Only Fools Rush In, part 4/12 (2015-08-02)

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All of Ben’s careful, well-intentioned plans crumble into dust after the Auradon Knights win against the Corona Suns. Or, rather, when Carlos wins against the Corona Suns.

Both teams defenses’ were working double time during the game, and neither side had managed to score against the other. They had already dragged the game into overtime but with still no goals made, they were facing another ten minutes of grueling overtime. And maybe that was why the Suns had focussed on Jay and Ben, the Knights’ top scorers, and completely forgot about Carlos. Small, fast, cunning Carlos who scored the game winning goal.

It was such a surprise that, for a beat, there was stunned silence. But then a roar of cheers erupted from the Knights’ side, the band and cheerleaders at the front of the celebration. The team, tired but exhilarated, crowded together, jostling Carlos in congratulations. After Carlos and Jay finish their familiar, triumphant, roughhousing, Ben sees Carlos bounding towards him.

It’s nothing at all to catch the smaller boy mid-leap with arms around his waist. It seems right to have a matching embrace around his neck. And maybe that associative seduction worked too well; or maybe Ben conditioned himself instead. Because it just feels natural to lean in, to press his lips against Carlos’, to taste, to touch, to kiss.

For all that Ben wishes it had been an eternity, it’s brief. A fleeting moment in time that ends all too soon because he pulls away. Has to pull away. When his brain comes back online, he realizes he didn’t ask. Didn’t feel a matching, reciprocating pressure from Carlos. So Ben has to pull away, has to look and see what he’s done.

Carlos’ mouth is open, an involuntary temptation; Ben would like to imagine that his lips are a little redder, but then again, he’d like to imagine a lot of things that aren’t actually true. Shaking those thoughts away, Ben sees that Carlos is frozen, eyes wide and staring back in shock. The arms around Ben’s neck have loosened their hold, hands resting lightly on his shoulders.

He knows that there’s still noise and movement around them, but as far as Ben’s concerned none of that matters. They are a tableau of two, motionless and accompanied only by the sound of Ben’s pounding, nervous heartbeat.

Then Carlos’ hands twitch, and maybe it’s just a reflex, but maybe he’s trying to push Ben away. And Ben doesn’t want to presume, doesn’t want to trap him, so he lets go, sets Carlos back on the ground quickly, but gently, and he pulls his arms away. Carlos fingers are still curled in Ben’s jersey, and his expression is still open and shocked and vulnerable. And Ben resists the urge to lean back in, to press more kisses against his face, to see if Carlos actually tastes like chocolate or if that was just more of Ben’s imagination at work.

Unfortunately, or maybe not, considering how close Ben was to giving in to the impulse, Jay appears and manhandles Carlos away. He steers them back into the crush of enthusiastic teenagers riding the high of victory, leaving Ben to stand at the fringes and stare after them. When he turns away, trying to get himself under control, he catches the knowing gaze on Chad’s face.

~

A/N: I cannot express how difficult this was to write. And not in the usual way where I want to write but have no idea what to, this time it was I know exactly what to write but my soul keeps curling up in embarrassment every other word.

I am not very good at romance, so… you know, anything that isn’t vague hinting or sly implication is way too much for me. But! I persevered, and I hope you enjoyed it.

Also, a title for this series! Hooray! Not very witty reference from the lyrics of Can’t Help Falling In Love, but it was either that or a reference to Fall Out Boy’s Young Volcanoes. And “Free From The Coliseum” doesn’t quite make sense without the context.

Also, also, hello new followers that are presumably here because of this series. Uh… I’m glad you enjoy this series, and hope you find other drabbles you enjoy amongst my writing.

So, just to make clear, this drabble is part four in a series.

It is quite possible that I will die if you don’t continue those drabbles. I don’t have a title suggestion though :/

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Like I said before, I’m running on less than three hours of sleep and too much emotion from a silly Disney Channel movie. But I am now also being fueled by everyone’s enjoyment of this series.

I’m really glad you like them. 😀 But, uh, please don’t die? I’m seriously at the whims of my plot bunnies/muses. Luckily this one seems to be particularly generous.

And I totally understand about the lack of title suggestion. I obviously cannot come up with one myself 8(

Only Fools Rush In, part 3/12 (2015-08-01) [3]

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“Am I being too subtle?” he asks, leaning casually against the lockers next to Mal’s, the perfect picture of a devoted boyfriend. Except for the conversation topic.

A laugh bubbles out of her, honestly surprised and brightly entertained. Ben is always pleased when he can do that, anything to make her happy.

“You announced to the entire school that you were in love with me before we were even dating, and on our first date you took off your clothes,” Mal reminds him, smile edging sideways with mostly benign teasing.

He scratches his cheek sheepishly, acknowledging her point, but defending himself with, “But that was when I was under the love potion.”

Her nose crinkles, now more ashamed at the memory of having to resort to a love potion than having been caught using said potion.

“But it didn’t change who you were, or how you acted while in love. It just focused those emotions on a specific target,” she responds thoughtfully, fingers tap tap tapping against the spine of her spell book, “Just because the target of your affections is one that you’ve chosen, doesn’t mean your behavior would be considerably different.”

Her voice drops out of the lofty theorizing, and darkens into something hard and flinty, “I understand that you’d want to be a little more discrete since it’s Carlos…”

And Ben is still working his parents over on the matter of my-girlfriend-is-Maleficent’s-daughter, much less the I’m-actually-in-love-with-Cruella’s-son.

“…but he’s not going to end up your dirty little secret,” she states, advice and warning combined.

He shakes his head, because of course not. He wouldn’t–doesn’t–view Carlos that way whatsoever. The reason why he doesn’t sing his feelings at the top of his lungs to the entire school is because Carlos and Mal are different. “With you, I knew you’d reject me if you didn’t want me, even in front of the entire school. But with him… I don’t want him to feel pressured into saying yes.”

“There you go,” she says, satisfied, “Now, walk me to my math class so we can pass by Carlos in the hallway on his way to computer science.”

Ben’s next class, history, is in a completely different building on the other side of campus. But he thinks the daily tardies are a worthy exchange for daily smiles and waves.

Mal hip checks him when he stops moving to watch Carlos walk away, nearly completely turned around to do so. Luckily for Ben, the crowd flowing around them are all students almost late for class, too busy to notice.

“Not subtle at all,” she chides half-heartedly.

~

A/N: THIS IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DRABBLES I HAVE WRITTEN IN ONE DAY. I AM RUNNING ON LESS THAN THREE HOURS OF SLEEP. WHY ARE MY FEELINGS FOR THIS CAMPY MOVIE INCREASING OVER TIME?

Continuation of today’s earlier posts.

Also, any suggestions for a title for this series?

EDIT: NOW WITH TITLE– “ONLY FOOLS RUSH IN”

Only Fools Rush In, part 2/12 (2015-08-01) [2]

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There seems to be a disconnect between his conscious and subconscious mind; because while he still finds it extremely difficult to verbally ask Carlos out, his subconscious seems to be completely on board with the seduction.

“Good boy,” Ben murmurs into Carlos’ ear after he’s finally made a goal during one of their tourney practices. One of Ben’s hands is curled possessively around the back of Carlos’ neck, the other strokes down his stomach, pulling away just before it hits waistband. Belly rubs indeed.

Carlos, distracted by the joy and pride of his first successful shot, only smiles at Ben gratefully. The same as he always does during their personal training times.

Outside of those, Ben’s opportunities to ask Carlos out (continue seducing him) drops to zero. Because for some reason, even though all of them know he’s trying to date Carlos, the three other Lost kids do not leave him alone.

“Associating yourself with endorphins and exhilaration? It’s a good start,” Evie says with a wink–how does she know these things–at lunch one day. Thankfully, Carlos is not in earshot of their lunch table, opting to spend the rest of his free time playing fetch with Dude, but still. He’s right there.

“Carlos loves chocolate,” Mal mentions pointedly, both helpful and despicable, as Ben’s mind goes full throttle down a particular road. Blood rushes elsewhere in addition to his face.

“Still don’t need to hear this,” Jay grumbles, and steadfastly ignores everyone else at the table.

“Hear what?” Carlos asks as he rejoins them, Dude loyally following at his heels. He plops down into the space next to Ben; and Ben has apparently lost all control, automatically leaning towards him.

“Nothing,” the girls say, giggling to one another. Jay continues to ignore everyone.

“Ookay?” Carlos responds, and if Ben is maybe thrilled by the slightly breathless way he speaks, panting with exertion, well. No one else needs to know. Certainly not Jay.

—

One would think that, after years of looking after Dude, it would have earned Ben some loyalty; or at the very least some kind of leeway. But when it comes to the dog’s favorite human, apparently even past generosity means nothing.

“I fed you steak,” Ben hisses, feeling betrayed, when Dude growls at what he apparently deems an inappropriate proximity to Carlos.

It’s a Friday night, and Ben and Carlos are finally alone–thanks to Evie and Mal literally dragging Jay out of the boys’ dorm room–and they’ve spent the last two hours playing video games.

Not that he hasn’t enjoyed spending time alone with Carlos without the pretext of tourney training. Or, nearly alone with Carlos. But he was kind of hoping to elevate their relationship to the next level. Or at least bring up that possibility.

Instead, Dude has been acting as chaperone for this not-date (would be a date, if Ben could actually ask), bodily going in between the two of them whenever Ben tries to do anything.

He has never been more aware or more frustrated by the presence of a bed in his entire life.

So what if Dude dooms this particular night to a strictly platonic hang out? It’s not exactly a hardship to interact with the boy he likes.

“Again?” Carlos pleads, even though Ben has lost every single round thus far and he’s kind of getting bored of the game. But Carlos asks, hardly even needs to pout or widen his eyes or tilt his head beseechingly, and of course Ben is going to say yes. Though all of that certainly doesn’t hurt his case.

And, well, so what if Ben loses yet again? Carlos’ delighted grin is an excellent consolation prize.

~

A/N: WTF! Are you kidding me? I literally could not fall asleep because I was thinking about this. Whhyyyyyy? I did not sign up for such a disproportionate amount of feels.

And I’m hinting at puppy play between two next generation Disney characters. Oh my lord, I might as well fling myself into the sun, I’m probably going to some level of hell.

Direct sequel to this.

Also, maybe I should come up with a title for this if it’s going to be a series…

EDIT: IT’S CONTINUED HERE. WHY AM I BEING COMPELLED TO WRITE THIS?

EDIT2: NOW WITH A TITLE! CHECK OUT MY “ONLY FOOLS RUSH IN” TAG FOR MORE INSTALLMENTS.

Only Fools Rush In, part 1/12 (2015-08-01) [1]

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“Of course I don’t mind,” Mal says, soft smile gracing those perfect pink lips he’s never kissed. And never will.

Certainly not if he’s going to follow through on this crazy idea of his.

“But one condition,” she adds, and now her smile turns sharp and edged and dangerous, like nothing in Auradon. He thinks it’s going to be secrecy, not to cause a scandal, but instead she says, “Break his heart and I’ll end you.” The tapping of her fingertips against her ever present spell book is just a reminder of how easily she can back up her words.

He remembers why he loves her, why he wanted her to wear his ring. She’ll make a great queen.

Maybe not a good one, but he’s sick of good. Good is boring. And what he wants? Is neither.

—

He gets Mal’s permission first–because there’s no way he’s going to cheat on his girlfriend, even if that term is used more as a job title than a relationship status–but she’s not the last.

Evie blinks at his question, rolls her eyes, then dismisses him, “You think I didn’t already know? I suppose I could threaten you but, to be honest, anything I do would be faster and less painful than what Mal or Jay would do to you.”

He considers that, then nods in agreement.

She’s about to turn away, onto her next project, when she stops, head tilting as she considers the idea that has just popped into her head. Then she smirks, gaze crawling up his body from toe to head in an amused leer.

“Is the change genetic?” She asks, and he’s about to say no, his father’s curse was broken decades ago, but then she continues, “Because Carlos likes fur.”

The blush that spreads across his face is almost as red as the ruby around her neck. He cannot flee fast enough from her laughter.

—

Unsurprisingly, Jay is the hardest. And not just because he’s got biceps as big as Ben’s head with a predilection to use them whenever he wants. Jay and Carlos are brothers and, more than that, they’re roommates. It takes a lot of maneuvering to get Jay by himself, and even that still involves Carlos looking at them both with abandoned, hurt puppy eyes which nearly undoes all of Ben’s plans.

But no, he’s going to do this right.

When he first broaches the topic, Jay shows remarkable restraint when, instead of immediately decking Ben across the face, he merely punches a hole in the wall next to Ben’s head.

“Mal knows, of course she knows!” Ben blurts out, relieved when Jay finally pulls away his fist, “Evie does, too.”

“Duh,” Jay scoffs, which–what, does Evie just know everything?–but at least he’s not angry anymore.

“I promise I won’t hurt him,” Ben says, then his thoughts stray just a little so he flushes and admits, “Well, unless he wants me to–”

“Shut up, I don’t need to hear that,” Jay thankfully interrupts before their conversation delves too far in a direction neither of them want to go in. “Promises mean shit,” he redirects, still scowling, but backing away so he no longer looms menacingly over Ben.

“But you are the reason that damn mutt sleeps in our room…”

The reason Carlos isn’t frightened to death of dogs anymore, Ben translates.

“And you were willing to help him out with tourney training even before…” Jay trails off and waves a hand vaguely which Ben doesn’t know if that means before he started dating Mal or before he started having feelings for someone not his girlfriend. And not a girl, for that matter.

“You better not screw this up,” Jay says, before punching Ben on the shoulder–both a warning and a gesture of approval. He ends the conversation completely by simply walking away.

Ben resists the urge to rub away the pain until Jay is completely out of his line of sight. That really hurt.

Now comes the actual difficult part: asking Carlos if he wants to go out with Ben.

~

A/N: Oh god, what am I doing? Doing what I do best, apparently, writing about a ship without actually having the characters of the ship interact.

Not necessarily related to my other Untitled Descendants drabble here, but they’re not inconsistent with each other, so enjoy?

Basically, after reconsidering the movie and sifting through all the awkward heteronormative stuff, I gleaned a few excellent headcanons about everyone’s orientation/relationships/personalities which I now greatly enjoy.

Mal: either demi or aro ace. She and Ben are still together, and probably will get married, but she’s not going to deny him happiness. Especially not if it’ll make one of her brothers/best friends happy.

Ben: there’s no way that boy is completely straight. no way.

Evie: once she drops the air-head routine, she accepts her potential for omniscience. she doesn’t even need her mirror for it.

Jay: older brother. SUCH an older brother. and plus, they all grew up on the Isle together. Even if Jay and Carlos aren’t genetic brothers (and, again, I can easily headcanon that all of them are at least half-siblings) I have weird, specific feelings about the Westermarck effect.

Carlos: what an adorable little charmer. did you see how easily he got the security company to turn off the siren? that boy’s hella cute.

EDIT: continued here.

EDIT2: NOW WITH A TITLE. THIS SERIES IS CALLED “ONLY FOOLS RUSH IN,” SO FOLLOW THAT TAG FOR MORE INSTALLMENTS.

Untitled Descendants drabble (2015-07-31)

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They’re rotten to the core.

It’s hard not to be, considering who their parents are.

They’re the meanest, cruelest, most ruthless, and most evil on an island already filled with all of Auradon’s more unsavory characters.

And they’re all siblings.

Four of the worst villains forced to share real estate? Either they’d kill each other or… collaborate.

Jay’s the first, the oldest, a product of a rare moment of intimacy between his parents. His existence led to the girls’ mothers wanting scions of their own. And, after seeing infant Evie and Mal become witches in the making, Cruella wanted one just for herself–hence Carlos.

With pedigrees like that, raised in an environment like that, no wonder why they’re the Isle’s biggest bads.

—

Mother says that this is their chance for revenge. But as far as Mal is concerned? She doesn’t want to waste her own opportunity for power on a failure’s paltry schemes.

Why take power and hand it over to some has-been when she could just keep it for herself?

They were always greater than their parents. Why settle for dusty old dreams, when they can make their own a reality?

–

Evie doesn’t need a mirror to know she’s beautiful. She doesn’t need one to know she’s smart and talented, either. Why would Evie choose some airhead of a prince nowhere near in line for the throne, when she can build her own future?

The poisoned apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, maybe, but her poisons are far more deadly–and fetch a much higher price. Clothes and jewels certainly aren’t going to pay for themselves. Though having the heir to the kingdom’s gemstone mines wrapped around her little finger? Terribly convenient, wouldn’t you say?

–

Carlos has never seen a dog before, but he’s always been told that they’re rabid pack animals. Mom may have gotten the rabid part wrong, but they’re definitely pack animals–and once a dog has made you its alpha, they’ll fight a dragon for you.

He flees the Isle as soon as he can because he knows there’s way more out there for him. Here’s something Mom never taught him: a hint of kindness beats any amount of cruelty in getting what you want. Whether with animals or humans, he’s more suited to the title of charming than those princes ever were.

–

One thing Jay has known his entire life is that a group is stronger than an individual. It’s written in his bones, woven deep into the fiber of his being, because that’s what being an older brother is all about. He parrots what his father says–nonsense about there not being a team in I–because that’s all his father ever expects from him.

But he’s more than that, he knows it, and his siblings know it, that’s all that matters. There’s a reason Jafar couldn’t hold on to the throne when he had it. You can’t be a leader if you’re alone. And anyway, it’s better to be a winner as a follower, than a loser as a loner.

Though, as long as he’s the fist? He’s perfectly happy

–

The way Mal sees it? She can hand the wand over to Mother and watch the world crumble into the festering ruins like the Isle, or she could hand it back to a fairy who doesn’t use it. Who displays it in plain sight, in a museum she and her siblings have already broken into with less than a day of preparation.

Not that she needs a paltry stick for power. No, power isn’t magic–though she has enough of that–it’s words. So easy to turn a daughter against her mother, to have future queens in her debt, to make a boy king fall in love.

Every good King has a Queen. And every great Witch has a Beast.

~

A/N: HAHAHAHA, guess who is baby-sitting their younger cousins and had to watch ALL TWO HOURS OF THE DISNEY ORIGINAL MOVIE DESCENDANTS!

That’s right. It’s me.

And… uh, somewhat not fully complimentary review of the movie under the cut.

edit: now on ao3 as part of Nameless, Worthy (Infamous)

It was so absolutely soul rending and awkward that I accidentally cussed in front of my younger cousins (ie: bullshit).

I mean, the premise was already cringe-worthy, but the actual movie was just… agh. Like… agh. It wasn’t even like with High School Musical where you could maybe suspend your disbelief long enough to accept jocks singing and dancing to a song about how they don’t dance. This movie was like… why. Why. Why is there a song with flashbacks to something you literally just showed five minutes ago, why.

Buuuuut. There were a few nuggets of… well, not gold, but possibly salvageable stuff which, obviously, they did not deign to go into WHATSOEVER. And I have a lot of questions about things which will never be answered but which, well… hence this drabble.

I’m so sorry. But this was the only way I could live with myself after watching that, and basically it’s that instead of ~turning good~ the kids stay evil. And are in fact more evil than their parents because they don’t just obediently follow their parents’ wishes, they take the opportunity to get power for themselves. And, well, the end Mal’s eyes are all evil magic green as she winks at the camera behind King/Prince Ben’s back and I’m just like… well obviously she’s going to take this train all the way to the end of the line. Which is Queen of a conglomerated magical kingdom with her gang/siblings in key positions.

As far as I’m concerned? They’re still rotten to the core, they just learned subtlety. Which was SORELY NEEDED IN THAT MOVIE.

Counterpoise drabble (2015-07-30)

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This is our legacy, Zakuro thinks, as he watches Riichi-sensei’s indolent composure break to scream at his genin teammates. Anko-senpai and Satsuma-san do not hesitate to scream back.

“This is your fucking Exam, Anko, how do you not know when that bastard sneaks in as one of the contestants. He fucking spoke to you!”

“Don’t push this on me, Satsuma’s the one whose entire genin squad was a sleeper cell of his spies. They might as well have had Sound headbands on, you four-eyed idiot!”

“Riichi’s band of perfect little soldiers could hardly keep their covers through the preliminaries. Talk about not knowing your team–you didn’t even know what your student’s hair color is!”

“You have no right to talk about my team when they’re just cleaning up after the massive steaming pile of shit you call your squad!”

Back and forth the shouting goes, flinging insults and blame and accusations at each other. Yet no one actually says the name which started it all.

Orochimaru.

Konran, no longer quite as short as she used to be, yet still small enough to fit comfortably under Ringo’s chin–due to their own growth spurts–is huddled there. Her hood and bandana are in tatters, revealing the bright red mess that remains of a once neatly pinned up braid. Ringo, arms still shaking from nerve poison, tries to comfort her as best he can.

We don’t have to end up like them, Zakuro hopes, watching the adults tear open old wounds just to make each other hurt.

He joins his teammates, wrapping around them as best he can, as if so long as they were hidden they would be safe. He removes the shredded headband from Konran forehead, surprised it had stayed on even that long, and replaces it with his own, clumsily tying it in her preferred bandana style. For Ringo, he gently pulls his arms down, rubbing at biceps and forearms, in an attempt to massage away the pain.

It’s still obvious her hair is red, and Ringo’s the medic, not him, so he has no idea what he’s doing, but he tries. He wants to help.

They don’t say anything, both still in shock in their own ways, but Konran grabs the fabric of his shirt and pulls him even closer, and Ringo’s face presses into the curve of his neck and shoulder. Zakuro doesn’t ignore the spots of dampness, but he doesn’t say anything.

—

Every so often, Ringo gets gifts. It’s just… something that happens; has been happening since he was born and his parents decided to name him Ringo after his late aunt.

His father says they’re from Hatake Kakashi who, despite being an elite jounin, is kind of socially stupid. It’s survivor’s guilt, his father explains, because he was on a team with your aunt.

His mother contradicts: It’ll take a lot more than trinkets to make up for what he–

And that’s when father shushes her, at least when he can sense Ringo. Which, so far, has been every time.

But he can guess what mother was going to say. It’s… well… not public record, necessarily, but next of kin do get more details on cause of death, if not quite the full story. And, well, it’s hard to hide medical records from an entire clan of medic nin.

So, yeah, gifts. And despite what mother says they’re not really what he would call trinkets. Ringo gets a lot of really nice gear–top of the line mesh and weapons and the higher grade soldier pills. Not exactly out of his family’s pay range, but if he didn’t already get it for free, he’d probably end up buying the cheaper stuff for himself.

He also occasionally does get stuff that he would consider trinkets. Little pots of medicinal plants, books and scrolls, non-perishable food, and once, a particularly shiny and colorful rock. Small, inconsequential things, closer to annoying than useful, but he keeps everything regardless.

But… to be honest? He doesn’t think it’s just one gift giver. Ringo can tell which ones come from Hatake Kakashi–they usually follow after the occasions when he senses the familiar electric-bright shock of chakra on the roof opposite his bedroom. They tend to be… pointed, if not practical. If he tears one of his favorite shirts, a new, similar one will be given to him within the week. If he stares too long at the bookstore’s display for the next installment of Tokuina Bubun, then a brand new copy will end up on his windowsill.

But… some of them are really random. He doesn’t use senbon, but occasionally he’ll receive some. He doesn’t use elemental ninjutsu either, but D through B rank water and fire jutsu scrolls fill up his bookshelves. He wonders why water and fire, specifically, but he wonders why ninjutsu scrolls in general so… Or even, occasionally, girl’s clothing. Which is weird and which is the only stuff he doesn’t keep–unless sharing snacks counts as giving away. He passes those onto Konran who takes it with both confusion and aplomb.

So, yeah, possibly two gift givers. He’s not going to say anything, because this has literally been going on his entire life and there’s no need to make it an issue now all of a sudden. But he is curious. And… okay, maybe a little concerned?

Because if one of the gift givers is Hatake Kakashi who does it out of survivor’s guilt (or atonement)… then who is the second and for what reason are they doing it?

~

A/N: Oh god, I’m so sorry. I said I wasn’t going to do this series, but apparently I’m just a big liar face. So here’s some more Counterpoise! Featuring Zakuro and Ringo this time because, you know what? This series is about more than just Naruto’s twin sister, it’s her story and that includes the people that are important to her.

Aaaand, yes, I am implying that Obito is being a little creepy and giving Ringo gifts he would give to Rin if she were alive. Hahahaha. Are they courting gifts? Are they apology gifts? Who knows?

Well, I suppose Kakashi is also being a little creepy too.

And I firmly believe that Ringo will never refer to Kakashi with anything other than his full name. Always.

Counterpoise drabble (2015-07-29)

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“Okay kids, we’ve got a dead courtier, a missing will, and a highly coveted treaure. Lay it on me,” Riichi-sensei says, head propped lazily in his hand. The four of them are seated in one of the booths of Aomori Teahouse, their usual mission planning spot, each with a cup of chrysanthemum tea steaming in front of them.

Ringo, having lost the daily tussle to avoid sitting next to sensei, goes first. “Incompetent rival,” he suggests with a half-hearted shrug, knowing that first suggestions hardly ever win. By dint of both having less time to think and not being able to compare to other plans.

Konran goes next, “Vengeful servant?” she says, eyes flicking carefully toward their waitress, then the tea pot. It’s a fair possibility, noblemen tend to be entitled assholes, and a servant would only be willing to put up with so much.

Zakuro grins, leaning forward eagerly, because he knows he’s got this one in the bag. “Lost heir,” he says triumphantly, preening as his teammates nod in support.

Riichi-sensei, taking it all in, throws back his tea as if it were sake, and slams the cup back onto the table with a loud thud. “It’s decided. We’ll do the lost heir.”

—

For reasons which Riichi-sensei refuses to share, Konran has to be the heir. Or, rather, heiress.

“And, anyway, these two can pass off as bodyguards. You, kid? Not so much,” Sensei says, patting the top of her head heavily as if to emphasize the nearly twenty centimeters of height difference between her and her teammates.

For now they’re keeping their identities a secret from everyone but their client, which means face make-up to cover Ringo’s tattoos, colored contacts to darken Zakuro’s irises, and–

“A wig,” Konran demands, quietly but firmly. Her hood is down, which is pretty rare, but even after four months of being a team, they have yet to see her without her bandana.

“It’s just a minor role for a B-rank, kid,” says Riichi-sensei, brow furrowed; he doesn’t understand the reticence.

“If she doesn’t want to, she shouldn’t have to,” Zakuro responds protectively, pulling up Konran’s hood for her. Entirely unnecessary, but kind.

“No one tells Hatake Kakashi to take off his mask,” Ringo adds, equally unnecessary, but just as good-hearted.

“Hatake Kakashi isn’t my subordinate,” Riichi-sensei says, voice gone flinty as it does during the rare serious moments. At his students’ reactions–minute flinch, tightening fists, upright posture–he regulates himself. His voice softens and he tries again, “Blonde hair isn’t that difficult to dye, and it’ll wash right out.”

At that, Konran finally meets his eyes. Bemusedly, she says, “I’m not blonde.”

~

A/N: Random mission for the Counterpoise team. Uh… spoilers? Yeah, they pass. Hahahahah… 😛

Of Veils and Polish, Part Three (2015-07-28)

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There was once an old man. He had a wealth, he had power, he had wisdom; but he had no successor. Without an heir, his legacy would be lost, and so he searched.

He searched amongst the glimmering, gilded courtiers, the nobility who ruled the lands with much wealth, great power, but little wisdom. He turned away. He searched amongst the military, the diplomats, the merchants, the scholars, and the artists. He found varying amounts of wealth, decent levels of power, and promising potential for wisdom; but nothing that felt correct.

He had been searching for almost two decades, his enemies and rivals’ places secure with successors of their own, and still nothing.

Until, one day, his servant placed his tea–perfectly brewed–upon his desk. And a report full of corrections beside it.

Finally, the old man had found the perfect candidate to be his heir. His servant’s origins were humble, but within him there was the capability to do great things. And so, the old man decided to claim his servant as his apprentice, to teach him the ways of the Minister of Dusk.

The servant was a quick learner, the perfect student, a worthy heir. He would be a great Minister of Dusk.

This is not that story.

~

A/N: Time flew right by me and whoops… so heres a dinky continuation of these drabbles. Blurgh, sorry.

Externality drabble (2015-07-27)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Komadori looks at her and thinks she has gone mad. But madness can easily be disguised as eccentricity, and anyway, all of the most powerful shinobi are a little crazy. So she smiles. As do some of her small army of bunshin. But not all of them.

Because not all of them are her. Actually, none of them are her anymore. And that’s what scares him.

“Komadori, you’ve met Ryohei before. These are our other friends,” she says, gesturing at her most frequently used identity, then at the fifteen other nonexistent people behind her.

He tries not to flinch away when she grips his elbow and guides him further into the crowd of phantoms. By the brief squeeze, he knows he failed, but at least she doesn’t hold it against him.

—

Hypothesis: Jiraiya is related to Hatake Sakumo and, therefore, also Hatake Kakashi.

Corollary 1: Jiraiya would have known Kakashi’s mother.

Corollary 2: Jiraiya would have seen that Tetsuki resembles Kakashi’s mother.

Conclusion A: Either Jiraiya had never seen Tetsuki before Tsunade revealed her heritage,

Conclusion B: Or he saw and told no one.

If B, did he tell no one because:

i) he does not care

OR

ii) it is a secret to be kept

If ii, who is he protecting?
AND, who/what is he protecting them from?

~

A/N: Yeah, I know, what is this bullshit am I right? 😛 I have forgotten how to write formal proofs so have this… nonsense instead. I suppose it works if Jiraiya was friends with Sakumo, not necessarily related to, but they look pretty damn similar that I’m just like… well… cousins, maybe?

Follow the Externality tag for other related stuff. I don’t know if it will help make any sense of things, but maybe it will.