Master of Lovebending

Hi, the name's Bolin. I come from a place far, far away, but I can't tell you. It's a secret! Anyway, I've since recently moved to Japan and have met a number of people, but I'm always excited to make new friends. *please check my Backstory and Notes page before RPing*

[amorousbender]

I see you creeping

You know who you are. :p

Anyways, for anyone following me on here, Bolin will likely be getting brought back, but I think I may create a new blog. Mostly just to start fresh and RP exactly how I want when I want to. So, for now, this account may be getting put on a backburner, but it will not be deleted. Way too many threads on here to do that. Just may not be using it anymore. If anyone wants my new blog, just ask. ^_^

For now, Bolin out!

[heavenlyedict]

A Hero's Will

Been meaning to do this for a while, but finally got around to it. Kinda long drabble using my AU’d Bolin and other characters. It has some violence and a little gore so beware if you don’t like that stuff. A little Bohime and Makorra also. ^_~ Have fun reading if you wish. ^_^

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[amorousbender]

In Need of Directions

[cannymechanic-blog]

As the snickers and not-so-subtle insults persisted, Asami took a moment to glare at a nearby group of offenders; a rather large group of people wearing the Spica high school uniform. She would have liked to believe that this behavior was limited to the younger students, but she recognized a few older students participating as well. Though she attempted to remain low-key, the Spica students were obsessed with wealth and social status, so it wasn’t much of a secret that Hiroshi Sato’s daughter was attending Spica.

Asami had no idea what sort of effect it would have, but she hoped that the jeering would stop whether or not this particular group knew who she was. Though she had been rich all her life, both her mother and father had grown up poor, and they hadn’t failed to instill in Asami how to really determine a person’s worth.

She turned back to the boy, who had an odd expression on his face. Asami was used to being stared at; she was aware of the effect she often had on the high school boys of Spica. Even with her experience, she failed to recognize exactly what sort of thoughts were behind his expression, so she mistook the smile for gratitude at her silencing the others.

“Don’t worry about them, okay? Most of them can barely tie their own shoes; without their parents’ money, they’d hardly be making it through public school.” She gave an encouraging smile, hoping that had been the right thing to say. In any case, she certainly didn’t approve of the other students. “My name’s Asami, by the way. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She extended a hand pleasantly as she always did.

“Might you know your way around this campus?”

“Oh, I know enough. Do you know the building the person you’re looking for might be in? Or maybe which class they just attended?” She glanced around, wondering if the building they needed was nearby. If not, she could always give him a lift on her scooter if he was in a hurry.

[amorousbender]

Seeing the new girl flash the other students a glare really did help him regain his confidence. Not only was this female pretty, but she definitely knew how to handle herself. That was one trait he could find attractive in the opposite gender. Idly, he wondered what Mako might think. Maybe, if he managed to place everything out, he could get the two to meet today. While he had only come to pass off some information that the apartment owner would be doing an inspection later in the day, maybe he could get his older brother a date. After all, if life was calm enough to afford them with some free time, why not hook his brother up with a girl like the one standing in front of him.

“Don’t worry about them, okay? Most of them can barely tie their own shoes; without their parents’ money, they’d hardly be making it through public school.”

Such a comment easily made the teen laugh as he thought just how true it was. Most of the boys here could act tough, but few if any would actually survive a day on the streets without their money. To live poor meant knowing where food was thrown out. It meant quick feet and precise fingers. Running wasn’t worth much if you couldn’t climb a drain pipe or a run-down wall. Escaping street vendors was the mild part of living. It was the cops who beat a person, child or adult, if you got too closer to richer areas or if they were just bored. Then, there were the local street gangs. If you didn’t join them, you were against them and that meant death. None of these spoiled teens could handle such a lifestyle. Then again, he would never wish such experience on anyone else.

Reaching out to grab her hand with a smile, he responded with his. “Name’s Bolin.” Pulling back and letting it drop, he continued. “Pretty name!” He added with another smile that was full of cheer. For a girl going to a rich school, she didn’t seem the least bit stuck up or closed-minded. Instead, she was a nice lady who had shown him concern and used an icy glare to warn off jerks. He really did have to wonder how Mako could react around such a polite, nice person. If anything, he would chastise the older boy if no advances were made. For now though, he had to find said brother.

“Oh, I know enough. Do you know the building the person you’re looking for might be in? Or maybe which class they just attended?”

Opening his mouth to speak, Bolin stopped in silence. Moving his mouth to form words, something vital began to dawn on him. “I…don’t think I know actually. I just remember him saying it was a large building with lots of windows, but…” Looking around, practically every structure was large and covered in bright windows. “It might have been more specific than that, but I was eating breakfast at the time,” He said as if that was a perfectly reasonable excuse. Not knowing what building he was in meant trouble, but class…nope, nothing. “Well, he’s a senior if that helps,” He offered before tapping his head and then pointing at her. “Are you a senior?” The moment the question came out, a look of terror crossed his face. “Not that I’m calling you old or anything. Just, you have that…mature air around you.” Now he could only smile awkwardly in hopes that the one helpful person at this school hadn’t just been insulted by his poor word choice.

[amorousbender]

A Close Call

[resolutefire-blog]

The night didn’t go anything like Mako imagined.

Mako imagined an elaborate party. He imagined looking on as Bolin himself had a good time, slipping through the crowd in his home-made costume, and between the chatter and sparkling drinks and crystal on the tables, between the flashes of color and the displays of affection, he would stand out the most. He knew that Bolin would have his fun, and even if he was against the thought of showing up at a place he wasn’t familiar with and wearing an outfit he didn’t want to be in in the first place, Mako knew Bolin wanted to be there and that would be enough. Mako’s plan was to stay in the background and hover protectively nearby, maybe size up the place, the crowd, the male in question who was hosting the party…He only caught a handful of glances at the guy in question, noting how he never stayed in one place for too long, and that he was always on the move, never lingering to speak to anyone of the single guests for too long.

At one point, he met Hotoke’s eyes across the ballroom, blood-red crimson piercing into topaz dead on. A sliver of a smile appeared on his visage, and Mako inwardly knew there was something uncanny about him. Nevertheless, politely he nodded back, and that was the end of that brief exchange.

Just as he was beginning to wonder where his younger brother was, she showed up, or more correctly ran into him. That was eventful. Initially he remembered being stunned by the eyeful of tanned skin and soft curves. Her costume was far from being modest, and yet, despite that he sensed she didn’t have any lascivious intentions by wearing it. It was a strange understanding to dawn on Mako, that only lasted for a millisecond before anger set in, if not more so denial. He snapped at her that he wasn’t surprised she failed to grasp how to not bump into people, and Mako read the shock on her face like a book. She didn’t expect to see him there at the party, either. Before she could reply back to him, the lights went out, and all hell broke loose.

Meanwhile, Bolin was nowhere in sight. 

He was prone to worrying over the well-being of his younger brother. He’d done it all his life. But he was also an expert at staying cool under pressure, possessing a talent for it even in the face of the most dire situations, because if he didn’t, who would? Still, in the thick of the panic, in the thick of the overpowering darkness and screams rising, Mako called out his name. As sharp and sudden as that feeling of hysteria was, he managed to keep it together, and grab for the girl’s hand at his side. Then, he was pushing against the crowd, fighting his way out until he was outdoors. The screams didn’t die off, only echoing more around them like dying bells as boats began to capsize. In the midst of it, Mako found a private, quiet area off to the side of the mansion, and worked on formulating a plan to find Bolin. That was where he eventually came to learn that the girl he brought with him, whose hand would remain interlocked with his for the majority of the night, was named Korra. She tossed him fearful glances, blue hues swallowing her face, betraying her building confusion and uncertainty.

And truth be told, even if she hadn’t agreed to come with him and help him find Bolin, Mako didn’t see himself just leaving here there by herself. He’d never be sure, but the way she looked to him like that. It wouldn’t have…it wouldn’t have been right.

Mako still couldn’t believe what came next — the sound of a reed-thin voice that dripped with thick, cloying sweetness, bidding the two of them to come closer. It didn’t make sense, it wasn’t something that could possibly be real. Mako took a protective stance in front of Korra instantly, readying himself for a fight at the sight of a swiping, wet and pale hand coming from the depths of the lake, and a shimmer of hungry aquamarine eyes. He knew better than to give it, whatever it was, any kind of advantage over him, and more importantly that in his gut whatever it said was not to be trusted. It tried again, but Mako’s reflexes and instincts were sharp and honed. He thrust out his palm but the revelation that overcame him was that he couldn’t do anything.

He couldn’t Firebend, and the creature knew it too. So very much the taunting and malicious entity it was, it laughed and murmured how she knew he was special. Its words drove into him, backed by a knowledge that bared him to its knowing leer and touched the most secret part of him. On some level, it didn’t surprise him. When it went back from whence it came, Mako had been forged, remade, at least during the time he was on the island and at the mansion. Instead of being relieved at his lack of bending abilities that he never wanted to begin with, Mako was filled with dread every moment he was on his feet, every brush of danger that came across his path. Physically, he was fine and there was nothing amiss. Like always, he’d made himself soldier on, brushing off any questions Korra asked him, and they didn’t stay in one place too long after that.

After that, they were always running.

Mako had no one but himself to rely on for the majority of his life, and he never saw that changing, truthfully. It was just the way things were, and he didn’t see the problem with it either. Being independent, making the tough decisions that needed to be made, it came naturally to Mako. That was the role he reverted to while with Korra. Her hand clasped in his was a tether to reality, a reminder of a cause worth fighting. The wind would whistle through black branches, shaking them and causing them to jostle together. The bony, leafless fingers of the trees formed an endless canopy over the cold, surprisingly lonely forest trail. And Bolin’s unknown whereabouts inspired Mako to push himself all the more. He was the only family he had left, and if anything happened to him he didn’t truly know what he would do, or how he would cope. 

When Korra was nearly dragged off, Mako’s relief to feel her safe in his arms was an all encompassing emotion. It didn’t last long. He promised to keep her safe, but every second, every minute spent with Korra was one less spent with his brother, and knowing the ill fate she nearly met made him shudder violently. Where was Bolin in all of this madness? What was Bolin doing? Was he all right? He couldn’t use his connections to find him and get them out of his situation this time.

The night was long and pitch-black.

Mako and Korra eventually emerged for the most part unscathed. Once they were able to finally leave, a burning, thrumming sensation zipped through his body, and when Mako flexed his arm, he knew his bending had returned. At the first juncture of streets, once Mako knew for sure Korra was safely on her way home, he moved along the side walk at a lumbering pace with his shoulders hunched and his hands buried in his pockets, yet keeping his eyes and ears pealed for any hint of disturbance. 

When he was finally standing in front of his apartment door, the teenager rose to his full height and exhaled. He’d spotted the twinkle of lights in the distance easily. That could only mean one thing: Bolin was home. Around the stitch in his side, Mako fumbled out a hand for his key to their shared apartment, not slowing down, and if anything hurrying up. His hands shook as he struggled to fit the key inside the lock. There was the telltale click, and then, Mako was pushing the door and waltzing inside. 

“Bolin?”

Mako slowly blinked his eyes, realizing how late it was, or rather how early, once he caught a glimpse of the clock. 5:30 AM? The sun would be rising soon. He’d really been out there all night? He shook his head, and refocused his attention on locating his brother. Mako checked the kitchen, and sure enough Bolin left his mark. There was a mess on the floor that made him smile, then frown disapprovingly. Despite how exhausted he was, despite not laying eyes on Bolin just yet, he was crossing the tiles to reach out for a rag. And then he was getting down onto his knees, and wiping it up. Instant ramen, huh? Figures. The stuff was disgusting, but Bolin was hopeless when it came to cooking on his own, and without Mako there to fix him food…Then, he was stiffly rising, tossing the rag into the sink, before heading into the living room. Lo and behold, there he was, his back to Mako. Why he was up instead of sleeping he didn’t know. 

“Bo…?” Mako allowed the question linger, let the sound of his voice saying his brother’s name sink into place, like dominoes tumbling with a delicate breath. He didn’t remember ever being this exhausted before in his life, and it probably was obvious with the way his voice sounded. Mako was well aware of how he looked: scratched up, bruised up, and his clothes worse for wear. If asked, he would lie. Mako’s mind was already made up on that. He didn’t know how to describe everything that happened to him that night anyway. It was still hard for Mako to digest in the aftermath. More importantly, there was no way he was going to worry Bolin more than he already had to have by coming home at such an inconceivable hour. Mako cleared his throat, and after glancing over the state of the living room, firmly stated, “You should be in your bed, asleep.”

[amorousbender]

Hearing his brother’s voice caused Bolin to turn around in a flash. A bright smile lit up his face as he saw the older boy. After the night he had just gone through, seeing the last family member he had left and who also only had him felt wonderful. In all his life, he had never come so close to death. Even while living on the streets, Mako had made sure the younger of the two ate first. He had always been looked out for and the only time trouble seemed to come around was when he did something foolish on his own. Still, he had been protected from harm and kept as far away from danger as possible. Some might take that as faulty parenting, but Mako wasn’t an actual parent nor did Bolin mind. He was glad he had such a caring and wonderful brother even if the guy did sometimes get too into the role of being a father or mother.

Staring at Mako, his smile faded just slightly once the surprise wore off. He had a rough night, but Mako didn’t look a lot better. Well, he didn’t have a cat like death scratch down his chest, so it could be said he looked a lot better. Still, the light little nicks along his body and the unkempt outfit he now wore was unusual. He was meant to have been at a party, not rolling around in the dirt like he had gotten in a scuffle. Such a thought brought a light amount of worry into his thinking as he wondered if Mako had been in a fight at the party. Considering he had been the one to drag his brother there only to leave right after sent a pang of guilt through his heart. Then again, maybe…nah, his brother was never that forward and he was pretty distant from girls. A fight seemed the only way. At least the other guy probably got the worst of judging by how Mako looked.

“You should be in your bed, asleep.”

“Really bro? That’s the first thing you say?” Bolin asked as a joking scowl adorned his face. “Maybe I had been sitting up all night waiting for you to get home. Then, when it is a nearly six in the morning, you arrive and say I should be in bed?” He asked with a smile forming. The joke was pretty obvious, but he couldn’t help stirring the pot some. A little humor was needed after tonight and he wasn’t exactly in the mood to dream of a crazed beast attacking him again. It was pretty odd for Mako to be getting home this late though. Granted he worked at night, tonight was supposed to be a break and offer some relaxation. That didn’t seem to have happened. Instead, trouble had brewed and he had been out trick or treating. Curious of it all, he couldn’t help trying to nudge and find out what happened.

“You manage to meet someone special at the party?” He asked with a smug grin knowing Mako’s track record with women. “She must have been some lady for you to stay out so late with.” There’s no way he could hold back from smiling broadly now. If any girl did manage to ensnare Mako for so long, she really would be a winner. He loved his brother to death, but the older boy just didn’t seem to make any time for romance. With their lives having slowed down and become less hunting for survival, Mako finally had the chance to find himself a girl. Whoever, she would be pretty amazing if she could get past his hardened outside shell. Once through that though, she would be lucky to have someone so protective and gentlemanly around. Part of him wondered just what kind a girl could actually get through to him and have him utter the words “I love you.”

[amorousbender]

So, this is actually a decent number of weeks old and I'm just now getting around to posting it. Sadly (maybe happily), it was made during all the drama and I just really wasn't up to posting anything after my rant. However, this art really did bring a giant smile to my face when I received it. Bolin and Orihme look so damn adorable together and Pabu would love to curly up on at least one of them while they slept. These two are I think my favorite couple of any character just because they are so lively and cheerful and would connect so well.

Thanks goes to lovelyrugbee for the image. She has some really nice art on her blog and did a great job with these two. ^_^

[amorousbender]

OOC: Really?

And screw you too Tumblr. First post I get back to RPing and you screw up the coding. Thank you so much...

[amorousbender]

A Close Call

Closing the door with a light thud, Bolin looked around the room. Raising an eyebrow in confusion, the teen looked next to the door and flicked the light switch to illuminate the area. “Maybe he is having a fun night,” the boy muttered before walking over to the couch. However, seconds away from resting his tired body, he remembered the dirty pants and bloody, tattered shirt. It really was a pity. He had worked so hard on his Aladdin outfit and now it was ruined. There was no way all the stains would come out of the white cloth. Then again, that might just make it look more authentic. The shirt might be able to be stitched up again as well. For now, he just wanted out of it. Walking into his room, Bolin grabbed a pair of shorts and a sleeveless white shirt. Both had their own tears but had been sown up over the years. Luckily, his growth had slowed to where he wasn’t constantly going through new clothes at a near tri-monthly rate. Removing his dirty clothes, Bolin glanced down and saw the still dried blood covering his chest. Tracing a hand along, he was amazed everything had happened how it had. He had been attacked by some vicious beast he couldn’t see and Orihime had saved him. There was no way he couldn’t swoon over that act of courage and then for her to go a step further and heal such a fatal injury. Never had he experienced or heard anything like it. Still, the blood and clothes were proof. Stepping into the shower for a quick wash, Bolin scrubbed off the blood and watched the water on the floor turn a bright crimson for a short few seconds. Rubbing his fingers cross, he could see no scars where the claws had slashed through skin. However, he could still remember the blaring pain that had followed and a tingling sense ran down his back. He had been so close to death tonight and he idly wondered how Mako would respond if he knew that. Would he reprimand him for going to a darkly-lit park alone with Orhime? Would he blame her? Would he even believe his story? That an invisible creature had attacked them and Orihime had obliterated it in a single strike? It was astounding thinking about it now.

Turning the water off, Bolin stepped out and quickly dried off before changing into his new clean clothes. Sighing in relief at the comfortable chill, he walked back into the main room and then the kitchen. A soft rumbling echoed from his stomach and he knew preparing a full meal would take too long. Grabbing a cup of ramen, the teen set to work making his food and after anxiously awaiting the microwave to reach zero, he quickly grabbed the scalding hot cup and yelped. Luckily, the food managed to land right side up and only spill a little. Too hungry to care for a little mess, Bolin carefully placed the bowl on a plate and walked over to the couch to sit. Mouth practically drooling, Bolin clicked on the TV and went to cooling down the warm soup by blowing along the top. Finally spooning up some of the delicious smelling liquid, the boy went about eating as he dazedly watched the screen. He wouldn’t be able to say what was being talked about in five minutes time, but it was an easy distraction. It allowed him to escape from his mind which was going crazy from the events of Halloween night. Glossed over eyes watched silently as he ate away until the spoon hit repeatedly at the bottom. Looking down, the boy whined at the loss of food. One bowl of ramen was not nearly enough to fill his stomach. Still, he was far too tired and comfortable to get up to fix anymore. With at least some food in his stomach and the sofa feeling quite pleasant, he soon began to feel the urges of sleep crawl up.

Yawning, Bolin set the empty bowl down and turned sideways to lie on the couch. While it wasn’t nearly as comfy as a bed, it was adequate enough for his exhausted body. Within seconds, the boy was knocked out asleep with one arm hanging off the make-shift bed and both feet jutting off the end. In a few more minutes, he was likely to be drooling from his wide open mouth. Luckily, no one else was there to hear the snoring erupting from his nose either. While the shower had managed to clear most of the dust which had flowed into him from the battle, the position he was now sleeping in did little to help his air pathway. Still, it would be a few hours before the male was up and feeling the effects of a bad bed.

*****

Jolting awake and nearly falling off the bed, Bolin caught himself in the nick of time. Breathing hard, the teen looked around with wide eyes as sweat dripped from his brow. Heart beating loud up to his ear, he jumped up and looked behind the couch. Still nothing. Realizing it was a dream, he dropped back down to the couch and sighed. “Looks like it will be awhile till that memory fades…” Glancing over at the bag of treats, Pabu laid silently, his body rising and falling with each short breath. What felt like a few minutes of sleep turned out to be hours and by now, a chill flowed through the room. Shivering slightly, Bolin turned towards the clock and blinked. “What the? 5:30? Why didn’t Mako wake me up to say he was home? I wanted to know how the party went.” Scoffing thinking his brother had left him to sleep on the couch, Bolin checked the older boy’s room and found…nothing. Looking back at his previous sleeping spot, he noticed the ramen cup was still there also. No way that would be in the same spot had Mako returned. “Where IS he?"

[timebenderss]

[amorousbender]

Stress

This is under a cut for a reason.

One of the most pain in the ass things to deal with. I deal with it in real life through college, work, and family. All things I don’t really give a shit about, but have to deal with cause of the rules of society. Then I joined AURP. A place I was invited into because I have been a fan of text RPing since before high school. It was a different setting then my battle RPs, but it made me into a better RPer, so I’m happy for that. RPing went pretty smoothly once I joined. Managed to hold off multiple threads and was enjoying myself a decent bit.

 Then I became a mod…and everything was still fun and enjoyable. I had slightly less time to RP, but still pulled it off pretty well. Myself and the other mods at the time turned this place around pretty well and it became, in my opinion, one of the most enjoyable places to RP. Constantly new ideas, great RPers, a thought of togetherness, and a place that only stressed me out at the worst of times. Even when it was just Mako-mun and I, it still wasn’t horrible. We pulled through, got a new mod team together, and were still coming up with ideas and making this place better. However, making AURP was apparently the bad turn when one would think it smart.

Not sure when it started, but this place has started to become the most stressful portion of my life. Even my job, where I’m crazy for a good hour and half on my feet and walking probably three or four miles a day is more relaxing than getting on AURP. Simple modding stuff like reserves and applications are pretty easy, except for people who can’t be assed to read the rules. I can do those in a cinch. It’s when shitty people decide to stir up drama. No respect for ideas and no respect for people. Modding and fandoms have seriously tainted my view of Tumblr to the point where this place is not what fans make it out to be. In fact, there are times I would rather deal with another four years of high school than bother getting on Tumblr for a day.

 All in all, my experience as a mod has quickly shown me how akin Tumblr is to just other internet crazy sites and real life. Explosive fandom fights cause no can respect other opinions. Constant hate on random people. Thieves all around in all forms. Backstabbing friends. So much porn I sometimes think I’m on 4Chan again. And very little kindness. Even here at AURP where I have praised family togetherness, I barely see much of it anymore. Some might say “Oh, Bolin, you’ve only seen the bad people. There are lots of good people too. Look, I’m good.” All I can really do is laugh at that because this place has made me more pessimistic than when I first joined. What I have nearly come to decide is that Tumblr is only good if you’re on here to see pictures and some news updates. Even then, if you like art, there’s a ton of people who are just like, “Oh, well, it’s the internet. Shit happens.” To those people, the day you make something and see it torn away from your hands, say like an original drawing or story you wrote, well shit, that’s life. Great job making Tumblr an extension of this world instead of an escape.

This rant has gone on long enough and it’s making me feel slightly, very slightly, better. Am I leaving Tumblr? I don’t know. Am I leaving AURP? That’s close. If something shitty happened in my life, I would be gone from here in a split second. Dealing with dramatic asses and people who can’t bother to read when joining an RP group makes me want to leave. Getting dealt that day after day after day and thinking that maybe it will stop for just a few months of peace, even a week of peace, has left me exhausted. It makes me want to go indie and just RP with friends and ignore every other person, good or not, because I don’t want to be disappointed again. Am I stepping down as a mod, but staying in the group? Lol, no. I’m not causing more stress on good people for my satisfaction. If I leave, I’m gone and I would advise them to do the same instead of dealing with the same crap we have been.

What is the point of running a group on a downward spinning internet site where the stress I feel outweighs any good that could be achieved?

[periwinklehairpins]

whose hearts are mountains

[periwinklehairpins]

The hands of the clock were steadily ticking, and time continued passing. When would Bolin make it here? He wasn’t late by any means. But in the bakery, Orihime was alone with only the sight of the raindrops sliding down the glass and rapidly slipping towards the dirt below to occupy her attention, same for the bread she was eating with a generous amount of honey. As much as she loved the rain, as much Orihime loved the honey-dipped bread, it was not as satisfying knowing she was only using them to measure the time and wait for the arrival of a person she regarded as a close friend, and now even, a fellow coworker at Tinker’s Delight! The environment would hopefully be more conductive to mirth and amusement after what happened earlier that week. In the space of days they went without seeing each other, she’d had time to gather up her thoughts and feelings.

No matter what, if permitted the chance, Orihime wanted to keep him in her life. Love was a wonderful emotion to experience and she would never wish to deny it from anyone. The love Bolin expressed to Orihime was not one she could return, however. It wouldn’t be fair of her to say anything else. At this point in her life, dating anyone was not utmost on her mind and would even be impossible, not the state she was in. Orihime considered it only yesterday when she flipped open her phone to read that untimely text message spelling out that Ichigo was attending the homecoming dance with Rukia. The surge of pain that threaded through her veins and choked her chest was unforgettable. It felt like a blade may have ruptured through her ribcage to tear her into two. Other things to her were important, like her job, her school, her friends, the safety of the town, but she was still just a seventeen year old girl who was in love.

Orihime was naive, but she was not blind. For years she entertained herself with girlish, romantic fantasies filled with Ichigo. They were recurring, strengthening and becoming more frequent as her fondness for Ichigo only grew. Her love for one of her closest friends was a constant element in her life encouraging her to try her hardest to better herself both as an individual and as a fighter. Try as she may, Orihime could not shake the jealousy that polluted her soul. As a young woman in love, she recognized immeasurable love when she saw it in others. The way Rukia inexplicably knew exactly what to do to awaken Ichigo’s spirit, it was intimidating. Shared glances, shared smirks, shared smiles, and Orihime’s view of her own self worth was distorted, because she was not a tiny-waisted, noble shinigami with sapphire eyes and an angelic halo of jet-black tresses. She was beyond Orihime, who was a mere slip of a mortal girl bound by flesh and uncertainty, just as surely as Rukia was bound to Ichigo in spirit and in heart. I want to be like her. I want to be strong. I want to be admirable. I want to be…-

In the end it never really mattered. She could wish to be more like this, more like that, but Orihime was Orihime and she was not Kuchiki Rukia. Rukia was a good friend of hers and easily earned that title and position in her life thanks to the many good deeds and formed camaraderie between the two. Even when Orihime left Karakura without so much as a goodbye and they reunited in the pet shop, Rukia did not push her away or wrinkle her face with disgust as Orihime cried mightily hard and dripped tears and snot all over her. She held her, and she whispered and she consoled Orihime much like the elder sister she never had growing up. Was it any wonder that Ichigo would choose her?

A sigh escaped Orihime’s lips. Was it any wonder why Orihime found the idea of a love confession to her unfair? Letting herself uselessly meander down such a self pitying thought process like that only furthered her resolve to not ever accept one. Rejection hurt, there was no denying that and not much she could do to cushion the blow rejection would deal out, but it beat lying or leading anyone on. That included, no it especially applied to Bolin. There was no way Orihime could ever do that to him. Her affection for him wouldn’t allow it. Today she did not know what was in store for Bolin and her, but she would do her best like always to make it not only clear how she felt but to make the encounter as least uncomfortable as possible. So when he entered the bakery, she blinked slowly, sweeping back into reality. Then, Orihime smiled wide and pearly bright.

“Huh? Oh, Bolin-san! It’s good to see you made it at last~!” she chirped, and Orihime really did mean it. She popped the last of the bread into her mouth, chewing around it and rubbing her hands together to free them of any leftover crumbs. Break time was over! There may not have been any customers to attend to, and doubtlessly would in this downpour, but she still had a job to do! Once she was finished with wiping her hands off, Orihime walked around the counter to where a medium-sized hinged door was. Pushing it open, she gestured for him to enter. Brown eyes perused Bolin’s dress attire, which consisted of a matching uniform but in a contrasting teal color and with long slacks, and instead of a pleated skirt which Orihime was wearing. His shoes, same for his pants were sodden with rain water, but Bolin looked to be in tip top shape and ready to go. And he was early! She couldn’t have felt more proud. He really pulled off the whole look too, an ideal employee at Tinker’s Delight ready to take on the day! “You look perfect!” Orihime gushed, clasping her fingers together and feeling totally overpowered with awe. If Mr. and Mrs. Tinker were here they would surely agree!

“Huh, oh, and yeah!” To Orihime, walking through the rain was a small, pretty much nonexistent price to pay if it meant her destination lead to her securing tasty, freshly made foods. Not everyone possessed a mindset like hers though! This was common place on days that were like this. The bakery would considerably be less crowded and business would be vastly slower. A couple customers with enough guts to brave the storm or whom were on their way elsewhere would maybe stop in to dry off and pay for their purchases of hot drinks and yummy treats, but for the most part it was like this until the weather let up. “I guess with how hard it’s coming down outside nobody wants to stop by for pastries. As delicious as it all is, not everybody likes to deal with the rain.” Sheepishly, Orihime commented, “Personally I don’t mind it! Sometimes when the mood strikes I even go for a walk outside, as long as I have an umbrella with me.”

“Are the Tinkers in the back?”

“A-Ah, no - ” Here came the part where Orihime was to fill in Bolin on what was the plan for today, or at least for the rest of their shared time here at the bakery. Her explanation came out long but truthful to what happened. “It’s just us! They went out on a last minute run to deliver a cake for a little boy’s ninth birthday party. The order only came in yesterday so…They really had to hustle to gather the ingredients and make sure everything was ready! And then with the rain, they had to leave a couple hours early. Mr. Tinker usually goes by himself, but Mrs. Tinker insisted she go too! He has trouble with directions so she wanted to make sure the drive went smoothly as possible and nothing went wrong. The rain only made her worry more.” While immersed in her explanation, Orihime felt a jovial smile curve her pink lips and let out a light chuckle at the mental visual prompted. Mr. Tinker would be grumbling behind the wheel as Mrs. Tinker faithfully commanded him on where to turn or where to generally go in that rarely but surely booming voice of hers - but it was all out of good intentions!

They were a really cute in their own way, not to mention an inspiring old couple with a banter that belied how long their relationship stood the test of time. Orihime had a lot of reason to respect them, for many reasons including how long they stayed together.

“It’s just us!” Orihime repeated loudly, offering a bemused glance from beneath her eyelashes up at Bolin. “Eheheh. Mr. Tinker told me it was my responsibility to train you on everything you needed to know. So I promise, I’ll take good care of you!” This was followed by an innocent smile. Her expression brightened as she became more wrapped up in her assigned role; not that Orihime would not have done everything to help Bolin on the job. What kind of friend would she be otherwise? But knowing Mr. Tinker personally requested she do this did wonders for her enthusiasm and feeling of authority. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing! Ne, this doesn’t look like a face that would lie to you, riiight? So, now! First thing’s first… What experience do you have working at a place like this, Bolin-san? I’ll need to know what we’re working with before we can progress from here. And be sure to not leave out anything, please.”

[amorousbender]

Orihime’s smile was all he needed to ignore the soaking wet clothes. Seeing her mouth curve up, her cheeks expand, and eyes brighten with recognition made him feel as if he was in a fairy meadow with the sun bright overhead. Her little treat of honey and bread only gave her more the appearance of a fae princess. Even if this day was the day his confession was rejected, he would be unable to forget that smile. Some might consider it too soon, others impractical, but he had fallen head over heels for this girl and it wouldn’t be a notion he would regret. As much as a rejection would hurt, he could still be friends with her. With her kind of personality, it seemed impossible to dislike her, though he was sure there were some very uncool people who did.

“You look perfect!”

Normally, her words would have brought a grin of pure arrogance upon his lips. His confidence and ego would bolster and he would surely be playfully smug the entire day. Being called perfect was something that already made him feel as if the world would gawk at his amazingness, but to hear them from her made it seem all the more genuine and pride-boosting. Yet, for all that, he could only stare at her as the words went through one ear and out the other. Instead, his eyes were transfixed on the rest of the uniform she wore. He should have expected it with the fashion in Japan and the grandeur of such a fine establishment, but the thought hadn’t actually crossed his mind. Now, he was gazing upon her full form and the skirt that continued down to her knees.

It wasn’t his first time seeing her in a skirt, not at all. In fact, the Ouran outfit itself was partially a skirt. Compared to the one on her other school uniform, it was longer as well. Still, seeing her in one that actually showed a fair amount of her skin left his throat dry. It was definitely fitting for a girl in such a place and not perverted in the least. Though, he wouldn’t be surprised if some old pervert had tried to use a mirror on his foot to look up it. Luckily, having met Mr. Tinker, it didn’t seem like he was such a man. Besides, he and Mrs. Tinker, for all their little bickering, appeared to be a perfectly happy couple. Plus, the dress wasn’t designed by some nasty dude. It was fashionable and cute and perfect for Orihime. Mouth dry both literally and metaphorically, all he could do was grin after meeting her chocolate hues.

“Personally I don’t mind it! Sometimes when the mood strikes I even go for a walk outside, as long as I have an umbrella with me.”

Her thoughts about the rain at first surprised him and then didn’t. She was an odd girl and for her to like the rain was not all that unexpected. While he wasn’t overly fond of it, he didn’t mind sitting by a window and watching it. The way water dripped and splashed could keep him endlessly entertained. It had to. After all, he and Mako would have very little else to do when stuck under a make-shift hut as it poured down in the city streets. Still, while many viewed rain and water as calming, he still remembered the times Mako and himself were terrified for the lives when disgusting sewer water would flood the alleyways. Those days were long gone, but he still preferred heights even now. Yet, no matter how afraid he was of flooding waters, he couldn’t help but admire mother nature’s ability to make something both incredibly relaxing and destructive.

“Might we go for a walk in the rain some other day then?” Bolin asked a small grin as he looked at her. The streets of China still had him scared of moving about during a storm, but Bunkyo seemed a lot cleaner and more safe. Besides, as long as there was no thunder and lightning, it could be quite a fun experience. Just the two of them walking under an umbrella all close and keeping warm together. After which, they could return back to her apartment for a cup of hot chocolate with red bean paste and then…he was getting carried away again. Such an intimate thought slowly dissolved the grin and started to lower his joy of working with her. She still liked that other guy, not him. Luckily, she told him that they were alone before he could let out a sigh.

“Eheheh. Mr. Tinker told me it was my responsibility to train you on everything you needed to know. So I promise, I’ll take good care of you!”

The way she looked at him from below her eyelashes and talked made his heart flutter once more. How could a girl as lovely and nice as this not have a boyfriend yet? How did that orange haired dude not immediately ask her out? Was he so inept that he failed to take notice of her impeccable charm? He was lucky to not only have her as a friend, but now a co-worker. She was smart and incredibly helpful. Plus, she was amazing at baked treats. The Tinker’s really had picked the perfect attendant. With her watching over him, he was sure he would learn the ways of this store faster than the streets of Beijing. Not only that, but if they were asked to bake sometime, he might actually learn how to use the oven correctly. Mako would be happy about that.

“Trust me, I know what I’m doing! Ne, this doesn’t look like a face that would lie to you, riiight? So, now! First thing’s first… What experience do you have working at a place like this, Bolin-san? I’ll need to know what we’re working with before we can progress from here. And be sure to not leave out anything, please.”

Orihime’s question would have had him laughing heartedly had it been from anyone else. What experience did he have? None. He had been raised on the streets learning how to live. It was doubtful lock picking and animal circus tricks would be useful here. Well, maybe he could talk to the Tinkers about having a circus performance with Pabu outside sometime. That might draw in the customers. He would just have to make sure Pabu didn’t raid the place. If the fire ferret were to wander into the store, he might think himself in heaven and leave with his belly filled three times the size. That wasn’t the point here. He had no skill sets for this job. Luckily, Orihime would be teaching him.

“Ah, about that, this is my first job,” Bolin said scratching his cheek from light embarrassment. Orihime, he had figured out, had been working for a decent amount considering her age. Compared to her, she was somebody who could manage a business while he was just being brought in. “I’m sure I’ll be able to learn quickly with you teaching me though.” This time, he gave a large smile hoping she would notice the compliment. “Besides, how hard can it be to attend to a cash register, right?” He asked, though having no idea how the machine actually worked. To him, you just hit a few buttons, put money in, and gave some out. For now, he would just follow and watch what she did.

[amorousbender]

In Need of Directions

[cannymechanic-blog]

Asami Sato wasn’t exactly an expert on Spica’s campus. She lived mostly on her father’s estate, only going to school when it was necessary for a class or to work in the labs on occasion. Consequently, she knew only a few of the campus’s many buildings. It was a beautiful place, however, and she often found herself gazing out of a window during a course or after a few hours in the lab. Today, she found herself finishing one of her courses a bit early - a perfect excuse to head back to the Sato estate early as well on such a nice day.

She’d nearly made it to the lot where her scooter was parked when she spotted him - a younger boy who looked thoroughly distressed. Asami vaguely recognized his outfit as the uniform for high school students at Ouran, supposedly a rival school to Spica. The heiress had little investment in this rivalry; she was more likely to participate in a good competition between two companies than two schools. The boy looked almost childlike in his distress, so much so that Asami couldn’t help but smile good-naturedly to herself despite the situation.

She observed several Spica students passing by the boy, even snickering at him in his obvious anguish. It was less than impressive behavior, and provided yet another reason that Asami preferred not to interact with many of the students at her school. Wealthy as she may have been, she didn’t quite fit in with the personalities of the other students in her social class - her mother had taught her better than that.

In the most helpful and hopefully comforting voice possible, she approached the young, pacing boy with a friendly smile. “You look like you could use a hand. What’s on your mind?”

[amorousbender]

The emergence of some students from a nearby building only increased his anxiety. How would he ever find Mako if everyone was heading for the front gate all at once? He had hoped to make it to his brother before any classes had let out. At least if he was nearby his brother’s classroom, he could catch him. In hindsight, that was a pretty bad idea. Still, he needed to find Mako quickly and this crowd wasn’t really helping. Luckily, as the seconds of him staring around in bewilderment passed, the group of students dispersed and he learned that it had only been a class let out early. That was a relief. It meant he still had time to find Mako.

With that relief came a bit of hesitation. Snickers being heard over the soft pats of squeaky clean shoes dropped his confidence a notch. Even after attending Ouran, he wasn’t accustomed to being around incredibly rich kids. At Ouran, he wore the uniform and kept up his manners enough that people might think he had noble blood, but at Spica, he was being looked upon as a peasant once more. All because his clothing was different. It was depressing really. These kids were supposed to being trained for the world and to become leaders, yet they still carried prejudices against another school. To them, going to Ouran was a reason for contempt and insults. How would those people act in real life once in a boss’ seat?

“You look like you could use a hand. What’s on your mind?”

Caught completely off guard, Bolin nearly jumped out of his skin. Turning to find the feminine voice, he was awe-struck for a moment. Ouran had its fair share of pretty girls, but so too did Spica. A small grin formed on his lips that his brother was now in a relaxed environment where he could actually date. They were taken care of and thus Mako could put a little more attention with the opposite gender. Maybe later in the day, he could try to give his older brother a few pointers for picking up girls. Only as he pictured a giddy Mako surrounded by females did he realize how creepy his grin must have looked. Wiping it away, he stood up more proud and tried to wash away his originally helpless look.

“Ah, sorry, I was just trying to find someone. I thought I could on my own, but it seems I have gotten lost. Everything here looks the same.” Looking up at one of the many tall school buildings, he found himself using an arm to shield away the light. Who in the world did they hire to polish all those windows to make them so reflective? He felt like if he weren’t inside soon, the sun itself might begin to toast him. “Might you know your way around this campus?” Bolin asked, hoping she had been here long enough to know the layout.

[amorousbender]

Kazu and Bolin - Horrible Timing

[stealth-jet-archive]

 Kazu wasn’t feeling so hot himself. Because it had been raining all week, he wasn’t able to ride his Air Treks and the puddles on the ground would tie him down for another day. Not to mention the absence of his boyfriend and financial issues that came with Christmas was annoying him.

 He gave up trying to manage his money (and his temper) by heading out for a walk. He wasn’t really thinking of anything. Thinking usually just made him depressed, and he didn’t really need that at the moment.

 The blond attempted to eat some ramen at the Ramen So Wicked It’s To Die For place Shinichi showed him, but he wasn’t particularly hungry so he packed it up and headed out again.

   Unfortunately, he wasn’t focused on where he was headed and he had been too late to notice a ferret like creature in his path. The creature yelped when he accidentally place pressure onto the poor animal’s tail. Generally, Kazu would panic and apologize, but instead he muttered, “Fucking rat.” and stepped around it.

 Kazu didn’t really think much about the creature when a terrified, “PABU!” resonated from somewhere to the side. The blond glanced up at a raven-haired male who seemed rather upset that Kazu had stepped on…Pabu.

 ”Watch him more closely.” He sounded meaner than he meant to. He had a Chihuahua (who was currently staying with his sister) and he knew that small pets could easily get trampled when someone wasn’t looking close enough. “Or you’ll end up with a flattened ferret.”

[amorousbender]

Seeing Pabu’s tail get stepped on caused his body to stop in mid-motion. The screech of pain struck a chord in his heart. He had seen Pabu hurt once, but that had been a decent while ago. Back then was for similar reasons as now. The small creature had been protecting him. Then, he had been surrounded by delinquents and the animal gave him enough anger to start punching. This time, Pabu was merely trying to do what he hadn’t been able to and paid the price. Had he not been held back by that ridiculous rebel group, he would have retorted with more wit than that father had heard in his privileged life. However, just like back then, he wouldn’t let a crime against his small friend pass without a reaction. Even if it meant the threat of police.

“Watch him more closely,”

Those simple four words caused his already rushing blood to increase. Who was that man to tell him such a thing? He had been watching Pabu. He had seen the teen about to step without paying attention and had yelled out. It was this jerk who hadn’t been watching his step or heard the distressed call in time. Of course, the next few words didn’t help the situation either. Saying Pabu could have been hurt more out of incompetence really forced his face into a scowl. It was an odd look for his mouth and eyes and anyone who knew him would be surprised. For such a usually friendly guy, his mood was as dark as the clouds above. How dare he threaten his precious friend’s life.

“Maybe you should watch where you walk more else your face get flattened.” Anger and bitterness were infused in each word. The entire week accumulated to this day and the interaction with the spoiled brat and jerk father had left him broiled. If this guy didn’t step down first, Bolin was sure to be unable to control his fists. Pabu had been injured and was likely off huddled up for a few moments. Bolin had always kept him protected ever since finding him in that trash can and now the small fire ferret was unaccustomed to pain. It was likely a forgotten memory would send the small pet to a place of hiding until he deemed the area safe. That would only happen once this guy left.

“How about you walk on outta here and this time watch your footing. No need to cause anyone else pain.”

[amorousbender]

OOC: Woooot!

Can I just say how awesome our Orihime is? She took her own time to create such a great blog, find the best images, and add the perfect song. Thanks to her, I now have a new theme and I'm super happy. She created my Christmas one and has created this one. She really is nice and helpful like Orihime! ^_^

[amorousbender]

OOC: Replies

Alrighty, gonna be working on replies soon. ^_^ I got Asami and Kazu coming up. Then I got a drabble I'll be working on as well. It'll be a little similar to one of Mako's own drabble that had lots of emotions. Hopefully I too can capture some of those emotions as Mako-mun is far better with them than me. XD

Woops, forgot to add in the most important detail. >_> I'll be working on them, but first I gotta head out for just a bit. Shouldn't be too long though. ^_^

[amorousbender]

OOC: Sleep Sleep

Alright, I have stayed up far too long already and actually wanna have this weekend to do stuff and RP some. XD So, I will be going to sleep now.

Kazu, I should for sure be replying to you tonight sometime after I wake up. Work has finally died down a little and I really wanna do more action with Bolin. So, yeah, a reply to our thread should finally be made tonight. ^_^

And here's a random pic of a stuffed Pabu:

[amorousbender]

A real fire ferret, just for you.

Woops. Published without responding. XD

Anyways...YAAAAAAAAAY!!!! My very own Pabu!

[amorousbender]

Hi~! Have a happy new year! May your year be filled with fluffy Bohime, lots of fun modding, and good health!

Woot, that would be awesome. I really hope this year around I can reply to BoHime faster. I srsly sucked at it last year and would take days to respond and that's not too good for a ship. XD But yeah, I plan on there being more BoHime, and not just writing. ^_^

As for modding, well, that's always interesting. XD Hopefully less drama this time around.

And yay! Good health is always nice to have. XD Being sick sucks as I'm sure Mako-mun has found out...

Thanks for the cute, quick anon though. It's really awesome to see these messages. ^_^