Sharks833

[not-so-scandalous]

Hello everyone! I am so excited for Resbang this year and I had such a wonderful time working on it! I got to work with author @xsolarite and fellow artists @holydrakes and @bearmageddon for the fic "Like Trains in the Night"! (I have it linked here so you read it)

This was such a fun process and I am so excited to see what comes next!

Also a thanks to @resbangmod for making this happen!

Enjoy the Resbang Season everyone!

[soma-nutvember]

Twas The Night Before SoMa Nutvember...

And all through the fandom, all the creatures were stirring because tomorrow is the DAY! If you missed the official info post with all the deets, you can find it here. Our askbox is open, as always, for any questions that may arise before the event, so don't be shy if you're unsure about anything - ask away!

Remember to use the event tags, #SoMaNutvember and #SoMaNutvember2025, or tag this blog directly so that we can find your work and reblog it for support. As well, you can add any works posted to Ao3 to the official SoMa Nutvember collection!

One additional rule that we neglected to mention in the original post - the use of AI is strictly prohibited. We will not reblog any entries that were generated, in whole or in part, with the use of AI. Any fics on Ao3 found to be AI-generated will be removed from the collection.

Go forth and indulge in all the smutty goodness! We can't wait to see your creations.

[alcruid]

Reverb 2025

Haven

Written by @sharks833

Soul gets drafted into the imperial space force where along side his crew he has to bring an end to the civil war that plagues their solar system.

Read it HEEEEEEEREE

Ecstasy of Dust

written by @indigolightning

“Push those engines, Patti!”

“I’m trying, Soul! This is all she has!”

A sharp dive threw Maka into the open paneling she was actively repairing, nearly jamming her forehead into completing a circuit. The arcing electricity crackled around her and she pulled back quickly.

Damn Soul for getting them into this mess.

The crew of the Oni set out on a job: to rob the casino run by Arachnophobia, Silken Shores.

Read it HEEEEEEEEREEEEEEEEE

_________

So this year my idea for reverb was a firefly au! Or space pirates/cowboys! I have two lovely authors who wrote their own fics, and both of them are very different! It’s supercool to see how they took this concept and made it their own. I had a great time working with the both of them.

Also, thanks to @reverbmod for organising the event this year ❤️

[sharks833]

Reverb 2025

Im here to post my reverb story Haven! Its a fun space AU with Maka and Soul! I got to work with @alcruid and she made some amazing artwork for the story she came up with! I hope youll all check it out along side my story you can read here at my fanfiction net account https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14506349/1/Reverb-2025-Haven

Thanks to the @reverbmod for hosting the event and be sure to check out all the other work!

[mimsy15]

the dance we never got

[reverbmod]

Reverb 2025 Posting Schedule

Attention Reverb Fans🚨

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the Mods have decided to push the original posting schedule from starting Friday, August 22nd to starting Friday, August 29th. We apologize for the last minute switch up, but in order to create space for the mod team and our participants, we felt it was a necessary adjustment for the health of the event and everyone involved. We hope you will bear with us one more week while we all work hard to bring you some fantastic Reverb content!

Now, without further ado. We present to you your Official Reverb 2025 Posting Schedule! ✨✨✨

August 29th - Hey You, Feed the Machine with Artist @emotional-support-hufflepuff

August 31st - Ink Eaters with Artist @kuhakkuart

September 2nd - Gilded Cage with Artist @worldismyne and Author @theangrypomeranian

September 4th - All Your Fears with Artist @holydrakes and Author @kuhakkuart

September 6th - Steel Wings & Hazy Skies with Artist Snail and Author @memethebum

September 8th - Ecstasy of Dust // Haven with Artist @alcruid and Author @indigolightning and Author @sharks833

September 10th - Tell Me Again with Artist @drowsystarlight and Author @toweroftunes

September 12th - Shattered Souls with Artist @not-so-scandalous and Author @chichirichick

September 14th - And They Were (Extraterrestrial) Roomates with Artist @justpocketchange and Author @guacamoletrash

September 16th - The Deathscythes with Artist @blackbloodteeth and Author @alcruid

September 18th - To Death and Infinity…Resonance of the Heart with Artist @djrebelina and Author @regalun-street

[not-so-scandalous]

Devil's Den - Resbang 2024!!!

Heya all! I am so excited to share the first of my Resbang art pieces! I had such a wonderful time working on this piece! Make sure to check out the fic and the other artworks! Both are amazing! Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I do!

Here is the link for the fic: Here on AO3

And A big thank you to @resbangmod for setting up this event and running it! Y'all are fantastic!

[jinkouuart]

Resbang 2024

whoa it's my first resbang! high fantasy brings me a lot of joy

Quest Chapter 3 Presented by Author: @sharks833 With Artist: @jinkouuart and Artist: @thtguyhedge [LINK TO ART!! <3] Pairings: Maka/Soul Rating: T Warnings: none Summary: The story is an AU about Soul who is a prince going on a quest with his knight Maka in a medieval fantasy with magical elements

[sharks833]

Resbang

Im happy to be posting my Resbang this year I had alot of fun writting and working with @thtguyhedge and @jinkouuart ! you can read my story here at ffn https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14444142/1/Quest-Chapter-3 ! be sure to check out there amazing art! happy Resbang

[not-so-scandalous]

The Masque of the Red Death (Reverb 2024)

Heya everyone! I am beyond excited to show you The Masque of the Red Death! I was extremely lucky to have both @sharks833 and @professor-maka as partners for this project!

Check out Shark's work here! https://www.fanfiction.net/~sharks833

Proma will be posing a bit later, and I will put the link on here then for that work!

And here is the artwork I created! I had so much fun working on this (and I may have lost my mind a little while working on it haha) But check out the work of my fantastic partners!

And a HUGE freaking thanks to @reverbmod for organizing this event and putting up my constant questions and shenanigans!

Anyway, enjoy all the other wonderful works from this event, and

HAPPY REVERB 2024!!!

See you soon! :)

[sharks833]

2024 Chibi!Reverber

Im excited to post my controbution to the 2024 Chibi reverb! I got to work with @not-so-scandalous to write a story to go along with her amazing art! I had alot of fun and now im excited to read and admire all the writings and art of everyone who has posted. If you want to read my take on Soul Eater the Masquerade of the Red Death you can read it here https://www.fanfiction.net/~sharks833 at my fanfic.net. Thank you to the mods @reverbmod and till the next event enjoy! :)

[reverbmod]

Artist @not-so-scandalous presents:

The Red Masque of Death

with Author: @professor-maka

When the gang is sent to infiltrate a suspicious series of gatherings that turn out to be at the heart of a dark coven, shenanigans ensue.

While Maka and Black Star seem to think it’s Second Halloween and bicker over who wore it best, with poor, beleaguered Tsubaki stuck mediating, Liz and Patti are just excited for the open bar, Kid won’t stop fussing with his own costume, and Soul can’t help but wonder for the umpteenth time that day—did it really have to be a masque?

Is this mission doomed before it can even begin, or will our heroes get it together long enough not to become witch fodder?

TW: Violence, Sexual Innuendo, Language. Rating: T/PG-13

And

The Masque of the Red Death

with Author: @sharks833

There is a plague gripping Death City and in order to lift the spirits of the students, Lord Death is throwing a masquerade in the Old Abby. With lots of fancy masks and fitted clothing, what awaits Soul and Maka as they set off to attend this party? A mysterious and wholesome evening with friends might be just what everyone needs to relax. Maybe this is just the opportunity two students need to realize how much they mean to each other? 

Warnings: None

Rating: T

[not-so-scandalous]

Happy Holidays! My @sesecretsanta gift was for @chichirichick! I hope you enjoy it! It was so much fun to do!

[bcbdrums]

Just Another Saturday

My @sesecretsanta gift for @sharks833! I have attempted humor and I hope you'll enjoy!!!

Double-posted here and on AO3.

--------

It was Saturday. Soul knew this because it was the heat of the sun that woke him that morning rather than his alarm clock as it crested the opposing building on the street and sent its bright rays in through his window.

He absently felt for the cord of his blinds, twisting it to block out the offending light, and then rolled over with a satisfied sigh. Next to the pillow his fingers tapped out the rhythm of a jazz piece that he'd had stuck in his head for a few days as he let the comfortable feeling of the weekend slowly wake him up, starting with the smell of something sweet, doughy, and greasy coming from the kitchen.

Donuts. And something else. Was Maka making donuts?

The curiosity was almost enough to drag him up, but he would take a few extra minutes to laze in bed. And truly he could take as long as he wanted. It had been a long time since he'd been able to relax like this in the apartment and not be watching his back for witchy cats that had no sense of personal space.

There was a light rapping on his door.

"Knock knock!"

"Come in," Soul answered, sitting up and tugging at his t-shirt to straighten it.

Maka opened the door just enough to peek in with a cheery smile.

"If you sleep too long, it'll be lunch time," she teased.

"Aren't we going to Kid's place for lunch?"

"I'm surprised you remembered," Maka commented. "There's fresh donuts and omelets out here."

"I'm coming," Soul said with feigned annoyance as Maka walked away, leaving the door ajar. Soul hurried to get some pants on as the scents began to make his mouth water.

"Seems like you've been sleeping a lot better lately," Maka called back.

Soul smiled his agreement even though she couldn't see it. "Yeah, well when you don't have a crazy cat who belongs in a centerfold jumping on you in the morning..."

"I wonder what happened to her," was Maka's distant reply, and Soul considered the matter for himself. Their feline squatter had been gone for more than two months, and while they couldn't help but be concerned, frustrating hormones aside, she was still their cat.

"Do you think we should put up lost cat signs?" Maka continued as Soul passed from his bedroom into the kitchen. The tiny dinette set already had breakfast laid out for two, with napkins neatly folded under their forks and even a fresh-cut flower in a vase in the middle of the table. Soul took this in as he pondered Maka's words.

"Maybe, but should they have a picture of her as a cat or as a human?" he mused as he reached for the milk carton, but Maka beat him to it.

He sat down as she poured his glass for him, and an involuntary warmth found its way to his face. None of what Maka did was pampering, really. It was just normal stuff. And yet it made him feel like she was giving him special attention.

"Probably both..." Maka said as she put away the milk and joined Soul at the table, though her brow had pinched in the middle.

"I know which photo would get more attention," Soul added.

"Of course you would say that," Maka replied quickly, and Soul noticed her jaw had tensed. The warmth in his cheeks faded, but he was determined not to let irritation take its place. He kept his voice level as he continued.

"Maka, think about it. We put up a picture of Blair as a human with a really big phone number, and then underneath that we—"

"Never mind, we don't need posters," Maka interrupted. "Eat your donut before it gets cold."

Soul looked down at the plate. The omelet was near-perfect in both the folding and the even color of its cook. He could see tiny chopped pieces of bacon and scallion cooked into the egg, as well as shining ribbons where shredded cheese had been melted in during the last minute. He knew there was more stuff hidden in there, chopped finely the way he liked it.

The word pampering flitted through his head again but he set the thought aside as he looked at the glistening prize that sat next to the omelet. The donut was perfectly round and puffed—Kid would approve—and the translucent sugar glaze was still dripping warm down its curves.

Soul heard a slight smacking and looked up to where Maka had her pinky finger in her mouth, slowly sucking the sticky glaze off. He glanced to her plate where the donut showed a single bite taken, and then back up as she slowly licked her fingers clean one at a time, her smiling eyes fixed upon his.

Soul grabbed his fork and knife as the warmth returned to his cheeks like a flame.

And Maka thought Blair was a distraction.

"Sheesh, you don't have to eat so messy," he said, cutting into the donut and turning his nose up slightly as he forked a small, manageable piece into his mouth. His next words were muffled through his chewing. "Have a little class."

"And I should take lessons from you?" Maka said before making a second pass over each of her fingers. Soul caught a brief glimpse of her tongue before the pink of her lips sealed tightly around one finger to suck the remaining sugar off.

Soul glared down at his plate.

"If we wanna have a good time at Kid's later, you'd better remember some manners."

Before Maka could reply, a soft but clear mew stopped both of them in their thoughts. They made eye contact briefly before both rising from the table and hurrying toward the source of the sound, which was definitely Soul's bedroom.

Their rush through the doorway was abruptly halted as a very tiny kitten stood in the middle of the floor. It was very young, its eyes still baby blue and ears and paws too large for its body, and the over-long baby fur was a striking deep red. The tiny thing caught sight of them instantly, let out another mew, and began toddling toward them.

"Butternut!" a familiar voice called from somewhere nearby, but hidden low, "come back here!"

Maka and Soul watched the tiny kitten continue toward them, its pokey tail standing straight up as it lost its footing each time it tried to lift its eyes from the carpet to the two astonished humans, and then the source of the voice made herself known. Blair appeared from the dark recesses beneath Soul's bed and hurried to stop the kitten from wandering too far.

"Sorry!" she declared, looking up at Soul and Maka from under her hat. "I shouldn't have brought them here so young but it just wasn't safe anywhere else. They're getting too curious."

"'They'?" Soul said unnecessarily, the answer obvious, and then as if in reply four more tiny red balls of fur tottered out from under the bed after Blair.

"Meow! Well, I guess it's time for introductions! Meet Butternut, Sugar, Blaze, Harvest, and Jack. I named them all after pumpkins!"

Maka knelt down to receive the curious litter as they all scampered unsteadily forward, beginning to climb her jeans and up into her lap as she giggled. Soul stared in bewilderment, wondering when the tricky feline had sneaked the litter in without his knowing.

That question led to a flurry of secondary thoughts, wondering if there was now a mess under his bed that he needed to be concerned about and what on earth they were going to do with the litter as kittens reaching the mobile age with their claws would be the destruction of all his possessions.

"They're so sweet!" Maka declared, holding one up to her cheek to cuddle.

One of the kittens crawled atop Soul's sock-clad foot, and he sat on the bed to reach down and detach the tiny, needle-like claws that had gone into his skin.

"So this is where you've been... We'll have to get a bigger cat bed," Maka continued as Soul managed to remove the kitten from his foot only to have it somehow dig the claws of all four paws into his hand and wrist. It mewed in protest as he picked it up and tried to extricate himself, latching onto his arm instead.

"If she's gonna make a habit of this maybe we should get her fixed— Hey!"

One tiny claw ripped a red line across the top of Soul's forearm, red immediately appearing amid coarse white hairs, and he missed whatever it was Maka and Blair both said in opposition to his annoyed comment.

"Blair, can you get this uh...Butternut off of me?"

"That's Harvest," Blair said, hopping up on the bed and deftly picking the kitten off of Soul's arm with her teeth.

"Thanks," Soul said in relief, looking at the small dots of blood beginning to seep out in a line across his skin.

"So who's the lucky cat?" Maka said, taking the kitten from Blair and holding it up to her face. Soul marveled at how she could nuzzle the tiny creature without receiving a single scratch. It even gave her nose a curious lick, and Soul stared in exasperation. Maybe he just wasn't the type of person cats liked.

"A cat!?" Blair laughed, hopping into Soul's lap. In a flash she'd transformed, and Soul grunted as he was suddenly bearing all of her weight as she put her arms around him, his chin uncomfortably sat upon her ample bosom. She purred and rubbed her cheek to his as she continued. "Well, I suppose it could have been a cat. But that's not where my preferences lie."

Soul's mind had gone blank with the combined shock of the scratches, the sudden presence of the woman deeper in his personal space than he knew how to handle, and the implications of her words that by the look on Maka's face were clearly being interpreted exactly one way. And he found his tongue paralyzed to protest as her face went red and combustion was surely imminent.

"Soul!"

Her voice was rough as she screeched his name, a mixture of fury and horror.

"Maka!" he started to protest, but his words were cut off as Blair pushed her chest up into his face with a giggle. He suddenly found breathing to be as much a concern as explaining to Maka that she had it all wrong, that he would definitely remember if he had anything to do with the army of tiny daggers that were starting to make their way up his pant leg, mewing for their mother all the way.

"How could you!?" Maka fumed, looking near to tears even as she still cradled one of the kittens, her eyes darting between his face and the creature of dubious origin.

"No, you've got it all wrong!" he gasped as he tried to wriggle away from the cat-lady's grasp. "I've never—!"

His words were cut off as a book flew through the space between them and hit him square in the face. Blair let go with a small meow of surprise, shifting off of his lap, and Soul slid helplessly to the floor. His nose throbbed with hot pain from the impact and he blinked his vision back into focus as the kitten that had climbed his leg dug its claws into his thigh.

"Oww!" he finally whined, both in protest to the dangerous ball of fluff and for the frustration of the situation. Why did Blair have to vanish for two months only to come back and give Maka creepy ideas in less than a minute?

"Soul!" Maka said again, but this time her fury was laced with the cold edge of threat. Soul was torn between attempting another defense, fleeing, or simply accepting his fate despite the fact he was innocent.

But fate was kind as suddenly Blair spoke up and became his salvation.

"Oh, no silly. They're the spitting image of their father!"

Soul watched the blind rage fade from Maka's eyes to be slowly replaced by confusion. The kitten on his leg tumbled down into his lap and then to the floor, where it tottered over to join its siblings near his meister's folded knees. He stared dully at the kittens, faintly recalling the pumpkin-inspired names Blair had mentioned as his mind replayed her words and he really looked at the litter.

Spitting image of their father. Rich, very red fur.

Soul saw the realization hit Maka at the same moment it hit him, and their eyes met in shock.

"No... No way..." Soul said, completely disbelieving. Death Scythe may be a lot of things, but this...

"Meet your new siblings, Maka!" Blair said exuberantly, kneeling next to Soul to scoop up two of her brood and hold them up in front of the meister with a coy smile.

Soul's breath caught as he watched Maka's face, suddenly unable to read her expression. Her eyes had gone frighteningly void, but the slow furrowing of her brow and the tensing of her jaw signaled a rage far greater than what she had expressed toward him moments ago.

"Soul," she said crisply, her vocabulary having apparently been reduced to just his name.

Soul reached up to rub his aching nose, crossing his eyes to see the red mark appearing there. "So...should I call Kid and tell him lunch is off?"

Maka gently moved the kittens away from her and rose without a word to stalk out of the room. Soul simply stared after her until the feeling of claws against his foot startled him back to awareness.

Blair lifted the kitten away from him, for which he was grateful, but then cringed when she brought it up to her lips and gave a lick. He wondered, if they were truly part magic cat and part demon weapon, would they end up with powers and various transformational abilities?

The mental image of the kittens' claws turning into scythes caused him to lean even further away as Blair transformed back into a cat, seemingly having decided to bathe her brood.

"Soul." Maka's voice startled him from the doorway, and he turned to see that she had rapidly changed into her preferred battle attire. He knew what that meant.

"Or maybe I'll just send Kid a text message," he muttered as he stumbled to his feet as Maka turned to leave. A hoodie and headband would make him look more presentable, he thought, grabbing the two items as he scrambled after his meister.

He wished he'd had time to eat as his stomach began turning at the thought of the imminent confrontation with Death Scythe. And then as an afterthought after pushing his feet into his shoes, he grabbed the plate of donuts off the counter. It was going to be a very interesting weekend... He would take tiny pieces of relief where he could find them.

"Hey, Maka," he called as he hurried out of the apartment after her. "Do you want a donut?"

Back in the doorway of Soul's bedroom, Blair and the stumbling balls of gangly limbs were staring after the two humans in confusion.

"Meow? I thought she would like some siblings..."

Blair looked at her kittens and their fluffy red fur, assessing them as they played.

"Should I tell her about Fish-Shop Guy's red cat? I did have a lot of his catnip that night... Meowh-well, maybe later!"

[sharks833]

Soul Eater Secret Santa

I was lucky enough to be @not-so-scandalous Secret Santa so here is their gift. I had fun writing and I hope everyone enjoys reading it @sesecretsanta

“Soul, you failed another written test!” Sid said, holding Soul’s test out in front of him. Soul put his hands being his head and leaned back in his chair. “So what?” he shrugged, “iv already eaten enough souls to transform into a death scythe, why does it matter what I get on a stupid written test?” Sid shook his head feeling defeated. “Theres more to being a death scythe than collecting souls. The first thing you learn is that a sound soul dwells in a sound mind in a sound body. You won’t graduate if you can’t get your grades up.” Soul, as nonchalant as ever shrugged Sid off. “Are we done here? Class has been over for five minutes already. Besides Maka knows it all and she’s my mister so why do I have to know it also? She knows enough for the two of us.” “It’s not fair to Maka that she should have to work twice as hard for your sake!” Sid shoots back. A silent moment passes before Sid turns back to Soul. “Look if you can’t get your written work up to at least a passing level then Maka is going to graduate without you…”

“Soul!!” Both Soul and Sid look over to see Maka standing in the doorway to the classroom. “What’s taken you so long?” Maka walks into the room and sees a concerned look on Sid’s face. “What the matter teacher is everything ok with Soul?” She looks over at Soul who has a big frown on his face. It’s unusual for Soul to look so animated, what’s going on here? Maka thought to herself.  “I’m glad you hear Maka I have an assignment for you.” Sid said, turning to the meister. “Soul failed another test, so I want you to touter him.” Maka turned to Soul and pulled out her book before slamming it on his head. “Maka Chop!” she yelled as the spine of her big blue book collided with her weapons skull. Nothing? She thought to herself as Soul maintained his frown. Maka turned back to Sid before bowing slightly. “Don’t worry teacher I’ll make sure he passes with flying colors!” She reached out and grabbed Soul’s hand, dragging him behind her as she made her way to the door.

Soul followed behind Maka, who despite being half-way home was still holding onto his hand. It’s not fair to Maka... if you don’t pass, she’s going to graduate without you... He couldn’t get Sid’s words out of his head. This is so uncool. *thud* Soul walked into the back of Maka who had stopped walking. “Sorry…” Soul said slowly while looking up from the ground. Maka turned around and hugged him. “What’s this all about?” he asked while returning her embrace. He was a bit taller than his ashy blond haired meister and could easily wrap her whole body in his embrace. This isn’t like her, she’s far quicker to hit me than hug me. What’s going on? “Is everything ok?” She asked with a concerning tone. Blush quickly filled Soul’s face as he let go of Maka. “Yeah, I just have to do better on this stupid test.” Man am I really concerning her this much...? how uncool. Maka released Soul from her embrace and raised his hand as far up as she could reach, which admittedly wasn’t very high up for soul. “Well don’t worry about a thing I’ll make sure you pass with flying colors! You just need a little help getting motivated is all.” “Well, you don’t have to worry about that.” Soul said while awkwardly scratching the back of his head. “Why? What could Sid possibly say to get you motivated? You wouldn’t get out of bed if the apartment was on fire.” Maka laughed trying to lighten the mood. “He said that if I can’t pass our partnership would be over.”

“I won’t let that happen!” Maka yelled unflinchingly.  “But if I don’t graduate, you’ll move on without me.” Soul looked up for the first-time sense talking to Sid. “Then I guess well just have to make sure you pass. Besides, no one can stop us from being partners.” “But if you move on, they’ll give you a new partner.” Soul said now staring into Maka’s eyes. Her green eyes gleaming with determination. How could she be so sure? “You really think I’d take a new partner? Cool guys don’t cheat on their partner. You taught me that remember?” Soul thought back to their encounter with Blair. How he tricked that believed witch into thinking he would be her partner. How much they have been through together. “Yeah, your right,” Soul began, “as if we’d let them break us up anyway!” Soul sighed a breath of relief, feeling confident again. Maka smiled seeing Soul return to his old self. “Now let’s hurry back! We have a lot of studying to do!” With that, Maka dragged Soul the rest of the way home.

Soul slouched down into the couch nervously tapping his finger on the arm rest. Man, I have to study, and remember the things I study? I still don’t understand why I have to know it when my partner already does. Soul watched as Maka dragged her finger along the row of books on her bookshelf. “Hmm, lets see here.” She thought out loud to herself. “Where to start.” She passes by book after book looking for the perfect find to help her partner learn. “What do you think you struggle with?” she asked, turning around to face Soul who was now nervously sweating. “Uh, I don’t know… I guess all of it?” Soul said, his voice with a slight shake he was hoping Maka wouldn’t pick up on. “No problem!” Maka replied in a cheerful tone. “Let’s start where all things do, at the beginning.” And with that she pulled out the towering blue book whose spine had become all too familiar to the top of his head. “I have to read that?” Soul asked. The page count had to be over 1000 by the weight alone. “Not all of it silly, just the part on the Soul.”

Soul stretched out across the couch putting his arms behind his head and his feet up over the arm. “Can’t you read it to me? By the time I get to the end of the paragraph I’m going to forget how it started.” Maka walked over to the couch clearly upset by how nonchalant Soul was being. “That’s why you have to pay attention, and not think about anything else.” Soul looked over at a now all-to-close Maka for how defenseless he was. “And if you forget what you just read, as sad as it may be, you have to reread what you just read.” Soul let out a deep sigh before sitting up. I have to do this, he thought to himself. He looked over at Maka who had was holding the book out for him. I have to do this for her… “Ok!” he yelled, taking the book from her. “Compared to taking a sword to the chest this should be easy.” “That’s the spirt!” Maka yelled matching Soul’s enthusiasm. “You just get comfy and ill make some tea. Oh, and you know it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that people read in their heads. If you want, you can read out loud, it might help you remember.” Soul turned the book over in his hands.  The complete collection of works by Plato. He turned it open to the table of content, containing each work and the page it began on. He looked over a few of the titles that caught his eye. Symposium, 22. Ion, 55. Gorgias, 300. Republic, 650. Some have stars next to them, others a small T, some nothing at all. Soul felt the weight of the book in his hand and started to feel overwhelmed. “Where do I start again?” he asked, peering into the kitchen to see Maka setting a teapot on the stove. “Righhht here!” she said, thumbing through the pages to the section on the soul.

Soul sat back down, crossed one leg over the other, and started reading. Not surprisingly he had done none of the readings for class. He always hoped Blackstar would fill him in, who hopefully would have been filled in by Tsubaki. Blackstar always turned down Tsubaki’s retelling of the reading, hoping instead to get it from Soul who would have hopefully gotten it from Maka. Soul didn’t dare read out loud per Maka’s suggestion, as this was going to be hard enough without trying to pronounce everything. A few minutes went by, and the first page was down. Not to bad Soul thought to himself, but he was surprised, this was just to people talking back and forth like a play, not the tertius or essay he was expecting. “When do they get to the soul?” He asked Maka who had started cooking. “Just keep reading!” she yelled over the sound of running water as she filled a pot. A few more minutes later and Soul had finished the first five pages! A new record, he thought to himself. Just as he turned the page, he heard the tea pot start to whistle.

Maka quickly came over with a tray containing two cups and the tea pot. She sat down next to Soul, admiring how studious he was being. She poured two cups of tea and took a sip. “Nonthin’ like a nice cup ‘a tea!” she says in her best British accent. Soul takes a sip and notices how close Maka is. “Careful it’s hot.” She says as Soul quickly leans back as he burns his tongue. Maka giggles to herself as Soul quickly tries to swallow the hot tea so as not to make a mess. “How’s the reading coming along?” she asks, throwing an arm around the back side of the couch.  “Gooood” Soul answers trying to blow on his own tongue. Maka sips her tea before turning back to a red Soul. “Sorry, I hope it’s not too hot” she says apologetically. “It’s fine” he says trying to play off how much his tongue actually hurt before quickly turning away from Maka. “Okay, well ill let you get back to reading, dinner is almost ready.” “What are you making?” Souk asks, watching Maka as she walks back to their kitchen. “Pasta! Fettuccine with alfredo sauce to be exact.” “Need any help?” Maka turns around shocked, “you? Want to help cook? Is the book that bad?” She says in disbelief. “I’ve read a good five pages I think iv earned a little break.” He stands up to join Maka in the other room. “Oh no you don’t” she says, putting her hands on his chest, slowly pushing him back onto the couch. “This is serious you have to read, no distractions.” Soul, now firmly planted back onto the couch, let out a big sigh before turning the page back to where he left off.

“Okay the pasta is ready!” Maka yells to Soul, still trapped on the couch. Finally, now I can eat. I don’t think I can read much more, and they still haven’t really said anything about the nature of the soul. “You read this whole thing?” Soul asks, sitting down across from Maka who already set him a plate with noodles. “Iv read all of this section, as it was assigned, but I haven’t read the whole book if that’s what you mean.” Soul slurps down some creamy noodles covered in parmesan cheese. “So, what have you learned so far?” Maka asks while grabbing a piece of garlic bread that she also baked. “That the real treasure is the friends we made along the way” Soul says in a sarcastic tone. “Very funny.” Maka responds in an unamused tone. “I haven’t gotten to anything important yet. This is going to take forever, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to remember the important sentence when there are a million of them.” “They are all important! Think about when you’re trying to write and you don’t know what to say, well these are the things that your supposed to say! If you pay attention, it will help your own writing.” Can’t you just tell me the important parts? I’ll remember it way better if it’s coming from you.” … “You promise you’ll remember if I tell you” Maka says after a long pause. “Way more than if I just read it in a book, when I’m reading, I’m thinking of all these different seniors and random thoughts that I never think, but when you’re talking, I can’t help but focus on you.”  Maka blushed and looked down at her pasta, unable to maintain Soul’s gaze. “Fine! But you better pay attention!”

Soul cleaned the kitchen while Maka took the book back quickly scanning the section to review, not that she needed to of course but just so she could remember exactly how the book had it. “Okay I’m ready.” Soul says walking into the living room, making his way to the couch before he plops down in his all-to-familiar spot. Remember you said you’d pay attention.” Maka says as she sits down on the other end of the couch throwing her legs over Soul’s lap. “If you don’t, you’re getting a good kick!” Soul gulps feeling very venerable, staring at Maka’s long legs that he loves to admire. “Carful where you throw those big ankles!” Soul teases trying to play it cool. “Maka Chop!” she says lifting a leg up before letting her heal fall onto his leg. “Ouch, alright lets just get this over with.”

“So, as you know a sound soul, dwells in a sound mind, in a sound body, but do you know why that is?” “Umm, because you say so?” “No. its because the soul, like its human counterpart, has three parts. The three parts of the Soul are the desiring part, the spirited part, and the rational part. A sound soul is a one in which each part is in resonance with the other. And when two people resonate with each other they become one in their soul. That’s why its important to have a sound soul, for both you and your partners sake.” For your partners sake huh, I guess if its for her it wouldn’t hurt to get things together… “Alright, but how do you get your soul to resonate with itself?” Soul asks, trying his best to remember everything his partner was saying. “Well pretty much everyone is ruled by one part of their soul, so you have to train the other two parts to get yourself back in balance, or find someone who has the qualities you need, so that they can rub off on you, and you can help them with whatever part they struggle with.”  “Well, you’re obviously the rational type.” Soul said half mockingly “but what part do you struggle in?” Maka thought to herself about whether or not she lacked desire or spirit. “Well, they say desire is about bringing in good things, and spirit is about pushing away bad things, while reason is knowing what’s good and what’s bad.” “You’re definitely lacking in spirit then.” Soul laughed; you’d be full black blood crazy right now if it wasn’t for me pulling out of that evil stuff.” Maka frowned, she doesn’t like having her flaws laughed at, and fired back, “Well good thing I’m here because you don’t give anything any thought!” Soul looked over at Maka who was now staring at him. He smiled before saying “then I guess it’s a good thing we have each other, ill keep you safe from evil, and you just tell me what to do.” Maka blushed for what felt like the thousandth time that day before smiling back. “Well, we do make a good team, thank you Soul.” Maka’s sudden boldness caught Soul off guard, he turned red before giving a big smile and saying, “you’re the best partner ever.”

They spent the rest of the night there on the couch with Maka explaining the nature of the soul, with her partner listening closely. “And that’s everything you need to know for the test!” Maka exclaimed, the book making a loud smack as she closed it shut. “It’s late, and you have a test to retake tomorrow.” She said offering Soul a hand off the couch. Soul grabbed her hand as she pulled him up off the couch. “woah” Soul yelled as he fell into Maka. “I guess my legs fell asleep with yours on top of them for so long.” “Why didn’t you say your legs hurt!” she yelled, holding him upright. “I guess I was so focused I didn’t notice.” Soul said while clinging onto Maka for dear life. “Yeah right, well whatever.” With that Maka picked her partner up before dropping him off in his bed. “This is so uncool…” Soul sighed as Maka carried Soul like a baby.

“Well, I’m impressed Soul, you really turned things around, I'll be honest, I didn’t think you could do it, but I guess Maka’s a real miracle worker.” Sid said handing Soul his test back. “This was too easy why don’t you give me something tough next time.” Soul mocked, laughing to himself as he looked over his test. “Well, it looks like you got it together, I'm proud of you.” “Well, how did it go!” Maka says busting into the room. “How do you think it went? I passed, of course,” Maka runs over and hugs Soul “I knew you could do it!” “You two will be happy to know you can go back to hunting witches and all other kishen souls. I hope now that you have a better understanding of the soul, you’ll be able to resonate with Maka better.” “I guess so, I’m just going to follow Maka like always… but I guess knowing what we each need from the other is helpful.” Soul begrudgingly admitted. “Knowledge is power Soul, remember that.” “Whatever, Maka let's get out of here.” With that, he grabbed his partner’s hand as they walked back home together.

[sesecretsanta]

[sharks833]

Resbang 2022

Here is my submission for this years Resbang! It was a lot of fun to do a follow-up to my story from last year; I could do the same next year too!

Thank you to my partners https://at.tumblr.com/guacamoletrash/art-for-quest-by-sharks833-happy-10-years/r03dyz1qva7q and https://at.tumblr.com/3lectricinsomnia/gjdbznlrnvgu for their artwork to accompany my story!

You can read my story at my fanfiction.net here!

Happy Resbang!