It’s Kaoru’s own decision to initially throw an insult at Tadashi. He doesn’t know much, if anything, of Tadashi and Adam’s past, but he wants to do it one day and chooses to. It’s Adam’s decision to either hold back or express a positive reaction.

And then Tadashi makes a mental check of the room and acknowledges that Adam is there. Kaoru’s not in any place to be insulting him, he’s got neither the history or the permission to get into Tadashi’s life like that. Tadashi’s got the choice to accept the insult, ignore it or throw it back.

I’m still so torn on which route I want Tadashi to take, but one thing is for sure, when it’s Adam, he goes fucking silent. It would be sooo fucking funny to see Adam pissed off here, Tadashi squabbling with Kaoru until Adam chimes in with a comment about the dog being suddenly so outspoken, and it’s all it takes for Tadashi to shut his mouth, give Kaoru the worst look out there, and keep it shut. It makes Adam’s blood boil like hell, he’s been trying to get this out of Tadashi for so long!

While I am working on a few things, I'd still love to work on some prompt requests. So why not toss me some if you feel inclined.

🍵🐍🌸

I participated in the sk8 rare pair big bang and created three matchasnakblossom pieces to go with @gingerel‘s 90k epic! Go give it a read (rated E) here: archiveofourown.org/works/40490193/. El is a stunning writer and you won’t regret the read!

Tadashi and Kaoru are the type of couple that says they are too good for that, Kaoru tries to anyway and Tadashi goes along with it because he knows Kaoru likes it.

18. surprised kiss

(sorry for the background adam/cherry but I was trying to think of a realistic context lol)

“As I said before, Adam has already left for America,” Tadashi said, following after the scowling teenager who had appeared at the gate of the Shindo property and was attempting to storm onto the grounds. The flurry of pink hair belonged to none other than Cherry Blossom, as Ainosuke called him. Tadashi was already aware of his actual identity— Sakurayashiki Kaoru. Naturally, as Ainosuke had started spending an increased amount of time with the pair of delinquent skaters after dark, Tadashi had gone out of his way to research their family backgrounds and find out their real names. It would have been irresponsible not to, although he indulged Adam’s wishes and pretended he was none the wiser.

As for Cherry’s sudden appearance at the property, Tadashi was unsure how he had even found out where Ainosuke lived. Apparently Cherry had done some research of his own.

“That asshole,” Cherry growled, turning back round to face Tadashi once he reached another locked gate and realised he couldn’t go any further. “I can’t believe he actually left.”

Behind Cherry’s hardened, angry exterior, Tadashi could clearly see the pain reflected in his eyes and he felt sympathetic. It mirrored his own repressed feelings. While Ainosuke hadn’t left Cherry and Joe behind on the best of terms, Tadashi had been the one to bear the brunt of his anger. After dropping him off at the airport earlier that morning, Ainosuke had walked through the airport security gates without so much as giving him a second glance, never mind a goodbye.

“I’m sorry, Cherry” Tadashi said. It sounded hollow to his own ears but he truly meant it. “I can try to give him a message if you want.”

“Yeah?” Cherry raised a brow, looking pleasantly surprised. “In that case, pass this on to him when you next see him.”

Tadashi had no idea where Cherry was going with that statement until he marched towards Tadashi, grabbed his face with both hands and planted a firm kiss on his lips. Tadashi stood frozen in place with his hands stuck to his sides, completely overwhelmed by Cherry’s presence. The coolness of his lip ring felt incredible against his skin and the aroma of cherry-scented shampoo flooded his nostrils.

Just as quickly as he had leaned in, Cherry pulled away, looking significantly calmer than he had done when Tadashi found him. With a single nod of his head, Cherry walked away, leaving Tadashi with a dozen questions and an unsteady heart rate.

Fandom: Soul Calibur series Pairing: Snakeblossom (Ivy/Setsuka) Touch Prompt: 2 (Running fingers through hair)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Most nights she spent with a courtesan or some other fair maiden of her choice, Ivy was invariably the one in charge. But with Setsuka and her boldness, the noblewoman found herself less certain in that regard. Ivy was normally seen as unapproachable, cold as ice, and aloof towards those beneath her, which was most everyone. For all her untouchability, Countess Valentine knew that Setsuka was a real pull, and after their attachment that formed when Ivy was in Japan, Setsuka enjoyed a far more privileged relationship with Ivy than anyone else.

As was demonstrated by Ivy sitting in a chair with Setsuka straddling her lap and locking eyes hungrily.

"Anata no kami de asobitai," Setsuka teased, "I want to play with your hair." She stroked the side of Ivy's head, her nails parting the hair as she went down. "So strange to see someone who claims to be a woman of nobility, but she keeps her hair so short. Why do you not grow it out? Style and decorate it, to flaunt your beauty and grace?"

"Well," Ivy said with a smile, "give me your hand and let me show you." She held Setsuka by the wrist, had her forehead under Setsuka's palm, and made sure the assassin's fingers were pressed against her scalp before guiding Setsuka's hand upward. As Setsuka's hand moved, more and more of Ivy's hair followed, being pulled back and revealing her face. Once it was all out of her face, Ivy gazed at Setsuka from under her brow with lidded eyes and a closed grin.

Setsuka's face pinkened as she gasped with realization. "...You look like a man like that," she said, "the most handsome man the world will ever see. It is no wonder, then."

"Keep going," Ivy said, goading Setsuka into using both hands to alternated between them and make sure it was all evenly pushed back. She sighed with relish at the feeling of Setsuka's fingertips against her scalp, and almost felt disappointed when Setsuka stopped. "Now you see why I keep it short. Why grow it out and make it something to fuss over when I can have it at a manageable length and still be at my most charming?"

Her own hands going up, Ivy touched Setsuka's bangs and asked, "And why might you be having long hair? Even as the best fighter in the Kokonoe clan, you don't have the standing to be considered a noble in any regard."

Setsuka nodded. "Correct, I am not a part of the noble class," she explained, "but I do have an identity to keep as... I think the closest word in English is 'whore'–"

She paused when Ivy wordlessly interrupted her with an incredulous look, as though offended that Setsuka would ever compare herself to such, but continued, "But there is context, so they are not quite the same thing. The ones you think of are yūjo, or 'women of pleasure,' whereas my own persona is closer to a tayū, though as with most things, I am not actually of high enough social rank to claim such a title. I can entertain with sadō, ikebana, shodo, song, dance, poetry, and wit in conversation, as well as more... carnal activities, I think you call them? But these are all just decorations, bits and baubles attached to the mask I wear. This particular hairstyle reflects that."

"There is no need for masks on my estate," Ivy replied, "and to hide the beauty of your true self around me is such a shame, don't you think?" She put her hand on Setsuka's cheek. "You have nothing to fear when you're with me."

Reaching up, Ivy began to take out the comb, pins, and other accessories that Setsuka used to keep her hair up, and after brushing it around with her hands, Ivy stared in awe at Setsuka's pale gold locks as they fell over her shoulders, streaked with the occasional stripe of dyed black. Though she had seen Setsuka with her hair down before, Ivy was always just as enamored as the first time whenever she saw it. Gently stroking a fingerwidth of hair at a time down its length, Ivy said softly, "You say song is part of your array of skills; I would like to let you hear for once instead of having to sing." Her voice barely higher than with what she spoke, Ivy sang:

The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree Sing all a green willow Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee Sing willow, willow, willow, willow Sing willow, willow, willow, willow My garland shall be; Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow Sing all a green willow My garland shall be

Combing through Setsuka's hair with one hand, there seemed to be a part of Ivy that was getting absorbed in it all as she continued.

She sighed in her singing and made a great moan; I am dead to all pleasure, my true love she is gone Sing willow, willow, willow, willow Sing willow, willow, willow, willow My garland shall be; Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow Sing all a green willow My garland shall be

Setsuka's wintry blue eyes met Ivy's glowing sky blue ones, and her expression was one of love and melancholy; Ivy kept going, this time adding her other hand to the mix as she alternated between fluffing and straightening Setsuka's hair.

The mute bird sat by her was made tame by her moans The true tears fell from her, would have melted the stones Sing willow, willow, willow, willow Sing willow, willow, willow, willow My garland shall be; Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow Sing all a green willow My garland shall be

Pulling Setsuka down tenderly, Ivy rested the Japanese woman's head on her chest, so as to better access all of Setsuka's silky hair. It was all fanning over Sestuka's back, splayed beautifully, and Setsuka took a breath of Ivy's perfume as she relaxed into her lover's embrace, feeling Ivy's gloved digits lacing in and out of her hair as they trailed over her back.

Come all you forsaken and mourn you with me Who speaks of a false love, mine’s falser than she Sing willow, willow, willow, willow Sing willow, willow, willow, willow My garland shall be; Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow Sing all a green willow My garland shall be

"Are all English songs so sad," Setsuka asked with her voice almost as much a purr as a question, "or is it simply the only one you know?" Ivy smiled, not answering.

Let love no more boast her in palace nor bower It buds, but it blasteth ere it be a flower–

Before she could continue into the chorus again, Ivy's throat grew too tight to let her keep singing, and her sudden pause drew Setsuka from her lulling. "You are crying," Setsuka observed, looking at Ivy and holding Ivy's hands at their spot in her hair; Ivy blinked in surprised at the wetness she hadn't noticed on her lashes. "...Ah. I suppose I am."

Setsuka leaned a little ways forward and kissed Ivy on the collarbone. "You are not a tayū, you do not have to sing for me if it pains you, itoshī hito."