Bonus Round 2: Tic-Tac-Toe

[referees]

SASO 2017 is over, but this round is perpetually open to new fills (no new prompts).

Get three in a row! That's the goal of this bonus round. Inspired by a fanwork event type called kink bingo, this round encourages you to create and fill out themed prompt cards.

Please read this whole post before commenting to ensure that your team gets the most points possible. There's a lot of text here, but if you read carefully and follow the instructions step by step, you will be okay.

RULES

Please refer to the first comment thread of this post for an example of how this round works.

PROMPTING

1. Select a ship to create your prompt card about. Platonic relationships are indicated by an "&" between the names (e.g., Haruki & Kazuma). Non-platonic relationships use "/" (e.g., Haruki/Kazuma). Please don't say "Any pairing," either!


2. Visit this card generator.
   • Here is a visual guide to using it.
   • The large text box is where you can list prompts if you have your own ideas. Please list at least 9 prompts; you can list more if you want. (The generator says you need at least 24, but it's lying.) Single words or short phrases are better than sentences.
   • Otherwise, you can use the dropdown menu found right below it. Note: some of these prompts lists are NSFW. (NSFW prompts are a-ok as long as you tag for it.) If you don't like some of the options that appear in a prompt list, you can delete them.
   • Text prompts only, please. Also, each card square must be unique—don't list the same prompt 9 times.
   • In "Configuration Options," make sure you select 3x3 and (Normal prompt). This is the most important step!
   • Leave the tic-tac-toe card with its default colors, so everyone can read it clearly.
   • Click the "Create a bingo card" button.
   • Scroll down to see the card that was created for you. If you don't like the prompts it picked, you can reroll by clicking "Create a bingo card" again.
   • When you're satisfied, scroll further down the page until you see a textarea box full of HTML.
3. Copy and paste the HTML from the box and into the body of your prompt comment, then post!

FILLING

Fill prompts by selecting an individual square to create fanwork for, then leaving a responding comment to the prompt with your newly-created work. (Optional:) If you can fill three squares from a prompt in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line, you get a tic-tac-toe (and an additional point bonus)! You can also just fill prompts as you please and get standard points.

• Prompt squares are labeled as follows:

  A1	B1	C1
  A2	B2	C2
  A3	B3	C3

• If you're trying for tic-tac-toe, you cannot combine squares into one fill. If your fill can satisfy multiple squares, pick the most relevant square: e.g., one square is sailing and another is pirates and you make a fill about pirates sailing, it's mostly pirates so put down the pirates square.
• Each fill must stand alone as an individual piece, but all your fills can slot into a larger universe if you'd like.
• You cannot fill a prompt square more than once, but you can fill every square on a tic tac toe card if you want to.
• You cannot work with your teammates to get a tic-tac-toe. Only individually achieved tic-tac-toes get the bonus.
• Multiple people can fill the same prompt square. You cannot "block" others from getting tic-tac-toe.
• Remember to also follow the general bonus round rules, outlined here.
• Here is a prompt/fill index for your convenience.

FORMAT

Bonus round shenanigans all happen in the comments below. Brand-new works only, please.

Required Work Minimums:

• 400 words (prose)
• 400px by 400px (art/images)
• 14 lines (poetry)

There is no max work cap.

Format your comment in one of the following ways:

If PROMPTING:	If FILLING:	If FILLING as a TEAM GRANDSTAND participant:
PROMPT: TEAM [YOUR SHIP] Replace [YOUR SHIP] with the name of the team you belong to. Any way you format it is fine. Copy/paste/fill out the following form into your comment box. Delete the guidance text that's in parentheses. Make sure you use tags. Here is a BR Template Creator for your convenience if the textarea is confusing. (Please delete all text in parentheses as you go. LEAVE THE HTML ALONE or the bonus round scoring program can't parse your comment. Don't forget a comment subject!) <strong>Ship:</strong> (the ship your prompt is focused on. "&" indicates a platonic relationship, "/" is non-platonic. Format the ship name any way you want, but clarity is more likely to get you fills.) <strong>Fandom:</strong> (what fandom the ship is from) <strong>Major Tags:</strong> (https://sportsanime.dreamwidth.org/1609.html, when applicable; these apply to content *in the prompt itself* and is NOT an implication of what you're looking for in a fill. If your prompt doesn't require tags, write "None" here. More info: http://sportsanimeolympics.tumblr.com/post/161707236774/tagging-and-you) <strong>Other Tags:</strong> (anything else that you feel requires tagging; can include jokey tumblr-style tags here; may also pull from the "Additional Tags" list from the URL above, if applicable; otherwise, write "None" here.) <strong>Prompt:</strong> (copy and paste the HTML of your prompt square here!)	FILL: TEAM [YOUR SHIP], [SQUARE], [RATING] Replace [SQUARE] with the specific square you're filling (e.g., B2). Click here to see a comment thread example of which square is which. Replace [YOUR SHIP] with the name of the team you belong to. Any way you format it is fine. Replace RATING with the rating of your fill (G - E) Copy/paste/fill out the following form into your comment box. Delete the guidance text that's in parentheses. Make sure you use tags. Here is a BR Template Creator for your convenience if the textarea is confusing. (Please delete all text in parentheses as you go. LEAVE THE HEADER HTML ALONE or the bonus round scoring program can't parse your comment. Don't forget a comment subject, especially which square you're filling!) <strong>Ship:</strong> <strong>Fandom:</strong> <strong>Major Tags:</strong> (https://sportsanime.dreamwidth.org/1609.html, when applicable; otherwise write "None"; if omitting tags to avoid spoiling, say "tags omitted." More info: http://sportsanimeolympics.tumblr.com/post/161707236774/tagging-and-you) <strong>Other Tags:</strong> (anything else that you feel requires tagging; can include jokey tumblr-style tags here; may also pull from the "Additional Tags" list from the URL above, if applicable; otherwise, write "None" here.) <strong>Square:</strong> (the theme of the square that you are filling, just copy and paste it from the prompt comment) <strong>Word Count:</strong> (if applicable; otherwise write "None") (Place any author/artist's notes BEFORE the asterisks. Leave the asterisks alone or won't get points!) *** (Place your fill here. You can use HTML after the asterisks. FOR NSFW FILLS, please cross-link these fills and use clear tags. Refer to the body of the post above for more information. To place an image in your comment, use this code: <img src="LINK TO YOUR IMAGE" alt="DESCRIPTION OF YOUR IMAGE"/>. Consider posting only a thumbnail if the image is large. For more info, visit http://referees.dreamwidth.org/5647.html#images ) NSFW FILLS: Please cross-link these fills and tag them clearly. saso_afterhours is open to all NSFW fills. Written/text fills can be hosted on AO3 or saso_afterhours ONLY. Art/visual fills can be hosted anywhere; you may include a small safe-for-work thumbnail of the fill in your comment.	FILL: TEAM GRANDSTAND, [SQUARE], [RATING] Replace [SQUARE] with the specific square you're filling (e.g., B2). Click here to see a comment thread example of which square is which. Replace RATING with the rating of your fill (G - E) Copy/paste/fill out the following form into your comment box. Delete the guidance text that's in parentheses. Make sure you use tags. Here is a BR Template Creator for your convenience if the textarea is confusing. (Please delete all text in parentheses as you go. LEAVE THE HEADER HTML ALONE or the bonus round scoring program can't parse your comment. Don't forget a comment subject, especially which square you're filling!) <strong>Ship:</strong> <strong>Fandom:</strong> <strong>Major Tags:</strong> (https://sportsanime.dreamwidth.org/1609.html, when applicable; otherwise write "None"; if omitting tags to avoid spoiling, say "tags omitted." More info: http://sportsanimeolympics.tumblr.com/post/161707236774/tagging-and-you) <strong>Other Tags:</strong> (anything else that you feel requires tagging; can include jokey tumblr-style tags here; may also pull from the "Additional Tags" list from the URL above, if applicable; otherwise, write "None" here.) <strong>Square:</strong> (the theme of the square that you are filling, just copy and paste it from the prompt comment) <strong>Word Count:</strong> (if applicable; otherwise write "None") (Place any author/artist's notes BEFORE the asterisks. Leave the asterisks alone or you may not get points!) *** (Place your fill here. You can use HTML. FOR NSFW FILLS, please cross-link these fills and use clear tags. Refer to the body of the post above for more information. To place an image in your comment, use this code: <img src="LINK TO YOUR IMAGE" alt="DESCRIPTION OF YOUR IMAGE"/>. Consider posting only a thumbnail if the image is large. For more info, visit http://referees.dreamwidth.org/5647.html#images ) NSFW FILLS: Please cross-link these fills and tag them clearly. saso_afterhours is open to all NSFW fills. Written/text fills can be hosted on AO3 or saso_afterhours ONLY. Art/visual fills can be hosted anywhere; you may include a small safe-for-work thumbnail of the fill in your comment.

Posts not using this format will be understood to be unofficial discussion posts, regardless of what they contain. They, like all comments in this community, are subject to the code of conduct.

If you see anyone breaking the code of conduct (e.g., causing drama, being rude) anywhere (not just DW), please contact the mods immediately.

SCORING

These numbers apply to your team as a whole, not each individual teammate. Make as many prompts/fills as you want!

For prompts: 5 points for each tic-tac-toe card (maximum of 50 prompt points per team per round)

For fills:
First 4 fills by any member of your team: 20 points each
Fills 5-10: 15 points each
Fills 11-20: 5 points each
Fills 21-50: 2 points each
Fills 51+: 1 point each
Tic-tac-toe Bonus: 2 points each for the first 12 achieved by your team

All scored content must be created new for this round.

Etc.

If you're hunting through the prompts looking for what to fill, a good trick is to view top-level comments only (see the line of links below this post).

Have a question? Check The FAQ first. If you still need help, feel free to contact the mods. Happy fanworking!

Comments

Re: Fill: team kirishima natsuya/yamazaki sousuke, B2, G

[princesssid]

hell YEAH, i love this! tsukishima not being able to handle ANY OF HIS FEELINGS re: yamaguchi is ALWAYS MY FAVE and this was so funny and cute at the same time!

thank you so much for the fill :D

Re: FILL: team grandstand, B1, G

[prillalar]

This was really great! I love Yuri and his subtlety and JJ and his rising confidence and all the tension between them. And Otabek is the icing on the cake, the way he just instantly complicates all of Yuri's feelings.

Thank you so much for filling my prompt!

FILL: Team Imaizumi Shunsuke/Kinjou Shingo, A2, G

[yrindor]

Ship: Kinjou Shingo/Makishima Yuusuke
Fandom: Yowamushi Pedal
Major Tags: none
Other Tags: injury mention, supernatural elements, pregnancy of a trans character
Square: Someday
Word Count: 480

In which Makishima is a dryad.

***

Anyone who was used to seeing Makishima in public inevitably concluded that he must be incredibly self-conscious. At least, that was the first thought. The second thought was usually that "self-conscious" and his fashion sense didn't seem to go together well. He was known for always wearing bright colors and patterns that caught the eye.

Rumors swirled around Makishima's styles. Some said there must be a religious significance to his clothing that no one else was aware of. Others suggested that perhaps his long sleeves and flowing skirts hid disfiguring scars from an accident. Still others whispered that maybe he was a prisoner on the run trying to hide his prison tattoos lest he be recaptured.

Kinjou knew that even the wildest theories fell short of the truth. For the truth was that Makishima was a dryad. That was unusual enough, but even more unusually, Makishima was a dryad whose tree had been destroyed. It had been a lightning strike that had started a fire in the tree's crown, and it should have destroyed Makishima too, except he had chosen to flee, taking with him a sapling that had just branched up from his tree's roots.

Kinjou had found him unconscious in the forest not long after that and taken him home. Makishima had healed slowly, and when he finally recovered and was ready to go out into the village, he chose clothes that covered the tattoos that danced along his arms like leaves in the wind and told the whole history of his tree and the thick skin on his legs that was more akin to tree bark.

Initially, Kinjou had expected Makishima to recover and then take his leave, bringing the sapling Kinjou had cared for in a pot by the door back into the forest with him. But Makishima had stayed for far longer than Kinjou had ever anticipated, and the last time the trees had thrown out new buds in the spring, the third time since Makishima had arrived, they had planted Makishima's sapling into the ground in front of his house.

Whenever Kinjou came home and saw Makishima's sapling setting down it's roots, he was reminded of the life he and Makishima had chosen to make together. And recently, there had been more than just the sapling to remind him. He stepped inside to where Makishima was still putting away goods from the market, and Makishima whirled around to face him.

"They moved," Makishima said breathlessly. "Here, see if you can feel them too."

Kinjou let Makishima take his hand and place it over the growing swell of his belly. Over their child.

"They're going to be ours, Kinjou," Makishima said.

Kinjou didn't trust himself to speak as he let his head fall forward to rest on Makishima's shoulder, one hand still on Makishima's stomach and the gentle fluttering coming from within it.

FILL: TEAM HIMURO TATSUYA/NIJIMURA SHUUZOU, C3, T

[hatchbacks]

Ship: Aomine/Himuro
Fandom: Kuroko no Basuke
Major Tags: TAGS OMITTED
Other Tags: TAGS OMITTED
Square: i can't stop til the whole world knows my name
Word Count: 671

more hockey au

***

Tatsuya skates around the faceoff circle, knees bent, grinning out at Daiki. Daiki swallows, adjusting his grip on his stick; this is absolutely not fair. They’re both on the wing here; they’re up against each other on fucking Olympic squads, almost surreal if it weren’t for the very real crowds banging on the glass, people with flags draped all over them, the rings under the ice, too detailed in the little flaws the zamboni can’t erase for Daiki’s imagination to have created, the feeling under his skates different but that’s just the anticipation Daiki almost feels weird about feeling.

It’s so fucking weird to see different colors on Tatsuya, like some sort of bizarro-world scenario Daiki doesn’t ever want to see long-term (unless he’s there too, unless the Ducks go back to Wild Wing or something just as weird—that would be okay; he knows Tatsuya’s got a hell of a soft spot for those tacky uniforms and anything that makes Tatsuya a little bit happier is good by him).

“Stop staring,” says Akashi, behind Daiki.

He hears Tatsuya laugh, the bastard (at least most of his teammates don’t understand; one of them asks him and Tatsuya waves it off). The refs skate up; Tatsuya takes his place next to Daiki, tapping his shin with the blade of his stick. Daiki taps Tatsuya’s back, and the puck drops.

Tatsuya all decked out in the American uniform is one thing; playing against him is another. It’s not weird so much as a puzzle Daiki’s not used to solving. He’s gone against Tatsuya in practice; they’ll go one-on-one anytime; they’d had a couple of games in high school, but none of it’s like this. It’s not in a real game, not with five other players darting around the ice. Tatsuya’s got the puck; Daiki darts in to steal but Tatsuya moves laterally, a pass (avoiding the conflict, kicking it down the road); Akashi steals it but Tatsuya moves in to hit him and Daiki’s in hot pursuit.

Tatsuya goes fucking hard; it’s different competing against him as a teammate (Daiki’s always got the edge but it always feels like he’s got to work his ass off to keep it up) and that’s never got him pressing on, on, long after he’s tapped out his energy reserves, burned them up on the shift (his face is red; he douses it with water as Daiki passes the American bench and gets barely a glimpse; he’s back to composed by next shift and Daiki wonders how exhausted he’s going to be after the game).

They have to wait for the second period to truly go one-on-one; Kagami gets a piece of a sharp pass toward the blue line and Daiki swears under his breath; Kagami’s pass goes cross-ice and over the line and out of the zone, straight to Tatsuya’s stick. Tatsuya picks it up as he picks up speed, shooting forward; Daiki’s faster and he knows it, but he’s got to get out of the traffic, legging forwards as Tatsuya gets past center ice, toward the Japanese zone. Murasakibara’s a little ways out of the crease, trying to stare him down; Daiki’s closer, closer, and finally he pivots, just as Tatsuya’s about to get the shot off. He tries to shorten the motion of his stick, but it’s quick enough for Daiki to clip the shot with his stick and send it skittering out to the corner.

“Fuck you,” Tatsuya breathes, and Daiki treasures that more than than the sweet things he’s said and meant, over the phone or next to him on the bed or across the table, more than the stick-taps to his ass in the middle of a playoff game.

Everyone else is catching up but Daiki makes a move for the loose puck; Tatsuya crushes him to the boards but it’s totally worth it (especially since he gets the pass off first). It hurts like fuck, but from Tatsuya he’d expect no less.

FILL: Team Aoyagi Hajime/Koga Kimitaka/Teshima Junta, A2, G

[yusukesjeans]

Ship: Izumida Touichirou/Kishigami Komari
Fandom: Yowamushi Pedal
Major Tags: None.
Other Tags: None.
Square: Bicep
Word Count: None.

***

Full size: http://i.imgur.com/vRQQsmj.jpg

Re: FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, C3, T

[themorninglark]

I'M CRYING... THIS FEELS SO REAL AND SO VERY THEM!!! all the ways that Kimishita calls Ooshiba Kiichi wrecks me, especially inviting him to come over and taste test his cooking because it might as well be him who dies of food poisoning—that is THEM to a tee and I'm so emotionally compromised by the thought of that Kiichi continuing to hang in between them like an unresolved reminder of what they had, but I'm even more compromised by Kimishita's reaction to Ooshiba's Atsushi... you convey that love-hate(-love) so very realistically. "like it's a curse in itself", "a little vulnerable", just, ouch, and that parting image of Kimishita being unable to click his tongue and just staring, I'M /clutches heart

Re: FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, A2, T

[intricacies]

WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING HERE

FILL: Team Imaizumi Shunsuke/Kinjou Shingo, A1, G

[yrindor]

Ship: Kinjou Shingo/Makishima Yuusuke
Fandom: Yowamushi Pedal
Major Tags: none
Other Tags: pregnant trans character
Square: Knitting / Sewing / Crochet / etc
Word Count: 605

KinMaki, now featuring bonus Inui/Kaidou on the side

***

"Dad gave this to me this afternoon," Kinjou said, showing Makishima a hand-knit blanket of varying shades of green. "He and Father made it for me when I was a baby; they thought we could use it now."

Makishima took the blanket and studied it. "It's funny," he said finally, "most of this looks like Kaidou's hand. I still have every sweater he's knit for me, and most of this looks the same. Well, the same less a few decades of practice."

Kinjou laughed. "It is mostly Father's work. He and Dad had planned to work on it together, but as it turns out, Dad's logic doesn't work so well on needlecraft. His first attempt went so badly Father had to cut him out of it. He actually gave me that piece too. See?" He pulled an unholy tangle of yarn out of the bag, and Makishima could only stare and try to fathom what has possibly created the mess.

"Anyway, he tried a few more times after that, and he did get better, but then things got…busy…and by the time he came back, Father had finished the whole thing, and several other projects beside, just to have something to do with his hands. But he took Dad's best attempt and used it as the center."

"Like he was protecting him," Makishima said softly.

"Protecting both of us," Kinjou corrected.

"And he's giving it to us."

Kinjou bit his lip as he nodded. "Yes."

"Just like he gave you his engagement ring," Makishima said thickly, running his fingers over the band.

"He loves you, Yuusuke. They both do, and they're happy for us."

"It's still hard to believe this is real sometimes," Makishima said, one hand drifting down to rest on his stomach. "I keep waiting to wake up and realize I've been dreaming."

"It's not a dream. It's what we're making together."

"I want to make our own."

"What?"

"Our own blanket. Like the one your parents made for you so that the baby knows how much it's loved even if we can't be there all the time."

Kinjou smiled. "We can do that. What colors should we use?"

Makishima shook his head. "Use whatever scrap you have lying around so that there are stories and memories behind all of it. Maybe see if Kaidou has any scraps too, or Inui if anyone let him near yarn again after that."

"I'll see what I can do," Kinjou promised.

They ended up using yarn from even more places than they had first planned, but they both thought that only made the blanket better. Kinjou used the leftover yarn from the socks he had knit for Makishima the first time they had gone skiing together and Makishima's feet had nearly frozen in his boots. When that ran out, he turned to the yarn Kaidou had saved from the first sweater he ever knit for his son. Makishima used yarn from Fukutomi first, left over from the matching scarves he had given to Makishima and Kinjou as a wedding gift. Then he used the scrap from Kaidou from the sweaters he had knit for all for of them the first time they spent New Year's together. They finished the edges of the blanket together with yarn from the teddy bear Toudou had crocheted to congratulate them on Makishima's pregnancy. And then they added tassels to the corners with yarn Inui gave them from an ill-fated adventure in holiday ornaments he had embarked on with Kinjou many years earlier.

They had just put the finishing touches on the blanket when Makishima went into labor.

Re: FILL: Team Grandstand, B2, T

[geniuskaktus]

Oh, lol, don’t worry I would never hurt the chef ;)

Momo is a funny guy! I feel like his lax nature makes him kind of the opposite of Atobe (which made this pairing interesting to write). I like to imagine Momo going to some fancy get together, 100% wanting to be there, but not knowing what’s appropriate etiquette AT ALL.

Re: Fill: Team Grandstand, A2, G

[saccharinescorpion]

ahhh this is excellent!!! thanks so much for this! ah all the conflicting emotions and ending with Shizuku n Chinatsu pairing up is so great! thanks so much for the great fill!!

FILL: TEAM KURAMOCHI YOUICHI/MIYUKI KAZUYA, T

[kazuyas]

Ship: tsukishima kei/kageyama tobio
Fandom: haikyuu!!
Major Tags: none.
Other Tags: thinly veiled character study, third year setting, me just dumping all my feelings about captain!tsukki tbh, kinda angsty?, rated for mild swearing
Square: "training camp" (c1)
Word Count: 1,228 words

this got much longer than i was expecting and i have no idea how it happened???

***

Tsukishima had been right to dread the training camp. Practice at Karasuno had been manageable—he'd even been getting the hang of it.

Leading drills, trying to include the first years, keeping the third and second years humble despite their successes the previous season—being captain became less of an indomitable monolith and became enjoyable again.

But the Nekoma training camp meant playing against other teams, meant being under the lens of other coach's and captains as they scoped him out, tested his limits and his abilities, trying to figure out what to expect from him.

Tsukishima has half a mind to snap at them, tell them they better settle in for a long wait, because *he* barely knows what to expect from *himself*. His old doubts resurface, and his sense of self-awareness is too sharp to miss the way it impacts his plays, his attitude on the court.

That's the other thing about being captain—when he's struggling, so is the rest of the team. He's still trying to figure that one out.

He reverts to what he knows, trying to think about what Ennoshita or Daichi would do in his shoes, trying to emulate how they dealt with a problem.

He shrugs off Yamaguchi's hand on his shoulder, ignores Hinata's prodding that's meant to stoke his competitive fire, snaps at Yachi over lunch, and he can't meet Kageyama's eyes.

They only win one match that day.

"We have a lot to work on," Ukai tells them before they break for dinner. "But don't let this defeat you; we have a week to work hard and come back from this."

Though the words are directed at the team as a whole, Tsukishima can't help but feel like Ukai's comments are being laid directly at his feet.

After a tense meal, Tsukishima excuses himself and goes to sit at the top of the hill that Karasuno has grown painfully familiar with. He pulls out his phone and stares at his contacts, debating the merits of texting someone like Kuroo or Daichi. He has Kuroo's number pulled up when he becomes aware of a figure at the base of the hill.

As the individual draws closer, Tsukishima can tell it's Kageyama.

He reaches the hill's crest and sits next to Tsukishima, pulling one knee up to his chest. "Yamaguchi was looking for you."

Tsukishima waits for Kageyama to tell him to get up and go seek Yamaguchi out, but he doesn't.

The silence stretches between them, and just as Tsukishima is about to joke about Kageyama being even more terse than usual, Kageyama blurts out: "You're not a bad captain."

Tsukishima blinks. "Thanks?"

He must really be a mess if Kageyama, of all people, is trying to reassure him. Tsukishima is about to excuse himself in an attempt to dodge the conversation altogether, but Kageyama keeps going.

"That's—I'm not done." He inhales. "You don't have to be Ennoshita-senpai, or Daichi-san—"

Tsukishima's heard this before, back when he was first made captain. "I know that—"

"Then why do you keep trying to be?" Kageyama asks. "Coach didn't pick you because you're nice like Ennoshita, or strong like Daichi—"

"*Oi*—"

"You're both those things, but not like them, so it doesn't work when you're trying to be them."

Tsukshima blinks. "You think I'm nice?"

Kageyama looks away, and even in the dim light of dusk Tsukishima can see the slight flush coloring his cheeks. "Kinda—in your own shitty way, I guess. You look out for us even when you pretend you don't care. It's... yeah, it's nice." He eyes Tsukishima. "You've always been like that, and now you're trying to be different, and that's why it feels weird."

Tsukishima can't hold his gaze. "I just—I didn't ask for this, so I don't know—"

Kageyama shrugs. "So? Hinata and I still don't always know what we're doing."

Tsukishima snorts and rolls his eyes. "I'm more than aware."

Silence settles between them for a moment. Tsukishima inhales, trying to piece something together. "I'm just. How have you dealt with it all this time?"

Kageyama frowns. "Dealt with what?"

"The team just—expecting these great things from you. How do you..." Tsukishima trails off uselessly, left with only a small hope that Kageyama understands what he's trying to articulate.

It's a moment before Kageyama responds. "I just don't think about it."

Tsukishima groans. "Insightful as always, Kageyama," he says, though his voice lacks any venom. His ire, at this point, is really only directed at himself.

Kageyama tries again: "I mean—I focus on other things, I guess. I try to think about the next play instead, or the match, or trying to counter the other team."

"Volleyball as usual, then," Tsukishima mutters.

Kageyama nods. "And maybe you should too."

Tsukishima raises an eyebrow. "How so?"

Kageyama chews the inside of his mouth as he thinks—"Don't hurt yourself," Tsukishima mutters—and finally answers: "You're not a bad captain. As long as you stop trying to be like every other captain. Just be Tsukishima and play volleyball as usual. That's why you're captain and not anyone else."

"You say that like it's that simple."

Kageyama frowns, holding Tsukishima's gaze steadily. "It is, though."

Tsukishima feels a flash of envy that despite being the starting setter for over two years, despite being recognized as one of the best players in the prefecture—if not the whole of Japan—his philosophy boils down to *just keep playing*.

"There's something else you can do, though," Kageyama says.

"And what's that?"

"You keep trying to do this alone," Kageyama answers.

The gravity of the statement, coming from Kageyama, is not lost on him, and Tsukishima looks away, suddenly quite interested in his own feet.

Kageyama continues: ""It was getting better, but then today happened."

He's not wrong—Yamaguchi and Yachi have been nothing but steadying and supportive presences, and even dealing with Hinata gave Tsukishima something familiar to work with, giving him a starting point from which to build his relationships with the rest of the team.

And then Kageyama. In hindsight, Tsukishima wonders how he missed Kageyama becoming one of the leaders on the team, being a starter and the center of their offense for so long. Kageyama's sense for the game is one of Tsukishima's most oft-used resources. They spent time after practice and spare moments in between classes hashing out the team's strengths and weaknesses, what they need to work on and what's already solid. It gives Tsukishima something concrete to focus on—goals to achieve, ground to cover.

And today he casted all of that—all of *them*—aside.

He sighs. "You're annoyingly perceptive tonight; are you sure you're not some kind of body double?"

Kageyama pushes his shoulder, and Tsukishima smirks. He's about to say something else, maybe even something like a thank you, but Hinata's voice suddenly reaches them, calling for them both.

"Speaking of people trying to be like their mentors," Tsukishima mutters. "He's going to scare all the first years if he keeps doing this."

Kageyama responds, "I don't think Hinata is the one that scares them."

"That's probably true, he probably couldn't scare a pigeon if—*wait*—"

Kageyama is already on his feet and running at a dead sprint down the hill, and Tsukishima yells after him about cutting off his milk supply before giving chase.

Re: FILL: Team Grandstand, A3, T

[geniuskaktus]

Yes! I love that theory! That’s the exact feeling I was going for with basically this entire thing. In the end they are all still only teenagers, even if they maybe like to pretend otherwise.

I’m really really happy you liked my fills!!! It was super fun to write these ^.^

FILL: Team Aoyagi Hajime/Koga Kimitaka/Teshima Junta, A1, T

[yusukesjeans]

Ship: Izumida Touichirou / Kishigami Komari
Fandom: Yowamushi Pedal
Major Tags: None.
Other Tags: Implied sexual content
Square: Sternocleido-mastoid
Word Count: None.


**

Full size: http://i.imgur.com/bFHB5sd.jpg

FILL: TEAM KURAMOCHI YOUICHI/MIYUKI KAZUYA, B1, T

[gnetophyta]

Ship: Kuramochi Youichi/Miyuki Kazuya
Fandom: Daiya no Ace
Major Tags: None.
Other Tags: Dweebs in love?
Square: the sweating sickness
Word Count: 950

all italicized text is from the wikipedia article on the sweating sickness :>

***

the disease began very suddenly with a sense of apprehension, followed by cold shivers (sometimes very violent), giddiness, headache, and severe pains in the neck, shoulders and limbs, with great exhaustion.

For Kuramochi, it feels like practices are getting increasingly harder, and not in a physical sense. It’s harder to keep his eyes off Miyuki, harder not to smile every time he flashes that stupid smirk, harder to breathe when Miyuki’s around him. He stretches out his shoulders as he watches Miyuki pull off his mask at practice, sweat running down his terrible, awful, perfectly structured face.

Kuramochi sits in the bath afterwards, letting the heat drain the pain from his limbs. He closes his eyes and sinks down a bit further into the water, hoping he’ll stay awake enough so he doesn’t actually drown in the bath. He’s so tired that his brain can’t even hyper-fixate on Miyuki, and that is a blessing in disguise. Kuramochi appreciates the break.

Miyuki enters the bath and slides in next to him, and it’s obvious that he’s trying not to disturb Kuramochi. That is, until Kuramochi gets a towel in the face, followed by Miyuki’s obnoxious snickering.

“I hate you,” Kuramochi says, with no bite.
“You must be exhausted. I’m surprised you didn’t punch me for that, Kuramochi!”
“Yeah, well…” he trails off and steps out of the bath. He should really get some rest.
“Kuramochi,” Miyuki says. Kuramochi turns to him, draping a towel around his waist.
“Yeah?”
“You okay?”
“Fine. ‘Night.” Kuramochi leaves quickly, trying not to dwell on Miyuki’s concerned expression.

after the cold stage, which might last from half an hour to three hours, the hot and sweating stage followed. the characteristic sweat broke out suddenly without any obvious cause.

It’s not the first time that Kuramochi has a dream about Miyuki, let alone one that has him waking up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, and turned on. He stares up at the bottom of Sawamura’s bunk and thinks about the wood grain and his as of yet unfinished literature homework. It’s a poor attempt at distracting himself, but he’s trying his best.

Thankfully, Sawamura is a sound sleeper and doesn’t stir when Kuramochi gets out of bed, throws on a hoodie and heads outside to clear his head. Kuramochi really needs to stop indulging his fantasies because there is no way he’ll ever get over them if he doesn’t. It’s poor logic at best, but Kuramochi can’t think of anything better.
He makes his way over to the bench by the vending machine so he can sit down and contemplate the poor life choices that have led to a crush on Miyuki Kazuya. It’s a bit overdramatic to consider birth as his first poor life choice, but he is feeling a little overdramatic and more than a little frustrated. So much so that he doesn’t notice Miyuki approaching the bench.

“Someone’s going to think you’re crazy, muttering to yourself like that,” Miyuki says, heavily implying that he is that someone. He snickers and sits down next to Kuramochi, close enough to touch.
A wave of heat rushes through Kuramochi’s veins and he finds himself sweating in the cool evening.
“Takes one to know one, you weirdo,” he bites back, though judging by Miyuki’s laughter, Kuramochi is not wrong.
“What are you doing out here?” Miyuki asks, softer this time. Kuramochi slides further into a slouch on the bench.
“Thinkin’.”
“Must be exhausting. You’ve worked up quite a sweat, there.”
Kuramochi rotates to punch Miyuki in the arm but stops dead when he feels Miyuki’s fingers hovering at his hairline. The touch is tentative and almost painfully gentle as Miyuki brushes Kuramochi’s hair back.

accompanying the sweat, or after, was a sense of heat, headache, delirium, rapid pulse, and intense thirst. palpitation and pain in the heart were frequent symptoms.

First, Kuramochi assumes that he’s hallucinating this entire moment. He’s still in bed, dreaming that Miyuki Kazuya is touching him like he’s precious, and gently pushing his hair back. It takes one look into Miyuki’s eyes to convince Kuramochi that this isn’t a dream, and in realizing this, his heart rate picks up. The silence, and Kuramochi’s incredulity, stretches out for what seems like forever, and Miyuki’s hand drops to his side. He stammers something- Miyuki stammering is enough to upend Kuramochi’s world- and stands.
“Wait!” Kuramochi orders, reaching for the hem of Miyuki’s jacket. “Wait.” He’s barely breathing, and he feels like he’s got a fever, he’s so hot.
“I’m waiting,” Miyuki says quietly. Kuramochi stands, turning Miyuki so they’re face to face. Miyuki looks as vulnerable as Kuramochi feels, like he’s expecting to be chewed out, or worse, rejected. Kuramochi swallows thickly in preparation for what might be the stupidest thing that he will ever do, next to the whole ‘developing a crush on Miyuki’ thing. He grabs the collar of Miyuki’s jacket, rises on his toes, and presses an overenthusiastic kiss to Miyuki’s cheek.

in the final stages, there was either general exhaustion and collapse, or an irresistible urge to sleep.

Kuramochi watches breathlessly as Miyuki lifts his hand to touch his cheek, lips gently parted in surprise. The surprise quickly gives way to a smile that Kuramochi has never seen. It’s lopsided and goofy, but Kuramochi knows it’s genuine. He smiles back, albeit nervously.
“Want to go for a walk?” Miyuki asks, and Kuramochi nods.
Miyuki tentatively reaches for Kuramochi’s hand as they start walking, and even though Kuramochi flushes like he’s been running all afternoon, he tangles their fingers and hangs on tightly.

An hour later, Kuramochi makes his way back to his room thanks to muscle memory; his brain is completely out of commission. He’s elated, relieved, but most of all, emotionally drained. He flops onto his bed, grinning, tired enough to fall asleep immediately.

Re: FILL: TEAM Kominato Ryousuke/Kuramochi Youichi, A1, G

[themorninglark]

KUNIMI IS LIKE A SUNFLOWER REACHING FOR THE SUN WHEN KAGEYAMA IS GONE I'M

I love your Kunimi so much in this ;___; you depict him so tenderly. His contentment in solitude by the beach is such a lovely scene, but what I love most of all is that you turn it around with that line about Kageyama's absence being a physical thing, the third party in their relationship!! what a suckerpunch of a line. I love that Kunimi, who was always fine being alone, has learned to open up enough and let someone else in, to want someone else around and to feel the void that their absence leaves behind. Your Kageyama is so soft here and it's just, such a sweet moment of two very different people fitting together in ways that surprise them both. They're both people who appreciate silence and sincerity, and this moment is full of both <3

Re: FILL: TEAM GRANDSTAND, C3, T

[themorninglark]

THANK YOU i am also always scream over miyas

Re: FILL: TEAM GRANDSTAND, C2, G

[themorninglark]

i'm so glad you like it!! i was so excited to see a kikuro card with such beautiful prompts ;___;

It has always struck me that Kise was the only one to seek out Kuroko and ask him straight up why he left... to try and have a conversation with him about it, to try and understand. And it's that side of Kise I feel Kuroko sees and appreciates as well, that he is more than a pretty face, that he believes in him <3

thank you!!

Re: FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, A2, T

[dynamite]

this sounds like a buchou who has never played a fire emblem game~

FILL: Team Aoyagi Hajime/Koga Kimitaka/Teshima Junta, A3, E

[yusukesjeans]

Ship: Izumida Touichiro/Kishigami Komari
Fandom: Yowamushi Pedal
Major Tags: Sexual content
Other Tags: unprotected sex, rimming
Square: Gluteus Maximus
Word Count: None.

click thumbnail image to go to saso-aferhours and see full image!

***

Re: FILL: TEAM KAGEYAMA TOBIO/OIKAWA TOORU, A2, T

[dynamite]

:')

in a different life, oikawa had a sapphire lance+

Fill: Team Grandstand, B3, M

[babster]

Ship: Bokuto/Kuroo
Fandom: Haikyuu
Major Tags: sexual content (in the lyrics)
Other Tags: cheese, NOT 'total eclipse of the heart' 9 times
Square: bad pick up lines/attempts at flirting
Word Count: none

I hope this works

***

Hey Baybee: A Bokuroo Playlist
1. You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate)
2. The Bad Touch (The Bloodhound Gang)
3. Sex Syrup (Slick Mahoney ft. Yung Humma)
4. I Really Like You (Carly Rae Jepsen)
5. Angel (Shaggy & Rayvon)
6. Always (Erasure)

Fill: Team Aoyagi Hajime/Koga Kimitaka/Teshima Junta, A2, G

[yusukesjeans]

Ship: Arakita Yasutomo/Fukutomi Juichi
Fandom: Yowamushi Pedal
Major Tags: None.
Other Tags: None.
Square: Kiss on the Shin -> Obedience
Word Count: None.

***

Click for full size: http://i.imgur.com/VfnBqYT.jpg

Re: FILL: TEAM KURAMOCHI YOUICHI/MIYUKI KAZUYA, B1, T

[kazuyas]

V THIS IS OVERWHELMINGLY CUTE !!!

FILL: Team Kanzaki Miki/Miyahara, C2, G

[luckycricket33]

Ship: Ayase Eli/Kousaka Honoka
Fandom: Love Live
Major Tags: None
Other Tags: honoeli, cheerleader
Square: Bring It On
Word Count: None

i went the cheerleading movie route
crosspost

***

FILL: Team Imaizumi Shunsuke/Kinjou Shingo, A3, T

[yrindor]

Ship: Kinjou Shingo/Makishima Yuusuke
Fandom: Yowamushi Pedal
Major Tags: none
Other Tags: nudity, disability (deaf character)
Square: Skinny-dipping
Word Count: 411

***

The full moon reflected brightly off of the water as Makishima walked down the beach. The sand was soft underfoot, working its way up between his toes only to be washed away by the waves as they lapped up over his feet. The ocean breeze blew through his hair, briny and salt-tinged, warm, but not cloying and oppressive as it had been indoors.

He followed the curve of the beach until the light from the house was lost behind a sand dune, then set his towel down on dry sand above the water line. His skirt and T-shirt joined it before he walked back down the beach, going farther out into the ocean until the waves were dancing around his waist.

He arched back and let his hair fan out into the water behind him. He would probably regret it later, but it was worth it for the way the currents tugged on it lightly.

He let himself fall back into the water, a wave carrying him back toward the shore until he was floating in the shallow surf and looking up at the stars painting the sky overhead.

It was peaceful in the water, and he didn't have to do anything other than be and take in the sights and smells around him. He basked in it, until a shadow fell over him.

He looked back to Kinjou standing on the shore. Kinjou's hands moved, but between his angle and the dim light, he couldn't make out what Kinjou was saying.

Sighing, he pulled himself up out of the water and cocked his head to the side.

Do you mind if I join you? Kinjou repeated.

If it had been anyone else, Makishima would have protested, but Kinjou was different. Kinjou didn't feel the need for unnecessary conversation; he too was happy just to share in the moment, and so Makishima spread his arms to the water around him and invited Kinjou to shed his clothes as well and join him.

Decided it was too lively inside for you too? Makishima signed.

Kinjou's face creased in a wide smile as he laughed. I'd rather be with you.

Makishima looked away, glad for the relative darkness that hid the color he could feel rising on his cheeks.

A calloused hand under his chin turned his face back, and then he was kissing Kinjou, skin pressing against skin in the moonlight, and suddenly, the night was perfect.