[ of ] i. used as a function word to indicate the position in time of an action or occurrence.
[ inflorescence ] i. the budding and unfolding of blossoms.
independent, private, and highly selective multi-fandom multi-muse blog, primarily oc based. any and all verses, original characters, and lore lovingly crafted and portrayed by riley ( 26, they / she, pst ) ; any similar characterizations or portrayals are purely coincidental. established on may 2nd, 2023.
triggering content includes, but is not limited to: violence, abuse, drugs, alcohol, suicide, and occasional suggestive / sexual themes. please keep all of this in mind, and keep yourselves safe while browsing. such content is tagged as " cw [content]. "
carrd. / blog. / promo. / interest checker.
hub blog for @heartfreeze. / @cloudskiff. / @sleuthprince.
this blog's current mascot is akiko, whose associated dossier can be found here.
g o d i s d e a d , a n d h i s b l o o d i s o n o u r h a n d s .
" jesus, what the hell happened to you !? " regrouping at their office after having to split up and cover ground more effectively during their joint investigation isn't greeted with the promise of a job well done, but instead the sight of ichiro covering a bleeding injury on his head. judging by appearances, and personal experience, it almost looks as if someone had broken a bottle across his temple during a fight. ( foolish of the assailant, really, to think that'd take down someone of his stature. ) either way, it's not something that should be left ignored or untreated. " sit down in my desk chair and make sure you stay awake. lucky for you, i have a first aid kit in the hall closet here. "
... they won't give too much thought to the potentially questionable optics of bringing a strange man into their office after work hours like this.
[ bandage. ] : sender bandages a wound on receiver. + reverse.
it's been an eternity since they last practiced how to suture a wound closed. they're quick to walk out into the hall, grab the kit, and return to him, and thank god they have exam gloves in the box in their hand. their leather ones aren't cut out for this. with a swift move, they take their gloves off, quick to replace them with the blue medical grade latex. once sure they're snug, they take a deep breath. " you're gonna need to stay still for this. it's not gonna feel good, but i don't have any sort of anesthetic. and if you feel the need to make some sort of comment about my eye, well... "
akiko removes the patch covering their right eye, setting it and their glasses on their office desk. crimson sclera and warped iris are on full display, and they blink a few times to adjust to the open air for the first time since they woke up. " remember i'm about to be the one with a needle in your face. " once the needle and stitching are set, they angle their desk lamp to be more directly on him. " sorry. need as much visibility as i can get. bear with me. " hands are steady, cautious as they get to work, trying not to mess things up. if anything, they're... surprisingly worried. at least the wince when they apply antiseptic is fitting, and oddly reassuring, given the circumstance.
they make quick work of the suturing, tying it off and cutting it with the scissors from their first aid kit. the bleeding seems to have stopped, but applying bandages is a precautionary measure they don't fail to administer. with a few wraps around his head, they safety pin the fabric to itself to secure it in place. akiko takes a closer look, still lacking their eye patch or glasses to allow for proper clarity in close quarters like this. eyes narrow and widen to get a good look, making sure everything is okay.
" how are you feeling ? no shit you're probably in pain, but are you dizzy, is your vision affected at all, is there a ringing sound somewhere ? " they ask, half tempted to grab the flashlight in their desk drawer to test that his eyes dilate properly. " need to make sure you don't have a concussion. if you pass out here, i can't very well get you back home, or to a hospital. i might be strong, but i'm not superhuman. " akiko removes the gloves with a punctual snap of the latex, tossing them into the wastebin beside their desk. they don't bother covering their eye or their hands again just yet, mostly just catching their breath after practically holding it the entire time they patched him up.
" ... hell of a way for you to see my office. at least it's got a nice view at night. "
"Oh... that guy. You didn't hear of what happened to him, didja?"
It wasn't the first time he'd met someone who had known his predecessor since being whisked away beyond the firmament, thrusted into a strange and bewildering universe he was just coming to grips with. And this just seemed to be another in what he assumed would be a long string of mistaken identities, each with their own baggage he'd somehow have to sort through. Rubbing his nape awkwardly, he offered Lierre a conciliatory and sympathetic look.
"He died during that Battle of Amphoreus, when they took down Irontomb. I guess... lots of Memokeepers did. ...Sorry."
the journey of self-discovery is a long and arduous one. he thought he'd found it with the masked fools, after being awakened to the elation following his brutalization and repair at the hands of a bounty hunter who wouldn't listen to reason. he'd been wrong... so very, very wrong. plunging into nihility after aha had left him shattered, strings cut like a discarded puppet, didn't do him any favors either.
it's been a long road since then... since he last saw the man he felt was responsible for the wake-up call he got. ruthless as it may have been, he won't deny he needed it. like he's sobered up from the most addictive thing known to man; joy. unfortunately, such acknowledgement of the reality at hand doesn't make him feel any less dejected and angry. that's why, when he sees a man bearing a striking resemblance to him, he's not entirely sure whether it's real or not.
it almost feels like he's seeing a ghost. or like maybe aha's playing another trick.
clear. ' samvel. ' whatever the fuck his name is. he can feel his blood start to boil at the sight of him, even if there's a twinge of bitter longing somewhere beneath the surface of it. he's got half a mind to clock him across the jaw when he calls the memokeeper's name, tone laced with barely concealed venom.
" y'know, you've got a lot of fuckin' nerve, showing your fโ "
frankly, he's floored by the question the man in front of him puts forth. the follow-up of his awkward gesture, the sympathetic expression on his face... that's real hard to fake. as a man who's spent more of his life telling lies than he has telling truths, lierre would like to think he's become adept at sniffing out falsehoods.
this doesn't feel like one of them. somehow, part of him still wishes it was.
" what do you mean, he... died ? " his voice gets uncharacteristically soft. quiet. like he had back when he first learned about... nevermind that. " ah. i see. you're pulling my leg now, right ? you see me after all this time, and you don't know how else to respond when i call out yourโ " he runs a hand through his hair, quickly turning his body to face away as he mutters to himself. " no, that wouldn't make any sense, why the fuck would it... get your head together, li. "
self-talk aside, he turns back to the memokeeper. " so let me get this straight; you're seriously not fucking with me ? he's... gone ? thenโ " the thief gestures to him. not aggressively, but still rather dramatic. " who the hell 're you supposed to be ? a clone, a doppelganger sent to pull a prank ? memetic entity, mimicking a dead guy, sent to deliver me the news in the weirdest way possible ? "
hi, it's been almost a full calendar day, and i'm still thinking about the new god of war trailer. faye looks so goddamn cool and fun to play, and it's just the icing on the cake that deborah ann woll is one of my favorite actresses of all time. (there's also the added buff to my opinion of it that i'm incredibly fucking gay, and find characters who could kill me with one hand overwhelmingly attractive, but that's beside the pointโ)
it's officially june, so i'm here to say happy pride month. i already make my blog icon a pride one, but yeah, it bears reminding that literally not a single muse of mine is cishet lmao. they're all some brand of queer. this includes canon muses that i hardly ever write. thanks for coming to my ted talk. <3
when i have a crush i dont kick my feet or twirl my hair instead i am in my kitchen at 3am pacing in circles with my hands clasped behind my back like a middle-aged divorced detective haunted by a cold case he just cant crack
characters who view themselves as tools/weapons first and people second... characters who martyr themselves for a cause because they think that's the only way they can be worth something... characters who push themselves past their breaking point again and again and again... characters for whom devotion and masochism are inseparable... characters whose self-sacrifice becomes self-annihilation...... what was my point again? i had a point. anyway.
divorced couple energy ship will always be immaculate to me. we hate each other. we've seen each other naked. I know how you take your morning coffee. I will never make you your morning coffee again. get it yourself. here you go, I gave it to you anyway. you disgust me. I will always be somewhat in love with you. I will be yours forever. you're not mine anymore. you will always be mine. fuck you. let's fuck, for old time's sake. did you steal my cd? no, no. keep it.
ย ย ย ย ย mouth twisted in displeasure , almost sneering at the way he spoke. she could not place it but it almost was as if he desired to go on suffering alone than take any help. maybe she had read into his demeanor too much ... she had been irritated at the way her market sales went earlier in the day. if she were innocent &. pure , she should not take it out on a poor soul who lapped water like it was ichor from the gods , โย ย ย ย it's elodie &. you do know everyone who has wandered these parts have said they are wretched.ย ย ย ย โ rolling her eyes , her head shook. was that a bit too harsh ? hmm. fine ... fine she would continue her kindness. finger pointed at the inn at the top of the hill , the dark building with its lit windows shining like a beacon. โย ย ย ย come on , i'll help you get to the inn in one piece , there's a storm rolling in &. you do not want to be this close to the wood if you truly are as wretched as you say you are.ย ย ย ย โ
ย ย ย ย ย he desperately needed a bath ( the smell strong from travel or just exhaustion ? ) &. more than likely a physical examination. there was something wrong but she could not tell what in the darkness. her hand grasped around his his elbow pulling him up off the ground , โย ย ย ย you fight me , you'll have much worse to deal with than whatever is plaguing you now.ย ย ย ย โ her blue gaze , glowed fervent in the night , her hair a beacon to follow. โย ย ย ย may i know the name of the supposed unclean soul i am helping ?ย ย ย ย โ they walked up the path together , slow &. steady since she did see he had a cane on his person. a true healer she was not , but she did know her way around herbals &. bandaging wounds. as long as he wasn't gravely injured ... she could possibly be of help.
ย ย ย ย ย frowning she realized something that hadn't occurred to her until now , โย ย ย ย how in the world did you end up out here anyways ?ย ย ย ย โ the inn &. the village were remote so all the locals knew of everyone's coming &. goings. so with her keen ears she had not heard of anyone new passing through. โธป that was indeed suspicious. however , she would give her apprehensions rest for the night. she too was exhausted at having her walls held icy for today. tomorrow was another story. if this ended in another death , at least she wasn't going to be in the rain but at a warm cozy inn. โย ย ย ย come along now , i'll get you a room &. a bath drawn.ย ย ย ย โ
" do they now ? " he challenges, voice light for once. " then i suppose it makes sense, why nobody's paid me much mind. i fit right in. " it's navarre's attempt at humor, though jokes have never been his strongest suit. if anything, it's only remotely successful because it borders on self-deprecation, something he's exceptionally good at doing without even trying. " as for the incoming storm, i appreciate the assistance in getting away from it before it's too late. the inn actually turned me away because my reserved room wasn't yet ready. " he scoffs. " so much for having a booking in advance. i'll have to give the staff an earful if i have the energy. "
his elbow being grabbed is enough of a shock, but he manages to suppress the noise that comes from his throat when he's hoisted back to his feet. this woman's certainly stronger than she looks. " i've no intent to fight you, unless you're hiding some ulterior motive for helping me. " navarre takes notice of the borderline reflective quality her eyes, her hair take on in the pale moonlight. a reflection of a reflection, as it were. how poetic. though, that's his younger self talking. " ahโ it's navarre. formerly doctor hyasinth, if you're of the inclination. " for once, he sees little reason to be catty or hostile towards someone, even if she is a complete stranger. probably because he's simply too exhausted to muster up the willpower.
" i was waiting for my room to be ready. unless you're inquiring as to my reason for being in the area in the first place, which... " he pauses. " you'll have to forgive me if i opt not to divulge such information. it's rather personal. " his father passing away during his time off, traveling the world to pursue his research habits, certainly wasn't an expected thing to hear of while abroad. of the three parental figures he's had in his life, he could at least say he disliked desmond the least. this had been his place of birth, and as such, he's been wanting to take in the sights, see what his father had once called home.
what a bizarre thought, he thinks to himself, giving a single damn about the view in some backwater place like this. i'm getting soft in my older age.
once they reach the inn, he tries his best to ignore the noise from the patrons inside. it's why he didn't want to wait inside while his room was finished up. with a punctual tap of his cane against the wooden floor beneath them, he clears his throat. " let's just leave it at me needing to travel for my work. i'm researching ways to better the bodies and minds of my fellow man, in my own way. " which isn't entirely incorrect, in all fairness. she'd likely disapprove of his methods for doing so, though. " listen, i do appreciate your help, but... i meant it, when i said i'm unclean. it's only a matter of time before my reputation catches me here, too. it's with no joy that i say this, but you truly would be wise to keep your distance from me, miss elodie. "
nobody look at me i'm too lazy to change what blog this posts to but uhhh
some of my muses are uh. really into the idea of a partner's fingers being in their mouth. idk what to do with this information, and idk what anyone else would do with it either, but i figured someone would enjoy knowing that.
exhales are visible as mist in the cold morning air. dew still rests atop the blades of grass surrounding the headstones in the cemetery, and a delicate veil of fog blankets the area like it intends to shield the ones buried from the view of the heavens.
... hisao would probably smack them upside the head for seeing it that way.
may 26th. it's what would have, should have been his 55th birthday. his name practically stares up at them from the engraved stone in the dirt. somehow, it's only been two years since he passed away; it feels like it's been longer. every day without him at least calling to check up on them feels like it's incomplete, missing the one piece of the puzzle that makes it all feel just right. it's something that's hard to explain to anyone, particularly ruki, who'd practically been his granddaughter for the short year he got to know her.
with a high pitched yawn, the silence is broken. not that akiko's complaining. " h- hi, grampa hisao. happy birthday. " the child's voice is a nice reprieve from the plethora of regrets flooding the detective's mind. as always, ruki acts as the port amidst their storm. she lowers to her knees, layers of tights insulating her from the cold beneath her pants, her burgundy coat a stark contrast against the greenery. her gray winter mittens cradle a cup, which she delicately raises to her face to gauge its temperature. it's still a little too hot. " mom got me a hot chocolate, 'cause i can't have coffee. it's still too hot for me to drink it, though. "
" smart girl. don't burn your tongue, okay ? " akiko smiles warmly, practically a reflexive gesture in her presence.
" i'm not ! "
a single flower rests in their left hand; a carefully wrapped and trimmed rose. another is in ruki's own free hand, each bound with white paper and a piece of red string to prevent the thorns from being a danger.
a glance at their watch shows that they're on time for their self-imposed appointment. it's 5:30 in the morning, the exact time he'd always show up to the office. he was scheduled for 6, but he always insisted on being half an hour early, solely to make sure that, to quote the late detective directly, ' nobody could say ( he ) didn't put his best foot forward. ' it's a mentality akiko came to respect when they worked with him, even if it meant losing out on a bit of invaluable sleep here and there. at least he always paid for their coffee when he insisted on maintaining such a circadian rhythm.
" morning, detective morinaga. happy birthday. " akiko speaks softly, cautiously taking a seat on the grass by his grave. legs are crossed, uncaring for the slightly damp feeling from the dew on the ground beneath them. " as your gift, i've got your usual order right here. "
the warmth of the disposable paper cup in their gloved hand is a quiet reminder that they even have it. it's so easy to lose themselves in the tranquil atmosphere here that all else fades into the static nothingness that typically occupies their mind otherwise. it's what would have been his usual coffee order; black coffee with exactly two and a half sugars. over time, they'd memorized exactly where to stop with the third packet, to ensure they didn't go overboard. now, it's practically muscle memory to make it like this when they do this routine. the spout is the only real outlet for the steam, dissipating into the air almost like a cartoon.
with a careful sip, they turn their head, scoffing at the taste. " jeez, that's bitter. i dunno how you could ever stand this crap. "
ruki pipes up between cautious sips of her cocoa. " language ! "
" right. sorry. " akiko closes their eyes, one still covered by the medical patch they always wear. the steam from their own cup is starting to fog up their glasses, but they barely notice. " did you have anything you wanted to say to grandpa hisao ? "
" mm... " ruki nods her head. " i made a new friend at school ! her name's tomoyo. she's really good at drawing, and she showed me a picture of her cat, and her cat's got an eye with a different color just like mom, and... "
it's just like her, to be unable to stop once on a roll. the way she goes on and on is a reassuring constant in a world like akiko's, so full of unreliability and inconsistency. it just reminds them that, prior to his untimely passing, hisao had once been a similar point of stability. they'd known him since they were little... around ruki's age, actually, roughly 6 years old. he was the youngest of their father's friend circle, but it didn't make him any less a role model for them while they were growing up.
he was the main source of their knowledge on how to have fun with their career, how to balance their work with their life, instead of scrambling to find places to balance their life with their work. hisao had been the one who took self-defense classes just to be a better teacher for akiko themselves when they were in their adolescence, and he'd been the one who instilled such a firm sense of justice into them. their work ethic is undeniably due to him and his own tenacity, and it's admittedly been both a blessing and a curse, but they wouldn't change a thing.
hisao had been the first to start knocking on doors to demand answers after their home village fell to an artificially induced demonic outbreak, while they and naoya grieved and scrambled to find a new home somehow. all things considered, he'd been like a second father to them. in a way, he was almost more of a father to akiko than their own biological one ever had been. he got their foot in the door when they applied for special forces training, and was the first to support them when they had to drop out.
... hisao was the one who helped them chase down leads and solve the case of their best friend's murder. they took a bullet for him, and fought through that pain to save his life when he lost a fist fight with the culprit behind it all.
when he was killed... it felt as though yet another part of akiko had gone with him.
" mom ! " ruki's voice snaps them out of their little trip down memory lane.
" sorry. i was just... thinking. " akiko shakes their head. " did you tell grandpa hisao about how you lost another tooth last week ? "
" mhm ! oh, butโ " ruki turns back to the headstone. " mom's got a lotta stuff to tell you, too. your turn ! " she smiles, scooting closer to akiko and resting against their left side just a bit. another gentle sip of her cocoa is followed by a hum of warmth, and she's flooded with relief from the cold.
" wow, way to put me on the spot. " akiko jokes, lifting their coffee in their right hand to take another drink from the cip, despite the fact that they personally disapprove of the taste. " i'm sorry i can't smoke your old brand on your birthday anymore. i've still got a pack of peace in my desk drawer, though, for old time's sake. you know i stopped ever since i got this one, " they tilt their head in their daughter's direction, " so smoking once a year isn't really feasible anymore. especially when i bring her like this. "
with that, they clear their throat. " but it's been strange, honestly. i still pass your old favorite diner every time i go to and from my work office, and i get this nagging thought that i should invite you out to join us for brunch one of these days. i keep listening for my office phone every saturday morning, since you used to call once a week to see how things were going. keeping up with ruki and i, making sure we're still safe, even if i did get on your ass about that every now and then. "
" mom. "
" i know, i knowโ language. sorry. " akiko apologizes, their left arm moving to hook around ruki's frame, hand cradling her shoulder before they continue. " i just... i can't lie, i still miss you, old man. i keep finding myself wanting to call you every now and then, like whenever i have issues with your old car you left me in your will. i don't drive it often, 'cause i'm scared it's gonna break down in the middle of the road or something awful like that. i'd hate to leave your pride and joy hung out to dry. " they admit, setting the cup in their hand down in the grass, making sure it won't fall. " you were always a whiz when it came to working on it. i was always in awe of the fact that you maintained your first car for thirty-five years like that. "
they can't hold back the sniffle that leaves them. ruki finishes her cocoa, her right arm moving to hug her mom close for a moment.
" i... think we'd better get going. if i don't, i'm gonna start crying, and you know better than anyone, i'm an ugly crier. " akiko chuckles to themselves, hand moving to wipe their nose to make sure they hadn't actually started crying. " besides, i woke up the little one way earlier than i usually do for this. poor thing was up and dressed at 4:45. "
" put your flower down, hon. right next to mine. " akiko instructs, resting their rose atop his name before ruki follows suit with her own. " these were always his favorite. i don't know if it's because he liked them, or because his wife did, but their house always had a vase of them whenever i would visit. " they can't help but smile at the memory.
( miss you too, shizune. )
with that, they finish their coffee, grimacing to themselves at the taste. how the hell did you take it that bitter, old man ? they toss the cup into the trash can standing by the walkway, doing the same with ruki's before they pick her up. she yawns again, resting her head on akiko's shoulder as she holds onto them. " say goodbye to grandpa hisao, ruki. we'll be back to see him again next year, okay ? "
" 'kay. " she mumbles, her eyes already drifting closed when she speaks. a yawn interrupts her speech, making the words drag out just a bit. akiko finds it endearing, if nothing else. " g'bye, grampa hisao. see you next year. "
akiko stands, making sure their hold on ruki is stable before turning away. it's getting harder to fight their emotions back. " goodbye, hisao. " lower lip trembles for a moment before they will themselves to stop. " i'll see you next year. " they force a smile. " give my regards to everyone up there. shizune-san, father, chiyo, naoya... make sure they know they haven't been forgotten, either. "
another yawn punctuates their train of thought, and akiko makes the move to walk away. it's now 6 am sharp... his usual appointment time. go figure, that they're already done early, just like he always was.
" hey, ruki. " they speak up, getting a gentle lift of her head to show she's listening, at least a little bit. " after we go back home and get some more rest, do you wanna go somewhere special for lunch ? " when she nods, they do the same in return. " sounds good. i know just the place. "
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