#format later

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You know what's never expected out of nowhere? --alright, unless you're in the big top entertainment business or general comedy? Flying cream pies. Maybe that's why it takes a minute for Mami to respond. There's a strangle guttural sound and something like cracking bones. Slowly she begins to looks like something out of a nightmare-- the center of her skull splitting in half to reveal needlessly large, predatory teeth.

The newly developed maw opens with an airy hiss-- just enough for a large tendril (tongue?) slip out of it. Prehensile and uncanny it whips against the side of her broken face...

And a rather pleased noise escapes her as the stage appendage retracts back into the gaping mouth. The strangely agile tongue is clearing away some of the cream that might have been an issue to retrieve without wasting it. She isn't upset-- just dealing with the situation the easiest way she can think of.

GARDEN SONG.   when your skinhead neighbor goes missing // I'll plant a garden in the yard, then // They're gluing roses on a flatbed  // You should see it, I mean thousands // i grew up here, 'til it all went up in flames // except the notches in the door frame

JUST LIKE HEAVEN.   why are you so far away, she said // and won’t you ever know that I’m in love with you // that i’m in love with you? // you, soft and only // you, lost and lonely // you, strange as angels // dancing in the deepest ocean // twisting in the water // you’re just like a dream [ by the cure ]

WILD I AM.   i always find it hard to ascertain // why it is i feel this way // when my whole life is in disarray // the future makes me feel alive // i’ve always known the romantic side // of not knowing where i’ll sleep at night // i can’t stand when my hands are tied // my bed the ground, my roof the sky [ by vocal few ]

WEST.   time moves slow // when half your heart has yet to come home // every minute’s adding up // and leaving a mark on us // i can’t get you out of my mind // can’t get you out of my mind // i can’t get you out of my mind // i solemnly swear // i swear that i’ll never try [ by sleeping at last ]

AFTERLIFE.   you and me - we got this // you and me - we’re beautiful, beautiful // we are, we are // we’re gonna be alright // we’ve got, we’ve got // we’ve always got the fight in us and // we are, we are // we’re gonna live tonight // like there’s no tomorrow // cause we’re the afterlife [ by ingrid michaelson ]

I was thinking abt aus where sakumo lives bc I don’t want to fuck w or disrespect this pivotal moment in kakashi’s story, right? Like this is the first loss he has and it pushes him towards his rule-following self. BUT I think it could be just as effective if sakumo is disgraced and basically forced into retirement and seclusion. like he stops leaving the hatake home and is deeply depressed bc of the scrutiny of the village.

he is SHUNED by the village, basically dishonourably discharged. and it’s like - all his work, all his loyalty never mattered to the village bc of one choice (that he believes was the right choice). And kakashi is left to grow up with this spectre of what happens, even to the strongest and best of them, if they don’t follow the rules. how they’re shamed and shunned into seclusion and silence. how quickly a community turns on one of its own. how quickly a life is destroyed.

BUT I have this feeling. there are Big changes in the leaf that happen during and before canon. like, big upheavals. minato becomes hokage so there’s a change in leadership, and then there’s the ninetails attack. so I have an inclination that sakumo does smth the village deems worthy again and is able to re-emerge but there’s this . weird collective amnesia abt how they treated him. like “OH, THE WHITE FANG, HE’S A HERO!!” but no one ?? will mention the years of isolation and being shunned.

the fickle public just decides to forget that they hate sakumo bc he saves a bunch of lives during the ninetails attack or smth. And bc minato is his son’s sensei so they have like, social status again. and when minato dies there’s also this like, I feel, temporary reverence for anyone who was tangentially related to him (except Naruto lmao). so sakumo gets elevated back into the status of a hero. he gets out on missions again, he gets to captain teams, ppl respect him. He’s the white fang once again! and he’s sitting here w all this Discomfort and Distain. he remembers what the village seems to forget. but he can’t leave, can’t turn it away bc he needs the income to raise his son. and the sudden change of their social status will be good for kakashi, right?

(headshot by @8bit-mau5​ )

(pronounced Shay-wuh Lin-key-oh)

she/her