A Riceball and a Cat

"It's time to be brave." Lucy (she/her) Fruits Basket fan blog. NOT spoiler free. Insta and Twitter (same @)

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OUT OF FIC TITLES? here's a list of lyrics I think could be really interesting. Pt. 1:

First, notes: Some of these are long and would need to be shortened as you see fit. A couple words were changed here and there for grammatical accuracy (I didn't mess with punctuation, though, because song lyrics, so). Some based off of my main fandoms, but can definitely transfer.

This part has Leanna Firestone and Taylor Acorn!

More coming soon.

Leanna Firestone:

"You don't ever have to leave. If change is what you need, you can change right next to me." ("Grow As We Go")

"So we'll be friends, and I'll be okay." ("Do You Wanna Be Friends?")

"The world won't end if you don't love me, even if it feels that way." ("Do You Wanna Be Friends?")

"I'll tread lightly in case I might be breaking a boundary we used to break before." ("Do You Wanna Be Friends?")

"I'll be quiet in my pining, I won't tell you about the pain." ("Do You Wanna Be Friends?")

"I don't know where the line is, so I'll stay on my side, even when you're not on yours." ("Do You Wanna Be Friends?")

"And so I'll be your best friend, simple as that." ("Do You Wanna Be Friends?")

"I'm starting to think it's me that's the fool." ("Hide")

"You are the love of my life, you were the love of my life." ("Closure")

"But I couldn't escape myself, no matter how badly I wanted to." ("Least Favorite Only Child") (TW: suicidal ideation, family issues)

Links:

1: https://youtu.be/1MOSf9iHAno

2-7: https://youtu.be/sCmymb8REGs

8: https://youtu.be/5mQ2ncY18dc

9: https://youtu.be/Dv-QOuIvxW0

10: https://youtu.be/D8WRMjDVgp0

Taylor Acorn:

"Tell me, when did this stop being fun?" ("Uncomfortably Numb") (w/ Arrows In Action)

"Born into compromise, raised by white lies." ("Uncomfortably Numb") (w/ Arrows In Action)

"We're undone and uncomfortably numb." ("Uncomfortably Numb") (w/ Arrows In Action)

"Stealing all the breath out of my lungs, got me in the dark speakin' in tongues." ("Uncomfortably Numb") (w/ Arrows In Action)

"The seasons change, we stay the same." ("Uncomfortably Numb") (w/ Arrows In Action)

"It's so exhausting to feel like no one understands." ("Do That Again") (TW: anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation)

"And so I fake a smile, pretend I'm fine, cause I haven't been for a while in my mind." ("Do That Again") (TW: anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation)

"God, help me get out of my head." ("Do That Again") (TW: anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation)

"And I don't wanna live like this anymore, but I don't even know what I'm living for." ("Do That Again") (TW: anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation)

"By the way you're looking at me, we don't have to wait." ("Something Tonight")

"Hey, boy, I just want to know your dreams, where you've been, and what you think." ("Something Tonight")

"I don't know what to do; it ain't nothing new, I'm still missing you." ("Same")

"We try it out for a little bit, but it just don't work, so we cut it loose—'cause he just ain't you." ("Same")

"Sometimes I swear I still feel your arms." ("Seventeen")

"It's almost like I feel you still around." ("Seventeen")

"You had to go, but I begged you to stay." ("Seventeen")

"I don't think you know how much you meant to me." ("Seventeen")

"And for a while, I blamed you for the things I lost." ("If You Could See Me Now")

"You caused me to lose sight of who I was." ("If You Could See Me Now")

"Just another broken heart cliche." ("If You Could See Me Now")

"All my fairytale ambitions, I just watched them wash away." ("If You Could See Me Now")

"It's too late for sorry, baby, even if you've changed." ("If You Could See Me Now")

"I'm, not letting myself break down; count me out, 'cause I'm better now." ("If You Could See Me Now")

"Coulda sworn you were the one, with the way you made me feel weightless." ("If You Could See Me Now")

"Then you caught me off guard, left me standin' there broken." ("True Crime")

"I thought I knew who you were. God, I don't understand it." ("True Crime")

"You stole my heart, and you ran like a true crime." ("True Crime")

"I hate that I saw forever in your eyes." ("True Crime")

"How did I get it so wrong?" ("True Crime")

"I hate that I saw forever in your lies." ("True Crime")

"And it's safe to say I'm losin' my damn mind." ("True Crime")

"When did it get so hard to let go and move on?" ("True Crime")

"I can't help thinking about how good it could be, but you're with somebody else, you're with somebody else." ("Somebody Else")

Links:

1-5: https://youtu.be/RRqaNJKWKn4

6-9: https://youtu.be/F9MMojfbwS0

10-11: https://youtu.be/XA3Hk724Yfg

12-13: https://youtu.be/Bs7A5CTOCEk

14-17: https://youtu.be/YcNoml-JY4s

18-24: https://youtu.be/HfCFc6fdj6c

25-32: https://youtu.be/wi4KKXLQUPc

33: https://youtu.be/BS1h5ecyv9Y

[cryptonature]

Quote from @SwampAdvice on Twitter (written by frequent collaborator on The CryptoNaturalist Podcast Leslie J Anderson).

Here is a secret about things you love. If you put them down you can always pick them back up again. You can always paint again, sew again, hike again, play music again, read that book again, watch the movie. “But it’s been so long.” The thing you love doesn’t care.

[riceballcatfb]

I'm so glad i picked up creative writing again after taking 3 years off. It was the best decision I've ever made.

I know it seems scary, but just do it. You won't regret it.

[pixelsandburbles]

🐮🐴

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screaming crying

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one thing that’s always been interesting to me is Kyo and Tohru’s warped outlook on love.

It makes sense given their pasts, but it’s still odd. Most people are able to compartmentalize types of love, but because of their past experiences, they can’t.

Most people understand that you can feel more than one kind of love at once—romantic vs. non-romantic—and have neither be discounted. But Tohru and Kyo both have the mindset that you can only love one person “best.” If Tohru loves Kyo, she automatically no longer loves her mom.

It really is unhealthy, but then again, these two babies have a lot of unhealthy coping mechanisms lol. This is another thing I’m sure they start to figure out when they have their own kids:

First, it’s just them and they love each other. Then one child comes and they love him, too. Then another child, and then their youngest. As they keep expanding their family, it doesn’t mean they have less love for who was there before—the capacity of the love just grows.

[elliejoys]

“We can only be ourselves. We have to accept ourselves, and face ourselves.”

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Kyo has become so used to everyone leaving him with nasty words that he automatically assumes that's what Kyoko was doing—using her last breaths simply to curse him.

In reality, she was entrusting him with the most precious thing she had: Tohru.

I wish he knew.

Mini headcanon that he starts to figure it out after he has his own kids. Parents don't hold onto grudges like that. In the end, nothing but our kids matters.

Of course she wouldn't waste her last minutes on something like that. Of course her last thought would be of Tohru.

[deryuj]

New beginning

[elimyart]

damn Takaya really is the queen of parallels

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hdfiuohvjdfnjk

[tohru-honda]

I’m sooo in love with this Kyo/Tohru piece that I commissioned from simro.n on instagram♥️♥️ She was incredibly diligent to work with. I’m happy she enjoyed painting it just as much too!

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sCREAMS

[anime-love17]

Kyoru( ꈍᴗꈍ)

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I feel like he would DEFINITELY help Tohru put on makeup, paint her nails, etc. and I am HERE FOR IT

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What I get from "illicit affairs" by Taylor Swift

Not my normal content, but it seems like a lot of Furuba fans are TS fans anyway so?

I know this came out over a year ago, but I've never gotten around to doing this and it's killing me.

Note: Throughout, I will reference the narrator and the main character (MC). Since the song is in 2nd person POV, they're not the same. / is a line break.

Also, I am assuming the MC is a woman, and the other person involved is a man, but that doesn't have to be how you see it!

"make sure nobody sees you leave/ hood over your head, keep your eyes down"

So we all know this song is about an affair. This first verse sounds to me like the list of rules that the MC and the guy made for her to follow. The narrator is listening them off, so it sounds almost like a checklist to me—the main character is getting ready to go and asks herself, "okay, did I do ___?" One thing that's important is making sure no one she knows sees her with the guy.

"tell your friends you're out for a run/ you'll be flushed when you return/ take the road less traveled by/ tell yourself you can always stop"

Rules still going. It sounds to me like the MC lives with her friends as roommates, so I assume she's young, likely college-aged (at least definitely younger than the guy). So she'll have to explain how her face got red from sex somehow, and exercise is obviously a good way to do that. She's also to take a discreet way to their meeting place so she isn't seen along the way.

And she wants to believe she can stop doing this whenever she wants to. But can she really?

"what started in beautiful rooms/ ends with meetings in parking lots"

This is interesting to me. It sounds like the guy started out trying to make their affair seem special for the MC—they used to meet in fancy hotel rooms, but now he's stopped caring as much and they settle for quickies in his car.

"and that's the thing about illicit affairs/ and clandestine meetings and longing stares/ it's born from just one single glance/ but it dies and it dies and it dies/ a million little times"

clandestine: kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit

I almost imagine the two of them meeting at some sort of public event and being attracted to each other from opposite sides of the room, but trying to hold their cards close to their chests and keep it hidden from the other person that they were looking. That obviously somehow evolved into an affair, and now whenever they look at each other, they have to make it brief and clandestine so other people (especially the guy's wife) don't find out.

The first time they looked at each other, it was really exciting for the MC—probably had all the mystery and excitement involved with looking at someone attractive and noticing them trying to look away quickly. Now, the secretive looks are tiresome. For every glance that was thrilling (born), there are many more that are just a reminder of how things are now (dies).

"leave the perfume on the shelf/ that you picked out just for him/ so you leave no trace behind/ like you don't even exist"

Rules again. This is one of my fave lines in the song because it evokes so much great imagery for me. The fact that she picked out a special perfume to wear around the guy shows me that the MC fell in love while having this affair (I assume it ends up as one of those "I'll leave my wife" situations).

I can see her getting excited to wear this perfume for him after she buys it, and then when she does, he tells her she can't—he can't come home smelling like another woman's perfume. So it stays at home, so she leaves no trace behind on him. The bottle sitting out where she can see it acts as a reminder of how she's treated. In his world, she'll never truly exist. But she can always stop, right?

"take the words for what they are/ a dwindling mercurial high/ a drug that only worked/ the first few hundred times"

mercurial: (of a person) subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.

Still rules. When you lie, there are a lot of rules to try and keep straight.

I can imagine that the MC used to analyze his words, like many girls do when they're in love—"why did he call me that?" "why did he use that word?" etc. But as they get farther into this, she's realizing that he doesn't really mean it. Cute nicknames mean nothing, declarations of love mean nothing.

So she just takes them for what they are now—things said to make her feel good in the moment, not to be taken seriously. Even that started out being thrilling, but it's just hard to bear now—it's never enough, she wants more, but she knows that high from the beginning of the affair won't come back.

"and that's the thing about illicit affairs/ and clandestine meetings and stolen stares/ they show their truth one single time/ but they lie and they lie and they lie/ a million little times"

Back to the secretive stares. I'm not quite sure what to make of the stares "lying," so not much to say here.

"and you wanna scream/ don't call me kid, don't call me baby"

It seems like we're at present day here, instead of the listing of rules like before. The bridge seems to me that, when she meets up with him today, the guy's trying to break things off and the MC is hysterical (the music swells and the background vocals become louder here, representing the MC's mental turmoil). Even though part of her knew this was coming, it still hurts like a motherfucker.

He has nicknames for her, and he's trying to call her by them to calm her down. Probably some of the words she's had to "take for what they are." The use of "kid" as a nickname also makes me think again that the guy is far older than the MC.

"look at this godforsaken mess that you made me/ you showed me colors you know I can't see with anyone else"

She's thinking of reasons she could theoretically give as to why he can't stop seeing her. I really like the use of the word "godforsaken" here. Cheating is considered very taboo, of course, especially within protestant religions (bc the bible or some shit said it, idk I don't read it lol). God knows what she's been doing, and he's going to forsake her for this. The guy can't leave—if he actually broke it off with his wife and decided to be with the MC, it wouldn't be wrong anymore, right?

He also made her see life differently, in different colors, than she did before. If he leaves, how is she supposed to adjust to the loss of those colors?

"don't call me kid, don't call me baby/ look at this idiotic fool that you made me/ you taught me a secret language I can't speak with anyone else"

Similarly to the line about what God thinks of this, what are other people going to think if they find out? She's going to look like an idiotic fool to everyone. Because that's how we all see the other woman in situations like this—"He said he was going to leave his wife? How naive. She should have known better."

I assume secret language is similar to how he taught her to see the world differently. Within relationships, we all develop inside jokes, and terms of endearment, etc., that won't carry over to other relationships in the future. Additionally, I think back to all the rules here—those can be a secret language in and of themselves.

"and you know damn well/ for you I would ruin myself/ a million little times"

(aside: love how firm Taylor's voice gets here. The MC is mad.)

Even after all the hell he's put her through, the MC would come back without hesitation. She knows it, and so does he. Even though it would destroy her—shatter her heart because she's in love with him, and chip away at her integrity until there's nothing left—she'll come running if he ever calls again. Because she could never really stop, all along.

[akitohru]

But you know, I think it’s the same for them too. Your presence is so warm and kind. Even though we’re all going our separate ways now, starting new lives in new places, every so often we’ll think of you. “Is she doing well? She’s not crying is she? Is she.. smiling even now? Is she happy today too?” That’s how we’ll think of you. That’s how we’ll always think of you.

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i didn't want to cry when i got on tumblr today, but here i am—

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Fanfics I wrote for Kyo Week 2021!

I actually finished this challenge somewhat quickly (shocker, I know lol). Here's what I came up with!

(Prompts: love, true form, beads, roof, rain, rat, cat)

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

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And day 6!

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Rating: T

Warnings: TW for drinking alcohol, going to a bar, getting drunk

Blurb:

"Are you having fun?" he asks.

"Oh, yes! It's been lots of fun so far. Are you okay, though?"

It figures that even a shitfaced Tohru would come over here just to check on him.

@kyoruweekofficial

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Day 5...working my way through

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Rating: M

Warnings: none

Blurb: "She's not sure when this efficient, well-thought-out process turns into them being in their bedroom on their futon, tangled in bedsheets, but it somehow did, and here they are..."

@kyoruweekofficial

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My Favorite Fruits Basket Quotes Part 8—EVERYONE ELSE

You'll even see one from Kagura in here, which if you know me, you know that's weird af.

"It's strange...but as you get older, things that you couldn't comprehend in childhood become clear. 'I should have done that at the time.' 'I should have said such and such.' In that way, you start to understand. It may be closer to penitence than regret. Perhaps I wish to repent and erase my ignorant childhood self." (Ayame, ch. 21)

"I need to try to work it out. Otherwise, it'll only get worse for me... even if it's still more than I can bear, I have to give it my best shot." (Kisa, ch. 28)

"You shouldn't think you can get away with anything just because you 'love' someone. Because if that is what you think, I suggest you do some soul-searching. Directing an ever-increasing amount of one-sided love at someone becomes burdensome to that person, and at some point, you'll hurt them. Remember that." (Megumi, ch. 29)

"When someone is important to you, there can be times when it's a little rough and even lonely. But...in the end, they make you happy." (Saki, ch. 29)

"My course of action depends on me." (Hiro, ch. 38)

"This world is bursting with people. There's no way that there's not a single person out there who will care about you." (Megumi, ch. 51)

"You avoid shedding your own blood, and yet lament that you want peace." (Kazuma, ch. 52)

"Even if you don't have hope right now, I promise it will come to you again. Again and again, hope will always bloom." (Kazuma, ch. 63)

"Having feelings for someone isn't based on logic. Even if you have things figured out in your head, once you realize you love someone, that love is all you can think about." (Kagura, ch. 69)

"There's no greater happiness in this world than living with the one you love." (Tohru's grandpa, ch. 92)

"Sorrow connects us like a spiral and keeps us from moving." (Kureno, ch. 98)

"Don't ever think you're useless, got that?" (Arisa, ch. 99)

"More than anyone, you are always on my mind. That's the unshakable truth." (Shigure, ch. 101)

"In times when you can walk under your own power, go ahead. But when you can't, let me carry you. I like carrying you. You've never been heavy. You're not a burden at all." (Haru, ch. 106)

"Children always understand much more than adults give them credit for. At the very least, they can tell if the intent was kind or hateful." (Tohru's grandpa, ch. 109)

"As I lived my life...had I overlooked many very, very precious things?" (Ayame, ch. 110)

"Time marches on. It's already begun that hike. People...and feelings move on, too." (Shigure, ch. 111)

"In order to gain something or learn something, maybe you have to sacrifice or hurt something...no matter how depressing that may be." (Kakeru, ch. 113)

"To learn something, you have to hurt something. If that's the way it's gotta be for a while yet, then at least...I want to be kind. I want to make amends. I want to repay them for all the times they've smiled for me." (Kakeru, ch. 113)

"Maybe...I'm closer now than I was before. I did stomp on a few things, though. In order to reach this point...it took me forever to understand. And so I've finally made it this far. Well, I still have a long ways to go." (Kakeru, ch. 113)

"Saying 'goodbye' can be a very lonely thing." (Hiro's mom, ch. 118)

"It'll be okay right now. I can wait. But I'm not going to be a 'footnote' any longer." (Arisa, ch. 127)

DONE! 😭💕

[riceballcatfb]

My Favorite Fruits Basket Quotes Part 7—RIN

Don't have a ton from her ATM, but she's one of my favorite characters, so she gets her own post anyway. Sorry.

"The one thing most precious to you...what is it?" (ch. 82)

"She doesn't let anyone see it...but on the other side of that door, I somehow get the feeling that she's quietly falling apart." (ch. 82)

"People who know how scary it is to be alone need to have someone to love." (ch. 82)

"Why is it that, no matter what I do, this mess in my heart...won't go away?!" (ch. 133)