ALL MEMORIES SOFTEN EVENTUALLY.

I’ve been on hiatus for a while & miss writing on here, though I’m a little anxious about starting things back up (especially with new partners). I’ll probably make some kind of starter call or something at some point~

though school & responsibilities & free time are a real damper on my muse & motivation 😔

☯ Is there a muse you've always wanted to play?

♣ Is there an author(s) that you look up to with your writing skills?

♧ Is there an RP partner(s) that you credit for becoming a better writer?

♥ What's your favorite ship with your muse?

♡ Would you ever write a poly ship?

♦ What's an AU that you've always wanted?

♢ What's an AU that you think just won't work with your muse?

♔ What's your opinion on teacher/student verses? Do you have any of these as threads?

♕ Do you like magic!anons? Why or why not?

⚜ What is the best time to write for you? Why?

★ What type of historical AU would you like to do one day?

☆ What type of fantasy AU would you like to do one day?

☄ Do you think your muse would have liked going to high school sports games? Do you or did you go to high school sports games?

☾ Do you like writing smut? Why or why not?

☽ Do you like writing angst? Why or why not?

☼ What's an FC that you're dying to use? Why?

☀ What's an FC that you desperately want to play with? Why?

☁ What's an FC that you refuse to play with? Why?

☂ How does your muse spend a rainy day? How do you spend a rainy day?

☃ If your muse was cartoonized, what would their FC be? Why?

☺ What's a character that you desperately want your muse to play with? Why?

☹ What's a character that you refuse to play with? Why?

☢ Are there any ships that you would like to write for one day? Any that you wouldn't?

☣ What's one thing that will make you drop a thread?

♨ What's a muse that you wished had lasted, but didn't?

❀ Do you like reblog karma? Why or why not?

✿ Do you have a mun FC? If so why did you choose that as your FC, and if not who would you choose?

♪♩♫ Does music inspire your muse? What's one song on your playlist that reminds you of your muse?

✂ Do you like to format your posts? Why or why not?

✆ Other than RPing, what's a hobby of yours?

✉ Do you RP on any other platforms?

❤ Have you or are you currently in love?

❥ Has something ever happened for you to hate a ship? Why?

ツ Who has been your favorite muse to play so far? Why?

回 Which muse was the worst to play? Why?

✘ People come in a group. If I were to look on your blog, who would I see you interacting with the most?

ღ Do you have a personal blog? Do you share it with your followers or do you keep it private?

▼ Do you keep your character in character even if they are one of the worst people in the world?

my friend & I came to a neat conclusion that while he was in medical school, Hatori was always really good at taking notes & drawing diagrams; if it were figures or anatomy or what have you, he’s actually got a knack for drawing. Of course, it was never anything he entertained & pursued as a hobby, just something he happened to be good at when it came to academic necessity. 

I would imagine he’s also the kind of person that found a place to keep his old textbooks & notes from med school, & they definitely have a place on a shelf in his office, even if he doesn’t need to reference them anymore. But, if Momiji or anyone ever saw his old notes & said something about Hatori being good at art or drawing, he’d probably say something aloof & dismissive like: 

The response was sharp, and Tohru fell quiet in the face of it, aware that drowning him in apologies would only make matters worse. Her heartbeat quickened as she sought around for something to say that would mitigate the upset she had caused, panic raising, when he spoke again, startling her with the question. 

“Oh! Uhm — well, I’ve always been a fan of the animals,” She admitted, before realizing that might not be the greatest thing to say to Akito, so she barreled on past it, “My mom and I used to talk about all the places we’d like to see some day, and she really wanted to go to Scotland, or Texas. She liked the accents,” She explained, smiling softly. “And I always thought the accents in Australia were really fun, you know? And a little easier to understand.”

Akito didn’t know what he expected her to say. Australia certainly wasn’t at the top of his list of ‘places in the world to visit’, let alone a reason to go there. A sinister part of him can’t help but think: of course she’s fond of the animals. Under a different guise of conversation, it might have felt like an incredibly cruel bit of irony. Though, from what he’d read, the animals there weren’t the most inviting. Tohru Honda would be the girl to either cower from what Australia had to offer her, or foolishly try to befriend something venomous. Hm. Maybe their conversation was something a little ironic after all.

“I know …” He replied softly, his eyes downcast, as if there were something interesting upon the floor. They both knew there wasn’t. With the other’s sigh, Fayren finds his breath catching in his throat, just for a moment. He trusted Hatori with his life ( as the expression goes, as well as often literally ). In truth, the doctor was all he had. But the boy couldn’t help his body’s involuntary freeze ( as it prepared itself for punishment ) upon the sign of any potential displeasure. “It’s just ―” The youth begins, but is soon to pause and then let it go altogether. Fayren understood that he was putting his cousin in a difficult position by asking. He knew it was burdensome. But the school terrified him. It was a sanctuary compared to his home life whenever she was there, for even on their worst days the bullies could never compare to Ren’s cruelty. Regardless, that didn’t lessen his fear. It didn’t halt the heart-stopping anticipation that one day, any time now, someone could snap and become equally monstrous. As he and his classmates grew up, such conflicts were less frequent, and as it was currently, he wasn’t often bothered by others at school. Well, at least not physically. He still noticed the jeers or whispers, but it seemed that was how normal kids spent their time and blew off some steam. Despite the mellowing, he only ever continued to see his classmates ( as well as all others, for that manner ) as threats. As conflicts waiting to arise. Pain waiting to ensue. Even if he wasn’t as targeted as in the past, Fayren could not seem to let go of his looming anxiety. “I get all my work done.” Was the boy’s mumbled retort, however he knew Hatori was right. It was only a few years until he would be done with high school, and the real world would not accept him the way he was. It wouldn’t accommodate to his timid and antisocial behavior. It wouldn’t tolerate the abundance of doctor’s notes excusing his conduct. Fayren knew all of this. Reflecting upon which during their silence, brought forth tears, which the youth tried to fight and hold back. “S-sorry.” He whispered, barely, head hung and ready to retreat from the office.

❝ You don’t have to apologize. ❞ Hatori clarified easily, finding it in him to sympathize with the boy’s anxieties despite the frustration it caused him to enable his behavior. Perhaps he was feeling rather forgiving … or, just a little tired. But, with Fayren on the brink of tears in his office he had more than an inkling — it was a bad day. The doctor gave a beckoning wave of his hand, awaiting the boy’s quietly practiced footsteps to close the space between them. ❝ How are you feeling? ❞ While he was sure he knew the answer, it felt customary to ask.

Hitomi was clearly thinking it through, which he had no issue leaving her to. When she sighed, he set down his tea — genuinely curious as to what point she might make. The thing he enjoyed most about her was how unique her perspective always was, especially when it came to marketing matters. Still, there was no reason that her way of looking at things would not also have an impact on this sort of matter.  

Naturally, when working with someone whom he wanted a different angle from, Shigure ought to have expected that she would come at him from a field he was not prepared for. Nevertheless, that what she took from this was a warning for him came as a genuine shock. 

After a moment of staring, he chuckled behind one hand, trying to keep himself from slipping into full on laughter. She was worth keeping on board, so it wouldn’t do to offend her too badly. “Only you would take this as a moment to provide me with caution,” he explained, once he had a handle on himself. 

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it — even if the story was read by someone in my family, the chances of it causing trouble for me are very slim.” Firstly, he was an accomplished liar and more than content to wield that skillset on anyone, family especially. Secondly, the only one who would really give him hell for it was Ayame — he could likely place the book right in Hatori’s own hands and he’d never realize it was about him, all parallels aside. 

His bond was too strong to blame Akito the way Shigure did, after all. He’d never see her as the villain, so he could not see himself as the tragic hero, either. Ayame, however, seemed to have clear eyes where Akito was concerned — clear enough to maneuver Hatori whenever it came up, in any case. Which could get him in trouble, but Ayame was manageable. 

“I see no reason not to rely on my luck and intuition,” He concluded, smiling benignly, “But if all else fails, I’ve still got my looks.”

Soft, dark eyes narrowed in the slightest. That was…funny? The way he regarded her was confusing. And, made her cheeks a little warm with embarrassment. What else was she supposed to take away from any of this? Was she supposed to make a comment on how offhandedly cruel she thought it was to use someone’s real heartbreak for money? Someone that he supposedly held in enough esteem?

Well, whatever she thought the man would have to worry about, he seemed very much at ease. A little obnoxiously at ease. The uncertainty on her face let up, a wave of resignation relaxing her features as he settled the issue with his usual confidence and blatant sense of vanity. She’d make no comment there. ❝ If you say so. ❞ The girl offered wearily, her overly-empathetic heart finding comfort in the fact that if anything hit the fan, it would be a him problem. Navigating his interpersonal blunders was not in her job description.

Fingers absentmindedly traced the binding of the book still in her hands, her thumb brushing across the cover. Sad as it was — even now knowing how questionably moral it was, it was good. Hitomi held the book out for him to reclaim, ❝ Now, do you have something that isn’t so sad? ❞ So long as he invited her to read his work, she’d make her way through every page.

“Ah, Yuki. You’re so mean to me.” In spite of the dramatic lament, he couldn’t help but think the kid had a point. He should have a word with the publisher about giving Mitsuru some sort of bonus, if not a full on raise for all her efforts with him. 

Hands folded out of sight within the sleeves of his yukata, Shigure opted not to push it — if he teased too much, Yuki would probably just go home, rendering his efforts to protect him moot. So he was quiet for a time, before it got too much for him and he cast out a line for conversation. 

“How was school?” While he didn’t often ask ( generally only when he could tell the answer would be less than great, or if he knew there was something coming up and Yuki hadn’t mentioned it ) it was, if nothing else, a way of checking in that could potentially lead somewhere. 

❝ Fine. ❞ Yuki answered plainly. It was uneventful, and comfortably so. He participated in class when sensei called on him, smiled kindly when his classmates greeted him; there was no cause for excitement or concern. He’d spare Shigure the details — no doubt the author would only find them boring.

Despite having lived together for a few months, they rarely ever…talked. Convinced he had nothing to say, Yuki saw no point in entertaining anything more than a minute, maybe two before secluding to his room. If it weren’t for Shigure prompting him with questions or pleasantries, he’d probably never speak at all.

Shigure was always a conversationalist. Yuki could remember banquets where he sat quietly and obediently by Akito’s side while Shigure and his brother entertained the others with countless jokes and stories. They were both so warm and inviting to everyone around them, gathered as if they couldn’t wait to hear what would come from their mouths next.

He was terrible at that. He wasn’t anyone interesting, and couldn’t engage others with his words. But, maybe, as they reached the pavement of the street below the house, he could pose the questions instead.

Shigure smiled patiently, well used to Tohru’s astonishment toward every act of kindness by now ( and consequently all the more determined to accustom her to them. ) It wasn’t as though he wasn’t used to spoiling his favorite family members, and he saw no reason to conceal the fact he had come to count the young girl as one of their number. 

After all, like those cursed by the zodiac, she was someone with great hurts who had to behave as though they were not there. Unlike those cursed however, she had a wealth of kindness and good to give to anyone who so much as stepped into the sphere of her light, that the least he could do in exchange was offer her something nice now and then.

“You know Tohru, I didn’t buy them so that you’d do anything more than what you already do,” Shigure pointed out, once again turned around by Tohru’s inability to simply accept an act of kindness toward herself. “They do look good on you though — I’m sure your friends will agree,” He tried, in the hopes of distracting her with talk of those two girls she spent most of her time with when she wasn’t with the Sohmas. 

Despite his nonchalance she almost feels taken aback. Of course she should offer something in return! She enjoyed what she already did for them, and it was no trouble for the price of being able to live there. She was already so grateful…any excess appreciation would forever render her just flustered enough, she could barely sputter out a ‘thank you.’

His compliment whisked her thoughts in protest away, the girl lighting up as she thought of her friend’s inevitable compliments. ❝ Thank you! ❞ Of course, when she mentioned that Shigure gifted them to her, she could imagine the looks of perplexity that would rest upon her friends’ faces. ❝ But, um...since preparing dinner is something I already do, it’s really no trouble to make something you like! Besides, I still haven’t decided on what to make tonight. So, if you want, request away! ❞ She’s insistent, certain to return the favor.