#give him some snacks yen!

[sleepybbie]

SNOOZY… zZz | nagi x reader

summary: you decided to visit your boyfriend in order to show him a small present you found when shopping…when upon arrival it started to pour down.

nagi seishiro x fem!reader

a/n: just a random fic i decided to write while i was doing my school work ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ it’s been raining a lot recently here in my country so :3

it wasn’t really planned, you just randomly decided to visit nagi on this particular day after you asked reo if they had practice. it was a saturday, there really wasn’t much going on except the fact you saw a something while going out shopping.

a cactus.

you laughed.

it was something as similar as choki, which is nagi’s cactus that keeps him company at his home.

however, this cactus you saw was a little bit smaller, just a half centimeter short. its pot was wrapped in a pretty pink ribbon along with a tiny fake flower that made it look appealing to the eyes.

so…you bought it.

it didn’t cost much, only around a hundred yen. you bought some snacks, drinks (along with the cactus you decided to buy out of nowhere) and made your way towards nagi’s place. you had an innocent smile on, humming as you walked.

it was…a good day.

you woke up early, did your morning routine, and then decided to go out. not to mention the sun was out and shining, and the air was fresh. there were a lot of children out on parks, too. owners walking their pets, and street performers asking for a few change.

this day was beautiful. you just wished you were with your lazy boyfriend right now.

oh how you wished you never said any of that..

you were close to the street where nagi lives, when all of a sudden, you felt a drop of water fall on top of your head. you looked up and realized…ah crap, it was starting to rain. you didn’t have an umbrella.

“ah, this is bad, this is bad..!” you murmured to yourself, immediately running as quick as you can while avoiding puddles that were forming on the sidewalk. thank goodness you were already close to nagi’s place.

the rain began to pour heavier and heavier, however lady luck was on your side today…and you had finally made it to his front door, a little drenched. you wrung the liquid out from your hair, doing the same to your clothes before letting out a breath of relief that you made it there just in time.

checking your phone, it was 9:21am.

maybe…you came here too early? you were sure nagi was still asleep at this hour. you feel your face heat up from realizing you’re probably missing him too much. were you clingy? you heard from your friends that being too clingy can be annoying sometimes. but you missed him…gah, think straight.

you were already here, what else can you do? besides, it was raining and you don’t have an umbrella with you. it’s now or never.

raising your hand, you pressed on his doorbell, hearing the noise ring from inside his home.

“hello? is anybody home?” you called. you rung the doorbell once more.

twice

third

still no answer. you nervously scratched your cheek with your finger, a small frown on your lips. the rain was still pouring down…you can’t just wait here forever.

the moment you were about to ring for the fourth time, the door opened, causing you to wince in surprise. “yes, who is it…?”

ah, there he is.

his voice was deep. standing tall as ever, messy white hair sticking on his face, still wearing his pajamas and eyes lidded close as he let out a small yawn. there was also a blanket draped over his shoulders…he looked so adorable. when he opened them back, doe eyes staring back at him, he almost froze. you chuckled anxiously, giving him a wave. “morning..” you greeted.

now the male was almost fully awake.

“y/n..? what are you doing here? it’s so early..”

“sei, it’s 9 in the morning..”

“eh…still far too early..and it’s cold.”

“s-sorry for coming here unannounced…i just texted reo and he told me you guys don’t have any practice today…so i decided to pay you a visit…mind if i come in? i bought something for us..also it’s uhh..raining, i don’t have an umbrella with me..” you questioned, a sheepish smile on your lips. nagi was silent for a few seconds, just looking at you and your cute face, until he answered, “..sure, come on in.”

“pardon the intrusion..”

you politely followed nagi inside his home, taking your shoes off before entering his bedroom where your boyfriend hurriedly went back to bed, covering himself in the blanket he brought along with him. you put your stuff on his desk, taking out the items you bought one by one.

“i bought some ingredients i can use to make you some breakfast. how does miso soup sound along with eggs and bacon?” you asked, looking over his figure that was watching you as you did your work.

“digesting’s a pain..but thanks..that will do. ‘m tired of eating the pouches i have on my fridge..”

“that’s because you should try cooking a homemade meal for once, sei. it’s not hard,” you tell him, laughing a bit. he shrugs, “cooking’s such a hassle. besides, eating a meal made by you is better..” he says, you blushed a little from that comment.

the rain poured even more when you started making the rice. you asked permission from nagi if you could turn on his tv to see the weather report, and he just said to go on ahead. as expected, the rain was going to pour for the entire day, and you weren’t sure what time you’ll be heading home.

“just as i thought the weather would be good for an outing..” you said with a sigh before turning the television off to continue cooking. the miso soup tasted great, you knew you could trust yourself when it comes to your cooking skills. as for the eggs and bacon, one of the bacon came out a little burnt, but you did ok. you quickly grabbed two bowls and a plate, and served rice and miso soup on the two before the eggs and bacon on the plate.

there, the perfect breakfast. you had to slap yourself after you almost whispered how you felt like a housewife.

when you made it back to nagi’s room with the tray of food, he was already up, looking out the window while mumbling a few words. possibly talking to his cactus.

oh right..!

the cactus you bought earlier. better if you tell after he ate.

“sei, i made you breakfast..!” you say, happily walking towards him to sit beside on the bed. nagi turned his head to meet his eyes with you, and you swore you saw a small sparkle in his dull grey pupils. “yay..”

“here, eat up.” you gently handed him the tray and watched him deliver his thanks before digging in. he felt like he was hit by an angel when he first tasted the miso soup, how he missed eating it. “it’s been a while since i ate miso…yummy..”

“i’m glad you liked it. i used my mom’s recipe while making that.”

“taste good. the bacon is a little burnt though..”

“ahaha…sorry, i was watching the weather report..”

he swallowed the rice down his throat before looking at you, shaking his head, “nah, is fine. thanks again for making me breakfast..” a simple kiss on the forehead made your heart skip two beats. you looked down, feeling bashful. nagi wasn’t even trying when it comes to making you flustered…he’s not a genius for no reason after all.

once he’s finished with his breakfast, the snowy haired boy groans as he stretched his arms up while you take the tray out from his lap. “that was so good…but i’m full. why do humans eat then get full? such a bother..” he mumbles, scratching his still messy head.

“ah, sei i almost forgot..! wait here..”

“hm?”

nagi watches as you walk out his room only later on to walk back inside, this time both of your arms hiding behind your back and an excited smile plastered over your lips. he rose a brow up…a surprise?

“what’s that?”

giggling, you showed nagi what was behind your back, flashing a small cactus on your palms. nagi blinked twice.

“ta-da! it’s just like choki, right? i saw it earlier while i was out shopping…!” you say, and nagi sat there, blanket over his lap…puzzled.

“oh…cool.”

you pouted, “c’mon is that all you have to say? it’s really pretty..!”

“yeah, sure..”

another sigh escapes your lips. although he acted like that, you still couldn’t help but laugh as you made your way towards his side, sitting down, and placed the cactus next to choki, a huge smile on your lips. it was a lovely sight, while the pouring rain didn’t make any difference.

“so cute, they look like a couple..!”

nagi hums, “mm…yeah.”

“what do you think i should name the one i got?”

“they look the same..just in a pink pot and wrapped in a ribbon..”

“t-there’s a difference..how about i name it guu? guu-chan, right? this time instead of scissors, guu-chan looks like a rock..!” a soft chuckle erupts you lips, laying your head on his shoulder as you did. the rain began to faint down…casting a relaxing yet still cold atmosphere inside his house.

nagi looked over at the two plants that were sitting next to each other, mind empty, the only sound of your laugh and the rain echoing his home. he also sees the reflection on the window of you with him, your head on his shoulder, laughing like an angel next to him.

it was a different scenery to glance at. every morning when he wakes up, all he had was choki and his lonely figure on the reflection. fate came colliding, then he met reo and then he met you..

choki and guu-chan..hmm..

they remind nagi of him and you.

“rock beats scissors though…no fair..”

“would you like to name it something else then, sei?” you paused your laugh when you asked him that.

nagi was back to being silent, not long as his arms wrap around your shoulders, pulling you in.

“eh…no is alright. it was named by you after all..” and then he pulls you down on his bed, letting you take in his warmth.

your hair smelled like lavender, he loves it. it was comfy like this. cuddling with you in the pouring rain, no noises whatsoever. he wished he could stay this way forever. pulling over the blanket to take in you both, your hands grip over his arms that was wrapped around you. “s-sei..! hey, we have to get up now. it’s almost 10am..”

“ehh…it’s too much of a hassle..just stay with me in bed…feels so comfortable..” he mutters over your neck. he hugs you even tighter, feeling the warmth engulf around you both. it was a little dark in his room, only the covered sun as the only source of light entering from his window despite having his curtains a closed shut. he tangles his legs with yours, pulling you even closer when he hears you gasp.

“sei…”

“i’m here..” he whispers.

the rain didn’t seem to stop falling down above the heavens. the clock began to tick from outside his room.

you blushed (thanking that he couldn’t see your face right now since you look like a lovesick idiot, his lovesick idiot), hiding your face on his shoulder, hands now on his chest, hearing his heart beat mixed with yours. for a few moments, you feel nagi pull away, eyes staring into yours. he looks handsome. drop dead handsome.

“y/n..”

“yes..?”

another swarm of tranquil silence.

“promise to always stay with me..?”

pour, pour, pour…

one drop, two drops, a million drops.

your beautiful eyes sometimes make him caught off guard, they’re like an ocean. he doesn’t mind getting lost in them. and you feel the same towards his as well.

with a chuckle, you smiled, caressing both of his cheeks with your hands, “i promise, sei..”

“your hands are cold..”

“ah…sorry.”

“eh, i don’t mind..”

‘i don’t mind.’ those words. coming from the same person who says how everything is such a pain in the ass, the same person who has no motivation whatsoever in life. the same person who you fell in love with.

the two of you stayed like that for a moment, before nagi pulls you in for a sweet long kiss. it was electric. and cozy. just like him. he was a big baby. nagi loves the taste of your lips, it was addicting to kiss. that’s what he thinks when he kissed you for the first time.

when you pulled away, your eyes darted down, cheeks heating up and palm covering half of your face. cute, he thinks. is it perverted if he thinks how he likes when you’re all flustered?

“y/n…look at me.”

you obliged. the view in front of you, shocked you a little.

nagi seishiro…was smiling.

it was a faint smile, however it was a rare sight to see indeed. reo was right. you felt a cupid shooting another arrow through your chest.

“y/n..”

‘i love you. i breathe for you. i will strike everyone down for you even if it’s a bother.’

nagi lets his head fall down on your shoulder, pressing small pecks on your neck, hearing small gasps erupt from your lips. “s-sei..”

“being with you..isn’t a pain..or a bother..or either a hassle.”

ah

that line

you heard it before

reo mentioned it once.

but you didn’t mind not answering back. nagi already knows your answer.

just like his best friend said..

it’s just how nagi seishiro says ‘i love you.’

#blue lock #blue lock x reader #nagi x reader #nagi fluff #lily’s.blog🌸 #bllk x reader #nagi seishiro x reader #blue lock nagi

[asuyaka]

I saw that you write for BSD, so can I request a Dazai x Male Reader(could be gn too, I'm fine with whatever) where the reader is also a detective from ADA and they are bloody rich and they love giving Dazai the royal treatment? I'm talking about carrying his stuff for him, buying whatever he wants without even needing to ask for it, paying for literally everything, making him snacks that they know he will like, opening doors for him, letting him walk on the safer side of the street, giving him flowers, playing with his hair, changing his bandages for him, carrying him around when he doesn't want to use his legs, showering him with kisses and compliments, praising him for his work and constantly expressing how proud they are of him, the whole nine yards.

I just want that man to get some good pampering, heaven knows he needs it.

★ - aaaa!!! 'm sooo glad 'm gettin BSD reqs!! >_< dazai isn't really 'm cup of tea, but 'm think he's okay ! (≧∇≦)ﾉ

☆ - Dazai Osamu x GN! Reader — Can be read as Male reader!

♡ - It's 'm first time tryin' ta write kissin' scenes 'n stuff so please tell me if it's good! Constructive criticism is heavily 'ppreciated! ( •̀ ω •́ )y

It's not an understatement to say you're wealthy. You've worked hard to get where you are now, been through your fair share of trauma to finally live a somewhat stable life in the ADA.

Someone as wealthy as you with no family members to spoil should have someone to make feel worthy, right?

You do. Your best friend, and somehow boyfriend, Dazai Osamu, and his ever-so-concerning suicidal tendencies.

You love him more than anything, as cheesy as that may sound. And you spoil him to make sure he knows that too. Sure, Kunikida may call it a waste of money, but what will you do with it? You're happy in your quaint little ADA-issued dorm room, and sure people might berate you for not buying a million-dollar mansion but that's a waste of money.

You might be millions upon millions of yen wealthy, but you're humble with it.

Not with your spending on Dazai but... he's your boyfriend, who cares?

You walk into the main ADA office with a bright smile on your face. Not that your expression is visible, there's a massive array of flowers covering it.

"[Name] is doing it again," Yosano says as she rolls her eyes. She was the one who with her expert wingman skills, brought you and Dazai together and you'll always be greatful for that.

You wave at Atsushi who was always front and center at you and Dazai's 'gross lovey-dovey actions' as Tanizaki says.

Atsushi gets up, knocking on the Director's door. "Dazai-san, [Name]-san is here for you."

You shift the bouquet from your center to your left side, hiding an array of gifts in the bag you bought as well.

Dazai walks out of the Director's office, hands in his pockets as he pats Atsushi's head. "Alright, what is it this—" His eyes widen when they meet yours.

This isn't the first time you've given Dazai gifts that were obviously expensive. There was a time when you gave him a car and quickly learned how horrible of a driver he was so you weren't making that mistake ever again.

"All of this is for... me?" Dazai points at himself exasperatedly, his eyes wandering around your frame. The bouquet was almost twice your size, full to the brim with pink flowers— flowers he could easily recognize.

They were Camelllias. Flowers that meant love.

"Come, come! There's more for you." You beamed, putting the flowers down and handing him the bag.

Naomi was curious about what was in it the second you walked past the reception, Kenji, was just a naturally curious person.

Dazai pulls out a sharkitty plush. There were two of them, one in black and another in grey. "Oh, they're matching! I thought they looked cute so—"

"They're amazing— you're amazing." Dazai breathes out, a soft tint of red on his face.

Ranpo makes an overexaggerated gagging noise, leaning back against his chair with a lollipop in his mouth.

"I can easily stop supplying you with candy."

Ranpo takes that as an easy warning, immediately going back to doing his work.

"I have a date reserved for us if you aren't busy?" Your voice comes out sheepishly as if it's your first time asking Dazai out. In front of his co-workers it is, but with the amount of PDA you two do, asking him out shouldn't be this embarrassing.

"Crabs?"

"Who do you think I am? Of course, they have crabs."

Dazai smiles, grabbing the bouquet and letting you lead the way. You two begin walking, bidding farewell to your co-workers as you speed up a bit, opening the door for him.

"Ughh— just get out already! No one wants to see you two fawn over each other!" Ranpo yells from his chair. You hear Dazai laugh as he waves one final goodbye, glad he doesn't have to do anymore work, and glad he gets to spend time with you— his partner.

You close the door shut, grabbing the stuff from Dazai's arms so he doesn't have to carry anything. He pressed a kiss on your cheek. He loves you, so so much.

"You didn't have to spend so much on me, you know?" He says softly as he stuffs his hands in his pockets again.

"I don't care about my spending when they come to you, Dazai. I've told you this before, anything you want I'll get it for you. You're my boyfriend, and I love you. What more of a reason do I need?"

Dazai's cheeks burn bright. He's never been the one on the receiving end of flirting, but that all changed when he met you.

He's never felt love, romantic at least, until you came into his life.

He wishes you met Odasaku, you two would've gotten along. "I-I know, you're just—"

"Amazing? Perfect? Stunning? Ooo, maybe you're gonna call me beautiful!" You fill in for him, a cheeky grin on your face as you open the car door for him.

You put your gifts in the backseat, settling in the driver's seat with an adorning smile on your face. "Reward your doting partner with a kiss?"

Dazai rolls his eyes but brings his bandaged hand to your cheek. Your lips meet his in the middle and your hand rests atop his. The kiss was slow, your lips pressed against his like they were made for each other— like you two were made for each other.

You break the kiss in a pant, looking at Dazai with nothing short of fondness in your eyes. "You're great, you're so amazing Dazai."

"Shut up and kiss me."

You comply, now leaning over him as your lips press together, your teeth clacked against his. Dazai's tongue twirled with yours, pressing against the roof of your mouth, his hands settling on your hips as a groan left his mouth, your knee resting in the middle of his legs.

"HAVE SOME DECENCY YOU TWO!"

The two of you separated, looking at the voice with short breaths. Kunikida was standing in front of your windshield, an exasperated look on his face.

You wave an apology, fixing yourself up and sitting back in the driver's spot.

"You okay?" You ask quietly, you and Dazai's hand still intertwined.

"Dinner, right?"

You nod, pressing a final kiss on his cheek as you buckle him and then yourself. "I love you."

Dazai smiles, grabbing the black sharkitty plush from the back, and leaving it in his lap. "I have a crush on you." He says bluntly, his hands scratching the fur on the plushie's body.

You roll your eyes at Dazai's odd way of saying he loves you, but that's just how he is, and you couldn't have him any other way.

#writin' shit. #ANSWERED LETTERS — ​003 #dazai osamu #dazai osamu x male reader #dazai x you #dazai x gn!reader #bsd x male reader #bsd x gn reader #gn reader #x gn reader #★: anon! #bsd #bungou stray dogs

[momo-ceros]

the convenience store at the corner || ken ryuguji/reader

summary; there is a small konbini on the way to musashi shrine that belongs to your grandmother. forced to help out, at least there are cute boys to look at. one in particular

tags; sfw, reader is a year older than draken, draken is a simp, teenage boys being teenage boys

author’s note; momo writing something in the holy year of 2023? impossible. i wanna start writing more i think so feel free to send in requests.

You were working at a small shop owned by your grandmother after school, which just so happened to lay on the path between his and Mikey‘s school and Musashi Shrine. Despite their rowdy reputation, you always greeted them with a kind smile but also did not shy away from using a sterner tone, particularly when Mikey made grabby hands at the Takoyaki behind the counter.

His crush on you made him feel ridiculous. He was the fearsome vice president of the Tokyo Manji Gang yet uttering more than a ‚hello‘ and ‚thank you‘ towards you seemed like an impossible task. He rather take on entire gangs all himself before you knew.

How unfortunate that you did. Whatever made teenage boys think they were slick about their crushes, you didn‘t know but you wish you had that kind of self confidence in other matters. You weren‘t blind, of course you saw the way the tip of his ears flushed in a deep red when he came to the counter. Honestly, it was kind of endearing.

You didn‘t know a whole lot about him, not more than what was told on the streets. You were a year older than him, he was some high ranking member in the teenage toddler group that were delinquent gangs and certainly seemed to be the most mature. Certainly more than his little friend who seemed to love drawing dick on the review notepad meant for customers. You were certain that Draken was 99% of his impulse control.

‚Draken‘ you had heard his friends call him on numerous occasions. That and ‚Ken-chin‘, but he did not seem to appreciate that nickname too much, judging my his reaction.

‘He was sorta cute’, you concluded as you sat behind the counter, your eyes following him, as him and his friends made their way through the store, laughing and joking around.

“They are still 150¥”, you chastised in a monotone voice, looking up from your magazine as Mikey flinched and moved his hand back from the pastries in front of the store.

“But we are regulars!”, he complained loudly pouting.

“No. He is a regular”, you said, pointing at Draken, who immediately flushed faintly, trying to keep his posture, “he is a regular. You have never payed for a single thing in your life here.”

Mikey grumbled, unable to deny the fact that Draken brought everything here anyway while he just picked what he wanted to have.

“Fine. Since I am unwanted here I am going to leave”, he said, leaving Draken alone to pay for their snacks with you.

“Sorry about him”, Draken apologised, rubbing his neck nervously as he placed the items on the counter.

You started to scan the items, taking your sweet time.

“Its fine. I’ve gotten used to it. Must be annoying for you to always be on baby sitting duty.”

“He can be annoying. Real annoying. But imma still follow him”, Draken said earnestly.

“How unfortunate”, you hummed, a glint of humour in eyes as you grabbed a milk bun.

“I didn’t-“

“Free of charge. For being a loyal costumer”, you said, winking at him.

Draken gulped and dropped the sweaty yen coins onto the table.

“Thank you. I am sure he will appreciate it.”

You mulled over the thought that just came for you before shrugging. Might as well go for it.

“One more thing”, you said as you rang up his change and scribbled something on a piece of paper before handing both to him.

Draken stared in confusion at the string of random numbers.

“Uh… thanks?”

You leaned forward, resting your head on your hands.

“Thats my number, dragon boy. Free of charge. Give me a ring sometime”, you teased with a wink.

A deep, scarlet blush spread across his cheeks as Draken stuttered out a thank you before speedwalking out of the store, pushing instead of pulling the door, quickly rejoining his friends. How fun.

You watched him stumble, rejoining the group of his friends who, upon hearing the recent development, cheered for him. Boys. It was kind of adorable actually.

You stretched, staring at the clock. 2 more hours. Maybe you would close your shift and the shop to a message.

#;momo’s writing #tokyo revengers x y/n #tokyo revengers x reader #tokyo revengers fluff #draken x reader #draken x you #draken x y/n #ken ryuuguji x you #ken ryuguji x y/n #ken ryuguji x you #draken fluff

[ranhaitanisgf]

can i request a quiet gf reader who plays bass in a band with her friends and like this guy has been making fun of her and she gets enough and punches him infront of her bf with kazutora, smiley, and mikey

get out of my face!!

synopsis: how will they react when you punch the creep who's been bothering you and your band?

☆ a/n ˎˊ˗ haii thank u anon for requesting ! :3 this was super fun to write, so i hope you all enjoy!! xoxo [just as a note, i didnt rlly see a reason to make this fem reader + there was really just not any relevance so i made it gn! i hope you dont mind ╥﹏╥]

☆ characters ˎˊ˗ kazutora hanemiya, nahoya [smiley] kawata, manjiro [mikey] sano x g/n!reader

☆ wc ˎˊ˗ 3.4k+

masterlist

kazutora hanemiya: 

❥ he loves the fact that you’re in a band!! he thinks it’s so cool, and he is constantly asking all kinds of questions about all of it, like ‘do you get nervous when you see all the people?’ and ‘is it hard to play fast songs?’. he’ll ask you the same questions over and over again whenever the two of you are talking, but he can’t help it! he’s just so interested about all of it!

❥ while it’s a bit unrealistic for him to be able to attend every single show you perform, he tries his best to come to all the ones he possibly can, (really, he’s only missed two which is quite impressive). he’ll always send you encouraging messages before the show if he can’t see you, and he’ll send little messages while you’re performing for you to read later. 

kazu <3: you look so cool! kazu <3: i can hear your bass playing right now! it sounds so good! 

❥ he doesn’t want to cause a scene in the crowd because he doesn’t want to make more trouble for you, but he will death glare anybody who is cheering for you, (minus your friends). why are they cheering for you? he’s the only one who should be cheering for you!! will proceed to shout your name ten times louder. 

❥ when he has the funds for it, kazutora will bring you your favorite snack or drink after a show!! he knows that you get tired afterwards, so he likes to contribute a little bit to your recharging. he’ll usually be the one taking you home too since it’s usually late by the time your band finishes up, (when he’s there, he will not entrust you to anybody else). 

❥ your number one bodyguard!! he’s always with you whenever you’re not on stage, making sure that there aren’t any creeps who are trying to approach you. if there’s anybody who has the nerves to do so, he’s immediately threatening them and making sure they leave. 

❥ kazutora had been suspecting that you’d been keeping something from him, but he wasn’t sure what. lately, you’d seemed a bit more jumpy and uptight at your gigs, your eyes looking around as if you were searching for someone. when he asked what was going on, you had said it was nothing. 

❥ after this particular gig, he found out it wasn’t nothing. 

“hey!! you really think you guys are gonna be one of those bigshot bands??” a twisted laugh echoed through the hallway, making kazutora perk up, his eyes locking onto a boy who was approaching you and the rest of your friends. he heard you sigh, your eyebrows knitting together in frustration and annoyance; did you know this guy? 

“uju! you have some goddamn nerve showing up here!!” one of your friends yelled, their voice tainted with rage. “you’d really pay a 4000 yen entrance ticket just to cause trouble?!” 

“you really think i’d do that? i snuck in.” the boy scoffed, shaking his head. “i just had to come and tape this so i could have a record of how much you guys fuckin’ suck.” 

kazutora could feel his eye twitching, anger flooding through him at the boy’s words. how dare he badmouth your band like that? does he not know talent when he sees it?!

“(y/n), do you want me to-?” he began, but you shook your head, giving him a small smile. 

“no, it’s alright. i got this.” he looked at you confusedly but you’d already started walking away, moving through your friends to face the boy. he started laughing, leaning closer to as you as if he were sizing you up, (it made kazutora’s blood boil, but he restrained himself because you said you could handle it). 

“wowww, the big time bass player!! you reallyyyy have some nerve coming up to me like this; you’re usually so quiet i can’t even see you!” he said, his voiced laced with malice. “just like the bass, you’re always in the background-” 

one moment he was talking, and the next you had driven your fist right into his face, your punch making a solid impact with his jaw. the boy lost his balance, falling to the ground and making a loud thump! sound. 

silence hung over everyone for a few moments, all eyes on you as you continued to stand there, looking down at the boy. after the shock passed, you shook out your hand, wincing a bit as you did so. 

“i didn’t know punching someone would hurt like this.” 

your words triggered reactions from everyone, your friends huddling around you and hyping you up for finally beating some sense into the boy. 

“someone had to do it soon, i just didn’t know it was going to be you, (y/n)! haha!” you smiled a bit at their comments, obviously feeling a bit shy from all the attention that was on you. 

“let’s go get something good to eat in honor of (y/n) kicking his ass!!” 

“yeah!!” 

“let’s go!!” you laughed at your friend’s rowdiness, telling them that you would come out soon. after they all left, you hesitantly looked at kazutora, wondering if he hated you. 

he was staring at you with his eyes open so big they could fall out of his sockets and his jaw was hanging open; it was the most shocked you’d ever seen him. 

“(y/n)...you totally just punched him…” he managed to get out. you shyly smiled, coming closer to him. 

“yeah, i learned it from watching you…i hope that’s alright.”

“alright…? it was amazing!!” he exclaimed, wrapping his arms around your waist. kazutora easily picked you up, swinging you around with a wild and excited grin on his face. “you were so cool! it was like something out of a comic!!” he was planting kisses all over your face, making you laugh from the ticklish feeling. 

“h-hey! stop!” 

“no! you were so so awesome!” he put you down, but he continued kissing your face, the gleeful look on his face being absolutely adorable. “lemme take you to go with your friends, hm? i can take you home too.” 

“are you sure? it’s already pretty late…” 

“it’s not even question, c’mon.” he answered, pressing a final kiss to your temple. his hand found yours, lacing your fingers together as he started to lead you to the parking lot, passing by the boy who was rubbing his jaw on the floor. when the two of you walked by, he let out a sound of fear, his eyes flicking between you and your boyfriend. 

“if i see you again in here, you’re dead meat, you got that?” kazutora threatened, his voice suddenly stony cold. 

“y-yes!” 

“good.” 

nahoya [smiley] kawata: 

❥ he’s surprisingly very into the music scene! he’s always hyping you up before and after your shows, ruffling your hair and telling you to give it your all. 

❥ he’s always bragging about the fact that you’re his s/o! he loves to brag to everybody he knows, talking about how his amazing and perfect s/o is so talented, talented enough to be in a band! he keeps videos of your performances on his phone to show people, (they are poor quality and you can hear him screaming your name in the background). 

❥ when at your shows, he does the same thing! my apologies to anybody who is standing near him; he is going to be talking their ear off the whole time about you, saying how ‘their bass playing really brings the whole thing together, don’t you think?’, (they are forced to agree). 

❥ he’s not afraid to make a scene and he will punch anybody who is booing your band or is overall just being negative. one thing he won’t stand for is a negative and unwelcoming atmosphere, so you best believe he’s going to do his part to make sure that the audience is welcoming for you and your band!

❥ regularly drags his brother and friends to come and watch you perform, making them cheer as loud as him. they are happy to do it though! they all think that you are super talented and they are always super supportive, congratulating you and telling you that you did an amazing job after the show. 

❥ screams your name while you are performing! he gets really into music, and he’s even more into it because you’re the one who's performing! there won’t ever be a time when you don’t hear his voice while you’re playing, and despite the fact that he always loses his voice by the end of the night, he thinks it’s completely worth it if he’s supporting you!

❥ he never misses your sets! he doesn’t usually have a whole lot going on, and even if he does, he absolutely would not miss them for the world! he’s even skipped toman meetings before to go see you, (he got in trouble, but again, he thought it was absolutely worth it). 

❥ his rowdy personality and your more shy and quiet one make for an interesting pair, but all of your friends agree that the two of you are perfect for each other. smiley is there to give you more confidence when you don’t have it, and you’re there to calm him down when he gets a little bit too unruly. 

❥ tries to get you to teach him how to play bass, and he fails horribly at it, (‘it’s so hard to put my damn fingers where i want them to go!!’).

“oi, you got a problem bud?” you suddenly heard. following your boyfriend’s gaze, your mood immediately soured when you saw who he was looking at. 

uju had been bothering you and your friends for a few weeks now for no particular reason, (maybe he was just bored) and you were all beginning to tire of it quickly, his negative presence ruining the vibe of the set. 

“hah, you guys think you’re such big hotshots that you need security? talk about lame!” he sneered, shaking his head. “why don’t you guys just go back to playing in your garage? at least then the rats will listen to you.” 

“hah?! you think you can stay shit like that and get away with it??” nahoya asked, his grin turning violent. “you’re in for a world of pain if you think that-” he paused when he felt a tug on his sleeve, your expression as you looked at him being strangely resolved. 

“nahoya, it’s fine. let me handle this.” 

“hmm…whatever you say, lover~” he hummed, giving you a confident grin. “go show them what you’re made of.” 

you nodded at his words, giving a small smile before approaching the sneering boy, his face twisted in hostility as he saw you approaching. your friends were whispering to each other as they watched you approaching him, talking to nahoya. he just shook his head at them, subtly pointing to you and keeping his confident smile. 

“you need to leave.” 

“you’re telling me to leave? i’m just out here telling the truth! everyone at school is embarrassed to see you guys doing this, so really, you could say that i’m helping you all out!” he laughed, rolling his eyes at your annoyed expression. “you should just deal with the hard truth and move on-” 

“you’re such an asshole.” you stated, your voice sharp enough to cut. “if you say one more word about us, you’ll regret it.” 

“riiight, like the little background character is gonna do anything. at least your little bass isn’t terrible, but the others…whew, they just don’t know how to-” 

your fist flew into his face, knocking straight into his cheek and making him collide against the wall beside the two of you. he fell to the ground, too shocked to even process what had just happened. 

“yeah!! that’s my amazing (y/n) right there!!” you heard nahoya yell, his voice booming through the chatter of the venue. it was mostly empty now, but the remaining people turned to stare at you as you walked back to your friends, wincing a bit when your hand brushed against your side. 

nahoya was the first the greet you, his hand landing on top of your head to ruffle your hair. his grin was huge as he looked at you with pride. 

“you didn’t tell me you were such a badass, (y/n)!! that was a solid punch!” 

“ahh, i’m really not…he was just pissing me off.” you answered, a bit embarrassed that you’d let your anger out in such a violent way. 

“either way, he totally deserved it!” one of your friends piped up. the rest of them agreed, complaining about how he had been bothering your band for a while. 

“yeah, he was such a jackass!! we gotta celebrate this! meet us in the parking lot, yeah?” 

“oh, yeah, okay!” you responded, watching as they all walked off, giving you big smiles and thumbs up as they were leaving. you shook your hand out, a bit of your discomfort showing on your face as you felt pain shoot up your knuckles. 

“first time punchin’ someone?” nahoya asked, gently taking your hand in his. 

“yeah, i didn’t know it was gonna hurt so much.” 

“well, it does hurt when you’re not used to punchin’ people.” he explained, gently tracing your knuckles. when he saw which spots were most painful for you he put your hand down again. “you don’t know how to correctly punch, but you still sent him into the wall like that? you’re cool as hell for that. and when we get back, i’ll wrap your hand for you.” 

“mm…thanks, nahoya.” 

“of course, sweets. now, let’s go celebrate your victory, yeah?” 

manjiro [mikey] sano:

❥ he thinks you’re literally the coolest person ever!! he doesn’t have a single clue how to play any instruments, so he loves watching you play! he thinks you look the most attractive when you’re tearing it up on the bass, the enjoyment and happiness on your face making you look absolutely amazing, (secretly tries to take pictures during your set, but he keeps getting blocked by other people’s heads). 

❥ asks if you can play the bass for any of his favorite songs!! he’s definitely the type who will be absolutely shocked, amazed, and somehow even more in love if he ever hears you learning how to play them for him! 

❥ he can’t attend all of your shows, but he does make you promise to have somebody record it so that he can watch it later! he insists on watching the videos with you so that he can tell you at which moments you look the coolest, (he loves to see your embarrassed expression as you shyly thank him). 

❥ definitely brings all his friends to watch you! they all jam out to your band’s music and think you’re super cool! 

❥ because of mikey’s height, he will most likely ask if you can get him better seats so he has a good view of you. it’s not something in your power which makes him sad, so he’ll do his best to try and see you from where he’s at, (will yell at the people in front of him if they are too tall). 

❥ adding on to this, he might invite draken for the sole purpose of having him lift him up so he can see you better. 

❥ he creates a whole fanpage for you! mikey will compile all his different photos and videos of you and posts them to myspace, adding the most fanboy comments about you under the posts! 

mmikey_78: (y/n) was so cool at this show!  mmikey_78: my amazing (y/n) with their band performing their top song!!

❥ he likes to watch you and your band practice quickly before you guys perform, always teasing you by sending you cute winks and finger hearts. 

❥ you’re the only person he will share his snacks with!! he usually will split half of one with you before you play and then after, saying that you need it to get your energy up so that you can play really well. he also does it because he likes to give you a few moments of quiet before you go on stage so that you can calm your nerves, and then give you a few moments after your show to gather yourself since he knows you’re a bit shy. 

❥ he’s friendly with all your bandmates too, telling them that they all did a great job after you guys finish performing! 

❥ always makes sure to drive you wherever you need to go; he even got a special super secure holder on his motorbike for your bass so that you don’t have to leave it somewhere else, (he spent a lot of his money on it, but he would do anything to make you happy). 

“hm? (y/n)-cchi, do you know that person? he’s been staring at you guys for a while.” mikey whispered, his lips close to your ear. 

“gah! manjiro! don’t scare me like that…” you murmured, looking around to see who he was talking about. “who? i don’t see anyone.” 

mikey planted his hands on the sides of your head, turning it slowly until your head was facing who he was talking about. 

“ah, him…he’s just this guy from our school who’s been bothering us.” you explained, moving your eyes away from him. “it’s not really a big deal though. he’s just a weirdo- gah!” mikey suddenly turned your head to look back at him, a pout on his lips. 

“it’s a big deal if he’s bothering you guys! why didn’t you say anything about it before?” he whined, his brows furrowed together. “i could easily wipe the floor with him, y’know. do you not have faith in meee-!?” 

“no, it’s not that manjiro! i just don’t want to cause any trouble, y’know…?” you trailed off when you saw from the corner of your eye the boy approaching the two of you. “man, speak of the devil…” 

“hey!! where’s the rest of your little ‘band’? did they finally realize that you’re the most expendable?” he cackled. 

“what’d you just say?” mikey asked, his voice flat. “who do you think you are talking to (y/n) like that, huh?” he moved to step in front of you, but you gently grabbed his arm, shaking your head. 

“manjiro, it’s fine. it’s really not worth it.” you murmured, avoiding making eye contact with uju. “he’s just a jerk.” 

“but-” 

“really, it’s fine! let’s just go.” you pleaded. “i really don’t want to get into it with him right now.” mikey seemed hesitant, but after a few moments he relented. 

“fineee. let me take you home then-” 

“you’re ignoring me? hah, that’s rich. everybody knows you don’t have the guts to actually do anything.” uju leered, stepping forward to stand right in front of you. mikey had an intense look in his eyes, but you shook your head at him, making uju scoff. “oho, calling off your scary guard dog? wow, i’m soo scared!” he leaned forward getting right in your face. “i bet all your little friends left because they know that they would be better off without you! how does it feel to have the harsh truth shoved in your face? go on, tell me-!” 

before you knew what you were doing, your hand had formed into a fist and flew straight into his nose, sending him flying back. 

“gah, that hurt!!” you exclaimed, immediately cradling your hurt hand with your other. after a few seconds, you looked up, realizing that mikey was staring at you with a surprised expression and that uju was still laying on the ground. “oh my god, what did i just do?!” 

you suddenly felt a pair of arms around you and you heard laughing in your ear, mikey’s voice ringing throughout the room. 

“(y/n)-cchi, you punched him!! you actually punched him!! that was so funny!” he managed to get out. “you sent him flying!!” 

“i-i didn’t mean to! he was just all up in my face and then i just…! agghhh, i shouldn’t have done that!” all you got in response was mikey’s arms tightening around your waist, pulling you closer to his side. 

“you did so good! oh, but let’s get out of here before anybody notices!” he exclaimed, grabbing your hand and pulling you in the direction of the parking lot. “i’ll drive you home!” 

“am i going to get arrested?!” 

“don’t worry, i won’t ever let them catch you!” 

“ohh my god, i’m gonna go to jail!!”

#˗ˏˋ𖤐 tokyo revengers ˎˊ˗ #東京リベンジャーズ #東京リベンジャーズ x reader #tokyo revengers #tokyo revengers x reader #tok rev #tok rev x reader #tr #tr x reader #tokyo revengers x reader fluff #tok rev x reader fluff #tr x reader fluff #fluff #kazutora #hanemiya #kazutora hanemiya #hanemiya kazutora #kazutora x reader #kazutora hanemiya x reader #hanemiya kazutora x reader #kazutora x reader fluff #hanemiya kazutora x reader fluff #kazutora hanemiya x reader fluff #smiley #nahoya #kawata #nahoya kawata #kawata nahoya #smiley x reader #nahoya x reader

[gh0stsp1d3r]

yk, i was thinking about dating ladybug being tangerine and lemon's sister, both meet on the bullet train and ladybug thought the reader was too pretty and was very hesitant to try to fight her, and when he found out that she was the sister of the other twins he stayed 😦

oh god i have no creativity, i'm sorry for my english...

I LOVE TJIS IDEA.

The triplets

You sighed and rested your head on the back of the seat. Tangerine talked and bickered with lemon as you didn’t pay attention.

Tangerine snapped his fingers in your face.

“Hello? Earth to cherry?”

“Sorry, sorry.” You said, and regained your focus.

“Anyways, as I was saying, find the case and deal with whoever has it. Cherry, you’re coming with me, and lemons fine on his own.”

“Why do I always have to come with you?” You complained as you guys walked side by side.

“Because, you don’t pay attention, like at all.”

“Fair enough.”

🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞

Once you guys finally found black framed glasses, you realized that you had talked to him earlier, when you first got on the train.

Tangerine grabbed his shirt, and ladybug closed the door. Not much you could do about that. Ladybug tried to kick him, but he grabbed his legs and punched them repeatedly.

Ladybug tried to pin him to the wall, but you kicked him and shoved him off.

Ladybug looked at you for a moment, blinked, and then tangerine went back to punching him. They were in the kitchen now.

You just watched, as they punched each other, he seemed to be avoiding fighting you. Ladybug hit him with the cutting board and that’s when you stepped in.

You stopped when he held his hands out.

“Wait, wait, wait, I know who killed the kid.”

“I couldn’t give a rats ass. Where’s my fucking case?” Tangerine pushed the snack cart over to him, but he kicked tangerine instead, knocking him down.

As he was down, you just watched in amusement, before the door opened. You all acted like nothing was happening.

She came in and got some things, Ladybug stared at you, and tangerine stared st him, and then at you.

“What?” You asked.

“You could’ve helped me at least a little bit.” He said in sign language, so that hopefully the lady didn’t understand.

“Stop being such a fucking baby. You’re fine. Plus he said he know who killed the kid, maybe he can help, you’re always so quick to assume. Plus, he’s kinda cute.” You signed back.

“I hope you know I can sign too.” Ladybug signed and you grew embarrassed. He winked at you and you wanted to die in that moment.

Tangerine shook his head.

Then, he asked the lady for sparkling water.

“Bro, I just remembered I have all my money to that guy to wear my hat and glasses. Could you?”

“I don’t got any money.” He lied, and looked at you.

You sighed “Fucking liar.” You sent him a glance, And asked the lady how much, giving her it.

“A thousand yen, that’s ten quid for that bottle of water.” You sighed.

“Thank you.”

She left and he drunk the water.

“You sure you don’t wanna talk this out?”

“I will.” You said.

“Not, particularly no.” You and tangerine spoke at the same time.

You rolled your eyes at him. “This is why lemon is the better brother.”

“If you think the better brother is the one who speaks about kids shows, I feel bad for y-“ ladybug threw the bottle of water at his face while he spoke.

“Karma.” You shrugged, and tangerine got angry and threw him through the glass. The glass shattered and tangerine started to choke him. You Scrolled on your phone while waiting.

“I know who killed the kid.” He said, struggling.

“Yeah, where the fuck is he, then?”

“He’s on this train.”

“Well that narrows it down, then, don’t it?”

Ladybug pushed the red button you shook your head as they both fell out the train. You grabbed Ladybugs hand, helping him back up. Then you grabbed Tangerines.

They both attacked each other, and Tangerine threw him onto the ground. You handed tangerine chopsticks, and he tried to go for his eyes.

Suddenly, your phone rang. Tangerine looked at you, and you looked at him.

You answered it, and put it on speaker.

“The white death says to get off at next stop holding the briefcase or he will kill everyone on that train.” Tangerine immediately got off him, stumbling his way and making his way to you. Ladybug watched.

“Okay, me and tangerine can make it, but lemons, he’s a little tied up right now.”

“The three of you this time. With the case. Or everyone dies.” He hung up.

Tangerine sighed and sat down. You sat down next to him.

“Paranoid bitches.” You groaned.

“Don’t happen the case on ya by any chance?” Tangerine asked him.

“No”

“Yeah, don’t think we’d reach lemon in time anyways. You’d still got his phone. Do you have a gun on ya?”

He shook his head “Don’t like em’.”

“Me neither.” You shook your head and smiled.

He gave you a small smile back.

“Well, if you two are done smiling and pining over each other, I’m gonna go find Lemon.”

“Just curious.”

“Yeah?”

“Do they even know what lemon looks like?”

🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞

You laughed as you guys made your way back on the train.

“You’re stupid, it’s kinda cute.” You laughed breathlessly as he apologized and went on and on.

“Thank you, you’re not so bad yourself.” He said, and Tangerine was pissed off.

“Look, if you guys are gonna flirt, do it away from me.”

#tangerine and lemon #bullet train x reader #ladybug x reader #bullet train #brad pitt x reader #ladybug x you

[acronampy]

Chifuyu x reader

You want to thank chifuyu your savior more properly so you ask your friend about him, to find out more about the chifuyu guy

(Forgot to mention but spoilers for 'letter from baji keisuke')

Tw swearing, mention of hitting animals

Part 1

"Chifuyu matsuno"

Chifuyu matsuno.. He's the rumored delinquent in your school, the undefeated lonewolf.' But maybe he's a nice guy since he just saved you?..

You decided to research and find matsuno chifuyu only cause you want to repay your thanks to him again! It's not like you find him kinda cool. you decided to ask your friend hana, who knows all the rumors at school about chifuyu matsuno. "Hmm.. chifuyu matsuno? Why are you asking about him, dont get yourself involved with him (reader)!!" Hana said while munching on her bread. "Hanaaa, tell me please?? what is he like?" You pout."ugh fine I'll tell you! You have to buy me the new limited edition strawberry milk at the snack shop next time!" Hana said while finishing her last piece of bread. "Yes!" You say with happiness in your voice.

"Okay, Chifuyu matsuno is rumored to be the undefeated lonewolf who never lost a fight, he's the most fearsome delinquent out there! I heard him and his little minions he calls underlings beat up little animals and leave them there ugh their just so terrible! And and he treat teachers like shit too! (Reader) never EVER get near that matsuno bastard, okay?!" "O-okay.. what class is he in so I can avoid him?" You ask again,"Ha..Hes in class 1" hana sighs."You better not get anywhere near him. Im worried for you." Hana said with worry in her voice."dont worry, i only asked cause i was curious." You feel bad lying to hana but you want to thank chifuyu matsuno again no matter what!

But hearing how hana talks about chifuyu matsuno got you kind of scared.. what happens if yesterday's incident was just because he felt like beating someone up, you sigh, but as you were getting ready to go home. Putting your shoes on, you heard some sounds and went to investigate. "Give me 10,000 yen." This big looking delinquent guy asked a 1st year, pinning him on the wall."I-i..dont have any money today.." the 1st year says with fear in his voice. "Huh? Stop lying, Boys check his pockets and bag, " the big delinquent yelled, and before you could intrubt them and call the teachers, a familiar bleached blonde mohwak stepped in. "Hey, do you think what you're doing right now is making you look cool?" It was Chifuyu matsuno! Why is he stepping up to stop the big delinquent..? "Huh, how should I car -" huh..HUH? The matsuno guy just put the big delinquent on the floor with one punch! Just one punch!! "Heres your money back, next time be more careful." The blonde mohawk said,"a-ah thank you!" The timid 1st year said still in fear and confused at what happened.

You knew it! Chifuyu matsuno isn't a bad guy at all. The rumors of him are just exaggerated! I'll say thanks to him tomorrow during lunch.

#chifuyu matsuno #matsuno chifuyu #tokyo rev #tokyo revengers #chifuyu x reader #tokyo rev x reader #baji keisuke #chifuyu x you #chifuyu matsuno x reader #matsuno chifuyu x reader

[eycsnow666]

witcher screenshot compilations

got a bunch of stray imgur links floating around on discord, but here they all are! mostly of character swaps to emhyr. be warned that character swaps involving female->male skeletons may be a bit...cursed ahah. check the reblogs for further additions, because the original post is cranky abt any more links being added to it.

shoutout to @tigerlyla-of-metinna who's done amazing edits to some of these pics and also for enabling my new hobby

Emhyr visits Kaer Morhen

quest is No Place Like Home, swaps are Lambert to Geralt, Yen to Ciri, Geralt to Emhyr. Emhyr graces Kaer Morhen with his imperial presence. in return, the witchers convince him to drink himself silly. welp, what dignity was lost was regained in camaraderie

La Cage au Fou ft.a sad hedgehog

while out trapping monsters, Geralt accidentally captures...the emperor of nilfgaard?? how he got there aside, he's in pretty bad shape and has apparently gone feral. lucky there's a witcher who's been through this rodeo before, so emhyr's in safe hands <3

Roche to Emhyr and Ves to Ciri

quests are Eye for an Eye and Reason of State, with bonus swaps Dijkstra to Dettlaff and Thaler to Regis. Ever wanted to see Emhyr plotting against Emhyr? these pics have you covered! also included: emhyr and geralt being big damn heroes, and drunk uncle Dettlaff giving Regis a headache by quoting Macbeth Vakmeth scenes. See one of my reblogs for this link, bc this post doesn't want to save with it here for some reason.

Emhyr x Geralt hugs (Blood Run quest)

Regis's expressions make Emhyr look so soft 💖

Something Ends, Something Begins (Geralt to Emhyr)

soft moments with Ciri and Emhyr getting some dad moments in.

Ciri's Story: Out of the Shadows (Baron to Emhyr)

Emhyr has a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Emhyr may be a snacc but his daughter's here to make sure he doesn't become a snack (for basilisks)

The Battle of Kaer Morhen ft.The White Flame (Geralt to Emhyr). lots of Sadmyr and tender moments with Ciri

father's day at kaer morhen

Geralt to Emhyr swap, quest is Blood on the Battlefield. Emhyr and Ciri destress with a snowball fight. Geralt's sitting out this one, probably collapsed of sheer shock from learning that Emhyr is capable of experiencing fun.

Emralt, now with reduced clothes!

Yen to Emhyr, the opening scene at Kaer Morhen. yeah these are actually Yen's body proportions bc Yen's skeleton but shhhhh

A Midnight Clear: Shani to Emhyr mod

more spooky scary (animation) skeletons

A Midnight Clear: spiciest Emralt highlights

Geralt x Emhyr action. don't look at the proportions too closely, just lie back and think of nilfgaard

#the witcher 3 #emhyr var emreis #geralt of rivia #geralt x emhyr #emhyr x geralt #emralt #witcher 3 screenshots #modding #tw3

[aranarumei]

the anomalous agate (part one) *updated

hey guys. some of you probably wanted to see "two" written there! that'll take a little more time.

for those of you who don't know what the title's about at all, this is my crossover fic for the case files of jeweler richard and sasaki to miyano. specifically, this asks the question of "what if hanzawa masato visited jewelry étranger?"

i wrote the original version of this chapter in like, four days, and this is me doing an actual editing pass. it's not required to read it, as I don't actually add any new information, but I would recommend it. this fic is also posted on ao3, so you can read the updated chapter there, as well

edit: part two | part three | part four | epilogue

without further ado, I'll leave the fic under the cut!

case 2-x: the anomalous agate (part 1)

The longer I worked for the shop, the fewer days arrived when there were no appointments scheduled. As always, Richard seemed unfazed by the lack of customers. I supposed it made sense—this was a shop that only existed on the weekends, after all. He had hired me, but had the two of us not met by chance, it was likely he wouldn’t have hired anyone at all.

Perhaps the reason my employer seemed so content was the fact that he was currently cutting into a delicate slice of tiramisu crepe cake. He ate with almost ethereal grace, and as I somehow hadn’t thought to grab a slice for myself, my mind wandered to the circumstances that had led me to the purchase.

The week before, I had been making Richard’s royal milk tea as usual—I felt somewhat confident in my skills at this point, but there really was no matching a master—and asked him if there was a reason we didn’t serve coffee to customers. It was a common feature of many cafés, after all, and though this place was no longer a café, we still offered things like tea and snacks to customers.

Richard had stared at me like he was waiting for me to figure something out on my own, and after wracking my brain for possibilities, I tried, “We have barley tea and green tea, so it can’t be because you think anything except for royal milk tea won’t do…”

I received a deep sigh for my efforts. Richard arched an eyebrow. “Do you know how much is involved in the process of making coffee?” he asked.

As the coffee I most regularly consumed came from a can, there wasn’t a single response I could give.

That night, I searched up the process of manufacturing and brewing coffee, and quickly found myself beginning to develop a headache. Not only were there many places where coffee beans were grown, the different ways in which coffee was then brewed and what it was paired with felt almost limitless. Searching for espresso machines brought prices well over 15,000 yen, and it was at that point that I began to understand what Richard had conveyed in a single sentence.

Instant coffee could be made without any sense of technique or equipment, but the kind of coffee that set one’s mind at ease was probably the kind that only a real café was capable of. Or a coffee enthusiast, and I was neither. I tried to conjure the image of being offered canned or instant coffee at Jewelry Étranger, and immediately wrinkled my nose. Coffee at a café was meant to be pleasant; I had no desire to remind myself of what it felt like to work night shift after night shift as a security guard. Any comfort the scent had brought was overwhelmed by its bitter necessity. The caffeine might have kept me awake, but it had worsened the quality of my sleep.

Still, though I had given up the idea of introducing coffee to our drink selection, I must not have completely forgotten about it, because the next time I stepped into a bakery, their offering of a tiramisu crepe cake caught my immediate attention.

I’d had tiramisu only once during a birthday in junior high. Birthdays when I was younger were a melancholy affair—they were small, intimate celebrations that reminded me of the insignificance of my life. It was the same feeling as lighting a candle in pure dark—loneliness shined more under small points of light. But my mother had always remembered to buy a cake year after year, no matter the circumstances. While she had already developed a taste for coffee, I still considered it something that was a bitter, awful drink that adults actually enjoyed. But after some firm persuasion from my mother, I reluctantly dug in.

Add enough sugar, and bitter mellows into sweet. I knew that now, but as a child I had been given an experience akin to magic. Even years after the fact, I could still recall the light and sweet taste accompanied by the delicate hints of coffee and chocolate.

Remembering it now, it was hard to explain why I hadn’t had one in such a long time, but I hadn’t developed the habit of searching out cafés, bakeries, and sweet shops until I started working at Jewelry Étranger, either. Food simply tasted better as of late.

This bakery in particular was a favorite of mine—it felt like every time I entered, there was still some sweet I had yet to try. And encounters like these, where it felt like little parts of my life were slotting together in serendipitous fashions, were becoming far more common. It was obvious in the way I’d found out about Tanimoto-san’s love for rocks and minerals, as well as her friend Shinkai-san’s dance company, or, in a more negative light, Hase-san visiting at the exact time I happened to be in the back of the shop, but when I told Richard this, he simply brushed it off.

“The more knowledge and experience you acquire, the more the world reveals itself to you,” he said. “Department stores existed before you began working here, but only once you took an interest in diamonds did you notice the kinds of jewels they sold. The girl you wish was your girlfriend had an interest in minerals long before you began to. That was not fate—it was the fact that the more you learned, the more you could find commonalities or points of connection in the world around you.” He paused. “You, in particular… I would guess that you run into so many coincidences because you’re unable to turn your back.”

He was correct. The more people that visited Richard’s store, the more that I came to knew about the world. I had liked Tanimoto-san before I had met Richard, and she had loved rocks and minerals for far longer. But because I had been able to meet with Richard—and that was an encounter that could have only been fate—I’d gained awareness of a part of the world that had always existed, just not in my eyes. The more I learned about jewels, the more I treasured various things.

So that Saturday, I entered the bakery again, bought a slice, and arrived at Jewelry Étranger with an offering.

“…I still won’t give you a raise, you know,” Richard said.

As always, he looked beautiful. I had the feeling that he’d be annoyed if I told him the purchase was due to a bottomless kind of gratitude.

“I know.” At this point, I wondered if I needed to directly tell him how he paid far more than what I earned as a security guard. But I’d already turned down a job offer to stay here, so he must have known that I felt as if the work I was doing here was infinitely more valuable.

Since we’d had this kind of exchange quite a few times before, Richard tried the tiramisu crepe cake without much fuss. It was obvious he was enjoying it—perhaps his face hadn’t cracked out into a smile or anything of the sort, but there was always a serene look on his face when he was enjoying sweets.

As he ate, a question popped to mind: “Say, Richard, have you had real tiramisu in Italy before?”

Richard paused between bites. “Do you mean to ask if I’ve had authentic tiramisu?”

“Well, you just seem as if you’ve been everywhere in the world…”

Rather than tell me if he’d spent time in Italy or not, Richard began to speak about the conflicted meaning of the word ‘authentic.’

“Tiramisu is Italian in origin, but the exact nature of how it was first produced is still up for debate. As we recognize it today, it certainly does not come in the nature of a crepe cake, but—” He paused again. “Grab yourself a fork, would you?”

I stared at him blankly as he deliberately placed his fork down on his plate. The last few bites of the tiramisu crepe cake remained untouched, and only when he tilted his head in confusion did I rush to the kitchen in realization.

When I returned, Richard continued speaking without commenting on my lack of wits. “Something being authentic indeed means it is the real thing—a genuine article. Authenticity is also related to truth—in art, the style of realism is grounded in an attempt to depict life authentically, without alterations or embellishments. For gemstones this is a fairly simple thing to classify—jewels are mined from specific places, so we designate that which is naturally-occurring as authentic. This runs in opposition as to imitation jewels, which are made from a different material, and approximate the look of a jewel without matching its innate qualities. The question of authenticity also is relevant when looking at heat treatment—pigeon blood rubies that haven’t undergone heat treatment are more valuable, because they have acquired the color naturally, yes?”

I nodded in agreement, reminded of Tanimoto-san’s opinion on heat treatment. She probably prized the authenticity of a gem—the one-of-a-kind nature each jewel had. I understood her feelings, but I also thought there was some kind of wonder in the process of polishing and cutting and heat treatment—each step gave a jewel a special kind of shine. But beauty was the kind of thing where opinions differed often.

I couldn’t imagine anyone disagreeing about Richard’s beauty. “You’ve forgotten to actually put your fork to use,” he said, and I startled out of my daze to hurriedly take a bite. 

As expected, the tiramisu crepe cake was both light and sweet. The texture of crepes was certainly different from what I’d eaten as a child, but both carried that sense of pure delicacy—each layer felt like cotton-candied air. Though it didn’t smell like coffee, there was indeed the warm, rich undertone of what I’d come to understand as coffee’s flavor. If I could spend a birthday just like this… it would be a treasure of a memory.

Richard’s lips curled. “How is it?”                      

I made sure to properly swallow before I replied. “It’s delicious,” I marveled. “I don’t know why I’d forgotten the taste.”

“When you make rice at home, would you consider that rice real or authentic?” Richard asked. When I nodded, still chewing on my final bite of cake, he then asked, “Why?”

Maybe I would buy tiramisu on the way home. Or gift some to Hiromi—I could only assume that my birthday all those years ago was the last time she’d had tiramisu, too. “Well, because it’s rice,” I said. “I bought the rice grains, didn’t I? They were grown naturally. And then I cooked them.”

“If you acquired the exact ingredients required for tiramisu, and followed the same exact process as the original—though there are debates at to what the original is—would you still say that was authentic?”

I frowned. “I… suppose I would? Since everything is exact.” Was there a loophole I was missing?

“Perhaps,” Richard said. “Because it is hard to pinpoint its specific origins, what tiramisu qualifies as authentic can be hard to judge. Though the base components and methods are the same, the exact specifics differ—some may consider any tiramisu that follows the general process to be authentic, while others may not. In the case of champagne, unless what you think of champagne is made in the Champagne region of France, it cannot legally be called by that name. Even if the sparkling wine that is created is similar in taste, or uses the same process and ingredients, if the grapes are not sourced from that region, it will not be champagne.”

“Even though it’s possible to make an equivalent product?”  

“You could, indeed, make a very close match,” Richard said. “But it would legally not be authentic. Can you think of a reason why someone might want a name of a food protected?”

When phrased like that, the answer arrived to me immediately. “Brand protection,” I said. “Because the idea of champagne is precious, if other winemakers started selling something labelled as champagne, it would lose some of its prestige. By controlling what can be called champagne, they retain control over the production and image of champagne.”

“Good for you,” Richard said, and I bit down a smile. “Authenticity holds a different value for many people and many things. All that aside… this tiramisu crepe cake remains delicious.”

“It is,” I agreed, and then began to make him tea.

The rest of the day passed by in peace. Richard read from his collection of books, blond hair glittering under the sharp sun. I busied myself by cleaning the kitchen and running out to complete a few errands. The movement was helpful; the chill of autumn had settled in, and I had made the mistake of dressing far more lightly than Richard. His choice of wear likely made it easy for him to sit still, but I thought that even if he was wearing his suit in a blizzard or a tropical summer, he would seem as even-keeled as ever. That was the beauty of jewels—they were something that was gorgeous from all angles.

Around a half hour before closing time, the intercom buzzed.

Richard set down his book, and I went to let in our surprise customer.

Accompanied by a brush of cold wind, a young man stepped into the shop. He had a slim frame, but despite being dressed as lightly as I was, showed no signs of being sensitive to the cold. His hair was slightly long in the front, bangs barely cropped above his eyes, but it was trimmed evenly. He was dressed casually yet neatly in a simple powder-blue sweater, gray slacks, and loafers.

The door closed behind him, and he glanced around the room once before asking, “This is a jeweler’s store, correct?”

“You’d be right,” I said, guiding him to sit in one of the red armchairs.

His hesitant expression curved into a full-faced smile. As he sat down, the awkward lines of his body began to bleed away, and he relaxed into the chair with an air of steady self-assurance. His pose remained polite, though—he kept his hands carefully folded over his lap, and his ankles were loosely crossed.

Originally, I had wanted to give him something to soothe his nerves, but it looked like that was unneeded. Still, I asked, “Would you like something to drink?” 

“Ah… that milk tea would be nice, if you don’t mind,” the man said, gesturing to Richard’s teacup.

Richard returned from the bookshelf, taking over the process of greeting our newest customer, and I headed back to the kitchen. Both men spoke in clear tones, so even though they spoke at a medium volume, their voices carried well enough.

“…Richard Ranasinghe de Vulpian? Is it alright to call you Richard-san, then?” He spoke the name slowly, but he pronounced Richard’s full name without fumbling.

“Yes, that’s alright. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too, Richard-san. I’m Hanzawa Masato. Apart from gemstones, do you also sell jewelry at this place?”

“Indeed, we do. Is there something in particular you’re looking for?”

I returned to see Hanzawa-san wearing a thoughtful expression on his face. His gaze flickered towards me as I reentered the room. “I was hoping to look at stud earrings… and I’d prefer if they weren’t prohibitively expensive, I suppose. Is there anything else I should specify?”

“Are there any kinds of stones you’re interested in looking at? Or a particular occasion or style this is meant for?”

When I drew close enough, Hanzawa-san turned to face me and accepted my tea, eyes still curved in a pleasant smile. “It’s something like a birthday gift, I suppose. As for stones… I’m not too knowledgeable regarding them.” He paused in contemplation.

Choosing a gift was always a complicated thing, in my opinion. For a gift, the trouble never ended at the purchase—it was always at the gifting that the issues arose. Would they understand the gift with the same meaning that I had in mind when I picked it? I thought about my grandmother and mother choosing my name. Was I the type of person they’d had in mind? I could only hope that was the case.

“I guess… something neutral would be best? The kind of earring fit for daily work wear.”

“Are you interested in looking at birthstones?”

Hanzawa-san sipped his tea, eyes fluttering shut in thought. “Not particularly.”

I had spent enough time with Richard to catch the traces of concern on his face, but not enough to understand the reason. “It will take some time for me to bring my selections out. Please enjoy your tea while you wait,” he said, and then he was off, a determined crease to his brows.

Though I didn’t know exactly what was troubling him, I could learn. Surely Richard wouldn’t mind if I made some small talk?

“Might you also be a university student, Hanzawa-san?”

Hanzawa-san waved dismissively. “It’s only my first year, so I think I’m younger than you. I know I’m a customer, but there’s no need to be formal. Your name is…?”

“Nakata Seigi,” I said. “I’m in my second year.”

“I was right, then,” Hanzawa said. He’d passed over both Richard and my name without comment. I’d expected him to end the conversation there, staying as restrained as he had with Richard, but he spoke to me freely. “Would I be right in saying you seem more interested in jewels as compared to jewelry?” At my confusion, he gestured to my neck, ears, and hands, which were bare of any accessories. “You don’t seem to wear any, so I’d wondered…”

“I suppose it’s the jewel itself that interests me,” I admitted. “Is it the opposite thing for you?”

“Most likely,” Hanzawa said. “It’s what I have experience in, anyways.”

At my once-again befuddled expression, Hanzawa brushed back his hair, and I caught sight of six piercing holes in his left ear.

“I see…” I replied, a little stunned. Now that I knew what to look for, it was easy to spot a few of his piercing holes even when his hair wasn’t brushed back.

Richard had probably noticed them from the moment he’d walked in.

Now that I thought about it clearly, a birthday gift could be presented to oneself, couldn’t it? Just like Yamamoto-san trying to buy herself a garnet. Guys with piercings weren’t all that uncommon in my university, too, but none of them seemed like the type to buy jewels in Richard’s store. Then again, Hanzawa looked so mild-mannered that the existence of his piercings alone was a surprise, so I took this fact in stride. 

In the same way that I’d only noticed the tiramisu in that bakery after asking Richard about coffee, it was only now that I realized the reason for Richard’s concern. If it was a present for himself, the uncertainty to Hanzawa’s answers was troublesome.

“If I could ask…” I prompted as Richard returned to the table.

Richard set down his tamatebako with a harder than usual thud. He was still frowning, though maybe more obviously than before. 

“Sure.”

“Is there a reason a guy as young as you has so many piercings?”

Before I could get a response, I jumped at the sharp click that sounded at my side. Richard had opened up his tamatebako.

Hanzawa kept smiling up at me. He took a long sip of his tea, and then directed his attention towards what Richard had selected.

I leaned over to take a look. As I did, Richard shot a pointed glare towards me. What? I mouthed back, but he ignored me.

The stones Richard had picked were split between gemstones with faceted cuts and cabochons. The studs themselves were made of a simple silver backing, with the stone fitted on top in a rounded or squared shape. The exceptions to this were the studs fitted with lapis lazuli, which were backed with gold. While I recognized the diamond and amethyst, there were a few colored stones in faceted cuts that I wasn’t certain I could identify. But the ones that caught my attention were the larger stud earrings, which were fitted with polished stones that didn’t sparkle but had bands of red, terracotta, and peach striped across its surface. Others had the same banding pattern but in soft grays and whites.

“These are beautiful,” Hanzawa said, smile fading into a look of deep consideration. He leaned forward to study each one. “Diamonds are a classic choice,” he mused.

“You mentioned that you might prefer a neutral color,” Richard explained, “The clear color of a diamond is well-suited to that purpose. They might be a little above your price point, but if you enjoy the look of them, there are various alternatives you can seek out.”

“I see,” Hanzawa said. He gestured to the rest of the jewels. “I recognize the amethyst. And the… lapis lazuli, yes? Seeing it in person, it certainly is a vivid kind of blue,” he commented. “But I’m a little unfamiliar with the rest of these gems. Would you mind explaining them?”

“Of course,” Richard said. “The green stone you see here is peridot, and the stones in yellow and orange shades here are citrine. Like amethyst, it is a type of quartz. This”—he pointed to a deep orange stone— “is heat-treated amethyst, which looks quite similar. The banded stones are agate. They are a mix of quartz and moganite—both have an equivalent chemical composition, but different crystal structures.”

I hadn’t heard of moganite until now—unless I was mishearing morganite, but Richard had such wonderful pronunciation I thought that was impossible. 

Despite the overload of information, all Hanzawa did was nod in understanding. “Peridot,” he repeated to himself, a curious look in his eyes. “I don’t think I’ve seen any before.”

The stone he was looking at was a sparkling kind of lime green. “It’s like the color of spring,” I said. 

“Yes,” Hanzawa agreed, and bowed his head, suddenly bashful. “It’s… well, it’s a color I’m fond of,” he admitted.

“Spring is a wonderful descriptor,” Richard said. “Peridot tends to come in lighter shades than most emeralds, and it far more affordable. Would you like to see more?”

Hanzawa shook his head. “…No, it’s not really… well-suited for me.” After considering the other stones before him, he pointed to the lapis lazuli. “What does this get its gold flecks from?”

“Lapis lazuli is composed of several different minerals, and a common one happens to be pyrite, which is what creates that gold color. As you mentioned, the blue of lapis lazuli is quite vivid, which is why, historically, it was ground to create ultramarine. Before a synthetic alternative was created, it was an extremely expensive and prized paint.”  

Hanzawa smiled down at the stones. “I’ve heard of ultramarine. Isn't it what provides the blue shades in many of Johannes Vermeer’s works?”

I made a note to ask Richard who Johannes Vermeer was later. Richard’s clients often spoke of things I wasn’t knowledgeable about, but this was the first time it had happened with someone so close to my age—though it wasn’t like people my age often visited this shop in the first place.

“You would be correct. Blue pigments were otherwise hard to come by, so his work is well-known for his use of ultramarine.” After a pause, Richard added, “If you are looking for something neutral, blue tends to be a color that pairs well with others.”

“Oh, that’s—I’ll keep it in mind,” Hanzawa said. Haltingly, he asked, “Is jewelry made of lapis lazuli—is it quite common?”

“Compared to the rest of these stones, it’s a bit of a more delicate material,” Richard allowed, “so it has to be carefully looked after. But historically, lapis lazuli has been used in all kinds of jewelry.”

“…Is that so.”

Silence dragged on between them. Hanzawa seemed unbothered by it, though it was hard to see much of his expression from above. Even face to face, his bangs and lashes expertly obscured his eyes without actually hiding them. 

“…This agate. I feel like I’ve seen stones with this banding before.”

“Banding is characteristic but not exclusive to agate,” Richard said. “It has been used for carvings as well as jewelry and remains popular today. Each piece of agate has differences in how exactly the banding occurs, so one could say that each piece is truly unique.”

“Unique…” A ghost of uncertainty appeared on Hanzawa’s face, but it was gone in a flash. “Does it come in any other colors?”

“Oftentimes agate will be dyed into various colors, but there are some other colors present in naturally occurring agates. Would you like to see them?”

“Surely that dyed agate is prettier, huh?” Hanzawa murmured, so low I barely heard him. Apropos of nothing, he then straightened up, looking flustered. “Sorry,” he said. “I think—I think I’m a little in over my head.” He drank the last of his tea in disconcerting silence. “And it’s near closing, anyways,” he added. 

“If you’d like to come back, we take appointments,” I said.

“…Right,” Hanzawa said, eyes still fixed on the sets of earrings before him. He set his teacup down on the table. “What would be a good time?”

“Sunday, 4PM?” Richard suggested, and Hanzawa agreed.

With that settled, Hanzawa thanked me for the tea, bid a polite goodbye to us both, and exited the shop, leaving another gust of crisp air in his wake.

Hanzawa had been right—it was now closing time. I went to collect the now empty teacups, only to find Richard looking up at me expectantly.

“What?” I asked.

He sighed. “Nothing that concerns you, I suppose.”

“By the way, who’s Johannes Vermeer?” I asked, ignoring the faint irritation in his voice.

“Have you ever seen a picture of Girl with a Pearl Earring?” Richard asked.

A vague portrait sprang to mind. “He was the artist?” I confirmed, and then went to wash the teacups.

When I returned, Richard hadn’t moved from his seat. Rather than close it and return to his room of jewels, he was staring at his open tamatebako. 

I took a seat next to him. “Thinking about our client?”

“…Jewels reflect the inner feelings of a person,” he said after a long silence. “I wonder how to convey that truth to a person like him.”

“Is it harder because he’s young?” I asked, unsure what Richard thought Hanzawa was like. I didn’t even have enough information to describe Hanzawa as like anything. “Well, Hajime-kun was much younger, but his circumstances were different…”

“You’re quite young yourself,” Richard commented dryly. “Aren’t you two the same age?”

“If we went to the same university, I’d be his senpai,” I said. “Still. It’s rare. I thought he’d be more nervous.”

“…I don’t think he wasn’t nervous,” Richard said, but when I prodded him for an explanation, he didn’t elaborate.

“Well,” I said, wondering how I could clear those worry lines from his face, “we’ll see him next week.”

“Maybe,” Richard said, and this, I didn’t need him to explain.

If Hanzawa Masato came in next week at the appointed time, or if he had disappeared out that door for forever, it was impossible to know.

#my writing #kiri.txt #cfojr #hanzawa to tashiro #hanzawa masato #the case files of jeweler richard #i just KNOW i'm going to post this and find some grammar or spelling mistake i didn't catch and. I'm just going to have to live with that #jeweler richard

[akaridream]

after dark pt. 2: rooftop (hawks x reader)

tags: hawks x reader

cw: cursing, hawks is a flirt, afab reader, mentions of drugs/alcohol, smut in later chapters

taglist: @inkthgoat ​ @pnsduck @mysideeffectsofyou

masterlist

You nearly cried when you saw half a million yen in your bank account Saturday morning. You spent a few extra minutes in bed, grinning at the ceiling and thanking the kami for Hawks. You couldn’t help but think of the smile in his voice and the playful spark in his eye. I should thank him again, you thought. You reached for your phone just as a text came through.

Hawks: morning! the transfer should have gone through by now, lemme know if you got it

You: Yes, I got it. Thank you again, the amount is extremely generous for three weeks. I hope my work lives up to it

Hawks: i’m sure you’ll be worth it :) so for monday, i was thinking we should meet up near the psc hq with enough time for you to give me a quick crash course on taking photos for evidence. I’ve got an ear piece for you too, so we can be in constant contact while we’re spread out

You: Yeah we can do that. Do you have a DSLR?

Hawks: lol what is that

You: Are you serious

Hawks: nah haha its the 21st century, i know what a digital camera is :D i don’t have one though

You: omg good grief Hawks

You: Most cell phones can take pretty good pics these days, so I’m sure yours will be fine. Or I can teach you how to work the SLR and I’ll use my phone since I know what I’m doing

Hawks: ooo I kNoW wHaT i’M dOinG

You: Wow, the attitude. I could always just take your money and run

Hawks: could you tho? i bet i could track you down

You: I could go off the grid and you’d never find me

Hawks: eh, you’d get bored and lonely. plus i have my ways

You: Maybe bored, but I doubt I’d get lonely. Snowy owls are solitary

Hawks: not always ;)

You couldn’t help but blush. His cheeky banter made you wonder how he could be so comfortable with someone he just met. You crafted, then deleted, then rewrote, then deleted your reply again, trying to find the line between professional and playful. He was right, after all, and spring was on its way.

You: I should have known you were going to be a handful, Hero.

Hawks: ;) ;) ;)

You rolled your eyes and blushed again. Goofball, you thought. You just might reciprocate the flirting, once your work was done.

You: Text me when you have something important to talk about, Bird Brain

Hawks: aw c’mon, i’m just teasing ya

Hawks: how does 3:30p monday at the family mart a block east of the psc sound? we can grab some snacks, hang out on the rooftop and take some practice shots

You: No offense, but you kind of attract attention, so going anywhere in public in the light of day with you is going to be a no for me. Nighttime shooting is more involved than shooting in full daylight, that’s when I think we’ll need to practice. How about tomorrow after sundown?

Hawks: you just can’t wait to see me, huh?

Hawks: but yeah, I can make that work. same place, 8p tomorrow. and i’ll grab snacks beforehand, all by my lonesome :’( what kinda stuff you like?

You: Sounds good to me. Nothing spicy. Other than that I’m really not picky. Something salty and something sweet I guess

Hawks: no spice? bummer

Hawks: i’ll hook you up tho. see you then!

You felt childish sitting on the roof with your feet overhanging the side of the stories-high building downtown Fukuoka. The busy street below bustled with life, but no crimson feathers to speak of yet. Your stomach was convinced you were on a roller coaster, slowing ticking up and up and up towards the crest of a great drop. No professional dealings had ever gotten you in knots like this.

What if I’m a bad teacher? What if he’s a total moron and doesn’t understand anything I say? What if I trip over my words? What if I forget something super important and his photos turn out horrible? What if he forgets to take off the lens cap?

Your anxiety and the bracing breeze sent a chill through you. You pulled your thumb sleeves tighter over your knuckles. Cold weather was your comfort zone, but something in the air felt… Different.

You pulled your camera bag onto your lap and fiddled with the settings. The night cityscape from the top of the building made for a nice shot, and it might ease your nerves to practice what you wanted to say in your mind before Hawks arrived. You stood, knelt, leaned, trying to get the composition just right when you sensed a presence behind you.

“Ayo! Getting started without me?”

“Geez, tell the entire neighborhood we’re up here!” you griped, turning off your camera.

Hawks laughed, took off his flight goggles and slid his headphones off to hang around his neck. “Not like we’re doing anything nefarious up here anyway! How ya been?” he asked, sitting down to lean against the half wall ledge next to you, konbini bag in tow.

“Fine, just getting a couple shots of the skyline,” you said before stowing your camera. “How are you?”

“Oh, you know. Same old stuff, chasing cliche thieves and villains. Come check out what I got for ya. Whatever you don’t like I’ll be happy to eat. Cool jacket by the way. Custom made?”

“Oh, this?” you gestured. “I modified it myself actually. All I did was take some cheap track jacket, cut a hole in the back and surged the edges. Well, and I dyed it black.”

“Let me see the back,” he asked, gesturing for you to turn around. You turned shyly, spreading your wings out to compliment the work you’d done. Hawks smirked, impressed. “Very nice. You sew then?”

You tucked your wings back in and sat next to Hawks. “I like to make or modify stuff for my wings at least. Tailors are expensive, plus sometimes I get the itch to do creative stuff.”

“That’s really cool. I may have to commission you for some of my ideas!” he said, pulling out a veritable buffet of konbini goodies. You chuckled.

“Geez, are we expecting guests?” You grabbed a pack of umaibo, one of your favorite crunchy snacks.

“Nah, I’m just a growing boy! Hero work burns a lot of calories, and I haven’t had a break since lunch!” he said as he tore into a famous Famichiki. He offered a second to you. “Saw these right next to the register and couldn’t pass ‘em up. Something about konbini fried chicken warms the soul, ya know?”

You took it, smiling. “These remind me of middle school.”

“Yeah?” he asked. “How so?”

“There was a Family Mart between school and home, I used to grab them all the time,” you said. “Glad you don’t mind being a cannibal.”

He laughed. “Right? People call me that all the time! We can’t help that we’re birds of prey!” His laughter warmed you. Or was it the hot food?

“I always wonder what school was like,” Hawks continued. “I was home schooled. Well, sort of. I never went to regular school at least.”

“You didn’t go to UA?” you asked. “I thought that was pretty much a requirement for pro heroes.”

He shook his head. “Nope, not for me at least. I might have liked to go there, but…” He looked into the distance. “Growing up wasn’t the best for me.”

You tilted your head and looked at him. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

He shrugged and sighed. “Eh, s’just how it is. Things are good now. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about stuff like where meals are gonna come from anymore, you know?”

You frowned. “Damn, it was that bad? I hate that.”

He polished off his chicken and stole some umaibo from your open bag. “Yeah, it was shitty but it didn’t last forever. But enough about me anyway. What’s your family like?”

“Mom was pretty quiet and Dad was super busy, so pretty typical family, I guess. Although I do have a twin brother.”

“Ooh, that’s cool. Where do they all live?”

“Up in Hokkaido,” you said, stealing back your umaibo.

“Damn, that’s far. Anywhere near Sapporo?”

“Mom’s near Date where I grew up, a couple hours southeast of Sapporo. Don’t really know where my dad is these days, and my brother’s way out in the middle of nowhere. He hates the city even more than me.”

“You hate the city?” he asked, leaning towards you.

You nodded. “Too much going on. The noise, the lights, the swarms of people… It’s a lot. My hometown was pretty quiet but there was no opportunity for work there. Sapporo would have been alright probably but… I just wanted a big change I guess, so I picked Fukuoka. So here I am, just trying to cope with my quirk.”

You surprised yourself with how much you said, chalking it up to Hawks’ comforting presence and being a good listener.

“Crazy that you moved across the whole country. Does your brother have a similar quirk?”

“Yep, almost exactly the same. His wings are pretty much pure white, almost no speckles like I have.”

“Ah, interesting,” he said. “You guys close?”

You gave a cynical chuckle. “Definitely not. I’m not really close with anyone.”

He tilted his head. “Not with anyone? Really?”

You shrugged, trying to avoid his eyes.

“No best friend?” he asked.

“When I was in school. But not anymore.”

“No boyfriend?” he asked incredulously.

You laughed darkly. “No, definitely not.”

Hawks furrowed his brow but smiled playfully. “You mean you’re not a total ball-busting heart-breaker?”

You snorted. “Hell no. Try chronically single.”

He chuckled. “I may be high on the public approval charts, but I’m afraid I suffer that fate too.” He tossed you some Winter Melty Pocky. “My excuse is that I’m always too busy, but I wouldn’t mind making time for someone special. Maybe someday when things settle down and villains don’t run the streets some angel will sweep me off my wings.” He had a wistful look in his eyes as he tore through another snack.

“Yeah, I guess I wouldn’t mind that either,” you said.

Your mind drifted back to your middle school days as you opened the Pocky. Your first kiss had been stolen by a rambunctious boy in your class who was dared to play the Pocky game. The popular girls turned him down, but you, not knowing the true intention of the game, waited patiently with the biscuit in your mouth. As his lips crashed against yours, you were confused, not lovestruck as you wanted your first kiss to be. The only kiss since then was a brief make out session at the only college party you ever attended. He tasted of cheap beer and tobacco, a combination that still makes your stomach turn. You never spoke again once winter break arrived, but at least the occasion was consensual.

As you munched on the bitter chocolate, you wondered what Hawks might taste like. You caught yourself and squeezed your eyes shut. Am I insane? I just met this guy two days ago!

“So, the other day you said you don’t trust heroes. Any particular reason why?” Hawks asked.

Your face grew tense. “A few. The hero market is pretty over-saturated these days.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, that might be true. But how does that affect your trust in them?”

You crossed your arms. “I’m not convinced there’s enough crime to go around. I think a lot of them probably take care of a couple high-publicity jobs and go home after an hour’s work.”

Hawks eyed you. “Have you looked at crime statistics recently?”

“Not since college.”

“You might be surprised at them. I’m not trying to say you’re wrong, but crime rates have changed a lot with quirks getting more common.”

“Yeah, and while quirks are a fine explanation for the crime increase and the overabundance of heroes, I’d rather it be police stopping crime. Doing it for the notoriety defeats a lot of the purpose in my eyes.”

“What’s the difference though?” Hawks asked, turning towards you. “Isn’t it good that crime gets stopped, period?”

You shook your head. “Doing something good just because you know people are watching? Seems a little hollow. To me, it’s more about integrity. Heroes should work behind the scenes more and focus on doing the right things when no one is looking.”

He nodded. “I completely agree. So how do you know they aren’t already doing that if all you see are their TV appearances?”

You opened your mouth to reply, but once you met Hawks’ golden eyes, your words died in your throat. Damn, you thought. He’s exactly right. He seemed to know it too, but he didn’t boast. He only continued to search your eyes, his lips upturned in a soft smile.

“So, what do I need to know for your camera?” Hawks asked as he opened a bag of spicy chips.

“First thing, you had better not get any of that spicy dust on it, or I’ll toss you off the roof,” you quipped. You might not mind a touch of spice, if it came from his lips.

“Your threat would be scarier if I couldn’t fly,” he said, attempting to steal one of your Pocky sticks. You swatted the back of his hand playfully.

“Uh-uh, if you wanted some Pocky you should have gotten two, bird brain,” you said, pulling out a stick and waving it to tempt him. “These are my favorite.”

Hawks pouted. “Aw, but spicy chocolate is so good!”

You briefly thought of putting the biscuit between your teeth to tease him with it, just like the old Pocky game, but you could never work up the nerve to be so bold. Instead, you held the stick in front of his mouth and rolled your eyes.

“Geez, if you’re gonna whine about it.”

“You sure?” he asked, holding your eye contact. You rested the Pocky against his lips. He smiled and gently bit the biscuit in half, then chased it with a spicy chip, then ate the other half of the Pocky. He hummed in delight as he licked the flavored dust off his fingers. You scrunched up your nose.

“That is so gross,” you said, laughing.

“Mm, the chocolate on those is even better than the regular ones! Definitely a good combo. You sure you don’t wanna give it a try?”

“Absolutely not, especially after you just licked your fingers!”

He gave a menacing smile and extracted a chip from the bag, loaded with spicy dust. “Come on now, just one won’t kill you.”

“Ugh, no way!” You pushed his arm away, giggling. He easily overpowered you and brought the chip dangerously close to your face. “That smells like fire, oh my gosh Hawks!”

You playfully shoved at each other, laughing as you tried to get the diabolical chip as far away as possible. Hawks feigned weakness and you grabbed his wrist, aiming the chip back towards his mouth. He chomped it, then lunged for you Pocky, snatching it out of your hand.

“You cheater!” you squealed, grabbing his other wrist and struggling with him for control.

“Ah! Damn girl, you’ve got some sharp claws!”

You looked at your hands, noticing your naturally black nails digging into his skin. You released him, suddenly guilty over the half moon marks left in his flesh.

“Oh, geez, sorry!” you yelped. Hawks just smiled and took out a piece of Pocky.

“No worries, I’m tough. I can handle a battle scar or two,” he said, holding the Pocky to your lips. “See, didn’t even break the skin.”

You took the Pocky with your teeth and turned away, cheeks warm. “Maybe I should have for stealing my treat.”

“Didn’t your parents ever teach you to share?” he asked with a gentle elbow to your side.

“They taught me to fend for myself! Now are we gonna goof off all night or we gonna get down to business? We do have work to do tomorrow.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I just like making you laugh.” His smile made his eyes wrinkle. Your heart stuttered and you couldn’t help but smile too. He’s so pretty…

“Oh, but speaking of work, here’s the ear piece.” He pulled a device from his pocket and handed it to you. “Connect it to your phone and tomorrow while we’re on surveillance, we can talk to each other.”

You examined the compact device. “And what if I get sick of hearing you?”

He grinned and shrugged. “You can always turn down the volume and see how long it takes me to notice you aren’t listening.”

You laughed. “Alright, sounds good. Now, let’s get started with some camera stuff. Do you know what aperture is?”

Hawks pretended to rack his brain. “Hm, that company from the Portal games?”

“We’re gonna be here all night, aren’t we?”

He shrugged. “Only if you want to.”

next (part 3)

#hawks x y/n #bnha hawks #hawks x you #keigo takami x reader #keigo takami

[chaosbled]

Headcanon time!

If Chuuya buys something that turns out not to be what he wanted/expected, is he the sort of person to return it for a refund or does it just count his losses and buy something else instead?

What is Ara's biggest vice? Does it impact or interfere with his life in a negative way?

1.

Okay, this took me forever to answer but only because it actually touches on a big part of my portrayal of Chuuya, that being that he hates waste, & tends to be extremely responsible with his money, at least when it comes to buying things for himself. For starters, growing up on the streets from age 7-15, he obviously didn’t have money practically ever. He’s learned to budget very well, he knows where every dollar he makes goes and has multiple bank accounts and budgets for all aspects of his life be it recreational, culinary, wardrobe, work expenses he eventually gets compensated for, and even investments and savings that he never touches.

Also a product of his upbringing, he saw just how wasteful people can be. Millions of yen worth of food gets tossed out in Yokohama every year, just from the restaurant / grocer industry alone, which doesn’t include private residences. He saw that. He’s dug through dumpsters behind popular restaurants before, found packages of food one day passed expiration that hasn’t even gone bad yet, and kept his Sheep fed with it on many occasions growing up. Because of that, Chuuya has a few hang ups that could be considered virtuous by some, or unhealthy by others, depending on how you look at it.

Chuuya doesn’t throw food away if he can help it. It happens maybe twice a year, usually only when he’s very busy and doesn’t pay enough attention to what’s in his cupboards. He’s a busy man as one of only two currently active Executives doing field work at the moment ( hi Verlaine in the basement, rest in piss Ace ). He does a lot of meal prep for the sake of saving time, so already he buys food in certain quantities and portions it out. If on the off chance he has food in his fridge he knows he won’t finish before it will go bad or he ends up not liking it? He donates it. He’s an adventurous cook and loves to try new recipes, but he doesn’t always like everything he gets, so once a month he’ll bring a few big bags of snacks plus perishable food items down to the local homeless shelter. They know and trust him by now, but if for some reason it’s something they can’t accept legally due to it being open or something, he’ll bring it to work and leave in the break room for his colleagues to help themselves.

Long story short, he was extremely food insecure growing up and it’s honestly a contributing factor in his history of disordered eating, so he doesn’t throw away food unless it’s inedible / dangerous. He doesn’t hoard food, he won’t hold onto something he knows he can’t use, but he won’t toss it if it’s still good and someone can make use of it. The same thing applies to other purchases. He gets a lot of luxury brand clothing and some of that stuff has no returns or exchanges in their policy. If he can’t get a refund, he donates it or gives it to someone he knows can use it. Whether it’s food, clothes, furniture or electronics, if it’s something that can reasonably be made use of by another person, he’ll rehome it because he knows what it’s like to see people throw away things that kids like him could have really used growing up and he thinks it’s an irresponsible waste to toss out good food. If he were religious, he’d even call it a sin.

2.

Oh boy, ARA. My baby. My little trash demon of a god. My first instinct is usually to say his biggest vice, if we’re going classic vices versus virtues, is wrath. He’s wrathful. Just like his father Susanoo-no-Mikoto, he’s rebellious at heart, but he was never a bad or wicked god until his relatives began pushing that image onto him. He used to be a deity of metalwork, protection, seafaring and foreigners ( immigrants ). He can heal the sick and cure or ease ailments of the lower body, especially the legs, but also the eyes. Many blacksmiths suffered facial and eye injuries in their work so some sources even say he could cure eye illnesses and diseases.

He only became wrathful after losing the faith of the people that worshiped him as the old religion was pushed out in favour of the more modern syncretism between Shintoism and Buddhism. Having his family turn on him and losing his sphere of influence, worship wise, did a number on his mental state. That’s when he started inserting himself into wars and conflicts, mostly out of spite for his family whose kin were often on the front lines, but also curiosity over humans. His first real act of wrath and the moment that led to him getting expelled from his aunt’s kingdom was when he empowered the opposing side in Emperor Jimmu’s conquering of Japan. Jimmu was ‘chosen’ by his ancestor, Ara’s aunt, Amaterasu, to rule Japan which involved colonizing and wiping out the small ruling tribes that made up the land. Ara sided with those tribes and wound up falling in love with a Prince ( a chieftain, really ), Nagasunehiko, in what is now Osaka. Itsuse, Jimmu’s brother, was killed in a skirmish which invoked Amaterasu’s wrath. She considered Ara’s siding against godly lineage an act of treason against the Heavens, more or less, and permanently expelled him much like she did his father centuries ago before Susanoo underwent trials and earned her forgiveness.

Because of this incident, Ara lost his human lover and was branded a wicked and evil god of misfortune. The wrath he gained from that has never truly left him. In the modern day, he copes by basically being a disaster. Sex, drugs, drinking, fighting, causing trouble, he fills the void he experiences that way, but despite his general dislike for humanity he’s far more disgusted by what he sees as his family’s willingness to profit ( gain power from their faith ) yet stand idly by watching them suffer, sometimes encouraging it. His family, in his eyes, are selfish hypocrites. They treated him like an outsider then had the nerve to scorn him when he behaved like one. He’s basically come to terms with being disowned but he can’t forgive them for not even intervening when he was captured and experimented on by humans, which poses a danger not only to humans but to deities too, as we saw from the explosion he caused in Suribachi when Chuuya’s gate was forcibly opened and wiped out an entire settlement / military base.

He wants to tear down all of Heaven with his bare hands and shove a sword through Amaterasu’s chest, show her and her family the amount of mercy he was given when he was ejected with no way to protect himself for thousands of years: none. He spent centuries trying to find a way to end his lonely suffering only to be captured by sheer luck, by human scientists and subjected to a fate worse than hell for decades until two twink French spies with issues pried him / Chuuya out of confinement.

So yeah, wrath is definitely his great sin, but his chosen vice is more or less all of them, insofar as he can use it to mask his actual suffering. He tends to drop the playboy party mask around people he knows can see through it, such as Dazai, or people who know his true desires for revenge such as @giftandguile’s Fyodor. Funny enough, though Ara thinks it’s hilarious, he gets along best with people who hold some traces of inhumanity or who see themselves as outsiders - see Dazai, Verlaine, Chuuya, Fyodor, and even your specific portrayal of Jono.

He knows what it’s like, now, to be physically human by all outwards appearances while knowing you couldn’t be more different from those you speak and interact with every day.

#These were good questions that made me think a lot! Thank you! #eating disorder // #homelessness // #food insecurity // #toxic family // #injury mention // #murder // #death // #implied suicide // #Please note this is not meant to be a historically accurate depiction of Japanese mythology! #Arahabaki is a largely forgotten and mysterious deity so I just did a lot of storytelling with the bits of info we are given! #PAST || You’re Part Of A Machine; You Are Not A Human Being { CHUUYA } #HEADCANON || Spilled Ink { CHUUYA } #PAST || Nothing But A Drop Of Water In The Vast Ocean Of Time { ARAHABAKI } #HEADCANON || The Forgotten God { ARAHABAKI } #torture // #experimentation // #medical abuse //

[craftycheetah]

The smell of freshly baked cookies and brewing coffee filled Hitoshi and Denki’s noses as they stepped inside, wary of the possible cats at their feet. Hitoshi chuckles at the calico wandering between his legs, softly meowing at him.

“Hey, Dot,” he smiles, walking up to the cashier. 

“Mrow!”

“The cats here are so friendly. I have to take pictures of them. I mean, look at the Tabby and the Toyger cuddling over there. I’m posting them on my Twitter. They’re so cute,” Denki smiles before stopping as he sees Onyx. “Oh…hey lil buddy.”

“You good, Denks?”

“This is the one that hates me.”

“But he’s so handsome. Hey Onyx,” Hitoshi smiles.

“Oh! Uh… it’s… you,” you mumble. The counter suddenly became the most interesting thing in the room as you looked down in embarrassment, your hand reaching back to scratch your neck. 

“Oh yeah, and it’s…you, I guess,” he chuckles. “How’s the little guy?”

“He’s okay. He’s right here if you wanna say hi?” you mumble.

“Where?”

Pushing your gray sweater away from your cargo pants, reaching into your thigh pocket. “Right here.”

Taking the cute off-white kitten from your pocket, who’s now much cleaner than when Hitoshi found him, you smile as he squeals and looks at Hitoshi. “It’s okay, little one. You want a snack?” you coo. You reach into your other pocket and take out a tube of soft cat treats. Adjusting him so he rests in the crook of your arm, you squeeze out the treat and snicker at his enthusiasm as he licks it up eagerly. “Good kitty.” 

“Can I hold him?” Hitoshi asks.

“Are your hands clean?” you ask.

“Yeah.”

Handing the kitten over to the purple-haired man, you smile as Cookie Shake nuzzles into Hitoshi. ‘Aww, that’s so precious,’ you think. ‘He’s good with cats.’

“So, what can I get for you and your friend?”

“It’s kind of a large order,” Hitoshi mumbles, eyes focused on a purring, closed-eyed Cookie Shake.

“I’m sure I can handle it. What would you like?”

“One berry blast, a matcha cold foam, a peach and cream black tea, an ombre iced coffee with oat milk, and a black widow frap,” he lists off before looking over at Denki, who’s lifting his legs away from Onyx, who’s finding joy in smacking his calves.

“I don’t think he likes me,” Denki whines. “Can you buy a set of cat treats so he’ll stop assaulting me?”

“So a bag of cat treats, a berry blast, a matcha cold foam, a peach and cream black tea, an ombre iced coffee, a black widow frap, and a vanilla lavender coffee. Anything for your friend?”

“A double chocolate chip frap, extra whipped cream, please?” Denki asks.

“Wait, I never ordered a vanilla lavender coffee,” Hitoshi realizes.

“No, you didn't, but you didn’t order for yourself,” you snicker.

“Dang it.”

“You got distracted by the cat. It happens all the time.”

“Yeah, a vanilla lavender coffee.”

“Let me read that back. A bag of cat treats, a berry blast, a matcha cold foam, a peach and cream black tea, an ombre iced coffee, a black widow frap, a double chocolate chip frap with extra whipped cream, and a vanilla lavender coffee?”

“Yup.”

“4,987.86 please.” 

Reaching into his wallet, Hitoshi takes out a 5,000 yen note and waits for his change, giving you a slight nod when you hand him his coins.

“Thank you, have a nice day. You can wait in the lounge area and spend time with the cats if you'd like. Here are your treats, and I suggest the spot not too far from the window for some of the more friendlier cats,” you smile, taking a bag of cat treats from behind the counter and handing it to Denki, who eagerly grabs it and makes his way to the window.

“Thank you,” Denki calls out while walking away.

Reaching out for Hitoshi, you grab his sleeve, stopping him before he can follow. “Here, on the house. Also, as an apology for macing you the other day.”

Hitoshi looks at the layered cheesecake and smiles. “I already forgave you since it was an accident, and you acted out of reflex. It’s fine, but I’m not passing up free cheesecake,” he chuckles, looking at the geometric design of cocoa powder on top of the layered coffee cheesecake.

“Really?! Thanks.”

Hitoshi hands Cookie Shake back to you, and you start making their large order.

Ten minutes passed after you, and the boys said your goodbye; it was almost Tsuyu’s shift, so you decided to make her life a little easier by tidying up the place a bit. You heard the bell chime and looked up, seeing a face you did not want to see.

“Wow,” Dabi whistles. “Toga was right. This is a nice place.” 

You felt your blood go cold as you stared at the man in front of you. Dabi, Shiggy’s right-hand man, strolled in with a smirk and an unlit cigarette in his mouth.

Dabi strolled towards you, noticing a small white cat near the counter. “The cats seem friendly too,” he smiles, trying to pet the cat before flinching as she hisses and scurries away from him. “Or at least they’re supposed to be.”

“Why are you here? Your turf isn’t around here. As far as I know.”

“I had things to do, so I was in the area. Shiggy said he wanted me to check on ya,” he shrugs before his sapphire eyes fixate on you as he gets closer. “At first, I thought, ‘why should I? This is stupid,’ until I saw something through your window.

A chill ran up your spine as you tried to figure out what he saw. Trying not to sweat, you gulp softly and look at him. “So, um, wh-what did you see, exactly?”

Ignoring your question, he makes his way towards the seat by the window where you knew Denki was sitting while playing with the cats about twenty minutes ago. Picking it up with two fingers, he looks at the jacket with the words “Mad Dogs” stitched onto the back in disgust and sneers.

“Was this here during your shift?” he huffs.

“Uh, nope! Nope, never seen it before. Must’ve been left behind by a customer or something.”

“So, you don’t mind if I burn it then?” Dabi smirks, taking out his lighter and moving it towards the leather sleeve.

“Dabi, wait! Wait! Stop!”

Snickering, he closes the lighter and grins. “You know how the boss feels about other bikers,” he sighs with no remorse in his words.

Staying quiet, you look away from him and rub your arm. 

Dabi continues, “Tsk, tsk, tsk, wait ‘till he hears about this. Poor Shiggy’s gonna be so disappointed.” 

Looking back at him, you whine. “Why does he have to know? Please, Dabi, they’re just customers, and I just work here!” you plead. 

Dabi’s phone rings, pulling his attention away from you. He looks at it before rolling his eyes. “Ugh, I gotta head out. It was fun talking to you, though. Hopefully, the boss doesn’t get too mad at you,” he laughs before making his way towards the door. Before he steps out, he looks back at you and smiles. “Watch your back, pudding.”

________________________________________________________________________________________

Purr Like An Engine pt.5

←prev || Masterlist || next→

»Summary: Bikers weren’t necessarily a problem in your city, but to you, they were like the bubonic plague. After running into one of them, you had to ask yourself, are bikers really that much of a nuisance?

Ghost readers don’t get fed!

Taglist: @endeavours-jockstrap @milkmademozzarella @mxonigirimiya @kurocantcommunicate @minninugget @readergurl20

Send an ask if you want to be on the taglist!

© craftycheetah: all rights reserved. Do not edit, modify, repost, or claim my works as your own. Reblogs are appreciated.

#hitoshi shinso x reader #x black reader #bnha x reader #bnha smau #shinsou x reader #bnha x black!reader #shinso x reader #shinsou hitoshi #mha x poc!reader #mha shinsou #mha smau #bnha social media au #bnha shinsou #mha x reader #bnha

[randoimago]

Hello from Naoki anon once again! |ω･)ﾉ May I request "3,000 Follower Celebration Friends to Lovers, Confessing Feelings"? For Naoki, of course, please? As always thank you!

Promises Made and Promises Kept

Fandom: Persona 4

Character(s): Naoki Konishi

Type of Request: 3,000 Followers Oneshots

Note(s): As always, you're welcome and I hope you enjoyed this!!

Summer had arrived in Inaba, and it was awful. Naoki couldn't walk anywhere without swelting. It didn't matter how high the AC in the shop or even at school was, it was miserable.

What was more miserable is it's the first summer without his sister. He had mourned and still does time-to-time, but he has tried to continue with his life. But sometimes it's still difficult.

"Remember that time she threw a cup of ice water at you because you kept complaining about the heat?" A smile crossed his lips as he sat next to you in the shop, both eating an ice pop as you hung out like usual.

"Yeah, I also remember how you didn't even warn me about it," he replies as he remembers the memory of years ago. You have stayed his friend through it all. And not once did you pity him. You gave your sympathies, of course, but you kept treating him like your friend. Like he wasn't going to fall apart and break even if he did feel like it sometimes.

"She said she'd pay me to keep you distracted."

He laughs at the shrug you give, and he feels a warm feeling at remembering the memory of him freezing a bit from the ice water and his sister giving you a few hundred yen. Enough to buy him his favorite snack to cheer him up. The memory is a nice one. Sure, he feels a twinge of sadness from it, but overall, it is nice.

"Do you want to visit her?" You ask him and he thinks for a moment before nodding. He did like to visit her and fill her in on what has been happening. And he especially liked when you went with him.

You stopped at a vending machine before you went to the graves. He watched as you got the drink she always liked, and he'd make a face at in the past. And he smiles as you lay it on her grave when you finally arrive.

"Hey, Saki, I haven't thrown water at your brother yet. It will happen though, I promise," you say cheekily and give him a smile while he rolls his eyes.

You both stay there and talk to her and each other. A nice breeze had picked up to combat the summer air. Time seemed to move by fast as laughter was exchanged as well as some tears now and then just from memories. And then it was time for you to both go.

You said your goodbyes to Saki as you left, walking in a bit of silence. At some point, you apologized to Naoki for the promise you made to Saki because it was still coming. Naoki just rolled his eyes again, but he knew that he made his own promise to her that he needed to fulfill too.

When you made it back to the shop, the temperature seemed to have dropped a good bit when evening approached. It was still hot, but not as awful as earlier. He listened as you said you were getting another popsicle and Naoki pulled out the paper with the speech he rewrote so many times and practiced again and again. It was when he was turned around and reading that you attacked.

"Seriously?" He questioned unamused as he felt the water hit his back. It wasn't iced, thankfully, but he still gave you a look as he turned to you. You just smiled at his reaction before noticing the paper he held and managed to keep from getting wet.

"What's that?" You asked and he went to hide it, only piquing your curiosity and making you grab it from him. Naoki froze as he watched you read, and he felt his heart pounding in his chest as you saw the words that lay on the page. "Naoki?" You asked quietly as you looked up at him after reading.

"I had wanted to make a romantic thing of it, but you ruined it," he tries to joke but it comes out more nervously. "Saki knew about my feelings before I did, and I promised her I'd confess when I realized she was right. I rewrote that stupid speech so many times but could never find the right moment," he confesses softly as he looks to you.

"I see," you mutter as you look down at the paper. He bites the inside of his mouth due to nerves as he waits for some kind of reaction. Relief hits him as you look up and give a smile. "I promised her I'd confess too."

A gentle smile crosses both of your faces as you enjoy this moment between you. A moment that is momentarily interrupted when his mother comes in and asks about the water on the floor, causing you both to quickly move to clean up.

But you both shared that happiness as you knew this just meant a new chapter in your lives. And you know that if she was with you, Saki would have given an "It took you long enough" and the biggest hug she could.

#kats 3000 follower celebration #naoki anon #naoki x reader #naoki konishi x reader #persona 4 x reader

[neostriatum]

水仙 | Suisen

[AO3] [Dreamwidth]

-

The flower Narcissus, whose hakotoba meaning is "self-esteem".

-

It’s a late evening, silhouetted by yellow street lights and the occasional flickering neon to mark his way home. The substitute teacher for maths, Tokunaga Haruki, was kind enough to let him work odd jobs under the table in exchange for spare yen and a quick meal, but he couldn’t always if he didn’t want the excuse of detention to wear out.

He sighed, one fist clutched around the wad of bills he’d been meticulously saving. Hopping on a train to visit his sister was one thing, but it was quite another to do it without a reliable income and on the sly. Despite the cheap bowl of udon, he could still taste the pork and egg hours later, his stomach still grumbled in quiet complaint.

One of the shopkeepers for the konbini he stocked for sometimes waved to him as he ducked under a nearby building’s overhang to avoid the fine sprinkle of tonight’s oncoming rain.

“Evening, Ayame-san,” Katsuya called out, hitching his bookbag higher as he waved back, “Grandkids giving you any trouble?”

“Cheerful as ever,” The shopkeeper called out, leaning against her shop’s window with a mischievous twinkle of her eyes, “Though they do miss their senpai.”

He laughed, feeling the pang of Shizuka’s absence even as he felt heartened by the merry opinion of Ayame-san and her family. A thought made him pause, and he decided to turn toward the shop, winking impishly as he picked up a handful of snacks that he knew her grandkids liked. The shopkeeper tsked in amusement as she tallied them up, “You’re spoiling them, you know.”

Grinning despite the way he carefully counted up the yen to pay for it, he felt a little lighter regardless, “Gotta let them know I didn’t forget about them, yanno?”

“I know,” Ayame-san said warmly, sliding over a foil-wrapped nikuman that still held the vestiges of heat despite his protesting grimace, “Get home safely, you hear?”

Picking up the nikuman, mouth already watering at the smell of pork, potato, and cabbage, Katsuya bowed to Ayame-san, “You, too, ma’am. Have a good night.”

“Good night, Katsuya.”

-

The hot food kept him company as the predicted rain started to come down a little harder. He had stopped a few minutes in to drape his coat over his bag, reservedly refusing from shivering as he savoured each bite.

He kept to the pooled glow of the street lamps, more distant between each other as he got closer to the apartment he shared with his father. Knowing the old man, the utilities would be rationed again, meaning sneaking into a dark room and slipping into bed. The hour was late enough that he would get just enough sleep for an early start tomorrow, getting a headstart on the homework due that day.

The wad of yen felt heavy in his pockets, partitioned off in case his father saw fit to search him for more drinking money. Katsuya sighed around his nikuman, dredging up the will to eat the last few bites and carefully folding up the aluminum foil.

Looking up to the stars, he wished there would be a friend who wouldn’t abandon him, no matter the circumstances.

His wistful gazing nearly made him miss the lurking shadows in a quickly-approaching alley, and he was forced to quickly side-step the hand extended to hook around his bookbag. “Hey, watch it!” he snapped, shouldering the bag more closely behind him, “That’s not yours!”

“Jounouchi,” A voice purred, and he stiffened, recognizing one of the erstwhile gang members he tried not to fall in with - not too often, at least. “My, you’re looking… cold, tonight. Care to warm up?”

His face set stonily, knuckles white on his bag, “No.”

Another one leered from behind the other, just barely eclipsed by the streetlight. “What’s a matter, gaijin? Too good for some Nihonjin?”

He knew there were some debts to settle with them, one too many favours for odd jobs that left him wandering around the town at night - his only boon his intimidating stature and strong fists as he collected debts from other poor souls that ran across this gang. In a brief moment of despondency, he wondered how many of the leering boys in front of him had been on the other side of this line, sunk too deep to get out of the morass.

Unfortunately, these particular members would never be in his shoes, too-unnatural of hair and too poor to keep saying no. His frown etched in the slightest bit more, “I’m expected home.”

Ordinarily, that would be the end of the discussion, gossip flying on swift feet throughout the neighborhood to recount the story of his father throwing bottle after bottle to anyone he brought home for an amicable dinner. Not tonight, though, and his heart sunk at the knowledge that getting into a fight might end on a different note this time.

It was too dark in this section of the neighborhood—one of his shortcuts, far from any intersection or row of shops that dictated lighting—and tonight’s leader, Takano Kichirou, stepped out from the murky dark to encourage the others to begin surrounding him.

“Your father can wait a little longer, can’t he?” Kichirou smirked, “After all, it’s not like he’ll notice.”

“Watch it!” He snarled. Shitty home life or not, he understood why his father was so often morose—he income as an insurance clerk was nothing compared to being a factory worker, and half of their family leaving didn’t help.

A gaggle of laughter met him, and he forced himself not to step back, knowing they were using against him the same tactics he participated in so often. He frowned to himself, knowing that grabbing the switch knife he kept hidden would cost too much time to grab, precious seconds that could be used to try deescalating their dispute while he waited for the inevitable wolf to circle behind him.

So- he stalled. “Bit low of you to turn on me. Getting greedy?”

That rippled through the gang, uncertainty fracturing everyone’s bonds. Kichirou himself paused, feeling the mood shift, and he frowned at Katsuya, “Not everyone picks and chooses who they associate with. Sure you aren’t feeling better than us?”

“You know me,” Katsuya joked, a quirk to his pressed-thin lips, “Always the underdog.”

It was an old joke, completely off the cuff and a gamble—it paid off, chuckles scattering among them. The act turned Kichirou sour, and he flicked a sleeve, letting his own switchblade fall into his hand. “Debts are not a joke.”

Katsuya eyed the gleaming metal, “Never said they were.”

“H-hey, Kichirou-san,” One of the lower-end gang members, Tsutomu, piped up, “I thought you said we were just going to talk to Jounouchi-kun?”

“Yeah, why don’t we just talk,” Katsuya coaxed, heart going out for how young the other was. They had always tried to keep their youngest members shielded, but it seemed the nebulous cause for Kichirou’s temper tonight had cast that aside.

The knife pointed at him was wickedly sharp, “You’re either in or you’re out, Katsuya.”

He frowned. Damned if I  do, damned if I don’t…

Immersed as he was in trying to find the conciliatory middle path, the arm abruptly slung around his shoulder was an unwelcome surprise, particularly since he had been maneuvered away from the simple protections of the street light.

Biting back a flinch, he tried to assess if this was the long-expected knife in his gut. Sure enough, the spark of metal came into view, but instead of drawing blood, it pointed itself back at Kichirou, “I think you’re not in a position to ask that.”

The words were strong, a surprising contrast to the gentle way the hand at Katsuya’s shoulder pressed through his rain-dampened shirt. He found himself settling into the motion, shocked once more at how his weight was supported.

It gave him presence of mind to shift his own stance, more within reach of the slip of a knife stowed carefully away. Whomever it was that held his back, standing so stoically, moved with him. The unified front it presented was reassuring, and made Kichirou step back.

Katsuya was no coward, but also was he no fool - he decided to throw his lot in with this stranger, faith making him certain it was the correct choice.

His voice was firm, “Kichirou. Leave off.”

The gang leader looked toward him, eyes flicking to the stranger who had entered their impromptu arena, and some look must have passed between them and the drumming rain - Kichirou frowned but nodded sharply. It convinced the others to leave quickly afterward, scattering into the nighttime solitude.

Only after watching the tail ends of the gang leave did he sigh, forgetting he himself wasn’t alone when the hand on his shoulder squeezed gently. “You okay?” The other asked, and the weight of the quiet question was more soothing than offensive. Katsuya shrugged limply, unwilling to let this stranger’s arm be dislodged by so casual of a movement. There was a pause, and then carefully, “...Do you want me to walk you home?”

It was a tempting offer, surprisingly so given his usual reticence to let anyone around his father. But between the constancy of his surprise companion and his relief at an unsequestered presence of self, he found himself agreeing, nodding his head tiredly, “Thank you.”

Instead of acknowledging the favour, as most would, Katsuya instead received that same comforting hand trailing down to his own, a feather-light touch slipping between his fingers that made his heart hammer.

“My name’s Honda Hiroto,” was the offered trade, and his lips twitched, making him glance up at the other teenager now sidled up by his side. It was difficult to see more than a glimpse between the pools of light, but he decided he rather liked the earnest smile that met him.

He nudged Honda with an elbow, “Jounouchi Katsuya. Nice to meet ya.”

-

When they watched their classmate a few years later, sitting in the back of the classroom and fiddling with a puzzle from a box where both looked to be poured from pure gold, they leaned against each other.

“Wonder what the punk’s doing,” Hiroto mused, idly sliding the small container of curry rice over to Katsuya as they shared a narrow bench, “Seems like he’s been working on that thing for forever.”

Katsuya shrugged, the motion carrying over to the other with rippled amusement. He dropped half of his scallion pancake into Hiroto’s bento box. The trade, as always, was performed absently, both of them happening to arrange the other’s favourite foods into their own meals as a matter of habit.

They watched as Mouto rummaged through the box, seeming to pick a piece and test it in some obscure corner. Both of them were placing bets on what the final shape would be, but it seemed like not even the kid knew, despite having a game shop owner for a grandfather.

Perhaps there was no solution at all, Katsuya thought, and his stomach grumbled so thoroughly that he discarded the idea.

“You think he’d want a lending hand?” Hiroto asked.

“Nah,” Katsuya dismissed, the words leaping to his lips, “Or not yet, I don’t think.”

-

Author's Notes

In Chinese culture Narcissus tazetta subsp. chinensis (Chinese sacred lilies), which can be grown indoors, is widely used as an ornamental plant.[258][259] It was probably introduced to China by Arab traders travelling the Silk Road prior to the Song Dynasty for medicinal use.[51][258][259] Spring-flowering, they became associated with Chinese New Year, signifying good fortune, prosperity and good luck[260] and there are many legends in Chinese culture associated with Narcissus.[261][262][263] In contrast to the West, narcissi have not played a significant part in Chinese Garden art,[264] however, Zhao Mengjian in the Southern Song Dynasty was noted for his portrayal of narcissi.[265][266] Narcissus bulb carving and cultivation has become an art akin to Japanese bonsai. The Japanese novel Narcissu contains many references to the narcissus, where the main characters set out for the famed narcissus fields on Awaji Island.[267][268]

- Narcissus in culture § Culture (Wikipedia)

Additional title reference: Narcissus (plant) § Culture (Wikipedia)

Ultimately discarded, but briefly pondered: an alternate riff of the meaning "fairy over rippling waters", but had needed editing due to western contemporary connotations of fairy = gay (derogatory), despite vague potential to have been used as a reference to some of Jounouchi's ace cards (Graceful Dice and Skull Dice), to emphasize how his luck is intertwined with his sense of self-esteem.

Written for @projsakuraygo, which ran from 2021-2022. When Shopkeeper Ayame-san refers to Jounouchi as a senpai, it's being used in the sense of someone who's looked up too, but not a literal "big brother" like ani/-ki or oni/-san (reference used: The Role of Senpai by Marc Faux).

Accordingly, to keep with the flower theme of Sakura, Ayame's name means "Iris flower" (Behind the Name). Takano Kichirou's first name means "lucky son" (Japanese Name Generator), and Katayama Tsutomu's first name means "worker" (Japanese Name Generator). I had a third name slated, Shinohara Aoi, whose first name means "blue, or hollyhock" (Japanese Name Generator), but I wasn't quite able to squeeze another character in to the plot without expanding my wordcount.

As for the nikuman (Wikipedia), I wanted something for Jounouchi to eat that was 1) equivalent to fast food, and 2) not another bowl of noodles (ergo, more street food). This seemed the closest alternative I reached after a couple minutes of clicking around on Wikipedia, and conveniently are also a food that's sold in Japanese convenience stores. They taste very good! Here's recipe: (Just One Cookbook, back-up link at the Internet Archive).

I wanted to explore some pre-canon scenes a little bit - a theme I've followed in many works, most recently dbḥt-ḥtp, and more pertinently The Changing of the Gods - in an effort to better understand the characters.

As the goal of Project Sakura was to portray difficulties of a particular sort that characters from YGO would struggle with, Jounouchi seemed a particularly intriguing match to the intended exposition. He grew up in an environment he struggled with, and yet clearly came out the other side as an exceptionally kind individual. Digging in a little bit to what I knew of his story, I stumbled upon some historical parallels in terms of the Lost Generation and the general turbulence that Japan - like many countries - had to deal with economically and thus socially in the 80s and 90s. That, no doubt, had a strong impact on Jounouchi, and likely played a strong role into how he became entangled (and eventually de-tangled) with a gang to begin with.

It seemed like a natural conclusion to involve Honda as a step toward resolving the emotional turmoil of his economic situation in the form of compassionate support that would grow to a more involved relationship, and eventually toward a very near pre-scene of the beginning of canon itself when they see Yugi.

#ygo dm #jounouchi katsuya #hiroto honda #buddyshipping #my stories

[writing-badger]

Twitter Polls Make For The Bloodiest Battlefields - Chapter 4

Like Father, Like Son

1 • 2 • 3 (Previous Chapter) • 4 • 5 • 6 • 6.5

Pairing: Sakata Gintoki x Reigen Arataka

Summary: Anime Twitter was thrown into chaos. Thirty-two "DILFs" were thrown into a merciless battle to find out who truly encapsulated the title of Dad I'd Like to Fuck. Two competitors begin to wonder whether the battle is worth it and maybe, just maybe, they can overcome their differences to find a way out.

Genre: Enemies to Lovers

Word Count: 3,152

Warnings: None

Reigen's body is aching as he opens the envelope that Lu has given him. Of course, he doesn't complain, he doesn't need that annoying spirit to think that he won their bet. Although, Reigen has to admit that he's surprised by the amount of effort Dimple put into the job. He would usually be found hovering off to the side, making sarcastic comments and letting Reigen struggle until Mob arrived.

 As he begins to pull out the contents of the envelope, he thinks about grabbing a handful of frozen snacks that he could use to numb the areas of pain that cover his body. There are definitely going to be some nasty bruises in the morning, and he does not want Mob to see them. He can feel a particularly nasty one growing on his neck from where he had been hit. There had been an extensive ice lolly collection at the back of the store, he just hopes that it survived the fight. 

 Wondering if he could possibly get a discount, he looks at the sheet of paper, surprised to find out that it isn't his payment. Instead of 12,000 yen  (including travel costs), he finds himself reading an oddly familiar letter.

Congratulations _Insert Name Here_!

You have been nominated to participate in the Ultimate Anime DILF Awards.

 Reigen briefly looks away from the letter to ask Lu where his money is, but she has disappeared and left the counter unattended. This letter definitely isn't meant for him. After all, a DILF is supposed to be a devoted, involved & loving father... at least according to a T-Shirt he saw an older man wearing on an American Sitcom. There was supposedly something very funny about the shirt )although this is up for debate) but Reigen hadn't been paying enough attention to the subtitles to understand it. 

You will be transported to the competition grounds as soon as this letter has been read.

Thank you for taking part, and we wish you all the best.

 As he finishes the letter, he vaguely remembers reading a similar letter before, although a growing throbbing sensation in the back of his head makes it difficult for him to think clearly. He should probably get himself checked at the doctor's, but he's fairly sure that it's nothing too serious. For example, he can still hear the beeping sound of the store's door opening, and his arms and legs aren't that numb. 

 He can hear someone talking rather loudly behind him, probably trying to comprehend what could have possibly caused the absolute destruction in front of them. Their voice strikes a slight chord in Reigen's foggy mind, almost like it's reawakening a memory. 

 "You!"

 The shout is so loud that his body jolts slightly in response.

 "Me?"

 He looks up, making eye contact with the blond-haired man. It takes a moment for Reigen and, just as the glimmer of recognition fills his eyes, a strange glow begins to surround his body. He doesn't seem to notice this, choosing to use his last moments to be as unhelpful as ever.

 "Ah, you were from the Tw-"

 Reigen, of course, doesn't have a chance to finish what he is saying. The glow completely consumes him and, with a very satisfying 'pop' he is transported to an impossible space. His transportation takes a little bit longer than last time, giving him time to think about what Dimple is going to do without him. The spirit definitely can't drive, and Mob isn't going to pick him up... 

 Well, Reigen is going to be returning when this award-thing is over, all Dimple needs to do is wait. Yeah, Dimple will be absolutely fine. What won't be fine, however, is the rental car which is currently parked near the convenience store. Not only is his parking ticket going to run out in about half an hour, but he's going to get blacklisted by yet another rental company. Perhaps Dimple will be smart enough to possess one of the store's employees and use them to drive the car back.

No. Scratch that. It would just end up with them getting arrested for theft and, while it would solve most of Reigen's car-related problems, he doesn't want to make enemies with a girl who quite literally beat a spirit to death. He really hopes that Dimple isn't that stupid. 

 Reigen finds himself so caught up in his rental predicament that he doesn't realise that he has been standing motionless in the void for well over a minute. He can slightly register a familiar tinny voice saying something about the competition, but he struggles to focus on it. 

 "Are you feeling alright?" 

 The question floats in the air for a moment, as Reigen tries to place the voice. It's warm but also a little bit scratchy around the edges, almost as if it is being drawn with ink rather than being spoken. It belongs to a white-haired 'witch', although he apparently isn't allowed to show his tricks of the trade in any meaningful way. For Reigen, this is just confirmation that he is an untrustworthy scam artist.

 What concerns him more than the fraudulent magician, however, is that the men standing in the void seem a lot more dangerous this time. Of course, Reigen will say that this is due to his psychic prowess when anyone, psychic or not, would have made the exact same realisation. After all, some of the men are carrying a noticeable range of weaponry. 

 This is magnified by a very intense sensation that someone in the void wants him dead, although this could also be a result of the searing pain which is flowing around his body. 

 So, in a move that is definitely planned and not because he is in absolute agony, Reigen faints.

 If you ask him later on, he will say that he faked fainting in a very convincing manner and that it worked like a charm. If you ask any other person standing in that void, however, you will find out that he dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes. 

 Now, most people would be absolutely mortified at the idea of their first introduction being them collapsing onto the floor. For Reigen, however, this is a perfect opportunity. In his mind, the stronger contestants will write him off as a weakling while the weaker contestants will take pity on him. It is such a perfect plan that Reigen would pat himself on the back if he wasn't so busy trying to regain consciousness. 

 He can vaguely hear two people talking above him. One is the witch, but the other voice is unfamiliar. He can make a guess that the second is a doctor, based on the words being used, although it could also be a guy who has watched one too many hospital dramas. 

 Reigen slowly opens his eyes, finding that he has been laid on his back, staring into the blank nothingness above him. If he didn't know any better, he would think that he had died. However, the repetitive poking feeling on his bruises confirms that he is alive. 

 "That hurts," is all he can mumble as he tries to roll away from the man. 

 "Isshin, you should know better," a cold voice says disapprovingly. 

 "Yeah, it's just that Kīdo doesn't seem to be working."

 Reigen can hear the sound of someone being shoved to the side as a pair of hands gently move him into a sitting position. He comes eye to eye with yet another bespectacled white-haired man. Unlike the witch, however, this man's eyes are cold and devoid of empathy. Something that is in stark contrast to his hands which carefully trace over some of the more formidable bruises. 

 "This is why you shouldn't rely on such useless abilities," he says as he brings up a lanky finger and makes Reigen follow it with his eyes. Once satisfied that there is no concussion, he stands up and drags a larger brown-haired man with him. "You should go to a hospital for a proper check-up," he says over his shoulder while the man who assumes is called Isshin says that his bedside manner is terrible. 

 "Those two must be very close," the witch says as he watches them continue to bicker. He has a warm smile on his face as he talks, as though he is trying to convince Reigen that he isn't a threat.

As he is making sure that Reigen is going to be alright, a hand is placed on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. 

 "Qifrey, give him this," a gruffer voice says. It belongs to a man dressed in similar clothes, although the colour scheme seems to be the exact opposite of Qifrey's. With his spare hand, he passes an odd-looking leaf over, which Qifrey takes; gently squeezing the hand on his shoulder in thanks. 

 "What would I do without you, Olruggio," he says as he quickly shoves the leaf into Reigen's mouth. It's such a quick movement that Reigen barely has any time to register the taste. 

 "Don't forget to spit it out," Olruggio says as if it is obvious, keeping his hand on Qifrey's shoulder. His thumb runs in small, comforting circles as Reigen tries to chew the leaf. 

 The taste is unlike anything he has ever experienced before. He can't even tell if it's good or bad... there's just a lot of it. With each chew, the flavour somehow becomes more intense which leads to him quickly spitting it out. Unfortunately, the strange taste remains but he can feel the aching sensation lessen with every passing second. The bruises, while still a little tender, have lost their intensity and his head feels a lot clearer. 

 He starts to stand up, still feeling a little shaky on his feet when a man comes over. He has a thick beard and long dark hair which is tied back. What stands out most, however, is his clothes which look like something that you would see LARPers wear. 

 "It seems like you and the witch know each other," he says in a voice that is as commanding as the ocean. Despite that, there is an almost misplaced layer of kindness in his eyes; a look you would only get from a father. At first Reigen wonders if he should try and brush this off, but it could actually work to his advantage.

 "Yes, we've been trapped in this void before," he says, watching as a couple of other men listen in on the conversation. A couple continue to keep their distance, but he can tell that they are paying attention to what he says. 

 "So this must be the witch's doing then," the Viking says. There is no malice in his voice, making it seem more like a question than a statement. Despite this, Olruggio gently pulls Qifrey back and placed himself between the two men. 

 "No," Reigen immediately says. He can't concretely say whether the witch is actually involved, but he has nothing to lose by defending him, "it seems that an outside force has been controlling the contest."

 "That strange voice from earlier said something about this being a competition to find the Ultimate DILF..," a new man says. He is wearing a high-quality suit that puts Reigen's to shame. The green colour highlights his blond hair and steely blue eyes. Despite how composed he looks, his cold stare puts Reigen a little bit on edge. It is as though there is a detached malice bubbling away under his skin, no matter how much his smile tries to hide it. "But what does that actually mean?"

 For a moment, silence falls over the group as they try to recall whether they have heard it before or not. A handful don't even bother trying. This is something that works in Reigen's favour; people flock to those with more knowledge and experience, even if they end up being completely wrong. Not that he's wrong or anything. 

 "I think it means a devoted, involved, & loving father," Reigen says after a couple of seconds pretending to think his answer through. A couple of the men nod along, seemingly satisfied with his answer, although some look a little more confused.

 "I wouldn't use any of those words to describe myself," an older man with ear piercings mutters, "although the father thing might be up for debate." He is wearing a slightly worn-out dark suit and has a deep scar running from the corner of his lip towards his jawline.

 "Well, that's why it's a competition," Reigen quickly counters, allowing him to persuade some of the doubters. Of course, there are some who refuse to acknowledge what he has said, but they don't make any moves to challenge him. One man, in particular, seems to be particularly opposed to what Reigen has said. 

 He stands on the opposite side of the room, his dead, red eyes staring at him unflinchingly. They are a little bit like the man in the green suit's eyes but somehow harbour a more unrecognisable emotion. It's like they are staring straight through his bravado and into something he thought he's long buried away. 

 "Are you sure about that?"

 The man asks as he walks through the group and right up to Reigen. It is almost impossible to ignore him now. Despite looking like he would tower over the fraud, he actually ends up being a little bit shorter. His silver hair slightly obstructs his eyes, drawing more attention to the rest of his face. Reigen notices a wooden sword at the man's hip and can't help but wonder why someone would carry one around; especially since there are people with actual weapons in the void. 

 It is either the sign of someone who is extremely powerful, extremely stupid, or maybe both. 

 Even with the intimidating aura that the samurai has, Reigen can tell that the man is holding something back. It would have been easy for him to come up and give a different answer or some sort of proof to show that Reigen is wrong. But he doesn't. By trying to directly challenge Reigen, he is leaving himself wide open for Reigen to call his bluff.  

 "Well," Reigen says with faux enthusiasm, "you can correct me if I'm wrong. What do you think a DILF is?"

 The samurai looks as though he is going to answer, but at the last second his face starts to burn bright red. If it wasn't for the lethal look in his eyes, Reigen would probably have described it as cute. Instead, it only makes him more unreadable. 

 After a couple of seconds, the samurai turns on his heel and walks away; his ear tips still a scorching red. It is only when the silver-haired samurai is standing as far away as he can that Reigen notices he isn't wearing any shoes. 

 Before anyone can even think about breaking the very awkward silence which has fallen over the group, the robotic voice rings out. 

 "The first round will now begin" it declares as a holo-screen is lowered into the room. On it is a strange arena that Reigen doesn't recognise. The last time he was here, they were made to compete within the void itself. Whoever is running this must have had a serious upgrade. There is a loading circle overlaying the image with the words 'selecting contestants' gently flashing underneath it. It stays there for a couple of seconds before it fades out.

 "The contestants have been selected."

 As soon as these words are uttered, two men disappear in a flash. The first is the cold doctor who helped Reigen earlier while the second is a shadowy figure who spent most of his time standing at a distance from the others. They immediately appear on the screen which is now split in two with their names written in obnoxious writing underneath. 

 'Count Vlad Dracula Tepes vs Ishida Ryūken".

 "The rules show now be explained," the robot states before launching into a long-winded explanation that no one seems to fully understand. It started off simple enough, with one child representing each competitor and fighting on their behalf. Easy to understand, right? But then the power system got introduced and everything fell apart. Even after hearing it for a second time, he still feels like his brain is melting. 

 The only person who seems to have any idea of what was being described is the shoeless samurai. He has a smug grin spread across his face as he looks up at the screen. 

 Trying his best to ignore him, Reigen looks back at the screen, watching as two holographic figures materialise. The first is a young-looking blond man, his hair falls past his shoulders and his eyes are an entrancing gold. There is something almost other-worldly about him, although the same could also be said of the father. 

 The second is someone who he recognises. A blunt, bespectacled man who looks like a mirror image of his dad with just a slightly different colour scheme. Ishida Uryū made quite the wave during the Twink Awards when he immediately quit. He didn't even last fifteen minutes, something that many of the other competitors, Reigen included, wish that they had thought of doing. As soon as it happened, however, forfeiting was banned, leaving the others trapped in the competition. 

 "Fight one, begin."

 As soon as the robotic voice utters these words, a red banner fills the screen declaring that Dracula is the victor. This seems to stun everyone, including the robot which emits a high-pitched whirring sound as it tries to comprehend what just happened. 

 "I get to leave now, right?" Ishida says, not wasting a second. Apparently, he chose to flee and immediately forfeit the match. The two holograms disappear and the competitors are brought back into the void. When Reigen had to sit through the son's ten-minute complaining session, he had assumed that their differences were what caused fractures in their relationship. But Reigen's beginning to think there might have been a different problem. 

 Isshin immediately walks over to Ryūken and laughs while slapping a hand on his shoulder. 

 "Not even going to put up a fight, huh?"

 Ryūken steps to the side, letting the hand on his shoulder slip off. 

 "I don't have time to waste on frivolities such as this," he says cooly. He is definitely like his son. Without another word, he disappears while still wearing a frown on his face. As the loading overlay appears on the screen for a second time, Reigen finds himself wondering if he could pull a similar stunt. 

  "Contestants, this is an emergency announcement. The 'Flee' button has now been classed as an illegal move. Thank you for your co-operation," the robotic voice says, clearly trying to cover up their blunder as quickly as possible.

 Well, Reigen thinks to himself, that's just typical. 

Next Chapter

Read on Ao3

#reigen arataka x sakata gintoki #anime dilf award #crack fanfic #fanfic #mob psycho 100 #ultimate anime dilf #writing-badger writes #enemies to lovers #fanfiction #gintama #gintoki x reigen #witch hat atelier #qifrey #olruggio #ryuken ishida #isshin kurosaki #slight qifrey x olruggio #loid forger #csm kishibe #Isshin & Ryuuken #Thors Snorresson #Bleach

[sailorspazz]

Remote 10 Dance Ball 2022

Following 2021’s exclusively remote streaming version, 2022 brought the return of a live Real 10 Dance event, which was held April 24th in Tokyo. At the event, it was announced that they would be also creating a version of it for streaming, featuring both content that was included in the live version, as well as additional segments filmed exclusively for the online stream. I found this very exciting since Japan is still very limited in who they’re allowing to visit the country, so even though I would have loved to go to the live event, it simply wasn’t possible. The streaming version went live on June 25th and was available to view for 3 days. Like last year, the cost was 1,000 yen, and there were options to give additional 1,000 yen tips to the production committee, the dancers, or Inouesatoh herself (last year I just gave to Inouesatoh, this year I spread the love around to everyone but also gave even more to her specifically haha). The bonus for the additional tips is that you also receive a link to a 16 minute making-of video of the event, including footage from rehearsals beforehand and backstage on the day of. All virtual attendees received a code that could be used at convenience stores in Japan to print out an illustrated postcard to commemorate the event. I’d guessed before that it would be the colored version of a panel from chapter 38 that Inoue shared in celebration of the live Real 10 Dance, and I was right! Below is the version I had printed out by friends who live in Japan, and under the cut you can find my full report of this year’s Remote 10 Dance Ball.

(There’s a preview video for the event if you’d like to see some of the action instead of just reading a summary with limited still images)

Following still shots introducing all of the dancers and listing some of their individual accomplishments, next up was vlog made by Kouichi Nishio (one of the pro consultants for the manga). It chronicled a trip he took to England, and included content such as him visiting dance studios, going to a supermarket and showing some of the local snacks he likes, and a trip to the famous Winter Gardens venue in Blackpool, which has been featured in 10 Dance in parts such as the World Championships chapters.

A host for the event gave introductions and information between each segment of content. First up was an intro dance to “Another Day of Sun” from La La Land featuring all of participants in their regular partnerships (and even the mascot character Steppy gets in on the action!). A wide variety of both standard and Latin dances were showcased during this number.

Next up were some segments titled “the real world of competitive dance”. The first one was about costumes, starting with a standard couple. The woman talked about how her dress features layers of different colored and textured fabrics that will reveal different glimpses as she moves around, and additional ribbons hanging from her wrists that create more movement. These days, it’s also common for performers to have masks that match their dresses. The man helpfully described his suit as just “It’s a suit” at first, though went on to say it’s specially designed for dance to have more elasticity and for the shoulders not to rise up when he’s in hold; it feels soft and easy to move in. His tie was just a cheap one from Daiso (a 100 yen store). For competitions standard men usually wear a tux and tails, but he personally would like to compete in suits more. The couple then performed a waltz demonstration.

The Latin couple was up next, and the man said he prefers a simple look. His outfit included a long sleeved satin shirt with the option to shorten the sleeves and button them into place, and high-waisted pants with a wide belt to make his legs look longer. The woman likes having something colorful, with her skirt featuring fluffy purple feathers that add a lot of volume, yet are light enough that it’s still easy to move. Her outfit also featured fringe on her torso to create additional movement. The couple then demonstrated a cha-cha. Following this segment, the host mentioned that Inouesatoh attended many competitions to observe the costumes, and it helped her come up with ideas for dress designs to use in the series.

The second “Real World” segment featured some of the pros giving tours of the dance schools they run, which helped show the sort of work they do when they’re not competing, and also served as advertisements for viewers who might be interested in taking lessons.

Next the host mentioned how Suzuki competing in the Japan Open in volume 5 was described as him only using basic steps throughout yet still wowing the crowd. This led into two couples demonstrating the basic steps for the rumba and showcasing how the steps can be varied. They first performed a basic rumba as “simple”, then added the criteria of “emotional” the second time they did it. Afterward, the couples talked about how they create those variations while performing the same steps. The first style is more restrictive and forces them to stay on the exact beats. When doing it with more freedom, they can keep the end point of the beat but reach it in a different way. Adding variations imbues the performance with more energy and allows for a starker difference between soft and hard, and the dancers feel they can be more expressive.

The panel from chapter 35 that shows the contrast between Norman’s and Sugiki’s styles was the inspiration for the next segment, with an explanation and demonstration of how those differences are achieved. Norman’s is a classical, traditional style that conveys a softer image, while Sugiki’s is modern and dynamic. The connection point between the dancers’ bodies is higher for Norman’s style, giving the image of the following partner being gently enfolded when they perform an oversway. Sugiki’s style conveys more power, featuring a lower connection point that grants more upper body freedom, and feels more like the lead is controlling the follow.

The next segment featured the pros giving their rapid-fire impressions of all ten of the different ballroom dances, followed by demonstrations and voiceover commentary for each type. There were several rapid-fire answers for each dance, and the pros sometimes gave adjectives to describe the mood (passionate for tango, elegant for foxtrot, romantic for rumba), features of the dance (spinning for Viennese waltz), various nouns (swan for the waltz, thighs for the cha-cha, carnival for the samba, Elvis for the jive), or short phrases (like being on top of a frying pan for the quickstep, a battle with your life on the line for the paso doble).

The last segment before the main show was a roundtable discussion among four of the dancers about their favorite scenes from the series, with Kiyomi Takashima, Takashi Kajiya, Jun Motoike, moderated by pro consultant for the series Ai Shimoda.  Takashima started off by saying she likes the princess waltz from chapter 4. When she first started dancing, the waltz was her favorite, and reading this made her remember the feelings she had back then of being moved by that dance. It’s something one can forget in the course of many years of training, and sparks the desire to seek out that feeling again. She felt like the scene really conveyed to readers just how good dancing can feel.

Kajiya was up next, and his first comment was just marveling at the Latin hold the Shinyas are shown doing in chapter 3. The positions of the arms and hands were perfect for the style, with the arms being directly on top of each other, as opposed to standard where the follow’s arm floats above the lead’s. He wondered how she knew to do that, since at this early point in the series she didn’t yet have consultants. Shimoda commented at this point that when she first read the manga before getting involved as a consultant, she thought, “was this written for me?” when she noticed all the attention to detail such as what Kajiya described. Kajiya continued on to talk about another scene, at the end of volume 2 when the Shinyas dance at the park for the first time. Even as a Latin dancer, he was moved by the full body shot of the two of them coming together, with Sugiki’s scarf flying out and seeming to mimic a woman’s long hair.

Motoike brought up Sugiki’s vision of Suzuki as the God of Dance from the Tango Notturno bonus chapter. He pointed out the solid body lines, and said it reminded him of being back in art college and studying plaster busts, with Suzuki looking like Apollo in a godly pose. He then jumped ahead to where the God of Dance returned in volume 5, saying that it really doesn’t seem like you’re reading a dance manga anymore when looking at panels like Suzuki holding a pulsating heart in his hand. It shows a great sense of imagination, and he wondered what sort of references she used to draw something like that, where the heart looks like it has tree branches sprouting out of it. He then went to the whiteboard where he earlier sketched a copy of Suzuki’s face, and proceeded to analyze some of the finer points of Inoue’s style.  He said that the way his smirk is drawn feels natural, and he likes his pretty fluffy hair (though it’s a pain to draw, so he didn’t include too much of it). He demonstrated how many eyes are drawn in manga, quite large with a lot of detail, while the eyes Inoue draws are simpler yet still feel like they have depth. There are lines that are fully drawn, but also lines that are implied and remain undrawn so the final drawing doesn’t feel so confined, making it seem more three dimensional. Some series have excessive sound effects to the point where they become distracting (calling out a couple manga not by name but by their signature SFX, such as ざわざわ and ゴゴゴ lol), but Inoue uses them fittingly. Shimoda chimed in and said that subtle things like showing the sounds of dance shoes squeaking on the floor makes her take notice of those things in real life, and adds to the immersion of the scene. Motoike finished up his analysis by saying Inoue doesn’t use action lines unnecessarily, and that basically the things that a lot of artists commonly do are the things she doesn’t do.

Next was the Real 10 Dance show! I’ll list the song, dance style, and share an image from each performance below.

“Masquerade”, Viennese waltz, group dance featuring one female pair plus three male pairs

“Butter” by BTS, cha-cha

“Calmi Cuori Appassionati”, rumba and samba

“All That Jazz”, ladies group slow jive

“Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet”, waltz

“Up All Night” by Charlie Puth, rumba

“It’s Time to Dance” from The Prom musical, closing group dance

The final segment was a virtual art exhibition featuring storyboard art from many of the panels in chapter 35.

Like last year, I was very happy that I had the chance to watch this despite not being able to go to Japan. Since they had the live version, I didn’t really expect they would also offer the virtual one, but I’m glad they did both this time! And the various segments they put along with the dances were interesting as well, I especially loved hearing a group of pros talking about their favorite parts of the series (according to a tweet I saw from Shimoda, the full discussion was an hour and a half long! The edited version that was shown was about 20 minutes, so I’m curious how the remaining hour of that talk went). Everyone seemed in awe at the amazing things she can pull off, and I love the statement that she doesn’t do the things that everyone else does. Gives more insight into why this manga feels so unique and different from other series.

And the dancing portions were just *chef’s kiss*. The Romeo and Juliet waltz was especially good for a few reasons. First, my biased belief/prediction that we’ll get a “Romeo and Romeo” chapter title at some point now seeming like a firmer possibility lol. There were also portions of the dance where they switched lead and follow positions seamlessly, I just loved how smoothly they did it when it seems like something that would be difficult to pull off in the stricter standard hold. Also it was just goddamn beautiful, like the music and the movement just made me wanna cry, and yes I watched it multiple times because I like to torture myself with the feels. The duo who did the rumba/samba number were also very good (they did the dramatic rumba that was my emotional punishment of choice last year lmao), I loved how even though there’s quite a height difference, the shorter man was still given the chance to lead. The whole show was just amazing, and though I’d still love the chance to catch it in person, getting to watch from home has its own benefits. Hopefully they’ll put on another show next year!

#10 dance #10dance

[wildfire317s-oc-box]

Fun Fact's about my OC's: Ryu

What Ryu thinks of the "Kamaboko Squad" including Murata & Aoi :

Keep in mind he is fond of all of them but some of them make him go "dad-mode" more than others. Also since he is a hashira and making more than enough on his own he will occasionally slip them an extra 500 yen and some sweets each (pulling a dad move there).

Tanjiro: Ryu is very fond of him and respects him quite a bit. He see's a lot of his younger self in Tanjiro and believes he has a bright future ahead of him.

Nezuko: Ryu is quite fond of her and adores giving her headpats and hugs. He thinks she's a great listener and likes to tell her stories. She reminds him of Tsuki.

Zenitsu: Ryu is rather fond of Zenitsu though he does trigger "dad-mode" a lot more than most of the others. He reminds him of his daughters Tsubaki and Kimi, so he frequently talks to and treats him like he would treat them, which actually seems to work a lot.

Inosuke: Ryu is rather fond of Inosuke though he does trigger "dad-mode" a lot more than most of the others. He reminds him of his son Asaki and his daughter Nijiko. He does his best to calm him down and get him to cooperate by using his fondness of acorns to his advantage.

Kanao: Ryu is very fond of her and likes spending time with her though she is definitely the most quiet of the group, she quite reminds him of his daughter Rin.

Aoi: Ryu is quite fond of her and though he rarely ends up in the butterfly mansion due to an injury, he does enjoy spending time with her. He appreciates the fact that she recognized that being a slayer would stress her out more than being a nurse though he does wish she had more self confidence.

Genya: Ryu is quite fond of him and really wishes that his older brother would treat him better and appreciates that Gyomei is giving him the care he desperately needs. He is also rather intrigued by the fact that he is a half demon.

Murata: Ryu is fond of Murata though he wishes he would not be as hot headed as he can get some times.

BONUS:

Shinobu's caterpillars: Ryu is very fond of the girls and whenever he visits he will do what dad's do best and let them do his make up, let them paint his nails, give them rides on his shoulders, play dolls with them, ect. He will also bring them snacks whenever he comes to visit.

Senjuro: Ryu is rather fond of Senjuro (and may or may not be trying to be the dad his father couldn't be), when he does come to visit (though unfortunately not very often) he will help senjuro finish his chores faster so they can go kick a temari around or play catch.

#demon slayer oc #kny oc #ryu the dragon pillar #fun facts about my oc's #oc things #and yes he has been accidentally called dad by all of them atleast once