Asteriskheart - * Why Would A Star Ever Be Afraid Of The Dark - Tumblr Blog

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Apologies for the sudden disappearance. At the beginning of November, I left the country to attend my grand uncle's funeral and haven't really had the drive to be active on my blogs. Right now I'm focusing on getting back into writing.

I'm going to put this blog through a soft refresh of sorts to fix it, organize my muses and drafts to see what I need to catch up with, and post a few things I had been previously working on. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Chances

Zeldris loved his brother. More than anything. He gave him so many chances. Far more than what any other demon would have dared to consider.

With life in the Demon Realm, he and Meliodas may have had too much weight and pressure put upon their shoulders, but at least it was a burden they bore together. Zeldris nearly collapsed under the weight of it all after Meliodas gallivanted off with a goddess of all things.

Despite of what he assumed were murmurs of baseless criticism against Meliodas, he still maintained his trust and advocated for the elder prince in his absence, harshly defending him against the notion of his brother being willingly seen in the presence of a goddess, their sword enemy.

Soon after his exit, but before it was revealed he was a part of Stigma, he tried a final time to make Meliodas see reason. Tried convincing him that blatantly running off with the Supreme Deity's daughter was not worth bringing their father's ire upon him ( and he feared for his brother's life ), but Meliodas wouldn't capitulate.

But it was back when Meliodas tried to convince him to leave with Gelda, things truly changed. It was at that point Zeldris wondered if the level of care was one sided, if Meliodas was so blinded by the goddess that he could only view problems on a surface level, that his concern was skin deep / superficial at best. He didn't care think about Gelda's position in all this. Was she to endure the sunlight that bore down on the earth for as long as his brother dared to run ? Would she never know a moment of safety and security again in order to shoulder the burden Meliodas would toss on her shoulders ? His beloved was being used against him, a subtle manipulation to steer him to Meliodas' side, but a manipulation all the same to achieve what his brother wanted. Meliodas didn't care beyond any brother obligations that weren't already torn to shreds. He didn't think about the ramifications of what he himself had already done, what he was about to bring upon himself and sheer damage he was going to leave in his wake. It showed him how little thought he put into any of this.

But for a moment he considered. When Meliodas dangled hope on a string before it was cruelly ripped away, he wondered if he too could be strong like him, strong enough to take his brother's hand and fight against the storm to come. But he wasn't. He isn't. The realization of one time Meliodas tried reaching out, and it wasn't even sincere for the reasons he wished it were.

cough.....

        Eyes widened, a hand flying to her open mouth, reeling back slightly as she puts on an exaggerated act of being shocked at the results. She's not of course. It's him, after all. Riku !  It'd truly be a bigger surprise if he somehow didn't clear most of the card  ( and what did this say about her ? ).

        A breezy laugh broke the facade and a few easy steps brought her to his side. She clasped his shoulder, firmly shaking it a bit.  ❝ Stop lying Riku, I know what you are. And I know that you can be goofy. ❞

pretend that i sent this from katsuki's blog thx <3

@implde

         ❝ Hey, don't think I didn't notice this. ❞  A pen's deftly pulled out of her own pocket, a 'x' firmly etched into the center of the card. Obvious error aside, look at all the bingos he scored !  Almost flawlessly achieving a perfect blackout, the blank spots were more than made up for by the rest. Still, a touch of embarrassment pricked her stomach. Already, the girl long since figured out Katsuki was her type, but now the overwhelming majority sat right there on paper, almost condemning her tastes with how well he slotted himself in.

         …It is what it is. She's already nonchalantly leaning closer, beaming as fingers playfully tug at his sleeve.  ❝ While I'm visiting we should go out !  Any good recommendations for places ? ❞

Gemiya wins 😂

         Eyes gloss over columns and rows, two bingos pinpointed through the wide spread of penned eighth notes at a speed beyond realistic feasibility before discerning gaze flicks back up, radiating smugness from every pore after screening the card.

         ❝ Well well well. ❞ It's hard to resist the smirk threatening to split her face in two, so she won't even begin to try. ❝ And you didn't even need to be a villain to be after my own heart, right Gemi ? ❞

hi

“ Don't laugh. ” [ for kairi! ]

►  ❪  MIXED BAG  ❫

         The wrong choice of words to make use of in this scenario  ( of all scenarios !! ), serving to achieve the opposite effect he desired. Manifesting as a wrench to work against him, they're taken to the trembling bolts barring delighted giggles behind raised brows and pinched grin, undoing the wobbling seal already straining to hold back more than the occasional giggle, allowing peals of ungraceful laughter to tumble forth. A sudden crescendo of glee, a rising wave of joy crashing against the sea's shore, stealing away air from lungs and reducing the shaking girl to heaving breaths.

         ❝ H-How do you —- ❞  Wheezes fought to find a place to be heard among the fit of amusement.  ❝ — ex-pect me n-not to ??  I can't — ❞  

         It's too much, a struggle to seek enough air to manage getting that much of a response. tapering off into few seconds of silence. It's still too much. It couldn't be contained within the hollows of her chest, stifled snickers bouncing around with fervour, steam compressed tighter and tighter, soon forcing its way up and the exhale of air pitched into another round of laughs. Tears began to seep in and blur vision. An arm rose to swipe at her eyes and clear them. She missed the mark entirely, motion almost sending her careening to the floor. Rather than meet the ground and kick up debris, Kairi stumbled into her friend, shoulder resting against arm as body slumped into his side, relying on his sturdy frame to keep her propped upright.

         Stars above, she hadn't laughed so hard or so freely in ages. The tense, acrid fog settled within her chest lifted, dispelled if even for this bright, shining moment. Maybe Riku knew in his own unique way, about the myriad of doubts / familiar frustrations / old wrenching aches plaguing her mind. Maybe this was a reminder that he was still here — not gone too far ahead yet / with her by her side / present and alive. Maybe this was all wishful thinking, spun up as a cooling balm to ease the burns left behind. Intentional or not, appreciation for the other sat warm in her heart all the same.

         It had slipped away under the cover of the fog  ( the feeling forgotten and abandoned )  but as she looked at Riku, Kairi remembered how it felt to be home.

         A hand brushed aside lingering tears while the other shifted between them, reaching for his. Only when she secured hold of it, when they're hand in hand, did she straighten up. ❝ It's not bad. I swear it's not. ❞  Head shaking, she squeezed his hand, smile a little lighter, easy and affectionate.  ❝ I know I'm laughing, but I mean it ! ❞

         ❝ ... ❞  Who hurt this girl and why ?  That's her initial thought, anyway. Accusation seemingly dripped with bitterness and grievance, barbing words into something sharp, meant to cut. But Kairi's grown used to picking flowers with thorns, often ones she herself nurtured, and time has since dulled the sting inflicted on the skin. Fingers curled together, lips firmly pursed as her gaze lingered upon the other.  ❝ I just do what I can to help others. I'm not looking to make anything more of it. ❞

@asteriskheart liked for an Epic One-liner

          "You are the worst kind of good 'case you're not even great. A girl who reeks of false righteousness, that's what I hate."

“ you’ve been so quiet. what’s on your mind? ”  (for kairi!)

►  ❪ QUESTIONS  ❫

         Magic, as she's been told, resided in everything. From the living to the inanimate, the energy drawn upon for black spells, white spells, and a kaleidoscope of abilities in between could innately be found in any place travelled to. Kairi likened the phenomenon to the pulse of the world's heart. Whether or not it was considered magic at all was another story. Not everybody held the means to access it either. Methods of drawing it out sometimes differed from here to there, and in those cases it felt like she was witnessing magic for the first time all over again. As if everyday letters in the universal lexicon were ripped to shreds, used to create an entirely new confounding alphabet that the world's residents had the key to decipher.  

         It prickled her senses like a fuzzy sheen of electrified leaves overlaid atop another's silhouette. A second skin of lively static humming a tune with no sound and ordinarily invisible to the eye. She imagined, now and then, understanding about a person could be gleaned from it, even if only the barest inflection of what they were truly like. It's different. Not as easy as looking at someone and letting her intuition alert her to what end of the spectrum their heart favoured.

         So, how could she not be rendered mute by the magic on display ?  It's simple enough on the outside display, but it felt different. There's no words to find to properly describe it for a newcomer to the art, but a small part of her just knew. Underneath the surface a lot of complex things were happening to the energy and she's not anywhere close to understanding any of it.

         ❝ Oh. it's nothing. You just seem very skilled with magic, Eriol. ❞  Voice, soft at first, gained volume as she shook off the daze. He's so very young, but reminded her of Merlin. Aged and wizened. Full of concepts she had yet to wrap her mind around. Her gaze fell to her own hand.  ❝ I'm getting better at using it, but I struggle to control mine the way I want to. Then again, I am pretty new to magic so maybe that's to be expected. ❞

It's a calculated risk, daring to draw so close, just even beginning to edge within his periphery, but all signs of observations lent itself to the idea that the blonde seemed to be in a relatively (?) better mood than his usual days. Courage mustered as nerves steeled, clamping down on the instinctive desire to shy away once red eyes land on him, he does his best to offer a neutral wave, shaky smile more akin to bared teeth, "O-Oh, hi Kacchan, I didn't see you there."

          NITROGLYCERINE IS EASY TO SET OFF,  A FLEX OF HIS hand and the palm is an open sphere of crackling lights and smoke,  the scent of burnt sugar remains on the skin as it tears and sinews,  what’s left is a map of pale lines that indent and blur the life lines.   What’s left of him is artwork,  a melding of an integral structure that won’t blast from its hinges,  it’s a mean and hardened set of mind and body   —   but it’s sound,  it’s kept itself together,  it hasn’t died yet.   It might not be everyone’s but it’s his calm,  this storm of fire and ash that keeps his heart from slowing down.   There’s always been someone there that only ever refuses to back off,  no matter how hard the shove,  how loud the clap of thunder,  this stubborn idiot will manage to land in the eye of the storm and flinch away from the first sign of trouble.   This boy Katsuki grew up with,  the flinching has almost stopped.   And he doesn’t think he would have ever noticed until now,  of how alone Izuku looked like until he wasn’t anymore.   These people,  this school,  All Might. . .  they’ve changed something,  but Izuku is still acting like that nervous boy from their childhood.   Katsuki thought it was all pretend but there’s something else to figure out.   In the meantime,  Katsuki has already gotten used to the idea of having to see that face over and over,  no matter what,  Deku will keep going.

          He’s used to it,  in a way they’re both getting used to this something building up that didn’t have Katsuki blow a fuse and didn’t have Izuku tremble like a leaf.   He’s really trying though,  Katsuki can see that,  there’s an effort to not falling apart.   (  And a quiet yet nagging sensation in his gut tells him it’s all his doing,  and soon enough he’ll have to pick up the pieces.  )   There’s only but a single twitch from his nerves,  above his brow to where the crinkle of a scowl starts and the muscles of his face pull on instinct,  such a tuned and automatic response when Izuku is in front of him.   The blond does not act on it,  not this time,  hardly a reason to ignite such a reaction.   His hands are not blistering,  his fangs are sheathed.   Just have a fucking normal conversation.   They used to do that.   There’s no wave back but there’s no lack of instigating either;  a hum closer to a grunt and a single degree from the tilt of his head,  as neutral as he can get.   That’s where they stand now,  isn’t it?   Neutral.

               “  Yeah.  ”     Katsuki readjusts one of his hearing aids,  eyes keeping the temperature of smoldering embers.     “  You see me now. Want something?  ”

𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞  : //   @asteriskheart  /  deku.

         Hands lightly pressed together, ghost of smile peeking out from behind gloved fingers. Although subdued ( a blank canvas, white and pristine and empty, for heavenly words must shine pure through mortal coloration ), budding excitement leaked through the cracks of the vessel's impeccable poise.  ❝ Wonderful ! ❞  The lavish yet modest accommodations granted by the town for their momentary repose was nice, but she yearned to peer into remnants of times bygone. For but a fleeting, almost even restless moment, silence draped its limpid cloak on her. Imagining what lay before them weaved an entrancing work of art, mind swept under the tide of anticipation beckoning her to search for what had been long forgotten. Perhaps it's unbecoming to devote so much of her attention beyond sacred duty, conveyance of the holy grace of the gods, but as she rose from her chair, sleeves undulating with the brief motion, steps ached to carry her forth to the mysteries of the unknown all the same. Fortune smiled upon Aera, for her to be blessed by the stars with a sister who humoured her fanciful interests.  ❝ Adventure is what you shall receive then. I seek to walk along the paths laid out within the ancient ruins of the forest to the east. There will be much to see ! Once word of it reached me, I knew I had to go. ❞

𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃.    t’was between sisters where angels fell on deaf ears, where their choirs ceased so abruptly it rendered time breathless, drowned out by humming bird songs.  as seemingly humble nothings meant everything amid cosmic malediction, what else could she do than accept sweet offers, which may, one day, stand still at a moment’s notice ? “ how could i say no ?  i am in the mood for a little adventure today, and this book can certainly wait.  to what wondrous place will you guide me, i wonder ? ”

"you're not a very convincing liar." ( katsuki @ izuku :') )

►  ❪ DIALOUGUE  ❫

         His fluent way with words impressed as per usual, a vicious reckoning coming to kick down Izuku's bolted door.

         Specks of irritation fettered boy into place, rising to meet the challenge as freckled cheeks burrowed further into tattered yellow. Expression set, pensive, bracing for impact. No longer did the boy shrink away from ever burning eyes of childhood friend.

         It's unthinkable to ask his friends to shoulder this heavy weight alongside him. Regret for the initial flurry of biting words disregarding their feelings sat within a rattled ribcage, among decaying wishes to go back to a time much simpler than this, but the sentiment behind them did not. Keeping them — everyone — safe mattered the most. He didn't need their understanding. He needed them alive and breathing, capable of finding happiness and meaning when the storm passed. This mission he inherited from the holders, All Might's mission, was his to fulfill. Handling these villains were Izuku's duty.

         Hilarious. How after how much he'd grown, after everything he went through, he ended up right back to where he started. An 'other', an existence different from his peers, this time of his own volition and conviction instead of their stinging rejection. It'd been easy to blend into the shadows of the background and fade into the dark, presence plain and unnoticed back then. A practice and standard as easy as blinking rain water from eyes. Why was it now, when Izuku actually wanted it, that Kacchan appeared in the suffocating black silence, trying to dispel it with his vicarious, thunderous light ?

         ( let him detach, let him drift out of your orbit. it's for the best. no, anything but that )

         ❝ Shut up. I'm not trying to lie. ❞  A dull scratch layered his voice, weariness deep enough to penetrate clear in each syllable. It's a sluggish feeling needing more than a single night's rest within the branches of safety to remove.

         ( he hates being alone, tired and exhausted, but he can't ever stop )

         Maybe it made more sense to lay quiet. Let sleeping dogs lie in the shade rather than automatic snapping at the baiting prod. But he knew, they both did, that Izuku hated lying to him and Kacchan called him a liar anyway.

         Reminder brought attention to the sting once settled at home in a bruised cheek under the clean strip of gauze, failure imprinted upon freckled skin. A persistent memoir of his inability to win / of his oldest connection  ( breathless scarlet seared at the back of the mind — why / why / why you ?  and why was it me that ended our symbol of hope — a question he had no answer to, not one that could've began assuage the unseen turmoil )  making him eat dirt on concrete pavement. The weight of hiding the existence of his / All Might’s / One for All’s secret exchanged for the burden Kacchan had been suffering alone.

         With more at risk now, Izuku's own doubts remained numerous. AFO proved he could strike anywhere. Anytime. Kacchan's standing now, bared teeth and intentions, but the chance of being so lucky to get up and walk away when AFO took another swing was abysmal. The villain's next calculated strike may meet it's mark with precision and not merely graze the fragile, glass sculpture encompassing the flame of his friend's life. A furious burn itched the back of his eyes.

         Aloud, he murmured, ❝ ...It's my responsibility. Mine. You know already that I don't want any of you hurt because of me. ❞  That's what it boiled down to, didn't it ?  The crux of his stubborn resistance. His hands continue their momentum, carrying on his sentences through them: (  i'm afraid. [...] i want you all safe. not like what happened [...] before.  )

         Izuku was fine. It's the truth.

         It had to be.

         Gaze, near unblinking, followed animated motions full of vigor, mechanics brought to a stand still by the simple array of minute expressions on display. A kaleidoscope of emotion bursting red, pulsing, seemingly full of energy / positivity / life itself — vibrant colour demanded the eye's attention and sat on the cusp of drowning out everything around her, reducing the world and Aigis to pastels. It's difficult to look away, to not be fascinated by the brilliant spark acting as her catalyst.          Metallic synaptics fired, information received, analyzed, broken down, yet an answer failed to materialize. The open ended question full of foreign theoreticals sat within, processors rendered effectively null as wait chains began to stack up. Haltingly, the query echoed under simulated breath. Curious. To wish, such a human concept. What would a machine hope to desire ?  They're designed from the ground, piece by piece painstakingly assembled to correct calculations to carry out a specific overall purpose, steel ( heart, if you can refer it as such ) deathly still, each minor task contributing toward the whole. At present it served no functional use to stray outside the bounds of assignment. Therefore, one logical conclusion sufficed.  ❝ I do not have a 'wish' outside of the fulfillment of my duties to a satisfactory degree. Is it not the same for you ? ❞

𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐋'𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑, lies an existence all too similar to palladion's entrails. a miracle masquerading as an imposter, eurydice understood your inadequacy. the sense of belonging all tied to this grand mission, unable to defy the shackles placed upon you by your creator —— and she, despite the beckoning's of life, was just as much of a fraud, although she lacked clarity. mindlessly absorbing a blank space, she plays the ideal heroine so sickenly well. upbeat and kind, she bounces after you with such youthful velocity. unbothered by the torment of life, she reveals to you an invigorating smile. ❝ aigis, what sort of things do you wish for ? ❞ @asteriskheart

         Thoughts pestered the back of the mind. Many unkind  ( anger muffled under light's tide )  and wary about their shared foe, of the many splinters of his self haunting this realm steeped in light. Shoulders set, guard raising higher, girl bristling as lips pressed into a thin line.  ❝ No. I'm not. ❞  The reply arrived swift and terse, seeking to draw clear cut line in the sand between where they stood.  ❝ I don't think I'd want to try in this life. Not like that. Not with you. ❞  It irked. The audacity to insinuate the notion of her projecting herself onto him. That she'd perceive any part of the time traveler, the root cause for so much pain and suffering, when she gazed into the mirror's reflection. There's nothing to find of her heart — one too caring / too forgiving / too full of blistering light — within his shadow. Concern served as nothing but an unaffordable luxury, locked away in a hidden box, buried somewhere deep inside her beating ribcage.  ❝ And I think that goes both ways, unless you somehow see something that I'm missing. ❞

𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙼𝙴𝙴𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙼𝙰𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙻𝙸𝚉𝙴𝙳 𝙰𝙽 𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙾𝙶𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝚅𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙸𝙽 𝙵𝙰𝚃𝙴'𝚂 𝙴𝚀𝚄𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 ;    and he rejected it not.  destiny practiced its own methodology to mathematically correct the flow of its course, and little reason did he find in struggling against it.  instead, he relented to whatever chaos would spill into the order of things.    “ that depends how you define home ?  i do not i lack a bed to sleep in whence i came, if that is what you wonder about. ”    when light questioned darkness, the latteraverted the deeper meaning, careful to never let it become too personal, or too open to sentimentalities.    “ and what, pray tell, has evoked this question, princess ?  it cannot be concern, i’d reckon. thus… do you project onto the villain, mayhaps ? ”

“ why did you come? ”  @ Sora

►  ❪ QUESTIONS  ❫

         Wide smile stretched across visage, a shower of light marking the exit of his blade, hands linking behind mused hair as body rocked on its heels, balance righted just before gravity took hold. Nonchalance, a bit off tempo in the beat of the moment but the key’s chosen wielder would argue that a silly question incurred a silly response.

         ❝ Of course I would. ❞ Excuse him if fond exasperation glossed over the teasing tucked away in the recesses of his voice. Why would he show up ? Why wouldn’t he ? Honestly, Gemiya held much closer bonds to Kairi than Sora, but still — she should know him better than that by now. They were friends !

         ( weight upon shoulders builds, bending / creaking / but bones not quite breaking — ready to give just a bit more, as much as it took to see it through. how much can one heart give before it gives, collapsing under the heaviness of its own kindness ? )

         If it could help even a little bit, then putting in an appearance would be worth the effort. It’s who he was, had always been, and despite everything on his journey, hardships and trials hadn’t changed that the slightest about them him. ❝ I’ll always lend a hand. You know how it is. ❞

“ you’ve been so quiet. what’s on your mind? ” ( For Bennett!! )

►  ❪ QUESTIONS  ❫

         The flame of optimism to go unnoticed was thoroughly extinguished by Mondstadt's cavalry captain astute observation. Energy dimmed, a peculiar quiet where enthusiasm would once be found, perhaps Bennett shouldn't have been as surprised as he was upon receiving the remark. Yeah, he  [ usually ]  received a wide berth, space sought to be put between the wary and him / his terrible luck, but others who knew him even a little beyond that might note the unexplained shift in normal behaviour as enough of a clue something was off.

         A strangely pitched grunt rumbled from the base of his throat, lips moving to shape consonants and vowels, but efforts bore no fruit. Words failed to materialize and pierce his silence. A thumb jutted at opened mouth — a hint, an indication of the consumption of an item — before he shook his head. A gesture's made towards his throat, straightened hand sweeping back and forth, a slicing motion.

         The ability to speak was stripped from him. Any other time he'd jump at the chance to speak with Kaeya but Bennett's left with naught but his thoughts, unable to communicate beyond the scope of body language.

         Sheepish grin crept onto his features, a touch guilty, eyes flicking about before returning to the man. The ensuing shrug and heavy sigh's clear:  ❛ what can ya do, right ? ❜  In reality, he brought this on himself. The adventurer ate something out in the wild he  ( in retrospect )  shouldn't have yesterday and karma came to collect, blessing him with an ailment, afflicting him since rising with the morning sun. He's been at it all day, trying out all kinds of natural remedies. None stuck.

         He'd bounce back in no time, as sure as the wind was free !  This incident ought to have used up a lot of bad luck so what awaited him would be a better tomorrow. Hopefully, Kaeya would still be willing and able to talk when that tomorrow did roll around.

STYLE [ from kairi! ]

     ۵ ◜𝄞◞ ۵ ┊ “Kairi what’s this all about?” She asks, a soft laugh in her tone. 

     For a while now Kairi had been leading her around the Destiny Islands; showing her the sights and taking in the scenery. Not that they hadn’t done this all before, but Gemiya never tired of the scenery here. It was calming for her, relaxing and a small reprieve in times where she felt as if she constantly had to keep her guard up.

     At first it seems like a regular hangout, complete with a small bit of shopping on the residential island. Gemiya was quite happy about the freshly made crepe in her hand, happily biting down on it and careful not to waste a single drop of cream or chocolate. While munching away at the treat, she followed Kairi around and she seemed- intent on buying particular items. Gemiya knew Kairi had a penchant for collecting hair accessories ( the adorable minnie ears coming to mind ) so she figured this was part of it. Looked like there was a new stock of hair clips and bows that had come in and of course, Kairi couldn’t resist. 

     Gemiya didn’t think much of it, but with the sun setting it was probably time for them to head in for the night and the two made their way to Kairi’s place. The brunette merely followed Kairi’s lead but as soon as the both of them step into her room, Gemiya had frozen in place.

     “Oh.” Of course. Now she knows what this is about. Gemiya’s complexion fades into a pale state, only now just realizing what had been going on up until this moment.

The day had all been an elaborate trap in order to get Gemiya to drop her guard and agree to what Kairi had very obviously prepared. The vanity is lined with different leave-in conditioners, clean hairbrushes, a hair curler and straigthener and hair accessories. Everything is tip-top and ready and practically sparkling as Kairi had made it look all too inviting. Dark Honey eyes scan the rest of the vanity, looking for-- ah. There it is. The dreaded tool. Scissors. They’re not in place with the rest of the hair styling items but the fact they were there! No.... no. Gemiya is about to turn around, but of course Kairi is at the doorway blocking her exit.

     “I’m... not getting out of this am I?” Gemiya could see it in the other’s eyes. 

     Kairi why? Kairi knows Gemiya is particular about her hair and is even fussier about who handles it. Yet... she can’t back out now since Kairi had treated her to the crepe and a couple of other treats earlier. She knew it was too good to be true. Kairi had always wanted to style her hair... and Gemiya honestly couldn’t blame her. What with the length and soft curl to it? It is rather inviting.

     “Fine. Okay fine. No scissors though!” 

     It doesn’t take long but Gemiya admits defeat and agrees to let Kairi have her fun. Part of her wants to curse how easily she gave in but... how could she regret it when she could see the sparkle in the eyes of one of her closest friends upon agreeing.

     As if worried that Gemiya might take it back, Kairi is happily quick to get to work on her dark chocolate tresses. At the very least, Gemiya could see her friend’s elated expression through the vanity mirror ( as well as make sure she doesn’t reach for those scissors ).

     After about an hour’s worth of work, Kairi proclaims that she is done. From what Gemiya could see, there was a lot of braiding done but judging by the grin on her friend’s face there seems to be more to it. Kairi proudly hands over a small handmirror over to Gemiya so that she could better see the handiwork. 

     Sure enough, as Gemiya turns around and sees the back of her head by using the vanity’s mirror and handmirror in tandem; there’s a lovely rose formed out of the braids and adorned with hairclips containing fabric flowers and leaves. 

     “Oh wow. I didn’t expect this level of style from you.” Goodness. Not to mention this level of patience! 

     “I’ll have to figure out how to return the favor one day. How do you feel about growing your hair long again so I can style it sometime? I could probably find a hair growth spell or potion somewhere if I look hard enough.~”

@asteriskheart /  𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒.

➤ ` KOMI. (  madestars  )

          𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐬𝐨  𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭,   𝐢𝐭’𝐬  𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞  enough to sneak past one’s senses and go unnoticed until the last moment,  just as the intensity of her stare seems to get picked up.   she tries to speak up,  really,  but it’s never so simple.   or easy.   so her dark gaze stays glued on,  unnerving to some,  a long and intense stare,  stare,  stare.   when he finally does speak,  her body can’t help but to react with a small jump,  her expression freezes and a small squeak escapes her throat.   his question eases her down,  and she remembers that this is her friend.   he knows how she functions by now,  and has looked after her before.

          her slender fingers work swiftly but delicately over her notebook,  her neat handwriting then displayed for the other to see as she lifts it to her nose.   Shouko is a quiet girl,  this he knows,  but she is by no means always expressionless  —  there’s a bit of worry in her big and pretty eyes.

               「   how  are  you  and  Bakugo?   sensei  looks  upset.   」

         Hiked shoulders loosened, intent gaze jumping from one neatly penned word to the next, soaking up the ink characters, processing what’s being asked as though his classmate’s voice had conveyed it clear as bell chimes in the early morning instead. Who could’ve known that in the grip of solitude, thoughts spoken into dead air, to be heard only by his own ears and pressed into the comfort of paper — confirming their existence / his existence to this uneven world — would sharpen understanding of that which went unsaid ?

         ❝ Ah... Kacchan... ❞

         Finger tapped the tip of the pen, irregular clicks against the table reflective of the askew tempo within. He’s unsure of broaching the topic, of addressing the conflict that took place in the makeshift cityscape. The conclusion of viewpoints clashing / the need to prove came and went, left him tired and aching, yet eyes stayed wide awake. Happy, yet anxious, yet relieved, yet belligerent — the flurry of ambivalent emotions refused to leave him.

         The pen’s set down, brows knitted and mouth twisted into a faltering frown.  ❝ We got into a fight so Aizawa-sensei was pretty mad about that. We're going to be on clean up duty for the next few days. I was trying to write the apology letter I have to do too. I’m having a bit of a hard time with it... ❞  He's not sorry. How could he be ?  For the first time in a long time, there had been honesty. The capacity for regret was abysmally low, perhaps there if only in a marginal sense, stemming from causing problems for his teachers and a ruckus in the night. But whether it’s despondency or off kilter disposition or the bandages strewn across face and limbs, something gave his friend cause for concern. Realization finally sunk in. Hands flew up to his chest, engaged in a frenetic wave, a hope of dispelling her distress. ❝ I-I’m okay though !  So - ❞  Motion jarred / slowing / boy remembering himself, and lowered one hand clasped at another, thumb pressed against raised flesh.  ❝ - so, um, you don’t have to worry about me Komi-san. Thank you for asking. ❞

➤ ` GEMIYA. (  vibraea  )

     ۵ ◜𝄞◞ ۵ ┊ Feeling the yank of unfamiliar hands gave her cause to be on high alert as soon as she was able to steady herself. The sheer cold had already been enough of a nuisance since walking up here and now she has to deal with a possible stranger putting her hands on her?! Nope. Nuh-uh. Not today! Not– oh. … It’s Bennet! … He’s okay. 

     The grip on her weapons loosens and Gemiya sloowly guides them back to their place, having been prepared to whip them out to defend herself. With a sigh she collects herself and takes in the situation and her surroundings- in a few seconds concludes that… Bennet was probably taking shelter from the wild weather howling just outside the cave they were in. And Bennet had just saved her from being knocked over by a rather sizeable ice projectile. Something she should have been conscious of but… she could scold herself for that later.

     “Uh– yeah. Kind of. I was searching for some starsilver. There’s a weapon that I’m interested in and the blacksmith mentioned that Starsilver would be a great material for it. I haven’t had much luck in finding any though.” Her lips pull themselves to the side in pensive thought, wondering where good places for such metals would be. But before that- “And what about you? Did you get yourself trapped again? Did you at least bring a sweater? You know more than I do how dangerous and cold Dragonspine can be!”

         Boy perked at the mention of the city’s residential  ( lone )  smithy, ❝ If Mister Wagner's takin’ care of it, it oughta turn out great. If you’d like, I can help out with finding some- ❞

         Offer halted, rotund eyes blinking under the veritable barrage of inquiries aimed towards his person. Life’s consistent twists and turns prepared the wayward youth for much of the dangers of the world, but genuine concern  ( outside of his dads, because of course they look out / love / care for him and he to them, nothing would change that )  somehow always caught Bennett flat-footed, foreign and strange, yet also always welcomed.

         Sheepish grin curved the lips, a beat of surprised laughter tickling them. Gloved finger tugged at the collar of an outfit most certainly unsuited to the cold environment, soon coming to scratch behind an ear doused in a roseate hue.  ❝ Haha, sorry. No sweater for me. All I got are the clothes on my back, but I’m good for now. I have a few tricks for keeping myself warm. You don’t gotta worry about me. ❞ Besides, he'd dove into a modest crack in the earth before the freezing temperature could really seep in and chill heated blood, to threaten to ice exposed skin. Some rough approximation of a camp had been pieced together before he happened to spy her silhouette through blustering winds.

         ❝ I’m on a little hunting expedition today !  I overhead something by the Guild from a party that just returned from the mountains and thought I’d check it out myself. Was planning on being in an’ out real quick but I got... delayed by the weather. Among other things. ❞  Said interruptions consisting of being assailed by a litany of sneaky whopperflowers, falling into a rock deposit and getting knocked by a wild boar into frigid waters. No point in delving into the specifics the day’s woes tossed upon sturdy shoulders thus far. It's simply par for the course for adventures with the luck inherent to this toughened body.  ❝ A few looks at those dark clouds were just enough of a heads up to duck for cover before the snowstorm rolled in and the rocks and ice started flying. It’s all good though !  Shouldn’t be too much of a setback. Nothing too bad like a cave in or anything has happened yet. I'll find some treasure in no time at all. ❞

@deathburns​ asked; “  i trust you with parts of myself i’m afraid to show anyone else.  ” /   “  you make me feel brave.  ” [ jazzhands bellatte agenda ]

►  ❪  AFFECTIONATE  ❫

         Greenery thrived on the isles elevated among the sea of clouds. The long expanse of years upon years allowed isolated ecosystems to flourish new life in the sky, but not to this extent. Removal of limited space and a change in altitude made all the difference, a staggering contrast highlighting what one celestial picked up on soon after her descent. Earthen flora spilled over into countless varieties, and Ellatte found herself falling in love with each new one stumbled across, another entry to her expanding journal.

         A lively bouquet / parting gift from the owner of a flower shop the town over secured in the crook of her arm as she gave her usual greeting to Bellion. It didn't take long for a question about the flowers' presence to wind up with him holding them as she launched headfirst into enthusiastic rambling.

         Maybe in another life, she could have focused on caring for plants, immersing herself in wondrous botany rather than readying herself for battles lying in wait. A fear born from the guillotine poised over the exposed necks of her people, constructed thousands of years ago by the litany of demons. But there's more to their presumed executioners than meets the eye.

         ( would she still know bellion in that type of world, personally, dare she say almost intimately ?  would he occupy the same space in her life he guarded now ? )

         A gentle tune punctuated the lull in her explanations, a voiceless melody reverberating in a soothing hum as she took in his countenance. The easygoing posture as he reclined against a thick, weathered branch of one of many oaks of the forest. The expression he watched her with.

         It's hard to describe the look she's seen on him more often than not as of late, to varying degrees. Thinking, consideration. A touch stifling in its focus / searching / intensity. But the heated edges were softened by... she's unsure.

         It felt like he's testing something. Surveying her reactions.

         Sometimes it’s a prelude to bursts of odd behaviour. Like the times he brought her heaps of food  ( more than she knew what to do with / the majority of it ends up given to the villagers ), or he'd say something strange. Missing proper context, connotations she failed to grasp, it sailed right overhead. A blank stare in response may force him to backtrack and offer tentative reasonings or simple, evasive denials to requests of further insight. A confusing blend of distant yet overly affectionate. Why the hell did he make himself both open and hard to read at the same time ?  The avenue of mixed messages waltzed in far too easily than it had any right to.

         It frustrated Ellatte, yet also tragically endeared her. But she wouldn't dare be caught telling him as much; he's prideful enough already. The last thing he needed was any type of ego boost courtesy of her.

         ❝ You almost look like a completely different person when you let yourself relax. ❞  A genuine observation and a past one often kept to herself. It's verbalized this time, slipping through the cage of idle thoughts with ease. She's almost aghast at how freely it's aired but he seemed none too bothered by it.

❝ I trust you with parts of myself I'm afraid to show anyone else. ❞

         It's spoken casually to the point she wondered if his words were conjured up by the imagination. A demon placing any measure of faith in a goddess. I trust you, like he's commenting on something utterly mundane. I trust you, like a simple natural fact, rather than the gravity of what it inherently carried. Trust. A precious component underlying the bridge of connection formed between two entities, sometimes paving the way for the unthinkable to happen.

         Colour crept up from her neck, cheeks gaining a rosier tint as the basest urge to glance away from his vivid scrutiny seized her, a refusal to show flustered reaction in full,  ❝ I'm glad that you can tell me that. I really am !  But you shouldn't say such things so lightly. That... It's... ❞

         It's treading unknown waters.

         He trusted her.

         Ears burned under the force of the heat brewing beneath skin. A fist pressed against her chest, a silent plea sent to a heart picking up its pace to cut it out at once. Mind quickly redirected before it could fasten itself to the train of thought. If allowed to sit and set roots, it'd making her think. It’d make her... wonder.

         It's hard to imagine Bellion as getting scared over anything. He's Bellion. A high ranking demon entire armies followed into battle. The surviving leader of the former six knights of black, terrifying figures carved into the celestials’ history and spoken of long after in hushed, wary tones as evil, ferocious monsters without fear, the impure who murdered and devoured life. The strong — if at times lax — front he presented rarely faltered. The pillar of almost insurmountable strength he represented in her eyes felt ironclad. What could shake the foundations of his heart ?

         Some tension's expelled as she forcefully loosened the tight knot sitting firm within her chest, whitened knuckles regaining colour as fingers slowly unfurled. A sigh transitioned into a miffed huff mid breath and she pushed hair out of her eyes, tucking stray strands of white behind the shell of an ear.

         Her feathers needed to smooth out. She shouldn't be so blatantly thrown off balance by this. He's her friend. Of course she's happy he trusted her. To hear him say that gave a certain warmth, a lightness to her chest like it could walk on clouds. It's not any different from when Solaad chose to confide in her and having the knowledge that it's because she could be relied on.

         The faint flush of pink lingered from the earlier flood of happiness on the apple of her cheeks and tips of the ears, heart a touch upbeat from baseline but poise was restored for the most part. Hopefully the brief interlude of silence from her end as she collected her thoughts didn't come off as abnormal. She chanced a glance up.

         He's there. What once spanned a few strides had been reduced to mere steps as he stood before her, not wreathed in hellbent wrath but surrounded by the embrace of flora, taking her hand in his once he regained her wandering attention. He did nothing but hold it, something like a smile playing on the corner of his lips, and with him closer she found she couldn't look away as easily. So unnecessarily close, and tender, and fond, and strange. Bellion, forged from war and yet... she began to think. This might be a version of him that maybe no one else ever quite had the opportunity to witness, and she’s painfully aware of how lucky she was to have been given this chance.

         Then almost as fast as it came into existence, the almost smile disappeared, replaced by something she didn't recognize. Something that almost looked like longing.

❝ You make me feel brave. ❞

         The bricks of composure painstakingly built up... she could see crumbling into dust as indiscernible emotions railed into them at full force. He's...!

         Ellatte retracted her hand from his grip, cutting the advancement short, unwilling to allow the feelings to fully take hold and petrify her into another round of stunned, flustered silence. Uncertainty bit, clamping down like a wild thing. ( what would looking upon him again reveal ?  rejection's far from her intent, but she didn't want to feel the if only brief sting of whatever emotion she could've wrought by pulling away ). Closed lungs were forced to work, to speak through the spun sugar oh so sweet on the tongue and threatening to clog the throat.

         ❝ Flowers can hold so many meanings. It's another language entirely, and I may be a novice at it but I think I'm getting better at speaking it. Look here at this one. ❞  Leaning closer, ever mindful of the proximity, a particular flower's separated from the rest and she plucked it from the bouquet, thumb caressing vibrant petals,  ❝ It's a freesia. I've been told while others can imply similar things, this flower is the only one that symbolizes trust. ❞

         Stem tucked between two fingers, she reached out to him this time. Catching his hand in her own set, both folded around it in a gentle yet firm hold.  ❝ I carried it here after I heard that because when I looked at it I thought of you. ❞  She didn't lift her face yet, letting her gaze fall upon their joined hands, the blossoming flower sprouting from that connection.

         A goddess and a demon, bound not by the violence expected of them but instead trust. A nigh unthinkable engagement between the clans, meaningful chances for such long since torn apart with ashes scattered to the winds, leaving behind inherent hatred and instinct to draw blood before one's own met that fate. A willingness to engage in those acts may have been there originally — natural after the nature of their circumstances — but it too, like all things, dissipated with time.

         Those days were behind her now. While the future's more uncertain than before, she's all the more ready to confront it. With Bellion here, it seemed...a little bit easier to take that step. What was bravery, if not the will to continue despite shackles of doubt and fear and doubt plaguing one's resolution ?

         Silver crown tilted forward, bringing forehead to rest against his torso, an action gingerly done in execution with the barest of force behind it. A light tap more than anything / a silent apology for moments before. The wide margin of height placed the flowers a scant breath away from a small smile that softened features, the bright petals reflected glow casting a mosaic of colour as leaves brushed against skin. The freesia truly did look beautiful.

         Face prickled ever so slightly with the hint of the returning blush, lips shifting into something just shy of stupidly joyful.  ❝ I'd like to be brave too. ❞

👫 ( nat and boomer! )

four headcanons about their relationship !     /     @asteriskheart

god i love ships where on is the super strong entity while the other is just your average person but said normal person deals with the ultra powerful one just like anybody else.  natalie doesn’t take any bullshit,  boomer’s included.  he knows that she’s super nice,  kindness is her virtue,  but she’s no floor mat to be stepped on.  he likes her spunk or at least feeds into it,  and he never uses his abilities to harm her once they settled in this odd friendship of theirs.  she speaks to him not with fear or like someone trying to kiss ass,  she talks back to him when he oversteps,  they have normal,  playful banter.  i think he’d really appreciate that,  what with being known as an infamous supervillain since the day he was created.  natalie only just sees boomer for who he is and his efforts to being,  well,  not as bad.  she also never treats him like he’s stupid.

she thinks his powers are cool,  of course,  but she never asks for him to demonstrate them.  in fact,  she never shies away from challenging him to a few things,  stating that he wouldn’t be able to win against her unless he depended on them.  hook,  line,  sinker.  he may be an artificial human who trained and fought alongside his super powered brothers against monsters and other formidable opponents,  but natalie has managed to both outrun him and outscore him in the baseball pitching machines.  this girl is competitive and tougher than she looks.  it’s all for fun,  and he lets her have these wins,  he would even make the effort of pretending to still try when he really gave up earlier because he didn’t want to bother — if only to not have her pout that he went easy on her.  he would argue that he’s already not using his powers,  so,  “of course i’m going easy on you.”

they both like baseball,  natalie herself is a softball girl and has played all of middle school but had to quit sometime in high school once she got a bad shoulder.  boomer shows off his neon bat around her since he knows that it’s her favorite ability of his other than flight  ( and he would agree,  it is very cool,  and something that neither of his brothers can do ).  with flaunting this particular power though comes the awareness of being safe while doing so;  she has gotten dizzy multiple times and has shook it off to reassure him that she’s fine.  along with being aware of how he’s treated by her compared to others,  so came the self control.  he doesn’t want to accidentally hurt her,  he may mess with her sometimes — but he would never put her in harm’s way.

likewise,  while boomer perhaps wouldn’t admit that he’s — dare i say — protective of his friend,  natalie isn’t ashamed to show it.  with great power comes a great amount of kickassery,  and while she knows the chances of him being greatly hurt isn’t always a possibility,  there is still the what-ifs.  she turns out to be really good at first aid and patches him up when he needs it,  not caring when he fusses.  she is a lot more stubborn during these times.  it’s not because of pity,  he knows,  that she tends to him — it’s simply because she wants to,  and he’s her friend.  she even managed to wrap his brothers up the same way,  and they allow it since it saves them time from doing it themselves  ( i’d say butch enjoys it most of all because,  duh,  pretty girl,  while brick doesn’t care ).  other than when boomer gets hurt,  she’s really good at working with his dissociation,  which not even his brothers are sure how to handle or even bother to sometimes  ( not out of malice but because they are just too tired themselves to deal with it and know that boomer will eventually snap out of it ).  natalie,  though,  would never be too tired to help someone out.  she’s always a compassionate presence,  so when she’s around when he’s in those episodes then they probably don’t last as long as they usually do.  she’d hold his hands when it’s safe,  she’d get him to walk around with her,  call out scents and neat sounds,  play music or sing something herself,  she’d feed him something sweet or spicy;  she’ll try and do anything at all to ground him.  anything to do with sounds and music helps mostly,  so she’ll sing and play songs and waits until he hums or sings back.