#nichiiko

[to: Taylor] Honestly, does the interviewer really have to come here in person?

[from: Taylor] For the hundredth time, yes, Mr. Kirkland.

[to: Taylor] Why, though? Can’t we just, I don’t know, use a photo from the last shoot and have them send whatever they want me to answer on e-mail? You know how badly I hate dealing with people I don’t know.

[from: Taylor] Mr. Kirkland, please, we’ve already talked about this. It’s just a single interviewer who will ask no more than a few questions and take a few photos. He won’t even actually record the interview. It isn’t a press conference with a hundred journalists.

[to: Taylor] I still don’t see the point! What’s the huge difference? It’s not like I’m big on PR anyway. Okay, maybe the photos from the last shoot are a bit old, but why the interview?

[from: Taylor] You’re going to come across as cold or standoffish, Mr. Kirkland. As much as we don’t mind you being private, it’s not good to come off as rude or arrogant. Come on, think of it as a deal with a publisher or an editor.

[to: Taylor] That is so reassuring.

[from: Taylor] You wound me.

[from: Taylor] Anyway, your interviewer is coming on Thursday at 2PM at meeting room 6. Be sure to wear a decent suit for that!

[to: Taylor] What the

[to: Taylor] I hate you so much

.-.-.-.

Arthur worked mostly from home, but was used to wearing suits, even though he wasn’t a fan of ties (although he believed all the fuss everyone made around it was too much). No matter how much his writing was compact and hardly ever included difficult jargon, people just didn’t seem to want to negotiate with a man in a hoodie and running shoes, which meant every single time he had to show up to discuss a minor thing at the publisher, he had to dress up formally, combed up hair included. Formalwear could get stuffy on warmer days; however, thankfully, the air conditioning was working just fine.

Which meant it could not be that that was getting on his nerves; a quick glance at the large digital clock on the wall made it clear he hadn’t been waiting for long and the interviewer wasn’t late either.

His bottle of water was already empty and the interviewer hadn’t even arrived. Honestly, what had he done to deserve such a thing? There were so many drafts on his PC at home and all the ideas that were now boiling in his mind would be lost before he even got home. This was nonsense; how was a writer supposed to do his job if he was stopped form, well, writing when he wanted the most? Quite honestly, it was just an excuse to get away from there, but at this point he was willing to do just about anything to get away from there.

Time dragged by. Now the interviewer was officially fifteen minutes late. Couldn't he just leave? The bottle was now empty and he started considering if it wouldn't be rude to drink up the interviewer's – didn't want yours to be taken? Should be here on time, you punk.

His thoughts were cut off by the soft buzzing of his phone. Then it buzzed twice. Then one more time. He was not supposed to use his phone in the meeting rooms, but he figured out it would be ok if nobody was there but him, right? As the blond checked the notifications, he saw they were all from his editor.

[from: Taylor] Please don’t kill me

[from: Taylor] I mixed up the dates

[from: Taylor] It’s actually tomorrow

[to: Taylor] What

[to: Taylor] I'm leaving now

[from: Taylor] I’m so sorry Mr. Kirkland, I’ve already called a cab

[from: Taylor] Please do come next week though

[to: Taylor] You want me to what

With a sigh, Arthur put his phone in his pocket, got up and left the room. He wasn't paid enough to deal with all this bullcrap. Hell, money wouldn't ever be enough to pay for this shit.

The cab ride was silent, Arthur only giving the address in the beginning and paying and curtly thanking the driver while getting off the cab. By the time he was at his doorstep, the sun was already setting – terrible traffic and all that. Maybe he should check the local pub, now it was probably already open... Nah, not in the mood. He'd probably just drink too much and have a terrible hangover the next day. Arthur showered and made himself some instant food (he honestly didn't even care about what he was eating at this point) and checked his social media and instant messaging apps (there were quite a lot), not finding anything interesting as usual –college acquaintances still partying like teenagers, cousins with their children, his mom sending her daily "good morning" messages that he only saw at night, fake news that he couldn't understand how so many people actually believed. Today hadn't really been a productive day, so he had to work twice as hard tomorrow, or at least that was what he told himself as he drifted off to sleep before it was even completely dark.

He'd just forgotten to check his SMS messages, which meant his notification board was completely taken over by his editor by the morning.

[from: Taylor] It's not the interviewer's fault, I can't just cancel everything now

[from: Taylor] Please, Mr. Kirkland, I know this is frustrating but we need it to promote the next book as well, remember?

[from: Taylor] Mr. Kirkland?

[from: Taylor] Mr. Kirkland, are you there?

[from: Taylor] Mr. Kirkland, I know you are upset, but don't leave me hanging like this!

Nice. He woke up and had to deal with this first thing in the morning? Way to go, Arthur. Way to go. He hated to admit it, but Ms. Taylor had a point. Plus, even though he hadn't really done any of that on purpose, leaving her hanging had kind of been a dick move, so at this point the writer didn't feel like he really had any chance to refuse.

[to: Taylor] Sorry, fell asleep and woke up now

[to: Taylor] Fine, I'll go

[to: Taylor] But double-check if it's really today

This was giving him a migraine. He just hoped it would end soon.

.-.-.-.

It would not, as it turned out.

The journalist and photographer that had been assigned to Arthur's interview got stuck in a faraway airport due to the weather and wouldn't be able to come until well after office hours. Why assign him someone who wasn't even in town anyway?

Ms. Taylor was making calls and sending e-mails nonstop, trying to find someone in his place, while Arthur had long ago given up on keeping up appearances and was snoring lightly, sitting at the table in the small meeting room after grumbling for hours about lost ideas and productivity. Or at least until Ms. Taylor shook him awake.

"Mr. Kirkland. Wake up. Mr. Kirkland!"

"Hmmm... What now?"

"I found a man that's available right now. He's worked with us a few times. He'll be here in 20 minutes."

Arthur, despite still having sleep in his eyes, arched an eyebrow in suspicion.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to call someone in such a short notice?"

"He's worked with us before, Mr. Kirkland. He's a good professional, you'll be just fine. Actually, you'll be more than fine. You'll like how he isn't pushy or invasive."

"Ok, ok, fine, you've already called him anyway. What's his name?"

"Kiku Honda."

.-.-.-.

Using a pseudonym was practical, guaranteed his privacy (at least to some level, since his face was still known) and generally let him live his life in anonymity, or as close to it as possible. Sure, he would have liked a bit more of alone time, which had been restricted to the times he was at home ever since his book series became a hit, but hordes of fans wherever he went, paparazzi or flooding requests from readers to add him on social media weren't a problem as of yet, and he appreciated it.

But now? Now he cursed having opted not to use his actual name when he started publishing, because this very detail put him in the delicate situation of being interviewed by an ex-roommate... Whom he used to have the hugest crush on and actually based quite a few of his early characters on. Now, he was no creep, only the drafts written still on his college days or works that had been based on those had anything to do with Honda and he'd eventually moved on, but that was... Embarrassing, to say the least. If only he'd used his actual name to publish, then maybe Honda would remember the terrible reputation he'd had as a college student and refuse!

(not that it was going to actually happen, but Arthur could try to fool himself, huh?)

Ms. Taylor had forced him to get himself to look minimally presentable, so there really was nothing to do but wait until the doomed meeting happened. Really, why was he getting so worked up? It wasn't like his feelings were reciprocated; Honda may not even remember him. Honestly, not even he thought about it that much at that point.

.-.-.-.

The interview had been a disaster. Arthur had been so desperate to not let it seem too obvious to Honda that the inspiration to a few characters had been him (a few of which he specifically asked about) that, in the end, he didn't really answer anything that was asked in the depth that he wanted, could have otherwise covered, or really in any depth. Whatever he'd said in that interview could have very well been generated by an automated text generator, and he was not proud of that. At all.  

He plopped on the bed after having had a few too many drinks and somehow managing to come back home on his own – none of his (admittedly scarce) friends were in town. Thankfully, he just basically forgot his phone even existed, or else he'd probably just embarrass himself further.

.-.-.-.

[friend request from Kiku Honda – 3 friends in common]

[message from Kiku Honda – add to your friends – block]

Hello, Mr. Evans. I'm sorry for the intrusion; may I, however, add you as a friend on social media? I don't know if you remember me, but we were roommates for a few years during college. The interview was very interesting; I'd like to talk to you more, this time as a friend.

Arthur almost fell from bed as he read those words next morning, thinking that must have been a dream or a hallucination. Damn, had he taken something he didn't remember? It couldn't be. That shitty interview had actually gotten Honda interested? No, it couldn't be. He was probably just saying that out of politeness.

Hello, Mr. Honda. Thank you for your kind words. Of course I remember you, I just didn't think I should mention that at the interview; I wouldn't mind adding you on social media or talking more, provided that you keep my name private.

No, wait, what had he just sent? Stupid Arthur, was he a love-struck teenager all over again? Keeping contact was a bad idea from the start, Honda probably wasn't even that interested-

Thank you very much, Mr. Evans. Would you mind meeting up for coffee sometime later this week, then?

This wasn't making any sense at this point.

Of course! I don't have any other appointments.

To be honest, such straightforwardness was even a big uncharacteristic of Honda – or at least, of the Honda he'd known from quite a few years ago. But who knows what life might have brought him? Maybe... Maybe it could be interesting to know what had happened...

… Was what Arthur would have liked to think, but deep inside he was freaking out.

Lights: Describe your prettiest memory.

… TBH, I can’t think of anything;;;; Sorry! ;w;

Tree: Favorite kind of flower?

Roses & Sunflowers~!

Eggnog: What’s your favorite drink?

Milk Tea or Green Tea XD

Carols: Favorite song?

Currently would be Kekkai Sensen & Beyond OP & ED. 

boy would i make one but i am nOt ready for that kind of commitment hhH (ur an inspiration tho curry aaa)

i mentioned this in one of my update videos, but i didnt really address this here i guess haha whoops--

the Hetalia Dreamers Project is cancelled until further notice. the reason for this is because when i was first starting the project, i had a handful of people i specifically wanted to be in the project, but they started dropping out because it was my first time organizing a big group like that and it was a mess. etc etc etc

i would love to re-boot it, but im currently the only organizer of the project and i dont know much aph animators out there who are willing to continue the project with me. for now, its cancelled, but if enough people are willing to bring it back and make it happen with me, i will!

i never wanted to stop the project, but i cannot do it alone and the fact that a lot of aph animators arent in the fandom anymore/dont wanna join kinda bummed me out. it wasnt the same if we all didnt come together to do this, in my eyes. but who knows.

BLESS U CHI <333  Headcanons under the cut! :D