#i want to see if i can rework it into one of the pieces i’m writing right now

[melzula]

Break Apart

pairing: Zuko x princess!reader

notes: i know i’ve said previously that i don’t like going backwards with fire lilies but i feel like i didn’t do this scene justice the first time so i decided to rework the piece. plus i think revisiting this scene will be important before starting smoke and shadow

summary: your peaceful life with Zuko comes crashing down in the crystal catacombs of Ba Sing Se.

~ part of the fire lilies series ~

You pull the shutters apart and let the sun shine through your new home in Ba Sing Se. The morning is just getting started, and as Iroh begins fixing breakfast for your little family you take it upon yourself to begin the day’s chores before it’s time to head to work. It’s been a long week, what with Zuko’s sickness and the hassle of moving into the Upper Ring, and you’re beginning to feel worn out from the emotional turmoil, but you do your best to keep these feelings to yourself in order to not ruin Iroh’s excitement for the opening of his tea shop. At least one of you gets to live out the life you dreamed for yourself in the city.

You eventually end up outside hanging the freshly washed clothes to dry, brows furrowed in thought as you pin the fabrics to the clothesline and hum a song Iroh used to perform for you during your day’s on Zuko’s ship. You’re too engrossed in your work to notice you have company, and it isn’t until you hear someone gently clear their throat that you turn to see Zuko standing before you with a smile on his face and two bowls of pongi in his hands.

“You’re up early,” you note with a raised brow before accepting his offering of breakfast.

“I wanted to have breakfast with you,” he says with a gentle smile as the two of you seat yourselves on the steps of your apartment. “It’s a beautiful day out, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose,” you reply carefully, unused to his positive demeanor. “You’re not still feeling sick, are you?”

He laughs at the way you press the back of your hand to his forehead and feel for his temperature before carefully lowering it down. “I feel better than I ever have before. I’m really starting to like it here, and I wish I could have realized sooner how peaceful life is with you in Ba Sing Se.”

“Uncle was right, you really have undergone a metamorphosis,” you note, half teasing and half serious as you take a bite of your pongi. “But I’m happy you’re finally deciding to give the city a chance, my love.”

“It’s something I should have done sooner, and I plan to make up for all the time I wasted being miserable instead of enjoying my new life with you. I love you, y/n, and I’m going to make things right for us.”

You’re pleasantly caught off guard by the sweet kiss Zuko gives you after tenderly cupping your face in his hands and pulling you forward to meet his lips. You easily melt at his touch like you always do, and for a moment you’re able to forget all the hurt and insecurity you’ve felt for the last few years. Your relationship had suffered a few rough patches recently, and you worried that you’d never be enough for Zuko no matter how hard you tried, but it seemed that things were finally beginning to fall into place, and you could live the life you’d always dreamed of since running away with Zuko.

Finally parting from the kiss, he gifts you a sweet kunik before pulling away and taking your empty bowl of pongi with him. “I have to start getting ready for the grand opening of the Jasmine Dragon. You’ll be there, won’t you?”

“Of course. Miss Tai is letting me leave my shift early today so I can be there,” you assure him with a smile. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“I love you,” Zuko utters earnestly in response, “and I’m happy you’re still here with me.”

You longingly watch his form retreat inside, already beginning to miss his touch. But you have work to do before your shift at the dress shop, so you rise from your seat on the steps and resume hanging the laundry to dry.

Life is going to be perfect now, you can feel it.

~~~

The opening of the Jasmine Dragon was a success, so successful, in fact, that the Earth King himself has invited Iroh to serve tea in the palace.

The Earth Kingdom palace is certainly different from the palace you grew up in, and though you yourself are technically royalty you feel as if you don’t belong in such a grand space. The dress Miss Tai had loaned you and the way she had styled your hair for you at least makes you look the part, and you make sure to be on your best behavior as you wait with Iroh and Zuko for the king to arrive.

You neatly set out the cups as Iroh begins pouring the tea with a pleased smile on his face while a restless Zuko surveys the room for any sign of the king.

“What’s taking so long?”

“Maybe the king overslept,” Iroh suggests, prompting you to raise your brow at his unlikely explanation.

“He’s a busy man, Zuko. I’m sure he’ll be here soon,” you assure him, but the former Prince isn’t convinced so easily. The sudden appearance of Dai Li agents only furthers his apprehension as they begin to close in on your little trio.

“Something’s not right,” he utters anxiously, and as your gaze falls upon the shifty eyes of the agents before you you find yourself slowly pulling the tea pot towards you in preparation for bending.

“It’s tea time,” a familiar voice chimes prompting Zuko to immediately rise to his feet. The mere sight of the Princess is enough to prompt you to bend the tea out of the pot, and though it isn’t much you’re able to close your fists and produce small blades of water that shoot sharply from your palms. It’s a move you’ve seen Zuko perform countless times with fire, and it’s a move that you’ve managed to perfect just as easily with water.

“Azula!” He scowls only for her to smirk in response.

“Have you met the Dai Li agents yet? They’re earth benders, but they have a killer instinct that’s so fire bender. I just love it,” she punctuates with a clenched fist before her eyes shift to your makeshift water daggers. “I see that’s something you’re trying to mimic, Princess. Such a cute little trick.”

“It isn’t so hard,” you reply with a relaxed shrug much to Azula’s dismay.

“But of course,” she sneers disapprovingly at your lack of fear for her.

Breaking the silence, Iroh suddenly says, “Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname the Dragon of the West?”

“I’m not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Uncle,” she scoffs with a bored expression, but Iroh merely smiles.

“It’s more of a demonstration, really,” he explains before taking a sip from his cup of tea. Before you can even process what’s happening, the man quickly pulls both you and Zuko behind him before exhaling a breath of fire around the room. With the Dai Li temporarily disabled, you’re able to make your escape out of the palace.

Using a blast of lightning to break through the walls, both Iroh and yourself make the jump through the hole and land down below in the the shrubbery. However, Zuko doesn’t follow behind, and instead you’re forced to watch him chase after Azula.

“We have to help him!” You cry only for Iroh to stop you.

“Even with our abilities combined we will not be able to outmatch both Azula and the Dai Li agents on our own,” he utters carefully.

“Then what are we to do? We can’t just leave him behind,” you express worriedly. You have no idea what Azula has in store for her brother, and you don’t want to leave Zuko in her clutches long enough to find out. You know Iroh’s right, but you can’t just sit and do nothing.

“We’ll have to get help,” Iroh notes thoughtfully, and you’re left with no choice but to blindly follow the man as he begins to head back towards the city.

“Help from who?”

~~~~

It’s safe to say Iroh and yourself are the last two people the Avatar and his friends expected to see at their doorstep, but you’re not left with many other options.

“Princess?!” Sokka exclaims in surprise at the sight of you as you gift him a meager wave of hello in return. The last time you’d seen each other had been during the siege of the North, so it was safe to say he was more than surprised to see you here in Ba Sing Se. “What’s going on? Have you finally come to your senses and decided to leave Zuko?”

“What? No!” You cry indignantly much to the boy’s disappointment. “It’s the opposite, actually. We came to ask for your help.”

“Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se,” Iroh explains gravely.

“She must have Katara!”

“She has captured my nephew, as well.”

“Then we’ll work together to fight Azula,” the Avatar expressed firmly, “and save Zuko and Katara.”

“Whoa, there,” Sokka interjects immediately. “You lost me at ‘Zuko.’”

“I know how you must feel about my nephew, but believe me when I tell you there is good in him,” Iroh insists earnestly, but Sokka doesn’t budge.

“Good inside him isn’t enough!” He insists. “Why don’t you come back when it’s outside him, too, okay?”

“Sokka,” you call gently, eyes full of sincerity and a hint of guilt as the Water Tribe boy meets your gaze. “Please understand. We just want him back safe. I need him back safe. I know Zuko has done horrible things to you and your friends, things I don’t expect you to forgive, but we don’t stand a chance against Azula and the Dai Li on our own.”

“Katara is in trouble,” Aang reiterates to a contemplative Sokka, your words swimming in his thoughts. The mere look of sadness on your face is almost enough to make him cave in, but not quite. “All of Ba Sing Se is in trouble. Working together is our best chance.”

After a moment’s pause, Sokka finally relents. Relief immediately washes over you now that you know the Avatar and his friends are going to help you get Zuko back. “Thank you, Aang. Your kindness means more than you know.”

“I’m just returning the favor,” the boy says with a sheepish smile, prompting you to recall fondly your first meeting with him on Zuko’s ship long ago.

With the Avatar’s help, you stand a chance now, and as your group heads to the crystal catacombs you once again feel that sense of hope grow in your heart.

Once this little bump in the road is over, you can resume your perfect life with Zuko, all you need to do is just get through the day.

And you will.

~~~

You journey underground with Iroh and the Avatar to the crystal catacombs, tuning out their conversation as your mind reels over your worry for Zuko. It figures that after having such a perfect day the universe would throw something like this at you. But that’s just the way your relationship was, and anytime a hurdle had been cast your way you’d always been able to overcome it. This time would be no different.

After finally arriving in the crystal cave, you’re quick to lift the skirt of your dress and sprint towards Zuko before flinging yourself into his arms.

“You’re okay!” You exclaim, voice coated with relief.

“What are you doing traveling with the Avatar?” He asks, almost as if he’s insulted by Aang’s mere presence.

“Saving you, that’s what,” Aang replies testily, prompting Zuko to lunge forward only for Iroh to hold him back.

“We wouldn’t have been able to find you without him,” you explain truthfully. “Please don’t be upset.”

Zuko had never really gotten over your little stunt back on his ship when you’d helped the Avatar escape, so seeing you by Aang’s side again felt like rubbing salt in the Prince’s wound. He was trying to be better for you, but the conflict within him still remained.

“Zuko, it’s time we talked,” Iroh says before encouraging Katara and Aang to move ahead without your group.

“Why, Uncle?” Zuko asks softly, hurt clear in his voice. Your gentle eyes meet his own and he looks away in shame, unable to return your gaze. He knows he’s disappointed you too many times to count, but he’s not sure how much longer he can keep up this charade of pretending to be happy in this dirt prison you now call home. He doesn’t want to admit this to you, but the conflict within him continues to fester.

“You are not the man you used to be, Zuko. You are stronger and wiser and freer than you have ever been,” Iroh says proudly. “And now you have come to the crossroads of your destiny. It is time for you to choose. It is time for you to choose good.”

A hopeful smile plays upon your lips at Iroh’s words, but it is quickly wiped away by the sudden rumbling of the cave. Before you can even process what’s happening, Iroh and yourself are encased in crystal.

“Y/n!” Zuko exclaims, but he isn’t left with time to free you once Azula appears with the Dai Li at her side.

“I expected this kind of treachery from Uncle and your little girlfriend,” she says sharply, “but Zuko, Prince Zuko, you’re a lot of things, but you’re not a traitor, are you?”

“Release them immediately!” He demands firmly, his hardest gaze focused on Azula. The crystals dig uncomfortably into your sides and pin your limbs in cramped positions, but you have enough movement in your wrists to bend should you need to.

“Are you sure? I think the crystals are quite flattering on y/n, don’t you?” Azula goads playfully to an unamused Zuko.

As his sister tries to fill his head with promises of redemption and honor in exchange for his help, and as Iroh tries to persuade him in the right direction, you focus your attention on looking for any source of water to help you. Your eyes land on a trickle of water that drops from the roof, but you don’t make your move until Azula has left the room.

“Zuko, you have to help Aang and Katara. If Azula and the Dai Li catch up to them they won’t be able to fight them off on their own,” you express urgently as you use your free hands to pull the droplets of water towards you. “Iroh and I will be right behind you.”

You’re too engrossed in your escape plan at first to notice that Zuko doesn’t budge, but when you lift your gaze to see he hasn’t moved at all a frown quickly pulls at your lips. “Zuko?”

A sense of dread washes over you at his lack of response, and for a moment you fear that perhaps Azula had gotten to him, but then he finally moves to meets your gaze. The green crystals of the catacombs reflect beautifully in your tired eyes, and Zuko can’t help but try to commit the scene to his memory. It will probably be the last good one he’ll be able to keep of you.

He finally gives you a silent nod in response, but not before urging you to stay behind.

“You’ll be safer here,” he says, and he doesn’t give you a chance to argue as he runs off in search of Aang, leaving Iroh and yourself behind.

After gathering enough water, you cover the crystal in ice until the intense cold prompts it to crack, and with a firm flick of your wrists the ice and crystal shatter so that you are finally free from the trap. You move to do the same for Iroh, but he quickly shakes his head to stop you.

“You must go and help the Avatar. I will catch up with you shortly,” he assures you. “There isn’t time to waste.”

You give him a firm nod before rushing after Zuko, hoping you’re not too late to offer your help. The crystals had ripped through the skirt of your dress, and though you felt guilty for ruining the clothes Miss Tai had lent you, you’re grateful for the range of motion the tattered fabric now gives you. Hopefully Zuko won’t be too mad at you for disobeying his request.

The commotion in the catacombs has you pushing yourself to run faster, but when you finally reach your destination you’re quick to skid to a stop at the sight before you.

Katara has Azula in her grasp, and it’s clear that the Fire Princess is at a disadvantage. Zuko’s back is turned to you, and at first it looks as if he’s about to help the water bender. But when his blast of flames cuts through her water arms and frees his sister you’re left with a dreadful conclusion.

Your heart sinks to your stomach as you realize Zuko hadn’t come here to help the Avatar- he’d come to defeat him.

“Zuko…” you utter softly, your features riddled with heartbreak and disappointment as he finally turns to look at you after hearing the sound of your voice. The eyes of the boy that stare coldly at you now are not the same ones that once used to look upon you with nothing but love and adoration.

There is no remorse or guilt on his features, but there is anger and resentment. He’s never looked upon you this way, fury blazing along his irises as if you’re the enemy, as if he hated you.

“How kind of you to join us, Princess,” Azula calls with a taunting smile. You swallow harshly and stand frozen in place, too in shock to move. But then she gestures to Zuko, and a sickness settles in your stomach as he slowly begins to approach you.

“Zuko, stop. This isn’t you,” you beg desperately, cowering away from his menacing figure. “Please, don’t do this.“

“This is me,” he says gravely. “You just didn’t want to see it.”

You can’t help but let out a scream as he shoots a blast of fire towards you, and you’re barely quick enough to form a wall of water to block his attack. His moves are relentless, but no matter how many times he strikes you don’t dare fight back. Your moves are defensive, for even though he’s turned against you, you can’t bring yourself to hurt him.

“I don’t want to fight you!” You insist, narrowly missing the fire he whips at you.

“Are you sure about that?” He retorts harshly, eyes hard-set on the water swirling in your palms. “You’re afraid of me, you always have been. You think I’m a monster!”

“That’s not true!” You cry desperately as you block another attack.

“You only stayed by my side to try and fix me so you could feel better about yourself. You’re no different than the rest of your people.”

“Zuko,” you gasp in disbelief. “How can you say that?! I love you!”

“You’re just a spoiled little Princess who thinks being a water bender makes her special.”

“Stop it. That’s Azula talking, not you.”

“You left your people to fulfill your own childish dreams of love. What a joke,” he scoffs harshly before hitting you with another blast of flames. “You’re selfish! You’re weak! You’re-“

You don’t want to hear anymore. It’s as if he has your heart in his hands, squeezing it apart with each insult he throws your way. Your Zuko is gone.

He isn’t able to finish his assault as the tsunami like wave of water you send his way sweeps him off his feet and throws him across the catacomb. The water roars deafeningly in your ears, drowning out the sound of the anguished sobs that wrack your body as you finally turning your bending on the one you love.

The rest of the fight seems to be a blur as you do your best to hold off Dai Li agents, but once Azula shoots Aang down with a blast of lighting it’s clear that the battle is lost. The fire siblings are beginning to close in on your group, and in a last ditch effort you find yourself standing protectively in front of Katara and Aang ready to fight for as long as you can. However, you find you don’t need to when Iroh swoops in and saves your group.

“You’ve got to get out of here. I’ll hold them off for as long as I can!” He insists before blocking the Dai Li from reaching you.

You hesitate in your tracks, unsure about leaving behind the man who had become family. As if reading your thoughts, he gives you a firm nod of encouragement. “Go, Princess.”

Swallowing harshly, you urge Katara to her feet and guide her to the waterfall. As she holds Aang’s limp body securely in her grasp, you use your bending to reverse the flow of the water so that it sends your trio upwards. Tears stream steadily down your face, but your gaze remains firm and set straight ahead.

Your relationship with Zuko is over.

~~~

The tide is calm as the Fire Nation ship sails towards the Capital City. After three long years, Zuko is finally returning home. It’s all he’s ever wanted, but for some reason it feels as if something is still missing. There’s a relentless ache in his chest that won’t leave him be, and he can do nothing but stare contemplatively out at the water.

“You seriously can’t still be worried about finally coming home,” a voice calls playfully as cold hands rest upon his tense shoulders. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, you’re practically a hero now.”

“I know that,” Zuko snaps irritably. Mai simply rolls her eyes in response.

“Then what is it?” She retorts only to be met with silence. Her eyes harden suddenly, and she yanks her hands away from him as if revolted by the Prince. “Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on that water Princess.”

“Of course not.”

“Sure,” Mai replies flatly, obviously unconvinced. “You don’t need her, Zuko.”

“I know that! She was just a distraction,” he tells her, trying to convince not only Mai but himself of it. “She never really meant anything to me.”

“I wish I could say I feel sorry for her,” Mai says unsympathetically with a bored wave of her hand, “but she must have been an idiot to expect you to live the rest of your life as a peasant.”

“Yeah…” Zuko murmurs quietly, remembering the way your eyes hard sparkled in the catacombs. They shined brighter when they were full of tears, and the image haunted him.

He’s pulled away from his thoughts by Mai’s hands gently guiding his face towards her own. A rare smile plays upon her lips as she pulls him in for a kiss. Zuko returns the gesture, but it’s empty.

He feels absolutely nothing.

~~~

Sokka is hesitant to approach you, unsure if his presence will make things worse for your emotional state. The tears haven’t stopped since you escaped from Ba Sing Se, but he feels awful just sitting there without attempting to comfort you. He never really understood just how someone like you could love Zuko or why you were ever with him in the first place, but all of it meant something to you, and he couldn’t ignore that.

“Hey, are you okay?” He asks gently, well aware of how stupid the question is. Obviously you aren’t, but he isn’t sure what else to say.

“I should have known I’d never be enough for him,” you weep miserably. “I was foolish to think he would ever put me before his need to restore his honor and please his father. How could I have been so naive?!”

“It’s not your fault,” the water tribe boy consoles while placing a comforting hand on your trembling shoulder. “It isn’t naive to want to see the good in people. You tried to find it in Zuko, but it just wasn’t there.”

“I gave up everything for him,” you murmur dully, exhaustion and defeat clear in your features. “And now I have nothing.”

“You have us,” Sokka corrects you with a careful smile. “Trust me, you’re better off without that jerk.”

You carefully wipe away your tears and give Sokka a meek smile in return for his kind words. “Thank you, Sokka. I’m more than grateful for your compassion. I promise to do all I can to help you and your friends defeat the Fire Lord.”

After all this time, after all the hurt and the guilt, all the running and the hiding, you’ve finally left Zuko. And you don’t intend to ever look back.

| atla tags: @sirkekselord @chronic-daydreamer-blog @niktwazny303

| zuko tags: @thebluelcdy @royahllty @the-firebender-girl @ilovespideyyy @yiyibetch @eridanuswave @lammello @a-monsters-love @knaite-solo @taeeemin

| fire lilies tags: @titaniafire @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @idkdude776 @aangsupremacy @thirstyforsometea @ihaveaproblem98 @brown-eyed-thang @xapham @misnmatchedsox @chewymoustachio @that-bucket-hat-gal @chilifrylizard2 @kyomihann @kaylove12 @kiwihoee @freggietale @noodlesfluffy @moon-spirit-yue @bubblegum-bee-otch

#fire lilies #zuko #atla #zuko x reader #prince zuko x reader #prince zuko #zuko x princess!reader #atla x reader #prince zuko imagine #zuko imagine

[funhouse-mirror-barbie]

I’m gonna be talking a little more about this later but straight up—if someone tells you “this is an important piece of my culture that is a closed practice and is not open to everyone”, your response should never be “actually it’s totally fine for us to use whatever we want from your culture you can’t keep us from it”.

Like this is a hard-line issue for me, and I’m not sorry about it. I think it can be one thing if a member of the culture explicitly invited you into their culture, but just taking whatever you want from other cultures and religions, especially ones that are closed or are already demonized and misunderstood is really gross to me.

So. I am white. I am not a part of the culture that’s being misrepresented in this case. But I’ve seen a lot of black people speak up about this, and it’s infuriating that no one seems to be listening to them.

I’m bringing this up specifically because it’s been revealed that, despite having 4 years to rework the character, Alastor still uses “voodoo” and Hazbin is still using vevé for “the aesthetic”.

Critics and fans of Hazbin Hotel have been saying for. literal. years. that having Alastor use Voudou signs is disrespectful. But the creators and show runners are ignoring Black people’s criticisms of this choice and how it depicts Voudou.

It’s very discouraging to see that apparently no consideration for these critiques was given while the show was in development.

People have also tried to argue that it’s ok for Alastor to use Voudoo because of Dr. Facilier in Disney’s Princess and the Frog. Which is a ridiculous thing to argue because there were people criticizing that film for its portrayal of Voudou after it came out as well.

Also, sorry, I really don’t think a movie that was directed by two white men should be used as an authority on what parts of black culture white people can use however they like.

Like. That’s just. Eurgh.

All of this is so disrespectful on multiple levels.

Representation is important, but it can be positive or negative.

It can glorify or demonize. And it is BECAUSE of this that you NEED to think critically about if you should be the one to represent another culture or not.

If your attempt at “representing” another culture includes shouting down or ignoring the opinions and beliefs of the people from that culture, then you are doing harm and need to take a step back.

TLDR—Representation is important but if you are trying to represent a minority group you are not a part of, and you ignore their concerns and criticisms and don’t consult with them or do research? You’re unquestionably doing more harm than good.

#funhouse convo #media criticism #media critique #hazbin hotel critical #media conversation #writing critique #hazbin hotel critique #helluva boss critical #helluva boss critique #hb critical

[hippolotamus]

Hello friends, work has been kicking my ass and I am soooooo behind on tags. I am slowly but surely catching up and looking forward to reading all the things! So, small confession... I've been reworking pieces of come close (let me be home) so some of the snippets might look familiar from before. Hoping the writing beans will soon allow me to make new words. Until then, have this Eddie and Christopher moment before the first ball (all prev snippets here) 😘

“This awful, cursed thing— Argh!” Eddie drops the ends of his bowtie in frustration. It’s not like he even wants to attend this wretched ball tonight. Least of all to placate his mother.

It would be different if he were going as someone who could casually stand in the background, sipping lemonade and observing his surroundings. If only it were that simple. Instead he’s expected to not only be there, but socialize, dance, and interact with potential partners. How is he meant to choose who he’ll spend the rest of his life with – someone to care for his son – based on how well they can perform the quadrille or regurgitate meaningless facts? It’s utter insanity.

“Daddy?” The timid voice reaches out from behind him.

Eddie turns to see Christopher hovering in the doorway, watching intently. The welcome sight is enough for the weight of tonight’s expectations to fall away, finally allowing him to breathe. He goes to his son, picking him up and drinking in the surprised sound.

“What can I do for you, sir?”

Christopher’s nose scrunches in amusement at the endearment before he gets a very serious look on his face. “Can I come with you?”

“I wish,” Eddie huffs out a humorless laugh. “It would make things way more interesting. Although, honestly, I’d much rather stay here with you.”

“Why don’t you then?” Christopher blinks owlishly behind his glasses.

Eddie envies his youthful ignorance for not yet understanding the pressures and politics of adulthood. He sighs and rubs his temple with his free hand, trying to think of an explanation that isn’t an outright lie. With everything that’s happened in Christopher’s short life, Eddie always strives to be honest with him.

“Well, because,” he stretches the words out as his brain continues to configure them into an acceptable arrangement. “I– promised your abuela I would go.”

Chris nods thoughtfully, seeming to accept the answer he’s been given. But, of course, he’s always been more perceptive than Eddie gives him credit for.

“Is this because Abuela wants me to have a new mom?” His voice is quieter, the tone colored with hesitation. Eddie wants to somehow pull him closer, to carve a space beneath his ribs to keep him safe.

“Not a new one, exactly. You know that no one could ever replace your mother. This would be someone else to love and take care of you.”

“But I thought that’s why we have Carla,” Chris protests.

Eddie chuckles at his son’s logic and thinks he might be the one person who could match wits with Helena Diaz. “You’re right. She does both of those things. Carla loves and cares about you very much. It’s just… your abuela has some different ideas. She’s a little stuck in the past sometimes.”

“Okay.” Christopher grins brightly, removing any traces of his serious persona. “Then I hope you have fun and find someone nice for us.”

“Me, too, bud. Me, too.”

Eddie’s brought back to reality when his valet announces the carriage is ready. He presses a kiss to Christopher’s temple and gently sets him on the floor. “Be good for Carla?”

“I’m always good for Carla.” Christopher proudly puffs out his chest.

“Of course. How could I forget?” Eddie teases. “I must be remembering a different little boy that got covered in mud while playing and had to be scrubbed clean.”

Chris rolls his eyes. “One time,” he mumbles.

Eddie snorts as he jogs down the staircase, hoping in vain to burn off some of his nervous energy that’s returned. His cloak is nearly arranged when Christopher calls from the upper floor.

“Daddy! Your tie!”

Right. Eddie sighs and makes a final attempt to knot the material together in front of the hall mirror. Miraculously he makes it in one pass this time and turns with a flourish so Christopher can make his assessment.

His son beams down at him with a toothy grin. “Be good for Abuela!”

Eddie responds with an exaggerated bow, drinking in the giggle that floats down. He snaps it up, like something he could keep in his pocket. A protective barrier from whatever he might have to face tonight. With a heavy sense of dread sitting like a stone in his stomach, Eddie waves goodbye and walks outside to the carriage. As he steps up to the plush, velvet, forest green bench, he wishes it felt less like marching to the Tower of London.

“Ready, sir?” His driver asks from the front.

No. “Ready.”

tagged by @malewifediaz @hoodie-buck @daffi-990 @your-catfish-friend thank you loves!

no pressure tagging @disasterbuckdiaz @stereopticons @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz LOML @lizzie-bennetdarcy @vanillahigh00 @rmd-writes @welcometololaland @apothecarose @jesuisici33 @callmenewbie @giddyupbuck @wikiangela @jamespearce9-1-1 @spotsandsocks (she posted a new chapter of shifter fic so go check that out!) @exhuastedpigeon @lemonzestywrites @thewolvesof1998 @steadfastsaturnsrings @weewootruck @loserdiaz @heartshapedvows @underwater-ninja-13 @fortheloveofbuddie @eowon @watchyourbuck @monsterrae1 @elvensorceress @spagheddiediaz @chaosandwolves @wildlife4life @buddierights @911onabc @the-likesofus @spaceprincessem @fionaswhvre @barbiediaz @honestlydarkprincess @pirrusstuff @messyhairdiaz @gayedmundodiaz @theplaceyoustillrememberdreaming @maygrantgf @statueinthestone @indestructibleheart and anyone else who wants to share 💖

#long snip today #because i crave validation #plus eddie and chris are just the best #buddie wip #fic: come close (let me be home) bridgerton #hippo writes

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Idia and his parents communicating ipad to ipad for Family day. I want to see it, it sounds like something out of a dystopia 😭 can you write it? (Hope I’m asking the right way!)

I seriously thought long and hard about censoring Idia's whole face out using his tablet in the banner 😂 I ended up choosing not to because leaving his face exposed makes Idia more vulnerable (which suits the tone of this interaction).

This piece was actually inspired by a scene from a cooking manga of all things if you can imagine that 😭 It was about two brothers fighting because they reacted so differently to a traumatic event; I reworked the elements of that for this scene

***Contains major plot spoilers for book 6 of the main story!***

Family means Nobody is Left Behind or Forgotten.

“Idia.”

“Dad.”

The air between the two floating tablets was electric—not from the devices, but from the charged tension they emanated.

On one screen was a circle encasing a triangle and skull emblem, a generic symbol for Idia’s infamous voice calls. On the other screen was a man that could only be described as Death itself, pale skinned and blue lipped, suited in a pristinely lab coat. His hair was a blue blaze, and his mouth folded into a neutral line.

Ortho floated between the two tablets, his gaze darting nervously between them.

“So nice of you to pay your son a visit,” Idia spat. A mean, pessimistic bite to his speech was the norm—but these were different, coated in something stronger. Not quite hate, but the distinctively metallic flavor of masked hurt. “What am I in for this time?”

“I’ve come to check up on you,” Mr. Shroud said carefully, as if placing each word down with a fine pair of tweezers.

Idia couldn’t suppress an audible scoff from slipping out.

For as long as he had lived (though could one really define “living” as being cooped up in his room 24/7?), Idia had never known his father to be particularly warm. He was an aloof man, as icy as the pits of Tartarus itself, dedicating himself to research above all else. Results over emotions, and facts over feelings: that was how Mr. Shroud operated.

Something about his mere presence made Idia freeze over, his limbs lock up like a machine with cogs that hadn’t been greased. The man he called father—where had he and mother been when their son needed them most?

Two years. Two years of crying alone, grappling with his guilt and his fears, shut away from the world. Researchers passing him looks of sympathy, containing their whispers amongst themselves. It was the robot parts gifted to him that kept him sane, gave him some semblance of hope.

The limp body of a child, entirely indiscernible on the floor, was still so clear in Idia’s mind. Mangled, the warmth robbed from it. As cold and as lifeless as the machines that populated Styx HQ.

“Give him back. Give him back to me…! Give me all of Ortho… His body, his personalities, his memories! EVERYTHING!! I WANT IT ALL BACK!!”

His tears had run hot, but his parents’ blood had turned to solid ice. He had fixated, and they had seemingly forgotten.

“Kk, sure. I’ll buy it even though I actually don’t,” Idia said sarcastically. “Go off, say what you want to say.”

If Mr. Shroud was offended by his son’s tone, his face didn’t show it. “I wanted to ask if there have been any… issues since ‘the incident’. More specifically, among ex-subjects A through F, regarding their experiences within our facility.”

Because we neglected to wipe their memories with River Lethe this time, Idia knew. He wants to know if they’ve been running their mouths off about Styx with all the online rumors on secret organization going viral…

“How should I know? I don’t make it a habit of monitoring my classmates’ internet posts. And so what if they do? It’s not like anyone has proof…”

“This is a matter of great importance, young man. If word gets out about what we are and what we do…” Mr. Shroud frowned and shook his head. “It puts our entire operation in jeopardy. As future director, you should be taking this more seriously.”

“I didn’t make that choice,” Idia muttered. All I wanted… was to be normal. But no, that freedom was already taken from me before I was even born.

“What was that?” Mr. Shroud’s volume rose ever so slightly, brows subtly drawing together.

“Wah, let’s not fight!” Ortho interjected, holding up two hands. “It’s Family Day, Nii-san! We should be doing fun activities as a family. Will you join us, Mr. Shroud?”

“Ortho…” Idia bit back a protest.

Mr. Shroud’s expression shifted, adopting mild amusement. “… The world’s first self-improving technomantic humanoid.”

“Yup, that’s me!” Ortho twirled happily. His outfit—black and blue, just like the school uniforms of the Ignihyde students— shone wonderfully in the sunlight.

“Fascinating. It’s been equipped with a new gear which seems to being it something akin to human joy,” Mr. Shroud mused. “I assume this was your doing, Idia?”

At the other end of his tablet, Idia clenched his clammy fists. There he goes again, acting like people are his experiments. Just data to be stared at, manipulated and studied.

Annoyance colored the tips of Idia’s hair red. Ortho’s smile, his happiness, was genuine. Of that, Idia was certain—but it was a waste of his breath to try and convince his father otherwise.

For Ortho’s sake.

A deep breath in, a deep breath out. He expelled his pride, and his flames cooled back to blue.

“Yes, I made his College Gear. Ortho’s officially enrolled as a student now, so I don’t get what the big deal is. You signed off on it.”

“An artificial intelligence with the capacity for organic learning and growth is an ever-expanding field of interest. Your mother and I granted our permission for Ortho’s enrollment so as to collect data on…”

There was a rattle and a slam from the other end of Idia’s tablet. His shaky voice rose, fire burning red hot.“L-Look, I… I don’t care what you think of me, or about school, or your work. But don’t talk about Ortho like he’s just an object.”

“Technically speaking, it is an accurate statement.”

“Ortho’s so much more than that!! He’s my brother. Kehehe… If you can’t recognize that, then maybe you aren’t as smart as you like to think you are.”

Ortho’s eyes widened. “Nii-san…”

Mr. Shroud pursed his lips. “You’re being emotional. Let’s think about this rationally—”

“One day,” Idia continued, his voice cracking. “Just one day of being normal boys with a normal family. Can’t you at least give us that? No, I guess you can’t, because all you care about is getting your results. The feelings of your sons don’t matter.

“You won’t acknowledge Ortho as his own person, but you’re the one that’s more machine than man. We may as well not even exist until you need to call on us for something. Y-You..: You didn’t even cry when…!!”

“Idia.”

Mr. Shroud’s face was a marble mask, free from feeling—but in his eyes was an immense sadness. Despair swirling in a vortex of lost souls, locked away and the key thrown out. “You think you’re the only one who has been suffering? Your mother and I…”

He didn’t finish the thought. Or else the marble would crack, and a torrent of tears would escape him.

Idia went silent. Harsh accusations rested on the tip of his tongue, unsure if they would be spat up or swallowed down.

“… Human beings choose to mourn and to honor the dead in their own ways,” Ortho said quietly. “Coping is unique to the individual. Even so, I think it’s possible to understand one another.

“Nii-san, Mr. Shroud. Why don’t we do away with the screens and speak face-to-face? Maybe then… we could understand each other.”

Idia gave a bitter laugh. “… Sorry, Ortho. I don’t think I could do it.”

“But…”

“He is correct. From the looks of things, it would ultimately be a fruitless, futile effort. We’re done here,” Mr. Shroud declared. “You have the day off from classes, so you may spend it however you wish. Play your video games or whatever it is children do these days to amuse themselves.”

Idia snorted.

“… Be well. Until next time.”

Click!

His video feed abruptly ended. The cord between him and his children, cut.

Back at the Isle of Lamentation, Mr. Shroud pulled up a keyboard and notes on his device. He began punching in his report.

Day XX / Month XX

I was worried about Idia’s emotional and mental state in the aftermath of the incident. The boy has experienced a number of hardships as of late. Regardless, he seems to be doing well. He is still as reclusive and as snarky as he ever was. However, I observed a marked change in his behavior with regards to Ortho.

Idia has become rather protective of the android of his own creation. He now truly regards it as his own brother and reports to enjoy spending time with it. This could yield promising therapeutic results in the future.

I will continue to log his progress.

Signed,

Director Shroud

#Idia Shroud #Ortho Shroud #Ignihyde #twst interactions #twisted wonderland interactions #twst #twisted wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #NRC Family Day #twst scenarios #twisted wonderland scenarios #twst imagines #twisted wonderland imagines #spoilers #tw // death #angst

[peterpparkrr]

Pinned (pt. 7)

Series: Pinned

Pairing: Anthony Bridgerton x f!reader

Summary: Reader is in her feelings. Anthony runs (unfortunately not through the rain) to confess his feelings and asks the reader a very important question.

Word count: 1k

A/N: Oh boy! This series will have one more chapter (and then maybe a little epilogue)! I’ve loved this little story so much (I’m already playing with the idea of reworking it a bit - and maybe turning it into a piece of original fiction?), but it’s coming to its end! So I just want to say thank you for all the love!

prev. part // next part

You shouldn’t be surprised by the ache in your chest. 

You know how you feel about Anthony. And sure, you know how he felt about you, but even your mutual feelings weren’t enough to change your situation.  

Anthony made himself perfectly clear, and so did you. But that does nothing to dull the sharp sting you feel each time you catch yourself thinking about him and have to remember what you said to him. 

If you were a stronger woman you’d say that you believed every word that you spoke to Anthony Bridgerton the last time you saw him. And what you said was the truth. But that doesn’t mean that you meant those words.  Or that you wouldn’t do anything in your power to change those truths if you could.

But his surprising callousness, even as he tried to reason with you, to keep you, is enough to allow you to go on with your life. 

It never would have worked. 

He can never marry you. And you can never be his mistress. 

An unstoppable force and an immovable object.

And maybe, in a different world, a fairer world, it wouldn’t matter that you come from different parts of society. Maybe if you’d met a hundred, or two hundred years from now it wouldn’t even be an issue.

But you live in this world, with these rules. Rules that are not going to change any time soon.

So you’ll need to move on.

And you’d been trying to.

You’d been making breakfast the morning after you’d ended things when John’d gotten back from his overnight shift.

“John-” You tried to start as you came over to where he’d plopped down unceremoniously at the table.

“You spoke to your little lord?” He asks without looking up at you. 

“He’s not-” You start to argue before you realize it’s not worth your effort. John’s already won. And why would you waste your time defending a man you will never interact with again. “Yes,” You finally settle on. 

“And?” John prompts you. 

“I ended it,” You reply. “John-”

“Good,” He cuts you off before he digs into his food. “Thank you for breakfast,” he manages to add through bites.

You hear Anthony shouting your name before you see him. 

You turn around with wide eyes to see Lord Bridgerton jogging down the busy pavement towards you, shouting your name at the top of his lungs.

“You shouldn’t be here,” You say as you reach him, having turned and picked up your own pace to meet him before he can embarrass either of you any further.

“I must. I must,” He repeats as he stares down at you intensely. Struggling to catch his breath as he finds the words he’d been formulating on his way here. “I love you.”

“I’m going to have to ask you to be on your way, Sir,” A sharp voice calls from behind you as a hand rests protectively on your shoulder. “You’re causing a scene.”

“John-” You start to protest.

“Who are you?” Anthony asks. His eyes flash with something as they travel up from the hand on your shoulder to the face of the man standing behind you.

“Her brother,” John tells him. “And you are causing a scene, Lord Bridgerton. You need to go,” He repeats quickly.

“Anthony, maybe this isn’t the best place to do this,” You tell him. “Please.”

“I just need a moment of your time,” Anthony pleads.

As you glance back at him, John mutters your name lowly.

“A moment,” You allow. “In private. And then I will return,” You tell John.

“If you think I’m going to let you go somewhere alone with my sister you have lost your mind, Bridgerton,” John continued.

“John,” You snap. Not appreciating him speaking over you like you’re not even present.

“No. Whatever he wants to say he can say in front of me as well,” John tells you.

“No. This is between me and Anthony, and has absolutely nothing to do with you at all, John. So please, let me take care of this,” You tell him as you take hold of Anthony’s hand and begin to drag him to a quieter part of the street, away from the crowd that had been gawking curiously at the scene you’d been a part of.

“This conversation isn’t over!” John shouts as you alway away.

You stop in your tracks before whipping around.

“Yes, it actually is,” You snap before continuing on your way.

Once you’ve ducked into 

“We need to stop meeting like this,” You tell Anthony with a shake of your head. “You seem to have a pattern of accosting women on the street.”

“Just you,” Anthony replies. “And you seem to have a pattern of dragging me into secluded alleys,” He adds.

“Anthony, I’m not sure why you’ve tracked me down to shout at me, but you’re tempting scandal, doing this in public. I think we both know that nothing has truly changed,” You tell him.

“But it has,” Anthony says. “I love you, and I can’t stomach the thought of living a life without you.” 

“We don’t need to have this conversation again, I haven’t changed my mind,” You tell Anthony with a shake of your head. Disappointed by the thought that he came all this way in hopes of changing your mind about this, especially after you made your stance so clear the last time you talked.

“I’m not asking you to be my mistress. I’m asking you to marry me,” Anthony tells you.

You stare at Anthony for a long moment.

“You haven’t thought this through,” You reply as you shake your head.

“I have. I’ve spoken to my mother. You deserve to be happy. And so do I,” He tells you as he brings a hand up to cup your cheek. “Let us be happy together.”

“Marry me,” Anthony repeats.

#pinned #pinned series #anthony bridgerton #anthony bridgerton x reader #anthony bridgerton fanfic #anthony bridgerton imagine #anthony bridgerton x you #anthony bridgerton reader insert #Bridgerton #Bridgerton Series #bridgerton x y/n #bridgerton x reader #bridgerton x female reader #bridgerton x you #bridgerton fanfiction #anthony bridgerton fannfiction #bridgerton imagine #anthony bridgerton series #bridgerton reader insert

[venusvity]

정윤아 … …  (  I HAVE KNOWN.  )

❝If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels.❞                         ―  Tennessee Williams, Conversations With Tennessee Williams

CHARACTERS :   JUNG YOONAH …   KANG JUWON …   SON JINHWA

WORDS : 3.7K

WARNINGS / NOTES : Therapy. Mentions of Murder, Depression, and PTSD. Abusive and weird obsessive boss. Discussions of an abusive relationship. If I missed something let me know! This piece is old, I've reworked it, and am really pleased with how it turned out! I believe this would take place in either 2019/2020 but this is set in the past! I just wanted to put it back into the universe :) Thank you so much for reading! rbs, comments, and asks are always appreciated ♡

“Do you want to be here, Yoonah?”

Yoonah looks around the therapist’s office, sighing through her button nose before nodding.

“Yeah.”

Doah’s pen skates across her notepad, causing Yoonah’s eyes to fall down to it. She barely said anything, why is she writing?

“Are you in a relationship right now?”

Yoonah has to think about it. She thinks about it for a few beats, eyes scanning over the door as she waits for the words to come to her. Doah waits. Even if Yoonah doesn’t speak, she gets paid. She’ll let her take her time.

“Yeah, I’m seeing…men.”

“How many men?”

A pause.

“One,” Yoonah looks towards the window now, “And a half.”

“And a half?”

Yoonah smiles towards the door where outside sits a man, waiting for his appointment to start. He’s different from the boys she usually talks to. When they were in the waiting room, he talked to her passionately about the book he was reading, she doesn’t remember what book but she remembers the beaming smile on his face when talking about it. His name is Juwon. He’s in a band. He’s a vocalist and plays bass. Yoonah likes him. She wants to spend more time with him.

“I’m working on one.” Her words make Doah chuckle through her nose, writing that down before looking up and at Yoonah.

“And the one you’re not working on?”

“Jinhwa.” It’s a simple answer, causing Doah to nod. She writes the names down but never looks away from Yoonah. 

“And would you consider that a healthy relationship?”

Yoonah opens her mouth to say something but nothing comes out. It takes her a second, staring out the window, counting the droplets of rain that hit it. She gets to fifteen before she finally has an answer.

“Not really.”

Doah nods, jotting that down.

“Let’s start there,” Doah hums, finally, putting her pen down. Yoonah feels like a weight is lifted when the pen is put down. She swallows, looking towards the door again, shifting in her seat. She hates talking about herself, her problems, her relationships, all she’s been through, she hates it all. It feels so selfish.

“Why don’t you think that relationships is healthy, Yoonah?”

Yoonah takes a deep breath through her nose, looking up now before back at the gold doorknob.

“Jinhwa…is my boss,” Doah’s writing again, it’s making Yoonah’s fingers twitch, picking at her ripped jeans. “But he loves me. I love him too. I’m not dumb though. I know, like, fucking your boss won’t have, like, the best relationship dynamic.” She’s talking more but it’s to defend herself, to defend Jinhwa. She’s fighting a one-sided battle because Doah doesn’t say anything, just nods.

“But I’m a grown woman. I can make my own choices and I want to be with him even if it is inappropriate. I don’t care,” Yoonah continues, still fighting a battle with no competitor. It’s like she’s arguing with herself but not really. Doah nods, tilting her head at Yoonah.

Doah nods, hooded eyes scanning over Yoonah’s appearance, motioning to her own hair with her pen.

“Is that why you cut your hair? Because of something he did?”

Yoonah looks down at the now decent-sized hole in her jeans, swallowing when she thinks of what she deems the first domino. It wasn’t all Jinhwa’s fault, she had been spiraling for a while at that point, sure, they were getting bad again but there were other things that contributed to her tipping point.

“No,” She sounds uncertain because she is. Did she chop her hair off because truly hated her reflection or did she chop her hair off because she wanted Jinhwa’s attention? As she thinks harder about it, she doesn’t know. “I don’t know.”

“Yoonah, do you feel safe around Jinhwa?”

“Sometimes,” She hates how fast she answers and she hates how uncertain she sounds. She’s a good liar, she knows she is, but she’s never been so backed into a corner in her life.

“And when do you not feel safe?”

Silence. Longer than normal.

“Does he hits you?” Doah prods. Yoonah crosses her arms across her chest.

“I don’t care if he hits me.”

“So he does hit you?”

“No,” Yoonah pauses, “He’ll grab me sometimes.”

“Is that when you feel unsafe?”

“Sometimes.” She’s answering quickly now, out of spite. She’s mad. She doesn’t want to be here, she doesn’t want to talk about her life or relationships with a stranger, she doesn’t want to do it.

“What does he do when he grabs you?” Doah asks, raising her brows. Yoonah decides she’s talking too much, giving Doah too much ammo like this is some war and not a therapy appointment but she keeps going. This is the one place she feels like she could keep going and never face any repercussions.

“He yells at me.”

“What does he say when he yells at you?” There’s a silence between them where the women just stare at each other, one tapping her pen while the other digs her nails into her own sides.

Jinhwa only yells at her when she “goes off the deep end” or whatever he calls it when Yoonah starts expressing her emotions to him. She’s never been good at expressing her emotions even when she was a child her mother would tell her stories of the hour-long fits Yoonah would have because she didn’t get what she want or because she didn’t understand something.

“He…He just yells at me. I don’t know.” Yoonah sounds smaller, looking down at the ugly grey carpet.

“When does he yell at you? What leads up to that?” Doah asks, her brows softening, giving her a more compassionate look. 

Beneath the facade she’s built, Yoonah’s heart is gentle. She is kind and cares for others even when their best interest is to her detriment.

Yoonah shrugs. She doesn’t want to do this anymore. She doesn’t feel say talking about Jinhwa like this. It feels like he’ll find out what she’s saying and use it against her. The silence is thick and long between the pair. Doah looks up at the clock with a sigh

“I’ll see you next week.” They still have 30 minutes left in their session but Yoonah always left early. It’s not her dime this is on. She doesn’t care. She leaves without a second thought. Doah knows she’ll be back, she always comes back, this is mandated by her company, Yoonah has to come back if she wants to keep doing her job.

Yoonah walks down the hallway and into the waiting room where she hopes to maybe see Juwon before she leaves but it’s an empty room. It makes her sigh, pressing the back of her hand against her teary eyes as she quickly walks out of the office and towards the black car that waits out front for her.

SESSION 002

Juwon is a beautiful boy. He had big black eyes and short black hair that looked silky to the touch. He has a famous face she’s seen before, she knows he’s in that group with that boy in it. Juwon hasn’t spoken much about his group or his friends for that matter, she doesn’t even know if he’s friends with the boys in his group.

He mainly talks about his family. His father more specifically and how he wasn’t a nice man before he passed. Yoonah tells him that he can meet her dad one day, her dad is nice to everyone and would love to meet Juwon.

Yoonah likes Juwon. She likes him a lot.

“He sounds…insufferable,” Junwo laughs, shaking his head as Yoonah nods.

“He is.”

Juwon looks amused but bewildered, brows furrowing at her response.

“And you’re still with him?” Juwon asks, causing Yoonah to think for a few beats, looking up before shrugging.

“We’re, like, still together. We sleep with other people a lot.” She doesn't mention that Jinhwa doesn't know about most of them.

“Who have you slept with?” Juwon asks, genuinely curious. His curiosity makes her laugh again.

"A couple of people..." Yoonah sings jokingly, laughing to herself as flashes of people she's slept with appear in her head. She can't remember their names, but she remembers how their lips tasted.

Juwon makes an amused sound at that, laughing softly as he looks down at the book in his lap.

“You’re very interesting, Yoonah,” Juwon tells her, making her smile sweetly. Interesting. She can’t remember the last time she’s been called interesting. It makes her chest warm.

“You’re wasting your time with that guy, Jihan?”

“Jinhwa.”

“Ah,” Juwon doesn’t seem interested in his name, “Men like that don’t change. Don’t waste your time.”

Yoonah learns more and more she hates when anyone who aren’t herself talks about Jinhwa. They never have anything good to say, they just tell her to leave. She gets it. She’s just tired of hearing it.

“I know,” Yoonah answers dryly, causing Juwon to look up at meet her gaze. They lock eyes for a few beats before Yoonah raises her brows, unimpressed. “All men are like that though.”

Juwon shrugs, not moved.

“Yeah, maybe, but not all men will have you mother their child,” Juwon says simply, brows raising as well as if he’s mimicking her. It makes Yoonah laugh through her nose, looking down at her hands, and sighing softly. She hates it when people are right about Jinhwa. She hates being wrong in general. 

“Got me there,” Yoonah says as she kicks the agergous looking carpet under her feet. She looks up at Juwon once again. Neither of their therapists had come out yet. It makes her brain spark to life, biting the inside of her cheek as she smiles.

“We should leave.”

“Leave?” Juwon repeats. Yoonah nods.

“Yeah, we can walk somewhere.”

“But our managers–”

“We come back before they come,” Yoonah shrugs. It’s clear she lives more on the edge that Juwon does. She stands, putting her hands out to him, smiling sweetly. “It’ll be fun! We can be each other’s therapists.”

Juwon laughs up at her, smiling. He’s beautiful when he smiles, Yoonah thinks as she fights the urge to take his face into her palms.

Juwon hesitantly takes her hands into his, standing up.

“Let’s go.”

SESSION 003

“Tell me about your childhood,” Yoonah says as she and Juwon sit in a meadow adjacent to the park that's a few blocks away from their therapists’ building. Juwon laid his jacket down for her to sit on. He’s a true gentleman in Yoonah’s opinion.

Juwon’s eyes widen as his brows go up, sighing and shaking his head.

“Um, not great,” Juwon starts, laughing softly as he picks at a blade of grass. He tears the blade of grass to shreds. “I had a sister. She died when I was four. That’s when my mom said my dad started,” he twirls his finger next to his head, shaking his head, “Losing it. She thinks he blames himself for her death. It was a car crash and he was driving, so, I bet he did but he never talked about it. He was just…fucking mean,” Juwon shrugs, plucking another green blade of grass. Yoonah rubs her lips together as he speaks, watching his fingers nimbly move against the blade of grass, shredding it to pieces.

“Is he why you’re going to therapy?” Yoonah wonders, causing Juwon to scoff, shaking his head.

“No. My company said I needed to after what I saw,” Juwon says like she should know what he’s seen. She does know. All of Korea knows. It’s tragic and she can’t imagine going through what Juwon went through. Juwon shrugs. “And they’re right. That’s not a…Not a normal thing to see.”

A pause.

“It really does mess with your brain. ‘Seeing someone die,” Juwon adds, like he’s acknowledged his own trauma for the first time. “I honestly thought I was doing fine until my company stepped in.”

“What were you doing to make them step in?” Yoonah wonders, still watching his hands. She wants to hold them but she doesn’t reach towards him, not yet.

Juwon shrugs.

“I just…slept all day. I just laid there like I was in a coma or something,” She looks up when he speaks, looking at his face to see his sad gaze. He has naturally sad eyes, she thinks. It makes her reach over, taking his hand into hers, offering him a smile when he looks up at her.

“Now look at you,” Yoonah beams, causing him to smile lightly, looking over her soft features. “You’re sitting in a meadow with a pretty girl, talking about your life,” Juwon laughs softly at her words, head dropping as he squeezes her hand, nodding.

“‘Making great progress,” Juwon jokes, plucking one of those little white weed flowers, and putting it out to her. Yoonah smiles at the flower and then at Juwon, taking it in and putting it behind her ear still smiling.

She feels good.

SESSION 006

“You haven’t made any moves on me.”

Juwon looks up from his book and out into the endless dancing sea of grass they sat in before looking down at Yoonah, who lay in his lap.

“Do you want me to make moves on you?” The man asks, moving his hands out and to the sides so nothing is obstructing his view of her. Yoonah looks up at him with those soft round eyes she whips out every once in a while to keep men on their toes. It does the trick every time, making Juwon smile down at her softly.

Yoonah shrugs.

“Yeah.”

Juwon chuckles at the simplicity of her answer, folding the corner of the page before shutting his book and setting it down next to him, tapping her shoulders. She pushes herself up to where she’s sitting in a similar criss-crossed position as him, turning herself around to face the boy with the soft brown eyes. 

Now Juwon is the one with the soft gaze, staring at Yoonah like she’s some goddess sent from above. It makes her smile brighter, putting her hands out in the space between them for him to take. It takes him a second but he slowly reaches out, slotting his fingers between hers’.

“Feels like forever since I’ve held a girl’s hand,” Juwon tells her which makes her giggle softly, looking at their hands then back at his face.

“Really?”

“Yeah, we used to be…really busy so I just,” His thumb runs over the back of her hand, smiling fondly as he squeezes her smaller hands, “Never had the time.”

“Oh my god,” Yoonah leans forward, causing Juwon to raise his brows curiously, “Are you a virgin?” She whispers, half joking half serious. It makes Juwon’s jaw drop, scoffing then laughing at her, looking minorly offended.

“No! Oh my god––Yoonah, I went to college, you know?” His eyes are wide and he’s talking passionately, smile clear as she giggles at nearly every word he says. “I’ve had sex. God, I’m twenty-six. That’d be embarrassing.”

“You’re twenty-six?” Yoonah asks in shock. She thought he was her age. He isn’t far off but still, he looks young for his age. Juwon nods, humming.

“Almost twenty-seven,” He adds, looking her over before nodding, squeezing their hands again. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-three,” Yoonah answers simply, tilting her head at him before her eyes drop to their hands as she pulls them to her chest, over her heartbeat. Juwon watches her move their hands with a small smile before his eyes go back to her face. “I turn twenty-four in July though.”

Juwon nods, humming.

“We’ll have to celebrate.”

“Yeah?” Yoonah quips, making Juwon chuckle softly, nodding.

“I’ll take you out. Get you a balloon.”

“Just one?”

Juwon laughs again, deciding to be a bit bold and pulling her hands to his lips, kissing her knuckles. Yoonah smiles at the sweet action, her heart beating a bit faster when he holds their hands to his chest now. She can feel his heart beating. It’s beating fast but the rhythm is relaxing.

“I’ll get you twenty-four of them,” Juwon says, making Yoonah bat her lashes at him. He’s so sweet, so pure, Yoonah can’t stop herself from thinking she’s in love with him.

Maybe she is. She isn’t sure yet.

THE OFFICE.

Jinhwa clears his throat as Yoonah sits across his desk, looking down at her phone in her lap. She looks up a few seconds later, smiling at him before raising her brows at him. Jinhwa looks her over, a soft smile on his face before he looks down with a sigh.

“You haven’t gone to the last three of your sessions.”

Doah is such a bitch, Yoonah thinks but her face doesn’t falter, she just keeps smiling at him. She looks like he hand-picked the stars and put them in the sky himself. It works on every man she’s involved herself with.

“I don’t–”

“I’m not stupid, Yoonah. I know you’re leaving with that boy,” He taps the side of his head, “the disturbed one.”

“Don’t talk about him like that.” Yoonah snaps. There’s a defensiveness she carries for Juwon. He isn’t disturbed. He’s just depressed. She wonders if it’s their age difference or if Jinhwa thinks he’s a psycho. Jinhwa’s from a different time, she gets it, but she doesn’t care. The man sighs, putting up his hands in faux surrender.

“Whatever. Either way, he’s interfering with your treatment–”

“He’s not. I make him leave with me.”

A silence. Jinhwa sighs.

“I’m switching your appointments from five to three,” Jinhwa dismisses simply. Yoonah doesn’t argue, just sighs through her nose. There’s no use in arguing, just grin and bear it, Yoonah thinks, scratching the side of her wrists.

“And I’m…” Hesitation is never good, it makes Yoonah tense and look up from her hands. 

“I’m putting you on a dating ban. Effective immediately. You’re getting too reckless with the men you pick up.” Jinhwa says as he slides over a piece of paper, dropping a pen in front of her as well. Yoonah looks over the paper with wide, almost frantic eyes, then back at him, her scratching getting harder.

“What?” Yoonah whispers, “What is this?”

Jinhwa sighs again.

“It’s a legal document that says you acknowledge–”

“A contact. You want me to sign a contract?”

Jinhwa clears his throat at being interrupted, it's clear he’s getting agitated but keeps his composure. He knows Yoonah all too well at this point. Her reaction was to be expected.

“–that says you acknowledge you are under a dating ban until you complete your treatments and if you break this agreement,” he points to a block of text that Yoonah doesn’t look at, her hard gaze staying on him and him only, “you and your group will suffer the consequences.”

Yoonah swallows, shaking her head––A soft gasp leaves her lips when she feels a prick on her wrist. Her eyes look down to see a small portion of skin scratched raw, skin pink and shiny. It makes her stomach twist, putting her hand under her thigh with a sigh. She finally shakes her head.

“I don’t want to sign it.” Yoonah says sternly. Jinhwa grunts, he sees that coming. He reaches down, pulling a thick pile of papers out and dropping them in front of her. He flips through them until he’s on at least page twenty, pointing to a highlighted block of text.

“This? Right here?” He’s speaking to her like she’s dumb, voice condescending yet kind. She hates it, the look of content on her face only growing. “Says if you don’t sign anything I want you to sign, you’re in breach of your contract. I’ve been really leanate with you, Yoonah. Because I love you,” His hand is on her cheek now, making her bottom lip tremble slightly, gaze still hard and angry, “And I want what’s best for you. Anyone with a brain would’ve dropped you by now but I haven’t and I won’t. You owe me this one small thing, don’t you think?”

Yoonah turned her head away, sniffling before looking down at the papers that sat on his desk, shaking her head.

“It’s not fair, Jinhwa.” She says quietly, keeping her gaze down. Jinhwa coos at her, petting her black hair softly before taking her cheek back into his hand, stroking her full cheek softly.

“Nothing is, Yoonah.”

He leans back in his chair, taking her original contract off the table and back in his drawer before nodding towards the contact and pen in front of her.

“Just finish your therapy and you go back to seeing your mentally ill boyfriends,” Jinhwa dismisses, waving his hand as Yoonah takes the pen in her hand, sighing. She reads over the contract slowly, really reading over the conditions. She points to the fourth paragraph of text, lips twitching.

“Does this say I can still have relationships just with people inside the company?” Yoonah asks, looking up at Jinhwa. He’s smiling, nodding, hands crossed in his lap.

“Yes. Yeah, it does. It only makes sense.”

“Makes sense?”

“Yeah,” Jinhwa shrugs, “No one knows what happens inside the neighborhood or company building. It’s just easier if you keep your relationships within the company.”

Yoonah stares at him. The gears are turning, making her brows pinch and her head tilt slightly.

“Is…Did you just put that there so we can keep seeing each other?”

Jinhwa shrugs. His intentions are clear in Yoonah’s eyes, leaving an uneasy seed in her stomach. She hates the idea that Jinhwa feels the need to take such measures to control her. She hates that he can take such measures and she just has to go along with it.

She promised her group wouldn’t suffer for her mistakes ever again. She isn’t going to hurt their careers over something so small and trivial. She loves and cares for her girls too much to let that happen––She loves her team too much.

With a deep breath, she puts the pen on the dotted line and lets it glide across the paper in the shape of her name.

#╰ * VENUS : scenarios ⧽ burn it to the ground . #ficnetfairy #fictional idol group #fictional idol community #kpop fanfic #idol oc #kpop oc #fake kpop oc #kpop au #idol au #kpop addition #idolverse #oc girl group #bts addition #fake kpop girl group #fake kpop idol #oc kpop group #stray kids addition

[carmenlire]

rewatching the first episode of bloodhounds and the instant connection between gunwoo and woojin has struck me all over again! I adore that gunwoo just genuinely loves boxing. This hobby-turned-passion may have started to protect his mother but it’s something he finds such solace and joy in. He truly embodies the heart-of-a-boxer mentality that he mentions on the rooftop.

You can see gunwoo be a little taken aback at the showmanship of woojin. I’d like to put a little bit of intrigue there too because it’s so different to his own serious, by-the-book style. And then after the match, when gunwoo is waiting outside the locker room and his puppy energy is just off the charts!!! he says that everyone else left :( but I think he secretly he was just waiting for woojin. And he is so eager and woojin is just staring at this kid like what the fuck? shouldn’t he be annoyed at this rookie who KO’d him? but nah how could he be when it’s so glaringly obvious that the kid loves boxing for boxing’s sake and he’s such a sweetheart.

so they get dinner!! at the barbecue buffet!! and it’s at this part that woojin’s interest is well and truly piqued. He wants to know more about gunwoo and his rapid-fire questions are his way of getting the information. the two of them bond and i gotta love sangyi’s and dohwan’s  chemistry because you can literally see their friendship come together, that bond unbreakable.

And then the next morning! I could write an entire thesis about that first morning after the match! Gunwoo immediately calls his new friend woojin and woojin answers and even when he’s so tired and he doesn’t understand just why gunwoo would go to the gym, he still picks up the phone and his little amused-- and already so fond!!!!-- “gosh, you’re so clingy in the morning” is immediately nullified whenever he tells gunwoo to come over! 

and i love that woojin rapidly and without missing a beat understands and reworks his potential first impression of gunwoo. you can literally see him decide that “idk how this kid has managed this long without me but now i’m here and i’m not letting anything hurt him.”

and just the moments later-- their married couple ass bickering the second time they go to the buffet with hyunju before they are once again a united front as they both bicker with her! 

the montage after the devastation of Episode Six-- the way gunwoo so totally loses it all, his driving need to save his hyung, the way he carried woojin’s drunk ass to bed the night before (and if i hc that woojin wasn’t as drunk as it showed? that maybe there’s a conversation that happens in that moment?). his sheer relief. the way that in the wake of everything falling to pieces, they have each other and nothing will ever come between them-- the way they’re stronger than ever.

and don’t even get me started on their time in the granddaughter’s apartment?! it’s so obvious??? the way she tells them not to be creepy old men and they’re so confused but as soon as they realize what she’s alluding to, their faces wrinkle in disgust and they’re like “lmao wtf absolutely not u don’t have to worry about that” the way they’re talking one morning and??? they don’t realize she’s in the room???? and that’s because she was ON THE TOP BUNK AND THAT NECESSARILY MEANS THAT THEY SHARED THE BED ON THE GROUND FLOOR BECAUSE HOW ELSE WOULD THEY NOT KNOW SHE SLEPT THERE??????????????

#i'm going to write a fic and it's going to be titled the heart of a boxer #i want to see them in those quiet moments of the show #i want to see them happy and secure post canon #i KNOW that gunwoo's mom sees more than she lets on and she's very happy for her son #they get married idc and the granddaughter makes a joke that she knew all along #i wanna see woojin get jealous of someone flirting with gunwoo bc his man is so oblivious #i want to see them with kids #they make a nice little fortune boxing for a few years #and the rich guy i forget his name #he gave them a lot more money than the show said #and they keep that connection #because him and his cousin weren't kidding when they were drunk and said they have to take care of these kids #man i love woojin and gunwoo #bloodhounds #bloodhounds kdrama #my writing tag #fic ideas

[shyvioletlife]

Two episodes into the live action one piece and I already adore it to bits!! They’re doing such a fantastic job of maintaining the good and goofy nature of the show, still making it more crunchy and real (they genuinely made buggy menacing which is absolutely fucking wild) and have done a great job altering the content in a way that works much better for a live action storytelling style. Truly this is everything I could have wanted and more!

I’m especially appreciative of how they altered the story of the gathering of the crew and have increased the external stakes a bit so that you feel more invested in the larger world off the bat. That has always been a criticism of one piece I’ve seen is that it takes a while to really get invested in the world because of how sparse information is until it becomes relevant. While personally I don’t mind the slow pace of world building at the beginning I’ve also been a fan for sixteen years and the need to have investment of the larger world immediately is hardly a priority when you’re 11 years old. At that age you just care that luffy is fun, the people you meet are interesting, and the stories are exciting. The live action has the benefit of knowing the world at large as it is now and being able to foreshadow those external parties we otherwise only got allusions to through the cover stories (which were never even adapted in the anime for the most part) as well as rework how we meet everyone as necessary is wonderful.

Spoilers under the cut (including down the line spoilers, not just for the first couple episodes!!):

Having Nami and zoro meet luffy at the same time in shells town while dealing with Morgan really helps smooth out the time it takes for them to partner with luffy and gives us more time to spend with all of their characters which is an absolute win in my book. I love that we’re already foreshadowing baroque works by witnessing zoro’s meeting with Mr 7, nami’s ‘betrayal’ by having her contact arlong at the end of episode 2, and Garp’s eventual meeting with luffy later on in the series as well as coby’s rise in the marines. Threading Garp in already by introducing him at Rogers execution and then having him be a constant shadow dogging luffy’s rise to power in the background is honestly such a fantastic move and I’m already gleeful at the payoff of the gramps joke reveal that’s on the distant horizon.

Even though I’m only on episode two I already adore the crew dynamics and how you can see zoro’s loyalty taking hold to luffy, as well as the conflicting nature of nami’s partnership and the beginnings of her desperately wanting to actually be a member of this little gang of pirates. Truly, every time Iñaki is on screen I’m immediately so happy because that’s my boy!! That’s Luffy! Hes doing such a good job!!

#one piece live action #opla #chefs kiss #god I can’t wait to be back home from work so I can watch the rest of the episodes #it’s just so good #the crew put a lot of love into it and you can really tell #it’s cheesy #it’s goofy #it’s heartfelt #the banter is wonderful #luffy zoro and nami are a delight every time they’re on screen #I’m just happy #one piece

[pinkjoy-cons]

𝙹𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝙼𝚎

𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒆/𝑨𝒋𝒂𝒙 𝒙 𝑭𝒆𝒎!𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓

Word Count: 2425

Warnings: Hurt/Comfort (i think?) it's fluffy at the end, talking about someone breaking into your house, panicing, screaming, crying, talk/use of weapons, you have a fear of lighting/thunder, unedited. I think that's it.

Note: I am working on making my fics gender neutral but with female body in mind. I have a Diluc fic that will be female and a Kaeya fic that I will rework to make it gen neutral. Just letting y'all know :)

For my darling

You loved Liyue, you truly did. It’s a beautiful city with an even more colorful history and people who make it the way it is today. There are so many sights and sounds and so many unexplored locations around the valleys and plains that it constantly kept you busy. Even when you couldn’t leave to adventure on your own, the city had enough for you to do day in and day out. Zhongli and Hu Tao certainly gave you enough work at the Wanghsheng Funeral Parlor. Being their personal and sometimes only admin worker, you were able to balance the peaceful life of leisure and commission work. You couldn’t have asked for a better city to call your home. There was one thing however you did not anticipate: The rain. More specifically how loud it could get.

You didn’t mind the rain; on the contrary, you loved it. As long as it was calm and light. Nothing like the storms that Liyue sees during their seasons. The rain and thunder would get so boisterous at times it would take everything in your power to not jump in your skin and take shelter under the nearest cover. Even when indoors, you found the comfort of being hidden subsided your disliking of the torrential weather. You weren’t afraid of the rain. That was something you would deny to your dying breath. Your boyfriend, however, would love to playfully poke your side whenever you startle and find comfort in his arms. 

“I should really find the Archon who’s causing this storm and thank them. You’re not normally this cuddly when the weather is sunny.” As much as you wanted to smack to stupid smirk that was absolutley on his face, you couldn’t find it in yourself to pry away from Childe’s warm chest where your face was currently buried in. You gripped the front of his shirt as the wind seemed to pick up and cause the rain to hit the window of your small shared home with more force.

“Why must you make fun of me like this?” You grumbled into his soft shirt. “Can’t you see that I’m–” 

“Scared?” That interruption did force you to look up at him with a slight pout. Jutting out your bottom lip in protest of the accusation. “Are you finally gonna admit it darling?”

“NO! I’m not scared. I do not have a fear of stormy weather. I just…I can do without it sometimes.” Your head rested once again on Childe’s chest as he lovingly rubbed your back. He couldn’t help but chuckle at your stubbornness. It was one of your flaws yes, but it was something that could be very endearing at times. Times like now for instance. He let the conversation die with a Whatever you say lovely as you both enjoyed the rest of the evening together.

About two weeks later, Childe told you that he was going to be on assignment for a week, no more than two, and would be gone for a while. He hated to leave your side, not just because he missed you but because he was concerned for your well-being at times as well. He knew Zhongli, Hu Tao and even the little cook from the Wanmin Restaurant would keep an eye on you for him. They loved you almost as much as he did so he knew that you were in good hands while you were gone. So, you gave him a kiss goodbye the early morning he left. 

The daily routine you had proceeded without a hitch while Childe was away. A few new things happened here and there like Xiangling asking you to help her with a new dish or Yun Jin asking for your opinion on a new piece she has but other than that, nothing seemed too out of the ordinary. About a week and a half into Childe’s departure you were stopped by Lan near the Guild. You finished up a commission with Zhongli (he had graciously accompanied you on this job because it involved some fighting that you were subpar at and you wanted the Mora) and went to claim your pay when she pulled you aside for a moment.

“You live up near the pass, correct? In that small housing area?”

“Yes, why? Is something wrong, is someone looking for a place to stay?”

“No it’s not that, it’s just I heard a few things about the area.” 

“What kind of things?” Zhongli inquired.

“People were saying that Treasure Hoarders were seen setting up camps. Apparently, some hotshot bragged about the area being a good place for loot and they just seemed to flock there. Now normally it’s not that big a deal, but with the weather recently and with how big this rumor is, the Hoarders sometimes get…aggressive with people.”

At that you furrowed your brow, “Aggressive how?”

“They seem to think that because we’re locals we must know about this fabulous treasure, yet no matter how many times people explain that it doesn’t exist, they don’t believe us. Sometimes they get violent and a few people have gotten hurt. One person even reported that when the weather got bad, a group tried to break into their home for shelter. Luckily their dog was able to scare them off.”

“That’s awful, are the Millelith aware of the situation.” Zhongli asked, growing more concerned by the minute.

“They are, however, the housing area is a bit ways away, so they only send a few guards at a time. I have spoken to one who would report back to Liyue Qixing about sending more but that was only recent so I can’t give a date as to when they will be posted. Even the Traveler said she would sweep the area when she could to get rid of them but despite her great feats, she still is just one person.” The clouds overhead began to darken and you could feel the faintest drops begin to fall. It was about time you got home.

Lan noticed your distraught expression, “I promise I didn’t bring this up to scare you. I just thought you should be made aware of the situation.”

“Huh?” Was all you could manage.

“Your face, you look frightened to death.” Your head looked up at the clouds again as the sprinkle began.

“I’m not scared.” Was what you mustered as you thanked Lan and made your way home.

Zhongli, ever the gentleman and protector, walked you the entire way and even offered to stay the night just to keep watch. You politely declined the offer. The couch was not very big and you only had one bed in your cozy home so you wouldn’t want him to be uncomfortable all night. Not sure if you were aware of it but the look in your eyes seemed to only grow more fearful as the rain got louder. As much as he wanted to stay, he knew to respect yours (and he’s sure Childe’s) wishes and left you with a good night for the evening.

Alone with your thoughts, you did your best to just go to bed. Not even bothering to eat, you thought that maybe you could sleep through the coming storm. As fast as you could you changed into one of Childe’s shirts, got under the covers and held his pillow to your chest for comfort. 

Your plan seemed to almost work, key word almost. In the middle of the night a loud crash startled you awake with a scream. Catching your breath, you begrudgingly got out of bed to check what happened but then you remembered. 

The Treasure Hoarders.

Suddenly the bedroom didn't seem like a bad place to be. Maybe if you just laid down in bed you could pretend that you were asleep and didn't hear anything. When you turned from the door a boom of thunder broke through and you jumped nearly screaming. There was no way you would be able to stay quiet. It was stupid but you wanted to do something. 

It wasn't much but you knew that Childe kept a small dagger in his nightstand. You grabbed it and with a shaking hand slowly opened your bedroom door. The rain was pounding against your little house as you walked down the hall to the living area. Every floorboard creak and noise of the house settling made you want to scream. Every now and then, a flash of lightning would illuminate the hall and you swore it never felt this long before. 

Finally, you made it to a point where you could tilt your head to look into the living room. You held the dagger close as you continued in, keeping low just in case. That's when you saw the broken window and blowing curtains. And even worse you could hear men talking outside. That's when the panic truly set in and you had no idea what to do. Not being a fighter you thought your best bet would be to run and hide. Or you could take a chance to escape and find Zhongli, Hu Tao, anyone to help you. But the idea of going outside in the rain frightened you just as much.

Damn it you were scared, so scared that you didn't have time to make a decision, for you could hear the turning of a locked doorknob and a frustrated groan. With a gasp you fell to the floor careful not to cut yourself on the dagger. You hid to the side of the couch trying to control your heavy breathing.

"Wha'do I do? Wha'do I do? Wha'do I do?" And the door opened. It closed and heavy footsteps made their way into your house. You held a hand over your nout knowing you had fight off whoever just entered your home. The thunder grew louder and louder in your ears, tears streamed down your face, as you tried to steel your nerves. You waited until a faint, moonlit shadow was near your position and with a spark of lightning rose with a petrified scream and brought your dagger down on the intruder. 

Only this person caught your wrist with ease and grabbed your other wrist easily. You flailed and screamed.

"LET ME GO!"

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Darling it's me!"

A pause. You took a moment to catch your breath and in the flash again you saw that Childe had returned home. Your breath released and you dropped the dagger while also falling into his familiar warmth and scent. He didn't ask any questions, just held you as you cried. 

"Treasure Hoarders a-a-and thunder. They broke into people's…and the window." You picked up your head to point at the broken window. Childe let you go just to turn on the light and check. Near the broken glass was a large branch. The wind must have been strong enough to toss it into the window. Childe held up the branch to show you but quickly placed it down when you shook your head.

"But I heard voices outside." 

Knowing that he returned alone, he quickly rushed out the front door to see if anyone was out. You remained on the floor with knees held against your chest and gripping Childe's shirt.

"There's no one outside." 

"I could have sworn- gods am I going insane!" 

"No darling no, you're not." Childe went to you and held you where you sat, he lifted you up just a bit to have a better hold on you. Your body was shaking from the torment you put yourself through. He spoke soft words to you as you calmed down he held you in his lap, rocking you both back and forth to calm you down. Despite being in the rain, he was so warm. It was a warmth that you took so much comfort in.

"Ajax," you whispered, "I was so scared. There's been sightings of Hoarders and they've been getting violent. And this damn thunder. I heard the window break." You spoke in-between shaken breaths. "When I heard the door open I thought someone-" That's when it hit you, had someone truly broken into your home, what would have happened? 

He saw your mind spinning, so Childe made you face him and held your face in his hands. "Okay my love, just a second okay. I want you to take a deep breath. Can you do that for me beautiful?" You nodded and did as you were told, "Alright, now whistle." You whistled as you released. "Good girl. A few more times." You repeated the process for about a minute, this allowed your crying to stop for the most part and calmed your breathing. 

"Feel better?" He asked in a soft voice he only used around you. 

"Yes. Ajax. I was so scared." You repeated it. You had to, you didn't know what else to say.

"I know love and I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you. I'm right here baby, nothing is going to happen to you I promise. And here I thought coming home early would make you cry tears of joy." He kissed your forehead when you finally let out a small scoof and a smile. "I promise nothing will happen to you. I'll put better windows and a good lock on the door. You can even have Hu Tao and  Xiangling over if you want to, I know they love you." He kissed your lips as you nodded. His kiss told you that this would not happen again if he could help it. "I don't ever want to see you like this again." It was a promise he spoke into your neck and his breath danced in your skin and made you shiver. 

A clap of thunder had you jump in his arms and he held you close. "Next time I'm in Inazuma I'm going to beat up that Shogun." He picked you up bridal style and went to the bedroom. As he laid you down, he gave you another kiss. He left the room and patched up the window. Upon return, he got comfortable in some lounge pants and no shirt and got under the covers. Bringing you into his chest, he placed his hand on your lower back to rub small, comforting circles on your skin. You held him close and relished the way he felt against you. 

"She would kick your ass." 

"Huh?"

"The Shogun. If you tried to fight her, she'd kick your ass."

All Childe could do was chuckle as you both fell asleep.

#that was a bad ending #but I wrote this for a...'friend' at like midnight #i hope yall liked it regardless :) #childe x fem!reader #childe genshin impact #childe genshin x reader #genshin impact #childe #childe tartagalia #childe tartaglia ajax #my writing #childe x reader #tartaglia x reader #childe fluff #childe x you #childe hurt/comfort #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact fanfiction #childe fanfic #childe fanfiction

[donnetellotheturtle]

Siren

Chapter 9

When Hugo woke up, Varian was gone. Hugo rubbed his eyes as he laid up.

“…Goggles?”

There was no reply. Hugo grabbed his glasses from the table, and found a note.

Hugo,

I went to get a head start on work today. I’m in the painters room if you need me, and Lance is serving breakfast on deck if you’re hungry.

Love,

Varian

P.S

Thanks for last night. Usually I have to deal with those episodes all alone…it was nice having you around.

Hugo smiled softly, then got up and stretched, work with Varian today, and find that moon ring tonight. By Hugo’s approximations they should be in the Kalder pods territory in two weeks. It was just before they hit Rosas port.

He'd ask around, see if anyone knew about it. Subtly though, as to not cause suspicions. He went over to the bucket of sea water and splashed himself quickly before changing into his normal attire.

He felt his stomach grumble and figured he’d made his way over to the deck.

A bunch of crewmen were up and about as he got up to the deck. He could smell food and he turned to see that Lance was cooking meat on something that looked to be a Varian creation.

“Hey!” Lance said. “You hungry?”

Hugo nodded.

“What do you feel like?”

Hugo thought for a second. He didn’t really know much about land food. “…Surprise me.”

Lance lit up at that.

Hugo ended up muching on something called French toast and bacon. It was delicious. He made his way down to the painters room as he finished the last piece of bacon, plate abandoned in the dirty dishes pile.

He knocked on the door before coming in.

Varian was humming as he worked on his personal project of a water breathing potion. He must have gotten done with the balancing and the machine tune ups. His voice still sounded like a siren.

Hugo smiled and closed the door.

“Hey sweetcheeks.”

Varian stopped humming, and then smiled at Hugo.

“Hey. Did you see my note?”

“I did. Lance made me French toast and bacon. It was delicious.”

Varian chuckled, adjusting the goggles on his head. “I’m glad you liked it. Do you want to help with this? I have some formulas that need some reworking.”

Hugo nodded softly, wrapping his arms around Varians back as he looked over the sheet.

“Hugo?”

“Hm?”

“this isnt working on the formulas.”

“I can look at them as I hold you.” Hugo said, smirking into Varians ear.

Varian giggled, leaning back into Hugos embrace as he got the formula and put it in Hugo’s hand. Hugo didn’t let go, just using one hand to look it over.

“Hm. This is like a transformation potion back home.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not all merpeople can shapeshift naturally. Especially if they’re originally from deeper waters, so they use those temporary potions if they need to go on land. Although it’s fairly rare, as most of the deep sea merpeople stay down there. A lot of them are huge too! Like bigger than a whale!”

“woah!” Varian pulled out a book, taking the note. “tell me more!”

Hugo looked over the book. It had a lot of information. Mostly what they talked about the night before with alchemy. “huh. Didn’t realize you wrote everything down, goggles.”

“Yeah. I want to know as much as I can about underwater life…mom never talked about dad had a hard time even talking about mom so…im curious.”

“Well, like on land, theres a bunch of different cultures and pods and subcultures inside of them. A lot of different tails as well. Most merpeople have a fish counterpart. Mine, for example, is similar to a green arowana. Cyrus has a sand tiger shark tail, and Donella a reef shark.”

“That’s so cool! Do you gain the diets of the fish you’re similar to?”

Hugo shrugged. “depends on our parents, really. Cause we still have a bit of human in us as well. Some people are extremely similar to fish, with more scales. Some have hair that looks like seaweed as an evolutionary trait. Which gets interesting cause seaweed is a treat that vendors sell. Like your streetfood.”

Hugo paused, seeing that Varian was looking back at him with a soft look.

“What?”

“…you’re pretty when you talk.”

Hugo sputtered, laughing softly. “I-Uh-“

Varian grinned evilly, leaning backwards into Hugos embrace. “you’re pretty all the time. But especially when you talk.”

Hugos face was beat red. Varian giggled. “How’s that for flirting?”

“okay no more cuddles for you.” Hugo let go of Varian, still blushing up to the tips of his ears.

“Aw come on!” Varian whined. “Youre allowed to flirt but not me?”

“Yep! Especially when it makes me flustered.”

Varian was about to say something before the balancer made a noise. Varian sighed. “Back to work.”

Hugo smiled, watching Varian settle in to do his work. He went over to the formulas and started taking them more seriously. He pulled a piece of paper and started working on it, drawing his own and starting to test it out.

It was a quiet moment as they did their separate things.

Hugo didn’t know how they would test this potion without revealing that the two of then were…well not 100% human. He was unwilling to let Varian test it on himself since potions like this could be…funny at best. Disastrous at worst. Obviously they wouldn’t be testing it on any animals or other crew members.

It felt like the best thing was to make it and hope to the moon any side effects weren’t permanent.

Varian was humming again. Hugo listened closely to it. A song that was so familiar. He wondered where he heard it before.

He worked quietly and listened to his moon sing.

--

Hugo was up late again. Hed checked the kitchen and upper deck already. Quietly, he made his way to the next rooms, the cold room. He checked there quickly. Nothing. He. Was grateful. That spot was cold.

Closing the door, he made his way into the next group of rooms. Nothing in any of them. Hugo groaned.

“This isn’t working.”

“What isnt?”

Hugo screamed. Turning around he saw the face of Rapunzel, who looked confused and concerned.

“Is everything okay, Hugo?”

Hugo stood up. “Oh yes captain I just lost an earring! I can’t seem to find it!” He mustered the best smile he could.

Rapunzel, for once, let her smile slip. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice you sneaking out late every night?”

Hugo opened his mouth to speak.

“So what’s really going on, Hugo?” She asked before he could spew another lie.

Hugo scratched the back of his neck. “I’m a night owl. And really, I just lost an earring. I can’t seem to find it anywhere.”

“what does it look like?”

Hugo paused. This was a good chance to get some information.

“Like a moonstone. One shaped like the moon?”

“Ive never seen you wearing that one?”

Hugo couldn’t help but feel prideful. She was avoiding the question. She knew something.

“I usually don’t. I lost it before the pirate crew kidnapped us. Been looking for it ever since we got back on the ship.”

Rapunzel shrugged. “I haven’t seen it. But I can put out a ship wide note to keep an eye out for it?”

Hugo nodded. “I’d appreciate that. I’m going to keep looking. I’ll go to bed soon.”

Rapunzel nodded. “Also it wouldn’t be a bad idea if you guys spent a little time away from work tomorrow? Get out and see the fresh waves. Take a break. You two seem like you need it.”

Hugo watched as she walked away.

Her room was next. She was hiding it. He was sure now.

He was going to get that ring and save this goddamn ship if it killed him.

--

The next morning came and Varian seemed to get the same conversation as Hugo did last night.

So there they were, standing in the sun. Hugo had half a mind to jump into the ocean with how tired he was.

“Hugo?” Varian asked, taking his hand.

“hm?”

“you okay? You’ve been glaring at that piece of wood since you got up here.”

“…I’d rather be down in the painters room. Or swimming.”

Varian chuckled. “I get it. But Rapunzels right. We need some social interaction besides each other.”

Hugo grumbled. Varian kissed his cheek and pulled away, looking at the bow of the ship, then chatting with the captain up ahead.

“Hugo.” Nuru leaned on the wall besides Hugo.

“Oh uh, hey.”

Nuru smiled. “Its good to see you in the light of day. Usually we don’t see you until dinner.”

Hugo chuckled. “Yeah…not really a people person.”

“you’re a Varian person though!” Nuru smiled. It was a wry one. What was her game?

“I…guess. Though I don’t know how he puts up with me half the time.”

Nuru chuckled. “You two act so much alike. When he first came on the ship, he shut himself off from everyone. Including Rapunzel.”

“Rapunzel? She’s just the captain.”

“Shes more than that to him. They’re like siblings.”

Huh.

“Why aren’t they together much then?” Hugo asked.

“Rapunzel has a lot of work to do. Do you know much about her?”

Hugo shook his head. “basically nothing. Why?”

Nuru had this look on her face. It once again made him wonder what she was up to. “Youre not from Corona, right?”

“No.”

Nuru sighed. “Then you don’t know the story. Okay. Where to start?” She thought it over for a second. “Okay so, once upon a time-“

“Youre starting with once upon a time?”

“Do you wanna hear this or not?”

“…”

“that’s what I thought. Once upon a time…”

There was a woman named Rapunzel. She had long, beautiful blonde hair and green eyes. She grew up on an island, with only her caretaker, Gothel. As a child, she grew up looking out at the sea, Gothel forbid her from going anywhere near it, despite the fact that it surrounded the island.

Then one day, she met a pirate. One who had come to hide from other pirates, and possibly raid her island home. His name was Flynn Rider.

Rapunzel hid Rider from Gothel worried that she’d hurt him. In the meanwhile, Gothel was making a deal. One to sell Rapunzel once she was old enough.

“Sell her….” Hugo processed what those words meant. “…Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh. Girl was prime real estate. Gothel had done this to many girls before. Most were kids when they were taken by her. Rapunzel was a baby when she was.”

“Holy shit.”

“Anyway…”

Rapunzel and Rider figured this out after a couple days on the island. Long story short, Rider had the honor and privilege of killing the witch. Afterwards, they sailed to Corona.

A while after that, Rider, now going by his real name, Eugene Fitzherbert, and Rapunzel bought the sundrop.

They made stops all over, Arendelle, Rosas, the motoniuan shores, even Avalor.

“Wheres that?”

“you really don’t know anything, do you sea breath?”

Hugo pouted. “Anyway, continue.”

“Right.”

Until one day, they came across a farmer and his child. He was 14 at the time. Rapunzel made some mistakes.

“This part is Varians to tell…you should talk to him about it…neither he or Rapunzel have told me the full story but…I think varian might tell you.”

“Whats your game?”

Nuru smiled. “If youre going to be with Varian, you have to let him in. You have to let him let you in too. I can see you care about Varian and are suspicious of the captain.”

Hugo opened his mouth to argue.

“You don’t hide your feelings well, sea breath. At least, not to me. So I have to ask. What’s your game?”

Hugo paused. He didn’t trust her.

“Let me rephrase. What are you really searching for on this ship? Cause it sure as fuck isn’t an earing.”

“….It’s none of your business.”

“…I’d be willing to help. No questions asked.”

Hugo glared at her. “Why?”

“…It’s what friends do.”

Hugo blinked. “Youre not my friend.”

“I could be.”

She had this look in her eye. Conniving but desperate. Hugo could have sworn he saw something shining at her back for a moment. He didn’t trust this.

“Think about it, Sea breath.” She smiled, and walked off. Hugo reeled from the conversation.

He shook it off. Hed figure it out after he got the ring.

< >

Read this on A03!

#hugo vat7k #tangled varian #varigo #varian and the seven kingdoms #varian #vat7k fic #vat7k #siren #nuru vat7k #rapunzels tangled adventure #rapunzel #eugene fitzherbert #sailor au #vat7k au

[abiiors]

ross fluff?? loveeeeeeee your work

Thank you so much, anon! ❤️ I hope you like this :)

Is this a love letter to Ross? Yes, it is (of course, it is. That man is perfect). There is literally no plot to this, it’s just vibes. I was also listening to Futile Devices while writing this so there are definitely lyrical references.

Bass Strings

The strings vibrate underneath your fingers as you practice the new song that Ross has been teaching you. You are so focussed on the bass in your hands that you don’t hear him walk in. You only register his presence when he wraps his arms around you and puts his fingers over yours. 

‘What are you doing?’ it’s an obvious question but the smile in your voice is unmistakable. 

‘Well, I thought you could use a teacher,’ he mumbles between peppering kisses on your jaw, your neck. 

‘Are you saying I’m bad at playing the bass?’ 

‘What?’ his gasp echoes in your ear, ‘I would never!’ 

You let him rest his chin on your shoulder as you play a few strings for him. It’s only been a few months since you started learning so it’s a bit shaky and stilted but he still hums in appreciation when you’re done. 

‘I actually came in to show you something.’

‘Show me what?’ you ask and then hand him the bass when he asks for it. 

It soon becomes clear that it’s a new tune he’s come up with and you watch as the bass strings buzz under his fingers. It’s an entirely mesmerising experience, this one. You watch as the little crease appears between his eyebrows when he’s concentrating on something; you watch the way his fingers dance on the frets, applying just enough pressure. You close your eyes, rest your chin on your hand and let the sound wash over you. 

The whole thing ends way too quickly for your liking. You open your eyes to find him looking at you expectantly. Even when he knows that you only listen to music recreationally, he’s always keen on your opinions. He always wants to know what you think. 

‘I just,’ he frowns a bit, ‘I like it but I think something’s missing from it,’ he says.

You think about the piece again, try to find any fault in it (of course there is none because everything he makes is downright perfect, but hey! You’re biased). You also know that he’s not going to stop reworking it until he gets the exact feel he wants. 

‘I think it needs a bit more…’ you click your fingers trying to find the right words and then end up on, ‘oomph!’

His shoulders shake with laughter as he runs a hand through his hair, ‘that’s precious feedback, baby. Let me work on the oomph!’ he teases.

‘Hey!’ you protest in mock outrage, ‘I should be charging you for this advice.’

He sets the instrument aside and pulls you closer by your waist, ‘oh yeah? And what’s your price?’

You tilt your chin up, and give him a haughty look, ‘You sure you can afford me?’

He runs his thumb on your lips and you watch him smile, see how his eyes crinkle. You even shamelessly linger on his dimples. 

‘Maybe I could just bribe you,’ he points out and presses his lips onto yours. 

His beard tickles a bit but everything else melts away when you feel his teeth graze your bottom lip. You feel the goosebumps that rise in the wake of his fingers as he traces idle patterns on your arm. You feel him smiling through the kiss; you even hear how his heart races after all this time. When you pull away, breathless and blushing, he smirks a bit. 

You look at him in the soft light of your room. This face, you have it memorised. Yet every single day, you find new details that make you fall in love all over again. Like how he looks at you right now with pink lips and dilated pupils. 

This man, who only uses the picks that you’ve doodled on, who calls you before every concert no matter where he is in the world. This man who proudly owns up to it when his friends tease him about being whipped. He deserves all the softness in the world, you think, he deserves the best.

‘So did that work?’ he asks as he traces a finger over your cupid’s bow. 

‘Hmm,’ you pretend to contemplate, ‘no, I don’t think so actually. You should definitely try again.’

#ross macdonald #ross macdonald x reader #ross x reader #the 1975 #ross macdonald fanfic #ross macdonald fluff #ross fluff #domestic fluff #x reader #the 1975 fanfic #he is just so perfect #i love him #this is the life i want

[perotovar]

hi bby ✨ I’m hoping to spread a little love around today (it is someone’s birthday after all — so you might see others answering this)!

I am a big fan of people enjoying cake and celebrating, and sometimes cake can be just tooting your own horn 💁‍♀️ so with that in mind, I’d love to know what THREE pieces of work/gifs you’re super proud of that you’d recommend others reading / gifs they should absolutely see, and why 🍰

i'm sorry i left you hanging on this, hun, i was having a really shitty day yesterday and wasn't in the "tooting my own horn" sort of mindset. i'm usually not, but i'll do my best today!

i recently actually showcased some of my favorite gifsets i've made (it's more than 3 but shhh)

so i'll stick to 3 of the fics i've written that i'm proud of (especially now that i've got more than one LOL)

1. bloody kisses (miniseries, shane x tim) - maybe it's because it's fresh/new but i'm genuinely so proud of this one. i think it's some of my best writing so far, but i also didn't expect this much positivity/reception to this fic at all. it centers around a character of pedro's that i think goes overlooked (for good reason, the source material leaves much to be desired), but i really like him and wanted to give him a sort of redemption/twist on who he is. i really can't thank y'all enough for the love on this one.

2. into the beat of the night (series, frankie x oc!river) - my darling babies ♥ this is something i'll probably always be proud of. i may rework it one day, now that i'm more comfortable writing again, but i think leaving it as is might be a good lesson as well. this was the first thing i'd written in 10 years and the premise/river mean a lot to me personally. the love for them has been so overwhelming and makes my little black heart soar.

3. ásjá - a winter solstice story - (oneshot, pero x ofc!helga) - i feel like i showcase this one a lot, but i can't help it! i think it's the underdog of all my fics and that's why i love it so much. it suits pero as a character too, i think, being the underdog (amongst the rest of the ppcu anyway). i don't talk about being pagan very much, but doing this sort of fic was just as close to my heart as itbotn is for me. it's just as much a part of my life as the subjects touched on with river so i'm proud of how i portrayed that.

thank you, darling jo, for asking! ♥

#undercoverpena #asks

[pawsnread]

The Making of Cubao Goes to Cannes

A lot of you may have seen the progress of Cubao’s suit on twitter, but I thought I would take a moment to note down my thoughts while progressing through the suit construction. So here’s a general summary of what I did, why I did it, and what I was thinking while making this tiny suit.

It all started, of course, after seeing Gong Jun walk the red carpet in that gorgeous Jason Wu creation. I was able to watch his walk live between work things; the whole thing only lasted maybe 2 minutes but it was the highlight of my day/week/month.

I was fixated on this suit for days afterwards, but it wasn’t until close to the end of May (probably a good 10 days later) that I decided to try and replicate this suit. It was partially motivated by the fact that my Cubao is the 15 cm version (the more common version is 20 cm) and it’s always so difficult to find doll clothes for that size (though it saves the wallet). Seeing as I have 13 years of cosplay experience, I was like “I’m used to frankensteining patterns to fit me, why not try in small scale? Less fabric, less stitching, how hard can it be?”

I was about to find out.

Having never made doll clothes before, I started by using stockpiled fabric to make mock ups while sourcing out fabric and other notions. First thing on my to-do list was pants. I had a pair of doll pants that were too small and short in the waist for Cubao’s rotund bum, so I deconstructed the pants and used it as a template for a mock up. I added about an inch to the top and about 1/4 of an inch to the bottom hem; after putting them on Cubao, I started pinning to the right height and length in order to determine where the hems and waist should be and the seam amounts. Last step was to add elastic and finish the seams.

This is the mock up in progress (left) and completed (right). It was a pretty simple process and moved pretty easily. Once I found fabric I liked (after purchased 4 other types that didn’t match the color - good thing about doll clothes is you don’t need a lot), I constructed the suit pants. I lined the suit pants since they were a bit translucent, and the extra fabric made them as little more snug than I anticipated, but it still turned out fine. The leg hems were finished by hand because I wanted and almost invisible stitching, and I always finish suit pants by hand. The pants fit well enough that I made two pairs of doll pants out of chambray fabric for my dolls to romp around in with other outfits.

Next was the shirt, and that was a process.

I started off with a pattern I found on Pinterest but original came from Xiaohongshu (I think, I can’t really make out the watermark). There were no measurements on the pattern so I had to undergo some trial and error sizing the pattern up on my printer. The sleeves seemed odd to me, so I initially reworked them to be raglan type sleeves thinking they would work better with Cubao’s mostly straight arms. Mock up #1 ended up fitting very poorly with the collar too low.

I sized up the pattern a smidgen, reprinted, and went back to the original sleeves. For mock up #2, I attempted to change the collar to mimic a more traditional shirt collar, which has two pieces - one neck piece and the actual collar. That turned out to be too much fabric for a little bao.

In the end, with mock up #3, I went back to the original shirt pattern and only omitting the extra fabric piece for the front closure, folding over instead. The collar opening ends up being a little wide, but not as much as my first attempt so I can live with the little gap.

Mock up #1 at the top, #2 on the left, and #3 on the right.

Overall the shirts were relatively easy, except for the sleeves. Sleeves have always been the bane of my cosplay/sewing existence; sewing sleeves on small scale was more difficult than I imagined given the tinier space to work with.

I actually made two suit shirts, one of a textured material and one of the same, slightly stretchy material used in mock ups #2 and #3. The textured material is more appropriate for shirts, but there was no stretch so getting it on Cubao was challenging.

Next came a little bowtie. I don’t have a lot to say about this process as it was pretty simple: sew two rectangles then attach them to an elastic band. Initially I wanted to mimic the double layer of Gong Jun’s bowtie, but that’s too much fabric for a tiny bao.

Last up but the most important part was the jacket. I started with the same shirt pattern but sized up again to ensure there was room to get both bao arms and sleeves in, also to accommodate the lack of stretch in the final fabric. The first mock up had no changes as it was done to see the fit and determine how the collar would be cut. After making the necessary trims, mock up #1 was deconstructed and the pieces were used as a templates to cut out mock up #2. In working with mock up #2, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to do a set in collar as I had hoped. The jacket collar is an important element to the suit so I didn’t want to not incorporate it. In the end, I decided to do stitching to mimic the lines of the collar.

Mock up #1 on the left with the front pinned down, and mock up #2 on the right with the collar stitch placement outlined in red.

Once the jacket was mostly sewn together, I laid it out on some pattern paper and traced around to get the general outline. I then used this outline to design the beading. There was little chance I would be able to replicate the beading exactly without seeing the suit in person, so I tried to incorporate some of the details that caught my eye (notably the swirl like patterns). Initially I had planned to do the beading on mesh fabric, cut it out, then sew it to the suit like actual bead work is done. After my initial attempts, I learned two things: that takes FOREVER on small scale, and the mesh fabric is very noticeable on a suit that small. My sketch was also way more detailed than feasibly possible on doll clothing. I ended up having to simplify the design and sew directly onto the suit jacket.

Initial sketch work on top, and beading process below. I tried to keep a loose tension during the beading so as not to cause any puckering of the jacket.

Miyuki Delica size 15/0 beads were used. Silver beads were the main design element with AB crystal beads as accents. The AB crystals came in two sizes; the larger ones were mostly used to give the design a little bit of dimension. Pearl colored beads were later used for the dangles. 15/0 are tiny beads to work with; most of the silver and AB beads were able to be threaded through a thin sewing needle, but the pearl beads required me to switch between sewing and beading needles to get them strung and sewn. For the dangles, I attempted to follow a similar pattern to the original, looping and hanging in the same places.

After the beading, the arms were sewn up and the sleeve hems, bottom hems, and inner collar were hand stitched down. Initially I had planned to line the jacket to make it a proper jacket. However, after constructing everything I found adding the lining increased the bulk and would make it impossible to get Cubao’s arms + shirt sleeves in.

Last was to add the hand made pipa knot closure in the front and the button knots on the sleeves. Both of these were made with 2.0 mm nylon macrame knotting cord and surprisingly very easy once you get the hang of it. The final touch was the brown shoes; these were purchased off Taobao using Superbuy as a proxy, and they arrived just yesterday, the day after I finished everything.

Overall, I am very pleased with the look. Construction was spaced out because of work and a bit of anxiety on my part. Concessions had to be made since bao clothing is on a much smaller scale. Naturally there was bits and pieces I’m not super pleased with, but overall I’m quite happy with the results. It was a feat, to say the least, replicating such an intricate design for a 15 cm doll. I’m glad I did it, but I’m also glad I don’t do this for a living. 😅

Hope you enjoyed this little insight into the process. If you have any questions, just pop in an ask and I’ll be happy to answer them. 😊

#crafting #sewing #doll clothes #cubao #bao clothing #cuhanbao #my crafts

[grollow]

How do you avoid over-writing? I don’t know if that’s the correct term, but one of the reasons it’s taking so long for me to post updates on my works is that I feel like I’m spending way to much time on minor details. I don’t want to be one of those writers who spends 2 pages describing a single object, but I’ve gotten myself stuck in a never ending loop of deleting parts I think are useless and rewriting them simpler and I am going to collapse

I’ve been staring at this since you sent it, anon, because I want to give you a good answer – it’s not every day that someone slides into my inbox for writing advice and I’m incredibly flattered.

That being said, if I am being honest, the best answer that I can give you is: write. Just write. If it’s excessive, let it be excessive. A common mistake that writers (me included) make is to edit as you go, which in turn means you start becoming harder and harder on the content of your writing, and you move slower, and get less done. Editing should come after the first draft is done, after you’ve got the story on paper. You can go back and change it once it’s done to reflect the story you are trying to tell. That may mean cutting out excessive detail, reworking sections, things of that nature.

In my case, it often means adding in the detail, because I naturally trim things down too much (my greatest crime is eating all the sensory details of my works if I can help it – they add little for me, but I know others like them, so I am trying to include them more in Red Sky). By default, I include the bare minimum of sensory stuff and go heavy into the thoughts/spirals. I’m not sure I can help remove, when I am kind of the opposite guy. My instinctive rule of thumb is, though, to give just enough detail on environment to let the imagination fill in the rest. Writing has a flow to it for me – if it starts losing pace when I read (IE, if I read it and I start trying to skim), that’s too much. That’s how I tell.

I’m afraid I don’t know how helpful this is because it is something that comes with practice, reading more, talking to others, and getting a feel for what your audience wants or needs to see to be immersed in the story.

One of the best pieces of advice someone gave me recently is that polish comes in editing. I’ve got a wonderful pair of betas ( @dropout-ninja & @voidsiblings ) who help me a lot with this. If you’re getting yourself locked in a loop, write it as it feels natural, and let the polish come later. Sometimes you gotta ramble for 3 pages about that vase and then just tuck it away later, y’know?

Maybe one of the people that I tagged will have some more advice, though. Writing mutuals, please reblog if you’ve got anything to help anon <3

#asks: answered #anon #writing

[dark-and-kawaii]

*HA Fiend kool-aid man bursts through the wall* OBJECTION! I saw your post about how a new piece you wrote was similar to something else you wrote and that you decried your newer piece because of this. However, I say that you are allowed to write things similar to your previous works. You're allowed to retread concepts and story-beats, especially between different stories. Some ideas and tropes are just fun to use and reuse! 🤗

HA FIEND!!!! YOU’RE ALIVE!!!!! (っᵔ◡ᵔ)っ(˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

*watches you crash through my wall* … *jumps on you and hugs you*

I’ve missed you babes!!! I thought something had happened to you *cries*

Gosh I appreciate you so so so much, you have no idea. I’m just extremely tough on myself to be honest. Writing is something I really enjoy and whenever I create something I want to make sure it’s something you all can enjoy! So in my head, if I don’t enjoy it that means everyone else won’t enjoy it. Which isn’t the case I know but still.

But yeah I won’t lie there was a lot of similar stuff I wrote in that one bahaha so it honestly needed to be reworked!!! Really happy how it came out now though!!

So if you ever see something get deleted just know it’ll return, I’m just reworking on it because I hated it.

- 𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒦𝒾𝓌𝒾 𝓍𝑜𝓍𝑜

#ha fiend

[vgckwb]

P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 193: Sae's Palace: Act 1

As Ren was on the train heading to school, she messaged the group.

Ren: I think we should meet to discuss Akechi’s list, and tackle Sae’s palace today.

Makoto: Good thinking.

Sumire: I’m a little concerned about everything.

Sumire: I mean, this isn’t a usual palace by any stretch of the imagination.

Yusuke: True, but we can’t afford to do nothing either.

Ryuji: I’m sure once we figure out our infiltration route we’ll figure out how to tackle things on this side.

Haru: I think we need some level of contingency.

Haru: I mean, the slightest error, and things will go to Hell in a handbasket.

Futaba: I think any outside factors might need to involve Riko.

Ren You’re right about that.

Ren: I think we should save all of this for when we meet up.

Ryuji: Right.

Ryuji: Seeya then

Ren: Seeya!

Ren put her phone away, and went to school.

After school, the Thieves were at Leblanc. Makoto took out the piece of paper Akechi gave her. “So, this is Akechi’s sus list,” She exclaimed.

Everyone looked over it. “Woah!” Futaba responded.

“I have to admit,” Morgana said, “that Akechi is no slouch.”

“But I’m not on this list anywhere,” Lena said.

“Well, yeah,” Ann said. “I don’t think he has a reason to suspect you.”

“Or maybe he’s blind because of your relationship?” Ryuji pondered.

“I don’t think Akechi would be like that though,” Ren remarked. “I mean, he still suspects me, despite how close we are.”

“Yeah,” Lena said. “I think he’d suspect anyone regardless of how close he is with them.”

“Well, it doesn’t seem like he has any hard proof,” Jose said.

“Still, we should be cautious,” Yusuke said. “One false move, and we’ll play straight into his hands.”

“How does he know my online handle?!” Futaba wondered.

“Well, we did see him in Akihabara,” Ann said.

“Yeah, he said he was searching for information on someone who could take down Medjed,” Lena added.

“Hmph,” Futaba pouted. “I  guess it’s time for a name change.”

“Hold on,” Ren said. “Maybe not yet.”

“Huh?! Why not?” Futaba wondered.

“If you change your name and contact Akechi, he’ll know you saw this,” Ren said. “If we want to maintain deniability, you have to pretend not to have seen this list.”

“I guess…” Futaba said.

“Do we need to keep in contact with Akechi?” Haru wondered.

“I think randomly severing contact with him would be suspicious as well,” Morgana said.

“Besides,” Sumire said, “we have a lot of things on our plate. As much as Akechi stands against us, we need all the help we can get.”

“I guess that’s true,” Haru said.

“Oh yeah,” Jose said, “how are things coming along looking into what Riko sent you?”

“Well…” Futaba began, “the information my mother gave me will take some time. I understand some of it, but it is a little more advanced than I anticipated.”

“Well, what do you know?” Sumire asked.

“Hmmm,” Futaba pondered. “Some of it is stuff we know. The metaverse, its relationship to the real world, stuff like that. But there’s something I don’t quite understand.”

“What is it?” Makoto wondered.

“Well…” Futaba said. “There’s something in there about influencing the metaverse.” Everyone was shocked. “I think it has something to do with that mysterious figure of the SIU director we saw. But the process seems…confusing.”

“Maybe we can help,” Ann offered.

“Yeah, some of us have been doing this for six months,” Ryuji said. “Maybe we’ll know something.”

“Well… Hmmm,” Futaba reacted. “So, from what I understand, if you’re not someone like us who can access the Metaverse, you need this specific formula, and then you need to lace the formula with your DNA somehow, and give it to someone to ingest.” Everyone who was in Futaba’s palace went pale. “But I’m not sure how they would go about doing that.”

“Um, Futaba?” Ren said. “I think we know a way.”

“Huh?” Futaba wondered.

Ren continued, “We saw something like that in your palace.”

“You did?!” Futaba shrieked.

Ren nodded. “So, what happened was, the Will Seeds we found in your palace belonged to your mom.”

“Huh?!”

“Once we had all of them, we saw an image of your mom drinking a concoction, and then dripped some of her blood into your food so you ate it.” Futaba was starting to get dizzy.

“I don’t think she was trying to hurt you,” Ann said.

“Yeah!” Ryuji jumped in. “From what I remember, she was apologizing to you for doing it. She wanted you to be her light, or something.”

“How then?” Futaba said.

“The sphinx,” Morgana said. Everyone looked at him. “The sphinx that took the image of your mom. That was what she left behind in that moment.”

“But why didn’t it make contact in the intervening two years?” Jose said.

“If I had to guess,” Yusuke said, “it probably has something to do with Futaba shutting herself out from the rest of the world.” Futaba smacked Yusuke. “Ow!” 

“I think he’s right though,” Sumire said. “Remember, it took three of us to break the shell of the palace with the ballista. I imagine Futaba needing to reach out for help was a catalyst.”

“Plus, it was flying around outside,” Ren said. “I imagine that Futaba being in the pyramid hindered that a little.”

“Hmmm,” Futaba said. “Sorry Inari.”

“It’s fine,” Yusuke said.

“Maybe you could work on some tact,” Makoto pointed out.

“Perhaps,” Yusuke said. “But maybe Futaba working on her social interactions could be helpful too.”

“HEY!” Futaba protested. “I’m TRYING!”

“My apologies.”

“Like she said,” Ryuji added. “Tact.”

“Well…” Lena said, trying to steer the conversation back on track, “maybe we should relay that to Riko. See if she knows anything.”

“Yeah,” Makoto said. “It’s one thing to do it to someone you know, but these mental shutdowns are seemingly random at best.”

“True,” Morgana said. “Plus we should check in to see how things are going with Akechi.”

“Right!” Futaba said. “But don’t we have a palace to get into first?”

“You’re right,” Makoto said. “Let’s go.”

They started to leave, when Yusuke said “Hang on.” Everyone looked at him. “Didn’t Riko also send you information on the director?”

“Oh yeah,” Futba said. “Well, to be honest, the information seems, well, rather quaint.”

“Huh,” Yusuke said.

“He seems like he’s almost average,” Futaba said.

“Almost?” Haru wondered.

“Well, he is the leader of the Special Investigations Unit,” Futaba clarified. “Calling someone like that ‘average’ is a bit of a disservice. He has all sorts of connections to all sorts of people.”

“Maybe therein lies the game,” Morgana pointed out. “Maybe in one of his relationships is a secret of his.”

“Maybe…” Ren said. “This is going to sound a little weird, but I know one of his sons was arrested for murdering their wife.”

“I read about that too,” Futaba noted. “But that seemed a little removed from his purview.”

“But…if it wasn’t?” Ren said, trying not to involve Yumeko too much.

“Hmmm. Well, if it wasn’t...” Futaba pondered, “...I’m not sure.”

“Well, what else can you tell us about his family?” Ryuji asked. “I mean, one of his kids murdered their wife. But is that a pattern, or is it just him specifically?”

“It is just him specifically,” Futaba said. “All the rest of his kids are married, and between the five of his kids, the director has 17 grandchildren.”

“What about his wife?” Yusuke wondered. “Do you know anything about her?”

“Yeah. Um, she’s dead,” Futaba said, solemnly.

“WHAT?!” everyone shrieked.

“She suddenly got sick and died,” Futaba said. “I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“How sudden was it?” Ren inquired.

“What do you mean?” Futaba said.

“Well…without giving too much away,” Ren answered, “I know the grandchild whose mother was killed, and they believe that he played a part in it.”

Everyone was stunned. Makoto spoke up. “So, what you’re saying is…?”

Ren nodded. “Maybe he killed his wife and talked his son through killing his wife too.”

“Hmmmm,” Futaba pondered. “Maybe.”

“Wouldn’t that be hard to prove though?” Jose asked.

“Probably,” Futaba said. “This is all speculation on our part.”

“But we’re not alone in looking through things,” Haru said. “Maybe Riko could figure out something we don’t know if we point her in a direction.”

“I guess that’s true,” Futaba said. “But I think we need to head into the palace first. Perhaps we’ll find something else there that’ll help us make our next move. Besides, I’ve only scratched the surface on these documents.”

“We have a little while as it is,” Makoto remarked. “I think that’s a smart idea.”

Ren nodded. “Then let’s head out.” Everyone else nodded, and they headed off to Sae’s palace.

Upon arrival, Futaba noticed the mysterious figure and analyzed it quickly. “Hmmmm. Still hasn’t gone in.”

“It’s waiting for us to make our move, right?” Morgana said.

“Yeah,” Futaba said. “But you can never be too careful.”

“Perhaps that’s something to think about,” Haru suggested. “We’re not only working to save Sae from Eris, but this guy too, right?”

“Correct,” Makoto said. “But how do we fight something like that?”

“Maybe your mom has something in her notes?” Lena offered.

“Maybe,” Futaba said. “But I’d need to dive REALLY deep into her notes.”

“I think putting off the heist until the last possible moment would be good anyway,” Ren said. “This is going to be different than anything we’ve faced before. We need to be as prepared as we can be.”

“I see,” Futaba said.

“Well, no sense in worrying right now,” Ryuji said. “Right now, we have to make our way through this place.” Everyone nodded. They made their way to the room they found themselves in last time.

They looked at the elevator. “We still need a member’s card,” Jose remarked.

“I doubt they’d just give us one,” Yusuke added.

“Well, maybe we can find one,” Ann wondered. “I’m sure there has to be a place here to get one.”

“Probably,” Futaba said. “I’d wager there’s a back room somewhere.”

“Well then, let’s get looking,” Ren instructed. As they ventured around, they found the back room behind some guards they easily took out.

Plastered all over the walls were slogans and platitudes about how women are superior to men, yet oppressed by them, and with the coming of Sae’s “New World Order” that was going to change. “OooooooooKaaaaaaay,” Ryuji said, nervously.

“So somewhere in here, we’ll be able to get a member’s card, right?” Lena wondered.

“Yeah,” Futaba said.

“I don’t think it’ll be easy to get there though,” Makoto said. “Sis is very protective of things.”

“So we just have to do what we usually do,” Ren said, stretching her arms to crack her knuckles. “Seems simple enough.” The thieves maneuvered through the back rooms of the fashion show.

After going through the deeper parts of the back rooms, Morgana’s ears twitched. “Hold on. I sense a Will Seed in the area.”

“Really?”! Haru wondered.

“Let’s see if we can’t find it,” Ann said.

They ventured on, only to see the Will Seed door behind some bars. “DAMMIT!” Ryuji called out.

“Wait!” Ann said. “Look!” She pointed out a scanner. “Maybe if we get a key card, we can get through.”

“It’d probably be helpful for the rest of the palace as well,” Jose said.

“Perhaps,” Yusuke said. “But we may need to find a plethora of these. Don’t underestimate a palace ruler’s paranoia.”

“Especially one who’s also been taken over by Eris,” Futaba added.

“Hmmmm,” Haru pondered.

“Well, it couldn’t hurt,” Lena pointed out.

“True,” Ren said. “But now we need to find it. Let’s keep moving.” They all nodded, and they kept moving.

Soon, they spotted a powerful-looking shadow. They managed to hide. “Say, do you think that they might have the keycard?” Sumire wondered. “They seem powerful.”

“Well, there's only one way to find out,” Ryuji said. “Unless you think we can get to the place behind them.”

“We could,” Ren said, “But I imagine we’ll cross paths sooner or later. Besides, we’re still relatively close to the Will Seed. Let’s not waste too much time.” Everyone nodded, and bum rushed the shadow. Despite it being a pretty tough fight, the Phantom Thieves won out.

Jose picked up a card. “Look!”

“Way to go Jose!” Sumire said.

“Well done!” Haru added.

“Alright,” Morgana said. “Now that we have that, we should be able to get that first Will Seed.” The thieves nodded, and headed back.

They presented the card, raising the barriers to the Will Seed Door. They pressed themselves further in, opening the Will Seed door and heading in. “Um, are you going to be OK Queen?” Sumire asked.

“Why do you ask?” Makoto replied.

“Well…this is your sister…” Sumire answered. “I know there’s a bit of a distance between you two, but this might get…”

Makoto sighed. “I know this probably won’t be easy, but we have to do this. Otherwise we can’t call ourselves Phantom Thieves.” Sumire needed.

“Well, let’s see what we’re getting into,” Ren said, picking up the first Will Seed.

Suddenly, the voice of a young girl crying started ringing through the room.

“What’s this?!” Yusuke wondered.

Suddenly, a gentle female voice came in. “Sae sweetie. Don’t cry.”

“Mom?!” Makoto reacted.

“But…but you’re…” a younger voice jumped in.

“And that sounds like sis when she was younger,” Makoto clarified.

“I know,” Aki said. “But I don’t want you to be sad, OK? Come here. … I love you. Don’t forget that.”

“I won’t,” young Sae said. “I promise. … I’m going to miss you.”

“And I’ll miss you too. I’ll miss you, Makoto, your father…” Aki replied. “But I’ll always be by your side. … I’m going to need you to look after Makoto OK?”

“OK,” young Sae said.

“That’s my girl,” Aki said. She coughed.

“MOM!” young Sae called out.

“I’m fine,” Aki said. “I’m fine… Listen… There is good in this world. Don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t,” young Sae replied. “I promise.”

“Thank you,” Aki said.

A door opened. “Alright,” said a man’s voice.

“Dad?!” Makoto wondered.

“I think we should let mom rest,” Nobuyuki said.

“But-” young Sae interjected.

“It’s alright sweetie,” Aki said. “It’s alright.” There was some silence, followed by a set of footsteps.

Young Sae started to cry again. “Mom! How could this happen?” She sniffled. “I’ll watch over Makoto. But that can't be everything! So for you mom, I’m going to be the best defense attorney the world has ever seen! So don’t you worry!”

“Huh?!” Ryuji wondered.

“Sis…?” a young Makoto asked. “Is everything alright?”

The sound of young Sae lifting young Makoto up filled the room, followed by young Sae saying “Everything will be fine. Because no matter what, I’ll always be there for you.”

The voices came to an end. “Huh,” Futaba reacted. “That was…something…”

“Yeah…” Lena added.

“But, um, what did she mean by becoming ‘the best defense attorney’?” Ryuji wondered.

“She’s a prosecutor, right?” Haru wondered.

“Well…” Makoto explained. “My mother was a defense attorney. And for a while, my sister wanted to be a defense attorney just like her.”

“What happened?” Jose asked.

“It's a little fuzzy, Makoto said, " but I think around the time my dad died, my sister wanted something a little more respectable and steady, since she also had to take care of me. She didn’t want anything weighing her down.”

“Well, I suspect that the existence of this palace proves that something is weighing her down,” Sumire said.

“I agree,” Makoto said. “Which is all the more reason to steal her treasure.”

There was a solemn silence before Ren instructed, “Let’s keep moving.” They all left, and kept pressing through the palace.

Soon, they came across another door that required the keycard. Once it was opened, “Ann rejoiced “Yay! It’s open!” They found themselves face to face with a vent.

Just outside the window were two tough looking guards. “Glad we don’t have to go through them,” Ryuji remarked.

“Being a thief has its advantages,” Morgana said. They all began sliding through the vent to get to the control room on the other side.

“Alright,” Futaba noted, “the terminal we need is just beyond there.”

“There seems to be someone guarding it,” Lena pointed out.

“Well, we can’t avoid every fight,” Morgana lamented. “Let’s make this quick.” The thieves ambushed the guard and took him out.

“BOOYAH!” Futaba called out. “Now it’s my time to shine!” She approached the terminal and began cracking. Once she finished, she presented two things. “First off, here’s a map of the building.”

Ren grabbed it. “Thanks.”

“But also…” Futaba hyped up. “Ta-da! A member’s card!”

“Good work, Oracle!” Yusuke congratulated.

“Thanks,” Futaba said. “I didn’t know what name to give it, so I went with Taro Tanaka.”

“Um, isn’t that a bit obvious?” Ryuji wondered.

“Well, they know we’re here,” Jose pointed out.

“True,” Futaba said. “She is practically challenging us. Then again, better to be safe than sorry. Hold on.” Futaba got to work making another card. “OK, this one belongs to a Shinji Nakanomatsu. How’s that?”

“That works,” Ryuji said.

“Um, maybe we shouldn’t make too many,” Haru said. “They might get a little suspicious.”

“Good thinking,” Futaba said. “Noir! Take the Taro Tanaka card and get rid of it.”

“Huh?!” Haru wondered. “Why me?”

“Well, this kind of stuff usually falls on the newbie of the group.”

“Hey come on,” Ren said. “We’re all equals here.”

“It’s OK, Joker,” Haru said. “I’ll take care of it.”

Ren was a little surprised, but said “Well, if you’re OK with it.”

“Great!” Futaba said, handing over the Taro Tanaka card.

“Look!” Ann said, pointing out another airvent. “We can escape through here.”

“It’d be easier than going through that whole area again,” Lena pointed out.

“Well then, let’s go!” Sumire called out. “We’ve got an elevator to catch!” They all flowed through the air vent, and with a hop, skip, and a jump, they were back to the floor with the elevator.

Once there, Ren took out the card and said “So we just present this, and…”

The elevator dinged. “Member’s Card Accepted! Floor’s Accessible: The Ground Floor (current Location), The Member’s Suit.”

“Didn’t she say she wanted to meet us in The Exclusive Member’s Suit?” Jose wondered.

“I could only do so much,” Futaba said. “You couldn’t get an Exclusive Member’s card from the back terminal.”

“Still, we can move up,” Ryuji said. “I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”

“Good point Skull!” Ann said. “We just gotta keep pushing forward!”

“Well then, let’s push,” Ren said. They got onto the elevator and headed up.

Once they got to the Member’s Suit, they walked off and saw Sae, Riko, director Ono, and Sae’s guards. “Sis?!” Makoto yelped.

“Hm hm,” Sae chuckled. “We didn’t expect you to get this far.”

Sae’s Shadow manifested itself. “But then again, you pesky thieves always seem to outmaneuver Us.”

“Oh great,” Ryuji remarked. “More of this.”

Jose stepped up. “Do you wish to fight us here and now?!” he declared.

Sae laughed. “Silly thieves. You aren’t worth Our time yet.”

“You need to PROVE yourselves!” Shadow Sae said. “Otherwise, We won’t have a show on our hands. And We wouldn’t want that.”

Sae turned to Riko. “How are renovations coming along?” “Renovations are complete on this floor,” Riko answered. “They should be complete on the other floor soon.”

“Excellent!” Sae said. She turned to Ono. “You!” She yanked on his leash. “Lick Our feet!” The director whimpered. He got on his knees and did what he was told. Sae turned back to the thieves. “Right now, you aren’t even worth THIS much.”

“WHAT?!” Ann yelped.

“However, if you manage to make it through Our gauntlets,” Shadow Sae said. “Then We’ll challenge you.”

“Hm,” Ren smirked. “You continuing to underestimate us will be your downfall.”

“Tch!” Sae sneered. “You may have gotten lucky before. But you’re on OUR turf now!”

Shadow Sae jumped in. “So think twice before making your silly declarations!”

Sae snapped, and in the blink of an eye, she and her pose were on the elevator. “We’ll see you around. If you’re strong enough!” The elevator went up.

“And she’s gone,” Yusuke said.

“She’s getting on my nerves!” Ann remarked.

“Tell me about it,” Ryuji agreed.

“Well, like it or not,” Morgana said, “and I personally vote ‘not’, she IS right. This is her palace, and by extension, her rules.”

“Well yeah,” Ryuji said, “but I don’t want to lick her feet.”

“I don’t think we’ll have to,” Sumire said. “So long as we prove ourselves.”

“But what does that mean?” Haru asked.

Jose looked over. “There’s a kiosk over there,” he noted. “Maybe they have an answer for us.”

“Well, I don’t think we have anything better to work with at the moment,” Ren said. They made their way over to the kiosk.

“Ah, greetings!” the kiosk manager said. “We’ve been expecting you!”

“You have?!” Makoto wondered.

“Indeed,” the manager said. “As appreciated guests, we will grant you 1,000 Fashion Points. You may earn more through our Fashion Gauntlets.”

“Sae did mention something about that,” Yusuke noted.

“What can we get with these Fashion Points?” Makoto wondered.

“Why many things,” the manager answered. “Our most coveted prize is an Exclusive Member’s Card for a reasonable 50,000 Fashion points.”

“FOR REAL?!” Ryuji called out.

“50,000 hardly seems ‘reasonable’,” Sumire pointed out.

“Well those are the rules,” the manager said. “Take it or leave it. We also offer a loan service where we can let you borrow points up to your total amount.”

“I don’t wanna mess with that,” Ryuji said. “It seems troublesome.”

“Only if you can’t manage to pay it back,” the manager said.

“So, what would you recommend?” Ren asked.

“Well, on this floor, we have the Accessory Room and the Attitude Room,” the manager said. “For beginners, I’d recommend the Accessory Room.”

“Thank you,” Ren said. Ren motioned her group to regroup away from the kiosk. “So, it seems like we should do the Accessory Room first.”

“Are you sure we should be following the lead of some weird, conjured kiosk guy?” Ryuji wondered.

“I don’t think brute forcing our way through this palace will get us anywhere,” Morgana noted.

“Besides, it seems like Sae wants to challenge us,” Sumire pointed out.

“So we just take the challenge?” Lena asked.

“Seems like it,” Jose said.

“Hold on,” Ren said. “While I believe that taking on these gauntlets is the easiest way to proceed, I don’t think it’ll be easy.”

“What do you mean?” Futaba asked.

“Joker’s right,” Makoto said. “My sister may have invited us to challenge her, but since this is her home turf, she has no intention of fighting fair.”

“Well lucky for us, neither do we,” Yusuke remarked.

“So…we just have to cheat our way through this place?” Jose wondered.

“It’s probably better than playing it straight,” Ryuji noted. “No offense, but I don’t know how I feel about an ‘Accessory Room’ or an ‘Attitude Room’.”

“Yeah,” Ann remarked. “I know this is a warped fashion show, but this seems like a little much.”

“Remember, it used to be a casino,” Morgana said. “Maybe it has some of its old trappings.”

“So, it’s still luck-based?” Sumire wondered.

“I guess fashion is to to some extent,” Ann said. “But I feel like there’s something else going on here.”

“Well we won’t know for sure until we keep exploring!” Futaba said. “Sometimes the only way out is through.”

“Indeed,” Yusuke agreed.

“So the plan is to investigate and cheat if possible,” Ren surmised. “Alright, let’s move out!” They nodded, and moved on over to the Accessory Room.

Before entering, they stopped by the sign. Futaba took the time to read it. “‘Accessory Room Rules: Enter one of the chambers and offer a minimum of 25 Fashion Points. The judge in the room will ask if you are going minimalist or showy with your accessories. You then roll three dice. If you roll a 9 or lower, your style will be minimalist. If you roll a 10 or higher, your style will be showy. If you match your style selection with the dice roll, the judge will reward you with twice as many Fashion Points. If you don’t match your style selection with the dice roll, the judge will keep the Fashion Points you offered. A roll of three sixes will win no matter what, and also offer three times the amount of Fashion Points.’”

“That seems like a load of BS!” Ryuji called out.

“Maybe,” Ann said. “But it feels real to an extent.”

“I agree,” Makoto said. “Women, especially in high power positions, have to adhere to certain standards. If you don’t accessorize enough, people will look down on you for ‘abandoning your femininity’. But if you accessorize too much, people will say you’re ‘gaudy’ or ‘trying too hard’.”

“Woah!” Ryuji reacted. “I had no idea.”

“Of course not,” Morgana said. “Us men don’t have to worry about that.”

“But that sucks!” Ryuji said.

“I will admit, it is a little difficult at times,” Ren interjected, “but I find it fun when you find JUST the right accessories and show it off.”

“TOTALLY!” Ann agreed. “When you find make-up that REALLY compliments you. There’s nothing like it!”

“Indeed,” Yusuke agreed. “Why, not too long ago, I found some really good blush that brought out my cheekbones REALLY nicely.”

“Wait, you do this stuff too?” Ryuji said.

“Only a little,” Yusuke said. “I don’t go all out or anything, but if it looks good on me, I’m willing to try something.”

“Actually, a good number of guys at Kosei use make-up and other accessories regularly,” Jose said. “Although, some of it is for the theater department.”

“Huh,” Ryuji pondered.

“You know, you should be a little more well-versed in this area, Skull,” Futaba teased. “You know, after your little stint in Shinjuku.”

“Oh yeah!” Haru giggled. “You looked so good in those pictures.”

“Hey!” Ryuji barked. “Those guys handled my outfits and stuff, while Joker did my makeup!”

“I guess that’s true,” Futaba said.

“Buuuuuut it wouldn’t hurt to learn a little bit,” Ann said. “I mean, if you come to one of my fashion shows, knowing a little something could be beneficial.”

“Well…” Ryuji said. “Maybe… But only if I don’t have to get into it!”

“Deal!” Ann said.

“Anyways!” Makoto said. “It seems like this is probably rigged.”

“Or left up to chance at best,” Lena said.

“So we have to figure out a way to tip the scales in our favor!” Makoto continued.

“Lucky for us, that’s our specialty,” Ren said. “Let’s have a look around.” The team moved out through the area.

On one end, Haru reported “I found a door to a back area. But it is locked, and there’s no way to open it from this side.”

On the other end, Jose said “I found a vent! Perhaps we can sneak in this way.”

“Good finding, Sunshine!” Ren called out. “It seems like no one’s watching, so we can go!” One by one, they funneled through the vent, and found themselves in the back room.

“Alright!” Ryuji cheered. “Now all we gotta do is find some way to rig the game!”

Makoto nodded. “Let’s go!” They made their way through the back room of the Accessory Room.

After some trekking, they managed to make it to the room behind the chambers. “So, this is it: the belly of the beast!” Yusuke remarked.

“Hang on!” Lena observed. “Look!”

She pointed out the shadow behind the scenes. “They think they’re going to stylize just right. NOW! Take it all from them!”

“So they really are cheating,” Futaba muttered.

“Sis…” Makoto said, worried.

“Well, now that we’re here,” Ren instructed, “we can turn the tables. Right, Oracle?”

Futaba nodded. “Should be easy enough.”

“But first,” Sumire said, “we have to deal with the current cheaters!”

Ren nodded. “MOVE!” They rushed the shadow behind the cheating. With the successful ambush, they managed to take out the shadow relatively easily.

“Alright!” Ann shouted.

Ren looked at the console. “Oracle? Would you like to do the honors?”

“Heh heh heh! With pleasure!” Oracle said. She began hacking the console. Once she finished, she turned to the others and said, “OK! I thought it’d be weird to rig all of the games, so I only rigged one of them, and the rest of them have the normal odds. I went ahead and marked the room on the map for us.”

“Good thinking,” Makoto said. “If sis finds out, she’d probably send everyone to deal with us. And we couldn’t handle that.”

“Well, since we know which one will be helpful to us,” Morgana said. “Let’s play the game!” They nodded, and left.

At the end of the hallways, Haru found a locked door. “Oh! I think this is the door I noticed on the other side. And look! There’s a keycard reader!” Ren nodded, and opened the door. They were back in the Accessory Room front area.

They made their way to their own personal cheating chamber. “Alright, let’s see how this goes,” Ren said. She went up to play.

“Good evening,” the judge said. “How many Fashion Points are you putting on the line today?”

“1,000,” Ren answered.

There were audible gasps. “Heh heh,” the judge said. “Somebody’s confident. No matter, I’m always willing to serve some humble pie. Now tell me, how do you plan on stylizing today?”

“Let’s go flashy!” Ren said.

“Bold in every sense of the word, I see,” the judge said. “Let’s see if you’re bold enough.” The dice rolled. It landed on triple six. “Urgh! I don’t believe it!”

Ren chuckled. “My winnings?”

“Er, of course madame,” the judge said. Ren’s Fashion Points now accumulated to 3,000.

“Good,” Ren said. “Now again.”

“You think you’ll get lucky twice in a row?!” the judge said. “There’s bold, and then there's foolhardy!”

“Are you saying no?” Ren intimidated.

“Er, of course not!” the judge said. “Still flashy?”

“You know it,” Ren said.

“Very well,” the judge said. The dice rolled. Triple six again. Ren’s Fashion Points now were at 9,000. “I don’t believe it…”

Ren giggled. “Well, you take care now.”

“Er, yes,” the judge said. The thieves left.

“Are you sure you want to leave?” Ryuji whispered.

“I think we need to keep looking around,” Ren said. “If we wanted to just get through the palace, maybe, but our aim is a little more than that.”

“Right,” Ryuji siad. “Let’s move on to the, ummm, Attitude Room, I guess.”

“I am unsure of how this will work,” Yusuke said.

“”Yeah,” Lena said. “What do you think it means?”

“I think it’d be better if we just go,” Ann said. “It’s not worth it to just stand around speculating.” The others nodded, and they headed out.

Once they got to the door to the Attitude Room, Futaba read the sign. “‘Attitude Room Rules: Approach an Attitude Machine, insert the required Fashion Points, and pull the lever. If you get three matching moods, you win. If you don’t get three matching moods, you lose. Rewards are dependent on what mood you get.”

“The Hell?!” Ryuji said. “This is JUST a slot machine! And what do they mean about having ‘matching moods’?”

“Well,” Makoto jumped in, “women are sometimes considered moody by their male peers. If they display different moods throughout the day, it looks bad on them. I guess this is a reflection of that?”

“But if this is how women are treated,” Lena wondered, “why is Sae subjecting us to it?”

“I imagine that she’s been subject to it on too many occasions to count,” Makoto lamented.

“Oh…” Lena said.

“But also,” Futaba interrupted, “maybe this has to do with her ‘New World Order’. Maybe once she’s in charge, she’ll subject men to this kind of treatment.”

“Hmmm,” Yusuke pondered. “I think that’s a fair assessment. I mean, you’ve seen how she views the director now.”

“Right…” Makoto said.

Ryuji and Morgana jolted. “Umm, I don’t wanna do that…” Ryuji said, nervously.

“Y-Yeah!” Morgana said. “Let’s save Sae!”

“Oh brother…” Futaba whined.

Haru giggled. “Don’t worry your pretty little heads. Everything will be fine.”

“Thanks…” Ryuji said.

“Anyways, we should get going,” Ren said. They entered.

Once inside, they saw a bunch of “Attitude Machines”. “So, do we just play them?” Ann wondered.

Ren shook her head. “They’re probably rigged too. Besides, if we were guided to the Accessory Room first, there’s probably something juicier than these in here.”

“Good thinking,” Sumire said.

Ren nodded. “Let’s explore the area a little.” The thieves nodded, and went about searching the area.

At the end, they spotted a door. “Hmm,” Jose pondered. He walked up to it and tried opening it. “It’s locked.”

“Well, there’s probably another way in,” Morgana surmised.

Jose nodded. “Maybe another air vent somewhere.”

“Let’s look for one,” Ann suggested. They went back and found one on top of one of the walls. They snuck through, and found themselves in more back rooms.

“Well, here we are again,” Ryuji remarked.

“Third verse, same as the first,” Lena added.

“Well, let’s not just stand around,” Ren instructed. “Let’s move!” The thieves moved through the back rooms with ease.

As they were going through, Morgana noticed something. “Hm? I think the second Will Seed is around here somewhere.”

Ren nodded. “Let’s keep an eye out.” They searched around, and soon found it. They entered.

“I wonder what we’ll see next,” Jose pontificated.

“I don’t know,” Lena said. “But I doubt it’ll be as heavy as last time.”

“We can only hope,” Yusuke said. “But I don’t assume it’s anything good.”

“Well, we still have to face the music anyways,” Makoto said. “Right Joker?”

“Right,” Ren replied. She went up and grabbed it.

“Hello there,” the director’s voice rang out.

“The director?” Futaba said.

Sae’s voice picked up. “Who are you, and what do you want?”

“Isn’t that her boss?” Haru wondered.

“Maybe this was from before,” Yusuke rationalized.

“You must be Sae Niijima,” the director said. “My name is Hiroto Ono. I’m the director of the Special Investigations Unit at the prosecutor’s office, and a friend of your professor’s. He’s told me quite a lot about you.”

“What does it concern you?” Sae mouthed back. “I’m studying to become a defense attorney.”

“Of course, of course,” Ono said. “I’m familiar with your mother as well. Why, I’ve fought her court more times than I can count. … I’m…sorry for your loss.”

“It’s fine,” Sae said.

“But back to my original point,” Ono said. “While it is true that you are studying to become a defense attorney, it might be beneficial to work in the prosecutor’s office for a little while.”

“Why do you say that?” Sae asked.

“Come on!” Ono retorted. “I know you’re no fool. You know that prosecutors have a 99% success rate in this country.”

“Is that true?” Ryuji wondered.

Makoto nodded. “It is very stacked in the favor of the police and prosecution.”

“But that doesn’t seem fair!” Ann protested.

“It’s not,” Makoto said. “But sis has told me she wanted to remedy that.”

“Still…” Ann said.

“Your point?” Sae’s voice continued.

“Well, I’m just saying,” Ono replied, “you might not get a foothold in if the odds are stacked against you. It’d be worth it to establish yourself a bit beforehand to help show confidence. Not to mention it’s a little more secure than just starting off as a defense attorney.”

“What’s in it for you?” Sae wondered.

“Hm,” the director grinned. “I know just how talented you are. I don’t want a mind like yours to be wasted, whether it’s playing for my team, or the enemy.”

“So, you consider defense attorneys to be the enemy,” Sae sniped.

“It’s a playful rivalry,” Ono said. “Here. This is my card. I don’t need an answer right away, but I’d like to hear from you.”

“Thanks,” Sae said.

“Well, so long,” Ono said. “Oh, and good luck on your test.”

There was a long silence before Sae went “Hmmmmmmmmmm.”

The voices ended there. “Well, it wasn’t as heavy…” Yusuke said.

“But I don’t feel good after listening to that,” Lena finished.

“So, the director wanted to bring her in,” Makoto said.

“You didn’t know?” Morgana said.

“Well…” Makoto said. “I don’t know all the specifics. But I know that she and the director began talking when she was in college.”

“So, that was her in college then,” Jose said.

“I believe so,” Makoto said. “From what I know, she decided to go along with it, but assured us that it was only temporary.”

“‘Us’?” Ryuji wondered. “Has Sae’s Shadow form infected you too?”

“No!” Makoto said, angrily. “I meant…me and my dad.”

“Ah,” Ryuji said. “Yeah, that makes more sense.”

“But she’s still a prosecutor,” Sumire remarked.

“Again, that’s because of my father’s death,” Makoto said. “Like I said, keeping this job was more secure for her after his passing. Not to mention taking care of me.”

“Queen…” Haru said, mournfully.

“Well, it seems like this whole thing is taking its toll on her,” Morgana said. “So we gotta free her from her chains!”

“Hm,” Ren smirked. “Couldn’t have said it better myself. Let’s keep moving.” The thieves nodded, and moved on.

They soon found a strange terminal. “Oh hey!” Ryuji said. “Can you crack this Oracle?”

“I’ll take a look,” Futaba said. “Hmmmm.”

“What is it?” Jose asked.

“It looks like,” Futaba began, “this is part of a network. It’s not on right now, but it seems connected to a greater system. I think if I can activate it, I can make the necessary arrangements.”

“But we need to activate it first…” Ann said.

“Correct,” Futaba replied.

“Let’s keep this area in mind for now and keep going,” Ren said. The thieves moved on.

They soon found another air vent that let them out in a room with a giant “Attitude Machine.” “Woah!” Ryuji said. “THAT’S a big machine!”

Lena was surprised. “It costs 5,000 Fashion Points to just play it?!”

“Yeah, but look!” Jose assured her. “If we win the jackpot, we get 50,000 Fashion Points!”

“IF we win,” Makoto said.

“Well, let’s see if we can’t crack this,” Ren said. The thieves began their search.

They soon found a terminal on the side of the machine. “Alrighty then!” Futaba said. She began cracking. “Hmmmm. Ah! I see!”

“What is it?” Yusuke wondered.

“THIS is the main terminal,” Futaba said. “From here, I can activate the other terminals.”

“And from there, you can hack this machine?” Makoto wondered

“Precisely!” Futaba answered.

“I take it the one we found in the back room is one of them,” Sumire said.

“Correct!” Futaba said. “The other one is at the front of the Attitude Room.”

“Well then, let’s activate those terminals,” Ren instructed. They decided to head back to the front first.

On their way, they found the locked door Jose tried to open. “Huh,” Jose remarked. Ren unlocked the door. “How peculiar.”

“Well, I guess they don’t let just anyone back here,” Makoto said.

“True,” Yusuke said. “Even if it is rigged, the chance at that many Fashion Points is too much to just give away.” They kept moving.

They found the terminal at the front. “How’d we miss this?” Ryuji wondered.

“I assume it’s designed to blend in,” Makoto said. “We were so taken in with what this room is that we didn’t notice it.”

“Well now that it’s here, it’s mine!” Futaba said. She began hacking. “Alright! This terminal is under my control!”

“Now time for the other one!” Sumire cheered. They made their way back into the back rooms and found the other terminal.

“Alright!” Futaba said. She hacked away. “BOOYAH! Both terminals are now mine!”

“So, what now?” Lena asked. “Do we just spin and win?”

“Not quite…” Futaba admitted. Everyone was confused. “I could only get the giant ‘Attitude Machine’ to be 8:2 odds of paying out,” she admitted.

“So, it’s just left up to luck?” Makoto said.

“Well, the odds are in our favor,” Sumire said. “All we need now is just a little faith.”

Ren nodded. “Let’s head over to the machine now and press our luck.”

“Maybe don’t phrase it like that,” Morgana said. Regardless, the thieves moved out.

Once they got there, the thieves stood and stared at the machine. “Do we pull it?” Lena wondered.

“We have no other option,” Sumire said. “Joker?” She gave Ren a peck on the cheek. “You do the honors.”

Ren nodded. “Thanks for the luck, sweetie.” Ren inserted 5,000 of her Fashion Points and spun the machine. The first slot landed on a 7, with the word “Themselves” inside. “Huh?” Ann wondered.

“I guess the ability to ‘be themselves’ is the jackpot,” Makoto said.

“That’s…depressing…” Ryuji said.

The second 7 came up. “Could it be?” Yusuke wondered.

The third 7 arrived. “WE DID IT!” Lena cheered. The noise rang through the Attitude Room.

Ren smiled. “Well, it seems like if we stay here longer, we may get caught.”

Morgana nodded. “We have enough. Let’s move.” The thieves all left the Attitude Room, and gathered in the lobby of the Member’s Suit.

Ren approached the kiosk. “Hello there.”

“Hello,” the manager said.

“We’d like an Exclusive Member’s card,” Ren said.

“Do you have the Fashion Points?” the manager asked.

“Certainly,” Ren said, presenting her card.

The manager looked it over. “Very well then.” He got out a card. “Here you are.”

“Thank you,” Ren said, with a smile. She turned to her team. “Let’s move.” They started making their way to the elevator, only to see a powerful shadow sanding in their way.

Over the speakers, they heard Sae say “My my my. You really are a tricksy bunch.”

“But still,” Shadow Sae remarked, “you’re no match for Us!”

Ren grew determined. “Is this part of your ‘test’ too?!” she asked.

“Hm hm hm,” Sae chuckled. “You’re more clever than I first thought.”

“Heh heh heh heh,” Shadow Sae said. “Cheat as much as you want! But when faced with a real opponent, you can’t afford to back down!”

Makoto steeled herself. “Why are you doing this?!” she called out.

“Why?” Sae answered. “WHY?! Because once you VERMIN are dealt with, We can FINALLY make the changes this godforsaken country NEEDS!”

“We want that too!” Makoto pleaded. “We can help if you just listen to us!”

“THAT’S NOT FOR YOU TO DECIDE!” Sae snapped.

“Yeah,” Shadow Sae agreed. “If you want to prove yourselves to Us, go ahead! But We won’t listen to you miscreants until then!”

“Sis…” Makoto saint, resigning herself. She took a deep breath. “Well, if it’s a fight you want, then it’s a fight YOU’LL GET! BRING IT ON!” The thieves challenged the shadow. Despite the shadow’s overwhelming power, the thieves managed to win the fight.

“Damn Queen,” Futaba remarked. “Are you doing OK?”

“I’m fine,” Makoto said. She sighed. “Well, as fine as I can be.”

Haru placed her hand on Makoto’s shoulder. “I know it’s difficult.”

“Noir…” Makoto said. She sighed again. “Thanks.”

“Well, now that that’s sorted,” Ren said, “let’s move on up.” The thieves nodded, and made their way to the elevator.

Ren presented the Exclusive Member’s Card. “Exclusive Member’s Card Accepted. Floors Accessible: Ground Floor. Member’s Suit (current floor). Exclusive Member’s Suit.”

“I don’t suppose that even when we get up there, we’ll just get to meet with Sae,” Yusuke remarked.

“I don’t think so either,” Makoto said.

“Well then, we just gotta work our magic again, I suppose,” Sumire said.

“But what kind of trapping will we find in the Exclusive Member’s Suit?” Lena said.

“No use in speculating,” Ren said. “Let’s just move on up.” They got in the elevator and rode up to the Exclusive Member’s Suit.

Once there, Ren and company noticed a big wall and an attendant. “Welcome to the Exclusive Member’s Suit,” the attendant said. “Do you have a reservation?”

Ren was confused. “Well then,” Makoto said. “Let’s go.” She started walking.

“Wait!” Ren called out, grabbing her arm.

Then, something very peculiar happened. Makoto turned back, but she was phasing through the attendant. “What?”

Everyone else was freaked out. “WHAT IS THAT?!” Ryuji yelped.

“Is something the matter?” Masked.

“Um, Queen?” Futaba asked. “Do you see a giant door?”

“No?” Makoto said. “Do you?” Everyone nodded. “Huh.”

“You, um, also,” Morgana said, “kind of…in…someone…”

“What?!” Makoto yelped.

Ren pulled her away. “So, we see someone guarding a giant door. But not only do you not see it, it doesn’t even seem to register for you.”

“How very odd,” Yusuke said.

“Why do you suppose that is?” Jose asked.

“Hmmm,” Morgana wondered. “I think it has something to do with Sae’s cognition.This must be a part of the real world we don’t have access to, but should.”

“And also,” Haru continued, “a part of the world where Queen DOES have access to.”

“Right…” Lena said. “But what fits the bill here?”

“Well, we know this place is a courthouse,” Ren said, thinking aloud.

“That’s it!” Makoto said. “This area must represent the courtroom itself! I’ve watched my sister work before, but I don’t think anyone else has been in the courtroom.”

“So, we just gotta watch a court case?” Ryuji said.

“I guess so,” Futaba said.

“Not only that,” Morgana pointed out. “We’ve gotta watch a trial Sae is running. SHE needs to see us there.”

“Oh yeah…” Ryuji said.

“Maybe we can ask Secretary when her next trial will be,” Sumire said. “If we’re lucky, we can catch it.”

“Hm hm. Excellent idea Violet,” Haru said.

“Plus, you can compare notes, Oracle,” Ren said.

“Right,” Futaba nodded.

“So, for now, we gotta head out,” Makoto said, “and come back in once we’ve seen a trial.”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Lena said.

“Well then, let’s go,” Ren said. They headed back down the elevator.

On their way down, Haru wondered. “Hmmmm.”

“What’s wrong, Noir?” Lena asked.

“I’m just curious,” Haru answered. “We only saw two of the Will Seeds. I wonder what else lies in store.”

“Oh,” Lena said.

“Do you have any idea, Queen?” Morgana said.

“I imagine it has something to do with my father’s death,” Makoto said. “But I don’t think I can give specifics.”

“Sorry,” Morgana pouted.

“You’re fine,” Makoto said.

“Well, that’s just another mystery we’ll have to unravel,” Ren said. “For now, let’s rest up, and prepare for what’s to come.” With one last group nod, the thieves left the Fashion Show, and headed out into the real world.

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