where to sit.

"Sasuke," Naruto said softly, wrapping an arm around him and easing him back until he was resting against Naruto's chest. He shifted his legs, squeezing Sasuke when he tried to give Naruto a bit more room—

"Don't worry about it," he said, pulling Sasuke closer. "You just relax, okay? I'll tell you if you need to move."

It was easier said than done, but the water was warm and Naruto's skin felt even softer than usual…Sasuke sank until his mouth was below water, stopping only to keep his nose above it. He heard a noise and opened his eyes to see Naruto pulling on a little table, bringing it closer so he could use the laptop.

The wine sloshed threateningly beside the computer. Sasuke tilted his head so his mouth was out of the water.

"Usuratonkachi, be careful," he muttered.

"Mm," Naruto said, pulling away with a laugh, "you mind sitting up for a sec? You're holding my nuts hostage."

He laughed harder as Sasuke sprung up, face red.

"It didn't hurt, don't worry." He reached behind himself and pulled a towel off the rack, leaving it on the floor in front of the table, before he reached forward and pulled Sasuke against himself again.

"C'mon," he said, "what do you want to watch?"

Sasuke let out a puff of air through his nose, letting his mouth sink underwater again without replying. Naruto only smiled and kissed the top of his head.

"Okay, let's see…"

The water really had reached a nice temperature, now. It was almost like a warm blanket all around him—and the feeling of Naruto was only helping. He closed his eyes—just for a little while, to ease the sting…

FRIGHT - This was the hardest one! I had to cheat a little. Does frightened count? ><’ I went all the way into one of my ficlet series - the only time I’ve ever written Boruto in a story before! This was such a challenge to do!

"I don't succeed, then," he says, and they look up. "I don't kill Itachi."

"No," says Boruto, "no, you do."

Sasuke's brow furrows.

"But I am still alive," he says, and it takes Naruto a moment to breathe in. His head snaps up and Sasuke meets the frightened, wide-eyed gaze with nothing. So? Was he really, honestly surprised? Sasuke had never made any attempt to hide himself. Unlike some.

"You—yeah, you are, but um—it's a mistake. Killing Itachi, I mean," Boruto tells him, and Sasuke glares at him. "That's why I'm here. That's why I'm—listen, after you kill Itachi, he tells you the truth, but by then it's too late, so—"

"What," Sasuke growls, "truth?"

The man breathes in.

"Itachi was acting under orders."

Sasuke's mind spirals. Boruto spins a tale of betrayal and deceit and lies and secrecy, and Sasuke hears it and soaks it in. Swallows it. Feels it swirl in his stomach like a poisoned drink, tumbling and twisting and making him sick. Making him sick.

"I'm gonna be sick," Naruto whispers.

Sasuke hardens into stone.

"Fine," he says, nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing. "Is that all?"

The man looks surprised. Sasuke gives him nothing.

"Ye—I mean, I—"

"And you're Naruto's son," Sasuke says, nothing. Another betrayal. Look at him.

He never gives up on you. Sasuke wants to laugh.

"Does he make Hokage?" Sasuke asks, and Boruto gives him a startled look, and a startled nod. He looks over at Naruto as if asking for explanation, but Sasuke's head is relentless, relentless and hot and spinning, he steps forwards and speaks—

"Who is your mother?"

Boruto's mouth closes. Is he afraid? Is he afraid of the look in Sasuke's eyes? Knowing Naruto has his happily little separate life like Sasuke always knew he would—oh, but of course, he never gave up on him. That's what this would be called, right? He turns his gaze onto Naruto and dares him to speak—

"I—" Naruto starts, and Sasuke looks at him.

Sasuke looks at him. Sasuke looks at him and tells him everything, spits it out of his eyes, he knew it. He knew it. He knows this world better than anyone else ever will, the bitterness burns a hole through his tongue and sets his head alight, and oh. Oh! Naruto had tasted oh, so sweet, hadn't he? Hadn't he? One thing to keep Sasuke here. One thing worth being weak for.

Sasuke. Wants to. Laugh.

"They're divorced," Boruto says, and Sasuke's rage stumbles. Naruto's head jerks between them, his breath heavy and panicked— "They're...oh."

He breathes out a laugh.

"They're divorced, Uncle Sasuke," he says, with a laugh that says he may have just realized something. "And you stay at dad's house every night."

Sasuke goes dark.

Boruto shakes his head.

"I knew something was—mom knows. Fuck, mom knows, that's why she—oh I am gonna—" His head jerks up. "Is that why you two were here? Now?"

The lies are gone from his tongue and the burning is back in his eyes. Sasuke swallows and looks down, unblinking, unwilling to give in, not yet—not yet, he—

But there is no rage to protect him anymore, and so Sasuke is forced to feel everything else.

The floor is already wet, at least.

"You were—you got married too, by the way, don't blame dad, you're both—" Boruto laughs again, and Sasuke is so bewildered he forgets he is crying. "I can't believe you both—oh, I am gonna kill my—"

"Sasuke is married?" Naruto asks, and Sasuke stares at him. It's a voice that's almost a whisper, and a familiar, familiar, familiar pain on that face.

Naruto doesn't look at Sasuke.

"Divorced," Boruto corrects, and the relief is palpable. Naruto breathes in with a nod and looks over at Sasuke with eyes that are too nervous to hold—

Too open. Too obvious. Sasuke knows what aching, searing betrayal looks like on Naruto's face, and that had been it.

Sasuke suddenly feels like he might collapse.

Tagging @kuramakyubi and @kcisjohan with the words: ceiling, cold, blue and coffee. Also tagging anyone else that follows me and writes! Please tag me and let me know!! :D <3

#kinomitalks #writingstuff #askgame #wordgame #writeblr #sio-writes #longpost #theforest #ep3otp #kinomi talks

2 notes · View notes