Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt. Not for lack of effort. They are trying to sell single volumes of the manga for a friggen thousand dollars. I need to step up learning Japanese.
Dedication: To Ruby Cider who went through and reviewed almost all of my Ghost Hunt stories and managed to accidentally flatter me by picking up on some of my favorite parts. You really made my weekend.
Extended Author's Note Below
Prolonged Dialogue – Part 3
The following morning dawned bright and clear without a cloud in the sky. While Ayako complained at the muddiness of the ground, the rest of the group were anxious to get started on their experiments for trying to break through the vines that served as a barrier to the ruined castle. With a plethora of investigators, they had decided the night previously to test whether or not the phenomena would change depending on who was trying to break through, and Mai had joined the group outside of the gate as they planned a sort of schedule of attempts.
"I get taking turns to test the way it reacts to different individuals, but we should be a little more specific on how exactly we are doing that," Bou-san commented as they looked at the newly moved and repurposed whiteboard (which was double-sided thankfully).
"Please elaborate," Lin-san asked as he made minor adjustments to the camera.
"Well, we can each take turn doing the exact same thing and record the differences there," Bou-san began.
"Which would probably provide the most relevant comparative data," Naru commented as he wrote on the board.
"Yes, but it also is the least efficient," Bou-san argued.
"I think I get where you are going," Ayako mused thoughtfully. "We would have to theoretically reset between each attempt to make sure that they are good comparisons. We have had to discount a medical trial recently because the parameters weren't similar enough."
"This would argue for this method of testing," Naru confirmed. "What would you propose as an alternative?"
"Maybe have similar methods, but a set amount of time to try things out versus taking turns on the exact thing."
"For example," Lin inserted, joining the conversation physically as well as verbally, "you propose to give everyone ten minutes to attempt to get through the vines with their hands and then another ten minutes with a different tool?"
"Exactly!" Bou-san exclaimed. "The methods would be similar enough to compare but it would also give everyone a chance to try a number of things before switching out."
Naru considered this for a moment in silence before nodding. "The idea bears merit, especially since we have sacrificed time to the weather. However, if we are going to go through this method, then we should also reattempt some of the previous tool-based methods to test for individual variances."
"No, problem, Big Boss!" Yasuhara exclaimed. "I will volunteer to go first and then afterwards I will head into town and buy a few more pieces of gardening equipment to replace the ones that mysterious stopped working."
"Good idea, Yasu!" Madoka confirmed. "We should also decide a first and second watch situation. Lin, you and I will go back to the cabin to observe from there until it is our turn."
"Why?" Ayako asked flatly, clearly seeing their decision to leave her in the mud as a form of abandonment. Or, judging from the look in her eyes, perhaps she suspected them of sneaking of to do something aside of observing.
"Mai has reported that some individuals have been discombobulated after an attempt at entry. Separation is to ensure that the entire team is not affected by this should it occur," Naru answered crisply, clearly ready to begin.
The miko nodded her understanding without further comment, though the curve of her lips implied that she still did not entirely buy the situation, or at least the pairing.
"Well, then," Yasuhara grinned. "Shall we begin?"
The next few hours were as amusing as they were unproductive. Having decided that each member would get their own rotation for twenty minutes, they finished setting up and let Yasuhara begin his attempt.
The bespectacled man spent the first couple of minutes of his attempt looking at the vines in order to plan his attack. Finally, he reached forward and grabbed into his chosen spot only to immediately jerk back with an involuntary yelp of pain.
"What's the matter?" Mai asked as she approached worriedly.
"It hurt," came the distracted response as the man leaned in to inspect the area more closely. "Because there were thorns."
"How did you miss those, shounen?" Bou-san asked, coming up behind them with Naru. "You spent forever looking at them."
"I would argue that they were not there a moment ago," Yasuhara responded with an amused smile.
Naru stepped up to look at the area while Ayako mused about the type of vines.
"These are not thorning vines," she commented after a second.
"You are certain?" Naru asked without looking.
"Yes, I am fairly familiar with plants. Occupational hazard."
"All the same, the argument could be made that it was a random transplant," the young scientist sighed as he pulled away. "Continue your attempt under that assumption and watch out for thorns."
"Yes, sir, Big Boss," the intern saluted as the others retreated out of the camera range.
Twenty minutes later, Ayako sat with him repairing the somewhat extensive damage to his hands. Regardless of where he had grabbed, thorns mysteriously appeared under hand.
"I don't think this place likes me," he joked as he flinched from the antiseptic.
"I would argue that the only person it likes is Mai," Naru muttered as he looked over the footage from the attempt.
"Nah, it probably likes her true love," Bou-san argued as he filmed the area with a hand camera to document the thorns that had disappeared as quickly as they had formed.
"Whoever that is," Mai sighed.
After Yasuhara got patched up, he went on his way to the nearest garden supply store and Bou-san took his turn. The thorns did not reappear, but the vines still fought back as each of them made their attempt.
As Mai watched, Bou-san managed to rip away a few vines, but at the end of his turn he panted that it felt like he was trying to rip expensive cabling with bare hands. Naru went after him as Ayako had returned to her car for additional medical supplies and postponed her turn. He was more successful than Bou-san had been, managing to make quite a dent in the greenery. Yet, the moment he stepped away at the ringing of the timer, a sudden burst of wind swept through the area, knocking over the camera and other supplies. By the time they had righted everything, the vines had regrown entirely.
"Looks like the Land God is trying to make sure you do not get evidence," Bou-san remarked wryly. "Probably just to annoy you."
"So it would appear," the scientist agreed darkly.
Ayako went next and made zero progress. She seemed to be unable to keep a grip on any of the vines as they persistently slipped out of her hands.
"I'd make a comment about her having a weak grip," Bou-san snickered, "but she has tried to strangle me too often for that to be the case."
"I can only hope this doesn't happen in the bedroom," the recently returned Yasuhara grinned as Ayako's final forceful attempt landed her in the dirt as the vine slipped from her hand again.
"Gentlemen, let's not start a... vine handing conversation, shall we?" Madoka reprimanded ineffectually as she and Lin approached. "You will make Noll blush."
At that, the entire group looked over to the stoic man. Predictably, he was giving the entire group a glacial glare before his eyes caught on Mai. The group turned to look at her and Mai could feel her existing blush grow worse as they all watched, only made worse by Naru's smirk.
"Ah, Jou-chan. Still so innocent."
o(O)o
Oliver found himself uncharacteristically glad that the group of professionals had all turned to tease the girl. And not just because it distracted them from torturing him. The blush and laughter had been the liveliest he had seen the girl all day. While not unfriendly, she had been noticeably withdrawn during the morning proceedings. She had even made him tea twice without any comment and only a quiet sort of smile.
He continued to watch her as the Takigawas traded places with Madoka and Lin for their attempts (partially so that Ayako could change out of her thoroughly muddied clothes). She seemed willing to continue chatting with Yasuhara, but her face still seemed more reserved than he typically saw. When the other man left her side to discuss something with Lin, the smile gradually left her face.
"You seem... distressed," Olivier offered awkwardly, not for the first time irritated at his own unsociability when he might wish to be proficient.
"Not really distressed, no," she sighed, eyes on Madoka as she struggled with the vines. "Just... well, I don't honestly know actually."
"Emotions can be unpleasant that way," he commented dryly, slightly amused to find that his mentor seemed to have produced a vine that was both elastic and never ending. This phenomenon was far more varied than he expected. Data was best when repeatable and, thus far, there had been no repeats. He would perhaps have to test with a single person trying multiple times to see about repeatability. All said, the entire investigation had proved inconsistent and if not for the presence of an individual I need of help, he might have abandoned the entire project already.
Mai laughed, drawing his attention again. "Yes, you strike me as the type to think that way. I can just imagine you sitting alone in an office for years rather than deal with people and their... emotions."
Oliver found his lips curving upward of their own volition. "That statement would not be entirely... inaccurate. Between Gene and our mother, I am subjected to a number of emotions I would prefer to avoid."
"At least you have them," Mai intoned quietly. "Family, I mean."
"Yes," Oliver agreed on a rare moment of affection as he was forced to consider the converse. "Annoying though my brother may be, I am unsure what I would do without him. Or Martin and Luella." He paused. "Maybe it would be quieter."
She considered him silently for a moment. "Are they not your real parents?"
Oliver started at the question, completely surprised that she had come to that, albeit correct, conclusion.
"They are our adopted parents, but I would argue that they are still our real ones."
For a moment, the two of them simply watched Madoka as she laughingly attacked the elastic vines and fended off Yasuhara's jokes about vine handling. Their laughter took away the serious atmosphere that scientific study should have, but for once, Oliver did not begrudge them for it.
"It's just... now I know," Mai spoke, breaking their silence. "I thought knowing for certain what would break the curse would make me feel better, but..."
"Certainty can be just as bad as uncertainty," he agreed quietly. There had been all too many instances in his life that confirmed that idea.
"I mean... what am I supposed to do, Naru? Wait around and hope the eventually someone might love me? What kind of life is that? I've lost my family and my entire life to the idea that some god might know better about my life than I do."
Unprepared for the sudden, though very understandable, outpouring of emotion to him of all people, Oliver could only stand in silence for a moment. He could not imagine what it must feel like to have your entire existence be tied to romance, something that he himself had never had the time nor inclination to pursue. Before, a part of him had also silently envied Mai her eternal youth, wondering what he might have been able to learn in so much time. Now, as he watched tears stream down her cheeks, realizing that he could not wipe them from her cheeks or, more realistically, even take her hand to offer awkward solace, all traces of envy evaporated leaving behind only the silent vow that he would find a way to end the curse.
In the meantime, his brain scrambled for some scrapings of comfort.
"Perhaps you should see it as an opportunity," he finally offered.
"To what? Be a historian like Madoka-san said?" Mai asked, her voice displaying distaste for the idea but still curiosity as to what he might say.
"To live a different life," Oliver countered. "Consider, if you had remained in your own time, your life would have revolved around marriage and childbirth. Now, if your curse was broken, the entire world would be your opportunity. Women have gained a lot of equality, even more so outside of Japan."
For a moment, she was silent as she mulled over his words.
"I guess that is a good point. I did always want to learn and see things," she began thoughtfully. "Plus, I do want to travel. I've definitely been in one place for long enough," she commented, giving him a wry, knowing smile that made his insides flutter uncomfortably.
"Once you are free, you should come to England," Oliver stated in a near command before his brain caught up with his mouth.
"Oh? Are you going to play tour guide?" Mai laughed. "I can't really see that. I imagine the only thing you would show me is the inside of your office."
Unbidden, the image of Mai being locked alone with him in his office flooded his mind and Oliver quickly stamped down the thought before it could take hold. Silently cursing the slightly huskier pitch to his voice, he agreed that she was probably right. Mentally, he chastised himself for allowing the overt discussion of romance infect his thought processes. He was a scientist, not an idiot.
…though, as he covertly looked at her, he considered that Gene had often argued that he was both.
"All the same, I have to find true love first," she sighed quietly.
"Indeed," he agreed, moving away as Madoka called him over after her attempt finally ended. "Yet, I don't think that will be much of an issue for you."
"Mai, why are you blushing?" Yasuhara asked as Oliver approached the camera. If the scientist let out a small smirk at her embarrassed squeak, no one was any wiser.
o(O)o
The rest of the afternoon passed by quickly. Lin's attempt at the vines ended up with his hands being tangled up for almost the entire time, but no success in removal. From there, they had started in with the hedge clippers only to have results similar to their previous attempts. Between the clippers breaking and the vines being indestructible, very little had been accomplished and Naru had not even been able to take his turn after the last pair of clippers shattered like glass in Madoka's hands. They had even had Mai try her hand at greenery destruction only for her to be unable to grasp onto the vines or the clippers, no matter how much she tried. Regardless of concentration, her hands slipped through on every try.
The only incident of note had been Yasuhara's second attempt. On three separate tries, he raised up the shears before suddenly dropping them and walking off into the woods. Despite their preparation for such an event, it had so startled them the first time that no one reacted until he had nearly disappeared from sight. Naru said it was a good testing parameter and insisted Yasuhara try again to see if any of them would be affected in additional incidents, which none of them were. On the third attempt, Naru instructed Mai to try and wake the dazed man up, which she managed to do easily.
"At least I have some use," Mai laughed.
"Aside of tea?" Madoka smirked, looking at Naru's fifth cup of the day.
"Aside of tea."
The pair chuckled as they finished bringing in the supplies for the day. The evening passed by with more laughter as they recounted the different incidents of the day and planned the following. As Mai jotted the results in a journal, per Naru's request, Bou-san commented that fire could be effective as it was typically used in purifications while Yasuhara suggested using actual exorcisms which started a debate on whether it would be worth it to wait for Fr. John Brown to come over, especially since it would most likely be a waste of his time.
"Is that the Catholic priest you mentioned as part of your group?" Madoka asked, sharing cooking with Lin for once.
"Yes," Bou-san confirmed. "He works with us on most of our cases, but he has never come out here with us."
"Says it feels like he is interrupting a date," Ayako chuckled.
"While witnessing an additional form of exorcism might be edifying, I doubt he would appreciate being asked to travel such a distance without any proof of return," Naru argued distractedly. As he spoke, he pointed out a minor error Mai made in her transcription, which she fixed with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Actually," Yasuhara countered with a smile, "he probably wouldn't mind. From my memory, he is a very generous type. However, he also may be busy."
"We will proceed with the fire and attempt exorcisms as well tomorrow," Naru stated with a tone of finality.
"I will procure flammable materials shortly," Lin said as he took a seat around the table with the others for dinner.
"I did not think you typically ran the errands, Lin-san," Mai smiled. "I thought that was Yasuhara-san's job."
"Typically, it is," the older man agreed. "However, I did not bring materials for exorcism, and it is faster for me to select the correct materials than instructing someone else to do so."
"You do exorcisms?" Bou-san asked around the food in his mouth, prompting Ayako to smack his shoulder.
"Lin is a type of omnyoji," Madoka supplied while the man in question ate. "He is a qigong expert and, while not our first method of exorcism, he is quite experienced in it."
"This is quite a group of experts, huh?" Mai laughed. "We have a Shinto priestess, a Buddhist Monk, and a qigong expert. Next thing, you are going to tell me that Madoka is psychic, Yasuhara is a medium, and Naru is a god in disguise."
Madoka burst out laughing. "Wait, how did he suddenly become a god?"
Naru looked at her, arrogantly pleased, if also amused, waiting for her answer.
"Only a disguised god could be as narcissistic as he is! I mean, it can't just be his good looks and intelligence that made him that full of himself. He has to be hiding something."
"I don't know, if I looked that good…," Bou-san began, teasing clear in his voice as he seemed to enjoy the flustered look that passed over the scientist's face.
"The universe barely manages my brother and I being this good looking, you cannot ask it to tolerate another."
Silence rang out after the statement. The words stood in such stark contrast to his personality and were said so offhandedly as Naru looked through the day's data, that Mai questioned for a moment if she had even heard them. A beat of incredulity passed and then the room erupted into laughter.
"You seem rather obsessed with my looks, Mai," Naru intoned to her quietly as he pointed out another error over her shoulder. "How very…base of you."
"Naru!" Mai burst out, face crimson with a blush.
"Also, jou-chan, while I cannot speak for Mori or Yasuhara, your Dr. Davis is actually famous for his abilities," Bou-san chuckled.
"Godlike abilities, even," Madoka agreed with a wide grin.
When Mai turned around to look at him, blinking owlishly, she had her own opportunity to smirk at his discomfort. When he did not comment, she prodded him.
"What does that mean, Naru?"
"I mentioned previously that I had abilities. I also mentioned that they did not have any bearing on this investigation."
While spoken to Mai, the ice in his voice made it clear that he considered the discussion to be over and the immortal girl spent the remainder of the evening wondering what exactly Naru's abilities were. If Bou-san knew about them, they must be pretty famous.
Smart, good looking, and powerful? Maybe she was right to compare him to a god.
The subject came up briefly the following morning when the group gathered at the entrance again.
"Did Naru-kami-sama tell you about his gifts yet?" Yasuhara asked gleefully as they moved the existing set up a little farther out to prevent fire damage.
"No, and I am not going to pester him…for now," Mai grinned. "Though, honestly, I am more concerned at the idea of all of you taking a literal torch to my home."
"I assure you, we are entirely trustworthy," Bou-san promised sincerely, before his face broke into a laugh.
"I'm sure," Mai sighed.
"I have just the task to distract you," Naru interrupted.
Mai jumped, having not heard him walk over, but looked at the camera in his hand curiously. "What is that?"
"Well, this is a handheld camera, a recording device for pictures and sounds," the young scientist replied with an arrogant smirk.
"I know what a camera is!"
"Noll, stop flirting and tell her what we need her to do," Madoka instructed as she passed by, arms laden with flammable material. If not for the slight curve to her lips, Mai would not have thought she was teasing. Though, judging from the surprised irritation on Naru's face, the comment delayed instructions more than sped them up.
"Mai," he sighed after a moment, "we have a job for you to do."
o(O)o
As Oliver had predicted, the attempts to burn away the greenery were unsuccessful, though varied within their reactions. Ayako was the least successful as each of her attempts ended with the fire source extinguishing whenever she brought them near. Madoka's attempt produced inflammable vines while Lin was drenched by a rainstorm that lasted only the duration of his attempt. Takigawa's attempt was the most successful after Oliver's own as both of them had managed to burn away a number of vines before the time was over. The monk reported that it felt like he was trying to burn through wax cabling while Oliver felt like it was trying to burn a plant that was biologically far more lush than clinging vines could be.
Once more, Yasuhara was the biggest deviation as the torch over ignited repeatedly preventing him from keeping it within his grasp. The attempt to do so had earned him burns that left the doctor cursing at his foolishness.
"I really do think that this place does not like me, Big Boss," the intern winced with a lopsided smile.
"It does appear that way," Oliver allowed thoughtfully. "Perhaps there is a correlation between how the phenomenon reacts and the individual." His mind considered the idea for a few moments before coming to the conclusion that chasing such data would be fruitless as it circled back to relying on individual experience more than was scientifically viable. He was just about to say as much when Mai's sudden return changed the course of his thoughts.
"You are finished?"
The brunette nodded, a curious look on her face. "I had to stop a few times and put the camera down since I am not used to trying to hold something for so long so it took a little longer than I thought it would."
"Do not exhaust yourself," Oliver commanded more sharply than he intended. "If you overexert yourself and sleep for the next thirty years, it will be materially harder to end your curse."
"Y-yes," she stuttered, a little startled by his harsh tone.
After a moment, he noticed tears growing in her eyes and he could not help the sigh that escaped him. "I did not intend to upset you."
"Oh! No!" Mai exclaimed with a watery laugh. "I'm just…I've been alone for so long, Naru. It is hard to get used to the idea that people really want to help me. Even when I've made friends before, I was just a novelty. All of you," she trailed off gesturing towards the group at large which were focused on setting up for the exorcisms before they stopped for lunch, "all of you are trying so hard for me…."
"Who says we are doing it for you?" Oliver responded with a smirk. "Finding a source of reliably repeatable data is a rare find in our field. It would actually be smarter on our part to do nothing."
Sadness gone, Mai glared at him. "Naru! How rude!"
"I would have thought that you would like the constant company," he murmured silkily, causing her to blush and blow up more.
"Of course-, I just -, ugh! Naru!"
"Now, before you break my equipment, I am going to take the camera from you and begin reviewing the footage." As he spoke, he relieved her from the handheld and began to move away towards the cabin.
"Yeah, you better run before I throw it at you!" she called after him and Oliver couldn't help but smile at his success in distracting her. He may not be good with people like Gene was, but he had his own ways.
As the group had largely predicted, the exorcisms did not produce any results aside of starting a long lasting and in-depth conversation about the comparative methods. Despite his eagerness to review Mai's footage, Oliver felt obliged to observe each of the rituals and then take part in the conversation if only to provide a broader foundational knowledge of cross-religious comparatives. The intellectual in him momentarily regretted the absence of the Catholic priest even though it was the subsect of exorcism that he was most familiar with. The side-by-side comparisons across four different spiritual groups would have been interesting.
Yet, even after it had ended, Oliver was prevented from going to his review task as the Takigawas were leaving the following morning and, per Madoka's orders, the evening was spent in ill planned revelry. Yasuhara had managed to unearth – or purchase – vast quantities of alcohol which resulted in an exhaustive conversation of the far less inhibited Monk quizzing Oliver on his career as of yet. Content to absent himself from the intoxicated games going on across the room, he allowed the conversation and found, by the end, that Takigawa was well versed in the scientific side of paranormal research and had considered pursuing the career full time.
"My passion is still music, though," he sighed. "Plus, paranormal investigations do not pay well unless you can get some sort of corporate sponsorship like those Americans did. And they eventually sold out for ratings."
"I agree. It is not an easy career decision," Oliver commented softly.
The two exchanged contact information and Oliver agreed to consult with the Monk as long as the latter did not abuse the privilege. Then, resigned to the fact that no further work would be done, he retired uncharacteristically early and laid in bed for hours considering what further steps he could take to resolve the strange situation he had found.
After the raucous couple departed the next morning, the investigators sat down to review the footage that Mai had caught.
"I am still not sure what use the inside of the castle will do," she commented, bringing Oliver tea after putting up a small argument over it. "It isn't like any of you can get in there."
"True, but there may be something inside that can give us more clues," Madoka explained.
"For example," Lin continued, visibly surprising Mai by speaking, "if there are any sort of markings that indicate the curse or give us more insight on the deity itself, it can assist us in our research."
"The information will also prove useful for navigating the castle when the curse is eventually broken. Just breeching the gate may send you back into a sleeping state and prevent you from navigating us to your body."
Mai stared at Oliver for a moment. "You are awfully sure of yourself, Naru."
"I know my own capabilities," he smirked back to her before turning to review the extensive footage from the interior of the castle.
As she filmed, Mai kept up a running commentary on what each area was and what might be out of place from her own time. ("I can't be sure since the last few days before the curse are still a little fuzzy and it is hard to remember what came before and what came after.") Periodically, Oliver or Lin would ask a follow-up question on what they were seeing and made notes as they went.
Overall, the architecture was fairly straightforward and common for the era. As instructed, Mai had filmed the outbuildings that the retainers and staff lived in as well as the work rooms and training areas before moving into the central building. The original filming was already extensive and with the addition of rewinding, pausing, and comparisons, the review took a number of hours before they finally reached the conclusion.
"And that is my room and me in my bed," Mai commented with an air of finality.
"You do not look as deteriorated as I would have expected," Oliver observed.
"Thanks?" Mai laughed.
"I think what the genius means is that we all sort of expected you to look like a coma patient. If your astral self was based off of your original mental image, it would stand to reason that how you look in astral form would not look the same as your body."
"I guess that makes sense," Mai shrugged.
"Yet you look nearly identical," Oliver continued. "This is good."
"I imagine you don't just mean because I kept my girlish looks."
Oliver gave her a sly look at the comment which made her cheeks color, but he did not comment on her self-praise. "Indeed. If you look the same physically, that means there is little chance that your body is actually suffering things like bedsores or muscle degeneration. These would add considerably to your recovery time after the curse breaks."
"Oh," she blinked. "Yes, I guess that is good!"
From there, Madoka, Yasuhara, and Mai broke off into their own conversation about what might happen when she woke up as they moved away to begin packing for their own departure on the following day. Oliver slowly tuned them out as he stared at the still image of Mai lying in her bed. It really did look like time had just paused on her while she slept.
For far longer than he realized, Oliver sat there and watched the version of Mai that he could actually touch.
Author's Note:
Am I making Naru too cheesy? I feel like I'm flirting with cheesy... Anywho.
Well…yeah. It's been an adventurous couple of weeks. Part of this chapter got deleted because I forgot to save before taking out my USB drive. And then my husband forgot about Valentine's Day so he decided to make up for it by forcing me to watch TV and play games with him every night for a week. Plus its migraine season…
Needless to say, I did not intend for there to be an over two week delay in chapters. It is shameful. However, I decided to make up for this by deciding that grading papers is for chumps and to just write at work instead. (I also wrote more than half of this on my phone cause insomnia so maybe starting that will help me stay on time since I don't have to whip out the laptop.)
Grading is totally for chumps.
I need to move to teaching college so I can make my TA grade my papers. Life goals.
Anyway, I hope that this chapter was worth the wait. I also am going to continue on my grading is for chumps mantra for at least tomorrow and try and get the next chapter done quickly. It is a shorter chapter (in theory) so there should be no more delays.
That said, we are (theoretically) coming to an end of this story. According to my original design plan, there are only three chapters remaining after this one. The next one is probably going to be the shortest and the one after that will probably be one of the longest (if not THE longest). I may throw in an epilogue. Who knows!
Of course, this should mean in theory that I am going to go back to my long languishing Hellsing story…but it isn't speaking to me. Still. (I am the worst writer ever.) SOOOO…I am totally up for requests. Fanfiction is keeping me sane and these little stories are really fun. In theory, I will go back to Abusement Park, but I'm also not really feeling that one. I'm so not in a super drama mood.
Anyway, I'll end this stream of consciousness style author's note and let you get on with your lives (if you bothered to read it in the first place). Once again, thank you for all the support. You are awesome!
Til next time!