[Orific] Deep Snow

A/N: Happy new year!

My first memory of that day was white snowdrops slowly falling onto me.

I think it was deep into the night judging from the absence of other noises, but strangely enough, I didn't register the coldness. Even though it should have been freezing. I was silent as I laid there on the soft bed made of snow, gazing blankly at the snow petals. It was so pretty. It was mesmerizing. Had I ever seen something as majestic before? No, not really. A scenery as beautiful as this would certainly leave a mark in my memories, yet I could find no such thing. Ah, yes, this was the first. 

And then I blinked. 

"Yo. Good morning, Sleeping Beauty."

A figure. He—or at least I thought it was a he—wore a black cape that shielded his eyes, I could only found his delicate lips and sharp chin from down here. Who? I tried to think with my dull brain, questioning my mute senses about his arrival. I didn't know if I didn't catch him coming my way, as deep in a trance as I had been, or if he had been very silent when he approached me. 

"Hey, hey, you can at least look a bit more surprised, you know," the figure spoke again as he crouched down. He put his chin on one hand, as though he was bored out of his mind as he peered down. "You're no fun."

I blinked.

"Heh, I suppose you're too far gone, huh? This won't even hurt then."

What?

My eyes followed him as he straightened his back with a little heave, as he pulled out a huge scythe seemingly out of nowhere, as his small lips curved beautifully into a smirk. When he readied his scythe, though, for a milisecond his cape was pulled back and I could spot two sparkling crimson eyes. It was then I understood. Not with my dull brain and mute senses, no. I understood with my whole soul.

He was my Death.

Such a long-awaited reunion. Too bad it would be gone in another second, don't you think? But I was satisfied, I had no complaint. At the last moment, I was able to stretch my own lips into a small smile too.

Hello, Death.

[Orific] Serah

If I showed you my flaws

If I couldn't be strong

Tell me honestly: would you still love me the same?

[Locked away - R. City ft. Adam Levine]

Ini kesalahan. Tidak seharusnya aku melewati ruang kelas itu beberapa menit yang lalu. Tidak seharusnya aku memasang telinga baik-baik hanya karena guru favoritku itu yang sedang berdiri di depan murid-murid. Tidak seharusnya aku menginterpretasikan kata-kata beliau dalam artian seperti ini. Salah, semuanya salah. Kenapa aku melakukannya?

Sembari menatap kosong tembok kotor yang membatasi halaman belakang sekolah, aku mengulang-ulang perkataan Pak Surya yang kutangkap dari balik dinding ruang kelas yang kulewati saat akan menuju kamar kecil. Seperti biasa, ketika melewati ruang-ruang kelas aku selalu mengawasi siapa guru yang sedang mengajar dan bagaimana situasi di dalam kelas tersebut. Kadang aku membaca tulisan yang berhamburan di papan tulis. Kadang pula aku memperlambat langkah dan ikut mendengarkan ceramah bapak-ibu guru. Dan, hal itu pulalah yang kulakukan saat melewati ruang kelas 12-Bahasa-1, di mana kulihat guru bahasa Indonesia favoritku sedang bersuara.

Pak Surya adalah lelaki berperawakan kurus tinggi, dengan rambut menipis yang dibiarkan tumbuh sedikit panjang sampai leher. Gara-gara rambut panjangnya ini, beliau menguarkan aura yang 'nyastra banget'. Ditambah lagi, beliau selalu punya kisah yang seru dan menstimulasi otak di tiap jam pelajarannya. Aku sangat menyukai guru bahasa Indonesia satu ini.

Oleh dasar ketertarikan itulah, tanpa pikir panjang aku berusaha mendengarkan kisah apa yang tengah dibagikan beliau untuk murid-murid kali ini. Beberapa kalimat pertama tidak kupahami sama sekali, karena aku tidak menemukan konteksnya, tapi satu kalimat berhasil membuatku terpaku.

“Kalau begini terus, lebih baik saya keluar saja dari sekolah ini.”

Sedikit panik, aku mendekatkan telinga ke dinding. (Tentu saja sambil tetap menyembunyikan diri. Tidak lucu kalau aku ketahuan menguping suasana kelas lain di saat aku seharusnya sedang menghitung sin dan cos.) Aku memang pernah mendengar desas-desus bahwa Pak Surya mulai memikirkan untuk mundur dari jabatannya saat ini, tapi dengan alasan apa, aku dan teman-temanku tidak pernah tahu. Ini tentunya jadi kesempatan emas untuk mendapatkan informasi.

“Dari sekian tahun yang lalu, dengan pemimpin sekolah yang berbeda-beda, sekolah ini tetap saja tidak mengalami kemajuan. Kesejahteraan gurunya masih dipertanyakan. Kurikulum berantakan. Murid-murid tidak diperhatikan secara memadai. Padahal saya sudah berusaha untuk membantu, memberikan aspirasi—tapi kalau tidak ada niatan berubah, mau bagaimana lagi? Lebih baik saya pergi.”

Oh Tuhan. Pak Surya merasa tidak puas dengan sekolah ini? Tidak berubah, maksudnya apa? Rasanya sekolahku baik-baik saja... Memang ada saat-saat di mana aku merasa tidak nyaman dengan berbagai kebijakan sekolah, tapi apakah seburuk itu di mata Pak Surya? Aku menarik napas dalam-dalam.

“Lihat saja, sudah berapa tahun sekolah ini absen dalam berbagai perlombaan. Lomba pidato tempo hari saja tidak menang, padahal dua tahun kemarin kita juara nasional. Di mana semangat memperbaiki diri dari sekolah ini?”

Hatiku mencelos. Lidahku kelu. Napasku tersendat.

Peserta lomba pidato yang gagal mempertahankan kemenangan beruntun sekolah kami, itu aku.

Segera aku memacu langkahku. Menjauh. Tidak ingin mendengarkan lebih lanjut. Secara otomatis tubuhku sampai di halaman belakang sekolah, yang sepi senyap karena ini masih jam pelajaran. Dengan napas terengah, yang lebih dikarenakan syok daripada lelah setelah berlari, aku menyandarkan punggung di salah satu sudut. Setelah berdiam diri beberapa saat pun, napasku masih putus-putus. Dadaku masih sakit. Ucapan Pak Surya masih terngiang.

“Karena aku kalah,” sadarku. “Karena aku gagal.”

Pak Surya yang kukagumi, beliau ingin pergi, karena aku tidak berguna. Aku sudah mengecewakan guru-guruku, teman-temanku, bahkan kakak-kakak kelasku yang tahun lalu maupun dua tahun lalu memenangkan lomba pidato tersebut. Aku tidak serius dalam berlatih. Aku tidak bersungguh-sungguh saat mempersiapkan diri. Aku tidak memberikan yang terbaik ketika tampil.

Karena aku kalah, Pak Surya akan meninggalkan kami.

Aah, kalau saja waktu bisa berputar kembali. Aku ingin memutar balik waktu. Aku ingin mengulang lagi penampilanku di lomba pidato. Mungkin dengan demikian aku bisa melakukan yang lebih baik. Atau mungkin hasilnya akan sama saja. Isi pidatoku tidak sebagus itu. Kenapa aku memilih tema abstrak untuk pidatoku sih?

Aah, kalau saja waktu bisa berputar kembali. Aku ingin memutar balik waktu. Aku ingin mengulang lagi waktu pembuatan naskah pidato. Mungkin dengan demikian aku bisa membuat yang lebih bagus. Atau mungkin hasilnya akan sama saja. Kemampuanku tidak sebaik itu. Kenapa aku mendaftarkan diri untuk lomba ini sih?

Aah, kalau saja waktu bisa berputar kembali. Aku ingin memutar balik waktu. Aku ingin mengulang lagi saat pendaftaran peserta lomba pidato dibuka. Dengan demikian aku tidak usah mendaftar. Dengan demikian siswa lain yang akan berkompetisi. Dengan demikian siswa lain yang akan tampil dalam lomba, memberikan yang terbaik, dan membanggakan sekolah.

Dengan demikian tidak ada yang perlu pergi dari sekolah ini.

Hanya saja, aku tidak bisa memutar balik waktu. Menyadari hal ini, aku menggigit bibir kuat-kuat. Membiarkan rasa sakitnya berputar di otak. Agar aku bisa mengabaikan panasnya mataku, basahnya pipiku, gemetarnya tubuhku. Rasa sakit bagus. Kalau tidak bisa memutar balik waktu, setidaknya aku bisa menerima sakit. Bukankah aku patut dihukum karena sudah mempermalukan almamater? Benar. Bagaimana kalau sekalian menghilang saja? Ada di sini pun aku tidak berguna untuk siapapun.

Biar aku yang pergi.

Aku tidak kuat menahan sakit ini.

Laughing, laughing, until my cheeks start to hurt

So that I don't betray the dreams we saw that day

Singing, singing, until my chest feels tight

So that I don't betray the expectations again

[Forty-seven - Mikito-P]

[Orific] Hancur: A Sequel

Suara hujan. Tik-tik-tik, makin deras, lalu angin, tik-tik-tik, kaca jendela basah kuyup. Aku basah kuyup. Berlindung di bawah atap ala kadarnya di depan sembarang toko, aku masih menjadi sasaran empuk tetesan air hujan yang terbawa angin kencang. Dingin. Aku mulai menggigil. Kepalaku pening.

'Seharusnya tadi aku pulang lebih cepat,' sesalku. Bodoh karena sudah menunggu sampai awan mendung berkumpul sedemikian pekat, tolol karena mengabaikan cakaran angin dingin yang membawa bau hujan dari jauh. 'Seharusnya aku pulang lebih cepat,' ulangku dalam hati. Bukan malah bersikeras menanti munculnya seorang lelaki yang tidak memberi kabar. Dan lebih bodohnya lagi, dalam kondisi begini, aku malah mengecek ponsel dengan harapan melihat notifikasi pesan masuk dari yang kutunggu.

Nihil. Mataku bergeser sedikit ke arah empat digit angka di sisi atas kanan layar. Satu jam lewat dari waktu janjian. Aku ingin tersenyum tapi bibirku malah bergetar karena dingin. Aku mengusap mata karena seperti ada air mata di sana, tapi hanya dinginnya hujan yang kurasa. Satu jam dan aku masih mencoba percaya pada lelaki itu. Aah, bodoh, bodoh.

'Hiiragi Maki, kau benar-benar goblok,' aku memarahi diri sendiri. Hanya saja, mengatakan hal itu rasanya sudah terlalu klise—aku tidak tertarik meneruskan. Mari alihkan perhatian saja.

Sambil menarik anak rambut yang jatuh ke depan mata, aku mulai menghitung-hitung. Probabilitas terbesar aku baru akan sampai di rumah sekitar pukul enam, atau tujuh kalau aku tidak beruntung. Nanti aku mau berendam air hangat yang lama. Sepertinya aku masih punya lilin aromaterapi yang sangat kusukai itu, jadi aku akan menyalakannya juga. Setelah puas, aku bisa langsung ke tempat tidur karena semua pekerjaan untuk besok sudah kusiapkan sebelumnya. Sekali-sekali tidur sebelum jam sembilan boleh lah, apalagi rasanya aku lelah sekali. Mungkin satu bab novel misteri itu sebelum benar-benar terlelap. Yap, rencana bagus.

Oh, aku juga harus menelepon Shou-kun besok pagi.

Perlahan aku berjongkok lalu memeluk lutut. Tidak punya energi untuk sekedar menangis.

.:.:.

“Shou-kun. Ini Maki. Kemarin kamu tidak datang... Jadi kapan aku bisa menemuimu? Kamu tahu, untuk membentakmu habis-habisan? Karena aku marah. Marah sungguhan.”

Pip. Pagi ini, ponsel Shou-kun masih tidak bisa dihubungi. Akhirnya aku meninggalkan pesan saja, karena aku tahu ada kemungkinan Shou-kun hanya menghindar dan sengaja tidak mengangkat teleponku. Pesan yang bodoh, pula. Seharusnya kan aku langsung memarahinya, terang-terangan mengatakan kalau aku sakit hati setelah dia melanggar janjinya. Maki yang biasanya pasti bisa menyampaikan rasa kesalnya dalam beberapa kalimat pedas, dan Shou-kun akan meminta maaf lalu mentraktir sushi—bam, kondisi kembali seperti sedia kala.

Masalahnya, aku lelah. Terlalu lelah untuk berbicara dengan berapi-api. Terlalu penat untuk mulai berbicara dengan Shou-kun tentang dinginnya pertemanan kami belakangan ini. Menyalahkan diri sendiri rasanya beribu kali lipat lebih mudah. Aku tinggal melemparkan kata-kata tanpa suara pada orang di dalam cermin itu. Toh dia menerima dengan sepenuh hati. Bahkan tidak berusaha mendengarkan logika. Lihat, lebih mudah, tidak perlu tenaga. Aku sudah kehabisan tenaga.

Orang di dalam cermin itu menatap kosong. Padahal semalam tidurku nyenyak. Begitu bangun, aku sadar energiku sama sekali tidak kembali.

Maka sekali lagi aku menyalahkan diri sendiri.

A/N: I'm sorry again, Maki. You have to bear the burdens again.

[Orific] Hancur

Aku mendecakkan lidah dengan kesal. Kedua mata sibuk berputar-putar memindai seluruh penjuru taman, tanpa hasil karena kepala rambut merah yang dicari tidak kunjung ketemu. Padahal aku sudah menunggu sejak, entahlah, tiga puluh menit yang lalu? Tempat ini berangin, aku lupa memakai jaket yang lebih tebal, dan orang yang kutunggu masih belum menunjukkan batang hidungnya. Bagus. Aku mengusap kedua pipiku sebal.

Sekali lagi aku mengeluarkan ponsel dari saku dan mengecek notifikasi. Masih belum ada pesan masuk. Saat kulihat pesan terakhir yang kukirim, juga belum ada tanda pesan telah dibaca. Desah panjang dan berat meninggalkan hidungku, sementara aku mengembalikan ponsel ke tempat semula. Tidak ada kabar, tidak ada tanda-tanda kehidupan. Memangnya ke mana cowok satu itu? Aku tahu dia bukan tipe yang mengecek notifikasinya setiap menit (Iya, beda seratus delapan puluh derajat denganku.), tapi dengan kondisi sedang ada janji ketemu, bukannya wajar kalau melihat ponsel barang sekilas?

Tiga puluh lima menit. Angin masih berembus tanpa henti, dan aku mulai merasa putus asa. Tumbuh keinginan dalam lubuk hati untuk melupakan janji ini dan pulang saja, mendekam di balik selimut sambil membaca novel. Tapi, ah, aku ingin bertemu. Jujur, aku ingin bertemu dengannya. Selama libur musim panas dia tidak di Yokohama, sementara aku terpaksa tinggal karena kerja sambilan. Aku kangen. Makanya aku buat janji bertemu begitu tahu bahwa dia sudah kembali ke kota ini.

Tapi sepertinya yang kangen hanya pihakku. Pikiran-pikiran buruk mulai bertunas. Jangan-jangan dia bohong saat bilang sudah kembali. Jangan-jangan pacarnya datang ke apartemennya duluan, jadi dia tidak bisa (atau tidak mau) pergi memenuhi janji denganku. Jangan-jangan, jangan-jangan...

Napasku memendek. Seperti ingin menangis, tapi tidak bisa. Seperti ingin berteriak, tapi tidak bisa. Pada akhirnya, yang bertahan hanyalah rasa pasrah dan putus asa ini. Perih dan pahit kutelan saat menengadah, memperhatikan awan yang bergerak berkumpul perlahan. Sepertinya akan hujan. Aku harus pulang.

Maka aku meninggalkan taman itu, dengan senyum tipis yang seperti pilu.

A/N: Hiiragi Maki, I'm sorry I put this burden on you.

[Fanfic] Delirium

Title: Delirium
Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII
Character: Lightning (Claire Farron), Hope Estheim
Rating: T
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy XIII is property of Square Enix. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction
Warning: reincarnation!AU, trigger warning.

[Fanfic] [RivaMika Week 5] Flowers, flowers

Title: Flowers, flowers (RivaMika Week Cycle 5)

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin
Character: Levi, Mikasa Ackerman
Rating: T
Genre: Romance, Angst
Disclaimer: Shingeki no Kyojin is property of Isayama Hajime. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: ???? setting

Roses, jasmines… She sighed. That man was certainly not a flowers man, so picking a kind of flower for him had proved difficult. Not that he would be able to complain or anything, but she liked to be a little perfectionist. Just like how he taught her well. Even if it’s as trivial as picking flowers.

Now back to matters at hand. Roses were too obvious for him. Should she go with old way lilies? Maybe forget-me-nots? Ah, now she felt very unknowable about flowers, even though she’s a female. Maybe she should ask for references to Sasha. Or Armin, because that guy seemed to know everything on this planet, including flowers. But asking would bust her plan to go in secret. She sighed again. She needed to have faith in her own choice, then.

Ah. Another nostalgic lesson from the Captain.

Picking a bunch of lilies, Mikasa went to the cashier and paid for her purchase, then walked the familiar path to the cemetery, where his tombstone waiting to be visited.

[Fanfic] [RivaMika Week 5] Peanut Butter

Title: Peanut Butter (RivaMika Week Cycle 5)

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin
Character: Levi, Mikasa Ackerman
Rating: T
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Shingeki no Kyojin is property of Isayama Hajime. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: in-canon

Levi leaned back heavily on the farthest wall from the people crowding around an apparently sleeping girl on a bed in the medical bay. He could see distress and concern on their faces, especially the two boys who sat closest to the bed. They didn’t look like leaving any time soon, but it’s getting late and Levi would have none of that.

“Oi, brats. It’s almost your curfew so you’d better get your asses outta here,” he commanded in loud, crystal clear voice. The cadets flinched at that, and though they seemed unwilling, they obeyed and left the bay. Except the two special cases. Levi sighed. He should’ve expected this.

“Look,” he said, finally pushing his body off the wall to the blond and brunette. “I know you two are worried about Mikasa, but Hanji already said she’s gonna be okay. She’s just working the toxic out of her body, which is why she needs all the rest she can have. You hanging around here won’t help her, you know.”

Armin nodded hesitantly. “Yes, but…”

“No buts. You’re leaving, or you’ll have ten more laps to run tomorrow,” Levi commanded, almost irritated, but keeping his voice low in concern of the sleeping girl. With the level of finality in his words, Armin knew there’s no way around it. He silently pulled Eren’s arm, who actually looked almost ready to faint (he had had a rough day with Hanji’s experiments so Levi couldn’t really blame him), and left.

Now alone with the female cadet, Levi pulled the chair Armin just vacated closer to the bed and sat down.

“Thanks.”

The small, feminine voice cutting through the silence did not surprise him. “Huh. I was beginning to wonder when you’ll drop the act.”

Mikasa shot him a look but conceded. “They wouldn’t leave if they knew I’m awake.”

“Right.” The captain assessed her face thoroughly. “So how are you feeling?”

“Still a little hard to breathe, but overall I’m fine. Just like you said, my body’s in middle of working out the toxic.”

Levi nodded. “That’s good.” He watched her fingers play with the covers for a little while, then added, “I didn’t know you’re allergic to nuts.”

Avoiding his gaze, Mikasa muttered to the ceiling, “I never told anyone. Not even Eren and Armin.”
Judging by her tone, that was all the answer she would provide him, but Levi understood her well enough. She did not like having a weakness. What a stubborn girl.

“So I just need to poison you with peanut butter if you annoy me, huh,” he sneered.

[Fanfic] [RivaMika Week 5] ゆうき

Title: ゆうき (RivaMika Week Cycle 5)

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin
Character: Levi, Mikasa Ackerman
Rating: T
Genre: Romance, Family
Disclaimer: Shingeki no Kyojin is property of Isayama Hajime. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: AU... or future-fic. ゆうき means courage.

“Papa!”

Levi stopped wiping his blades as a little girl ran and practically jumped into his lap. She carefully avoided contact with the stuffs in her father’s hands though; she had found out they were dangerous and harmful, the hard way.

“Papa, Mama said you have holiday for the whole next week. Is it true?”

Levi put his blades away and patted the girl’s head affectionately. “Yeah. We can celebrate your birthday together, Yuuki.” The little girl let out a series of adorable giggle, clearly pleased that both of her parents would be there for her birthday. She squealed an ‘I love you, Papa!’, hugged him tightly, then hopped off to run elsewhere, presumably to her favorite playground where her peers were waiting.

Sighing, Levi stood up with his blades in hand. He walked to his (and his wife’s) bedroom in silent strides, stopping only a moment to store the weapons in a case near the wall. Once he entered the room, he spotted his woman combing her slightly wet hair in front of a mirror. She flicked her eyes to him over the mirror, the only sign of her acknowledgement.

“Hey,” he said, leaning against the door.

“Hey,” she replied evenly, her back still facing him.

“When the hell did our Yuuki get so energetic like that? Last time I checked, she’s a sweet silent girl.”

Mikasa laughed softly. “Lately she’s taken a liking to Sasha.”

“Huh. Figures.”

“She’s still a sweet girl though. She helps with house chores.”

This time it’s Levi’s turn to snort. “I know. I just kind of prefer the silent-but-strong types.”

Putting the comb on her dresser, Mikasa turned her body to face her husband. A glint of mischief mixed with mirth crossed her eyes. “Sounds like someone we know.”

[Fanfic] [RivaMika Week 5] Fireplace

Title: Fireplace (RivaMika Week Cycle 5)

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin
Character: Levi, Mikasa Ackerman
Rating: T
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Shingeki no Kyojin is property of Isayama Hajime. I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: AU, corresponds with the previous piece, though not necessarily the immediate continuation

It’s warm. She felt comfortably warm, and she clutched the blanket covering her form more tightly, not wanting to let go of this warmth. After that Mikasa blinked several times, trying to be fully awake and assess her surrounding. The room she was in was dark, save for the dancing fire in the fireplace near her. So that’s the source of this warmth. But she frowned deeply at the unfamiliar fireplace, the unfamiliar couch she was sleeping on, and the unfamiliar room altogether. Where could she be?

 “Oi. You’re awake?”

Levi, her mind screamed suddenly. And then memories came rushing in. Last night, unlike any other night after doing their ritual in the cafe, Levi took her to his apartment and they kissed and finally united right there in front of that very fireplace. She must have fallen asleep soon after and was moved to this couch by Levi. These memories was supported further by the newly found fact that she was bare under the blanket. We had sex, she marveled almost dreamingly.

But her train of thought was stopped by Levi’s finger flicking her forehead. “Still dreaming?”

“Hey!” she swatted his hand away, then sat up while keeping the blanket secure around her form. “What time is it?”

“Just before dawn. We have about an hour before we need to leave.” He sat down, passing the mug he was nursing to her. “Did you sleep good?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

Then they let the moment melt into beautiful silence, listening to the periodic crackles of the fire and the telltale chirps of early birds outside. Mikasa sighed as she drank the warm liquid in his mug—cinnamon tea, she found out smugly. While she drank his tea slowly, Levi kept his eyes on her. Slowly he leaned in, whispering hotly into her ear, “Do you want to do it again before leaving?”

Fighting a furious blush on her cheeks, Mikasa nodded and placed the mug on the coffee table. “We need to be quick, though. I still need to stop by my place to change. I don’t want to go to work wearing clothes from yesterday,” she smirked.

“No problem.” With that, Levi pulled her closer and kissed her passionately.

[Fanfic] [RivaMika Week 5] Cinnamon

Title: Cinnamon (RivaMika Week Cycle 5)
Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin
Characters: Levi, Mikasa Ackerman
Rating: K+
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Shingeki no Kyojin and all its characters are property of Isayama Hajime. I do not own and I do not gain any profit from this work.
Warning: AU; Levi as the owner of a tea cafe, Mikasa as the administrator who actually runs it. Originally posted on tumblr.

He handed her a cup of tea along with a small plate of bite-sized rolls.

It’s almost midnight, but both of them were still wide awake, busy with their own businesses with occasional flying remarks between them, giving the air of comfortable silence. It had become some kind of ritual of them: Levi would fumble around with his teacups and kettles and measuring devices to make new tea recipes, while Mikasa would sit on one of the bar stools with documents and a calculator in hand. He would slide a cup of tea to her without a word, and she would immediately drink it slowly, then give comments about the flavor or suggestions for side dishes that go along with the tea.

Tonight was no exception to such ritual. Mikasa picked the cup carefully. “What is it this time?”

“Cinnamon.”

A thin eyebrow curved up. “Cinnamon?” It was unusual, she thought. She did not say anything else, though, knowing the talk-less-do-more attitude of her partner, and brought the rim of teacup to her lips. A sip and she was trying to contain her smile. The mild spiciness accompanied with a rush of sweet left a tingling aftertaste on her tongue. Besides, the flavor was quite strong, unlike his usual creations, which let her know he must be trudging outside his safe zone. “It’s cinnamon all right,” she simply stated.

“And I’m a clean freak,” he retorted back. She could tell the older man was getting antsy from the clipped tone he used. Levi frowned at the girl. “Seriously, how was it?”

“It was good. Young, over-energetic teenagers will like it.”

Levi actually exhaled, seemingly relieved. “And why is that?” he stepped out of the counter to sit on the bar stool next her her. Propping one of his elbow on the smooth surface, he let his body slouch a bit while facing her way.

Taking another sip from her teacup, Mikasa smiled to herself. “I just know, Owner. Or do you doubt  the foresight of this cafe manager of yours? Not that I’m trying to remind you that I practically pulled this cafe out from the mud and made it run smoothly again.” That she did, and she liked to gloat only to tip him off, because before she appeared he did not care about the administration or management shits about running a cafe.

“So you saved my ass, girl, so what?” Already getting used to the way she smiled smugly, he smirked. “But no, this cinnamon tea is not going to be on the menu.”

Mikasa let out a startled gasp. “What? Why?”

“It’s a special flavor. Only for you.”

[Fanfiction] [RivaMika Week 5] Fruity

Title: Fruity (RivaMika Week Cycle 5)
Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin
Characters: Levi, Mikasa Ackerman
Rating: K+
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: Shingeki no Kyojin and all its characters are property of Isayama Hajime. I do not own and I do not gain any profit from this work.
Warning: AU.

There was a beautiful woman down the fresh fruits aisle. No, no, not that Levi was eyeing a random woman while shopping, nor was he a desperate bachelor getting impatient in search of his Juliet, but this woman just kind of stood out in the crowd. There was no way not to look at her. She was tall. Her fiery red scarf looked good on her, accentuating her midnight black hair and plain white dress. Levi knew he was practically staring, if not ogling, but he couldn’t stop. At least he managed to keep a straight face… he thought.

After a few while taking her time inspecting some oranges and limes then placing them in her cart, the woman finally moved on. And just his luck or something, she walked right at his direction, to the frozen meat section.

Levi Ackerman did not falter. No. The sausage just slipped out from his hand. That’s all. And no, no, he certainly, and absolutely, did not do it to catch the beautiful woman’s attention.

If she decided to help him pick it up, it was just another lucky strike. If he could breathe in her fresh, lemony scent from their close distance, then it was surely another lucky strike.

So don’t you dare tell him otherwise.

Berdamai

"Pada akhirnya, aku bisa berdamai dengan diriku sendiri." Gadis itu menatap jauh ke horizon, senyumnya tipis dengan jejak-jejak luka yang ditanggungnya sendiri selama bertahun-tahun. Itu senyum seorang pejuang, yang garis antara menang dan kalah terburamkan oleh masa kini. Tangan kirinya meremas bagian depan bajunya, bagian yang berada tepat di atas jantung. "Karena kalau tidak, aku pasti hancur."

Sekarang gadis itu berdiam diri. Dia tidak terlihat bangga ketika mengatakan sudah berdamai dengan dirinya sendiri. Dia hanya terlihat lelah. Mungkin berdamai tidak sama artinya dengan memenangkan pertempuran, aku menyadari. Mungkin iblis dalam hatinya masih ada di sana, membara menyerang isi tubuhnya hingga mengelupas, hingga bernanah. Tapi tak lagi dia melawan. Dia memilih untuk menjilat luka itu dalam diam dan menunggu hingga sang iblis berhenti, baru kemudian dia bisa berdiri tegak dan melangkah maju lagi.

Dia bukan gadis yang luar biasa, apalagi sempurna, tapi bagiku dia punya kilauan tersendiri. Aku tahu gadis itu selalu berusaha untuk mendengarkan kisah dari teman-temannya, menguatkan mereka, menemani mereka ketika tangis melanda--sementara dia sendiri selalu bersikap seolah tidak ada masalah. Ada waktu di mana aku menunggu gadis itu datang padaku, untuk menceritakan keluh kesahnya, tapi tidak pernah hal itu terjadi. Dia selalu berhasil mengenali kekurangannya sendiri, dan berhasil mengatasi masalah-masalahnya sendiri. Dia bukan gadis yang kuat, tapi jelas dia tidak lemah.

Aku melihat senyumnya yang masih setipis tadi, dengan napas yang sedikit bergetar, dan aku terpesona.

[Fanfic] But You Were A Lie

Title: But You Were A Lie

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Lightning Farron, Hope Estheim
Rating: K
Genre: General
Disclaimer: I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: OOC, set sometime during LR, see A/N below.

I was just a lie, a fake. But the feelings became real.

I love you. I always have.

--Serah to Lightning in LR

He reached out to take her hand, but she flinched and swatted him away, almost defensively, and he could only smile in sadness. He understood. He could imagine the whirlwind of emotions in her more-than-human body, turning and throwing things into disarray, into dismay. He could understand if she got wary of him now, if she hadn't before.

He was no longer the man she once knew during their l'Cie times, after all. Rather, that man never even existed. Hope Estheim had never been there.

“Light,” he whispered. Beaten and admitting loss. “I...”

The rose-haired woman closed her eyes. Hearing that voice would destroy her again, again, again— “Leave,” she said between gritted teeth. “Leave, NOW!”

She was broken, she was shattered, she was not hiding the sound of her heart falling into unmendable pieces on the floor. It took everything in him not to rush toward her. He felt a lone drop of tear on his cheek as he wished that Hope Estheim, the real Hope Estheim wherever that dead existence might be, he prayed so hard that Hope Estheim would appear this instant to soothe the pain away from his most beloved woman.

Hope Estheim's existence was a lie.

Then was this terrible in his chest a lie too?

A/N:

[headcanon where Bhunivelze killed Hope after extracting his memories, and then made a copy of him. This copy is the Hope that Light sees in LR. He was made by God and was given memories, but not a soul. In the end, because this fake!Hope studied the memories thoroughly to be able to interact naturally with Light, he fell in love with Light too. Very similar to Serah's case.

By the way, as continuation from this drabble, I also have a headcanon that real!Hope's soul has always been in the chaos, because he was killed and already dead before Light awoke, so he could be reborn safely. Not sure if this headcanon will make its way into a real piece of writing tho.]

[I HATE MYSELF FOR WRITING ANGST FOR MY OTP]

[Fanfic] Limbo In You

Title: Limbo In You

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Hope Estheim, Lightning Farron, Rose-Haired Phantom?
Rating: K
Genre: General
Disclaimer: I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: read A/N below.

Another dream. Dreaming meant seeing her, the rose-haired phantom that always carried sadness in her eyes somehow. And Hope was beginning to learn more about this woman, while she seemed to know everything there was to know about him in the first place. How she did it, though, he would never know.

When the darkness of sleep slowly changed into stark whiteness, he would always find her standing straight in the center of this realm. (He began to call this his personal dream realm, located inside his head, the dark parts not yet discovered by humanity. She didn't complain.) Just like tonight. She was there, as if she had been waiting for him in the deepest recess of his mind during the day. Her face was devoid of any emotion but her eyes were soft.

They didn't say anything at first. Eyes met eyes, ocean blue to sea foam green, reading each other. He finally gave up, a little too quickly, in favor of his unstoppable curiosity.

“What are you?”

The rose-haired phantom showed a small smile on the corner of her full lips. It was almost parody, he realized, because once upon a time he asked who she was. (Back when he was younger, feeble, new to this woman.)

“I am a being,” she started, a little unsure at first, but regaining confidence then, “that only exist inside you.”

He frowned. “Why me?” he asked softly.

“...you shall find out in time. For now, just believe that this is not something I could control myself.”

“Then, are you real?”

A second of silence ensued as the woman in military uniform turned her eyes away from his. “As real as you are... I think.”

“You think? That's not very convincing, you know.”

“I know,” she turned around. “Even to me, it doesn't feel real. But I'm here, I'm still here, so it means I still exist, real.” Hope noticed her shoulders were shaking a bit before she clenched her fist tightly.

“Please, Hope, don't forget about me.”

A/N: 

So this is just a quick fanfic, not really meant to be continued. The main point here is Hope was reborn into the new world.. while Light wasn't. Something went wrong or something, and her soul ended up inside Hope's body instead of her own body. That's why she was real, a separate being from Hope, but she could only exist inside his mind. It's weird, I know, but I guess I got ahead of myself lol.

[Fanfic] Love's Way Home

Title: Love's Way Home

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Fandom: Final Fantasy XIII Series
Character: Hope Estheim, Lightning Farron
Rating: K+
Genre: Family
Disclaimer: I do not own the series and the characters, and I do not gain any profit from this fanfiction

Warning: err way after the end of Lightning Returns I think?

It was a long, windy road. Or, at least that's what he felt. Although the clockhand had only moved for three stripes, and the weather was still as wonderful as possible, he felt that going home was long overdue. Especially after spending a day at work. Coming home to the warm smell of coffee and a hug from tiny hands was always the best remedy for work-induced weariness, he reasoned.

When he finally arrived at the front door of Estheim residence, his heart pounded loudly on his ears in anticipation. He couldn't wait to kiss his beautiful wife. He couldn't wait to hold his precious daughter. He couldn't wait to be with his family.

He turned the doorknob slowly. Oh yes, he could imagine the pink hair of the most gorgeous woman in his life and the cheerful laugh of the little girl in her arms. Just a little bit more—

And Hope forced a smile as he greeted the picture of smiling Claire and little Nora Estheim on the altar.

“I'm home.”

A/N: so this stemmed from a prompt my friend gave me (casually during class, lol). It was "ai no kaerimichi (love's way home). I guess she wanted something sweet but I'M SORRY THIS TURNED INTO ANGST I'M SORRY even though this is my first contribuation to the fandom................

so yeah, folks. this pair is my newest obsession for a while already.

[Fanfic] Satu di Antara Sejuta

Title: Satu di Antara Sejuta

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme

Fandom: Umineko No Naku Koro Ni

Character: Ushiromiya Ange, Amakusa Juuza

Rating: K

Genre: General

Disclaimer: Umineko No Naku Koro Ni and its characters are properties of Ryukishi07. I do not receive any profit from this fictional work.

Warning: an AU where Ange and Amakusa are perfectly strangers

Summary: Satu lompatan. Satu mobil yang sedang terparkir. Satu kebetulan, dan segalanya berubah.

-story start-

Derap kaki gadis itu semakin lambat. Napasnya mulai tersengal, dan otot kakinya mulai menjerit. Dia memang tidak pernah terlalu berbakat di bidang olahraga, apalagi yang tipe lari sprint seperti ini. (Dia tidak pernah terlalu berbakat di bidang apapun.) Tapi dia tidak bisa berhenti. Tidak sekarang. Tanpa menoleh pun dia tahu, para pengejarnya sudah mendekat. Sembari terus berlari otak gadis itu berputar cepat. Dia harus mencari jalan keluar yang tidak melibatkan lebih banyak aktivitas fisik, lebih disukai apabila dia bisa menghentikan laju para pengejarnya itu.

Saat itulah dia melihat pintu darurat di ujung koridor.

Otomatis otaknya membentuk persamaan mudah: pintu darurat = keluar gedung = jalan keluar.

Tanpa ragu gadis itu mendorong pintu darurat yang membawanya langsung ke tangga darurat yang berada di sisi luar gedung. Tangga besi itu menimbulkan bunyi berisik ketika dia berlari meniti anak tangga satu per satu. Namun sayangnya, baru beberapa anak tangga terlewati, pintu darurat tadi menjeblak terbuka memuntahkan rombongan laki-laki berjas hitam yang mengejarnya. Dalam sekejap gadis itu menyadari kesalahan dalam perhitungannya. Tangga jelas bukan cara terbaik untuk melarikan diri.

Suara mobil yang berderum pelan memecah konsentrasinya. Refleks, gadis itu menoleh ke bawah, di mana sebuah mobil sedan silver sedang terparkir manis tepat di bawah posisinya saat itu.

Sebuah ide muncul.

Gadis itu berhenti berlari. Dengan mata hijau cemerlang dia menatap lekat satu laki-laki pengerjarnya yang berada paling depan. Satu tarikan napas dalam-dalam, dan gadis itu berkata, “ja na.”

Lalu ia melompat melewati pagar pembatas.

.:.:.

Lelaki berambut perak itu menguap lebar-lebar. Entah sudah berapa lama dia menunggu bosnya di dalam mobil sedan itu. Bos? Ah, klien sepertinya lebih tepat. Dia bukan tipe orang yang punya atasan.

Ngomong-ngomong, bagaimana perjanjiannya tadi? Hari ini dia akan dapat tugas baru, sejauh itu dia paham. Tapi kenapa dia masih di sini, kebosanan setengah mati, dan bukannya menemui kliennya? Atau lebih baik lagi, langsung bertemu dengan orang yang akan dia lindungi mulai hari ini. (Lagipula dengar-dengar, anak baru itu gadis muda yang cantik.)

Kadang, pekerjaan sebagai bodyguard itu sungguh membosankan. (Tapi bayarannya bagus. Jelas ini ladang penghasilan yang tidak bisa dilewatkan.)

Suasana damai di dalam mobil terusik ketika ada suara keras dari arah atap. Bukan hanya itu, lelaki itu jelas merasakan getaran di seluruh badan mobil. “Apa-apaan—”

Sebelum dia sempat membuka pintu, seorang gadis berambut merah turun dari atap mobil. (Oh, hei, roknya pendek sekali. Hm? Dia turun dari atap?)

Dan gadis itu seenaknya masuk ke dalam, duduk tenang di bangku penumpang seolah-olah dialah si empunya mobil.

“Jalan,” perintah gadis itu pendek, memanfaatkan kondisi si lelaki yang masih terpana. Sesungguhnya lelaki itu ingin menolak, mengusir gadis itu keluar—tapi sepasang mata hijau cemerlang yang tajam menusuk itu seolah menghipnotisnya.

Lelaki berambut perak itu segera menurunkan rem tangan dan menginjak pedal gas, diiringi desahan pelan dari gadis bermata hijau.

Inilah pertemuan pertama Ushiromiya Ange dan Amakusa Juuza.

-end-

A/N : rusty writing skill is rusty. Saya harus mulai membiasakan diri untuk menulis setiap hari lagi. Entah mengapa kebiasaan itu dulu terhenti. Akibatnya sekarang saya webe dalam menulis makalah untuk assignment huhu.

Anyway, I still love Umineko. Dan baru inget kalo selain OTP (Battler/Beato), saya juga nge-ship Amakusa/Ange! Saking minoritasnya mereka, sampai saya sendiri lupa -__-" I may or may not be continuing this AU into a drabble series.

[Orific] Do You Love Him?

Father's piercing gaze unsettled me. In his kind, gentle eyes I found reluctant acknowledgement. He stared at me warmly, like any other day, but I felt he knew something I did not. He was trying to tell me something, I knew. Something along the lines of 'open your eyes, my daughter'.

Father's small smile unnerved me. He looked at me funny, holding his laughter in, and I couldn't stop the warm feeling inside my gut. He was telling me something in the way he smiled at me. My blood answered to him, my flesh responded to him.

Finally he opened his mouth. "Do you love him, my daughter?"

Air was forced out of my lungs immediately. Out of all things, it was one I could never expect from him. I tried to breath normally, but my heart suddenly punded faster, harder, and I found myself lacking the ability to stay calm.

A thousand thoughts, a million memories flooded harshly into my mind in a second. About him. About that one man who stole my undivided attention. About that kind man who listened to my stories and let me listen to his stories. About that amazing man who always did his best for everyone around him.

My eyes watered.

So much, so much I wanted to say. Words alone could not suffice. My feelings throughout the years could not be expressed in mere words. It was too much.

But as I blinked the tears away, I caught Father looking at me gently. His eyes dove deep inside my brain, and all of a sudden I understood. He was reading my mind. I needed not to explain, because he heard everything from my eyes. I never needed words, silly me. He already knew everything, because we are linked by blood and flesh.

I openly cried now.

"Do you, my dearest, love him?" Father repeated his question, and this time I knew I only have one word to say, to represent the whole turbulent feelings inside me.

"Yes." An image of him flashed before my eyes, and I embraced it dearly. "God, yes, I do."


A/N: I don't know why I wrote this, but it felt good.

[Fanfic] Puding Cokelat

Title: Puding Cokelat

Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme

Rating: T

Genre: General

Summary: Tapi Rachel suka cokelat. Dia menyukai cokelat yang manis tapi masih punya pahit di dalamnya—membuat keseluruhan rasa tetap seimbang. Seperti hidup. / oneshot /

Warning: perhaps some OOC-ness

A/N: Sebuah fanfiksi untuk novel Prisca Primasari, Evergreen. Demi seluruh buku yang pernah saya baca, Yuya adalah salah satu karakter yang benar-benar bikin melting. I just have to write this. Ini diambil dalam canon-verse, tepat setelah kalimat terakhir bab 17.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Evergreen and the characters, and I receive no profit from this work.

[Fanfic] At Alice's Door

Title: At Alice's Door
Author: Vianna Orchidia / Annasthacy Chashyme
Rating: T
Warning: possible ooc, grammar errors or misstypos; heavy head-canon; fast-paced; takes place after Retrace 91 so spoilers for those who haven't read up to the latest chapter.
A/N: see below for more notes

Disclaimer: I don't own Pandora Hearts as it is Mochizuki Jun's and I do not take any profit from this fanfiction.

[Orific] Redemption

A gasp left her lips. With trembling breath she tried to calm down, to ignore the piercing pain that just lodged in her chest. It almost felt like a plate of lead was hammered into her chest--heavy, painful. But when she peered into the giant mirror situated across the room, she only saw herself. Bleeding eyes, labored huffs of air, and sickly pale skin that hugged her limp body like a death call. Her clothes were still intact (though very messily strewn on her body) and not a piece of metal was on her chest.

It was just her imagination.

She begged to differ, though. The ache was definitely there, right in the core of her chest and lungs and heart. Her small fingers grasped blindly onto the fabric of her nightgown because the pain was almost unbearable. She choked, an ugly sound that bordered a sob. She couldn't even cry--the rivers had long dried form the drought she taught herself to make.

"Help me," she groaned, a broken holler--but who was she kidding? There was only her in that room, in that house, in that world. Everyone she could turn into had gone. Before she knew it, she was all alone to deal with her wounds and her imaginary plate of lead.

Another surge of pain shot into her own and she let out a guttural groan again. It hurts, she said. Who can offer consolation? What can offer consolation?

And then she the young lady started to scratch at her forearm. The long nails, well-groomed and colored in blood, drew fine line on the vulnerable skin. The lines were pinkish but they vanished quickly. The small action, however, gave comfort to her. It was something she learned way back, about a year or two; that the pain on her skin and flesh dulled the ache of her heart. She had been breathless at that time of discovery, both from delight and from utter fear.

Just what had she found? An inhuman part of human beings. She quickly labelled it as repulsive and hid the knowledge of little redemption in the farthest corner of her brain.

But now--now the pain had intensified and she couldn't help seeking that once found redemption again. She pressed her nails again, a little deeper and rougher this time, and dragged them along her forearm. It felt nice. She no longer felt as heavy. Another line, then another, and another.

She couldn't stop.

The books on the floor, on the shelves, on the tables; they stared sadly at the broken piece of being God named human. They watched as the girl started to show a twisted smile that didn't look very sane. They sung a heedless lullaby to their master, wishing she would stop hurting herself.

When her whole forearm were stained with red lines, and the pain had gone considerably, the girl was finally able to close her eyes and fell into the long-needed slumber.

But who knew if she would wake up in agony yet again, and started the foul deed to freed herself?