Adventures of Jack and Ness drabble (2015-03-23)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Like clockwork, Thunder is bought for a private lap-dance every Tuesday night at ten-thirty pm by the same person. He has other customers as well, and even other regulars, but this one in particular is his favorite. And not just because the guy’s a very good tipper.

“I think I’m in love,” he sighs, neatly avoiding a swat from Ness’ towel as he helps her set up the bar.

“Oh, darling, don’t do this to yourself,” she exhales, but doesn’t put much effort into it. Who is she to tell someone not to fall in love? And anyway, it’s far too late.

“Do you know what the worst part is? The worst part is, he still calls me Thunder. Even though I already told him my real name!” He mourns, dramatically draping himself over one of the stools. It’s only four o’clock, far too early for costumes and make-up, so he makes for a sad droopy picture in sweats and soft, ungelled hair.

Ness says nothing, though she can’t help the wince. It’s dangerous for the employees give out their real names, talents especially.

“Don’t make that face. Jack is a common name. It’s not like I gave him my full name or, like, my social security number. It’s not like he knows who I am,” Jack sighs, then, spotting Tommy with Dandelion, their lone actual feline presence in the Cat’s Meow, begins grumbling, “Not like a certain someone with Queen Dandelion’s lady knight,”

“Don’t be jealous,” Ness admonishes, “Laila’s a good kid. She comes here for tea and platonic, positive human and feline interaction. And naps. Now, are you going to help me or are you going to continue your little agony session in the middle of my bar?”

“I could do both,” he suggests cheekily, though pulls himself up and continues to to arrange stools, instead. A few minutes later, after a comfortable rhythm has been established, Jack adds wistfully, “I just wish I knew what he thought about me.”

It’s a harder wish to grant than one would think. Thunder’s most reliable customer doesn’t buy lap-dances for the most common reason of lust, or even the occasional reason of loneliness. He’s able to follow the rules–namely, that of no touching–simply because as soon as the dance starts he just… zones out. And, again, not in the usual arousal-induced mind-numbing. It’s as if Jack’s lap-dances were visual white noise; literal navel gazing, even if that navel happens to be Jack’s and not his own.

Supposedly, he draws inspiration from it. Or at least he says he does at the end of every session while giving a polite smile and hefty tip. But inspiration for what, frankly, remains a mystery.

~

A/N: Related to this drabble! Which I have a continued fondness for, even though it’s silly.

All Adventures of Jack and Ness are unconnected to each other–it’s just my default names for platonic epic friendship.

Unsure if it’s really early 03-23 drabble OR really late make up for Missed Post 03-18.

Continued here!

(En)Closure drabble (2015-03-22)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

“It’s just a bit odd, that’s all,” says Haru, the girl who has the ability to see ghosts and regularly solves cold cases with said ability.

Hikaru, the boy who, as far as they can tell, can only see just one ghost but who is involved in mistaken identity drama within the setting of a professional board game community, just glares back. Then gives up and sighs in agreement because he used to be a normal kid and he has to admit that it is odd.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Haru adds, pointedly towards the third participant of the conversation–Sai, the ghost–before he can feel insulted, “It’s cool that everyone’s so passionate about this. Passion is rare, and sometimes it results in terrible crimes, but it’s nice that you guys are so passionate about something that also makes you happy.”

The three of them are at a ramen stand not too far from the Go Institute. The chef, having known Haru for at least two months, does not find it alarming that she seems to be talking to multiple people when there is only one. Nor does the chef, having known Hikaru for at least a year, find alarming the sudden whole body jerk sideways or occasional arm-flailing or even persistent staring at empty air. They are odd kids, but good ones, excellent customers and decent entertainment, beside.

Hikaru and Sai both blush with flattered embarrassment, the former rubbing a hand at the back of his neck the latter hiding demurely behind his fan. Haru laughs congenially.

“And how goes your battle against evil-doers?” Sai asks, honestly curious. He’s never had two people see him before, so while his enthusiasm for Go is sated with Hikaru’s insei lifestyle, his interest for the rest of the modern world can be explored through Haru.

“Yeah, anything newsworthy? Oh, but hey, don’t go following shady guys in black at amusement parks,” Hikaru jokes.

Sai, obviously not getting the reference, nods solemnly in agreement at such wise if strangely specific advice.

Haru responds by kicking at his ankle lightly, “I’m not Detective Conan. Ugh, I can only imagine if on top of everything else I get turned into a child,”

“Yeah, that’s too many tropes at once,”

“And plus, you play soccer too. If anything you’re more like a shounen manga protagonist,”

They both break into laughter while Sai, confused but in good cheer, looks on.

“But, well, honestly? The cases have been kind of boring lately. Pretty open shut, simple you know? There’s more hassle in actually getting the cases than solving them. It’s easier to just hang out here and wait for them to call me. It’s relaxing…” Then, thinking about Hikaru’s situation, laughs again, “… if odd.”

“The other insei still won’t stop bugging me about your grandfather,” Hikaru grumbles.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, they think he wants me as his apprentice or something. Morishita-sensei keeps telling me not to betray the study group whenever I see him,”

“They also think he has arranged a betrothal between the two of you,” Sai interjects, before hiding his own chuckle at their bewildered faces. As a ghost he has eavesdropped on some fairly amusing conversations.

“That’s so weird!” Hikaru blurts out immediately, flinching away from Haru in expectation of some kind of slap like what Akari would do.

But she doesn’t, and not because she’s more prone to kicking that slapping. Considering the actual reason why they do hang out so much… “It’s definitely more believable than the truth.”

~

A/N: Random scene from the Haru Kuwabara series. Yaaaaaay.

Edit: Now called (En)Closure

Untitled HufflepuffOC brainstorm (2015-03-21)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

I want to write a story. And I’m not even sure if it’s a self-insert or not, but I want to write a story about an OC Hufflepuff boy Cedric’s age. And he’s sarcastic and funny and a little crude. “We’re Hufflepuffs, man, loyalty and all that utter shite. You’re stuck with me forever,” and he’s Cedric’s best friend because he’s the only one who won’t put up with his stupid–I’m a nice person and so perfect and my father’s heir–thing. And during the Triwizard tournament (is Cedric sixth year or seventh year then?) he’s pretty much the only Hufflepuff not to think Harry Potter is a glory-seeking hound. I mean, he’s a little annoyed that Gryffindor’s trying to usurp Hufflepuff again, but he doesn’t think it’s Harry’s fault. And plus, he’s just a kid, a kid who has had all sorts of terrible shit happen to him. It’s not his fault.

OC Hufflepuff is probably a muggleborn, or a half-blood, regardless of if he’s a self-insert or not. I use “self-insert” perhaps a little incorrectly, but “someone from our world” is a rather wordy. So he has a lot in common with both of the muggle-raised Hermione and Harry. Which helps when his standing up for Harry temporarily puts him on the outs not only with his best friend but with the rest of Hufflepuff. And at first they’re a little suspicious of him too, but, well. The more the merrier. And he maybe sort of falls for Hermione. Like, when Cedric and he finally reconcile it’s something he bemoans. Which Cedric doesn’t really get, because, “She’s a fourth year, mate. It’s a bit weird.” And he goes, “Bugger off, Diggory, she could probably be the youngest Minister of Magic if she wanted and since I don’t have a certain someone’s pretty boy looks I have to make sure I’m worthy to be her trophy husband in some other way… Maybe I should learn how to bake.”

Except maybe Cedric does get it because, “I can’t like him. He’s a fourth year. And a boy.” Oh, be still my inner CedricxHarry shipper heart. And OC’s just like, “The only thing wrong about it is that I’m pretty sure you’ve only said like… ten words to him. You should probably fix that.”

And if it is a self-insert, well. Muggleborn, that way OC can’t know for sure what’s happening until he turns eleven. And so let’s say Cedric is only two years older, well OC isn’t amazing, doesn’t have any special powers, only has moderate magical abilities and no protagonist luck like the Golden Trio seem to do. He doesn’t want to change the world, really. He just wants to make sure his best friend lives. Because Hufflepuff loyalty and all that shite, his best friend isn’t going to be casualty number one in a war.

I guess it’s just something that struck me as particularly feasible? Because for the first eleven years of OC’s life he probably just thinks he’s been regularly reincarnated… back in time. Because JK Rowling didn’t publish the first book until 1997 which is, you know, basically completely after the events of the books. So OC doesn’t think it’s weird that they don’t exist… uuuntil he gets a certain letter.  And, because of that–because he wasn’t expecting to be in the HP series, he didn’t make plans to change the world. So… I guess as an overarching issue, OC has given up on making the world a better place even before he tries?

If I do actually want to get him involved in the main plot outside of the GoF mess, though, I guess he takes Divination and cheats with his book-knowledge, but then Dumbledore takes notice and is like “Finally, a reliable seer.”

I dunno what else, though.

[EDIT: I’ve written a prequel! Also, this is titled Running Backwards]

Untitled BH6 drabble (2015-03-20)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Their company is not even two years old, seemingly just one of many small tech companies in the Bay Area, but Alistair knows that it’s destined for big things.

Nominally, he’s co-founder and CEO, the most important person in their tiny twenty person company, which is why he’s the only one with a proper office with an actual door as opposed to just having a desk in the bull pen. What that just means is that he’s always the last person to get news.

So when, suddenly, cheering can be heard outside his door, he expects the ten minute wait until Shizuka enters. With the door open the chattering of their employees becomes more audible, then with its closing the sound becomes muffled.

Nominally, Shizuka is co-founder and… well, everything from Alistair’s PA to head of HR to CFO. Alistair’s pretty sure Shizuka has more responsibilities then he does, but he’s the one stuck in an office by himself. Whenever he points out that it’s not fair, Shizuka just flashes that infuriatingly polite smile and responds, “You’re the CEO, it would be inappropriate.” As if the rest of the company hadn’t already seen him drunkenly dancing on a table during the New Year’s party. As if Shizuka hadn’t once had to fish him out of SFIT’s campus stream during their junior year.

The point is, it doesn’t make any sense that the CEO is the last to know about things and the… whatever Shizuka is… is always the first to know.

“Stop pouting, I always tell you anyway,” Shizuka scolds, but it’s teasing and not even partially convincing to Alistair who can see how Shizuka is practically vibrating with joy.

“Is it good? Tell me, it’s good right? Did Ananya’s VR tech make it through the second round of testing? Has Min-jun’s boyfriend brought cupcakes?” Considering how small their company is, and new besides, informality really does make sense. Added to the fact that Alistair and Shizuka graduated with many of them, and the fact that the eldest–Belinda, 31 years old and working on bio-fueled prosthetics in her spare time–well… it would be weird not to call them by their first names.

Shizuka’s head shakes minutely, which is alarming because those are the only two major things he can think of that would cause this much fanfare. But that smile is still present so…

“It’s Stark Industries. They want to meet with us.”

He can feel a grin spreading on his own face, the kind that Shizuka says makes him look kind of dopey.

“Investors!”

–

Three weeks later, Alistair is grateful to Shizuka for making him wear his itchy nice suit because at least it’s distracting him from calling bullshit on this whole farce of a meeting and punching Obadiah Stane in the face.

It’s not like he really thought they would be meeting with Tony Stark (though a tiny fanboy part of him really hoped they would) and the fact that they’re meeting with Stane is impressive in and of itself. There are hundreds of tiny startups with the same hopeful dreams as Krei Tech, who would possibly literally kill him for this opportunity. But he doesn’t want this.

This being Stane with his patronizing smile and his oily words and his overt snubbing of Shizuka right in front of him. Stane with his offer to buy out Krei Tech. Not invest. Assimilate.

Such bullshit.

And it doesn’t help that, for the past forty minutes, Shizuka has been looking more and more distressed by a constantly vibrating cell-phone which is being reluctantly ignored in a white-knuckled hand under the table. Alistair knows that Shizuka doesn’t believe in interrupting business for personal matters, but he also knows that there are only so many people who have that phone number and except for their employees who are also their friends and who also all know what’s happening right this second… it’s family.

And Shizuka only has two family members to speak of.

“Why don’t we take a break? Give us some time to discuss this amongst ourselves,” Alistair says, smile more of a grimace or baring of teeth.

Stane agrees, and swaggers victoriously to the part of the conference room where the rest of the Stark contingent of lawyers and whatever have set up, because he thinks he’s got this acquisition in the bag. Yeah, right.

But at least it leaves just Alistair and Shizuka at the table, though he quickly pulls the both of them out to the hallway for more privacy.

“Shizuka, what is it?” He asks, but Shizuka is already pulling up the voicemails and listening to them on speaker.

“Hello, is this Shizuka Hinokage? This is Officer Kline of the SFPD, there’s been an accident involving Maemi Takachiho…” the recording drones in an exhausted sounding voice. It’s only 2:30.

“Oh no,” Shizuka breathes out.

“… I’m sorry to inform you that she didn’t make it…”

Alistair’s stomach is dropping, he can’t imagine what this is like for Shizuka.

“… We have her son, Hiro, here along with social services. You need to come to the station and get him…” The voicemail continues on with little details, but it’s not really registering, it’s not important.

“I–I need to–Hiro’s waiting for me… But the meeting–” Shizuka stammers, more disjointed than Alistair has ever seen.

“The meeting is over. It’s not important,” Alistair says with the conviction of someone with the truth behind him. “I’ll give you a ride,”

Stane sneers disdainfully at the two of them when Alistair pops in just long enough to reject their offer. But, again, not important.

What’s some shitty “merger” compared to Shizuka’s family? Nothing.

~

A/N: Because I always have a soft spot for minor characters and Alistair Krei and nameless assistant deserve more. Buuut to be strictly honest I guess this is sort of the prequel to a BH6 non-related!sort-of-but-not-really-HS!aged-up-Hiro!AU Hidashi fic which I will hopefully be writing more of. God that’s a really long description.

I’m unsure what gender nameless assistant was supposed to be, but luckily Shizuka can be either a boy or girl’s name. Also, I kind of like the idea of Shizuka just being non-gendered anyway. So…

Hinokage Shizuka is cousin/sibling to Takachiho Maemi aka Takachiho Hiro’s mother. Seeing as how Hiro’s father already died when he was younger Shizuka is now his closest relative/newest guardian.

You can find more of my brainstorming for this on my lj under my Big Hero 6 tag.

Untitled Peverell drabble (2015-03-19)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

The night of the 1938 Sorting was one that Albus will remember for the rest of his life; but not for the reason he had expected. For the most part it was completely normal, or as normal as a magical school in a magical castle could be. There had been dark clouds heavy with moisture all day, ready to empty themselves, and as soon as the sun set they had done so. Right on the unlucky first years crossing the lake. It didn’t deter the majority of them, as eager and wide-eyed at the prospect of learning magic as before. In fact, it was as good an introduction as any: he greeted them at the doors and waved his wand, casting drying and warming charms on the whole lot of them.

Some of them chirped and giggled at each other, the ones new to magic especially amazed; while others, those who had come from wizarding households, were quick to pat down tufts of hair and straighten out their robes. He had his eye on one boy who really ought to have been part of the former, but reacted more like the latter with even less tolerance in his scowl, and thus he missed a pair of students. Though it was probably because they were already immaculately dry, that Albus had assumed he had already gotten them. It would be the first and only time that he would make such a mistake.

The Hogwarts ghosts made their rounds, initiating another burst of high pitched chatter, before Albus called for all of their attention again. He explained, without revealing, what would happen and what would be expected of them during the Sorting. With that done, he finally led them into the Great Hall, where they oohed and aahed at the enchanted ceiling and the veteran students began their own informal rituals of the Welcoming Feast.

On the stool sat the Sorting Hat, and in Albus’ hand the lesser known Sorting Scroll, for both were artifacts of Hogwarts. The Scroll would not fill itself with names until after the Hat sang, so although Albus had an idea of who composed the first year class it would be as much of a surprise to him as anyone else. Perhaps even more so.

Because even before he got to the name of that scowling boy he had been dreading, there were two names which stole his breath.

“Peverell, Hesperian,” and a boy with hair as dark as night, eyes as green as new life, walked up to the stool and sat. Were it not for the small stature and the clinging baby fat, the boy would be a perfect match for Albus’ own imaginings of the legendary Peverell brothers.

But, that was not it. For after Peverell, Hesperian had been sorted into Ravenclaw, there was,

“Peverell, Luciana,” and a girl with hair like starlight, eyes the same silvery grey as a ghost, walked up to the stool and sat. And perhaps Albus had gone mad, for she too looked a heroine of myth and legend. And she too was sorted into Ravenclaw.

Even as he called out the name of that scowling boy, who unexpectedly was sorted into Slytherin, all Albus could think of were those two new Ravenclaws. 

And thus a timeline was changed.

~

A/N: This is a little something that I’ve been wanting to work on for a while but have always been putting off since I’m afraid my writing isn’t good enough for it. But you know what? If I don’t write it, it’s never going to be done, so no matter how badly I may cringe at my prose I say bring it on.

Unfortunately, I do not have a title for it yet… but if you want to “spoil” yourselves here is the outline/brainstorming for this series.

Uzu no Kuni brainstorm (2015-03-17)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

Headcanon brainstoming on Uzu no Kuni, aka Land of Whirlpools, aka home of Uzushiogakure.

I like to imagine that Uzu no Kuni is a series of islands with the largest one being the one where the village is. Additionally, I like to consider there being volcanos, because many island nations in the real world are made out of volcanic activity. It would explain Terumi Mei’s lava-jutsu, since Mizu no Kuni is also a series of (far larger) islands. Also, that due to the naturally bright hair color of the Uzumaki, at least, that maybe the islands are tropical and the people also sort of evolved to be colorful like the rest of the surrounding flora/fauna.

Obviously, the Uzumaki were a significant clan both in the village and in the country. But I think there was more to it–doesn’t there have to be? To that end, maybe the other islands of Uzu no Kuni are much smaller than the main one and maybe they keep them hidden behind seals. Perhaps each clan was in charge of a different island, with the Uzumaki island being the largest and most influential, it would become both the capitol and the ninja center–unlike the other nations in which the capitol for civilians and the shinobi hidden villages were separate, in Uzu they were one in the same. Whereas most other countries (or perhaps, not, we do only hear the origin story of Konoha) were clans banding together as martial alliances… I’m thinking that Uzushio was formed more as a university of sorts. A metropolis where all of the different clans could interact.

Which leaves an opening for what the other islands are doing and who they are controlled by. I’ll be honest, mostly this is a way to fit in cameos from other media:
edit: The seven islands of Uzushio are named things like destiny and amity and prosperity, but for the most part they are called by the names of the ruling clan. 
Unmei Island = Destiny Island = Kingdom Hearts, anyone?
Hamaguri Island = Clam Island = Katekyo Hitman Reborn
etc. etc.

Mostly because the reason why the other nations went after Uzushio wasn’t just because they were allied with Konoha but because they were too powerful. And while the Uzumaki longevity/chakra weapons/sealing is interesting, strictly put… longevity isn’t so much a threat, really. Chakra weapons didn’t seem like a bloodlimit per se, and sealing can be taught. So there must have been other things that made Uzushio a threat. Say, a clan of people whose fire actually can melt Mizu’s Yuki clan’s Hyoton? A clan whose swords can change and do jutsu in contrast to Mizu’s Seven Swordsmen? I DON’T KNOW. The possibilities are endless.

~

A/N: Just some short headcanon brainstorming for Uzushio. BECAUSE THEY DESERVE BETTER.

A Year With The Moon / (In)Difference drabble (2015-03-16)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

They try not to think too often about their first attempt at the Jounin Trials. Not that they comported themselves shamefully, but it was still embarrassing to be denied something you wanted in such a public manner.

The Jounin Trials are far different than the Chuunin Exams–the latter focusing on teamwork, strategic thinking, and, to put it crassly, staying power. You don’t always have to win in order to make chuunin, you just have to last long enough and be impressive while doing so.

In contrast, the Jounin Trials were determined by the number of victories scored. Jounin trials were unique to each village, some needing a jounin hopeful to kill a current jounin in order to be promoted (no guesses as to which village that was) but Konoha, touting their friendly peace-time reputation merely needed their ninja to be good enough to win against other chuunin in the running and two jounin moderators.

Fighting chuunin hadn’t been a problem, no matter that some of the other jounin hopefuls were almost twice their age. But it was when they were fighting the two jounin moderators that they realized–together the twins fought like two jounin, but alone they were always outmatched.

There had been a few other candidates promoted, but they had been found unowrthy. In the face of their father, who declined to make a decision, the Jounin Commander and the Chuunin Commander their hopes were rejected.

Instead, they had been made tokubetsu jounin, specialty “teamwork,” which was ridiculous because, except for each other, they never had any permanent teammates.

~

A/N: I was going to continue… but then I have a cold and the next scene didn’t seem to flow together so well…

A Year With The Moon / (In)Difference drabble (2015-03-15)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

They are not opposites, nor are they two halves of a whole. They are similar, but not the same; complementary, resonating, twins. They are the children of a genius and a prophetess, and they see the world around them with open minds ready to learn. Her first word is “how,” his is “why;” and it is a theme which follows for the rest of their lives.

–

As younger siblings they are always a step behind their older brother. It’s not so bad, because at least they walk together. Their brother graduates from the Academy at six years old, they do so at seven. He achieves the rank of chuunin at eight, they at ten; he becomes jounin at twelve, they do so at fifteen after spending a year as the in-between tokubetsu rank. They are still leaders of the pack, of course, but they look forward when they run and all they can see is themselves falling behind their older brother no matter how they strive.

–

The war ends abruptly in the spring between their ninth and tenth birthday. By that time, they have already served for two years and are considered veterans. For the most part, their missions were low-risk, no one wanting to endanger two of the Hokage’s children. But they still reach for their blades at sudden movements, begin gathering chakra when any noise seems out of place (they have not been in the village for seven months, so every movement seems sudden, every noise out of place).

Their age-mates, the ones who have just barely missed war-time graduation protocols, complain about being stuck in school for another three years. These students will be utilized in reconstruction, small chores that will gradually be turned into low-rank missions as peace settles over the world. Some of them smile in relief at not having to go to war, but others still dream about the adventures and glory of being real ninja.

The twins know that there is no such thing.

~

A/N: Just some drabbles about Hatake Satsuki and Satoshi of a theoretical future to (In)Difference. I was trying to figure out the timeline of events and how old they should be to fit properly, it’s a lot of incorrect grammar and parantheses and numbers but if you’re interested you can find it on my lj here. But basically, the twins are the same age as Iruka (four years younger than Kakashi) but while Iruka just barely missed the war-time graduation the twins were already genin.

Harry Potter x Narnia crossover/fusion brainstorm (2015-03-14)

jacksgreysonLeave a comment

As previously mentioned here in my “A Year With The Moon brainstorm,” I had two more ideas which I wanted to develop but was having difficulty with and I’m hoping that by typing it out I’ll be able to get something flowing.

The first one, which I described as “Just Harry: An HPxNarnia crossover/fusion featuring Harry the Just, Hermione the Magnificent, Ronald the Valiant, and Neville the Gentle,” is unsurprisingly inspired by Harry’s quoted desire to be “just Harry” [instead of the Boy-Who-Lived] and the dialogue from the Prince Caspian movie in which Edmund obliquely refers to himself as the Just King. Then obviously there’s the the fact that Gryffindor is a lion on a red rampart.

I’m not sure if I want to just have the four year-mates or also include Ginny and Luna from the Ministry Six. In which case, I would have to create two new title traits… but then it would be weird that those two have original title traits and not the others. And the whole point was that Harry was the Just. So… Maybe it’s something that happens during First Year?

So, perhaps… instead of straight up petrifying Neville, they actually convince him to help. And with a fourth person running the Philosopher’s Stone gauntlet the results are far different. Maybe there’s a bit of fusion with Chamber of Secrets in that when standing up against Voldemort, Fawkes brings the Sorting Hat (and the Gryffindor Sword) plus shattered Mirror of Erised… equals travel to Narnia?

Or maybe more simple. When all four of them look into the the mirror at the same time, they see Narnia and it becomes a portal.

But after that… I don’t know what a plot would be? Four undertrained magicians in Narnia fill the four thrones of Cair Paravel (or they come after the Pevensie siblings and prevent the first Caspian from taking over Narnia?) And then at some point they return to Hogwarts as children, after having actually fought wars and ruled a nation… and Voldemort is utterly screwed.

~

A/N: I swear to god, one day I will get to the final idea of HPxKHR. But that day is not today, apparently.