words, words

Hey! I'm alice, and this is my writing blog! I'm hoping this blog will help keep me motivated, because with every word I write I improve. Feedback is always appreciated!

[sinnamonspiceandeverythingnice]

I did a piece in the @shiningheartzine! Yall should totally check the zine out; everyone did such a wonderful job! I cried over it. Multiple times. https://archiveofourown.org/works/16603499 And a huge shoutout to @giftedsun for organizing this! She worked super hard to make sure it was a success!

[cuttlefishcollusion]

Some screenplay-type scenes for a game I’m working on got cut, so I figured I’d post them here! Late draft quality.

Scene 1

Background: Academy, local terrain below it

Characters: Blair, Juniper

Summary: Blair and Juniper are in the academy with graduation fast approaching. They discuss the rumors they’ve heard about impending conflict, and the consequential likely deployment. The two express their desire to stay together.

JUNIPER (triumphant): And… Hah! I rolled 11! That’s three damage to your castle.

BLAIR (grimace): That’s three... out of three… maybe I can-

JUNIPER: Nope, you’re in a corner! Just admit it, I’m the better strategist.

BLAIR (mock angry): Hardly, I was winning that entire match.

BLAIR: I don’t know how you managed that, honestly.

NARRATOR: The two continue bantering over their game until there’s a lull in the conversation. You lean in and drop your voice to a whisper.

BLAIR: Did you hear about [Velgari, unless playing velgari, then Tsubin]?

JUNIPER: Nothing concrete, most of it probably exaggerated.

BLAIR: You know Anoka? She runs the Clearwater Bakery? She told me yesterday that both of her kids were called back home. In not so many words, conscripted.

JUNIPER (curious): Anoka? Isn’t she [If not playing velgari: “Velgaran? They have regional conflicts from time to time don’t they?”. If playing velgari: “Tsubin? They have mandatory military service, don’t they?”]

BLAIR (smile): So you do pay attention in classes besides tactics!

JUNIPER (mock angry):

BLAIR: But it’s true, they do. It could be coincidence. But with everything else going on…

JUNIPER: Well, the brass will let us know soon enough.

NARRATOR: Juniper’s voice quickens with excitement.

JUNIPER: Getting to see action this early in our careers is a real treat! You better not blow it - winding up as my subordinate would be pretty embarrassing.

BLAIR (smile): You? My CO? Come on, we both know you’re gonna mouth off and get yourself blacklisted.

BLAIR: It would be nice to be together though. After all these years I don’t think I could trust any other strategist to have my back.

JUNIPER (smile): You know they can’t put all the rising stars on the same force. Strategists aren’t _that_ common.

NARRATOR: Juniper is suddenly serious.

JUNIPER: This isn’t the sort of job you get old in.

BLAIR: Hey, we both knew what we were getting into when we came here.

NARRATOR: A clock tower sounds in the distance

BLAIR: it’s getting late, wanna play one more and call it a night?

JUNIPER (smile): You’re on!

NARRATOR: It would be several hours before either of them slept.

Scene 2

Background: Office

Characters: Blair, Bruno

Summary: Bruno calls Blair in, tells them that conflict is brewing. Superior then gives the player a choice of which country they want to be deployed in. Blair explains their decision, Bruno cautions them and gives some advice.

NARRATOR: Bruno has just called you into his office. He looks tired, but smiles as you enter.

BRUNO: Blair, good to see you. Sit down, close the door behind you.

BRUNO: Permission finally came down to tell you this: You’re being deployed. Everyone is, really.

NARRATOR: Blair tries to look surprised.

BLAIR (surprised): Wow, conflict, who’s it with this time?

NARRATOR: Bruno looks away, avoiding your eyes.

BRUNO: That’s actually why I called you here. I put in a good word for you, and general Sweyn agreed to let you pick a force to lead.

BLAIR (surprised): Really? That’s awfully thoughtful of her.

BRUNO (smile): Your name carries more weight than you realize, Blair. The generals expect quite a bit from you.

BRUNO: You’ve been assigned to lead a distraction force. The general plan is for you to divert our foes’ attention while a primary force of, ah, less expendable-

BLAIR (mock angry):

BRUNO: It’s the truth! Anyways, the main force will be moving… in a different direction.

BLAIR (curious): Oh? Am i not trusted with our esteemed generals’ secret plans?

BRUNO: I can tell you where we’re going. [Direction of the center of the continent]. I don’t know why we’re going there. Officially it’s defensive maneuvers in response to [Velgari’s, unless velgari, then Tsubin’s] recent mobilization.

BLAIR (suspicious): That seems like kinda the wrong direction.

BRUNO (grimace): All I know is what I’ve been told.

BRUNO: I’ll give you a moment to think about where you want to be deployed, but I do need your decision tonight. They’re expecting your response sent by tomorrow.

(Cut to choice screen, with pros and cons of each choice bulleted out. Blair lays out their reasoning, Bruno points out some drawbacks, but approves)

BRUNO: Either way, watch your back out there. It’s easy to forget, but even the smallest of engagements feels nothing like a practice skirmish.

BLAIR: I’ll be safe and I’ll keep my units safe, don’t worry. We’ll crush any [target country player just picked demonym] forces that come after us.

BRUNO: I trust you. Just remember you’re there to draw their attention, not martyr yourself taking out ten [target demonym]s for every [your country demonym].

NARRATOR: With that reminder Bruno bids you goodnight. You return to your room, mind racing.

[sinnamonspiceandeverythingnice]

You never really spent much time thinking about the future. It wasn’t as though it wasn’t important. It just… wasn’t really a priority? The future was gonna happen when it happened, the way it happened, and there was nothing anyone could do about that.

Riko changed all that. Suddenly the future was so complicated. There were so many questions. At first, the questions were confused and frustrated and, you admitted it, jealous. Who was this girl? Why did chika like her so much? Why did you get all twisted up when chika took her hand? And most importantly: what was the best way to ditch her?

And then aqours happened. It was more than just you and chika and kanan. The questions were still all of those things from before, but even more so. They all became closer and it was clear riko liked you… but did she like like you? Did she like like chika? Was she going to stay after she found the confidence she was searching for? What was going to happen to aqours at the end of the year?

And, perhaps most importantly, did riko want to kiss you with her stupidly soft lips?

That was a while ago.

Now… now the questions aren’t like those. But they’re just as hard. The most obvious is college. Where? Close to riko? With riko? And what about after that? Of course, you would never forget aqours. But the currents of life had a way of dragging people apart. Would you and riko stay together? Did riko even want to stay together?

There are a lot of questions, some still without answers, some that can’t be answered.

But when it’s just you and riko twined together like this, the questions fade and the answers matter less. In these moments, the universe itself is an answer enough.

[cuttlefishcollusion]

You slammed her up against the wall. Riko felt the wind knocked out of her, both by the impact and by the elbow digging into her stomach, forcing her up on her tiptoes. Riko gulped. She felt a twinge of genuine fear as she met You’s eyes, ablaze and way too close to hers. But any concern was quickly blotted out by how much she enjoyed this. She loved pushing You’s buttons and seeing what got to her - there was something delicious about the rage twisting her features. She bet Chika didn’t get to see this side of her.

“I swear to god,” You spat, “say that again and I’ll snap your neck. Idols are her dream. You’re a throwaway pastime.” Chika had proved to be a very good sore spot to push on. She would have to try this again in the future.

You’s face was pressed close. She could feel her breath on her cheek, hot and uneven. Riko didn’t know exactly how far You would go. But hey, only one way to find out~

“Oh come on, you know it’s just a passing phase, right?”

Sparks flashed across Riko’s vision. Man, she hasn’t even seen You raise her hand to hit her. But yep, there was the sting, a moment delayed. The pressure of You’s elbow doubled, forcing a gasp out her.

“Is that really the best you’ve got?” Riko managed, “She’ll move on from idols, just like she’ll move on from you.” Okay, so it was a low blow. She knew it was something You was afraid of. But god, if You wasn’t so hot when she was pissed they wouldn’t have this problem.

“Shut up shut up shut up!” You shouted. Were there tears in her eyes? Oh. Maybe she’d gone a bit too far.

She felt You’s fingers around her neck. Holy shit. Definitely too far.

She grabbed at You’s wrist, but her grip was steel. Curse her defined, sexy, swimming muscles. The hand jamming into her voice box was seriously uncomfortable. You wouldn’t actually hurt her, right? Looking down at her face, she couldn’t be sure.

You smashed their lips together. Okay okay, this was more familiar territory. The kiss was as painful as nice, but that was kinda the point. A second later You bit down on her lip, hard. Hard enough to draw blood. Riko resisted the urge to twist away; it would only make things worse. She tried to protest, but it died as a choked gasp.

You broke off and pushed her to the floor. Riko was too light headed to resist, but she processed the dull clunk as she hit the futon. Ouch. She had a moment to be glad You hadn’t thrown her directly on the hardwood, and then You was on top of her, pinning her legs.

They both paused for a moment, breath ragged, Riko’s head swimming and You staring down at her like a lion deciding how best to finish off its crippled prey.

She moved in close again, close enough for Riko to see the sweat beading on her upper lip, close enough to see her dark glaring eyes.

You’s mouth was pressed up against her her ear. She tensed, expecting another bite, but there was no pain. Instead, You hissed, “Riko Sakurauchi, I’m gonna make you scream.” Riko shivered in anticipation.

[cuttlefishcollusion]

Just a vent fic I wasn’t gonna post

0.6k youchikariko

“You, wait!”

She slammed the door open, running out into the dark. The storm that had already seemed loud from inside the warmth of Chika’s house was overwhelming. Howling rain fell in a torrent, blinding her, chilling her instantly. The only illumination came from a streetlamp flickering pitifully against the gale and the crackling lightning striking the surface of the bay.

I. I gotta go somewhere.

You tore down the road trying to find somewhere out of the storm, but mostly just trying to get away. Where? Where could she go? She kept running.

Her foot landed on a rock.

“Shit!”

She hung in the air for a moment, time slowing just enough to let her appreciate what she’d done, and then she was sliding down the sidewalk. She was too numb to feel the pain, but she could tell at the very least her hands and knees were messed up, probably her ankle too. You lay there, letting the rain flow down her body. If she wasn’t soaked through before, she sure was now.

“I should probably move. A car could come by,” she thought to herself slowly, making no move to get up. She was starting to feel warm-numb. It was kind of nice. The lighting kept up its erratic dance, casting sharp shadows over her whenever it struck.

“Youuuu! Where are you! You’ll freeze out here!” She could hear Chika and Riko taking turns calling her name in the distance. Did she say in the distance? They seemed like they were near. No, she was pretty sure they were far off. Thunder boomed loud and close enough to elicit a twinge of fear in her. This was a real storm.

“There she is!” You blinked and they were next to her. “You! God, I was worried we’d lost you,” said Riko. You thought it was Riko. It sounded like Riko. She didn’t respond. They both knelt down beside her, “You, I’m sorry,” said Chika. Still nothing. Riko placed a hand on You’s back and, seeing no protest, rubbed in the small circles that usually helped calm her down. You took a shuddering breath, her brain shivering back to life.

Chika laid down in the small river that used to be the road, trying to read You’s expression, but she was blank. “Please come back, You? It’s so miserable out here, you’re gonna get sick for sure.” Still nothing. “I… I know, I know I’m dumb and I forget and I make mistakes. I’m sorry. Please come back, we love you. Chika started to doubt herself, “Please, You, I understand if you hate me. Just p-please come back”. Chika was crying now. She couldn’t see through the rain, but she was sure.

You took another shuddering breath. Chika was crying, it was her fault. She hated this, she hated being upset, she hated upsetting her, she hated it so much. “I don’t hate you. I couldn’t. You hold me steady. When I’m drifting you keep me attached to the world.” You laid down next to her, the water somehow still managing to make her shiver, as though she could get any colder. “You keep me real, Chika. I know you’re doing your best. I’m sorry, I am too, I’m trying to get better,” Aaaand now I’m crying too. She hugged Chika tight and Chika hugged her back and they sobbed and sobbed over with Riko’s gentle reassurances in the background until they were both completely worn out.

“Come on you two, let’s head back. We’re all gonna get pneumonia if we stay out here much longer,” said Riko. The other two girls mumbled their agreement, and they started their trek back towards the promise of warmth in the distance.

[sinnamonspiceandeverythingnice]

YouRiko enemies –> lovers ch. 1/7

Word count: 1.5k

You sighed and shuffled in her seat again, trying fruitlessly to find a position where the wooden stool didn’t dig into her. The three hour mark was always the worst. Long enough for her butt to hurt, but not long enough for it to go numb. Honestly she didn’t hate working the cash register, but on slow days like these it could be a bit mind numbing.

The bell hanging off the door chimed lightly, announcing the entrance of another guest. “Welcome to Uchiura aquarium!” You said as she looked up from the not (strictly) work related dolphin video she was watching. Her greeting was pretty reflexive at this point, but she still worked hard to keep a smile in her voice and on her face.

Keep reading

[sinnamonspiceandeverythingnice]

The sun was just peeking up over the bay, creating blinding bursts in the waves’ gentle crests. Chika and Riko sat on a low stone wall watching the world happen.

“Hey Riko?” Asked Chika, breaking their silence. Riko paused playing with Chika’s hair for a half-moment but then continued, deciding the sensation wouldn’t be too distracting for either of them.

“Mmm?” She looked down at Chika, who was lying with her head in Riko’s lap. The warm sun, the warm Chika. Was this what it felt like to be content? Her girlfriend glanced up and Riko felt her heart flutter. God, she was weak!

“Do you remember the first time we watched the sunrise here?” asked Chika.

“How could I forget? I’d be easier to forget my name.”

Chika giggled at the hyperbole, snuggling in closer, “If you did I’d make you remember. I’d whisper ‘Riko’ until it came back to you.”

She glanced away as her heart did that thing again. Chika made a little noise. An apology. Riko realized she had been quiet for too long while her brain struggled to form a coherent, or even just grammatical, response. “Sorry,” she said pulling Chika into a loose hug (made awkward by their angle). “I just love you too much.” Chika giggled again, doing her best to lean up into the hug.

“The first time we watched the sunrise here,” Chika persisted, “That was the moment I realized I want to be with you forever.”

Damn it Chika. Riko could feel the sting of tears welling up. She scooped her girlfriend up in a kiss, hoping to hide her tears.

It was no use. Chika felt two little splashes on her face. Oops. Well. As long as she was making her girlfriend cry in a good way things were probably alright.

[sinnamonspiceandeverythingnice]

“You’re beautiful,” said Chika.

“Huh?” Replied Riko, looking up from the book she was reading. Riko paused the already soft music they were studying to.

“You’re beautiful!” Chika repeated herself.

“Wha, what, why?” Riko sputtered. To be honest she thought that was what Chika had said, but it was so unexpected she doubted herself.

Riko turned away to hide her blush. What gave Chika the right to be so sweet? As Riko’s gears spun, Chika, spying an opportunity, leaned across the table and kissed her on the conveniently available cheek. Riko almost jumped at the unexpected affection. “Chika, please,” she said, smushing a crayfish plush into her face and melting into the floor, “my heart can only take so much.”

“I’m sorry, you just looked so kissable!” said Chika. Seeing that the Riko puddle across from her showed no signs of moving, Chika gently laid down beside her girlfriend and peeled back the crustacean concealing her.

“Sorry if that was too much,” said Chika.

“It’s okay. Just please, give me a little more warning next time,” said Riko.

“Okay,” Chika paused. “Would you mind if I kissed you again?”

Riko took a deep breath, trying to diffuse some of the tension in her body. “Go ahead,” she said after a pause. The both smiled as their lips met.

[cuttlefishcollusion]

“Oh my god it’s cold in here,” said Nozomi, following Eli into her apartment. Nozomi paused and glanced around. It was very Eli, neatly stacked dishes visible through her windowed cupboards and a colorful “You’ve got this!” spelt out in fridge magnets.

“I’m sorry, I just turned the heat on,” Eli called from around the corner. When had she had time to get over there? Nozomi followed the sound of her girlfriend into the living room. Eli was sprawled out across the couch, bags piled up against it.

“It hasn’t been that long of a day Elichi,” Nozomi said, moving over to Eli and kissing her on the forehead. Eli reached up, trying to catch Nozomi in a backwards hug. It was a bad angle, but Nozomi relented, letting herself be pulled in. “Being home is nice,” Eli mumbled into Nozomi, “I can let my guard down.”

“Careful Elichi,” said Nozomi, “you wouldn’t want a big bad wolf to sneak in and eat you up.”

“Mmmm,” Nozomi felt eli smile against her. “I think it’s too late to escape this wolf’s claws,” said Eli.

Nozomi kissed her girlfriend one last time before standing up and stretching. “I’m gonna put on some tea. Want any?” asked Nozomi. “Sure, sleepytime sounds nice.” Eli whispered, eyes closed.

Nozomi made her way to the kitchen, humming to herself. She put a kettle on the stove and set about rummaging through Eli‘s tea collection. It was a lot neater than hers, but to be fair Nozomi was more of a coffee person anyways. Tea bags located, Nozomi set out two mugs and waited for the kettle to boil. She loved the way the sunset streamed through the kitchen windows, bouncing off the countertops and scattering the room with its orange glow. The kettle’s harsh crescendo (always her least favorite part) dragged her back to the task at hand. She poured two cups of water and brought them back to the living room to seep. Not wanting to disturb Eli, Nozomi sat on the couch’s arm and gently stroked eli’s hair while she slept.

Just as she was was beginning to consider the practicalities of carrying Eli to bed, her eyes fluttered open.

“I’m sleepy,” mumbled Eli.

“I gathered,” said Nozomi, “Come on, let’s get you up and into bed.”

She saw Eli hesitate for a moment, probably considering trying to convince Nozomi to join her on the couch, but realistically it was way too small for the both of them. Nozomi led her sleepy girlfriend upstairs and into her bedroom, but then paused, unsure of herself.

“What’s up?” Eli asked.

“Um. Do you have a spare sleeping bag? I didn’t bring one…” Nozomi trailed off, looking away.

“Don’t be silly, I’m not gonna invite my girlfriend to sleep over and then force her to sleep on the ground”

Nozomi sighed internally. “Thank you,” she said. For understanding. For always making her feel loved. As Nozomi put on her PJs, she heard a fwump that was, presumably, the sound of Eli hitting the mattress. She stifled a laugh, Eli was always this way when she pushed herself too hard.

Nozomi could’ve sworn she wasn’t being especially slow, but an impatient “Nozomiiiii” coming from the mattress suggested someone felt otherwise. “Okay, okay. Just a second,” Nozomi flipped the lights off, and laid down next to Eli.

“Hey Nozomi, if you’re up for it I’d love to cuddle,” said Eli.

“Well… Sure, that’d be nice,” said Nozomi

“You know,” said Eli, extracting one of her arms from the comforter’s embrace to boop nozomi on the nose, “that means you actually have to join me under the blankets.” After a bit of undignified rolling Nozomi managed to find her way under the covers.

“Geeze Nozomi, you’re so cold!” said Eli.

“It’s a good thing I’ve got you to keep me warm,” replied Nozomi, snuggling in even closer. Eli sighed, resigning herself to hot water bottle duty, and wrapping her arms tight around Nozomi. Eventually they warmed up enough to be comfortable, and Nozomi could feel Eli’s breathing growing deeper and more regular.

“I love you,” whispered Nozomi.

“Love you too,” Eli replied, just as soft.

Definitely inspired by velter, definitely not perfect, but then what is? Also can I say I hate SAE dialogue punctuation?

[cuttlefishcollusion]

Abandoned? You thought wrong! I actually finished drafts for Moving On but i’m not sure I can get them to a place I’m happy with.

Completely contradictily (that’s a word now), I’m gonna put more effort into just putting stuff into the void even when I’m not 100% happy with it

[cuttlefishcollusion]

Title: Presidential Temptation

Rating: Very NSFW

Parings: Donald Trump/Mike Pence/Vladimir Putin

Summary:

“A shock ran through Donald, like the sort of shock you get when a climate change denier is placed at the head of the EPA, but good, and tingly.

He had felt this feeling only once before. It was when he’d first met Pence.”

Donald thought he knew what love was until one day, he didn't anymore. Tired of his old relationship with Mike, Donald finds himself falling for a mysterious stranger he meets in a russian cafe. But unbeknownst to Donald, this stranger has a dark and mysterious past. Will Donald be able to save his relationship with Mike? Will this new man repair Donald’s fractured heart? Or will his dark history cost Donald and everyone he loves their lives?

Please read my Donald Trump / Mike Pence / Vladimir Putin fanfiction. It’s amazing.

[cuttlefishcollusion]

I _cannot_ believe I’m doing this i blame @bluelugia

I feel like she’s a little self indulgent but anyways I made my first child:

Name: Althea Age: 20

Design: Base - light grey Accent - light lime/pale mint green Motifs - mint leaves, water.

Physical description: -curly brown shoulder length hair -green eyes -pretty average build, a little bit on the tall side, but just a pinch

Outfit aesthetic: Cold: -{leggings+leg warmers/thigh socks} + skirts -warm and regular boots -knitted sweaters

Warm: -leggings/{normal or knee socks} + skirts -or just skirts -tops w/ colorful abstract designs, some geometric, some organic -can’t decide on footwear? Maybe slip-ons?

Traits: -likes mint leaves, makes mint tea (min-ty heh) -burns incense pretty regularly but tries to ration because she sometimes runs out, and it can take her a while to remember to get more (just bc it’s not top of mind while she’s out?) -studies/wants to go into medicine! 2nd year premed! (and low key dying under the workload? But not as much as last year?) -generally pretty busy, but she doesn’t mind hugely -not super active, but she tries to walk places, so she’s not terribly unhealthy. -likes doing witchcraft, doesn’t actually believe in it -borderline vegetarian -excitable when she gets enough sleep but that’s like never? -amateur baker, likes dessert things, good at some simpler ones like cupcakes, still trying to get the hang of fancier cute things like macaroons and cake pops. former and current hallmates rave abt her cookies. -a little bit of a mom friend? Always checks in on sick hallmates. -generally kind, but can be a little bad at noticing/resolving issues when not specifically reached out to. -toe sock apologist -she wears water wings in the pool/ocean bc she can’t swim -has little phrases that she uses for a month or two and then moves on from. Currently “that’s the way the cookie crumbles!”

[cuttlefishcollusion]

The crystalline moth floated up towards the celling, each flutter of its wings releasing a gentle cascade of shards. The lamps' warm glow played through the glittery trail, eliciting a thousand different colors from the formerly monochrome particles. A speck of moonlight appeared on the pedestal. It grew steadily rounder as the moon moved more directly over the skylight. "It's leaving!" The moth had seemed so aimless that they hadn't realized at first, but the small creature did indeed seem to be making its way towards the opening in the roof. As they watched it grew more and more purposeful, until there was no mistaking its intended path. She looked around in desperation, looking for some way to slow it's escape, knowing that there was nothing she could do. The moth's ascent was as inexorable as the growth of the moonlight disk. She fell to her knees. Again. Again! It always ended like this. No matter how many times she tried, no matter what she did, it always ended like this. A voice echoed between her thoughts, "I'm leaving, aren't I? Your mind feels blurry." She giggled in spite of herself. Such a magisterial voice for such a small girl! "You are." And as she said the words, they became true. The creature reached the hole in the roof, bathed by a now perfectly round circle of moonlight. "I'll find you again," she shouted up to the receding trail of sparkles, "No matter how many times I have to lose you, I'll always find you again." The voice smiled, faint now, "I know. It might not be this lifetime. It might not be the next. But you'll find me." And then, it was gone. She walked over to the pedestal and traced a semicircle through the silver powder on its surface. Like a dream, the dust seemed to evaporate, this last evidence of the girl she'd lost and found and lost again disappearing into the aether. It was time to keep searching.

[cuttlefishcollusion]

Hushed whispers, “Can you believe?”, “It’s a shame”, “Never would’ve thought”.

The murmurs fade in a steady gradient towards one table. No one interrupts that silence.

They are here, but not present. Gazes in the distance, minds up above, hearts somewhere, but not here. They are empty.

There’s food before them, but their empty stomachs and empty souls will not be filled now, or today, or ever. To eat would be to mock those who no longer can.

And besides, how could one possibly fill a fractured vessel?

[cuttlefishcollusion]

You can’t bring yourself to experience anything that reminds you of her. The rooftop. Her house. Mint leaves. Even that playground from when you were younger.

You haven’t tried it, but you know her favorite dish would be ashes in your mouth.

Sometimes, you catch a glimpse of her in a passing stranger. Those are the bad days.

You’ve buried so many memories deep inside yourself, chained them in such a complicated web of padlocks, that you can’t be sure which key will open which one.

So you avoid them all.

[cuttlefishcollusion]

Screaming, running, crying. A door slams open. Falling. The ground rushing up, its impact cold and casual; businesslike. Numbness, in her arm, where she hit the door, and everywhere else too. Rain, streaming down in sheets, chilling her already empty limbs, diluting salty rivulets.

And then screaming.

screaming.

screaming.

she clenches into a ball, rocking, screaming into the abruptly empty world. There is nothing, nothing, nothing, left.

[cuttlefishcollusion]

Moving on - chapter 1

Words: 600

Nicomaki centric, angst with a happy resolution.

“Nico Yawaza” came the inevitable call. For the past three years she’d been alternately wishing this moment would come sooner, and willing it away, with almost no middle ground. But from the moment she’d taken Honoka’s extended hand and joined the girls of μ’s, this day had rushed forwards with unbelievable swiftness.

Nico stood up and walked to the stage. As she climbed the stairs, she was shocked to realize her knees were shaking. “I’m a performer, I’m not afraid of stages” she muttered to herself, fully aware that the stage she had nothing to do with her knees.

Graduation.

For three years, graduation had been real. Real, she thought to herself, but only in the same sense that the stars were real. Something that almost definitely existed, but was completely unknowable and had no effect on her day to day life. Now it was as real and tangible as the spring flowers that were blooming, and just as inevitable.

Wrenched from her mental monologue, Nico found herself shaking hands with the chairwoman. Almost in a daze, she turned towards the blinding lights, mechanically giving her trademark grin to cameras she couldn’t see. Then, diploma in hand, she left the stage.

And just like that, the next name was being called, and it was all over. Nico wondered to herself exactly what, and just how much, was over.

——

“Well” Eli said, taking a deep breath of the fresh air, “that’s that.”

They were standing just outside the auditorium with hundreds of other students, all leaving one phase of their life and entering the next.

“That”, said Nozomi, “is certainly that”

“Heyyyy you all!” Rin’s clear voice cut through the din. The new graduates turned to see Rin, arms linked with Maki and Hanayo, dragging her three person wedge through the crowd.

Nico watched their steady advance, her already tumultuous emotions exacerbated by their approach.

“Hey graduee”, said Maki, giving her a peck on the cheek. Nico’s stomach fluttered, but she wasn’t sure if it was the flutter you get when you’re in love, or the flutter you get when you trip at the top of a long flight of stairs.

“Hey.” Nico replied with a ever so slightly strained smile, just barely failing to conceal her internal conflict. Maki gave her an inquisitive look, but Nico just shook her head.

“So you’re all officially adults now!”, said Hanayo

“Some of us anyways”, Nozomi replied, poking Nico’s nose, which Nico scrunched up more out of habit than aversion.

“And we’re officially second years!” Rin chimed, “Wow, there’s finally gonna be kids younger than us. Like honoka’s sister!”

“I talked to Yukiho the other day when I was hanging out with Honoka!”, said Maki, “she seemed really excited to meet new people and move on to a new part of her life! She even said she-”

“Let’s hang out in town!” Nico blurted out, cutting Maki off.

“In town?” said Eli, bemused.

“Yeah! In town!” Nico said, saccharine oozing from her voice. “Let’s go hit the arcade and play the crane game or something! I need to win that teddy bear!”

“That sounds like… fun” Eli said,  cautiously enunciating every word.

“Great, let’s go!” Nico said, walking off without checking to see if they were following. The other girls looked at each other, gave a collective shrug, and hurried to catch up. Maki felt her phone buzz. There was a notification for the μ’s group chat; a single text from Nico that read “HEADING TO THE ARCADE!!! JOIN US!!!!”. Maki shook her head – she hadn’t even seen the girl take out her phone.

My first real fic type piece in a obscenely long time! Feedback is greatly appreciated! I have three chapters plus an epilogue-ish planned out, but things happen and i’ll see where the story takes me.  I promise it’ll be heavier on the nicomaki and angst later.