#doppogin

"You make it sound so easy." Like he could, tomorrow, renounce the Templar Order and the Templar ways and suddenly become something different. Like he hasn't been Meredith's right hand and sword.

( like Kirkwall hasn't been pressing down upon all of them with the intent to drive one either mad or to an awaiting sword's tip )

she had genuinely been concerned over his well-being. he felt slightly warm, not too bad -- but he also appeared to be a bit pale. she had heard that being out in the cold or rain could make people sick, perhaps that was it?

If anyone were to ask, Katsuki would swear up and down it hadn't been his idea to make a guest appearance at U.A like he had. He'd swear up and down it was his management trying to get him to look a little better to the public, or whatever. Would absolutely promise he had no idea Izuku would be working the same day. Just a big fuckin' coincidence, that was all. No joy in seeing the other with those stupidly bright eyes, when he had bumped into him through the halls they used to roam. No comfort in the smile, the animated hands, the questions of how he was, how was pro work, what had he been up to. It had definitely been a slip of the tongue to tell the other to just zip it and meet him for coffee or something later so they could ' catch up ' .

He felt like an idiot, sitting alone in the cafe earlier than he'd mentioned they should meet. He just -- wanted to be prepared, alright? There was nothing else to it. . .

Well, this certainly isn't the worst outcome thus far, but it's hardly the best either. Is the hojicha way too strong? Sure. Did he accidentally pour a little-lot too much into each bowl full of freshly cooked rice? Yeah. But, hey — at least the salmon flakes are perfectly seasoned and not burnt to shit. Ignore how they're leftovers from last night, and how he wasn't the one to panfry the cuts of fish.

By all means, it is a structurally sound ochazuke and yet ...

Rialto was known for its beauty, a city situated atop a lagoon, a nexus of thousands of islands crossed by bridges and channels that gondolas and ferries crossed in myriad numbers. A city of wealth and influence, where merchants of all classes hoarded and spread wealth across the nation. Within an opulent opera house that could rival the finest in Val Royeaux, an affair of a domed ceiling with many tiers of galleries that overlooked a sweeping stage, the aria the illustrious songstress belted out captivating the entire audience. From wings, in the catwalks that strutted well above the stage, Sypha waited with crossed arms as the next act of the ballet began to unfold.

A whisper of fabric, briefest flash of silver, and the wizard thought this assassin might have never arrived.

✦ . ⠀⁺ 【 @doppogin / Kunikida 】 ⁺ ⠀. ✦

╰ ★ cont. from 「 X 」

˗ˏˋ *⠀★⠀‿︵⠀˗ˏˋ⠀𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 when all numbers start to look the same; when all of it is just meaningless squiggles arranged into shape. That was the point they were definitely reaching as they stared at the page that lay menacingly before them. The problems were not even half done and it was any guess if they were actually CORRECT or not. But they had long since mentally CHECKED OUT. At this point, the paper was clearly a form of PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE that not even the Port Mafia could come up with.

⊱ ★ ⊰⠀˗ˏˋ⠀❛⠀Why did they start putting Xs in math problems ? ! Shouldn't the pluses be ENOUGH ? !⠀❜

⊱ ★ ⊰⠀˗ˏˋ⠀Oh, to have NOT received a single day of formal education in their life ! It was fairly obvious they were ALREADY overwhelmed.

It's unfortunate that Dorian finds himself missing an adventure occasionally, not that he doesn't have his hands full now but arguing with blowhard Magisters day in and day out was only so entertaining. The south really did have it's charm... Such sentimentality he would have balked at it in his youth. He's still not as syrupy nor nothing so drastic as waxing poetry each night but reminiscing on occasion, with a glass of wine preferably, suited him just fine. Dorian finds such entertainment in regaling tales with his old friend, dragged with him back home.

Minrathous certainly would not be the same without him at his side.