Milky Way or Cloud?

I'm in rehab.

This is painful.

I know this is what's best for me. 

Grin and bear it.

No one knows my secrets.

You...

Could have been that person.

Life is like living in a prison.

The structure is unbearable. 

Yet, the reform, undeniable.

The prison guards are angels,

Treating me with kindness.

Wishing me well, loving me

Wanting me to get better.

The warden, God Himself.

Walking a righteous path,

Being selfless,

Painting a smile on like lipstick 

Will it ever get easier?

Leave You

i'm caught in another sandstorm

when will it end?

the affections of many, like grains of sand 

i still want what lies behind my reach

this lying, deceitful heart 

i didn't think i'd get so caught up again

but i can't throw it away

Charlemagne

It's Charlie??? I can't believe this is happening...

Today we went to go and see some puppies and fell in love with this little one. He is a light cream colour with a little white spot on his head and cute white socks on his feetsies. I placed a deposit to hold him, and we are aiming to pick him up October 10th!

Kinda nervous about being a puppy mom again. Not sure what I wanna do differently with this pup than my last. Honestly, it's kinda surreal to pick up this little guy while Jacks turns 12 in November😱 Time sure flies on by.

For name ideas, we originally wanted to name him Belphie (aka Cerberus) but he looks much too sweet for that kinda vibe. We're tentatively calling him Charlie, full name Charlemagne. Other contenders are Nugget, Potato (Toto), Bailey, Angel, and Luke (LOL).

Honestly I don't know why I always pick up dogs in the fall/winter. It makes potty training kinda hellish due to the cold weather. Things are what they are, though! We'll see how things go and I'll try and document Charl's puppyhood better than I did for Jacks (which was pretty much non-existent lol).

~K

after hours

How can I be 3 decades old and still be feeling... pensive? Occasionally the feelings just hit me. And I become shrouded in misconceptions, my own preconceived notions of this world. Everything repetitive.

Things of this world, and not of God.

Feeling like the Queen of Hearts, wading through the world.

TBN

Episode 1

Lena Hikawa arrives in the city with her bags. The cab driver drops her off at the front steps of a parliament building. She hasn't been back since her parents died years ago and she went to live with her grandmother in the countryside.

She is met by an attendant who brings her inside to meet with her uncle, Hugo, who has recently been promoted to lead a special miltitary sector dedicated to eradicating the HRA. 

Hugo briefs Lena on the HRA and their goal of re-writing history. They know very little about this terrorist group, other than the fact that they are ruthless and will stop at nothing to seize power and overthrow the government.

Lena comes from a line of saniwa on her grandmother's side and so she has been recruited by him to arouse the souls in the touken danshi to give them a physical form to fight the HRA who have their own dark saniwa. Not much is known about the saniwa working for the HRA other than the fact that they go by the moniker "N".

Hugo brings Lena to a room where a shrine has been set up specifically to reanimate touken danshi. He says their team has recovered several historical swords and instructs her to choose one to be her first partner.

Lena chooses a rather slender and elegant uchigatana which, after a flash of intense white light, reveals itself in the form of a young man around her height. He has dark brown hair and red eyes. Lena quickly discovers that the swords possess a personality of their own once they take on a human form. She realizes this once Kashu Kiyomitsu introduces himself and looks her up and down, stating that he is "hard to handle" but looking for an owner that will "pretty him up and love him good." 

Lena wasn't sure what she expected, but supposed that the danshi would have been more like lifeless puppets, rather than human-like. She is surprised by Kashu's forwardness.

Lena and Kashu go to the address of an apartment that Hugo has arranged for them to stay. It is a spacious penthouse, but barely furnished. There is a kotatsu table with a few worn cushions in the living room, and a rolled up futon in the bedroom with a single pillow. 

Lena rolls open the futon and flops onto it, taking out her phone. Kashu is staring expectantly at her. She asks what he wants and he asks what they will be having for dinner. He also states that aside from the clothes on his back, he doesn't have anything to change into for the night... unless, she is wanting him to sleep naked. He insinuates that even though they just met, he doesn't mind that kind of thing, if his master commands it.

Lena jolts up and quickly pushes him to the door, saying that they will pick up food and some suitable casual clothes for him to wear. After all, she checked her phone and saw that Hugo had deposited the first month's pay into her account already, and it was more money than she had ever received in her life.

Along with the funds came a message from Hugo to buy something dressy to wear for herself and her new danshi. An inauguration ceremony was coming up, and it was mandatory for her to attend.

Episode 2

Lena walks through the crowded streets of Neo Tokio, eating an ice cream cone. Beside her, Kashu is also struggling with eating his, on top of carrying a bunch of shopping bags from various shops. The ice cream has started to melt all over his hands, but Lena makes no move to help him with it as she is lost deep in thought.

The HRA seemed like a dangerous organization to be dealing with, but here she was, stuck with a historical sword in the form of a young man, walking and eating ice cream like a couple on a date.

They return to the apartment and Kashu changes into a yukata with a fancy striped pattern. Lena stocks the groceries they bought in the fridge and tosses the numerous bags and containers of snacks onto the counter.

She retreats under the futon covers and quickly falls asleep. Kashu observes her sleeping form for a long moment before deciding to spend the night under the kotatsu cover.

The next morning, she is awakened by a phone call from her Uncle telling her to return to the parliament building for training. Lena groans to herself, mumbling that she never signed up for training, but peels herself out of bed and calls for Kashu to get ready as well.

The pair would enter a hologram training room with enemies and she has to command her danshi to work together and clear the missions. Lena and Kashu don't complete a single mission on the first day. Hugo isn't impressed, but says that this is to be expected from a newbie.

Lena feels dejected but Kashu reassures her that everyone starts out somewhere. "Everyone has a first day!" he exclaims, leaving her wondering how on earth he can be so chipper.

Episode 3

Enter Keisho...

The streets of Neo Tokio were wet from the evening rain. Lena winced as she stepped into a particularly deep street puddle, praying none of the water got into her boots. Kashu trailed behind her, nimbly avoiding the puddles as if it were a game.

"Uncle Hugo will be angry if we are late," she muttered to herself, "but so rarely is he pleased, so what does it matter?"

"Don't be so glum! The inauguration is a celebration for the new Saniwa." Kashu tried to cheer his master up. "I'm sure you two will get along well, once you are introduced."

The new Saniwa...

Somehow, Lena did not know if that were a good thing.

Desire Sensor x Naginata of Choice

Oh my gosh I cannot believe I finally managed to forge SHIZUKAGATA NAGINATA! 

I've been forging for weeks now. I don't know exactly for how long, but trust me when I say that all my resources, specifically whetstone, were extremely depleted.😤

(Not the only thing we can work on together...)

I absolutely love his VA and he is so polite. I value characters who have good manners. Plus, HULLO?! WHAT IS HE WEARING--??? IT'S HOT?!

His damaged art makes me feel dirty HAHAHA but it's not like we can look away? It's like, art purposefully drawn to be suggestive. And NO, I am not posting it here!!! (OK maybe sometime but not now.)

Anyway, it happened to be the birthday of a character named Barbatos in the 'Obey Me!' game series. Since we call Shizukagata by the nickname "Barbatos Abs" (they do have a bit of a similarity), perhaps it was a catalyst. Or maybe just the Fuji I got from completing the event missions. Who knows??

Welp, here is the Saniwa Style profile for this danshi:

Name: Shizukagata Naginata

Nickname(s): Mr. Vampire, Barbatos, Sexy Naginata

Why he's beloved: Welp, I just really love his long claws (perfect for back scratches!) and his overall "vampire" look reminds me of a Chinese vampire/zombie. Plus wow, his outfit is very easy on the eyes. The man has got it going on!

I can't wait to kiwame him, he's risen to the top of my fav list in a very short time. Can't wait!💕

Midnight Memories

Lena was normally good at separating her emotions from situations. That was a skill she prided herself on. No matter how hard life knocked her down, she picked herself up from the ground and kept soldiering on. 

Even when her parents died, she remembered being sad, but she was too young to truly feel the pain; besides, her grandmother provided her with all the love she could ever need in the world (and still did). 

The one thing that managed to unnerve her, time and time again, was her uncle Hugo. Oh, dear uncle Hugo, who seemed to skirt the rules every time, blurring the lines between right and wrong, making her question morality. Charisma oozed from his pores, and his sound arguments, with carefully positioned points of logic, were hard--no, near impossible--to challenge.

That was how she found herself in her current predicament, wasn't it? Pinned against the wall in the dead of night by a silver-haired boy with wide eyes. Gazing into them felt like gazing up at the moon. There was emotion there, so much emotion: loneliness, longing, and now, a passion that she had never seen in him before.

"Is this what you want?" 

Honebami's voice was barely even a whisper. The pale moonlight streaming in through a small window illuminated his features, making his skin look like porcelain.

Lena's body was tense and she exhaled sharply in a failed attempt to relax. Somehow, she couldn't look away from his face, and that made her heart race. His gentle but firm hands rested around her shoulders, but he wasn't moving a muscle until he was certain of her intentions.

The seconds stretched into minutes and the silence was almost too much for both of them to bear. Lena swallowed to clear her throat before she spoke.

"Yes," she finally said.

"You would give yourself to me like this? I have no memories of... what I mean to say, is, I've never done this before."

"That much is certain! You were a sword."

"That's not what I meant."

Honebami suddenly appeared nervous. Lena wrapped her arms around his neck to calm him. She drew him closer and their bodies came together easily, two pieces of the same puzzle.

"It's my first time, too," she quickly blurted out, furiously blushing, unsure how those words even made their way past her lips. "So then, let's make some new memories. I trust you..."

His lips felt like clouds, soft and light against her skin. Their hands found their way together like magnets, fingers interlocking easily, as if they had always held each other this way.

By the end of the night, Honebami would never want to leave her again. Finally, something other than the fire that consumed his memories defined him. 

She was very much a part of him now... his Saniwa, and something much more...

Stuff

Keisho glanced up from his textbook at exactly five minutes past the hour and saw that a certain blue-haired friend was not seated in the row across from him. 

“It figures,” he murmured to himself, resting his head on his palms. “I doubted that girl could handle university life on top of the work that we’re doing.”

He was half right. 

Back at her apartment, Lena was buried deep underneath her blanket and a pile of pillows. The alarm had gone off at least seven times, and each time, she swatted away the flashing holographic numbers without a care.

The door creaked open, and Kashuu poked his head in. 

“You’re late for school,” he announced, matter-of-factly. 

He padded across the wooden floorboards to the window and pulled open the curtains. A blast of golden sunlight illuminated the room, and Lena instantly drew the covers tighter around her.

Kashuu plopped down onto the floor beside the futon. Crossing his legs, he pushed aside the pillows until he could see her face. He frowned when he noticed the circles beneath her eyes appeared darker than the night before.

“What’s wrong?” 

She glared up at him, unblinking, before letting out a heavy sigh.

"It's nothing. You know, human stuff."

Kashuu's brows furrowed. Hearing her words made him feel useless, and he never liked feeling that way when it came to his master. 

He cleared his throat. "I can try to understand, if you would care to elaborate?"

School Days

Another day, another alternate universe😂 

In this world, Keisho and Lena are university students but also the chosen saniwa sages that go back in time to combat the HRA alongside their touken danshi. WOOO I'm so engulfed by this TouRan brainrot.

When Lena starts her first day of university, she is surprised to see that Horikawa and Kanesada are already enrolled in the school and are actually part of the student's union. Kanesada goes out of his way to show her around and "make her feel comfortable" which... honestly doesn't make Lena feel too comfortable at all! He trails her around all day, getting too close and making all sorts of comments that have her feeling all sorts of ways.

Keisho fits right in with his light blue school uniform and glasses.

Everything & More

"I had a dream
I got everything I wanted
Not what you'd think
And if I'm being honest

It might've been a nightmare"  

~~Lena's POV~~

"Do we have to go to this ceremony? I'd rather stay home."

Lena looked into the mirror across from her and frowned. Her light blue hair was disheveled, sticking up in various places like straw. Even the braid hanging against her cheek was loose and unravelling. She sucked in a breath and tried to care, but somehow couldn't find the energy to do so. 

Behind her, Kashu let out a heavy sigh. She yelped in protest as his hands clapped onto her bare shoulders and squeezed down, hard. 

"Are you serious?! Of course you have to go. It's to honour the newest saniwa, after all. And his indoctrination into the cause."

Deep down, she knew he was right. But she hated the pretentious, stuffy, highly publicized events that the government put them through. And it was all for the sole purpose of rallying support from the people for the cause--to secure funding. It was all too fake!

She grumbled but got to work applying her makeup, trying to paint her face into something more...​ socially acceptable. Kashu assisted by brushing her hair, pinning her bangs back at the temple to keep them out of her face.

"Come on, love. Don't look so glum." Kashu tried to console her. "It's only for a night. You'll make it through."

"Perhaps."

There was one upside about these events, and that was the unlimited booze.

Picking the night's chaperone was going to be another struggle in itself. Although every one of her touken danshi volunteered for the role, only one was allowed to accompany her. She knew all of them were vying for the role. Who was she going to choose?

~~Keisho's POV~~

Keisho admired himself in the full-length mirror. He was draped in crisp white robes, with a grey silk sash and a string of long red beads around his neck. 

"Wooow, Master," Midare exclaimed, stars in their eyes. "I'm soooo excited for you. The inauguration ceremony is a big deal!"

"Thank you, Midare. I'm a bit nervous."

"OHOHOHO! Should I help you relax by stripping?" Muramasa grinned. "Just kidding." he added, when Midare shot him a dirty look. "You do look great in those robes, though."

Although he felt nervous, Keisho was determined as well. The HRA was a dangerous, radical organization with the twisted goal of altering history itself. And finally, all his hard work was paying off. He would finally get the chance to go back in time with his touken danshi, and rid the world of this evil for good.

Saniwa Style!

"Hahahaha, aren't you touching too much?"

Oooooof I've been really submerging myself into Touken Ranbu's universe. As a saniwa of the Touken Danshi, I am thinking I need my own MC design to really elevate the experience. TouRan doesn't give too much of a storyline at all, and the game can be quite repetitive and dry. So I might as well provide my own backstory.

Unlike the canon anime, my saniwa will be female. She's from the future, in the year 2205! Here is the description of the game taken from Johren's official website:

The year is 2205. Revisionists seeking to change history have begun to attack the past. The "Saniwa", who has been given the task of protecting the history, heads back in time with "Touken Danshi", the fabled swords that have taken the forms of powerful warrior.

Sooo obviously, she has magical abilities befitting of the role. I will say that she comes from a family of renowned sages and landed her role working with the government due to high recommendations from family friends. She is jaded and serious and likely suffered some sort of trauma growing up. She definitely isn't one that opens up very easily...

Bad End

"Ohhh my gosh! You're like, SO hot in those pants. How do you wear so much white and like, not get dirty?"

The nasally voice of a classmate drifted over to where Akari was sitting. She looked up from her textbook and saw a girl named Shino kneeling down by Simeon's desk, inspecting his sleek white pants with a deep fixation.

Akari's face burned at the sight of another woman checking Simeon out, although she couldn't exactly blame them. Sure, many students gawked over how beautiful the dark-haired angel was, with his porcelain skin and intense eyes that drew you in like a mirror, the golden ring surrounding his pupils a subtle reminder of his otherworldly status.

The angel was flawless!

She sheepishly averted her eyes from the scene, noting that Shino's face was dangerously close to Simeon's leg. Something about that bothered her, and her heart wrenched in her chest.

Simeon and her had never defined their relationship, but she knew that he was fond of her. She felt it in the way he always made a point to greet her, and from the many times he treated her to dinner at Purgatory Hall. More than that, she could always feel his eyes on her in the classes they shared, but it didn't make her uncomfortable; no, rather, his intent gaze comforted her, as a guardian angel should.

Akari told herself that she didn't need more, that she was content with the way things were. But all that was about to change.

At first, even Kiria doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary, until one afternoon when she stumbles upon a trail of blood outside a classroom and uncovers Akari dragging a body behind some bushes.

"Oh, hello Kiria. Still haven't headed home yet?" Akari says cheerily. Splatters of blood are smeared to her cheek and all over her uniform.

Kiria tears her gaze from Akari's eerie expression to focus on the leg jutting out from behind the bush.

It's twisted and angled strangely, like it'd been broken.

"Akari..." Kiria gasps, at a loss for words. "What... is this...?"

"Hm? Oh, her? It's just Shino! She was kneeling down really close to Simeon's legs today, so I ensured she would never get back up again."

Akari pat her hands on her legs, wiping as much of the blood off as possible.

"I'm starving! What should we eat for dinner?" Akari beamed, the sweetest smile gracing her face, and if she wasn't covered in blood, Kiria would have thought she had just come from a lively party.

Toyhouse!

 It's tiring being a hand of the Lord. I don't always want to reach out and touch people's lives, like, being human is hard.

I've been really having fun on Toyhouse, "A community for collaborative character creation and trading, worldbuilding and roleplay." Let's hope I can ride on this inspo train for longer, haha.

I've been spending too much money on commissions and need to stop that, ahaha.

Lesson 52

Akari couldn't even begin to describe her emotions on that long, overnight train ride home. The cool breeze caressed her face as the train pulled itself lazily through the mountainside, and the dark horizon was littered with millions of tiny stars. Simeon was leaning casually against the railing, as still as an elegantly carved statue and just as impossibly handsome, though there was a weariness to him that she couldn't help noticing.

"Feeling worn out?"

At the sound of her voice, he turned to face her, the easy smile he always wore quick to return to his face.

"Oh, Akari. How long have you been standing there?" 

"Quite a while, actually." She chuckled. "It's no wonder you didn't notice me. There seems to be a lot on your mind."

Simeon hesitated. He was an angel after all, and his belief was that he should always be capable and strong to set a good example for others, but at this moment he wasn't sure he could.

"It seems the fairies did quite a number on me, too," he chuckled. "Seeing Lucifer and his brothers in their angel forms again reminded me of how things used to be. But the Celestial Realm is different now, and when I think about the reality of everything, I can't help but feel a bit depressed."

A slight apprehension washed over him. Would Akari think less of him? She was peering at him with an unreadable expression. For some reason he was expecting her to berate him, but she stepped forward to close the distance between them and he felt her arms circle around him.

"I'm sorry," Akari mumbled, pressing her cheek into his chest. "I had no idea you were feeling that way."

She glanced up at his face, so close to hers, and gazed into his eyes. The smell of his cologne and his close proximity made her heart pound wildly, but at that moment she didn't care. She wanted to be close to him, to feel him and comfort him in his time of need.

"I know things aren't the way they used to be, and that's always sad. But there are new and wonderful things to look forward to and appreciate. I want you to know that, Simeon."

"Ah... thank you." 

Simeon blushed, returning the hug as best he could. She was so warm, and the faint scent of flowers wafting from her hair reminded him of walking through a grassy meadow in the Celestial Realm. 

"I'd really like to kiss you right now," he murmured. "Is that okay?"

The butterflies wouldn't leave her stomach and her heart felt like it might explode, but Akari nodded. 

"Go ahead..."

Simeon's hand moved to cup her face in his palm and she shyly placed her hand over his. She closed her eyes and the feeling of his silky lips pressing against hers made her head spin. He tasted as sweet as cinnamon, his tongue as smooth as velvet as he licked into her mouth. 

"Simeon..." 

When he finally pulled away, she found herself craving for more. Was this the addictive kiss of an angel, or was she finally acknowledging the feelings she held for him all along?

For a brief moment in time, the polished veneer Simeon had painted to protect and hold himself together had peeled away. But the moment was over as quickly as it began.

"I've kept you for too long, haven't I? I should let you get some rest. Good night, Akari."

An ache tugged at Akari's heartstrings at the sight of his retreating back. Impulsively, she reached out and caught his hand in hers. 

"Wait! I want to be together a little longer. Please?"

Part 2

I'm sooo addicted to this game and it's become a daily staple for me. I love the characters and the world and letting my imagination fill the blanks in with my own desires. Such as... worldbuilding and loving my OC's again.

Akari's D.D.D. is a sparkly glitter white. Kiria's probably has a leaf or flower pattern in gold or green or both on black. These two babies are basically foils of each other haha. It's so crazy how I based them off my younger and older self and how much I've matured and changed. I cherish all my experiences and don't regret anything though because God leads me where he needs me to be. Because of that, I have such a unique testimony and can interact with such a large variety of people.

But I digress. I just wanna think about my girls in the Devildom and the details haha.

So... because Kiria is a seasoned witch, she doesn't need as much protection as the newbie Akari. Therefore she has a room at P.Hall, as previously stated, while A has MC's room in HoL. However, Kiria has a party girl attitude and is always out on the town until late, much to Simeon and Luke's disapproval. Solomon often joins her, and although she claims he isn't her type, she'll still wake up in his bed after a long night. 

Kiria is a bit of a wild card and troublemaker. She'll mouth off to others and has quite the fiery temper, so she won't hesitate to hex those who rub her the wrong way. She likes to drink and smoke and gamble with Mammon, and one time Mammon gave her some Devil's Hash which caused her to pass out and miss an entire day of school. Lucifer found out and strung the both of them up from the ceiling, much to her dismay. Akari saw this and never wants to experience it, nope not in a million years.

For some reason, the two girls seem to get along well despite their immense differences. Kiria is always trying to get Akari's confidence up, and Akari tries to look out for Kiria's well being.

~~

The latest event has to do with a sakura petal Mammon got that possessed the soul of a princess who died before she could confess her love. The demon brothers and MC went to a small town in Japan to return the petal to its rightful resting place. Once they've done so, they decide to have a picnic under the blossoming sakura trees.

Kiria scoffs and comments that she doesn't believe in regrets. 

Asmo: Not even when it comes to never being able to confess your love? (shock)

Kiria: No ragrats, not even one.

Lucifer: It sounds like you've never been in love before. (slight smirk)

Kiria: That's not true. (glares at Lucifer) I just believe that feelings can change. That's all.

She glances to the ground, fiddling with the hem of the checkered picnic blanket.

Akari is listening to the conversation with Belphegor’s head resting on her lap. She doesn't quite know how the youngest brother managed to get his way again, but notes that he often does. 

She sips on her beverage and for a brief moment, notices Kiria's forlorn expression, a look rarely seen on the fiesty girl's face. In a flash it was gone and Kiria's usual easygoing smile was back, leaving Akari to wonder if she'd imagined it.

~~

There's a boy named Tomio who befriends Akari at RAD. He's a kitsune spirit and also an exchange student. He stands at 5'2" to Akari's 5'5". He's open and friendly to her despite playing occasional tricks on her, mostly to steal her food and cause her to become flustered in front of the people she admires. She eventually learns to bring extra food for him.

~~

As for Akari and Simeon, well, they natural spend more time together as Luke continues to befriend her, inviting her over to hang out and enjoy each other's company over tea and sweets. Akari occasionally stays over on the weekend when Lucifer allows it, spending time with Luke until he falls asleep.

In the late hours she heads to the kitchen, encountering Simeon. He's wearing long pajama pants and a tank top, clothes that she's never seen him in before. Her eyes were drawn to his alluring shoulders and she notes how attractive he looks in anything. 

Simeon: Couldn't sleep?

Akari: I was just getting some water.

He smiles kindly at her, in his usual refined way. He pours her a glass and sits with her on the couch, holding his own cup of tea.

Simeon: Thank you for spending time with Luke. He's very fond of you.

Akari: No need to thank me. I feel the same way about him. 

Simeon: He isn't the only one who is fond of you. 

Akari swallows slowly, lifting her gaze from the glass in her hands to the angel's face. 

Akari: Simeon... 

The sound of a door clicking open and footsteps. Kiria and Solomon arrived home, the sorcerer's arm tight around the witch's waist. 

The pair glanced at the two sitting on the couch. A grin spread across Kiria's face.

Kiria: Hey! Are you two...?

Akari: We're just having a midnight chat, that's all.

Kiria: Sure, sure. (snickers and narrows her eyes) Have a good night then. Maybe you should join us for a night on the town sometime.

Solomon: I dare say that would be good fun.

Everyone says their good nights and heads to their respective rooms, with Akari quietly slipping back into Luke's.

~~

March Forward

Yesterday I started working out again. I dragged my butt to the gym and used the elliptical and row machine, two of my go-tos. I'm planning to lift weights later on once I've gotten into the hang of things, though I've started with dieting aka portioning rabbit food. What a p a i n but gotta get that summer bod! I'll still eat a cheat meal once a week though. My anniversary is coming up so I know my partner wants to take me out to eat omakase on this upcoming Sunday. 

I'm trying to take breaks from social media to instead force my mind to create, write, or express my thoughts and feelings. I've been reaching out to God more regularly throughout the day to ask for His grace. I want to embody Jesus. I want people who interact with me to see Him. It's my own personal thing and it's a hard goal because I'm an impatient and selfish person at heart. But I'm also bad at hyping up my good qualities so those are chains I need to break free from as well.

There's a lot going on in my life that I don't write about; I suppose the same could be said for anyone. I'm getting a lot of custom art done these days. Although most of the pieces are Obey Me! related, one piece is a custom drawing of Keanu Reeves as a viking, done by a new hire at work that I'm training. He's printing this onto a hoodie and t-shirt for me and that's to commemorate the training class, which we've dubbed Team Keanu. New hire facilitating has been a challenge, but also such fun. Not only that, but I've been learning plenty and growing as a person, and that's neat. 

Maybe I can come back to my roots again. That would be nice. 

I wanna talk about the latest event in the game too but I suppose I'll save those ramblings for part 2.

~K

Kiddos

Everyone was making kiddos with their MC, so I figured I should hop on the bandwagon lol.

Creator ???

I feel like I've somewhat lost my way and the past several YEARS have been a huge and messy WIP to try and get myself back on track. I need to start focusing on myself and my own happiness. I have so many friends supporting me and yet the biggest hurdle in the way of my fun is my damn self!

In any case, I managed to churn out an art piece: Akari in her signature heart cutout dress. I'm struggling with her personality and interests, like, a lot. Because I'm so rusty when it comes to character creation haha. I'm going to spitball and see where this takes me...

The True Meaning of Master

    Chapter 1: It Begins

It was the end of another busy week at the Quarantine World headquarters. One of the co-founders, Creator K or "Karin" as she more commonly went by, was finishing paperwork in the office when a series of knocks from the door caught her attention.

"Come in," she called.

A young man entered the room, dressed in a dark blue robe that was embroidered with crescent moons. Karin's concentrated expression softened at the sight of her oldest 'son'.

"Matt! How unlike you to show up unannounced. I was expecting to see T.K. at the door."

Matt bowed his head briefly and smiled coyly before saying, "Can't I come to see my dear mother whenever I want?" 

"Don't joke around like that!" Karin threw her arms up in mock exasperation. "You get that flirtatious side from me, you know."

"Hehe. I am sorry to disturb you, but there is a matter that needs to be addressed immediately. Your presence is required in the lobby."

Karin furrowed her brows together at the news; she had a foreboding feeling that she already knew what this was all about. She let out a sigh and gathered her paperwork neatly into a pile before reaching for her jacket. 

"All right, let's go and handle this then, shall we?"

They took the elevator down to the main floor of the Quarantine World headquarters. There, they found the secretary locked in a heated argument with a man standing at the front desk.

"I've told you this once before, and I'm growing tired of having to tell you again, but you aren't allowed to just come in here!" Hokusai was practically pouting as she spoke. "Arjuna, go home!"

Arjuna tossed his wavy brown hair out of his face and gave Hokusai a very nasty glare.

"That won't be possible," he declared. "I won't leave until I've accomplished my goal." 

"And what goal might that be?" Matt inquired, more out of curiousity than anything.

Arjuna turned to face Karin, who found herself shrinking behind Matt and Hokusai, using their bodies to shield her from Arjuna's piercing gaze.

"That girl there." He jabbed a finger right in Karin's direction. "I've decided that I want her to be my Master."

"Wha--aat?" 

Karin's jaw dropped. She had heard whisperings of this Servant's existence, but in her stubbornness, decided to ignore him for the most part. The fact that he came all the way to Quarantine World from his world -- and what was his world, again? Chaldea? -- to confront her was quite impressive.

"Yes. I, Arjuna, am pleased for the chance to earnestly serve you."

"Well, you're in for some bad news," Hokusai said flatly. "Lady Karin already has a Servant. And it's not you!"

"We shall see about that." Arjuna's words sounded somewhat like a threat. "Mark my words. When it comes to you and I, you will surely recognize my greatness."

PJ Karter, the other co-founder of Quarantine World, walked into the building right as Arjuna was leaving. Hokusai's eyes lit up and she shot upright with a cheesy smile on her face when she spotted him.

"Lord Master!" she greeted cheerily. "Welcome back." 

"Hello, everyone. What was that all about?" Karter asked, and shot Karin a quizzical glance. "Why was Arjuna here, of all people?"

"Don't ask me! I don't know! And I don't plan on finding out." Karin bit her lower lip and peered at Karter from over Matt's shoulder.

"Maybe he just really wants a mana transfer," Hokusai joked, to Karin's dismay.

"DON'T mention anything about that. It's NOT happening!"

"Oh, Karin, your face is so red," Karter noted, grinning along with Hokusai. "Could it be that you're one of the naughty ones who view it as a physical transfer?"

"Shut up," Karin moaned, burying her face into her hands. "It's NOT like that. It's not!"

"Whatever you say," Karter said with a smirk. "Come on Hokusai, we have some grocery shopping to do before dinner."

"Yes, well. I'll be on my way! See you next week, Lady Karin, and you too, Munechika," she said, turning to bid farewell to Matt as well. "Try and have a good weekend."

Karter and Hokusai left hand in hand. Karin sighed heavily but the release of air from her lungs did little to relieve the stress she felt on her shoulders. What was she going to do with these FGO invaders?!

    Chapter 2: It Continues

Matt escorted Karin back to her home, where she lived next to two spritely angel neighbours from the Devildom. Despite the fact that it was five o'clock in the evening, Simeon was out sweeping his porch like an old man. He waved to Karin when he saw her approach. 

"My, my. You and your... son, are quite the pair." As he spoke, Simeon's eyes swept over them both. It was hard to tell what he meant by that, but he often was hard to read. "Any plans for the weekend, Karin?"

"Nothing really!" Karin said shyly. "Try and survive until Monday, I guess."

"If that's the case, why don't you come over for dinner tonight? I've cooked up a special meal featuring dishes from the Celestial Realm. It should be ready any minute now."

"What a generous offer, Simeon. Sure, I'll take you up on that." 

"I'll have to respectfully decline," Matt said. "I have made prior engagements with Ootengu."

"Ahh, yes. You were going to help him style his hair differently or something? Oh, don't tell me he's actually set on dyeing his hair black?" Karin frowned. "Well, regardless, you two have fun. Simeon, I'll be right over as soon as I get freshened up."

Karin changed into a comfortable sweater and made her way next door. She knocked and was expecting either Simeon or Luke to answer, but the face that greeted her was neither of them...

    Chapter 3: It's Not About To Stop Now

"Arjuna!" she cried, leaping backwards as if she'd been burned.

"So, we meet again. Yes... this is indeed good fortune."

"You talk weird." 

Karin shook her head, brushing past him to get to the kitchen. She hurried to Simeon's side, where he stood in front of the stove. 

"SIMEON! Why is this strange man...err, I mean celestial being, in your home?"

"Silly dove," Simeon laughed. "We're all celestial beings here. Besides, Arjuna is my cousin. Couldn't you tell?"

Though it was true that they bore somewhat of a resemblance, Karin wasn't having it. 

"Whatever. Anyway, what are you making?" 

She changed the topic, and Simeon graciously allowed her to taste test the various dishes he was cooking up. When everything had finished cooking, Simeon requested for Karin to call Luke down for dinner and for Arjuna to assist by setting the table.

"It smells soooo good Simeon!" Luke exclaimed, bounding down the stairs. "Hi, Karin!"

Karin enveloped Luke in a big hug, though she could sense Arjuna's stare on her back. His presence made her uneasy, but if Simeon trusted him, then she had no reason not to as well... at least, that's what she kept repeating to herself in her head.

Dinner passed by uneventfully; Simeon's cooking was delicious as usual, and by the end of the meal, everyone was stuffed.

"I couldn't eat another bite!" Karin sighed happily, giving her stomach a pat. "That was super yummy."

"No room for dessert?" Simeon asked. "I've made a special Gulab Jamun parfait, in celebration of Arjuna staying with us."

"Wait--STAYING with you?" Karin echoed, unsure if she'd heard him right. "Doesn't he have to get going back to his world?"

"Oh, are you concerned about him? How cute. But there's no need to worry, PJ Karter himself approved Arjuna's visitor visa."

"WHAT!" Karin's voice rose to a squeak. "No way..."

First it was Charlemagne that got to skip the line, and now Arjuna. Karter was turning out to be quite the dirty Servant Smuggler!

    Chapter 4: But Why?

Simeon and Luke both insisted that their guests relax while they got everything cleaned up. Karin sat there, brooding and shoveling bites of parfait into her mouth. 

The creaminess from the yogurt with the sponginess of the Gulab Jamuns was the perfect combination, and the honeyed saffron milk gave the parfait that Indian touch. Still, it was hard to enjoy the moment with an unwelcome guest in the vicinity. 

She looked over and saw that Arjuna had finished his and had gone back to staring at her intently. 

"It's rude to stare, you know," Karin muttered, picking up her phone. She tried to ignore him and opened up her phone's video app to distract herself.

The song 'Urvashi' by Yo Yo Honey Singh started playing. Karin kept her focus on the screen, bobbing her head slightly to the upbeat track while watching the music video, which featured a car heist.

"Urvashi, hm? That name brings back memories," said a voice right in Karin's ear. She whipped around and came face to face with Arjuna, who had made his way around the table to sit next to her.

"You're too close," Karin complained, to no avail as Arjuna didn't bother moving an inch.

"Is this the type of music you like?" He smirked slightly before humming a bit, singing along. "Mashallah, teri nazar... Mil jaaye mujhse agar. Do you even know what those lyrics mean?"

Karin shook her head. Arjuna continued on, and to her surprise, he had quite a beautiful voice.

"Your gaze is God’s grace. If this gaze sets on me, it’d be wonderful. I admit that we've met a bit late, but instantly I feel some special relation between us. That is what those lyrics mean."

"I see."

Arjuna placed his finger beneath her chin, mimicking the actor in the video.

"Should I push you against the wall as well?" he asked, matter-of-factly. "If that is what you like."

Karin batted his hand away with a scowl. It took every ounce of her will to push down the strange feelings bubbling up in her chest.

"Why are you acting like this? It's very... improper of you."

"Bonds are annoying, but necessary for a Servant. Are they not simply a means to an end?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm no Master. And certainly not yours!"

Karin left without saying goodbye to Luke or Simeon; she'd have to apologize later, but she couldn't take any more of Arjuna's teasing. Or taunting. She wasn't even sure which one he meant for it to be.

Grand Design

i put in the effort to come and write here in this space, even if there's nothing i wanna say. my friends say journaling without any real point can be cathartic. but i just can't even focus lol, on what i wanna write about, and these long arse nails i'm sporting really don't help. i mean i'm struggling with it but here i am!

Just For Fun

The aroma of freshly baked goods greeted Karin as she stepped through the doors of Purgatory Hall. 

"Oh Luuuke!" she called, kicking off her shoes at the entrance. "I'm here as you asked!"

The young angel had raved endlessly over the phone about the success of his new scone recipe, and urged Karin to drop by so that she could sample them straight out of the oven.

"Karin! You're finally here!" 

Luke's blond head of hair popped out from the kitchen doorway. He let out his usual cry of excitement and bounded to her side like a puppy whose master had just returned home. Resisting the urge to pat him on the head was hard, but Karin knew that he hated when others treated him like a child. 

Instead she asked, "How were your lessons today?"

"Ummm... they were fine. Just fine!" Luke's gaze dropped to the floor momentarily before returning to her face. "But enough about that! Come to the kitchen, let's have tea!"

His small hands gripped onto her sleeve, and she allowed him to tug her along as if she were a suitcase.

Simeon was seated at the dining table, surrounded by stacks of paper. His brow was furrowed as he stared down intently at his work, pen in hand. As he looked deep in concentration, Karin didn't want to disturb him, but Luke leaned in before before she could react and waved in Simeon's face to grab his attention. 

"Hey! Karin's here, aren't you going to greet her?" 

Simeon glanced up, eyelashes fluttering against his dark bangs. "Oh, hello Karin. I'm sorry, I didn't notice you come in." 

His warm smile caused Karin's heart to skip a beat, and she almost choked on her next words. It was a wonder that anything coherent made its way out of her mouth, but thankfully they did.

"It's quite all right!" she stammered, quickly changing the subject. "Are you writing the next part of your TSL novel?"

"Yes. In fact, I've just put the finishing touches on an intricate fight scene between multiple characters, so this is perfect timing."

"Time for a break," Luke exclaimed. He brought over a plate of scones, accompanied by jam and cream. "Tell me what you think, Karin!"

Spreading some jam onto a scone, she took a bite and immediately the buttery flavour and a hint of sweet tanginess exploded onto her taste buds. 

"Wow, delicious! You've outdone yourself, Luke. The texture is extremely tender, flaky and light." 

She applauded his fruitful efforts. Luke beamed at the praise, and a proud smile spread across his face.

"The scones pair nicely with this tea as well," Simeon added. He handed Karin a teacup that she recognized all too well. "This is Pure Tea from the Celestial Realm. Do you remember, Karin? We had this together on the day before my birthday."

"Of course. How could I forget such a lovely time?" 

Her hands trembled as she held the saucer and brought the cup to her lips. The unique flavour certainly brought back memories of the occasion. 

Simeon observed her with an inquisitive gaze, while Luke, on the other hand, looked a tad confused.

"Karin, please take some back with you. I'm always worried about what those demons are feeding you!" Luke said fretfully. "And make sure Beelzebub doesn't devour them, okay?"

He made Karin promise to hide the scones from the ravenous redheaded demon before she was allowed to leave. 

"It was lovely to have you visit," Simeon said. "You're welcome over anytime."

"Thank you for having me! I'll come by again soon," Karin promised. 

"Call me when you get home." 

Simeon's request made Karin's heart lurch in her chest again. She struggled to remain composed and simply nodded her head in response.

"See ya later!" said Luke, with an enthusiastic wave.

As the door shut behind her, Karin could still faintly hear their conversation from outside.

"Nobody talks on the phone anymore, Simeon. The correct thing to have asked is for her to message you when she got home!"

"I know, I know." Simeon's laughter was like music. "But, I want to hear her voice. So I said what I said."

Karin's face turned a bright shade of red and she scurried off, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping.

The topic was far too embarrassing, anyway!

Sweeter Than Chocolate

One afternoon, Akari got off work and decided to make some cute chocolate. Valentine's Day had recently passed, which meant that all the chocolate at the store was on sale - the perfect opportunity to stock up on some sweets.

“Hmm, what should I make?” Her eyes scanned the aisles, taking in the rows and rows of colourful boxes. “Maybe... this?”

She reached out to grab a couple milk chocolate bars to melt into different shapes, when suddenly she felt a brush of warmth against the back of her hand.

“Oh, I'm sorry.”

Someone else had reached for the same chocolate bar. Her eyes widened when she realized who was standing beside her.

“Simeon!”

“Hello, dove. Fancy meeting you here.” The angel smiled warmly with a playful glint in his eyes.

Simeon was at the store to pick up a couple items for Luke, who wanted to bake double chocolate brownies. Akari was delighted to see him, although the sight of him and the sound of his gentle voice was enough to cause her heart to leap into her throat.

They paid for their items and exited the store, a rush of cold air hitting their faces. The clear sky masked a deceitfully chilly day; Akari shivered and drew her jacket tighter around herself.

“Um, Simeon,” she began timidly, inhaling sharply when he suddenly spun around. 

“Yes?”

His steady gaze came up to her face and warmth shot painfully up her neck. She met his gaze as best she could and spoke earnestly.

“Would you... like to have dinner? We haven’t spoken properly since your birthday, and I’d l-love to catch up.”

She half-expected him to decline, as he did say Luke was waiting for the groceries at home. Simeon looked surprised, and then his eyes lit up like two gems.

“Certainly. It would be my pleasure to have dinner with you.” In a flash, his phone was in his hand. “Let me inform Luke that I’ll be home late tonight.”

“Great. There’s a place I’ve been wanting to try, just a couple blocks from here.”

Akari didn’t know why she felt so nervous. Well, actually, she did: Simeon was nothing short of gorgeous, and his playfulness was beyond alluring. But they were simply good friends.

Right?

—

The restaurant was called Arcadian Table, a relaxed bistro featuring decor with a rustic vibe. A server led them to a table by the window, and Akari blushed when Simeon pulled out the chair for her.

“Thank you,” she squeaked. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest, and she hoped he wouldn’t notice how red her face was. If he did, he didn’t say anything. They ordered two of the daily special, which was steak frites, and two glasses of red wine.

“I’m having a lovely time,” Simeon said, between bites of his food. Even as he ate, his focus remained largely on the girl before him. “I’m so glad you suggested this outing.”

“Yes, me too. Although I didn’t know you drank!” She eyed the glass in front of him curiously. “Can angels do that?”

Simeon laughed. “I do drink, sometimes. Although alcoholic drinks from the Human World generally have little effect on angels.”

“That’s fascinating.”

They chatted a while longer, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company as the hours stretched into the night. By then, Akari was several drinks in, and starting to feel slightly lightheaded.

“Perhaps I’ve drank a little too much,” she murmured, massaging her temples with her fingertips. The world was starting to spin. “We should get going!”

“All right. Here, allow me to support you.” 

Akari felt strong arms circle around her as Simeon steadied her with his hands on her shoulders. 

“Thank you.”

She leaned into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against her back. His presence made her feel safe, as if being together was the most natural thing in the world.

Pressure

Once upon a time, there was a goddess - a benevolent, loving goddess that looked after the human world with a fondness unlike any other. For a while, all was well, and the human realm prospered, until one day the goddess decided to visit the human realm herself. She was intrigued by the human race and the desires of the population - both from the prayers she would receive, and from what she observed from the heavens.

It was then that she fell in love with a man with eyes as blue as the ocean’s waves. In her human form, she met him on the sandy beaches of the shore one fateful summer night. The way the sunset’s orange rays cast a magical glow on his skin and illuminated his face was like an arrow shot directly into her heart.

As such, of course it was forbidden for a goddess to fall in love with a human, and in her deep sorrow and longing upon returning to the Celestial Realm, the goddess’s divine energy waned, disappearing like the sliver of the moon on a dark night. And so, her blessings no longer reached the human world, plunging it into a state of darkness that left the world susceptible to the dominion of demons...

—

“Akari! Wake up!”

A familiar voice shook her from the depths of slumber, and Akari found herself being pulled into an upright position from her seat.

“Ah... What’s the matter?” The blond girl yawned, rubbing at her eyes in a daze. “Did I doze off again?”

Wilfred sighed heavily, resisting the urge to smack his childhood friend upside the head. He was a knight after all, and it was unbecoming of any knight to mistreat a lady. Not that Akari could be truly called a lady, given her status in the small town which they lived.

“You know Akari, for a fortune teller, you’re quite dense. Not to mention lazy,” Wilfred mumbled, crossing his arms together and furrowing his brow. “The king’s right hand man and trusted tactician will be visiting today. The least you could do is stay awake.”

“Why? It makes no difference to me,” Akari retorted, kicking her legs up onto the counter and trying her best to ignore his condescending tone. “Many have wished for a session to speak with the Goddess Kiria, and none have been granted the honour. So, forgive me if I’m far from optimistic.”

Wilfred narrowed his eyes at her, and a strange tension filled the small shop. “Orion is different from the rest. You’ll soon see, Akari.”

Not soon after the words left Wilfred’s lips did the shop’s door swing open, and the bell jangled loudly to signal a visitor. A tall figure draped in an elegantly embroidered robe stepped into the shop, surveying his surroundings with a curious gaze.

Wilfred’s amber eyes widened as he swiftly lowered himself into a deep bow. “Captain Orion! You are early to grace us with your presence.”

Akari nonchalantly glanced in the cloaked figure’s direction, happy to let Wilfred handle the pleasantries for now. Sure, she had heard much of the sorcerer knight Orion’s conquests in battle, but it would take more than a couple of war stories to pique her interest.

“You must be the famous sorcerer Orion, the king’s renowned tactician,” Akari declared, eyeing the man up and down. “Welcome. Please, take a seat.”

She poured three cups of steaming herbal tea, setting them down onto a sturdy oak table and gesturing for him to take a seat across from her and Wilfred.

“You have my gratitude for your hospitality,” Orion said, lifting the cup of tea to his lips. He took a sip, and a content sigh escaping his lips. Akari noted that his voice was light and melodic, nothing like the harsh and commanding tone she imagined it would be. He appeared be quite the tea connoisseur as well, with the way he appreciated the tea's aroma.

“Am I correct in assuming that Sir Laurel has informed you of the reason for my visit?” Orion inquired, staring Wilfred square in the eyes as he spoke.

“Of course, Captain!” Wilfred replied hastily, almost knocking his cup over in his enthusiasm. “Everything has been prepared, exactly as you’ve asked.” 

“I would like to hear this directly from Lady Akari,” Orion mused, his piercing gaze settling onto the woman before him. Akari frowned slightly at his forward gaze, not used to men—or anyone, for that matter—eyeing her so candidly. 

“It is true that Wilfred has informed me of your request. However, I am not entirely sure how I can aid you, or the king,” Akari said slowly. “As you may already know, the goddess’s voice has long been silent. She has not spoken to our people since my great-grandmother delivered the last prophecy.”

“It matters not,” Orion declared, his determined gaze unwavering. “Your family’s bloodline has long been chosen to be the voice of the goddess. I believe it is only a matter of creating the right circumstances for her to reveal herself again.”

At this, the sorcerer set a small roll of parchment onto the table and slid it toward Akari. She unfolded it to reveal a delicate script that she recognized to be written by the king himself.

“Read this over, when you are able,” Orion instructed. “The king will pay you handsomely for aiding us in this endeavour—all the gold you should wish! So please, give this proposal some thought.”

“Certainly. I thank you humbly for your visit, Sorcerer Orion.” Akari smiled politely at the man before her, although it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

—

“So? What are you planning to do?” 

Akari sat with Wilfred in the garden behind her apothecary shop. She was perched on the stone ledge of a trickling fountain, lost deep in thought.

Wilfred sighed, noticing the stagnant look in her eyes. “Hello? Earth to Akari? I swear, if you’re not asleep, you’re zoning out on me.”

“Oh—I’ m sorry, Wilfred. I was contemplating the king’s proposal just now.”

“What exactly is there to contemplate?” Wilfred huffed. “The king needs your assistance. What more do you need to know?”

“The situation isn’t that simple.” Akari sighed in exasperation. “The letter said that the Holy Knights need help in subduing an enemy in a nearby village. And not just any enemy. From what I read, the culprit none other than a sleep demon.”

“A s-sleep demon?!” Wilfred swallowed, rubbing his upper arms in an attempt to stay calm. “W-well, this should be a piece of cake, right?”

“The king seems to believe that the increased presence of demons is what has been hindering the voice of the goddess,” Akari explained, rubbing at her temples in frustration. "And I can't exactly prove him wrong. It's true that dark magic has gripped the land since the disappearance of the goddess. But I don't believe it's the only contributing factor."

Wilfred was right, though. The wheel of fate had started turning, and Akari could feel it in her bones.

Divine Indulgence

My beloved Kait wrote a Simeon piece, right on Valentine's Day, and made my heart s t o p! So I'll leave it here so I can enjoy it whenever I wish, hehe.

--

Honestly, you weren't sure how you ended up sitting on a bed in a love hotel on the outskirts of the Devildom during a rainstorm.

You definitely were surprised at the fact that Simeon was pressing EVERY SINGLE BUTTON and flipping every switch he found in the room.

"Take a shower first, Karin. I don't want you catching a cold because of me," Simeon told you, catching your gaze before he went back to fiddling with all of the smutty technology.

As nervous as you were feeling being in such a place with the literal angel of your dreams, the idea of him being alone with the entire room of gadgets and gizmos was terrifying in and of itself. The suggestion of just showering together - water preservation! - died on your lips and soon you were behind closed doors and stripping off your cold, damp clothing.

Once you were under the warm water of the shower, you reflected on how exactly you ended up in this predicament. Simeon had never called it a date, but he had asked you for your time in exploring a new store...

That he had no idea the location of.

He had sworn up and down on Michael's name that he had the address saved in his D.D.D. and by the time you had realized the two of you were lost, the rain storm of the millenia had started. Due to the frigid cold rain, the two of you had no choice but to find shelter.

Unfortunately for you, the only few places around were a shady convenience store and a hotel. This hotel. A love hotel. Ugh!

Just the idea of the things that couples did in places like this embarrassed you, and the fact that it had been Simeon's suggestion to get a room to wait out the storm was enough to give you a heart attack.

"Karin?"

The sound of a light knock and your name as the door cracked open slightly had you startled, your heart threatening to jump from your throat.

“Y-yes?!” you asked, barely peeking out from behind the shower curtain, face bright red as you saw Simeon.

Simeon gave you a look from the doorway, leaning against the door as if you weren’t butt naked on the other side of a not-nearly-opaque-enough shower curtain before the slight smolder you swore was in his eyes turned to innocent joy.

“I’m thinking of ordering food~!” he said excitedly, but you were too focused on the way the ends of his hair curled a little haphazardly from the rain earlier.

“Sure, that sounds great Simeon! Thank you!” You weren’t nervous, no not at all. You just couldn’t understand how such a beautiful man could be so ignorant at times. Didn’t he know he was playing a dangerous game! “I’m almost done with my shower! I’ll be out soon.”

Simeon left you with a hum, not even bothering to close the door behind him as he sauntered back into the room to seemingly order food, giving you time to finish your shower.

Soon you were leaving the bathroom, wrapped in a fluffy robe the hotel provided, dabbing at your wet hair with a towel. When you saw Simeon you gasped, the towel in your hands dropping to the floor at the sight before you.

Simeon was lounging - topless - on the bed, flipping through a magazine he had found. You didn’t even want to know what kind of reading material was available here, but you only had enough brain power to stutter at the shirtless man before you.

“Oh, you’re done. Sorry, it got quite chilly in my wet shirt. I was considering removing my pants, but I think our food will be here soon.”

The food did arrive, shortly after Simeon decided it was his turn for a warm shower, and soon he was stepping out of the bathroom with his own robe barely tied correctly. You could only hope that your prayers for mercy reached anyone in the Celestial Realm, but the way he stretched his arms above his head - showing even more of his muscular thighs - had you wondering if God had forsaken you and this was your punishment.

“Don’t forget to hang up your clothes so they can dry,” you told Simeon, averting your gaze and focusing on getting the food he had ordered set out so they could eat.

“They should send up dessert soon!” Simeon said excitedly as he kicked his legs up on the bed, not saying whether he hung up his wet clothes or not, and lounged back as he brought his plate closer to take a bite of food. “This is surprisingly good - here, try,” he said, turning to you to offer a forkful of his dish. “Can I have some of yours too?”

You couldn’t say no, your face burning as you leaned in to take a bite of the offered food. It was fine as far as food went, but the fact that Simeon was the one feeding it to you, you were sure there had never been a more delicious dish. As you copied him, gathering your own food onto a spoon to hold it up to him so he could try, you were sure that you saw him smirk. It disappeared as he opened his mouth and let you feed him, closing his lips around the utensil and making the most sinful moan you had ever heard.

What the fuck.

It was unfair. His coy innocence, his personality, his face. It was all unfair.

Soon you were finished eating and there was another knock at the door and Simeon moved to answer, mentioning that it must be their dessert. Something sweet did sound nice, and you were hoping it would distract you from your current predicament. When he lifted the cloche, revealing a plate of huge strawberries and melted chocolate, you were convinced you were about to actually die from your heart stopping.

“I’m sorry I got us lost on Valentine’s day,” Simeon told you then, grabbing a strawberry as he crawled over you on the bed, smiling at how you backed up against the headboard. “But I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.”

Your ears burned as you tried to tell him that it was fine, that you were happy to keep him company, but knowing he was enjoying the current situation had your throat seizing up when you tried to talk. As he reached to dip the strawberry he held between his fingers in the chocolate, you gasped at the chocolate that trailed across your robe and your skin.

“Say ahh~, sweet dove,” He hummed, the chocolate covered strawberry pressing against your lips and smearing on your skin. “Don’t worry.” he chuckled. “I’ll be sure to thoroughly clean the mess I make.”

--

As you took a bite of the strawberry being offered to you, you couldn't help but wonder if this angel knew what he was actually doing. He was so coy all of the time, an innocence that teased all of your senses. 

"You know," he told you, leaning close to your ear. "I might be an angel... but I wonder when you'll start seeing me as a man as well." 

The feeling of his warm hand trailing up your bare leg sent you into shock. Sure, he was always kind to you and you had always assumed that he never knew how the things he said could be taken, but with him crowding you against the headboard you had your doubts. 

"You like me, don't you? Or was I mistaken in reading your advances?" Simeon's smooth, steady voice rang in your ear and across your body. "I /did/ ask you out on Valentine's day after all." 

You felt your ears burning, and as Simeon's thumb moved to sweep chocolate off your lower lip your heart stopped. 

"N-no!" You gasped, pushing on his chest to give yourself some breathing room. "W-wait, no, not... I mean! I... I do like you! I love you!" 

Your sudden outburst and panic had Simeon laughing and a part of you wondered how to shut his beautiful mouth.  When you saw his kind, teasing smile shift into more of a smirk, you stammered and tripped over your words. If the bed could just open a portal and swallow you whole, that would be too much mercy on your soul.

"You have to tell me what you want, my dove," Simeon told you then, his fingers reaching to play with the neckline of your robe. "Just be honest with me." 

You were quiet for a while, skin lighting on fire as his fingertips found your collarbone, but when he leaned in close again, your breaths mingling, you turned your head to the side. 

"Wait," you gasped, your cheeks burning red. "Y-you first!" If was only fair that if he wanted to know how you felt about him, he should be honest too. 

Simeon's demeanor shifted a little and his hand went to your cheek, thumb brushing your skin gently. "Me? Is it not obvious?" No! You wouldn't be asking otherwise. "I adore you. I was so happy when you invited me for dinner the other night. Spending time with you truly does... excite me." 

"What does that mean!?" You found yourself saying, exasperated. "You talk in riddles, Simeon!" 

You didn't know what had gotten into you to be so bold, but you definitely had grown tired of his sly ways. 

"I love you," Simeon said then, matter-of-factly. "If you love me as well, as you just said, surely we should do something about that?" 

It only took a breath more for his lips to crash against yours, his hands moving to hold your hips firmly as he licked into your mouth, the tip of his tongue licking so lightly at the top of your mouth, catching behind your teeth. The taste of him assaulted your senses and the ferocity of his kiss had you hearing white noise as your mind and body was overloaded with everything him.

Feb 15th - Chadwick Boseman

Writing my piece for my company's black history month project. I've chosen Chadwick Boseman because he really moved me.

Chadwick Boseman was an American actor, widely known for his role as the iconic King T'challa in Black Panther (2018). In stark contrast to his blockbuster stature today, it may be surprising to know that Boseman didn't land a significant movie role until he was in his mid-30s. Now, we would be hard-pressed to find a household who has not heard of the salute "Wakanda Forever", a gesture of Black excellence around the world.

"Black people are heroes too." This is the message Boseman brings to the big screen with his roles, and not only with Black Panther. He has portrayed Black Americans of colossal historical importance such as James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, and Jackie Robinson, to name a few. For Boseman, it went beyond showing that a Black superhero could be successful on the big screen, it was about reiterating that there is a place in this world for Black individuals and creating stories that exemplify that world we want to see.