(excuse me while I write you a long comment no one asked for!)
omg you should have seen my face when I saw in your placeholder comment that you are an actual science-knowing person, fjdksalf I about died. I was already feeling guilty that the "science" and "research" (and "other things" too) don't make any logical sense at ALL but I was like, I will just wave my hands at it and hope for forgiveness, but then to find out I wrote this silliness for a SCIENCE PERSON! was a blow. HOWEVER, the fact that you liked it despite that makes me so happy! PHEW.
First off, I really wanted to write you Aiba/Jun/Nino since it is your dream, but I actually wrote that particular threesome for kittoex 2014, and then I wrote threesomes for ninoex 2016 and 2017, and for some reason even though those were literally years ago, I still feel kind of threesomed out? :D Apparently I don't know how to do threesomes except with Full-Throttle Emotional Times, so I ruled that one out early (and then of course still wrote full-throttle emotional times, because I make good choices).
After that it was easy to choose Aiba/Nino, and then it was great fun to be able to include whomever I wanted, so thank you for that. :D I can't describe the great joy I took in casting the science interns, fjdlsaflksj, I had a whole list. Then I took your signup to a coworker who helped me brainstorm last year, and somehow what we end up doing is trying to fit in every single prompt...? And then somehow they actually seemed to be fitting together (except a couple, like fake relationships, which is too bad because I LOVE FAKE RELATIONSHIPS but I have also written that a couple times, and since I do ninoex every year I have probably even done it from Nino's point of view...... probably even with Aiba, lol), so then I started plotting it all out and trying to figure out how to make it all work! It was actually really nice to have so many prompts--whenever I got to a point where I needed to figure out what should happen next, I could look back at your signup and be like, oh HERE is where I can fit the lost letter, and here is the lazy pseudonym, and here is the confession in the rain! So that was excellent, hooray. It is only later that I realized I focused so hard on your prompts that I didn't look enough at what you didn't want, which is how I ended up writing something with (off-screen but) violence, melodrama, angst, etc, whoops. But by that point it was WAY too late, so I crossed my fingers (again) and hoped for the best. So I doubly relieved that it worked for you! Yay, yay. ♥
the real love story here is Nino/everyone I definitely have this tendency, but who could begrudge it of me when they all love each other so much?! Any fic that isn't at least a little bit OT5--well, I'll read it if it looks good or something, but in my heart it'll be AU. <3 They are the friendship/family/Arashi OT5 that rules my heart, after all. Anyway, I definitely tried to make that a focus--since I plotted everything out (for once) I could kind of see where the balance needed tweaking, and I wanted to make sure everyone had important moments and relationships with Nino (including Satomi <3). I also literally wrote out a timeline of how Nino opens up over time, but that was harder to stick to, so I'm glad it still felt natural to you. Nino is such a clingy motherfucker in real life, and also (from my point of view!!) quite emotionally well-adjusted, so I had to fight my instincts a lot~ Like, Nino would just reach out here and WAIT NO, NOT THIS NINO.
I literally never even imagine writing them as anything but childhood friends I am like this too! I almost always write them as BFFs of long standing, but it's definitely interesting to do it from another angle, like, what WOULD it be like if they met as grownups? And not only that, but Nino is in this difficult emotional space, so they can't immediately fall into the usual dynamic? I wanted to make sure Nino was cold enough, but I also wanted Aiba to see through it, at least a little bit, pretty much immediately. (Thus catching the episode with the company muffins.) Also this is where I note that I couldn't find a way to fit it in (... that I remember) but it is my head-canon that Jun drops a brief word of warning to all the new people in Nino's life not to take his shit too seriously, first Ohno, then Sho, then Aiba. There was a fair amount I couldn't find a way to fit in, really--like why was Jun such an outcast in college? It is in my head, okay, but I should've at least implied SOMETHING so that it'd make SOME kind of sense, but oh well, past-me did her best I guess.
SHOWING THEM AS A COUPLE!!!!!!!!! This is one of my favorite things both as a reader and writer! This is some of the most fun things to see, I think!!!
the part about jun sticking his fingers down nino's throat I really, really, REALLY enjoyed writing Jun as Nino's best friend. They love and support each other so much in real life, and in this fic they're kinda broken but STILL supporting each other, and then it becomes more and more healthy over time, and for some reason it just makes me happy to write such smooshy friendship feelings with these two. Plus, like sticking the fingers down Nino's throat, there is such good stuff to refer to, fjdlkafjas, I will never ever get over that anecdote. I'm pretty sure I've used it before and even more sure I will use it again.
ohno the sweets-making, no nonsense housekeeper WRITING OHNO IN THIS WAS SO FUN. I of course had all these extra head-canon bits I wanted to fit in but failed to, so part of me is like ugh this doesn't all make sense, but when it comes to Ohno (unlike science) I can fully trust in his Magic Ohno Powers to overcome plot shortcomings. Ohno might be my favorite to write, actually, and this was a particularly fun-to-me version of Ohno. I mean, I got to put him in an apron (WITH ruffles) and headband AND marry him to Satomi, so I was living the dream.
AND THEN THERE WAS NINO AND SHO'S RELATIONSHIP Nino and Sho's relationship came less easily, but I am fairly pleased with where it ended up! It made plot sense to have him work with Nino, but then it wasn't as easy to wedge him into the emotional aspects of Nino's life. I eventually just decided that it's Nino and Sho and they're gonna get along and care about each other no matter the technical working relationship, so then I let my heart have the Sho/Nino sweetness I wanted.
SO WARM AND SO LOVING There was a moment where I was like, IS THE SICK SCENE TOO MUCH, but then I was like, dirtbaguette wants hand-holding and I want cuddles, so fuck it!! Who was I even kidding, thinking about pulling back the fluff--that's not me.
HOW DARE YOU BRING MRS. NINOMIYA I wanted to bring in (this) Nino's sister, too, but I couldn't fit it in, harrumph. But I had to bring his mom in, she is important!! And also I wanted to show that Nino isn't the only one who figures out his shit and becomes happy in himself--his mom is also living well and finding her happiness, which makes me feel better about dumping so much shit on her in the back-story, lol. Plus, even though I don't know that much about her or anything, I have an impression of real-life Nino and his mom having an interesting and good relationship. ♥
Aiba's entire letter was so sweet Aiba's letter was hard to write and I am still not fully happy with it, but whatever, it is in the PAST, and also you like it and that is all that matters. I knew I wanted to do the lost letter plot, but then the moment I realized I actually had to write the letter, too, I was stricken with regret. At least I weaseled out of writing the poetry!!!
he just wants nino in his life PERIOD I have definitely written fics where characters feel they can't be friends with people they romantically love, and I get that dynamic also, but I really wanted something else for this Aiba. He waits for Nino for SO LONG, not just for Nino to (openly) love him back, but even to be real friends and let him in, and he's so patient and so loving, that to me, YES, Aiba would've found a way to resolve his romantic feelings and stay friends with Nino and been happy to have him as a friend, period. (Note that in real life I am more on the side of 'oh god i care too much burn it all' so no judgment to those of us not strong enough to be like this Aiba, afjdlas.)
SPUN IT INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL THREAD THROUGHOUT THE PIECE One of the first things I thought of for this fic was Nino sneakily giving Aiba's umbrella to keep him from getting soaked, but somehow I didn't do a good job of explaining any of it, so I had to go back and wedge in references--all this to say, I am really really glad it worked for you! Because it was hard to look at the entire fic, then add those bits to it, and not feel like it was like putting clashing patches on a finished outfit. So phew! Good. I definitely wanted to keep the rain and the umbrellas. ♥ I also realized way late that I could just make it rain in literally every section, but that was way easier to slip in.
Nino/Aiba, Sho/Jun, and Ohno/Satomi Oh thank sparkle you like those pairings! I know you said to do whatever with side pairings but I was worried. :D I had Sho and Jun in mind from early on, but I waffled on who to put with Ohno--there are a lot of people I'd love to write with him, so many delightful actresses he either has shown good chemistry and an interesting dynamic with OR I have imagined that he would given the chance, fjdlkas. I really came close to making his wife Haru (because Ohno/Haru omg) but the age difference was too large when Ohno has already been married for years when we meet him. I ended up very glad to have chosen Satomi--Ohno/Satomi is another of my favorites, and she was fun to write. ♥ With the Jun/Sho, I really like them but haven't written them much? So I was glad for that opportunity as well. ♥ I had one million head-canons about this Jun/Sho relationship, but it's probably for the best they didn't fit in, lol.
Nino as a scientist who moonlights as a writer Sorry again that neither of his jobs made any sense, though!! But I hoped you would be plot/logic-forgiving, and thank goodness you seem to have been, fdsjal. I ended up being really interested in how Nino felt about writing in this fic, idk why exactly, but it was fun. Probably my favorite part of Nino being a writer was bookworm Jun being his #1 fan. ♥
i feel like i owe you at least a kidney??? lololol please keep your kidneys and just be my friend!!!! It was fun to write for you, and I'm so glad you liked it, and we definitely seem like we value a lot of the same things in both Arashi and in fic (which I could tell as soon as I looked at your signup, omg, like, yes there are the things, yes GOOD).
thank you one more time You're welcome. ♥ It was my pleasure! Thank you so so much for your wonderful comment--you have no idea how happy it made me (and continues to make me whenever I think about it)! ♥
no subject
omg you should have seen my face when I saw in your placeholder comment that you are an actual science-knowing person, fjdksalf I about died. I was already feeling guilty that the "science" and "research" (and "other things" too) don't make any logical sense at ALL but I was like, I will just wave my hands at it and hope for forgiveness, but then to find out I wrote this silliness for a SCIENCE PERSON! was a blow. HOWEVER, the fact that you liked it despite that makes me so happy! PHEW.
First off, I really wanted to write you Aiba/Jun/Nino since it is your dream, but I actually wrote that particular threesome for kittoex 2014, and then I wrote threesomes for ninoex 2016 and 2017, and for some reason even though those were literally years ago, I still feel kind of threesomed out? :D Apparently I don't know how to do threesomes except with Full-Throttle Emotional Times, so I ruled that one out early (and then of course still wrote full-throttle emotional times, because I make good choices).
After that it was easy to choose Aiba/Nino, and then it was great fun to be able to include whomever I wanted, so thank you for that. :D I can't describe the great joy I took in casting the science interns, fjdlsaflksj, I had a whole list. Then I took your signup to a coworker who helped me brainstorm last year, and somehow what we end up doing is trying to fit in every single prompt...? And then somehow they actually seemed to be fitting together (except a couple, like fake relationships, which is too bad because I LOVE FAKE RELATIONSHIPS but I have also written that a couple times, and since I do ninoex every year I have probably even done it from Nino's point of view...... probably even with Aiba, lol), so then I started plotting it all out and trying to figure out how to make it all work! It was actually really nice to have so many prompts--whenever I got to a point where I needed to figure out what should happen next, I could look back at your signup and be like, oh HERE is where I can fit the lost letter, and here is the lazy pseudonym, and here is the confession in the rain! So that was excellent, hooray. It is only later that I realized I focused so hard on your prompts that I didn't look enough at what you didn't want, which is how I ended up writing something with (off-screen but) violence, melodrama, angst, etc, whoops. But by that point it was WAY too late, so I crossed my fingers (again) and hoped for the best. So I doubly relieved that it worked for you! Yay, yay. ♥
the real love story here is Nino/everyone
I definitely have this tendency, but who could begrudge it of me when they all love each other so much?! Any fic that isn't at least a little bit OT5--well, I'll read it if it looks good or something, but in my heart it'll be AU. <3 They are the friendship/family/Arashi OT5 that rules my heart, after all. Anyway, I definitely tried to make that a focus--since I plotted everything out (
for once) I could kind of see where the balance needed tweaking, and I wanted to make sure everyone had important moments and relationships with Nino (including Satomi <3). I also literally wrote out a timeline of how Nino opens up over time, but that was harder to stick to, so I'm glad it still felt natural to you. Nino is such a clingy motherfucker in real life, and also (from my point of view!!) quite emotionally well-adjusted, so I had to fight my instincts a lot~ Like, Nino would just reach out here and WAIT NO, NOT THIS NINO.I literally never even imagine writing them as anything but childhood friends
I am like this too! I almost always write them as BFFs of long standing, but it's definitely interesting to do it from another angle, like, what WOULD it be like if they met as grownups? And not only that, but Nino is in this difficult emotional space, so they can't immediately fall into the usual dynamic? I wanted to make sure Nino was cold enough, but I also wanted Aiba to see through it, at least a little bit, pretty much immediately. (Thus catching the episode with the company muffins.) Also this is where I note that I couldn't find a way to fit it in (... that I remember) but it is my head-canon that Jun drops a brief word of warning to all the new people in Nino's life not to take his shit too seriously, first Ohno, then Sho, then Aiba. There was a fair amount I couldn't find a way to fit in, really--like why was Jun such an outcast in college? It is in my head, okay, but I should've at least implied SOMETHING so that it'd make SOME kind of sense, but oh well, past-me did her best I guess.
SHOWING THEM AS A COUPLE!!!!!!!!!
This is one of my favorite things both as a reader and writer! This is some of the most fun things to see, I think!!!
the part about jun sticking his fingers down nino's throat
I really, really, REALLY enjoyed writing Jun as Nino's best friend. They love and support each other so much in real life, and in this fic they're kinda broken but STILL supporting each other, and then it becomes more and more healthy over time, and for some reason it just makes me happy to write such smooshy friendship feelings with these two. Plus, like sticking the fingers down Nino's throat, there is such good stuff to refer to, fjdlkafjas, I will never ever get over that anecdote. I'm pretty sure I've used it before and even more sure I will use it again.
ohno the sweets-making, no nonsense housekeeper
WRITING OHNO IN THIS WAS SO FUN. I of course had all these extra head-canon bits I wanted to fit in but failed to, so part of me is like ugh this doesn't all make sense, but when it comes to Ohno (unlike science) I can fully trust in his Magic Ohno Powers to overcome plot shortcomings. Ohno might be my favorite to write, actually, and this was a particularly fun-to-me version of Ohno. I mean, I got to put him in an apron (WITH ruffles) and headband AND marry him to Satomi, so I was living the dream.
AND THEN THERE WAS NINO AND SHO'S RELATIONSHIP
Nino and Sho's relationship came less easily, but I am fairly pleased with where it ended up! It made plot sense to have him work with Nino, but then it wasn't as easy to wedge him into the emotional aspects of Nino's life. I eventually just decided that it's Nino and Sho and they're gonna get along and care about each other no matter the technical working relationship, so then I let my heart have the Sho/Nino sweetness I wanted.
SO WARM AND SO LOVING
There was a moment where I was like, IS THE SICK SCENE TOO MUCH, but then I was like, dirtbaguette wants hand-holding and I want cuddles, so fuck it!! Who was I even kidding, thinking about pulling back the fluff--that's not me.
HOW DARE YOU BRING MRS. NINOMIYA
I wanted to bring in (this) Nino's sister, too, but I couldn't fit it in, harrumph. But I had to bring his mom in, she is important!! And also I wanted to show that Nino isn't the only one who figures out his shit and becomes happy in himself--his mom is also living well and finding her happiness, which makes me feel better about dumping so much shit on her in the back-story, lol. Plus, even though I don't know that much about her or anything, I have an impression of real-life Nino and his mom having an interesting and good relationship. ♥
Aiba's entire letter was so sweet
Aiba's letter was hard to write and I am still not fully happy with it, but whatever, it is in the PAST, and also you like it and that is all that matters. I knew I wanted to do the lost letter plot, but then the moment I realized I actually had to write the letter, too, I was stricken with regret. At least I weaseled out of writing the poetry!!!
he just wants nino in his life PERIOD
I have definitely written fics where characters feel they can't be friends with people they romantically love, and I get that dynamic also, but I really wanted something else for this Aiba. He waits for Nino for SO LONG, not just for Nino to (openly) love him back, but even to be real friends and let him in, and he's so patient and so loving, that to me, YES, Aiba would've found a way to resolve his romantic feelings and stay friends with Nino and been happy to have him as a friend, period. (Note that in real life I am more on the side of 'oh god i care too much burn it all' so no judgment to those of us not strong enough to be like this Aiba, afjdlas.)
SPUN IT INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL THREAD THROUGHOUT THE PIECE
One of the first things I thought of for this fic was Nino sneakily giving Aiba's umbrella to keep him from getting soaked, but somehow I didn't do a good job of explaining any of it, so I had to go back and wedge in references--all this to say, I am really really glad it worked for you! Because it was hard to look at the entire fic, then add those bits to it, and not feel like it was like putting clashing patches on a finished outfit. So phew! Good. I definitely wanted to keep the rain and the umbrellas. ♥ I also realized way late that I could just make it rain in literally every section, but that was way easier to slip in.
Nino/Aiba, Sho/Jun, and Ohno/Satomi
Oh thank sparkle you like those pairings! I know you said to do whatever with side pairings but I was worried. :D I had Sho and Jun in mind from early on, but I waffled on who to put with Ohno--there are a lot of people I'd love to write with him, so many delightful actresses he either has shown good chemistry and an interesting dynamic with OR I have imagined that he would given the chance, fjdlkas. I really came close to making his wife Haru (because Ohno/Haru omg) but the age difference was too large when Ohno has already been married for years when we meet him. I ended up very glad to have chosen Satomi--Ohno/Satomi is another of my favorites, and she was fun to write. ♥ With the Jun/Sho, I really like them but haven't written them much? So I was glad for that opportunity as well. ♥ I had one million head-canons about this Jun/Sho relationship, but it's probably for the best they didn't fit in, lol.
Nino as a scientist who moonlights as a writer
Sorry again that neither of his jobs made any sense, though!! But I hoped you would be plot/logic-forgiving, and thank goodness you seem to have been, fdsjal. I ended up being really interested in how Nino felt about writing in this fic, idk why exactly, but it was fun. Probably my favorite part of Nino being a writer was bookworm Jun being his #1 fan. ♥
i feel like i owe you at least a kidney???
lololol please keep your kidneys and just be my friend!!!! It was fun to write for you, and I'm so glad you liked it, and we definitely seem like we value a lot of the same things in both Arashi and in fic (which I could tell as soon as I looked at your signup, omg, like, yes there are the things, yes GOOD).
thank you one more time
You're welcome. ♥ It was my pleasure! Thank you so so much for your wonderful comment--you have no idea how happy it made me (and continues to make me whenever I think about it)! ♥