#aargh. annoying. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

crowwriting · 1 year

Note

Pleaseee write a Tristan fic where she is James’s sister coming to visit?? Xx

"Expectations" Tristan Farnon x Fem!Reader.

Warnings: None! Just fluff.

Word count: 2860

A/N: I am so SO sorry this took forever, I had a family member pass away recently, and just a lotta similar drama, so I haven't been able to make myself write lately. I was thinking a lot about Tristan from the books when I read this. I hope you enjoy, many apologies, I hope to get my next fic out promptly.

James Herriot, in all his infinite wisdom as your older brother, decided that you simply HAD to visit Darrowby. His two week stint back in Glasgow had come and went so quickly that you were most certain that he was getting home sick. You wouldn’t mention it though or your lovely, maybe slightly overbearing mother would never let him leave.

You had agreed, of course, the flat you had grown up in had begun to feel stifling since James had left. The extra doting had really put a wrench in your new found freedom as an adult.

James loved to point out that you could leave at any time, of course you didn’t believe him. Not now, when all you could do to keep the flat was work: same as your father. It was your little flat in Glasgow or the streets the way you saw it. Unless you decided to hop on a boat and disappear. Which had been a pleasant daydream you entertained yourself with.

It was in fact a funny sensation as you stepped off the train at Darrowby station. The first thing that struck you was how quiet it was. The birds sang pleasantly, and a cool breeze blew calmingly against your cheeks.

This was of course interrupted by the loud honking, and a cloud of dirt being blown in your face.

‘Don’t worry Jim, Siegfried only forgot about you until,’ The boy behind the wheel of a well worn little car checked his wrist watch. ‘Fifteen minutes ago.’

James huffed. ‘Tristan! What are you doing driving my car!’

‘Oh calm down it’s not your car.’

‘Yes. It is.’ your brother was making those annoyed, slightly crazed eyes he was so practiced at.

‘Just because my brother lets you use it doesn’t mean it’s yours.’

Tristan. Your brothers. . . best mate. Had certainly lived up to his name quite promptly too.

‘By the way, did you know your break’s out? Barely made it down that last hill alive.’ Tristan leaned out the window, a roguish smile on his decidedly youthful face.

You waved, giving him a smile.

Tristan’s eyes went wide, ‘Who’re you?’ he directed the question to James.

‘My sister, Y/N.’

Tristan beamed, his head turning almost cartoonishly back to you; his hand flying out of the window to offer a shake. ‘So glad you came ‘round, I’m Tristan.’

‘Pleasure to meet you.’ You shook his hand, having to bend slightly at the knee to meet it.

‘Hop in then. Gotta stop by Old Harris’ place.’

‘What did you say was wrong with the calf?’ James asked.

‘Broke it’s leg. Yeah.’ Tristan explained as you rounded the old stone building to look for the barn.

‘And why exactly did we have to come out here right away. I’ve literally just got back.’

‘Oh you know Siegfried.

‘Why aren’t you helping again,’ you leaned towards Tristan as you watched James’ operate.

‘Siegfried doesn’t trust me,’ he nodded. His arms were crossed, and he was watching rather intently.

‘Why?’

Tristan looked at you like he had just realized you had never met his brother before. ‘Oh he’s a lunatic.’

He laughed, a broad infectious laugh you couldn’t help but join in.

Skeldale house was undoubtedly one of your favorite places you had seen. Certainly the expansive scenery was lovely and you thought you could probably never get enough of it, this place took your breath away. You could hardly believe your brother had been living in such a nice home, so open and breathable. You were starting to resent him for hogging it all.

‘Tristan!’ a sudden voice boomed just as you were hanging up your jacket.

‘Aargh!’ Tristan groaned, dumping his jacket on the sofa with a little more force than strictly necessary.

Through the main hall came who you quickly realized was Siegfried, holding a paper, and looking ready for a lecture.

‘What is it now? Did I lose the chloroform? Burn down the chicken coop? Botch a surgery you wouldn’t let me touch?’

‘What? No. No. I just wanted to give you this. From the bit you did last week.’ He handed his younger brother an envelope.

Tristan’s eyes widened as Siegfried seemed to realize you were there.

‘Hello, uh. Who is this?’ he asked James.

‘Y.N Herriot. Nice to meet you.’ You interrupted before James could speak.

‘How wonderful,’ he held out his hand. ‘Siegfried. Siegfried Farnon. What an absolute pleasure to meet you. Your brother has told us absolutely nothing about you.’ He smiled, and you could suddenly see the resemblance between him and Tristan. You chuckled and shook his hand.

‘Now. I have a surgery to run. Tristan, if you wouldn’t mind showing the lady to her room.’ Siegfried waved absently at his little brother, and disappeared behind the shut curtain of the surgery room.

The Drover’s Arms was a rather dark little pub right near Skeldale, really a comfortable homie place if not a little old fashioned.

With a pleasant warmth you Tristan and James settled on a table near the window which let very little light through. Your drinks ordered and spirits high you settled in for a good long evening. It didn’t take long for an easy rhythm in your conversation, James catching you up on everything he had failed to mention back home, while you supplied Tristan with as many embarrassing stories of your dear brother as possible. You ran short fairly quickly, but it was satisfying to see how delighted it made him; and how embarrassed it made James.

The car ride to the Alderson’s didn’t help to settle your headache, getting jostled around in the back seat of that old car was not the most pleasant after one too many bears, but the mood was light and James promised that there was no better way to see the sights than going on call with him. Tristan had accompanied you which pleased you. He was so much easier going than you were used to. A fondness was quickly growing between the two of you.

‘Helen?’ James called when you arrived.

Tristan was grabbing his own bag of instruments when he bellowed ‘Ms. Alderson!’

This seemed to work because a few moments later a woman appeared in quick fashion.

‘Rowdy bunch you are. Keep it down won’t you?’ She beamed.

You didn’t miss the blush that painted James’ cheek.

‘Who’s this?’ Helen held her hand out to you.

‘Y/N Herriott.’

‘No wonder, you’re his sister. Think he mentioned you once or twice.’

You turned your brow towards your brother whose blush deepened.

‘You’ve got a foal right?’ Tristan piped in.

Helen nodded. ‘Right this way. Think he got into something he shouldn’t.’

James hopped to catch up to Helen, while Tristan and yourself fell into step behind them, exchanging a look as you silently put your heads together to make a plan.

There was certainly nothing subtle about James’ fondness towards Helen, the way he stood nearer, the little glances he’d shoot as soon as she looked away. They stood in the middle of the barn looking over the foal, you and Tristan stood against a stack of hay. Far enough to whisper without being detected.

‘Not very subtle is he?’ Tristan leaned in.

‘Never has been.’ You chuckle. ‘Are you planning something?’

Tristan shrugged. ‘Maybe if I had a bit of backup I could be convinced.’

Turning up your nose you took a few dramatic moments to play at weighing your options. You nodded, offering a hand for him to shake. ‘Partners?’

It wouldn’t be until the next day when James Tristan and yourself came to a stop in Darrowby square. You had taken a day to visit the horse track. James had said that racing had grown on him since he had met Siegfried, though the horse enthusiast himself could not join you.

Tristan had stepped out of the passenger seat, stretched, then immediately went to grab you by the arm; pointing excitedly across the street to a flash of fine brown hair and a green coat.

‘Helen!’ He hissed excitedly, and took off with you in tow, jogging towards his target.

She was talking with a pair of older ladies when you caught up with her.

‘Helen! How are you? What’s this?’ He shook her hand.

You nudged him, pointing up to the banner above the door reading

“Darrowby Music Society.”

‘Just what we were looking for I’d say. Huh Tris?’ You piped up.

Tristan gasped proudly at you, giving a playful wink of encouragement, and that was when James appeared, looking a little frazzled and rather confused.

‘Tristan what the hell?’ He came to a stop, and Tristan pulled him up, patting his back companionably.

‘Excellent for you to join us old boy. We were just talking about finding some good music weren’t we?’

At this point Helen was rather bemused but seemed entertained enough by the scene unfolding before her. Her companions had long since gone inside and the scraping of instruments had begun to seep into the street.

‘Right well we’ll miss it if we don’t go in so-’ Helen gestured at the door.

‘Of course, of course. Let’s,’ Tristan and yourself pushed James through the door, and nearly into poor Helen Alderson.

As quickly and quietly you took your seats, Helen and James at the front, while you and Tristan slinked off towards the back, to find a seat with a good view of the couple.

Tristan leaned towards you as the band leader attempted to speak loudly enough for the whole room, which was admittedly on the small side.

‘He can’t mess this up can he?’ Tristan whispered.

‘We’ll see. He doesn’t much like to do things for himself,’ you shrugged.

The concert was over before you new it, and James had made little advancement in his relationship with Helen, offering only a ‘farewell’ and ‘jolly good day’ with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

‘That turned out. . . less than ideal.’ Tristan sighed.

You shrugged, almost smiling, ‘progress is progress I’d suppose. Got more comfortable after that second movement. Got a decent laugh too, wouldn’t you think?’

Scheming your brothers love life turned out more difficult than you had suspected. You and Tristan put your heads together often enough, but James’ almost self destructive devotion to his vocation made your planning very difficult. Still you and Tristan shuffled along, scheming as you might, with no thoughts of home.

It must have been two weeks into your stay, but admittedly you had been too distracted to notice, when the Daffodil ball was announced. With a great impact Mrs. Bromptom had thrust herself upon Skeldale and thrown Siegfried into something of a mood. Though this was fascinating to watch, Tristan and yourself had been overjoyed with the opportunity for your brother to just take one very easy chance and ask Helen to join him.

You had been certain he’d take the bait, and you had been proven correct, but how correct you weren’t sure.

There was a general buzz about the place as James rushed his last few patients, you were sitting with Helen, rather companionably. Beginning to approve of his choice better with every moment.

‘Nearly done,’ He had announced from the operating room as he ushered a dog inside.

‘Where’s Tristan then?’ Helen asked as Mrs. Hall handed her a cup of tea.

You opened your mouth to say but Mrs. Hall had beat you to it,

‘He’s found himself a date. Girl with a pig.’ Mrs. Hall chuckled, nestling herself comfortably on the couch next to you.

‘Siegfried’s going with Ms. Brompton then?’ She asked

‘Yes, confirmed it this morning.’ You answered.

Mrs. Hall hummed vaguely and sipped her tea.

Maybe it was half an hour again before you actually departed, feeling giddy with the opportunity you had thrust upon your brother, maybe it would actually work this time.

The dance hall was lively, and as crowded as it could be. The band played a peppy tune and smelled of cigarettes and perfume. It was almost suffocating, but as the door propped open and the air began to clear you could properly enjoy yourself.

You were standing by the concessions table when Tristan practically ran into you, grabbing your shoulders and turning you towards the dance floor.

‘There, there d’you see?’ he half whispered half yelled.

You almost couldn’t see through the sea of bodies, only a flash of your brother's best sports coat, and Helen’s Scarlet dress. She looked like she knew what she was doing, but James tripped as he sped by.

Tristan was patting your arm in excitement practically jumping up and down.

‘I’m so proud I could kiss you!’ he yipped.

Your eyes went wide and he beamed. You nodded in permission and he pressed his warm lips to your cheek, excitedly exclaiming.

‘I think I’ve finally got something right for a change.’

You smiled back, grabbing his arm and pulling him onto the floor, where you took a celebratory dance.

The night had put you in a dream state, nothing felt quite real, in a deliriously pleasant sort of way. Tristan and yourself seemed to fill into your “roles” as simply and unexplained as possible. You spent all your time together, but that ticking clock of your time here started to ring loud.

The night was in equal measure very successful and a dismal failure for your brother; but it was only part way through the day when he seemed jontier, nearly giddy.

‘Now old boy, what’s gotten into you?’ Tristan asked, as he settled himself atop James’ desk. The surgery had just been evacuated, and James was cleaning up, humming.

‘I think, and I don't know. But I THINK Helen just kissed me.’

Tristan jumped up, grabbing his friends shoulders. ‘Really? You’re absolutely positively sure that Helen Alderson kissed you?’

‘Yes.’ James chuckled.

A tap at the door interrupted them, when you poked your head inside, ‘Tris, Siegfried’s been-’

Tristan pulled you inside,

‘Well go on then tell her.’ He positioned you across the table from James.

‘Helen-’

‘Kissed him!’ Tristan yipped, startling you. ‘Sorry sorry, it just took him SO long,’

‘Ms. Herriott,’ Siegfried piped up from the hall.

You swung open the door taking the letter he held out to you.

It was a note from your parents. A month in Darrowby hadn't been your plan, necessarily, but there wasn’t ever an actual plan. It started with the usual pleasantries and how they missed you and hoped you were doing well, then with deft complaints about your time away.

You felt a sinking feeling. You dropped your hands to your sides huffing in anger.

‘How about some celebratory lunch?’ Tristan pulled James along, arms interlocked.

The train station was nearly crowded, you could hear Siegfried loudly talking from the telephone booth, and all your baggage was sitting next to you under the bench. Tristan was pacing around his hands in his pockets.

You had begun to chew the inside of your cheek. It had been three wonderful days. Those days had made you realize you didn’t want to leave. Not now, or ever. You had been sucked in.

The train whistle prompted you to stand, and Tristan was at your side, helping you with your bags.

‘Are you alright?’ Tristan tilted his head..

‘What’s that? Yes, I suppose.’ You shrugged.

Tristan furrowed his brow. ‘You don’t look it.’

You sighed, and rubbed your temple. ‘I just. . . don’t want to go back. I know I should, and my parents are expecting me, but I can’t see the point in it. I think I can finally breath here.’ You sighed.

Tristan’s jaw was loose, his head listing ever so slightly to the side, like he’d lost the ability to understand you.

‘Dear god, we’ve got room. Close your bloody mouth Tristan, you look like a dead fish.’

You turned with surprise to Siegfried. ‘What’s that?’

‘We’ve got plenty of room at Skeldale, stay with us.’ Siegfried shrugged like it was the simplest thing.

‘Oh yes, please do.’ Mrs. Hall concurred

‘But- my train,’ you gestured.

‘For heaven sake, go home, get your things and we’ll have a feast when you get back!’ said Mrs. Hall.

Tristan had picked up your bags, excitedly as the train whistle began to blow again.

‘Come on then.’ He urged you. He looked as giddy as a child, like he was already anticipating your return.

James opened the cabin door and your things were placed inside, Tristan urged you in, and the door shut. You turned around, urgently opening the compartment window, you leaned out.

Tristan’s eyes met yours and you smiled, leaning out and kissing him as the last whistle blew. You were practically pulled away as the train began to move, and you waved until you could no longer seem then.

There was a cool summer smell of grass, and cows. You sat down with a sigh, closing the window, and picked up your bag. Shuffling around in it for a moment before pulling out a pad of paper and pen, when you settled comfortably and started a list of things to pack.

#all creatures great and small #ACGAS #acgas #acgas 2020 #acgas 1978 #acgas x reader #tristan farnon #tristan farnon x reader #all creatures great and small x reader #reader insert #fluff #tristan farnon fluff #x reader #fem!reader

20 notes · View notes

shifting803 · 4 months

Text

Shifting experience

N°2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So basically, today i wanna share one of my experience in one of my main DR.

PS :Sorry for not posting for 8 days, i was not doing well, i will try to post more often.

I shift to Riverdale, ik it's an uncommun DR . I watched this show in 2023 and i loved it ( the 2 last season were so weird like...). And if you watched it it's better.

I want to talk about the characters and their personality. We often see our cc ( comfort characters ) on screen but when you haven't shifted yet to your DR, you haven't experienced their real personality and how they act everyday.

And i seen so much people who had shifted for a specific person and their were kinda surprised or shocked of how their cc were acting. I just wanna say that it's kinda of normal because you only see their personality they show and not their personality in private yk? Its not common but not as rare as you can think of. And i wanna share my first interactions with my cc and how i thought they would act and how they really act.

《 PART2 》

THE CHARACTERS:

Veronica Lodge: I thought she was really a bad bitch, a boss and with vibes of independant women. When i first met her i was so surprised ( not in a bad way ) that she is so sweet and actually not so strong. She is soo kind and she have much of a coquette vibes in real life. She cares so much about others people. It's so crazy. Her personality is the same as in the show but she has a side they didn't show in the show. I love her.

Betty Cooper : So basically she is the " perfect girl " and know how to handle every situations. But not all the time. And she is a lot more mean than i thought. Its not in a bad way but sometimes she is very honest. And she does not have have always good grades. She is so bad at science like its really bad. And she is soo funny. She make me laugh everytime. She wears more revealing clothes than in the show. She really has good style and not the style of a 10 years old like in a show. She is not as perfect as i thought ( Nobody is perfect ). She is really provocative and she is not scared of doing crazy things. One time she jumped of a cliff because of a dare ?!??! Happily she have nothing but it was so surprising. She is really cool and has more of a cool/chill vibes than coquette/perfect vibes.

Archie Andrews : I thought he was more serious. But this guy is literally a child. He have a dirty mind, every time you say something than can be related to ... he is laughing and telling a dirty joke. He is so funny! He is the clown of the class and he is the hell for teachers. He cant be serious for just 2 minutes. But he is so focus in sport than his actually grades. He love sport and everytime his team win or he win he is acting like a child a make fun of us... But i really love him. He really wanna save everyone and that's something not really good for him. Ik he is working on that and hope its working. Its really sentimental and he can cry for everything. One time i ate the last ice cream and he cried?? I really didn't know what to do so i just ran away...

Jughead : I dont have a lot to say about him expect he is like in the show. But he is sooo funny and not that serious too. But he is so intelligent. Sometimes he speak and i dont understand because he use metaphores. I dont judge him for that but he really likes using fancy words to impress us ( that's not necessary ). But he is so sweet and he remember every little things. He is always hungry!! Every two minutes he is like " Aargh, im so hungry. What time is it?? " And he really care about his family. He is really sarcastic and its annoying sometimes but that's ok. I really enjoy being with him.

I wanna to say that i take things out because i dont want to be traumatised 😍. And i made their lifes happier because they deserved it. I really like this DR and its the Show where i first shifted in. This DR gave me the motivation to shift and not giving up. They really helped me getting better and learned things from life. I hope you're motivated to shift tonight and be excited.

☆I hope this helped you and you enjoyed it. I really liked making this post. Stay motivated, don't give up and enjoy you're journey. Byye ~♡

Picture of clouds so beautiful ~~~

☆Love you all and Happy shifting♡

2 notes · View notes

tofueggnoodles · 1 year

Text

Drama CD Saiyuki Memorial Pack Disk 1 – Track 7: Escaping the Heat

Summary: The Ikkou is stranded in the middle of a sweltering wasteland. After Sanzo refused to share his sunshade with them, Gojyo and Goku tried to think up an alternative plan to escape the heat.

--------

Goku: Hey, Hakkai!

Hakkai: What is it, Goku?

Goku: Is Hakuryuu still feeling unwell?

Hakkai: He seems to be having an upset stomach. Please wait for a bit longer.

(Hakuryuu chirps as his stomach rumbles loudly.)

Gojyo: Aargh. So we’re stuck in this sweltering heat.

Goku: And under the strong sunlight too. Let’s do something about it, Gojyo!

Gojyo: So you say, but I’ve got no idea what to do either. Hmm?

Goku: What’s the matter, Gojyo?

Gojyo: It’s strange....

Goku: What is?

Gojyo: The guy who would usually be the first to lash out in conditions like this, when the discomfort index is at one-hundred percent, is awfully silent.

Goku: Are you talking about Sanzo? Now that you mention it, it sure seems so.... Ah!

Gojyo: What’s the matter?

Goku: Look! Over there, at that wall of rock!

Gojyo: Ah! That guy’s created a sunshade just for himself by erecting a beach parasol next to the wall of rock!

Goku: What a bastard!

(They approach Sanzo.)

Gojyo: Hey, Sanzo!

Sanzo: What is it?

Gojyo: What's with you enjoying the vacation mood by yourself?

Goku: Having all the fun by yourself – that’s not the way to go!

Sanzo: If that's the case.... what are you guys gonna do?

Gojyo: Let us join you, Sanzo-chan 🥺!

Sanzo: Hah?

Goku: Let's put formalities aside! Please? Pretty please?

Gojyo: It’s not as if we’re strangers ❤️.

(Gojyo and Goku rush into the shade.)

Sanzo: Don’t come here!

(A struggle ensues as they fight for a spot under the parasol.)

Gojyo: Don’t say things like that.

Sanzo: It's cramped in here. This place can fit only one person. It’s hot with you guys getting so close!

Goku: But I want to be under the shade too!

Gojyo: One for all and all for one!

Sanzo: Don't talk nonsense! (cocks his gun) Get out.

Gojyo and Goku: Sanzo-chan!

Sanzo: Get out!

--------

Gojyo: Pshaw! Even if the world were to come to an end, you’d be the type who’d just tell others to try survive by themselves!

Sanzo: Hmmph. Can you really criticize me in all conscience?

Gojyo: Heh! That's just fine! We’ll find an even better way to cool ourselves. Come, Goku!

(They walk away from Sanzo and his beach parasol.)

Goku: What are you going to do?

Gojyo: Listen here, Goku: There’s a roaring air-conditioner right above us. Imagine it.

Goku: What are you talking about? Have you gone nuts from the heat?

Gojyo: If you put your mind to it, the day will really turn cool. ** It’s all a matter of the mind and heart. Think of an air-conditioner, and here it is, right above you. How is it? You’re starting to feel cool, aren’t you?

Goku: I’m not so sure about that....

Gojyo: Just try it. You’ll feel cool as you do it.

Goku: Hmm. Then, I’m hearing the drilling sound of a shaved ice machine. Or so I imagine.

Gojyo: Ah, that’s excellent. I’m imagining an ice-cold mug of beer.

Goku: I’m cooling off in a cold shower.

Gojyo: I’m imagining an electric fan.

Goku: The lukewarm air from the fan is blowing through the place....

Gojyo: I’m picturing myself getting sweaty all over....

Goku: Strangely, I’m imagining that it's getting humid.

Gojyo: I’m imagining myself standing in the middle of a wasteland under the blazing sun.... No, I’m not imagining this! [because it’s the reality 😊]

Goku: Aren’t we just making ourselves more miserable than we already are?

Gojyo: Don’t say that.

(A buzzing sound is heard.)

Goku: Hah?

Gojyo: Great, a mosquito’s decided to join us in our pity party.

Goku: It's annoying. I said it’s annoying, didn’t I? (slaps at the mosquito)

Gojyo: Goku....

Goku: Sorry! I didn’t mean to hit you. The mosquito just happened to land on your cheek.

Gojyo: You did that on purpose, didn’t you?

Goku: Eh?

Gojyo: You hit me on purpose, right? You’ve been holding it against me for making fun of you by calling you a stupid monkey or a midget monkey all the time, haven’t you?

Goku: That’s not true!

Gojyo: Really? Are you telling the truth?

Goku (slaps at the mosquito again): Ah, it escaped again! Er, this time it landed on your head, so–

Gojyo: Goku! I won’t forgive you!

Goku: Wah! Gojyo’s lost his temper!

Gojyo: Stay right there! (goes after Goku)

--------

Sanzo: At last, peace and quiet. I guess I'll take a little nap. Hmm?

Goku: Sanzo! Help me!

Sanzo: What?

Gojyo: Stupid monkey!

Goku: Uwah!

(Several clatters are heard.)

Sanzo: You bastards! Look what you did to my sunshade!

Gojyo: Sorry, Sanzo. It’s because this stupid monkey’s trying to get away–

Sanzo: I won’t forgive you! (cocks his gun)

Goku: Ah! This time it’s Sanzo who’s lost his temper!

Gojyo: C–calm down, San-chan!

Sanzo: Who are you calling San-chan?

Hakkai: Everyone! Hakuryuu’s recovered. Come on, let’s depart.

Hakuryuu: Kyuu!

Goku and Gojyo: All right! We’re leaving!

Sanzo: Oi!

Goku: Wow! At any rate, it was a hot chase, wasn’t it?

Gojyo: If a rainfall would happen about now, it’d be refreshing.

Goku: True, true. We still have a long way to go in our journey.

(They both laugh.)

Sanzo: Don’t laugh your way out of this!

Goku and Gojyo: Let's split!

Sanzo: Stop right there!

(Several gunshots ring through the air.)

--------

(Round brackets): actions and sound effects. [Square brackets]: translator’s notes. Double asterisks **: Stuff I am not sure with. Suggestions for improvements and corrections are more than welcome.

#最遊記 #saiyuki drama cd #saiyuki #translation #sha gojyo #son goku #genjo sanzo

10 notes · View notes

theadventurerslog · 5 months

Text

The Curse of Monkey Island | The A-mfggh-C's of a Bonus Part

I realized I kept forgetting to use the Ventriloquist Book on people and there are several opportunities. Unfortunately, I'd missed at least one.

So, this part is dedicated to bothering everyone I can on Puerto Pollo. I reloaded an early file to grab those I couldn't anymore, mainly Rottingham, and then back to my current file to get the rest.

I also took the opportunity to catch some of Slappy Cromwell's rehearsal lines as I wasn't getting them before. Actually, I suspect what may have happened is that I went up to the lights control panel before going to the stage and some of his dialogue may have happened there and then when I did go to the stage it acted like it had run through everything already and just gave me the boring mutters.

Anyway, a couple fun lines from Slappy although there are many:

'A pirate, by any other name, would still reek! Aargh!'

"Act IV, scene 8, 'Join me, Rosencrantz! I am your FATHER!'"

Of course they had to get in a Star Wars reference.

Using the book on him causes Guybrush to pretend the other actor is insulting him.

"You're no actor! Get off the stage, ya bum!"

And the other actor protests saying anything when Slappy is insulted.

Next up: Rottingham!

'Make my head shine like a cue ball.'

And McMutton starts to agree before Rottingham protests. Besides annoying Rottingham which is always a good thing, I guess that's a clue too, since you do need to make him bald to get him out.

Then I reloaded my current file. And it was time for my favourite: Murray!

"Mooooo..."

"I am Moosferatu, the demonic Jersey Cow."

And Murray is thrilled! "Free me, and I shall forever be your faithful neither-worldly servant!"

Guybrush laughs and says he got him. Murray just splutters a "You!"

Now where's that game? The Diabolical Adventures of Mooseferatu and Murray...

I had to stop by Kenny Falmouth:

"Hey everybody, I'm a snot-nosed, devious, little con-man!"

I suppose Guybrush is still feeling sour on that bottomless mug policy.

I stopped by Blondebeard for another fun one.

"Braaakkk!"

"It is I, the spirit of El Pollo Diablo!"

Blondebeard was ready...ish.

"Back! Back you fowl demon!"

Heee.

Guybrush lets up on the joke and Blondebeard just laughs a bit and calls him a scamp. Much the same as he did when popping the gum bubble to get his tooth out. He is rather good-natured, really.

You can use it on "Manny", the Grim Fandango reference skeleton too.

"Waiter, what's this metatarsal doing in my soup?"

I would guess that's a reference as well? But I don't remember Grim Fandango well enough to say I'm afraid. If someone knows tell me!

And finally, I went to go bother the Cabana Boy, also always worth doing.

"I'm sorry for being rude. Please feel free to slap me, and then feel free to make full use of the club."

There's actually a clue in what you'll end up doing in there too...

And so that's a little aside to bother all of Puerto Pollo's residents. Nearly. There is one more character I've not met yet to try it on...

And of course, there's still the puzzle that actually requires it!

For now, it's back to the regular posts. I just really like messing with that book, but I kept forgetting. And I didn't want to clutter up one of my main posts which get long enough as is.

#monkey island #the curse of monkey island #CMI #CMI_Log #adventure games #LucasArts

2 notes · View notes

waeziverse · 1 year

Text

Royal Punch: Atsidas and Connie

The Pie House had been the most successful eating establishment in Onyxville for the last sixty years. Besides the many pies and quick service, the place had been revolutionary back when they became the first restaurant in the dock town with a toilet. Such a thing was considered a matter of course in modern Nesredna society and no one thought of the brilliance of the dwarves who had made the removal of feces so simple. The miracle called toilet was truly unappreciated.

Atsidas the Orc did not appreciate the toilet as he was cleaning it. How much importance they had did not occur to him as he was pretty simple minded. The list of things he did not consider was rather long, which was part of the reason to why he would soon be in a lot of trouble.

One of the many things he did not consider, just to name an example, was how dangerous the neighborhood he both lived and worked in were. But that was most likely because Atsidas was a big fella. Taller than most adults he met. He was not used to creatures trying to pick fights with him.

So he was met by a surprised when his shift had ended and left the restaurant through the back door. Someone who as not impressed or intimated by his size ambushed him by hurling cold water in the face with so much force that it felt like as if he had been punch in the kisser.

“You bastard! You green piece of shit!”

On the backstreet behind the Pie house where trash had been thrown, a creature with light-brown skin, round ears and dark hair glared angrily at Atsidas. She was dressed in a blouse made of cheap silk with (poorly) hand-sewed patterns. She was also wearing an apron that had white powder on it, presumably flour.

Her beautiful black hair had been gathered in a braid.

“Ouch...” Atsidas’ cheek had turned red from the impact of the water that now had returned to the human who had cast the spell. The human held her hand over her head and the water levitated over her open palm. “Hey, hey, easy.” Atsidas said as he held up his hands to show he did not want any trouble. “What is this-”

“SHUT UP!” The human grind her teeth as she with a wave of her hand sent the floating orb of water flying as if it were a ball. It landed on Atsidas‘ stomach, making him trip backward. “Do you have ANY idea what you have done to me, asshole?!”

Atsidas shrugged. “No?” His reply seemed to make the human even more pissed as she clenched her fist, making the orb of water freeze and getting small spikes. Atsidas gulped. It looked unpleasant. “Wait, just tell me what I-”

“What’s going on out here?!” Rosalio, the satyr with black wool who cleaned the toilets with Atsidas, had heard the commotion and had just opened the backdoor and was about to enter the backstreet. The human turned red as a tomato and the ball of ice turned liquid once more. She threw it at the face of the satyr. “AARGH, MY EYES! WHAT THE HELL?!” Rosalio nudged his eyes as the human ran away. Atsidas still sat on his behind, confused. He only now realized that he sat on puke.

“Hey, you okay?” Rosalio offered Atsidas a hand that the young orc accepted. “What was that about? Did you piss off that human?”

“I guess...” Atisdas shrugged as he dusted off his clothes and used the back of his sleeve to dry himself of water. It did not smell pleasant.

Rosalio rolled his eyes. “Nasty creatures. Still don’t get why the orcs didn’t get rid of the kids as well. Did you get a good look at her? We could tell the city guard on her ass.”

“... Nice earring.” Atsidas noticed the feather-formed pieces of silver hanging from Rosalio’s long sheep-ears. “Are those new?”

Rosalio’s nostrils grew wider as he got annoyed. “Don’t change the subject, this is serious! Did you get a good look at her?!”

“Nooo...” Atsidas blinked three times as he lied. Rosalio luckily did not notice as his eyes were still sore. “No, it... happened so fast. Humans, ah, look all the same, am I right?”

“Come on, there live, like, five or six humans in this town. Skin color? Nose size? You must have noticed something about her.”

“Nope.” Atsidas blinked rapidly once more. “No, I’m not sure I could recognize her if I met her again.”

***

Kahaani the Human, called Connie by friends, took the dough and slammed it against the wooden table, getting flour on herself. She knead the dough as she blew a lock of hair away from her face. She kept pounding the dough over and over again, taking her frustrations out on this bread-to-be. As she finished kneading the bread six times too many, she placed it inside a pot and then sprinkled flour on top of the dough before putting the lid on the pot. As she did so, the water inside a bowl turned around by itself mixing the water with oil, salt and yeast. Connie then added flour to the mix that eventually became dough that she also punished.

After doing so for an hour or so, she felt exhausted and sick to her stomach. She was about to leave the kitchen as she was created by Agnes, the owner of the bakery and the centaur who had agreed to be her foster parent when Connie’s parents had been banished from the kingdom after the orcs took over. Like the rest of the human adults.

“You look pale.” Agnes was leaning her upper body through the window that connected the kitchen and shop. “What’s the matter, luv?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it...” Connie went to the stairs that led to her bedroom. She knew she could be in peace from Agnes there since centaurs and stairs did not get along.

Orcs however did stairs just fine. That and ladders.

“What th-” Connie was about to yell, but stopped herself as she did not want Agnes to be worried. So she took in a deep breath, walked into her room, closed the door and then glared at the orc who was about the same age as her. “What the hells are you doing here?!”

“I just wanna talk.” Atsidas casually closed the window he had used to enter the room. “Is something wrong? Did I do something... bad? If I did, then I’m super sorry!”

“Do something ba-” Connie stopped herself yet again from working herself up and took in a deep breath as she took off her apron and sat on her bed. She held up a hand as Atsida was about to sit next to her. She then sighed. “I’m... I went to the local healer and... Look, I’m pregnant, okay?!”

Atsidas’ jaw would have hit the wooden floor had it been long enough.

Connie looked at Atsidas as she was expecting something from him, then she looked away and scratched her nose.

Atsidas looked at the human girl and tried to say something, but his mouth was dry and his throat felt like was filled with nuts. But then he forced himself to speak despite his voice being meek. “So... so, what do we do now?”

Connie groaned. “We? WE are not doing anything. I’m gonna work extra hours at the bakery to save up money. And I’m gonna change my diet to gain weight so no one will think it’s weird my stomach is getting bigger. And I will hopefully somehow save up enough to leave town and figure out what to do about this mutant baby.”

“Connie, I’m not an asshole. I will save up, too. Help and... stuff.”

Connie made a bitter laugh as she shook her head. “Sid, you barely make enough as a cleaner to pay rent. Hells, you don’t. You have to share a shitty apartment with an overgrown turkey.”

“Actually, I think Don is a pheasant harpy... sorry, not important. Look, I did this to you, I-”

“Stop, Sid, just... just stop.” Connie nudged her eyes as she stood up from her bed. “You are sweet, but... Just stay away from me from now on.”

Atsidas blinked. “But-”

“We both agree that everyone and their aunt hate hybrids, right? So lets keep our distance so no one thinks the eventually visibly pregnant human and orc are somehow connected. Besides, you and me... this was a bad idea to begin with, right? It’s stupid how lucky we been so far, not getting outed. You don’t owe me anything. This was never gonna go anywhere.”

Atsidas looked like a lost puppy. A big green one. Connie tried to smile but instead just made a weird grimace. She then placed a hand on the cheek she had hit earlier. Atsidas placed his hand over hers. It felt as if time went too fast and too slow simultaneously.

Unsure what to do, Connie pulled her hand free and patted Atsidas on the shoulder. “It was... nice while it lasted.”

“Yeah. It was... I will go, I guess. See ya lat... ah, right, no.” The young orc opened the window and turned one last time to look at the prettiest creature he had even laid eyes on. “... bye.”

After Atsidas had climbed down the ladder and hidden it in the bush like he had done many times before, Connie closed the window, went to bed, buried her face into the pillow and wept.

***

Atsidas’ home was a three-room flat above a shop that sold cheese. The young orc had lived there for two years since his parents had agreed that it was time for him to learn what Nesredna society was like and work on his personality like his three older siblings.

Atsidas wondered why he couldn’t work on his personality while working at the family company. Then again, having his big sisters and brother as supervisors might not have been that great.

Atsidas opened the door and heard the snore of Don, the co-owner of his humble home. He took off his work suit and picked his casual brown shirt and pants that hung from a nail hammered into the wall next to the door. He took a look in the bedroom and found the red-faced bird guy sleeping like a rock and having accidentally kicked his blanket off. He was wearing nothing but his trousers, making almost all of his brown and green feathers visible. After opening a window to get some fresh air inside the flat, Atsidas went to the humble kitchen where there were some bean stew left, easy to heat up. Don had written a note for him again despite Atsidas and all other orcs not being able to read.

Atsidas decided to eat the stew cold since the heat crystal was not working and filled a wooden bowl with food and decided to reuse the spoon used to cook it. He went to his bed and sat on it as he ate and took a quick glance at the harpy dude on the bed next to his. He considered if Don could help him, but decided not to since he did not want to be called a pervert and then having to find a new home.

As he chewed on the stew that tasted fine cold, Atsidas decided that the best thing to do was demanding a raise. He was a hard worker, he deserved one.

***

After being laughed out of Mr. Yarrow’s office, Atsidas sighed and went to join Rosalio in cleaning tables before the Pie House would open for customers.

“What’s the matter with you?” The black-haired satyr was about to dry the washed chairs with a rag.

“... I asked the boss for a raise.” Atsidas took a rag from the bucket of water next to Rosalio.

“HA!” The young sheep-man tried his best not to make a stupid smirk as he covered his mouth. “Sorry, sorry...”

Atsidas just shrugged and whipped the tables in the restaurant.

“Seriously, I’m sorry.” Rosalio took a dry rag. “What’s the matter, money trouble?”

Atsidas hesitated. He liked Rosalio, but he didn’t know him that well. “It’s... private.”

“Fair, fair. None of my beeswax.” Rosalio took a glance at Atsida’ built. He came to the conclusion that the tusked green-skinned guy could do well in the Undersea Temptress. “But, ah... I know...” The satyr’s eyes flacked left and right to see if they actually were alone. Then he stepped closer to the orc and lowered his voice. “... I know a place where you could make some quick cash.”

Atsidas stopped moping and blinked. He looked at Rosalio. “What? Where?”

“See, you can’t tell anyone, I’m not really suppose to tell anyone, I risk getting my cute wooly tailed kicked for this, and if you go there, don’t mention that I told you, but... You know the Undersea Temptress?”

“The tavern at the other end of town?”

“Yeah. You know what coronet style is?”

***

Idun the Half-Elf was the owner and bartender of the tavern named the Undersea Temptress, a shady little establishment near the docks. Shad her long red hair cover most of the left side of her head so you couldn’t see the nasty scar that was where a pointy ear had once been. She cleaned a mug with a rag as she stood behind the bar counter. She studied the young orc with the one eye she had left. “Well... You are a tall shit. But you ever been up fighting?”

Atsidas scratched the back of his head. “I got sent to wrestling lessons by my parents when I was ten. For like... a year or so?”

Idun narrowed her eye. “Aha...”

“AND, I have three older siblings, so there’s that.”

“Ouch.” Idun ginned. “So you know how to take a punch and throw one as well, eh? Good enough. You got two coronets?”

Atsidas took two coins out of his pocket. “Yeah. Why?”

“Because I sure as hell ain’t trust you enough to give you two of mine.” Idun leaned over the counter to see if she could spot the satyr who practically lived in the Mermaid after he had been told his boxing career would go nowhere. “Yo, Hector! Want to introduce a newcomer to two-crown fighting?!”

The satyr Hector finished his beer and burped. He had a pair of impressive swirled horns and was dressed in a shirt without sleeves to show off his arms. He was one of those satyrs who did not wear pants, something that was considered rude by most. The creatures in the tavern stood up and shoved chairs and tables towards the walls as they knew a fight was about to start. One of the tavern workers, a goblin, took a piece of chalk and drew a white line on the floor and disappeared in a small cloud of smoke and reappeared sitting on the counter. Next to the goblin was now a big jar that Idun had placed on the counter to collect the coronet coins the creatures would bet on the brawl.

Idun had a piece of paper ready to note bets. “Awright, you pieces of puke! We got usself a brawl! Hector versus the newcomer orc Albert! First bugger to drop a coin lose! Place your bets, ladies and gents!”

“My name is Atsidas, but some call me-”

“Don’t give a shit, kid.” Idun pushed Atsidas so he would go toward the chalk line on the floor. “Win and I might. Now, hold a coin in each hand and make fists. Rest should be obvious.”

Atsidas answer was a shrug as he then stood in front of Hector with his fists raised in order to awkwardly guard his face. He waited for a start signal of some sort, but instead got a fist on the left side of his head.

***

Agnes the Centaur stood by the table in her kitchen and waited for Connie to join her for breakfast. The warm bread was about to get cold as her human foster child finally came and took a seat and made a sandwich with cheese. “Sorry, I had to pee.”

“By the Unknown Architects, is your bladder leaking, girl?” The elderly horse-lady looked concerned at the very hungry human who devoured her bread and cheese as if her life depended on it. “As a matter of fact, you seem to have been sick in general for a month or so. You spend too much time in the outhouse, you get tired, you are queasy... Maybe you should go see a healer-”

“Trust me, I have.” Connie did her best to not snap at Agnes, easier said than done as her chest felt sore. “It’s some sort of influenza, the healer says I should just walk it off.”

Agnes tilted her head. “I don’t think that’s how influenza works, sweety-”

“Well, the healer says it does. I forgot my apron upstairs.” After making her bad excuse to leave, Connie went upstairs, making it impossible for the horse-woman to physically reach her.

Sitting on her bed, Connie took in a deep breath and then moaned as her body felt uncomfortable in general. She massaged her temples and then finally realized that her window was open. Connie thought this was weird as she was sure she had shut it before going downstairs, but she found it likely that she had just forgotten to do so given her current state of discomfort.

But then she noticed a small bag on the floor. She picked it up and opened it. It was filled with coronets. There was no note attached to it since orcs did not read or write.

Connie rolled her eyes. “Gods dammit, Sid!”

***

Hector the Satyr sat at a table at the back of the Mermaid tavern and glared at the creatures who made a circle around the orc who had become the patron’s favorite fighter since he had beat up Hector two weeks ago.

The creatures who spectated the fight, most of them having had one drink too many, yelled at Atsidas to get his head into the fight as the humanoid salamander-man Bartholomew the Grindylow was mercilessly pummeling the young orc.

Atsidas did not know much about grindylows. He didn’t know that the reason to why they were so strong were that these salamander-men where born to be able to live and move under sea. He did not know that sea creatures were not allowed to participate in any sport held on land. He didn’t know that the reason to why Bartholomew’s punches had so much weight behind them was because he could use his tail as an extra leg. But what Atsidas did know as he guarded his face was that sea creatures did not handle sweating very well.

As Bartholomew was panting due to not being used to fighting anyone playing defensive against him, Atsidas planted a fist on his flat nose. Bartholomew tried to use his tail to make the orc trip, but Atsidas had learned most of the cheap tricks used in the Mermaid by now and stepped on the tip of said tail as he made his fist connect with the grindylow’s liver area. This resulted in the sea-monster tripping and losing his grip around one of the two coins he held in each hand, meaning he had lost the match.

The patrons of the bar clapped at their champ as Atsidas made a sigh of relief and simply dropped the coins that he had held so firm that marks were left on the palms of his hands.

“Bloody hell, kid.” Idun grinned as she poured the young orc a drink as he sat on a stool next to the bar counter to catch his breath. “Have on on the house! I knew the moment you stepped inside my joint that you were a tough green bugger, I just knew it-”

“Yeah, sure.” Atsidas took the cup and swallowed the burning liquid. Idun offered him a rug which he took and dried his sweaty face with. “Cash, please.”

Idun placed a small leather bag filled with coronets on the counter. “Speaking of money, some rich broad said she wanted a word with you. She sits at the other end of the room.”

Atsidas stopped counting the coins in the bag. “About what?”

The eye-patched elf grinned. “Perhaps she needs you as her gardener since you have such delicate and gentle hands?”

“Fuuuunny.” Atsidas walked across the room, being clapped on the shoulder and congratulated by a few, though most of the creatures had turned their attention to a short plump harpy singing while a spindly elf played on a fiddle.

Atsidas looked for the so-called rich broad, then spotted on he was sure fit the title as she was female as well as had an awful lot of jewelry on her. She was dressed in a black fur coat

Atsidas hesitated joining her at her table as he noticed the snakes for hair. The gorgon smiled as she noticed Atsidas and pointed toward an empty chair. Atsidas decided despite his better judgement to take a seat at the gorgon's table. “Ah... hey... ma'am.”

“Please, Veronica.” She poured herself a glass of red whine. “I saw your fight, you got some moves. They tell me you the balls of a lion, kid.”

Atsidas scratched the back of his head as he evaded eye contact. “I, ah, I never met a lion, so I wouldn’t know.”

“HA!” The snake-woman grinned as she sniffed in the scent of her wine. “So, you have a stage name?”

“Atsidas.”

“Naw, kid. Not a name. A stage name. What do folks around here call you?”

“Well...” Atsidas shrugged. “Sometimes, when someone is pissed at me, they call me stuff like that tall green shit.”

“Heh, doesn’t exactly command respect, knowwhatimsayin?“ Veronica took a sip of the blood-colored liquor. “See, I been out of town since before you could wipe your own green ass, and I used to run a pretty good fight club. But to get back in business, I need some brawlers.”

Atsidas looked up from the table and forced himself to look Veronica in the eyes covered by a pair of black glasses. “You offering me a job?”

Veronica finished her glass of whine as each snake-head of her hair wiggled their tongues at him. “Sure. And I pay better than one-eye over there.” Veronica nodded toward Idun who was dragging drunk satyr to the door and then planted her right foot on said satyr’s tailed behind. “But you need a stage name, something that got presence, ya dig?”

Atsidas tilted his head. “Presents? Like gifts?”

Veronica rolled her eyes. “Eh, fuhgeddaboudit. Hmm...” She scratched the chin of one of her snakes. “Let’s see... tall green shit... Green... Hehe, got it.” She patted Atsidas on the shoulder, startling the young orc. “How about we call you... Green Plague?”

***

Connie decided that after finding a bag with 2000 coronets at her window ledge that enough was enough and went to the less fancy part of town to find Atsidas and tell him to knock it off. Whatever he was doing to get that sort of money was not something she was interested in even being involved with, not even directly.

She had been pregnant for two months without anyone noticing. That is, Connie very much noticed as she felt bloated and her breasts felt weird. She was pissed for understandable reasons, but her mood swings made what was bad worse.

She had first gone to the Pie House to try catch him there, but going to the store manager after claiming she needed to make an complaint about some orc who worked there, she had been told that the only orc employee that had worked for them had quit his job some weeks ago.

So she instead went to his home. Unwise since she had tried since they met to not be seen with Atsidas in public, but she was annoyed, felt sick and was somehow hungry at the same time, so her sense of reason was a bit pressed at the time. She knocked on the door to Adsidas’ apartment. The door was opened by Don, Adsidas’ roommate and a pheasant-type harpy. He held a bucket of water that smelled like soap.

The bird looked at the brown-skinned creature, slightly startled. “What do yer want?”

Connie narrowed her eyes. “I need to talk to the tall green shit you live with.”

“He don’t live here no more.” Don tried to close the door, but Connie blocked the door with her foot.

“Then where is he now?”

Don blinked as he gathered his nerves. “I ain’t tell yer shit. Beat it, bitch.”

Connie’s eyebrow twitched. “What?”

Don straighten his back to look taller. “Yer heard me. Piss off.”

With the bucket of water, firm arms that had knead plenty of dough and magic that allowed her control over water, Connie introduced Don to the concept of a swirly whirly. Don had transformed his arms to wings as he basked with them to get free, but they were no help as Connie had a foot planted on his back as she held his head.

Connie pulled up Don’s face by the feathers on his head. The water in the bucket was still swirling. “Still a tough guy?”

“I don’t know where he is, I don’t know where he is!” Don coughed and blinked franticly. The feathers on his head were heavy and wet. “I’m sorry I called you a bitch, human! That was SOOO uncalled for!”

“Then where is he now?” Connie rattled Don’s head.

“How should I know?! He moved out some weeks ago, left with a bag of his junk, no explanation or nothin’! Him and that black sheep dude took his stuff and-”

“Goat?”

“Year, you know, a satyr. With black wool. Atsi told me he had to move and that satyr helped him-”

“Tell on me to the city guard and you will regret it, birds for brains.” Connie let go of Don’s head and stood up from the floor as Don was still on his knees. Connie left the room, angry at herself for losing her temper as she went to the Pie House where Atsidas worked.

***

Rosalio the Satyr hummed as he tapped his hoof on the wooden floor while he ate his dinner before leaving work for the day. One of the perks of being an employee in the Pie House was the free pie. Sure, it was leftover pie, but second-hand food was still food. And he needed all the free food he could get his hands on as he had accidentally spent too many coronets on his new jacket.

But if Atsidas kicked ass then he would acquire a fairly large sum of coins tonight.

While enjoying his free meal, Rosalio did not pay attention to the human watching him intensively. She wore a shawl around her hair and had a hefty appetite, practically ate for two.

After finishing his food and having changed from his work uniform to his newly bought jacket, Rosalio left the restaurant cheerfully. Connie the Human followed him.

Rosalio was kind of a moron, so he didn’t notice that he was being tailed. Good thing since Connie was not great at it.

The streets of Onyxville were illuminated by oil lamps, but not great ones. Made the end of town they had gone to seem murky in every sense of the word. Connie kept her distance as she watched Rosalio stop in front of a building that seemed like it had seen better days. Had it not been this dark, she would have been able to read the sign over the door that said Hard Knocks Gym. In front of said door stood a rather tall Grindylow who resembled a fire-belly newt. Said grindylow wore a blouse with a neckline that showed the top of her red area on her chest.

Connie couldn’t hear what Rosalio was saying to the grindylow, but he was close enough to the light from a lamp so she could see the satyr laugh and move his hands as if he was telling a joke or a funny story. The sea-creature looked at him unimpressed. Rosalio then gave up what he was doing and gave the grindylow a small sack, which resulted in her opening the door to the gym for him and she quickly slammed it as he stepped inside, almost hitting his little tail.

Connie then stepped closer to the grindylow, unsure what to say. “Hello. I... Well, the thing is-”

“Okay, let me stop you right there.” The grindylow held up one of her scaly hands. “If you as much as think about trying to sweet-talk me into giving you a discount, then forget it. Some furball already tried to. It’s 100 coronets or piss off.”

“Right. No discount, one second...“ Connie collected the amount of coins from her purse, no idea what she was paying for. The black salamander-creature weighted the coins in her hand and then opened the door and gave Connie a light push and then slammed the door.

Connie found herself inside a large open space illuminated by light crystals on the ceiling. A large group of creatures stood at the middle of it and yelled and cheered and she heard the sound of a gong. They were around a boxing ring, watching two creatures beat the shit out of each other. Before this horde stood a dove-styled harpy wearing a multi-colored dress made of sequins held a sign shaped like an arrow that said Place Ur Bets Here. The arrow’s head pointed toward a table were an elf in a black dress accepted coins and handed a blue or red piece of paper to creatures who stood in a line, looking impatient as they turned their heads toward the fight.

Connie decided to get a closer look of what was the center of attention. She managed to push and shove her way through the creatures till she could get a better look at what was going on inside the boxing ring.

And then she spotted Atsidas inside the right with a pair of red gloves and a black eye.

“Aw, hells no!” Connie couldn’t recall being this angry as she watched Atsidas exchanging blows with a bison-styled female minotaur.

“I know, right?!” said a centaur who had a much clearer view of the fight because of his height. “I paid to see a blood bath, where’s the dang blood?”

Connie blinked. “Wait, what?”

The centaur soon got what he wanted as the minotaur, after planting a hook on Atsidas sore eye, lowered her head and stabbed the young orc in the chest. Atisdas screamed in pain as he retaliated by hitting the minotaur in the back of her head.

“Holy shit!” Connie was horrified.

“I know, right?!” The centaur raised his arms over his head and clapped. “Now we're getting somewhere!”

The creatures clapped and whistled while Connie felt as if she was gonne puke. Atisdas and the minotaur mercilessly took turns hitting each other in the face. Atsidas elbowed the bull-lady on the forehead, resulting in her taking two wobbly steps backward as she started to bleed from the cut the orc had just given her. She lowered her head and tried to ram Atsidas who managed to get hold of the horns of his opponent with his gloved hands and slammed the minotaur’s head into one of the corners of the ring. Atsidas stepped away and as the minotaur stood up and was about to turn, the young orc threw as many punches he could while practically gasping.

There were some boos and some cheers around the ring as he had forced the minotaur against the ropes. But most of the spectators started to chant: “GREEN PLAGUE! GREEN PLAGUE! GREEN PLAGUE!”

After getting a last punch, this time directly on the chin, the minotaur fell to the canvas, spread out on the canvas and gasping. Atsidas looked as if he was about to fall as well but managed to lift one fist over his head as the spectators still chanted his stage name. His face looked like crap.

“That dumb bastard!” Connie was furious but also felt great relief.

“I know, right?!” The centaur looked annoyed as he ripped his betting slip in half. “I just lost 1000 slaps because of that green shit.”

Connie was relieved that Atsidas had survived the fight. Because that meant she had not been robbed the opportunity to kill him for his idiocy.

***

After washing his face and getting dressed and wrapped a bandage around his chest where his wound from the horn was, Atsidas left the gym with Rosalio as two rooster-styled harpies were duking it out in the ring. As they got out on the streets, it started to rain.

“That was awesome!” Rosalio slapped Atsidas on the back.

Atsidas looked uncomfortable. “Please don’t do that, everything hurts. So, the money?”

“Sure, man. Sure.” Rosalio gave him a leather pouch. “This is your cut of the money I bet on you.”

“Not so loud, someone could hear you.” Atsidas hissed. “If someone knew I bet on myself I would be screwed.”

“Eh, it’s not like you fix the fights, you just bet on winning.” Rosalio gave the orc a light pat on the shoulder. “See ya when I see ya.”

As the satyr skipped away, Atsidas turned his head to look at the creature who had tailed him as soon as he had left the Hard Knocks Gym, unsure if he should keep pretending not to see her. Then he sighed. “Yeah, I know it’s you, Connie.”

The human remained some feet away, standing behind one of the poles that held a street lamp.

“Look, ah... we could go to my place? Maybe talk? I live not far from here.”

Connie didn't answer at first. Then, she walked past him and quickly whispered. “Keep your distance from from me as we walk.”

Atsidas watched Connie walk in front of him and realized she was dry despite the rain swince her magic made the raindrops vapor above her person. “Ah... shouldn’t I go in front?”

Connie stopped up. It took her a sec to realize he was right as she walked back and kept her distance while following Atsidas.

***

“Screw you!”

Connie had just entered Atsidas’ new apartment after being sure no one would see her go into the young orc’s home.

“Nice to see you, too...” Atsidas was drying himself with a rag. Getting a cold from rain was a luxury he couldn’t afford. “Want some tea.”

“No, I don’t want some bloody tea.” Connie took a glance around. It was a three-room apartment, it seemed. They were in a big room with a table and some cushions around it used for sitting. A big sack was dangling from the ceiling and it looked slightly worn. There was a mattress next to it with a blanket. A pair of boxing gloves and some training weights were next to the mattress.

Atsidas had a bucket with water he used to wet a small rag he placed on his sore eye. “I don’t really have any food, I just buy something from the restaurant next door, I could go pick some food for us-”

“I don’t want food!” Connie said annoyed. “And I don’t want your money! Especially not if you get them from getting brain damage!”

“Look, how else was I gonna get money for you? I’m tall and I’m pretty good at hurting others-”

“I don’t give a shit, stop coming to my place and stop giving me money, I don’t want to be associated with your shit.”

Atsidas sighed as he wrung his rag. “I keep telling, you, I’m careful-”

Connie kicked one of the gloves that Atsidas had left on the floor. “Why do you have to make this so difficult?! You don’t owe me anything, okay? I don’t want you to get your face battered just because you feel bad about knocking me up. It’s my fault that you get hurt because you want to play gentlema-”

“I’m doing it for myself, okay?!”

Connie blinked. It was the first time the orc boy had raised his voice at her. Heck, she couldn’t recall him raising his voice at all.

“Look... it’s not about anyone being in anyone’s debt. Or, you know, you are not in my debt. I just...” Atsida blushed as he looked at Connie. “Is it really so bad that I want to take care of you?”

“Ah, shit...” Connie mumbled as she sighed.

“Maybe... maybe I’m just doing it for myself, right? Not because I want to feel good about myself, just because... because I don’t want it to have been just us fooling around.”

Connie covered her face a her fingertips tried to drill through her skull. “Don’t make this harder than it already is...”

“Because... because what we had meant something. Or it did to me, I don’t need you to feel that way about me. I... you know...” Atsidas shrugged as he grimaced. “I love you, Kahaani the Human.”

Connie felt as if her entire body was about to bust. She had not felt this pissed and scared since she found out she was pregnant.

“ I have a new fight next week. A big one. This time I’m being paid 5000 coronets. And I thought, well... You think there could be enough money so... I could get a ticket for a boat sailing to Mino as well?”

Connie didn’t say anything.

“I mean... if that’s okay with you. I just thought I could help out when you get more pregnant... wait, is that what it is called? Or is it pregnanter or-”

Connie made it impossible for Atsidas to sound even dumber as she looped her arms around his neck in order to pull his head down to hers and kissed him. Confused for a split second, Atsidas then locked his arms around Connie and lifted her up as their lips were still connected.

“OUCH! You cut me!”

“What?!” Atsidas panicked and let go of the human girl. “What did I do? What did I do?!”

“Your tusk, it cut me.” Connie glared at her own feet as she nudged the tiny wound she had just received on her cheek.

“I-I-I I’m sorry!” Atsidas covered his tusks with his hands as if that should somehow help. “I forgot how thin human skin is compared to... I’m sorry.”

Both of them felt incredible embarrassed. But only for a moment as they went back to making out.

***

As Atsidas took his pants off, he suddenly realized something. "Ah, SHIT! I don't have any condoms!" He pulled his pants up. "Hold on, I will go to the butcher and get-"

"Who cares?" Connie lied on his mattress completely naked and rolled her eyes. "You already knocked me up, genius."

"Ah... oh." It took a second for the orc to let the logic sink in. "Oh. Oh yeah!" And then he dropped his pants.

***

Atsidas ran a hand through Connie's black hair while his other arm was wrapped around her back.

Connie lied on Atsidas' left side, resting her head on his chest, enjoying the feel of his warm, rough yet smooth green hide. She placed her hand on his right shoulder, stroking it. She could feel the bandage that was covering his injury from the fight.

Connie pulled herself free and sat up. Atsidas looked confused. "What's wrong?" He asked, nervously.

Connie sighed. “Okay, look... if this is going to work-”

“Yeah?!” Atsidas both blinked rapidly and swallowed.

“You have to promise me something.” She gave the orc a stern look. “And you have to say yes right away. If you even as much as hesitate-”

“Anything!” Atsidas smiled like a happy child. “I will do anything.”

“We do need the money. So next week is the last time you do this shit. We take the cash, leave the kingdom with the first boat we can find and you will never get in fights again.”

“Yeah. No problem.”

And then, Connie smiled. It was the first genuine smile she had made for a long time.

One week later...

Whatever hopes Connie might have had for starting a new life on Mino was shot down with a harpoon as she from ringside watched a human girl obliviate Atsidas’ face and kept beating him despite him looking half dead.

***

After Atsidas had been dragged out of the ring while still being glassy-eyed, Connie waited a moment before following the two big guys who had picked him up. They had gone to a back door and thrown him outside the building. Connie stood behind a staircase and waited for them to leave. Once they had, Connie went out the door and found Atsidas being left in the dirt.

“Sid?! Sid, say something!” She managed to lift the heavy orc up enough so he could lean against a wall and somewhat sit up. “Sid, are you okay?!”

The orc just breath in an unsettling way. Connie was unsure if he actually looked at her or if it was just an empty stare. His face was a mess, she almost puked looking at him. She tried to get him to stand, but even if she could then she realized putting this sort of strain on herself was not a great idea as she was pregnant.

“This is a load of shit...” Connie was stressing out as she pulled her own hair. "Shit. Shitshitshit..." She was starting to cry. “Wait here, okay? I have an idea.”

She went inside the building and realized that was a dumb thing to say as Atsidas was most likely unable to lift a finger or barely breath.

She got near to the ring again and started to go looking for satyrs with black wool. The creatures around paid her no mind as they were busy watching the harpy in the ring called Sweeper live up to her name.

She finally spotted Rosalio the Satyr who stood up and was swearing as it looked like he was gonna lose a second bet. He got startled as someone grabbed him by the shoulder. He turned and saw Connie. “What the- what do you want, human?”

Connie gave him a mean glare. Her cheeks were still wet from tears. “You. Help me. Now!”

“Help you with what exac... hey, don’t I know you from somewh-”

“Not important. Atsidas needs a healer. Help me get him to town.”

“Ah...” Rosalio scratched the wool on the back of his head. “Look, I don’t get what your deal is, but helping him would not be... smart.”

Connie’s eyes looked like they could burn a house down.

“See, these fights are not that... legal. So if we help him and someone is like Hey, this orc looks like he was in an underground fight club I could be in trouble since some might think I was at an underground-”

Rosalio got water splashed in the face. He could feel something cold poking his neck. He realized that it was ice in the shape of small arrow-heads.

Rosita blinked. “I know who you are! You are that crazy human bitch who can magic water and was trying to kill Atsi and me!”

Connie narrowed her eyes. “And if you don’t help me getting the orc to a healer right now, then I will freeze the blood in your veins.”

Rosalio dropped his betting slips. “You can do shit like that?!”

She couldn't.

“Damn right I can. Come on.” She had a firm grip around his wrist as she pulled him along to go help Atsidas as everyone else in the hall cried for blood.

***

Atsidas woke up with a terrible headache. He could only see out of one eye as the other one had been covered by bandages. Most of his face had been covered by bandages that had been dipped in healing salvia made from mushrooms. He was unsure why he lied in a bed he couldn’t recognize and was in a room that was far cleaner than any room he had ever been inside.

He was for a moment unsure why he had gotten hurt to begin with. But then he recalled the freckled human girl who had beat the ever-loving shit out of him. He turned his head and noticed a window. The sun was up, so he had been some hours since the fight. His entire body felt like an open wound as he managed to sit up.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Atisdas saw that a male elf in a white tunic entered the room. On the chest of the tunic was sewn a green snake with red spots coming from it’s mouth. The spots were suppose to look like three red roses. The snake symbol meant the elf was a professional healer. “You need to lie down and let the enchanted salvia do its work on you. You have suffered a severe case of head trauma, and that’s putting it lightly. The body needs to rest, you are lucky that you aren’t braindead.” The healer looked at Atsidas as if he was something slimy that was dirtying the bed. The elf then turned his head toward the door. “You can come in now. Your... friend... is awake.”

As the elf left the room, Connie came in. She looked terrible, as if she had not slept at all. She had not. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Atsidas didn’t know what else to say. He lied down but leaned himself enough up so he could look at Connie. She looked somehow happy and miserable at the same time. “You wanna sit, or...?”

Connie took a seat at a chair next to the bed. “I told them you got hurt by some muggers. Not sure they are buying it.”

“Okay...” Atsidas felt ashamed.

“I mean, they don’t really have to know how you got hurt, right? I pay them to fix you. Done.” Connie made a half-assed laugh.

There was a long minute of awkward silence.

“Wait... how much does this cost?” Atsidas asked as he placed a finger on the bandages around his head.

“Um... I don’t think I wanna tell you that.”

“Aw, Connie, noooo...” Atsidas groaned, partly due to still feeling pain all over his head.

“Don’t worry, I still have some coronets left-”

“I knew the risk, okay? I knew I might get beaten to a pulp, you weren’t suppose to use that cash on getting me a healer, you didn’t owe me that.”

Connie made a bitter smile. “It’s not about anyone being in anyone’s debt. Is it really so bad that I want to take care of you?”

Atsidas narrowed his one open eye. “Hey... wasn’t that what I told you when-”

“Yes, genius.” Connie chuckled as she dried her eyes. “Gods, Sid. You are so-”

“You two should be ashamed!”

Connie and Atsidas turned their attention toward an elderly satyr who stood by the door and glared at them through her thick glasses. She were dressed in a gown worn by patients. “Disgusting. Perverts!” She then left.

“Yeah, it’s a small hospital.” Connie sighed. "Some healer noticed the bump on my stomach and... well, you know, they can put two and two together.” She shrugged. “And I guess gossip spreads fast here.”

Atsidas was unsure what to say. So he said nothing and moved himself to the left side of the bed and patted on the mattress. Connie accepted the invitation and got in the bed and hugged him as he hugged her back.

“I think I have to get out of town as soon as possible.” Connie kissed him on the cheek.

“Yeah, you probably should.”

"By the way...” Connie tightened her hug. “I love you too.”

#Atsidas the orc #atsidas #connie #connie the human #royal punch #connie x atsidas #atsidas x connie #orc #fantasy #Kahaani #Kahaani the human #Veronica #Veronica the Gorgon

12 notes · View notes

ewanmitchellcrumbs · 9 months

Note

Lol I’m back to be annoying about the Billy Taylor fic again 😋😋😋

Aargh, I loved it so much, I’m thinking about it hours and hours later.

Actual photo of me doing just that:

I love how you built up the story and the climax (hehe) was SO worth it.

Plz Ange, thanks for feeding us ♥️

Thank you so much <3 And thank you for sending in the request that inspired the story, I had a lot of fun writing it!

#asked and answered #lovely moots 💕

2 notes · View notes

useless-bi-otch · 1 year

Text

Cookies'n Cream - Chapter 13

Last chapter / MasterList / art by @aneenasevla

Chapter 13 - Camellias and Chocolate

"C'mon, Okubo, stop with that nonsense…," Himuro mutters, raising his voice to be heard from the living room, while Kaneda prepares the coffee table to receive the snacks and a bored Rihito looks for anything good in the Netflix catalog. "It's as if you're trying to ask our opinion on a dress for the prom..."

"Shut up, Himuro!," They hear Okubo scream, the sound coming out muffled through the locked door. "When I called you to spend the Saturday night at my apartment, it was to help me, not to annoy me!"

"I thought it was to make up for lost time and solidify our bonds of friendship through snacks, alcohol and a 'manly movie'," Kaneda underlines the last words by forming quotation marks with his fingers, placing the bowl full of salted peanuts on top of the coffe table. "At least that was what you said in the group chat..."

“It was all excuses, can't you see? We were deceived, misled, cheated, whatever you call it," Rihito grumbles in an eye roll. "Now we're all trapped in the rom-com limbo. Soon we'll be painting each other's nails, plucking out our eyebrows, making a list of the cutest boys in school and syncing our menstrual cycles."

"You shut up too, Rihito! Now give me your honest opinions...," They hear the bedroom door open, and soon Okubo appears, coming out of the corridor, carrying a bouquet of flowers in each hand. He shows them to his friends, anxious. "Which of these two is the best? Roses or camellias?"

Rihito, Himuro and Kaneda can only stare at him, exasperated. They knew how determined their friend was to regain Tomori's trust, after doing wrong by her. They knew and were willing to help him, their spirits being renewed after Okubo and Rihito had made up and the four of them were again hanging out together. But holy shit, how did he expect them to help him if he wasn't helping himself?

"... Aargh, don't look at me like that! You'll make me feel even more torn!," Okubo flinches before their unimpressed looks. "Just answer me, which one is the best?"

"The best would've been if you hadn't wasted your money. Flowers, Okubo? Are you serious?," Himuro snorts impatiently as he brings a tray with a bottle of sake and four glasses. "Don't you think it's still too soon to start bribering the girl?"

"It's not bribery, damn it! These are guarantees, my guy. Guarantees that I want to be better and that she is the one who motivated me to do so," He declares, raising the bouquet of camellias in the air. "What better way to symbolize this than a bouquet? You've never heard of the language of flowers, have you?"

"Sorry, but I only speak Japanese and a little English. ‘Fagish’ is not in my dictionary," Lihito snorts, dodging when Okubo tries to hit the back of his neck with his foot. Kaneda just shakes his head.

"I've heard about it, but in this case, there is no subtlety in the messages. Roses and camellias? And both red? You wouldn't be more obvious even if you wrote a haiku on a little note and put it inside one of the bouquets..."

"I thought about doing that, but I flunked in Literature during highschool. I'd only embarrass myself if I tried," He confesses nervously, and that brings out a chorus of frustrated groans from the others.

"You're already embarrassing yourself, damn it! Seriously, Okubo, flower bouquets are so fucking cliché," Rihito gestures with the remote control, and Himuro nods.

"Yep. If you are so keen on giving her a gift, you could at least try to be more original."

"More original, you say?," He puts a hand under his chin, bouquet and all, seeming to have grown a very flowery beard. "I already got something like that, but I don't know if it's good enough..."

"You do? What a prepared little boy you are," Rihito jokes. "Show us what you got then. And get a vase for those flowers, otherwise they'll wilt before Miss Uta even lays her eyes on them."

"Alright. Gimme one sec!," Okubo leaves the bouquets on the sofa and runs down the hall, returning to his bedroom. The three of them wait until they hear the door close before turning their attention to the bouquets, grimacing.

"Seriously, how much did he spend on these things?," Rihito wonders, and Himuro and Kaneda pick up a bouquet each, inspecting them.

“There must be a price tag somewhere… fucking hell!," Himuro hisses suddenly, dropping the bouquet as if it were covered in ants. "I found the tag, but I wish I hadn't…"

"Oh, for the love of...! Where did he buy these flowers?," Kaneda wonders, a bit astonished, when he also finds a price tag. "I've seen flower shops that make arrangements like this for a quarter of that price. Maybe not with that quality, but still..."

"Seriously, I know that money is not a problem for him, but this is getting ridiculous," Rihito makes a face at the flowers. "Miss Uta might think he's trying to buy her forgiveness or something. Then all his efforts will go down the drain..."

"Yeah, but try telling him that. If Mr. Big Mouth didn't turn this into a mega production, we could send him to the bughouse 'cause he'd be insane...," Himuro comments, to which Rihito laughs and Kaneda puts a finger on his lips, hissing.

"Shh! He will hear you! Is everything okay there, Okubo?," He looks over his shoulder, raising his voice a little. "Need help finding anything?"

"No, Kaneda, it's fine!," They hear him reply. "I already found what I was looking for. But..."

"But what?"

“I don't know… what I have here falls into the 'original' category, but maybe it's too original…,” He sounded indecisive, to which Rihito snorted.

"Anything's better than flowers, man. Just show us what you have there, c'mon!"

"Alright then...," They hear the bedroom door open again, and it doesn't take long before Okubo appears, coming from the hallway, carrying what looks like a pile of folded clothes. He places the pile on the marble kitchen counter, picking up the top shirt and unfolding it, showing it to his friends and asking, "Do you think this is good enough? Be real."

There's a silence of about five seconds before Rihito stammers, sounding a little horrified, “I take what I said back. Flowers are so much better than this."

"Oh, fuck you! It's not that bad!," Okubo exclaims indignantly, shaking the shirt a little, his own face in black and white scale printed on it, "It's from the exclusive Ultimate Fight fashion line, and they're hella pricey if you buy 'em at licensed stores! I'm giving it to her for free!"

“I don't even know if it would be worth getting something like this for free,” Kaneda moans while Himuro stares at him and Rihito, frowning.

"And you say I'm the narcissist..."

"You guys are such assholes!," Okubo grunts while folding the shirt carelessly, putting it back on top of the pile. "Anyone can give clothes as gifts, but who else besides me can give clothes from their own licensed line, huh? You want more originality than that? And I hand picked them, they're just the right size for her."

"Wait, how do you know her size?," Kaneda frowns, and Okubo looks to the side, looking suddenly conscious of himself.

"Uh… I don't know, I kinda deduced it from seeing the types of clothes she wears. She's small, has curves and a waist that I can hold in my hands, like this...," He illustrates the gesture by drawing curvilinear shapes in the air with his hands, very concentrated. "And she has nice-sized tits too, I've seen it by her cleavage, so I just looked for the sizes that matched my memories and... stop looking at me like that!," He shouts, blushing hard. "I'm a gentleman but I'm not blind!"

"Okay, whatever. It doesn't change the fact that this gift doesn't cut it," Himuro gestures to the pile of shirts. "First of all, it smells of self-centeredness."

"Oh, go take a look in the mirror, gigolo!"

"I look at myself in the mirror every day and I really like what I see. Guess you don't know the feeling."

"You're not going to like it after I bust that pretty face of yours all over, you man-whore!"

"Alright, alright, calm down, you two," Kaneda places himself between them, sighing as he raises his arms. "Don't take this the wrong way, Okubo, but Himuro is right."

"No, he fucking isn't! I like what I see in the mirror, even if it's a little fucked up-"

"I'm not talking about that! He's right that this gift seems self-centered!," He raises his voice. "If you want to give a gift, you should give her something she likes, not something that immediately refers to you."

"But…," That makes Okubo hesitate, his posture changing from angry to uncertain. "I mean, she- she's a fan of mine, so I thought this would be something she'd like…"

"After what happened that Saturday?," Lihito makes a face. "She might make a ball with those shirts and shove it down your throat, man."

Okubo swallows a little, his right hand automatically going to his neck.

“Do you… do you really think so?”

"I'm completely sure. I spent a few hours with her last Sunday, remember? I got out of there with a bump in my head and everything. Listen to the voice of experience," Rihito warns.

"And that's where my second point comes in," Himuro raises an index finger. "She gave you this second chance to prove that you really care about her and are willing to be better for her. If you give a gift that literally has your face on it, you would be implying that you are more concerned about how it affects you. With how you want her trust just because it benefits you in some way. You'd be pushing your luck, man."

Okubo looks at the pile of shirts on the counter. Then he look at friends. And then he groans loudly, grabbing his head in his hands and going to sink onto the smallest sofa in the living room.

"Damn… what do I do then? I don't know how to please her, I don't know what she likes besides martial arts and confectionery, I...," He raises his head a little, shrugging. "I know almost nothing about her. But I still want to do something, and it's not because I want to get on her good side again... okay, that's partly why, but that's not the only reason!," He assures quickly when he sees the expressions of disbelief from the other three. "I really want to get closer, to know more about her… I want to build something that goes beyond those idol-to-fan interactions, I don't know! I'm tired of playing the badass part whenever I'm around her, man! There's a limit on how many cool lines I can say in a single afternoon and I'm almost out of them!"

"Who knew that Okubo Naoya, Ultimate Fight's biggest chatterbox, has a limit for the dexterity of his tongue?," Himuro jokes, and Kaneda laughs softly.

"Yeah, live and learn, as they say… but seriously, if you really want to get closer with her and you think gifts will help with that, it's better to stick with the flowers. It's cliché, but if you don't know her tastes well, it's also the safest option."

"Yeah… and I still have the box of chocolates I bought for that first date," Okubo smiles, a little more hopeful. "They melted a bit, but they're still good to eat. It's real Swiss chocolate, it would be a waste to let it go bad..."

"Another classic cliché, but still safe," Himuro nods. "Just try to be discreet when giving all this to her, so as not to kill the girl with embarrassment…"

"Embarrassment? Flowers and chocolate are mid stuff next to these monstrosities here!," Lihito laughs as he goes to pick up the shirt at the top of the pile, stretching the fabric with a mocking smile. "What was your plan, man? You wanted to get your head between her tits, even if metaphorically? In that case I don't blame you, hahaha!"

"Fuck you, Rihito! And cut tha out, the store won't give refunds if the shirts got damaged! Seriously, bro, give it back!," Okubo jumps up from the sofa to take the shirt from the Rihito's hands, who runs behind the counter with an idiotic laugh.

Himuro and Kaneda just watch the chase while shacking their heads. As silly and childish as those antics were, it was good to have them being a part of their routines again. Okubo and Rihito were on good terms with each other again and their group was still going strong, as it should be.

* * *

On Monday, just before her lunch break, Tomori sees a small commotion through the kitchen pantry window. A few of the customers had huddled together facing one of the windows, whispering to each other, looking agitated. She even hears a woman giggle.

"Kanny?," She calls, without taking her eyes off the scene. "Take a look at that. What do you think is going on?"

Kanami, who had been showing Koga and Ryuki how to brush the crusts of the croissants with beaten eggs, lifts her head to look over the sous chef's shoulder. She frowns.

"I have no idea. Maybe it's one of those street artists who decided to take advantage of the traffic on our sidewalk," She snorts a little. "If he starts to disturb the customers' meals, I'll go there and fix it..."

"Doesn't seem to be a street artist," Koga also peeks, interested. "For these guys to get all excited like that… hey, maybe Seki and the SJPW crew decide to visit again! Surely they would at least recognize him."

"They'd be a lot more excited if that were the case, I think," Ryuki comments, not taking his eyes off his work with the culinary brush. "And sis, I've brushed twice as many croissants as Koga brushed. I think I won again..."

"Hell no! Gimme that roasting pan, you jerk!"

"Shh!," Kanami and Tomori hiss together, fingers in front of their lips, and Koga shuts up, but not before casting a death glare at Ryuki, who had cupped his hand over his mouth, making a low fart noise. The cooks look out the window again.

"Can you hear what they're whispering?," Tomori asks, to which Kanami shakes her head, giving her a reproachful look afterwards.

“No, and we shouldn't try to. You hang out with Hiro so much, you're picking up his bad habits. Get a grip..."

"You say that, but you're here, hanging from the pantry window with me, trying to listen too."

"Can you hear what they're whispering?," Tomori asks, to which Kanami shakes her head, giving her a reproachful look afterwards.

“No, and we shouldn't try to. You hang out with Hiro so much, you're picking up his bad habits. Get a grip..."

"You say that but you're here, hanging from the pantry window with me and perking your ears.”

"I'm the boss, perking my ears up is a must to ensure the bakery's smooth running!"

"Yeah, sure," Tomori nods sarcastically, leaning out of the window a little and hissing, as low as he can manage, "Hey Hiro! Can you see anything from there?"

"Ooh, does that mean I've become the official scout now?," Hiro arches an eyebrow from the cashier area. "You speak horrors about the gossiper, but when you want quality spy services, then you need him, right?"

"You're the one in the best angle to look out the window! Do us this little favor, in the name of the bakery's smooth running...," Tomori pouts a little.

"Alright, alright. What would be of these women without me...," The cashier rolls his eyes before getting up, stretching his neck while looking at the window where some of the customers were still huddled. "Okay, it's hard to see anything, there are too many big-heads for such a little space..."

"Keep it down, the customers will hear you!," Kanami hisses through her teeth while Tomori smothers a chuckle by putting a fist in front of her mouth. Hiro responds, though, by widening his eyes.

“Oh, Sugar Honey Iced Tea…”

"What? What is it?," Tomori and Kanami lean over the edge of the window, eagerly, and from inside Koga's voice can be heard, warning worriedly, "Careful, you two will end up falling from there..."

"Just when I thought things couldn't get any more ridiculous… okay, Tomori, don't freak out now," Hiro finally turns to them, still wide-eyed. "But you have an illustrious visitor, apparently."

"Visitor...? Wait, is it Mr. Okubo?!," Tomori's eyes widen as well when she realizes the implications in his voice. "But he didn't say he would come by, neither by call nor by text..."

"Are you still allowing him to contact you?," Kanami asks, a little disapproving, to which the sous chef pouts.

"I imposed rules and limited the number of messages and at what time they can be sent… but really, why would he cause all this commotion?," She asks herself in an attempt to disguise her reaction, "He's known in the country, but not as much as Seki..."

"It's not him they're interested in, necessarily," Hiro arches an eyebrow. "It's what he's brought. Get ready to be embarrassed, honey."

"Huh?," Tomori blinks, confused. They hear another chorus of giggles as customers turn their heads, following the trajectory of the person on the other side of the glass, who apparently wanted to have his view of the bakery interior unobstructed by onlookers. She finally sees Okubo, looking very embarrassed, trying to hide something from prying eyes... and Tomori feels her stomach do a somersault at the glimpse of a flower bouquet and what looked like a box of chocolates.

"Oh, my god...!" She claps a hand over her mouth, her face flushing and burning. Kanami's jaw drops.

"You gotta be kidding me... what is that idiot doing?!," She hisses, her voice rising a few octaves. "He doesn't think I'm going to let him into the bakery just for that, does he?"

"Who knows how the trains of thought work in that bald head of his...," Hiro blows a strand of his bangs away from his eyes. "I'd find that extremely cute if the situation were different. But since it's not, it smells of manipulation and blackmail..."

"Manipulation and blackmail by whom?," Koga approaches, placing himself between Tomori and Kanami, after hearing the conversation and not being able to resist his curiosity. He then widens his eyes. "Wait, isn’t that Okubo? And he's carrying flowers? He...," The boy blinks. And then he opens an insinuating smile, turning to Tomori while lowering and raising his eyebrows. "Wow, Miss Uta, look at you! You managed to wrap Ultimate Fight's heavyweight champion around your little finger, eh! This is going to fuckin' break the internet after it goes public-"

"No! I mean... uuugh...," Tomori groans, still very red. "I don't know what's worse, his attitude or the fact that I'm a little moved by the gesture..."

"Well, don't be! Resist, dammit!," Kanami commands imperiously, her green eyes sparking. "You let yourself be carried away by his bravado once and look where it got you!"

"I know, you're right… uugh, stop thinking he's cute, Tomori, stop right now! You idiot!," Tomori hits the sides of her face with her hands, moaning in frustration. Koga blinks again, dumbfounded.

“Uh…did I miss something? Weren't you fancying him too? Or did I get it all wrong?"

"No, honey, you just missed a few essential chapters of the soap opera," Hiro rolls his eyes. "To summarize it, baldy over there asked Tomori out, but he showed up at the date drunk and ruined everything."

"Say what?!," Koga's jaw drops a little. "Are you serious? That guy over there, who was almost as desperate as Rihito to get a girl's attention?"

"You should take that as an example of what not to do," Ryuki comments, still concentrating on brushing the croissants, but his tone had become slightly accusatory. "Anyway, what an idiot. To make Miss Uta sad like that..."

"Fuck off, Ryuki, I'm not that stupid! But damn, now I understand this manipulation and blackmail stuff," Koga peeks out the pantry window again, frowning. "But even though he's an idiot, he never gave me the impression that he was that type of guy. He's nice in general..."

"No! Stop right there, Koga! Don't try to defend him, not after what he did to Tomori!," Kanami points to the boy, who shakes his head quickly.

"I'm not, sis, I swear! He screwed up big time, I agree. But I really don't think he's trying to blackmail her to be forgiven. I've known him for about two years, you know," He scratches the back of his head. "Anyway, if he really wanted to manipulate Miss Uta, he wouldn't be trying to hide like he's doing right now, would he? Bro...," He lets out a mischievous laugh. "It's like I'm back to elementary school, seeing the teacher's favorite student hiding from the girl he has a crush on, hahaha..."

Kanami snorts, not quite convinced. Hiro nods, and Ryuki doesn't even feign interest in the conversation. But Tomori only had eyes for Okubo, who was grinding his teeth, irritated and embarrassed by all the eyes on him. It's then that their eyes meet through the glass, and Tomori feels her stomach do a little somersault again. He, on the other hand, turns even redder, grinning eagerly and waving... and seeming to have forgotten he's holding the bouquet of flowers, which practically flies out of his hand in the excitement of his wave. They hear him give a muffled scream through the glass, running to get the poor flowers, which the customers watching him burst out laughing as if they were watching a live rom-com.

Tomori had to fight back the urge to laugh too, but not for the same mocking reasons the customers did. Jeez… he really wasn't very good with things involving romance, was he? It was so different from the facade of the self-confident badass he'd tried to put on in her presence... and when he stood up with the bouquet in his arms, fussing as he made sure the flowers weren't dirty or squashed, she decided that, once again, she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Well… as long as he isn't planning to make a public confession to pressure me or anything…," She sighs, and not resisting, returns Okubo's nod, albeit briefly. "He still doesn't have permission to come in, right, Kanny?"

"Yep. He'd need a lot more than romantic gestures and acting like a cute dork to soften me up," Kanami stares at the man on the other side of the glass, her gaze dangerous. Okubo, who had been delighted that Tomori had responded to his wave, flinches as he locks eyes with the baker. She crosses her arms, lifting her chin a little. "What would I give to be able to punch that stupid face again..."

"You punched him, sis?! Damn, I can't believe I missed that!," Koga laments. "Why do these things always happen when Ryuki and I aren't working? This really is like school, where you skip a day and end up missing lots of good shit! Gimme the details, c'mon!"

"We're in the middle of our shift, the most inappropriate time possible to gossip. I heard that giggle there, Hiro, that goes for you too!," Kanami growls over her shoulder. "And you, Mr. Narushima, please get back to work before Ryuki beats his record and consequently you for the third consecutive week," She commands, and Ryuki again makes that muffled fart sound, without turning around. Koga curses under his breath, rushing to grab another cooking brush. She then turns to Tomori, serious. "Anyway, he's still not welcome here. And you? Do you intend to waste another lunch break on him?"

"Well…," She looks out the window again, seeing a flustered Okubo make it all the way to the front door, the tips of his ears red as the customers continue to giggle, enjoying his misery. "I want to at least hear what his explanation will be this time. Call it morbid curiosity if you like..."

"Or maybe it's the hopeless romantic within you, who simply can't resist a sappy gesture," Hiro jokes again. "You haven't been given flowers since college, have you?"

"Me? I haven't been given 'em since highschool." Tomori pouted, blushing a little "Anyway, if this is blackmail or not, I want to find out for myself… and I gave him a chance to prove that he can be better, after all. So... Tomoyo?"

"Yeah?," Tomoyo, who was coming down the narrow corridor of the bakery, returning from her bathroom break, raises her head when she is called. "What is it? Did I take too long on my break? And... what' going on? What they're looking at?," She frowns when she sees the customers whispering to each other. Even though they had sat back down, they continued to lean over in an attempt to peer out the window. Tomori and Kanami sigh in unison.

"Guess what, honey," Hiro rests an elbow on the counter, and then rests his chin on one hand. "Tomori's baldy came back, and this time her brought gifts. Or 'colourful bribes,' if you will."

The waitress rolls her eyes at this, her expression darkening. She looked a lot like Kanami when she got mad like that, Tomori concludes in an internal rush of cuteness.

"Again? Can't this guy get a hint?," She puts a hand on her waist. "Or did you call him here again, Tomori?"

"Not this time," The sous-chef shakes her head. "It's a surprise visit for me too. Still, I want to hear explanations. Can you do me a little favor?"

"Will I get something for it?," She asks, half joking, half serious. Kanami lets out a low laugh.

"Don't look at me. I'm not responsible for transactions made without my imput," She jokes, arching an eyebrow at Tomori. "The cost is all yours.

"A complimentary box of cookies and donuts, how about that?," Tomori puts her hands together, smiling invitingly. And when Tomoyo shrugs, she continues, "Can you go tell him to wait for me near the back door area? He's getting the customers' attention and that affects the movement a little bit-"

"It already did. Everyone's going to be disappointed that there won't be a public love confession. We'll be branded as a cursed establishment, which prevents love stories from coming true."

"Bit your tongue, Hiro!"

"Anyway... can you do that, Tomoyo?," Tomori asks again, to which the waitress rolls her eyes again.

"I will. I just don't understand why you're asking me this. A guy like that doesn't deserve all that consideration from you..."

"Yeah, that's right! Those clueless idiots, screwing dates up left and right!," Koga leans out of the pantry window, smiling agitatedly, and Kanami, who hadn't heard him approaching, jumps. "But not all guys are like that, you know! I, for one, am not-"

"Didn't I just tell you to get back to work, you Goku wannabe? C'mon, don't make me repeat myself!," The baker gives a warning pat on the boy's neck, who lets out a yelp and runs back to Ryuki, a little red at Tomoyo's unimpressed expression. Kanami then huffs, turning to the waitress, "Do what Tomori asked, Tomoyo, please. That fool wouldn't know how to be discreet even if his life depended on it, apparently."

Tomoyo just nods, heading towards the bakery's front door and leaving through it, the bell ringing overhead. Tomori plays with a lock of her hair that has come loose from the net.

"I'm sorry about that, Kanny..."

"Don't be. It's not your fault," Kanami waves a hand, reassuring her. "Well, you already know the procedures. Call me if he starts to be too inconvenient. Or if you see yourself falling for those cheap tactics, because you and I know that these things are your weakness..."

"Don't say it like that. I have a lot more conviction than that, give me some credit," She puffs out her cheeks. "Let's get back to work, then I don't have to think about this until my lunch break."

Kanami nods; the need to concentrate on work so as not to let her mind wander was one she knew well. She returns to Koga and Ryuki, while Tomori goes to take care of the orders that were in the ovens. Hiro just goes back to his assigned spot by the cash register, bored once again.

"Baldy is an idiot, but I'd be lying if I said I'm not envying Tomoh a little..."

* * *

In the alley behind the bakery, while trying to hide from passers-by, Okubo cursed himself in his thoughts. Shit, he hadn't meant to draw attention like that, but it seemed he lived in a world full of gossipers who thought other people's lives were soap operas that existed to entertain them. He just hoped he hadn't given Tomori the wrong impression...or more wrong than the ones she'd been having from him.

He leaned back against the alley wall next to the back door, sighing heavily. His fingers loosely grip the bouquet, a couple of red petals having already floated to the ground. It would be so much easier if he had permission to enter the bakery... or if Rihito, Himuro and Kaneda had come with him, then he could have the flowers and chocolate delivered on his behalf...

“Hell fucking no, you idiot! You don't just send your pals to do your dirty work! You have to fix these mistakes by yourself, not by outsourcing the service! That way, you'll end up with a reputation for being a coward, in addition for being a jerk...”

Fuck, why did winning someone back have to be such a tiring and bureaucratic task?! And on top of that, there were no guarantees that he would get her forgiveness, as Rihito put it...

He lifts the bouquet a little, staring at the camellias with a frown. He remembers how Tomori, inside the bakery, returned his wave, a little flushed. He ends up smiling. Even with all those obstacles, he felt it was worth trying, for her...

"Oookay, that's the last garbage bag, now I'm free to take my afternoon nap and- who the hell said you could stay there, you hobo?!"

Okubo jumps when he hears the back door open, followed by the squeaky, indignant voice. And he has to put his arms in front of his face when he's viciously attacked by a garbage bag, which would have hit him square in the face, but didn't because it was cushioned... by the poor flowers in his hand. Holy crap!

"Shit!," He widens his eyes, red petals flying everywhere. "Calm the fuck down, gramps-"

"Get out of here, you troublemaker! The back of the bakery is no place to bum around! Buzz off before I call miss Oomori-"

"Wait, stop! Time out, time out!," Okubo needs to shout for the old man to cease fire and stop tearing the poor bouquet even more; he was desperate to save the few surviving flowers "I'm no hobo, gramps! Chill out, I- aargh, fuck, look what you did to them!," He laments, devastated, embracing the mortal remains of the bouquet as if it were the collapsed body of a maiden. "They were a gift for Miss Uta, damn it!"

"What...!," The old man, whom Okubo recognized as the bakery's janitor, blinks. And then his expression darkens, eyes full of contempt. "Oh. It's you. That good-for-nothing drunkard."

"Screw you! You really don't have to like me, but there's no need to commit a massacre like that!," He shows the destroyed bouquet, indignant and covered in red petals, one of them even balancing on the top of his head. "Flowers should never be hit, not even with a girl! ... No, wait, that came out wrong."

"Huh?," The janitor blinks again, stunned. "Are you drunk or what? Just get out of here before I call Miss Oomori so she can beat your ass again!"

"Hell no!," Okubo stomps one foot while growling, pointing to the old man with the splintered bouquet. "I got permission from the management to wait for Miss Uta at the back of the bakery, and I'm not moving a foot from here!"

"Yeah, like I'd believe that!" The janitor snorts. "When are you going to see that nobody wants you here, huh? You're just making Tomori feel worse by showing up like that. Don't you think you've already made her suffer enough?"

That makes Okubo put the mangled bouquet down, the urge to keep arguing draining from him like water from a sieve. Paikon glares at him intently, his hostile expression turning suspicious as he watches the bigger man deflate little by little, and he slowly lowers the garbage bag as he sees that he wouldn't have to get into a physical altercation with an almost seven-foot tall gorilla.

"I…," Okubo's voice gets hoarse, and he has to clear his throat before continuing, speaking in a low, unhappy tone, "I'm aware of that. You have no idea how much. And it's precisely because I know this that I want to remedy it. I know I was a piece of shit, gramps," He touches his own chest with the destroyed bouquet, making more loose petals float away. "You'll never hear me deny that. But to fix a mistake, we always need to addmit to it first, right? This is what I'm doing now. And I'm only doing it because I received permission to do so," He holds the box of chocolates in the same hand that the bouquet was in, putting his now free hand in the back pocket of his pants. "I can prove it to you right now. I have messages from Miss Uta right here."

"What- I don't want to read private messages from a co-worker! Are you crazy?," The janitor takes a step away, making a face. "It's personal, dammit, you should've known that!"

"… So you believe me now?"

"What the... aargh, you tricked me!," He exclaims, between indignation and embarrassment. "And no sir, you can wipe that smile off your face right now! Even if that's all true, why should I let you stay here? I swear, these things only happen when I'm about to take my mid-shift nap..."

Okubo wanted to ask what kind of salaried worker took naps in the middle of the day, but then he remembered that he had arrived drunk on a date, so he'd be one to talk. He sighs again, scratching the back of his neck.

"If I leave, could you tell Miss Uta that I'll be waiting in the square nearby? I can just give her her gifts... or what's left of them...," He stares at the destroyed bouquet with a melancholy expression. "And then I'll be gone. I really don't want to impose myself or get in anyone's way."

"Hunf… don't you dare think you can fool me with this 'repentant good guy' persona," The janitor snorts, still suspicious, while looking him up and down. "You sub-celebrities are all the same. I tried to warn Tomori, but sometimes you'll only learn the hard way."

Okubo almost swears at the old man, his patience hanging by a thread, but he holds back as best he can. He didn't want to make a scene and make things even more difficult for Tomori. Not to mention that... he comes to a conclusion that makes him open an involuntary half smile.

“You… you really care about her, don't you? Miss Kanami, the girl who works as a waitress, the cashier, you... she must be the sun of this whole fucking bakery, to be protected like that. I shouldn't be surprised, she's really amazing."

The janitor's sour expression fades, surprise visible in his eyes, in the way the lines in his face had smoothed out. He opens his mouth, looking like he wants to say something, but is interrupted when the back door opens again.

"Eh, I wouldn't say that. Kanny is the one I'd call the sun, since she supports the planets that orbit her by signing paychecks."

Both turned around and saw Tomori, who was leaving through the door with her arms crossed, without her apron and with her hair free of that net. Okubo immediately straightens his back, widening his eyes and blushing hard, the petals that had landed on his shoulders falling to the ground.

"Miss Uta! Sorry about what happened earlier, I swear I didn't want to draw attention to myself, but with a guy my size it's kinda hard, hahaha..."

"Hunf… It's hard to believe that, with all this extravagance...," The janitor indicates the bouquet and the box of chocolates, to which Okubo hugs them as if wanting to protect them from him.

"An extravagance that your coworker deserved, but you blew it! You heartless monster! The poor flowers didn't deserve this...," He pouts, and Tomori turns her face to the side, clenching her mouth tightly to keep from laughing.

“Then the next time I want to hit you with a garbage bag, don't use them as a shield."

"It was a reflex, man! I wasn't expecting to be ambushed like that!"

“I didn't ambush anyone. I was just getting rid of the garbage, then I bumped into a freaking gorilla lying in wait at the door, so I also acted reflexively."

"Gorilla? Would a gorilla have brought this, by any chance?!," Okubo practically shoves the bouquet under his nose, and Tomori can't hold back her laughter when the old man sneezes hard.

"Don't shove that crap in my face, dang it! I'm already too old to have an allergic attack... yes, girl, have a good laugh at the misfortune of others, especially when one of 'em was trying to protect your honor," He mutters, also pouting, and Tomori shakes her head.

"Hahaha, sorry, Paikon! It's just that the exchange between you guys was too funny to interrupt," She puts a fist to her mouth, clearing her throat to control herself. "And thanks for trying to defend me, but there's no need. Tomoyo asked him to wait for me here at the back door."

"And you're just letting me know about this now?"

“You were too busy back in the pantry, napping between restocking."

"Hah! Told you so!," Okubo turns to the other man, smiling victoriously. Paikon blinks, unimpressed, to which Okubo flinches as he remembers that Tomori was still there. "I -I mean… I tried to explain, but he wouldn't listen to me! And the poor flowers had to pay the price..."

"Ooh…," Tomori looks at the destroyed bouquet, seeming to think a bit before turning to the janitor, saying, "Can you leave us alone? I want to talk to him privately."

"Hunf... if he tries anything funny-"

"He won't, Paikon," She assures, smiling a little, "I may not be sure of many things about him, but I'm one hundred percent sure of that."

Paikon didn't look too convinced, but Okubo couldn't care less. He even hugs the torn bouquet closer, staring at Tomori with an expression half fascinated, half hopeful. The old man takes a good look at his face and, with a shrug, seems to conclude that he didn't pose enough of an immediate danger.

"Okay. If you need any help, scream. I think there's still enough trash accumulated for one more bag like the first one," He grumbles as he opens the dumpster, throwing the bag inside, and then walking back in through the back door, ignoring the Okubo's sarcastic laugh.

"Haha, how funny! Don't worry, I'll make sure to get an even bigger bouquet to cushion the impact! Hunf...," He touches the petals of the remaining flowers. "Look, it's nice to see how they care about you and I don't blame any of them for not liking me, but these flowers were innocent. At least I managed to save some..."

"I told Rihito this and I'll tell you too: we're all like a stepfamily and we take care of each other," She says as she approaches, closing the door behind her, still with her arms crossed. "They're still not very… receptive, if you know what I mean. It's still very recent."

"I know. That's why I apologized for the scene I caused earlier. These people were so freakin' nosy, goddamn," He snorts. "The customers, not your coworkers. It's like they've never seen a guy trying to be a gentleman before..."

“Nope, they've already seen that. Valentine's Day is usually one of our busiest days," She comments, then blushes a little. "Full of chocolate, flowers… y'know, the whole package. They must have thought that... that there was going to be a love confession or something..."

Okubo feels heat rising up his neck, burning in his face and ears. He has a brief coughing fit, looking away. And the two of them just stand there next to each other, embarrassment clogging their throats. Hell, it was a good thing there weren't any paparazzi around...

"Uuh... sorry about that, I didn't mean to...," He murmurs, shily, and she nods, still not looking at him.

"Yeah, I guessed it. But you could've texted me that you'd show up anyway. It was kinda sudden."

"I know, but I wanted to surprise you and… oh, yeah! Here!," He immediately turns to her, holding out the bouquet, agitated, only to remember that the arrangement was destroyed. He grunts. "Dammit…," And puts his hand over his face. The hand that held the box of chocolates. The thud is accompanied by the sound of several small objects rattling around inside the box. And of course, his scream. "Ow! Holy shit...!"

Tomori can't help it, letting out a nasal laugh while averting her face so as not to be hit in the face by the flowers, offered with so much enthusiasm. "Ahahaha, damn... take it easy, I don't judge gifts like I judge amateur rice balls. You don't need to get nervous, Mr. Okubo... pffft," And she had to hold back her laughter again as she lifted her head and saw him rubbing the spot where the box had hit him. He looks at her with a half-amused pout.

"I-I know, it's just that the surprise was masterfully spoiled and that frustrated me a little," He tries to justify himself, shrugging. "But I think I kinda deserve it for having messed with that retired Yakuza, now janitor..."

Tomori laughs harder, and dammit, Okubo would never complain about seeing her have fun like that, even if it was at his expense. He preferred a Tomori laughing at his particular misfortune than a Tomori treating him with coldness or animosity, however much he deserved it.

"The- The funniest thing is that you're not the first one to think that Paikon used to be a yakuza, hahaha! But relax, you won't find any tattoos or phalanxes missing from him. Anyway...," She extends her arms, accepting the bouquet. "Thank you. They are beautiful... or they were. Poor things..."

"Did you like 'em? I thought of roses at first, but decided it was too cliché. Although camellias look a little like roses, so I don't know if it makes any difference... well, I don't know anything about flowers, I just know that I remembered you as soon as I saw them," He smiles a lot, proud of that line ... until he looked at the flowers again and gulped at the memory of how they'd been destroyed. "I mean, when they weren't wrecked! When they were still pretty, like you... but you're still pretty! They're aren't anymore, but you still are and... damn it, just kill me already, please...," He moans in a defeated tone, hiding his red face with one hand. Tomori bites her bottom lip, looking like she's trying really hard not to smile.

"Haha, relax, I got it. It was a tragedy, but at least some were saved," She points to three of the flowers, which miraculously remained intact. "So it was worth the effort. And that other box...?"

"Uh- Oh yes!," He straightens up, holding the box of chocolates with both hands and offering it to her too. "You said once that you got sick of eating sugary stuff because of your work, so I brought dark chocolate! It’s pure cocoa..."

"Oh, you remembered? That's very thoughtful and...," She goes on to say, picking up the box and inspecting the gifts with a half smile, but her next words die in her mouth when she sees the logo emblazoned on the box. My God, wasn't that... wasn't that a famous and very expensive Swiss brand? She and Kanami used to buy quality chocolate for the bakery's recipes, but nothing on that level. And with the flowers now crumpled and torn apart, she could see better inside the cellophane. Was that a price tag? Holy shit, all those zeros...! "Uh... yes, it's- it's very thoughtful... my god, Mr. Okubo..."

"What? You- You don't like dark chocolate?," he asks, leaning toward her nervously, to which she shakes her head.

"No, I like it! It's just that..."

"Is it the flowers then? You don't like camellias? Goddanmit, I knew I should've chosen the roses, they're a classic, you can't go wrong with roses...!," He laments, putting a hand on his forehead. "Or is it because they’re all mangled? It was an accident, I didn't intend to use the bouquet as a shield, the fighter reflexes just kicked in-"

"No, it's not that!," She needs to raise her voice to make herself heard above his babbling. "I have no problem with camellias, and I know you didn't ruin the bouquet on purpose. It's just… this is all…," She looks from one gift to the other, embarrassed. "Mr. Okubo, how much… how much did you spend on these things, in total?"

"Uuh… hey, come on, you don't just ask the price of a heartfelt gift," He tries to dismiss the conversation, gesturing vaguely. "What matters is the intention behind it. Isn't that what they say?"

"Yes, but it's hard not to ask when you see the price tag firsthand." Okubo widens his eyes.

"Oh… holy shit, I… I swear I didn't see that tag there," He shrugs his shoulders a little. "But the price doesn't change the fact that it was bought with consideration-"

"And isn't this chocolate brand not imported?," She asks, not giving him time to keep talk. "The kind that we could never use in the bakery except for private orders, it's so expensive..."

“Well… yeah, but that just shows even more consideration, don't you think?," He tries to smile, hands on his hips. "It's some fancy stuff, so it must be really good, right? I'll have to rely on your feedback because I haven't tasted any of ‘em, they're all yours!"

Tomori doesn't respond. She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, looking to the side, the smile on her face looking much more like a grimace.

"Heh... th-thanks, that was... very kind of you..."

Okubo stares at her, his stomach dropping a little at her expression. He might be a total zero when it came to interpreting expressions and body language outside the fight rings, but he'd have to be blind not to notice her obvious discomfort.

"... You didn't like it, did you?," He asks, but it came out more like a statement. He felt himself deflate like a balloon, his excitement replaced by sadness and anger at himself. Damn it, why did he always have to screw up the simplest things when it came to her?! He stares at the floor, not seeing when she shakes her head.

"No, it's not that I didn't like it. I mean, who doesn't like to receive gifts like these?," She hurries to say, bringing the box close to her chest. "It’s just that… look, I’ll be real," She sighs heavily. "I know I gave you carte blanche to try to prove to me that you can and want to be better, but... but to start like this, with such expensive gifts... oh, damn, now I sound like an ungrateful bitch," She groans, throwing her head back a little. "But well, you can't blame me for thinking this smacks of bribery. You, trying to buy me, I mean."

He jerks his head up, blinking in astonishment, his jaw dropping a little.

"Buy you…? Just because of some gifts?"

"They are not simple gifts! One is a box of fine Swiss chocolates and the other is a bouquet that costs... jeez, I don't even have the brains to count all those zeros right now!," She gestures with some frustration. "They are expensive and a bit extravagant, you know?"

"Uh… no," He shakes his head, perplexed. "It wasn't expensive for me. I didn't even look at the prices, to be honest. I just... I just thought you'd like ‘em so I decided to buy ‘em. It's that simple."

Tomori stares at him intently, seriously, and it was Okubo's turn to shift with some discomfort. The silence stretches out for a few more awkward seconds before she relaxes her posture a little, her expression contemplative.

"So… you didn't buy all this focusing only on the fact that they are expensive things?"

"Well… I kinda went to more fancy establishments, so to speak, but I focused more on the things that reminded me of you. Y'know...? Pastry chef who definitely works with chocolate, flowers for a flower, you know what I mean, haha...," He blushes some more. She stares at the gifts again.

"And you didn't conclude, not for a second, that I would be more inclined to forgive you if I got a pricey treat? Really?"

He turns back to her, blinking… and yeah, now he was starting to take offense.

"Of course not! Damn, I know I screwed up badly, but seriously, does that have to mean that every action I take from now on is going to be a bribe?," He gestures in frustration. "Can't this just be a nice gesture from a guy who is sorry and wants to fix his mistakes?"

"Yeah, it can, but it's hard not to doubt it, considering so many guys think they can buy women if they're open-handed enough!," She raises her voice in the same tone. "I don't want you to think I'm that kind of person! I don't want you to think getting my forgiveness is that easy!"

“I don't! It's just- aargh!," He grabs his head with his hands while throwing it back dramatically. "This isn't working! We're not going anywhere if my every attempt to get closer is met with suspicion!"

"Yeah, and whose fault is that?," She points at him, snarling, and even though she had to stretch her neck to look him in the eyes, she didn't look fearful in the slightest. "You gave me reasons to be suspicious! I'm trying to be more open, but it's hard when you're showing off your bank account like that, Mr. ‘Heavyweight champion of the biggest fight promotion in the world’!”

"Wait, is that your problem then? The fact that I have money?," He snorts angrily. "Lady, don’t you think that, if I really wanted to buy you, I would've brought something much more elaborate than flowers and chocolate? Like a necklace made of real pearls..."

"Argh, no! I don't even want to think about it!" She shudders, horrified, but Okubo doesn't stop there.

"Even better! A pair of white gold earrings, eighteen carats!"

"No!"

“Twenty-four carats is better? Boy, you're a tough one, huh!"

"This is even worse!," She screeches, and all that desperation was, for Okubo, satisfying, hilarious and adorable.

"Ooh, not a jewelry connoisseur, I see. How about clothes then? An Undercover jacket or pants from Yohji Yamamoto's exclusive line..."

"My God, no!," She grabs his arm in reflex, which takes him by surprise but also makes him even more excited.

"Do you prefer overseas brands? Let's do overseas brands then! A Louis Vuitton bag, a Dolce & Gabbana dress..."

"Nooooooo...!”

"Coco Chanel shoes! A Jimmy Choo perfume! I can do this all day, lady, expensive stuff is plentiful!"

"Okay, okay, stop! I get it, it could've been much worse! Oh my gohohohod!," She doubles over herself a little, falling into a fit of hysterical laughter, and he can't help himself either, accompanying her, the two of them laughing like idiots in the middle of that alley, attracting the confused looks of those who passed by the sidewalk further on and heard them.

Damn... That way, it was very easy to forget that she still hadn't forgiven him for his attitude. He allows himself to fantasize for a few seconds that everything was fine between them again, until he is brought back to reality when her laughter fades, interrupted by coughing, until it stops altogether. She holds the bouquet and box in one hand and puts the other in front of her mouth, clearing her throat.

"Okay... Maybe- Maybe I exaggerated a bit," She admits after taking a deep breath. "Maybe that wasn't your intention, but there was no way for me to be sure. I...," She blushes a little, looking up at him. "I'm still in the middle of the healing process, Mr. Okubo. And for you to arrive like this, with gifts like these, it kinda overwhelmed me. I liked it, really, but at the same time...," She gestures uncertainly.

Okubo sighs, closing his eyes and scratching the back of his neck. He never imagined that a box of chocolates and a measly bouquet of flowers could cause all that confusion. Now he felt a little guilty. He just wanted to prove how serious he was when he said he wanted to regain her trust more than anything...

“Yeah…again, sorry about that. But I swear my intention was never to buy you or anything like that. I...," He leans his back against the alley wall, close to the dumpster, looking at the ground with embarrassment. "I just thought that this would be a good way to demonstrate that I want and that I can be better... that and the fact that I don't know how to show interest in any other way."

"... What do you mean?," Tomori asks after a few seconds of silence, approaching and leaning against the wall beside him, still hugging her gifts. He turns his eyes to her with a small pout.

“It's just… I told you that day, remember? I'm an idiot who can't have a normal conversation with a girl to save his life," He rubs his left arm with his right hand. "I've never had the slightest knack when it comes to dealing with women, when it comes to showing them when I'm interested. I always make a fool of myself or come on too strongly, and I end up scaring them away. It was kind of one of the reasons Rihito and I became friends, you know?," He smiles shyly. "He also doesn't know shit about wooing women, and misery sure loves company, haha."

Tomori ends up laughing, shoulders shaking a little. "Hahaha, damn… a few weeks ago I would've found it hard to believe. But you guys aren't that bad. Just..."

"Just inconvenient and desperate, I know," He nods, resigned. "That's exactly why I try to approach women in safer ways, you know? Everyone likes to get gifts, it's an easy way to show how you're feeling, how much you like the person you're giving them to... even more so for losers like me," He puts his hands in his pants pockets, looking upset. "That's the only way I know how to do it and the only way I've managed to not screw things up…until now."

Tomori tightens her mouth a little, now as embarrassed as he was. She looks back at the gifts in her hands, bringing them to her chest again as she shrugs.

"No… you didn't screw it up," She murmurs at last. "I said I liked them. Camellias aren't my favorite flower, but they're still beautiful. And a brand of quality chocolate like this is not something I could eat whenever I wanted. I appreciate the intention, Mr. Okubo, I swear. But..."

"But...?," He instigates her, a little recklessly, and she again makes that gesture of tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

"But expensive gifts make me embarrassed. I'm left feeling like I'm in debt, and I couldn't buy you anything on that level without blowing some of my savings."

"But you don't have to! I'm not giving you these things expecting something of equal value in return," He assures, leaning down to bring his face closer to hers, his gray eyes intense. "I don't expect anything in return, really. I just..."

“I just want to see you smile at me like you used to. I want you to enjoy my company like you used to, before I let you down.”

He didn't voice that thought, but from the way Tomori was looking at him, he didn't have to. Her eyes, large, brown and expressive, hold his intently, her full lips opening as if she wanted to say something but doesn't know how. He wanted more than ever to reach down and touch that mouth with his, holy shit...!

"Well, if…," She licks her lips, bending her left leg and resting her foot on the wall behind her. "If this is just your way of showing how you feel, then… then you can give me gifts, if you like.

"Really?," He widened his eyes, which were shining brightly in his excitement, and she blushed again.

"Yeah, really. But don't go off the rails, okay?," She raises an index finger at him, her expression serious. "No expensive and extravagant things, please. If you really want to give me a gift, give me something that better demonstrates those feelings you talk about so much. Flowers and chocolate are always nice, but those aren't the only things a girl can like, you know?"

"Ooh…okay then," He nods in understanding. "Something more sentimental, then? Alright, I got it. The thing is, I don't know much about your tastes outside of confectionary and martial arts...," He gestures sheepishly, looking sideways at her. And then he smiles, turning around and leaning sideways against the wall, crossing his arms and arching an eyebrow. "How about enlightening me a little, huh?"

She rolls her eyes, but her half-smile looks affectionate, "I haven't even given you carte blanche and you're already trying to cheat? It’d be too easy if I just told you."

"Oh, c'mon! At least give me some clues," He complains, but the smile hasn't disappeared from his face. "Camellias aren't your favorite flowers, right? What's your favorite then? What letter does it start with? It rhymes with what? What are the most common allergies associated with it? Help a poor bastard out, lady, please..."

She lets out a fart-like sound from her mouth, turning her face to the side in an attempt to hide her laughter.

"I- I haven't seen any reason to make your life that easy so far, so give it up! You'll have to find out on your own."

"You're a difficult woman…," He sighs theatrically, closing his eyes. "It's a good thing that Okubo Naoya never gave up on things just because they were difficult," And he smiled, opening his eyes again, which were soft and tender when focused on her . And he is elated when she blushes even more.

"C'mon, I'm not that difficult," She bats her eyelashes at him. "I'm letting you get closer to try to figure it out, aren't I? So... keep trying. Surprise me. I'll be here, waiting for more of your attempts."

For him, it was as if she had offered him the winning lottery ticket. More attempts... he was entitled to more attemps! And to think that she willingly wanted to give him those chances made him want to start dancing right there in the alley.

"O-Okay! So can I interpret this as an invitation to show up here more often?"

"With prior notice," She points at him. "That way I'm not caught off guard and Kanny and the others don't get too upset. They still haven't forgiven you either, you know."

"Jezz, does that mean I'm also going to have to win them back?," He snorts. "Can I know their favorite flowers, at least?"

She laughs out loud, putting a hand in front of her mouth. She didn't usually hide her laughter this much when she was still on good terms with him. But Okubo was determined to change that.

"My god, hahahaha...!," She wipes away a tear from the corner of her right eye. "If- If you tried to give Kanny flowers, she’d punch you again and there would be no bouquet able to cushion that impact. It’s better to not even try."

"I won't. There's only one person I want to bring flowers to, if she's nice enough to nudge me in the right directions..."

"Nah-ah. I'm not falling for that," She shakes a finger at him, smirking, but the flattered blush on her cheeks was unmistakable. "You said yourself that you never gave up on things just because they were difficult, didn't you? I want to see this with my own eyes."

"But you've seen it, if you've really been watching me since the times when I practiced wrestling."

"Fighting arenas and the real life are different places. People can be one way in one and another way in the other. And I said I want to get to know you better here," She points to the space between them. "I want this from you more than I want gifs."

He nods, embarrassed, but still happy. If that meant more opportunities to be with her like this, then dammit, he'd be happy to let her know every single thing of him.

"Ahaha… alright then. But you know what I want from you now?" He leans toward her again, smirking, and she looks at him suspiciously, a warning in her gaze.

"What?"

"You, trying the chocolates I brought you."

She clearly wasn't expecting this, considering how her expression went from wary to stunned.

"Uh… That's it?"

"Yeah! Having my amateur rice balls judged by a professional made me feel spoiled and I got used to it. Now I want it again," He turns his head to the side. "Only with dessert this time."

"Ahaha, but that wouldn't make sense. You didn't make these chocolates, so I can't judge your cooking based on them," She shakes the box a little, which makes that rattling sound. His smile widens.

"Judge my taste in them, then. I particularly think it's great, considering how much I like your cookies."

“Grunf… I already told you to keep that silver tongue of yours in check…” She snorts, making an absurd effort not to smile. He raises his hands in surrender, his smile becoming more pleading. And with a sigh, she concedes, tearing the seal that held the box closed and opening it. The chocolates had come out of their respective compartments, scattered around the box, and he remembered with embarrassment that they had melted a little before he put them in the fridge. The handmade truffles were now a little misshapen. But she didn't seem to mind, picking up one and biting it in half, slowly, savoring it. He watches her intently, waiting with some trepidation.

"So? Too bitter?"

She looks up at him, finishing chewing. And then she smiles; that lovely smile he had missed so much.

"Yes! Just the way I like it!"

And even if he wasn't the one to make those chocolates, the compliment made him as happy as if he was.

* * *

"So? How was it with your bald sucker?"

Tomori smiles awkwardly as she returns to the kitchens, having returned from her lunch break. She brought with her the box of chocolates and the three camellias, the only survivors of the accidental massacre that Paikon had committed. She shrugs, trying to look calm.

"Better than I expected. Can I put these flowers in the water, Kanny? I don't want them to dry out."

"Sure. You can grab any container we're not using," The baker nods, watching as she goes to look for that container. Tomori felt her eyes glued to her back, knowing full well that she couldn't escape her friend's questions, and wondering if she could hide enough the conflicting feelings that battled inside her. She fills a measuring cup with water and places the flowers inside, setting them in a corner and admiring them for a moment before going to retrieve her apron and hairnet. Kanami kept following her movements attentively.

"So... what happened to the rest of the bouquet?"

"Paikon destroyed in an attack worthy of a yakuza ambush."

"Uh... I was going to say it serves him right, but then I remembered that they were a gift for you, so...," She makes an uncertain gesture, to which Tomori shrugs.

"He managed to save three of them, so that's something," She puts the chocolates aside too, and when she sees her friend looking at her with a mixture of distrust and interest, she invites, "You can have one, Kanny. You recognize the brand, right?"

"Yeah. It's the kind of brand that we could never use on the bakery's cakes, otherwise no one would have the money to buy 'em," She comments while picking up a truffle. "Thanks, Tomoh… hnnn, wow…," She puts it in her mouth and sighs while chewing. "Pure, quality cocoa. It’s delicious!"

"I know, right! Damn, I had to hold back from having a culinary orgasm in front of him to keep some of my dignity," Tomori laughs, and Kanami joins in, despite still being wary.

"Haha, I can imagine. But speaking of dignity...," She frowns, trying to stay serious. "I know I have no right to demand anything, but I hope you didn't get carried away by some expensive gifts and the snap of a silver tongue. I worry about how this might affect you..."

"Don't worry, I stood my ground," She assures. And then she looks at the floor while putting on her apron. "But… I admit it was hard to resist. We had a very enlightening conversation, you know. And when I said that I won't accept any attempt to buy me, he understood and didn't try to argue. He even made it clear that this wasn't his intention."

"… And what was your verdict?," Kanami asks after two seconds of silence. Tomori bites her bottom lip.

“That he really wasn't who I thought he was. But that doesn't have to be a bad thing either," She concludes. "I really want to see how far he's willing to go, Kanny. How much he values what we have, even if it's nothing serious. I want to test the waters more... and make him suffer a little while trying," She admits, smiling when Kanami laughs heartily.

"A she-wolf in sheep's clothing, as Akane always says. Go for it, that's what that stupid gorilla deserves."

"Hehe, leave it to me! And... uugh...," She groans suddenly, turning her attention back to the flowers. Kanami blinks.

"What is it?"

"He brought me red camellias. I wonder if he knows about the symbolism behind them...," She blushes a lot, pressing her hands to her chest. "You know? That they represent romantic love..."

The baker didn't know what she wanted to do more: to laugh in her friend's face or to grunt and roll her eyes at her obsessive romanticism. She opts for a middle ground.

"Girl, I doubt it. A man like that doesn't care about these things. A flower shop employee probably suggested camellias when he said he wanted to impress a girl, nothing more than that."

"Yeah, I guess you're right… let's just get back to work, thinking about it will only distract me," She sighs, and Kanami nods satisfied.

Tomori wanted more than anything to stand firm in her convictions and not give in to Okubo's wooing so easily. He really had to earn her forgiveness. But dammit, if he kept being cute like that, showing her a side of himself she hadn't even dreamed existed, forgiving him would be easier than she wanted it to be.

NEXT CHAPTER

#Kengan Ashura #Kengan Omega #kenganverse #fanfiction #Okubo Naoya #Naoya Okubo #okubo x oc #kengan oc #Rihito #Himuro Ryo #Kaneda Suekichi #Narushima Koga #Gaoh Ryuki #cookies'n cream #the heavy bakery series

5 notes · View notes