This is my blog for my productive work, like writing, art, and occasionally cosplay. So more or less my professional (or at least more professional than my personal) blog.
So I wanted to give you all a Christmas one-shot/short story yesterday but I ended up in kitchen for most of the afternoon yesterday so I'm posting it now. (I'm sorry it's late but jesus have you ever tried to cook enough party food/nibbles to sustain 9 people with 6 of them being adults? It's much more difficult than you'd think. But anyway, on with the story).
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Tōshirō stared down at the bustling city below him, fascinated. He had gone to the human world many times now, but he had never seen it in such a state. The streets were packed with people, even though it was dark, late and cold, and different types of lights were strewn about the place, among other decorations. It was, well...Bizarre. He honestly had no idea what was going on. He knew humans had a tendency to put up loads of decorations on holidays and festivals, but he couldn't think of any that were happening now. But then again he only knew about the traditional celebrations.
A small gasp coming from behind him made him turn round. “I haven't seen you in ages!”
He didn't need to see her to recognise that voice, even if it had changed marginally. “Kurosaki.”
"Karin.”
Tōshirō rolled his eyes. “What are you doing out so late?”
"It's not that late, it's only half eight.”
“Still it's dark out, it's not safe.”
“Dark? With all the lights around?”
“Good point, but you know what I mean.”
Karin shrugged. “I snuck out so I could buy Yuzu her Christmas present. So far we've bought presents together and this is the first chance I've gotten.”
Tōshirō raised an eyebrow. “Christmas?”
Karin nodded. “It only really became popular in this country in recent decades so I'm not surprised you don't know. It's much more of a big deal in the Western world. But here it's a holiday to celebrate love more than anything else. You're supposed to give little gifts like teddy bears, scarves, gloves, jewellery, that sort of thing to people you love like good friends and family. Everyone gets together to eat and stuff. It's seen as one of those most romantic times in the year. It's supposed to be a big deal if you get asked out round Christmas, especially Christmas Eve. It's a pretty relaxed celebration in comparison to other holidays to be honest, but some people and shops take it too far.”
Tōshirō nodded. “That would explain all the lights down there.”
“Yep. All shops down there. They make a fortune around this time of year. Some people see it is a waste of money, but I think it's nice to appreciate the people round you.”
“I agree.”
“How long are you here for?”
“A week. Conducting investigations. Again.”
“It's always you, but that does mean you get to be here for Christmas!”
“I volunteer and if you say so.”
Karin nodded. “It's in 4 days. And you volunteer? Why?”
“It can get boring in Soul Society. Plus this place is so different, it's interesting.”
Karin smiled to herself. “That's always the way isn't it. Soul Society sounds so interesting to me, but I feel like it's so easy to get bored round here.”
“When you're not getting yourself into trouble that is.”
“Hey it's not like I do it deliberately! I swear the second the universe realises you're a Kurosaki it paints a big target on the back of your head.”
Tōshirō tried (and failed) not to grin. It was so true.
“So you got anywhere to stay yet?”
“No. I'm probably just going to go Urahara's.”
“I thought you usually go to Orihime's?”
“I tried, but she wasn't there.”
“Oh yeah, she's down at her great aunt's to celebrate.”
Tōshirō raised an eyebrow. “Celebrate?”
“Yeah, her great aunt was the one who supported her, gave her the money for her rent and school supplies and everything in exchange for Orihime getting good grades and actually doing something in her life. Orihime passed all of her exams with flying colours and is on her way to becoming a paediatrician and her great aunt is really proud of her, so she invited her round.”
“A paediatrician?”
“Fancy name for a doctor who treats children.”
“Oh she's perfect for that.”
Karin nodded. “Definitely. That's why her family is so excited for her. From what I understand, there aren't many women in her family, and she's the first one heading for success and supporting herself, rather than depending on marriages and men to support them instead.”
“I see. I'm glad for her.”
Karin nodded. “Yeah. Have you thought of where you gonna go then?”
“I was probably going to go to Urahara's.”
“Oh don't do that, he'll make you work for it. Come stay with us!”
“I don't want to impose.”
Karin gave him a pointed look. “Oh shut up you won't be. Yuzu loves having people round, you and Ichigo are friends and I want you there. There's no problem with you staying.”
“What about your father?”
“Ah now him I'm worried about. He may react a little strongly.”
“This is what I meant by an imposition.”
“Oh no he wouldn't mind, the issue is he would be ecstatic over me bringing you home around Christmas.”
“Oh. That's...an usual response.”
“Well my dad's unusual. C'mon, you can stay with us!”
Tōshirō knew that once Karin had made up her mind that was what was going to happen, so there was no point in arguing with her. He sighed as he followed her to her home, and couldn't help but wonder how the next week was going to go. He wished that it would go peacefully, but he wasn't sure that word was in the Kurosaki vocabulary. At least he was likely to enjoy himself if Karin was around. Even if her dad would get all excited about her bringing him home. Tōshirō cringed, remembering the last time he went round. Her sister, Yuzu, immediately assumed that they were dating. Giving that Christmas time is supposed to be romantic, he could only assume it would be worse. Tōshirō braced himself as Karin opened the front door, knowing this week could end up being quite a loud one.
1. Absent: preoccupied
2. Agonized: as if in pain or tormented
3. Alluring: attractive, in the sense of arousing desire
4. Appealing: attractive, in the sense of encouraging goodwill and/or interest
5. Beatific: see blissful
6. Bilious: ill-natured
7. Black: angry or sad, or see hostile
8. Bleak: see grim and hopeless
9. Blinking: surprise, or lack of concern
10. Blissful: showing a state of happiness or divine contentment
11. Blithe: carefree, lighthearted, or heedlessly indifferent
12. Brooding: see anxious and gloomy
13. Bug eyed: frightened or surprised
14. Chagrined: humiliated or disappointed
15. Cheeky: cocky, insolent
16. Cheerless: sad
17. Choleric: hot-tempered, irate
18. Coy: flirtily playful, or evasive
19. Crestfallen: see despondent
20. Darkly: with depressed or malevolent feelings
21. Deadpan: expressionless, to conceal emotion or heighten humor
22. Dejected: see despondent
23. Derisive: see sardonic
24. Despondent: depressed or discouraged
25. Doleful: sad or afflicted
26. Dour: stern or obstinate; see also despondent
27. Downcast: see despondent
28. Dreamy: distracted by daydreaming or fantasizing
29. Ecstatic: delighted or entranced
30. Etched: see fixed
31. Faint: cowardly, weak, or barely perceptible
32. Fixed: concentrated or immobile
33. Furtive: stealthy
34. Gazing: staring intently
35. Glancing: staring briefly as if curious but evasive
36. Glaring: see hostile
37. Glazed: expressionless due to fatigue or confusion
38. Gloomy: see despondent and sullen
39. Glowering: annoyed or angry
40. Glowing: see radiant
41. Grim: see despondent; also, fatalistic or pessimistic
42. Grave: serious, expressing emotion due to loss or sadness
43. Haunted: frightened, worried, or guilty
44. Hopeless: depressed by a lack of encouragement or optimism
45. Hostile: aggressively angry, intimidating, or resistant
46. Hunted: tense as if worried about pursuit
47. Impassive: see deadpan
48. Inscrutable: mysterious, unreadable
49. Jeering: insulting or mocking
50. Languid: lazy or weak
51. Leering: see meaningful; also, sexually suggestive
52. Meaningful: to convey an implicit connotation or shared secret
53. Mild: easygoing
54. Mischievous: annoyingly or maliciously playful
55. Moody: see sullen
56. Pained: affected with discomfort or pain
57. Pallid: see wan
58. Peering: with curiosity or suspicion
59. Peeved: annoyed
60. Petulant: see cheeky and peeved
61. Pitying: sympathetic
62. Pleading: seeking apology or assistance
63. Pouting: see sullen
64. Quizzical: questioning or confused
65. Radiant: bright, happy
66. Roguish: see mischievous
67. Sanguine: bloodthirsty, confident
68. Sardonic: mocking
69. Scornful: contemptuous or mocking
70. Scowling: displeased or threatening
71. Searching: curious or suspicious
72. Set: see fixed
73. Shamefaced: ashamed or bashful
74. Slack-jawed: dumbfounded or surprised
75. Sly: cunning; see also furtive and mischievous
76. Snarling: surly
77. Sneering: see scornful
78. Somber: see grave
79. Sour: unpleasant
80. Stolid: inexpressive
81. Straight-faced: see deadpan
82. Sulky: see sullen
83. Sullen: resentful
84. Taunting: see jeering
85. Taut: high-strung
86. Tense: see taut
87. Tight: see pained and taut
88. Unblinking: see fixed
89. Vacant: blank or stupid looking
90. Veiled: see inscrutable
91. Wan: pale, sickly; see also faint
92. Wary: cautious or cunning
93. Wide eyed: frightened or surprised
94. Wild eyed: excited, frightened, or stressful
95. Wistful: yearning or sadly thoughtful
96. Withering: devastating; see also wrathful
97. Woeful: full of grief or lamentation
98. Wolfish: see leering and mischievous
99. Wrathful: indignant or vengeful
100. Wry: twisted or crooked to express cleverness or a dark or ironic feeling
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