#undescension

[flovverworks]

"Does the cat thing like pets?" They're crouched near it, with their one good eye balefully staring up at the person who bears a matching given name to themself: the posture of their widespread legs clashing with the soft, pink frills of today's skirt, their untamed hair framing their silhouette in a clumsy veil. "I didn't get one of these. Never had a cat either, so I figured I'd ask."

It's not a thing, they want to defend, but the words stay in their heart. Squirming and grasping, hooked onto a feeling of inevitability they hadn't felt in a long, long time. Yet, if they were to say it, this person might understand. A fumbled mess of you are me and I am you that Akira couldn't really grasp their head around, didn't know if they should grasp their head around. The possibilities and choices of life and curiosity as to what this person had been through to adopt a demeanor so different from their own (a part of them wished they could be as confident), would they think it as well? Hello, who are you.

Neither of them had had a cat and that made them kind of sad, because cats were cute, and as much as they wanted one, the realistic aspects of it never worked out. In another world, in another life, I'd like to have a cat, and with this, with meeting them, maybe that did exist somewhere. But they didn't recognize the sacri-something. So, then, it hadn't been created yet? Or was never going to be created? For a brief moment, their breathing turns shaky. Regardless of which was true, the experiences was different, and another thing could be piled on the list of their differences. Maybe they should both talk about what they know, maybe then what was foretold could be averted. …They should bring that suggestion to Oz later and see what he thought of it. It was worth a try.

In the end, they didn't even share names.

"It does", and while they're positive of it, they still speak slowly, averting their eyes from said being. How lucky, Sakitty, that another person can give you love.

...

It's just that, this feels like lying.

"That...cat", they can't call it a thing, "is a sacri...something, I forgot the name... Snow and White made it for me", they start explaining, not looking for understanding, but because being withheld information hurts. They can't do that someone who, like them, are working so hard to help their wizards. "It's meant to take the hit, if I get hurt", surprisingly, the words are said without hesitation.

But not once did they look at it.

[tsuzukerukoto]

⭐ I arrive three hours late to the function with banana bread

@undescension MULTIMUSE MEME: Send a " ⭐ " and I will list muses I would be interested in throwing at yours, or potential muse combinations if you are also a multi! -- Not accepting

I thank you for the banana bread, and we eat it! Also don't worry about lateness!

I've got a long-dormant God Eater 1 protag verse for Makoto, so I'd like to toss him at your GE muses like Alisa, Kouta, and Phym! Outside of verses, I'm also interested in him interacting with Snake, Clover, and Hibiki. And speaking of Ranger Reject, I'd love for Shirou and Hibiki, as well as Shirou and Akabane, to interact. With Shirou's own extreme hero complex (he'd definitely be aiming to join the rangers), I think there could be some interesting stuff there. I also think that Shiki and Brunestud would be good too (thinks abt that one scene in Kagetsu Tohya in particular). And also Muramasa and your Orient muses! He's a swordsmith and they use swords, so it works out really nicely.

[novastrae]

@undescension / akabane asked: "I can cook, you know." They look like they're seeing a ghost: in their defense, having Sosei Akabane raiding your kitchen for breakfast ingredients at some unholy hour of morning would probably knock most people flat. Decima doesn't pay attention to television, charmingly, reassuringly, so it's more likely they're just surprised he knows how to cook at all -- he'd pretty much only been seen eating takeout or junk food around them, after all (can't help it, he has a penchant for grease and sodium). "I survived taking care of a kid on my own for approximately her entire life. Anyways, I'll be back home for a few months for filming again, I'll call before I head back. Oh. Right, do you like scrambled or fried eggs?"

You were just a tad startled by the man trying to cook at... three am? Why was he trying to cook at three am? You weren't, of course, going to complain - it was almost like Sosei was a housewife. Almost.

Quietly, you moved behind him and buried your face in between his shoulderblades sleepily, letting out an almost pathetic yawn.

" Mm... " Another yawn, one of your hands moved to scratch at your hip, while another went around to hug him close, and you pressed a kiss at the bottom of his neck, right where his back began, and you sleepily let out a grumble.

" Too early for you to clink-clang around my kitchen, asshole, " You yawned again, nuzzling his skin softly. " Are you gonna be taking Aguri with you, habibi, or is she gonna be staying back here with us? " You'd understand either way - on one hand, that's his daughter, and you and Sosei's other partner weren't much more than 'the clowns her father was dating,' but on the other hand, you also acknowledged he probably didn't want to pull her out of school to transfer her elsewhere only for a few months.

" Mm... Soft-boiled. " Scrambled was always a little too slimy for you, and fried was a bit too yolk-y for you.

[screenviolense]

@undescension sent: "Hmm. I've never actually grown anything before, as far as I know." Pasca has her head tilted to the side, holding the box of vegetables obtained from the other, enjoying the smell of the dirt which still clings to the crops. To make plants look both so pretty and so tasty, Frey must be very talented: Pasca has never considered the idea of what uncooked crops look like, so this is both new and enjoyable to her. "At least, I'm not entirely sure if I have. I kinda have some memory issues. Is it fun to take care of these little guys?"

　　' well, i might be biased-- ' after all, she never shied away from hard work and she only felt restless when she wasn't balancing a million different tasks. ' -- i think it's very fun. sure, it may take long for the crops to fully grow, but every harvest is better than the last. and sometimes i end up with gigantic crops that are triple the size of others. '

[bonescribes-a]

"You sure eat a lot, don't you, Yucchan?" He's actually paused eating his own food to watch Yukito: it's not that Shun doesn't eat a lot himself, but this is more than he can conceptualize -- kind of awe-inspiring, but he figures it's probably just the other having another growth spurt or something (teenagers are like that, you turn around and they're suddenly hulking over you despite your best efforts). Kids sure do grow fast -- as if he didn't just exit being one himself, like he isn't scrambling and failing at being a proper adult. "At that rate, you're gonna be a fuckin' tree by the time you're done growing. If you want something else, I don't mind ordering it."

yukito blinks over at tokita with wide eyes and cheeks stuffed with food . the pace at which he eats is perfectly normal to him -- and to the level of hunger he always seems to feel . before responding , the teen swallows .

" do i ? everyone says eating well is a sign of good health . " they say it to him , specifically , when they realize just how much food he eats all the time . yukito has yet to realize this . " i wouldn't mind getting a little taller ... it would sure make basketball easier . "

yukito chuckles before waving a hand in front of himself . not that he couldn't eat more , but ... " no , you don't need to do that ! i mean , it's very kind of you to offer , but i have plenty of food at home , and i'd feel bad making you pay for anything more ... "

[novastrae]

@undescension / hibiki asked: "I can put away the dishes, don't worry. It's the least I can do since you're letting me crash on your couch." He's already hovering in the kitchen, shoved into clothes that don't quite fit (where they'd gotten these for him, Hibiki doesn't question, he just kind of accepts his fate: when you're a younger sibling, this is just life), carefully making note of where each thing goes in the cabinets. "Do you need a cup for a drink? I can leave one on the counter."

You watched him with a pause, brow quirked as you tilted your head. A blink for a moment. Did you need something to drink? You didn't know - but then again, if you didn't know, you probably should. But you also didn't want to drink anything at this moment. To stop yourself from overthinking, you ended up giving Hibiki a soft nod - you also made a note to stop by the store and grab him some actual clothes that'd fit. ( giving him your older brother's clothes from when he was a teen was only a temporary fix, it seems. )

" That'd be appreciated, " You offered a grin. " You might as well leave out two other cups, too, Habibi and Hayati are probably gonna be home from work here in an hour or two, and I don't want them rummaging around for cups when they're both exhausted. " A pause for a moment, as you tilted your head.

" Also, don't feel like you need to do anything to earn the chance to sleep on the couch, Habibi really wanted you to have somewhere to stay, and Hayati and I both agreed, " You explained with a snort.

" By the way, tell me your clothes size. I'll stop by one of the department stores on the way to the autoshop this weekend and get you some clothes that actually fit. "

[novastrae]

@undescension / souma asked: "Should be fine now." The thread is wrapped around her finger and torn plainly with her teeth, the arm of the bear Souma had been carefully working on reattaching now secured back in place: if she doesn't learn some sort of living skill, she's fucked, so at least she picked up this one. "This is your kid's, right? I can make it some clothes if you get me fabric."

" I really appreciate you helping me fix it, Souma, " Your voice was quiet as you watched her finish stitching the bear back together - the thread seemed to stick out like a sore thumb, but it's what she had at the moment, and for now, you didn't care, as long as the very-much-so loved bear got home safe and sound and in one piece altogether. ( you'd make a mental note to pick up some thread later that closely matched the stuffed bear's fur and ask her to help restitch it, even if you knew it'd be annoying of you. ) A pause for a moment.

" I can definitely head to the market at a later time and find some fabric, " You spoke softly with a smile. " Juno's... I suppose you could say particular about her fabrics and textures and such. Hence why the bear's so fluffy. " Your poor daughter had terrible sensory issues like you and her father, but because she's no older than two, they were horrible for her to deal with, so you did all you can to accomodate her.

[flovverworks]

"Are you like, really close to any of them in particular? The group you got flashbang pack-bonded with." They're peeling off their eyepatch as they ask the not-mirror their weird, clumsy inquiry: they haven't even truly asked who they even have in their assortment, haven't even checked to see if they have any different people (the possibility that maybe, someone doesn't exist, someone else is in their place, it plagues them like mold on six week old sliced bread). The cloth carefully removed, placed in their lap so softly as if it's a hair ribbon and not a covering for the aftermath of their own hubris, they turn to face their companion: other Akira, same name, slightly different meanings. Two-in-one, but not the same, like a set of earrings where the colors accidentally were mismatched. "I'm good friends with one of them, even if he complains. Probably wouldn't tell him directly, but I do think I like him more than just a friend. I'll tell you that much, so you don't gotta feel awkward now, okay?"

It's curious, the way they phrase it. Picking favorites wasn't something Akira was willing to do (with the exception of Riquet's hopeful eyes that one time), the time ticking by already leaving an uncomfortable feeling in their chest. How do you choose between your children, how do you choose between all the cats in the world, how do you choose between the people you love—but that's not what they're asked. Closeness is something they forced. In the guise of wishing the Sage after them to have an easier time adapting, to ensure the wizards didn't have to explain their dislike for certain situations year after year. It must've been uncomfortable, sharing your life with someone you just met. They hoped it to become useful one day—and that's not what they were asked either.

The curiosity (or maybe it's fear for what happened to only one of them) about their eye takes the backseat, their love for love stronger than their current habit of asking questions too personal. How romantic (how painful) to fall for someone in the world you were whisked to, like words straight out of a drama. Was it difficult to meet the him in this place? Or were they different so it didn't matter? (They didn't dare to consider that their wizards weren't the same.)

"I'm happy for you", they start, their interest in wishing to know more about it obvious. "Um, I mean, I'm sure it's very difficult. I don't have anyone like that, but thinking that I have to leave here one day..." for a moment the awe dies. "So if I was in love with any of them...I think I'd feel 'this is unfair'", a tragic romance, voiced with care. It hadn't been here, but their own heart had spoken those words before. Love wasn't easy, and even so they stayed so utterly enamored. "I hope you can tell him someday. It's a miracle you and I met, so maybe it'll work out! If you need any advice I'd love it if you asked me", and so the excitement returns, hoping that they'd eventually find out more about the wizard they didn't mention by name.

"As for me..." they do pause, searching their feelings to make sure, when in reality they already knew the moment the words left their mouth. "...Cain", ah, they had spoken of their affection for most of them in front or to them, and yet, doing it like this, had them feeling shy. Like the two of them were sharing secrets rather than curious questions. "When I first got here he was the one who listened to me", had the two of them shared the same start? Or did things already diverge back there. "He has this way of always making me feel like things will work out no matter what, I know he has a lot of things burdening him that he doesn't speak about, but I'm very grateful for him", they don't look at the other, instead holding their gaze slightly to the side while reminiscing all the times Cain had been looking out for them, and hoping they could repay even a fraction of that. "I don't know how close we are, but I think if I knew someone like him back in my world, life would be a bit more bearable."