i do whatever with my stories on here. chapters for my wip, Black Sun Tale, is released at 9pm est on saturdays and chapters are right here
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
Photo
134K notes
·
View notes
Text
Black Sun Tale | Her Lullaby
i said iâd post it today without a time, so here it is! you actually get to meet some of my favorite super-side-characters in this hahaâ
remember this is a first draft with only minor edits, but enjoy! comments are reception are always appreciated.
-
Oliver was off at school, leaving Ayu to his own wits at the house. Though, the assignment for finishing a section of the textbook deemed itself⊠ill-tasting for Ayuâs attention.Â
He doodled instead, most definitely, cursing his own drawings in the meantime. Thoughts of the events days prior already passed by his mind as almost nothing out of the ordinary. To be fair, however, Eilwenâs tests did pop up from time to time.Â
Keep reading
9 notes
·
View notes
Text
Black Sun Tale | Her Lullaby
i said iâd post it today without a time, so here it is! you actually get to meet some of my favorite super-side-characters in this hahaâ
remember this is a first draft with only minor edits, but enjoy! comments are reception are always appreciated.
-
Oliver was off at school, leaving Ayu to his own wits at the house. Though, the assignment for finishing a section of the textbook deemed itself⊠ill-tasting for Ayuâs attention.Â
He doodled instead, most definitely, cursing his own drawings in the meantime. Thoughts of the events days prior already passed by his mind as almost nothing out of the ordinary. To be fair, however, Eilwenâs tests did pop up from time to time.Â
Despite the scenes he drew, those crosses and his own blood seeped an abnormality into himself while tapping his fresher skin. It ticked him. The thoughts of his relations to Akeldama poisoning him beckoned as another one of his mistakes. But I shouldâve expected that, shouldnât I?Â
Then there was Eilwen herself: follower in Akeldamaâs society being punished by such simple items. The idea of her hands holding still from the burning cross stuck to him, leading him to wonder his own curiosities. Is everyone else the same, he asked. Certainly, they must have had pain tolerances similar to Eilwenâs words.Â
But, then again, he always had somebody to ask.Â
âVittorino?âÂ
âWhat is it, now,â he asked. His form appeared out by his and Oliverâs bed, sitting with an irked face.Â
âYou⊠know Eilwen right?â
He scoffed, âYeah, Iâm taking you to see her later today.â
âI am?â
âIt was a last-minute call,â he replied. âBut why are you asking about her?âÂ
Ayu adjusted himself before answering the question. âI just want to know what you know about her.â
The question brought Vittorino to a side-eye of thought, but he shrugged nonetheless. âThereâs not much I know about her, or any first eras other than Alice âbut everyone knows about her reallyâ. All she really does is hate on Akeldama and stick herself inside her own room, but most of âem keep to themselves like us too.â
He fidgeted. âThatâs it?â
âYeah.â He then asked, âWhat, did she do something weird?âÂ
âI guess she didâŠâ He brought an explanation to the table. âI guess she was wondering about whatâs happened to my body after dealing with Akeldama, which that was weird but⊠She tested me with a cross and her hands looked like they were burningâŠâ
Vittorinoâs calm face dropped just the slightest.Â
âShe said it happens to everyone because of contracts, but she didnât even bat an eye at it. I figure sheâs just strong about it. She seems strong. But I just want to know how it is with other members in the society sinceâ since it burned me immediately yet she took it like a champ.âÂ
âWait it burned you?â He nodded. âHuh, I didnât expect that⊠I figured Oliver would butâ. Anyways, you really wanna know about that stuff, donât you?â Within a whim, Vittorino brought himself down to Ayuâs sitting level.Â
âItâs just been stuck in my mind for a while.â Â
âAnd thatâs a bad thing to get stuck behind.â Digging through, he buried his hands into his pocket, viewing downwards whilst doing so. Soon, steam appeared out of the pocket as he paused, only to bring himself at a sigh when he brought it out.Â
There laid a wooden cross against his skin, burning up in a red yet he too held no response. âItâs a simple thing: it burns whatever is associated with a demon like Akeldama.â
âHeâs a demon?âÂ
âProbably,â he answered, âWe figured once Alice told us some stuff.â
âSo, heâs that badâŠâ
âWell, people take him for granted,â Vittorino commented. âAnyhow, this stuff is painful, yeah, but itâs just that some of us are used to the feeling by now.âÂ
Ayu asked, âWhy?â
âBecauseâŠâ Vittorino shook his head, storing the cross back in his pocket and standing back up. âBecause some of us like holding it sometimes⊠to think about things.â
â⊠Vittorinoââ
The tallest chuckled to himself, turning back to Ayu with a cheeky smile. âI think Iâm one of the only second eras who even do it, but itâs just because itâs funny. Like, we arenât even allowed to hold it, how idiotic is that? It just shows how ridiculous all that stuff is.â
The lie radiated to Ayuâs discomfort, a good one for sure considering his character, but a detection in lies were somewhat of a tendency. âVittorino, are you sure this isnât aboutâŠâ
He pushed the idea aside, âNo, they were all idiotic. Thatâs why I left the whole place.â His foot tapped impatiently. âDo you want to go to Eilwenâs early or something?âÂ
Ayu blinked at him, then back at the textbook. â⊠I mean, if it gets me out of language arts.âÂ
Opening a door already, Vittorino rolled his eyes. âHe really wants you learning all that?âÂ
He followed him over to the forest entrance. âItâll be important for when Iâm older, and I really need to catch up anyways.âÂ
âYeah, like learning phonetics can help you fight stuff or whatever.â
âOllie said that shouldnât be my priority anymoreââ
âThatâs what Oliver said,â he argued, âbut not what you decided.â
He ventured himself into the darker woods that steeped itself by its depths of a hillside. The conversation obligated Ayu to follow.Â
âIâve been watching both of you ever since you guys had to be relevant in my life, and all you do is care about and follow others. But what about yourself?â The steps he trudged formed a beat to themselves, as if of a slow march. âOliverâs was easy to notice since him caring causes him to start dying, and he stopped following people a while ago, but youâre less noticeable. For everyone, youâre less noticeable, since you arenât dying from it. However, you keep caring and giving yourself away for other people. Youâll kill yourself eventually from just doing that.â Â
The speech brought fear to Ayuâs throat, as he gulped at those last words.Â
ââEveryone is manipulated by everything, but itâs in everyoneâs power to take their own control.ââ he glared down at Ayu. âThatâs what Iâve been taught, and by now I think you should learn it for once.â
â⊠You were taught that by Akeldama, werenât you?âÂ
He answered, âObviously. Like I said, heâs taken for granted with some things he says.âÂ
Ayu had to argue then. âVittorino, heâs a terrible person.âÂ
âSo, what if heâs a bad person? For me, he made me the great and living person I am today and got rid of so many lost causes from making more chaos.âÂ
The excused seemed invalid with many counterarguments. âHe caused the deaths of a bunch of lives because he felt like it.âÂ
âAnd thatâs where it is: he does what he feels. He has nothing holding him back and we canât even imagine all the events heâs had in his life. He doesnât follow anyone and thatâs what makes him great!âÂ
His excitement over the conversation peaked the slightest with his voice and giddy hands, to Ayuâs dismay.Â
âOliverâs right, youâre a weird fuck.âÂ
âIf those guys are the ones that are free from all those rules,â he chuckled.Â
As they walked, Ayu tripped on a root again. âWhy are we even walking here? Didnât you want to drop me off at Eilwenâs?âÂ
He shrugged. âI just like walking here, and I donât actually have access to her room. She locked me out of it.â
âIâŠâ Somehow, Ayu yelled in anger, âVittorino! ââ
***Â
Eilwen was found in the wild an hour later conversing with Alice. Though she hesitantly brought him back to the black-box.Â
As they sat together in their separate chairs, Ayu questioned her silence. âWhy did you bring me here now?âÂ
At the question, she bit her thin lip, her eyes piercing at him with an unknown feeling. Then sighed, âI asked Alice about your bodyâs behavior, and why you even have such odd relations with Akeldama⊠And Iâm afraid Iâve now been tasked to prepare you for that answer yourself.â
Ayu blinked. âWhat do you mean?âÂ
âI cannot explain any details. Iâm sorry. However, you are not here for that; youâre here to learn of other matters.â Standing up, she grabbed her candle to light up others from behind her back, illuminating a distinct chart connected to her watch by a string. âThat being the current members of the society today.âÂ
Admittedly, Ayu groaned in the inside. âCanât you take me on flashbacks again for this?âÂ
She shook her head. âNo, thatâs rather unnecessary. Iâll only be explaining each briefly.â A face mirroring a sigh planted on herself. âThen youâll meet some yourself.â
The last section peaked his interest at an instant, as his eyes beamed at attention once said. âYou mean I have to meet them?âÂ
âAs annoying as it is yes. However, considering your importance, they wonât harm you now especially after the Margaret incident.â She shook her head, adjusting her hat while setting up her watch. âNow then, letâs begin with the second eras.âÂ
*
After many psychopaths and silly characters in such a presentation, the watch clicked onto the final member. In his seat, Ayu sat intrigued but rather tired, with his arm barely lifting his head up. All the faces he only met on the board deemed themselves a weighing amount to handle by sight from their demeanors and smiles or frowns.Â
At least some members seemed human.Â
âFinally, we have the accursed, Bluebell.â
Ayu tilted his head. âAccursed?â
The picture brightened up with a woman in the forefront. Her body still like a portrait, she hung against a wreath of giant flowers delicately with her gown and hair flowing. Her hair welcomed itself like long roots of strawberry blonde that breezed down up until her waist. The gown glowed in a gentle white, small patterns of flowers speckled across its edges and rims, and sleeves cuffed under her wrists leaving an airy puff to her arms. But within it all, crowned with flowers colored vibrant and beautiful upon her freckled skin, she smiled, wide and calm.Â
The beauty and serene nature of her image calmed Ayu as that of a young, mystical mother. However, previous members already brought him to a distrust. Plus, âaccursedâ was finally explainable with her appearance.Â
âDonât trust her.â Eilwen explained, âWhile Bluebell is objectively the most gorgeous of the first eras, she is most definitely the least liked.â
âAnd why her specifically?â
âSheâs just a sinister addle pate,â she grumbled. âShe has not talked much of her origins but she either lied to many or she held multiple jobs as a caretaker, nursemaid, and florist whilst as a young mother. The happenings to what happened to her child are unknown, though she joined Akeldama without them.â
The image, in Ayuâs mind, continued to stare down into his soul somehow. While doing so, Eilwen explained her abilities and methods of extermination.
The concepts blended with Ayu rather poorly along with all the other new faces. âI get she hunts down kids but arenât I safe?â
She replied, âItâs difficult to consider⊠and to explain. She likes to fool around with everybody in general. Although, Iâm not sure if youâd even be affected by her.â
Through some thinking, Ayu shrugged. âIâll be fine; Oliverâs singing is probably better anyways.â
Eilwenâs expression downed itself, proceeding to blow out the candles near the board and summoning a door. âIâm sure you will.â The door opened up her hands, which signaled Ayu to jumped out of his chair. âFollow me, please.â
And so, he stepped on out along her side, yet through the door was not the average forest of Fowls. Glass-ridden, a topless hallway was formed, large and wide in its endless interior. On each side of its walls placed multiple doors all of which caked against each other in their designs, along with small silver plaques beside them all.Â
âWoahâŠâ Ayu breathed out into a smile. âThis is cool!âÂ
âThis is where you have access to the houses and fields of every member in history.â The coat that blanketed her shuffled whilst she returned back to the door behind them. âMany will be empty, I warn you. And I wonât be accompanying you due to all their annoyances.â
As the door closed, he asked her. âWait- Wait! How am I supposed to get back here? Or back to you?âÂ
âElementary, now that youâre here, just think of this hall and the door will appear. Donât hassle over it.â Then the door finally faced him flat, its carvings of bells and old clocks mocking him.Â
The situation brought Ayu to a grumble, not so much any fear in his bones more so irritation of mentors. Perhaps the day was a bad mood, we will never know. Though after a huff and sigh, Ayu trudged forward to the first door in sight.
The new entrance glossed itself in comparison to all the other wood-like structures, shining along carvings of fancy men.Â
One of Ayuâs eyes lifted up at the design, its properness making itself more of an oddity. And already his guesses as to who it was appeared in his mind. He took a breath, motivating himself to enter in, and with his sight closed, he opened the door.Â
Barging in, Ayu stopped himself before his speed kicked in. Opening his blind view, he was met with velvets and greens, as well as stairs to his questioning. Stepping over, he greeted himself to what seemed to be a rich bratâs lair.Â
Yep, itâs him.Â
At the edge of the floor, a table sat furnished in cards and coins, as well two party members sitting on each side.Â
â⊠I draw three.â
âWhat do you mean you draw three? I had just went all in.âÂ
âWell, you always cheat so youâll be disqualified in two seconds once King comes back.âÂ
âBut donât we always cheat?âÂ
âYeah, but the two of us canât manipulate the card order.âÂ
âThen thatâs just too bad to be you.âÂ
The two conversed at the singular turn. Their bickering brought Ayu to a slight familiarity. Soon, he spoke out, âYouâre⊠Eden and Cosmina, right?âÂ
They turned at him instantly, the girl holding a card by her two fingers without hesitation. The appearances began to clear up for Ayu, however their clothing and accessories contradicted that of past sights. The man, Eden, seemed to have lengthy brunette hair tied to the back, edges still rolling off from the knot and blocking up some of his face, though a piercing still appeared by the edge of his lip. His top comfortably laying against his torso and thighs as a well-knit turtleneck, yet the sleeves ripped themselves off. Then Cosminaâs hair changed to that of a slim cut down to her chin, with her uniform only consisting of a tank-top, shorts, and thin coat.Â
Eden questioned, âAre you the kid Alice mentioned earlier?âÂ
âI thought heâd look more off-putting,â Cosmina commented. âNot that Iâll complain. Were you expecting King?âÂ
Hesitantly, Ayu nodded.Â
She stared down into his soul. âTimid, I see. Well, thereâs not much to be weary of here. We wonât bite, if thatâs what youâre thinking. And Kingâll be here soon, heâs only getting essentials.âÂ
Ayuâs words stumbled within themselves, ultimately bring nothing of a reply.Â
âYouâre calling booze an essential?âÂ
âWhat else are we supposed to do waiting here? Might as well get a little tipsy.â
âIâŠâ
âJesus fucking Christ you couldnât believe the number of parents at the liquor store today!â The door behind them all slammed closed. Ayu and the others whipped their heads to find the last member of the party. His figure lean and confidant with his boxes hung around his arms; his tailcoat flowed as he paced up the stairs. In Ayuâs eyes, the manâs eyepatch glistened in its dark cloth, his short haircut to match. âOh, itâs the kid.âÂ
âItâs AyuâŠâ
âKing, perfect timing, he just got here.â Cosmina walked on over to the new figure. They greeted each other by Kingâs kiss on her cheek whilst he placed the boxes down for her to grab. He kissed down Edenâs cheek as well, to Ayuâs slight confusion. âHeâs a little shy, so weâll save the drinks for later in case you two do something stupid.âÂ
âOh, who are you kidding? We all go stupid with bourbon,â King laughed as he tidied the small mess on Edenâs shirt.Â
Ayu scurried in his spot. âYouâre King?â
âIn the flesh, hopefully.âÂ
The answer forced Ayu to gesture at the whole room. âArenât you supposed to be the fancy one?âÂ
He muttered, âDamn, I really do wanna drink. Mina, get the OJ.âÂ
âOn it.âÂ
âAnyways,â the focus laid back on Ayu. âI suppose thatâs how Iâm seen in the society.âÂ
âYeah,â Ayu eventually brought himself to a seat. âYouâre the fancy-ass ruler with the throneâŠâ he then pointed at the other two. âAnd you guys were the servants?âÂ
Eden cackled. âOh god, that takes me back.âÂ
The king chuckled a little with him. âYeah, I guess thatâs how it was.âÂ
âYou all had old fancy clothes and stuff⊠what happened?âÂ
âThat shit was hot, thatâs what,â Eden answered.Â
The girl returned with cups of orange juice by a hand and placed it on the table for the others to grab. âThere were too many layers back then, Iâll admit.âÂ
âThank you very much,â King snatched a cup. However, he offered to Ayu, âYou want some? It isnât spiked,â as he eyed the alcohol in the corner.Â
That in itself raised Ayuâs hands against it. âI prefer apple juiceâŠâÂ
âHuh, we havenât had apple juice in a while. Iâll get that later.âÂ
Ayu still grabbed the cup from him, taking a sip to a surprise of the nice taste. And no pulp. ââ Still whyâre you guys like this now?â
King handed himself his own cup while answering. âWell, I will admit that back then, we did act like snobs.â
âIt was you who was the snob,â Cosmina retorted.Â
âAnd it was you all who went along with it,â he added. âBut what am I joking, almost everyone in the first era has some kind of act going on, especially if weâre talking about back then.âÂ
Ayu questioned with his cup, âWhat are you talking about?âÂ
âEveryone here exaggerated themselves back then, whether it be by fashion or action. We were just the types who did both,â King explained. âAnd while we did like the roleplay and the clothes, being immortal for four hundred years made that a little boring.âÂ
âOh yeah,â the idea of immortality seemed so normal for Ayu by then. âHow is even being immortal.âÂ
âOh, my god, itâs terrible!â Eden raised an arm.Â
Cosmina said, âRemember youâre supposed to live a life for less than one hundred years and imagine doing the same thing four times.âÂ
âWhat she said,â King sipped. âWe followed the trend of the society for a while which was âstay in your rooms to do whatever bullshit for eternityâ. But we realized that, in itself, was bullshit.â
The swearing still threw Ayu off.Â
âUsually people would off themselves after being tired of immortality, but we knew that was a stupid idea considering our society deals. So, instead of killing ourselves or moping like the rest of the âwoe is meâ first erasââ
âAnd the even more ridiculous seconds.â
ââ them too,â King continued. âWe just decided to go and have a life outside of killing.âÂ
âBy⊠drinking and living off of orange juice?âÂ
Eden drank his own cup of orange juice when he spoke, âNah, the bourbonâs only for when weâre stuck here.âÂ
â⊠Youâre gonna throw that out later, right?âÂ
âNo, why would we,â Cosmina asked.Â
And Ayu replied, âBecause my dad always told me and my sister to throw that stuff out for Mom soâŠâÂ
âPsh,â Eden chuckled, âThen thatâs just a bad parent.â
âThey were pretty nice,â he defended.Â
âIâm sure your parents managed to fix that up, or at least will do soon,â King pushed aside to Ayuâs own bitterness. âBut, no we arenât alcoholics. We go travel and find whateverâs fun in the new world.âÂ
âWhat?â
âWe visit all different kinds of places in the world and do whatever festival or partyâs going on there. Because, why stick here for a hundred more years when you can do whatever you want?â
âWhateverâs fun or whatever sounds funny enough,â Eden added, pointing at his own piercing with brows together.Â
âIt looks lovely on you, dear.âÂ
The compliments gave Ayu another topic to look upon. â⊠And all you three are?âÂ
âA couple.â Cosmina stayed in the background during all of the answers. âIs there anything of it?â
âNo, not really,â Ayu looked down at his cup. âI just, donât know anything about that stuff and Iâve never seen three people before so I was wondering why.â
âFuck monogamy, thatâs why,â King replied.Â
âI drink to that.â With the raise of a cup, Eden drank more of the juice.Â
ââŠ?â
âWe do as we feel, and we all like each otherâs company. Thatâs all the necessary explaining,â yet even Cosmina casually sipped the orange juice. âYouâre only a child but once you really understand, good for you.â
âWait⊠do people like each other just because they like their company?âÂ
King interjected, âWell, thereâs more to it butâŠâ hold on we arenât here to give romance advice!âÂ
âI wasnât asking for any! I was just curious!âÂ
âWhat, are you having a school crush or something,â Eden raised a brow at him.Â
âWhat?â Ayu scoffed at the idea, blushing in the midst, âNo!â
âAlright then. Thatâs that.â He finally set his empty cup down after playing with it. âAre you going to ask us anything else or are you done with your orange juice?â
âIâŠâ He set down the cup. âI think Iâm done.âÂ
***
The other doors Ayu entered were abandoned by their owners long ago, as Eilwen told. Some brought worn down activities for Ayu to venture into, though others laid barren. Those barren lands packed themselves up, from the owner ready to leave as he learned. The ghosted lands still hung around with bright colors, but the dim atmosphere brought him to leave early to every single one.Â
Kingâs trio seemed like the biggest treat of the day, alongside their flavorful beverage, but he tried to ignore that. Their modernist attitudes stuck to him, as well as their farewells to his visit.Â
âIf you end up joining us, come over here because everyone else sucks!â
Not the kindest gesture, he admitted, but the message still stood. He questioned the message, Am I joining the society soon? Is that what Eilwenâs worried about?Â
The idea pleased itself easily, considering his associates and history. Besides, with everybodyâs growing concerns to his own apparent growing importance, the aspect of him joining them seemed of a satisfying end to finish his mess, in some way of the matter. Perhaps he would receive more power than he could ever imagine or be granted his wish to undo everything in his life. That concept pleased himself the most.Â
However, the price still stood ahead of him. That price of taking anotherâs life for his own lingered in the concept. And to that, he availed from the chances quickly enough, his heart too strong to break by himself.
There ahead of him, was yet another door to enter. This time, the wooden dĂ©cor carved itself into flowers and leaves growing into one another in intricate detail. The petals fell and the stems kissed the grass carved below. In such detail in design, Ayu gulped knowing who it may be. And yet again, he brought his arm to open up the door.Â
Stepping into new grounds, the soles of his old sneakers brushed up against long grass. It tickled his knees as his first views of the land were made. Despite the nature field, her land posed itself as disproportional. Flowers grew wild and of various shapes and sizes which many were larger than likely possible of a normal plant. They all swayed rhythmically to nothing, dancing to their own hearts content at the silence, but also the humming of another person in the garden.Â
He faced doubt in the eye, and ventured more inside, ignoring his own inner-warnings. Quickly after drowning of the leaves in front of his path, he discovered the source of the hummer. Her long, angelical hair swayed down like a river, covering her face alongside her crown of wild flowers. She mumbled a tune as she watered a bustle of flowers, but the identity was clear nonetheless.Â
Bluebell, his eyes darted down the nearest bush and hid in its rustling leaves. Even with his mouth of courage to Eilwen, her own words left a mark of warning once seeing her in person. He managed to not flinch, to itch a muscle, or to form a single peep of gripe. After moments in time, and some flashing of black and white, Ayu sighed. Soon, he rung his arms to start crawling away and making it out of the doorâ
âAnd who might you be?â As soon as he stepped towards the outside, the lady grabbed him by the hood. She yanked him back to his startled fear.Â
âFuckââ He pulled the hood in front to resist choking, and struggled with his own feet to muster up. âLet me go!âÂ
With his light weight, she lifted him up with ease, her copper eyes squinting at his appearance. Yet eventually, she smiled. âNo, no, come with me,â she pulled him, âYou look tired; you can sleep here if you need rest.â
âLet me out,â he yelled, but to no avail.Â
âOh, donât be fussy, Ayu,â she giggled, âThis will make Akeldama fuming. Just listen to me.âÂ
While the pleasure of Akeldamaâs misfortune would have convinced Ayu another day, the risk of her ability still lied as a great possibility for him. âNoâ Stop! ââ However, he was too late to make a hit.Â
âMy dear, in sickness, sadness, and red, can sleep from a song with sighâŠâ
Her voice echoed and rang into his ears, slowly softening every inch of this tension and mind merely from those lines.
âYour life, your soul, your ending night will rejoice with us in light.â
The lullaby wrapped him around, stopping his struggles and whines and instead relaxing and numbing the pain.Â
âDespite these somber eyes, I can see, there is time to close them awayâŠâÂ
Such a clear, siren-like voice called to him. It chilled the bones that wanted end so recently and brought along a warmth that coddled him endlessly. Soothing him, his own eyes began to calm into a slumber.Â
âIn hope, my love, without life in sight, your days will sayââ
âBLUEBELL!â Alice screamed at her, interrupting her beautiful song. From the erupt end, Ayu snapped back awake with the lingering melody as he turned to the distressed woman ahead of them. She ran and snatched him away from the siren, to his dismay.Â
âOh, Alice, you ruined his fun,â she said.Â
The head of the society glared at her. âYou impudentââ yet she turned back to the young boy with closing lids, âAre you alright?âÂ
Ayu remained silent, processing the event that just unfolded.Â
Another slowly walked into the scene, somehow shying away with her scarf.Â
âEilwen, I told you to keep watch on him,â she stomped towards the mentor.Â
âIââ she stammered. âI thought he would be alright considering heâs ofââ
âHe hasnât developed at all yet! Heâs only a mere child at this stage!â Alice shrieked in her stop. âGod, didnât you think of how Akeldama could be upset by this? â Ugh, thatâs beyond the point now. At least I managed to catch him before Akeldama arrived⊠How are you feeling Zâ Ayu?âÂ
The argument rather unsettled Ayuâs mood. The lullaby from before seemed as something to return to once more already⊠In all honesty, the song was not as horrifying as he imagined. â⊠Iâm doing fine.â
âBe honest.âÂ
More so, it lifted him up the slightest. âNo, I really mean it,â he told her. âKind of, uh, refreshed actually.â He forced a smile upon the odd feeling. That sense of wanting more began to kick in.Â
Alice nipped her lip and turned to Eilwen. âDo you believe itâd be alright to bring him back home? It doesnât seem all that badâŠâ The head turned again to the wonderful lady. âWeâll only need to console you later,â she spat at her, who only continued to water her plants once more.Â
She scoffed, âYou never tell us anything, Alice. How would I know of the consequences?âÂ
âWell, your fun may have caused you your own death grave.âÂ
Instead of anything else, Bluebell shrugged with a giggle, âDo you really think that matters anymore, Cecily?â
Alice huffed, patting Ayu towards the exit. âLetâs go; you need the rest.âÂ
***
The apartment entrance shut as Alice led the way. Ayu scurried behind her, unsure of her silent aggression.Â
Oliver sat by the couch, legs crisscrossed and Ayuâs textbook on his lap. He poked a pencil by his hand, jotting down on whatever pages Ayu bothered to commit to the day prior. Corrections most likely covered the pages considering previous marks on his answers.Â
He turned around at them, his pale eyes peering at Alice. âOh, hi⊠Alice, why are you here?âÂ
Originally, Ayu would have pondered as to why Oliver never asked why he was gone; however, that failed to bring him down that day. Alice instead pushed him gently more towards the inside as she explained. âAyu simply ran into a⊠mishap, while in Eilwenâs care. But donât worry, she and I will take care of it.âÂ
He dropped the book down onto the couch, standing up. âAlice, what happened?âÂ
âItâs nothing for you to worry about. The most Ayu will experience is some improper thinking and a state of intemperance.â
âBut I canât ask why?âÂ
âNo,â she stated, her voice reaching a new low. âYou arenât to be involved with anymore things that can harm you.â
âSo, heâs been hurt.â Oliverâs brows furrowed together at Alice, as he walked down to Ayuâs side. âAre you okay?âÂ
He told him, âYeah⊠Iâm great, Ollie.â A smiled crept up the slightest in his dazed fate.Â
His face raised into that of confusion. Only for him to sigh, âJust go, Alice. You arenât going to help me with this.â
She nodded in silence, and exited through the doorway and magic.Â
In the unknown, Oliver hummed and stared up until he faced Ayu again. âOkay, Ayu, what happened?âÂ
Unsure of how to reply, the serious tone gawking him, he only answered back, âNothing really⊠But, something really nice happened if thatâs what youâre thinking.âÂ
â⊠What?âÂ
He figured Oliver would like his story. âI met this lady, who sang a nice song and I got to hear it⊠Too bad Alice stopped it though. Oliver, you should have heard it, she sounded amazing.â His mind bubbled at the thoughts of it. âI think Iâll go try and visit her again. You should come with me.âÂ
âOh.â His face softened the slightest. âOkayâŠ?â
In the comforts of his thoughts, Ayu held up Oliverâs hand and gripped it in his smile. âTrust me, the song makes you forget about everything.âÂ
At those very words, Oliverâs mouth sided downwards. âSure,â his words slurred as he reached back in a smile.Â
Ayu let go of the hand, bringing himself to an arm stretch. âWell anyways, Iâm gonna take a nap.â Drifting off, he told his final words to Oliver, âIâll talk more about it later.â
In the room, instead of sleeping, Ayu actually giggled at himself and his own formulating thoughts. Not even sure himself as of why, he laid there, smiling and basking himself in the growing euphoria inside of him. However, his sense remained ever so prevalent, and his ways of listening peered from outside the room.Â
âYou have a clue, donât you, Vittorino?âÂ
âYeah,â he replied. âIâve only heard of Bluebell, but I know kids are her main targets⊠He mustâve been affected by her ability.â
â⊠What does she do?âÂ
He quickly jabbered, âItâs a more subdued but strong version of my ability. She sings people to sleep to kill them. But if she doesnât finish her songâŠâ
âAh,â Oliver said once connecting the dots. âAnd itâs going to get worse, I assume?âÂ
âMost likely.â
He sighed from the outside. âGoddamn itâŠâ
But Ayu listened to it all, and all he could reply from it was to shrug. Oh well.Â
-
Ten Dollars | Bread and Water | Red Eye | Crimson Capture | November 1st | A Mother | A Demon | A Child | The Wolf | Bloody Fingers | A Monochrome World | The Pocketwatch | Iâll Have My Day | Two Weeks | Monsters | Sleepover | First Meal | DearestÂ
#writing#my writing#writeblr#writblr#writers on tumblr#swearing warning#religion warning?? christianity warning???#burning warning#murder mention#genocide mention#kinda#alcohol warning#child murder mention
9 notes
·
View notes
Text
we donât talk about how i forgot to upload twice
#i have decent but bad reasons#1 for last week:#i was on a family trip#2 this week:#today was my brother's birthday#and i forgot#i tried being quiet about it and seeing if it would slide but uh#yeah this is me being dumb at this point#the chapter will be up tomorrow sorry
0 notes
Text
Black Sun Tale | Dearest
i feel like this chapter has a lot. huh. iâm the the lot is some great content though.
remember that this is a first draft with only minor edits, but enjoy! comments and reception is always appreciated.
-
A snore crept out of one of the two, gentle albeit messy⊠What a distracting noise, yet that of comfortable nostalgia from being bothered by such a thing, even if both were asleep.Â
Though regardless, the spring sunrise shined from the window. Its rays focusing on the room and gleaming on the third-grade textbooks, barely finished, or the piles of papers and utensils on the floor. The conundrum of a mess bustling itself with scribbles of drawings and poetry and leftover clothing picked out after shopping with assumedly-stolen money. Sheet music notes and lesson-charts sat comfortably on the side, piling itself and waiting for when it can scatter around the room with the rest. A ukulele shined from next to the bed and the bookshelf left ignored from the wavering sun whilst a switchblade was left hidden and ignored in the closet for the first time in ages. And with such a sight from the young boysâ room, the loving chaos still hid from outsiders that never knew of one of the two.Â
Those two however, shined beyond the rest. From one taking up majority of the bed, and the other almost fighting back with the blankets, they tangled up together in comfort of one another. Their breathing calmed with both of their touch from an earlier embrace and the mere knowledge of the otherâs presence lifted oneâs fears. Â
In the light, one awoke, bothered by it. His mixed eyes pinched with the rising sun, and in the matter of seconds, he realized their tangled position. Despite the oddity, he chuckled silently at the normality. With careful arms, he unraveled Oliverâs arms over his and attempted his best at rolling off again.Â
âYou arenât leaving him, are you,â she asked.
âOf course, not,â he whispered back. Away from the bed, his mind wandered to what item in the room to pick up first. For one, the instrument was off limits for the time being after almost breaking a string. Secondly, a sad burnout began erupting for him towards his sketchbook, as Oliver explained prior. Silence was always a rule for the night by Ayuâs standards, from when he snuck across rooms to be rid of his motherâs bottles, to even then to not possibly wake another mother.Â
He would have winced at the last choice of the textbook, however in his luck, Oliver stirred. Stirring always meant his soft waking in Ayuâs head. In the anticipation of the new day, Ayu lofted his head at the bed again, waiting for Oliverâs stirring to end, and his eyes to flutter up.Â
Oliver met his innocent eyes when he first awoke, shining brightly with those colors of blue and grey, no red in sight. His hands clasped empty, with the person he hugged in the night sitting on the floor next to him. Groggy, he sat up, pulling the blankets that fell over back into the bed. âCan you fix the blankets today?âÂ
âYeah.â Oliver rolled out of bed himself with the reply from Ayu. âIf you let me skip the math questions today,â he smiled.Â
âAyu, you canât avoid long division for a week.â Oliver picked up some leftover papers from last night on the floor, forming yet another pile. âIt isnât even that hard to figure out.â
âSays the one who never struggled in school.â He grabbed a paper off of Oliverâs hands. âBesides, arenât I getting a lesson from Eilwen today?â
âYeah, but you havenât seen her in a few months,â he took away the drawing. In it held a simple portrait of outside the window frame. Oliver smiled at the simplicity but continued, âAnd you havenât been in school for almost five years. Thereâs a difference.âÂ
Ayu pouted, to Oliverâs pity.
âTo make up for it, Iâll make whatever youâd like in the fridge,â Oliver said.Â
He however retorted, âIsnât that just the usual deal?â
That was actually a fair point surprisingly. âWell, yeahâ but itâs better than nothing, isnât it? Canât do much when Iâm eleven.â
â⊠Iâll take it.â
Ayu still sat on the floor with a paper and book on his lap; Oliver lied around in the freshened bed relaxing himself from finished work. Though, Ayu reached out the paper, pointing at a section of the notes, and asked, âOllie, whatâs the fraction remainder of this one?âÂ
âTwo-thirds.âÂ
*
Eilwen sat by the edge of her candlelit room, darkened from the lack of light. Her head balanced crookedly to the rest of her body with her hands placed justly underneath. The pocket-watch seemed nowhere in sight but in front of her bestowed multiple items.Â
Ayu stood by the door, thoughts curating on what sort of lesson he would experience today. His nose tickled and ran from the odd scent of the room. And his eyes burned for no apparent reason. However; remained quiet without much of a complaint.
âAyu, you do know your eyes are bright red at the moment, correct?âÂ
In the question and the realization, he blinked and shook his head. âNo, not really⊠But it doesnât happen that much. Why does it smell funny in here?âÂ
She answered the second question as a brush off. âI burnt some sage here before you arrived to see effects on you. But, youâre saying your eyes are something of occasion,â she asked.Â
â⊠I guess?âÂ
The tension grew from Eilwenâs end. She breathed out. âI didnât call you here for a lesson,â she said, âYouâre here so I can test you.â
âWhat?â The word test frightened Ayu from Oliverâs past mentions of it. âWhy do you want toââ
âYour associations with Akeldama are rather peculiar, are they not?â She stood up, holding the first item up against her gloves. Despite the covered cloth, the item steamed in her hands.Â
Ayu nodded, backing away in the process.Â
âI want to understand why Akeldama has such affiliations with you from what Alice had told me⊠What your connection with him is, in a sense.â Her eyes tilted towards the other items behind them then. âI assume you heal quickly like Oliver?âÂ
The question rang worry. âWhy are you asking?âÂ
âI wonât if you donât abide to it, but I hoped to see at least some blood samples from you to be frank.â The item still steamed in her hand, but her face showed no reaction.Â
The sight brought Ayu to ignore her answer. âIsnât that thing painful?âÂ
She finally held it in the sight of Ayu; it was a cross. âWhy, yes itâs supposed to from our contracts with Akeldama. But Iâve held one enough times for my hands to be null void.â Her eyes blinked into a pause. âItâs safe to assume that this may hurt, and you may run off if you like.â
But the door already left them.Â
âAre you willing to help me run these tests?âÂ
With hesitance, but curiosity, Ayu nodded.Â
âThank you.âÂ
Soon enough, Ayu was seated in a chair placed near the table, oddly ready for any testing.
Kneeling closer to him, she asked, âWhere would you want this placed if it stings?âÂ
He gestured at his legs, not as boney as their prior meeting, but enough for Eilwen to comment, âYou seem to have harmed this place alreadyâŠâ
âJust get it over with,â he said.Â
With an eye at him, she replied, âAlright. Please donât kick if it does hurt. Iâve heard of your strength before.â
And with the comment, she placed the cross down on his shin in the slowest of pace. From the tip of the metal to the mass of the shape, a burning sensation kicked instantly.Â
His urge to jolt attacked him with the pain, but instead of doing as such, he hissed instead for her favor, âStop, stop, stopââ
She herself jolted from the command, and pulled back with a stern expression. Her eyes studied the shin it was placed in, âOh dear.âÂ
The recovery from the pain still lasted, up to his stomachâs own urge to somehow vomit. âWhat?âÂ
âIt seemed to have left a mark.âÂ
âIt what?!âÂ
âDo you have a pain tolerance?â She asked. âBecause it seems to be very harmful.âÂ
The surprise made Ayu fluster, âHow bad is it?âÂ
âClose to blistering it appears,â she turned to him, âbut it looks bad enough that you should have screamedâŠâ
The scent of the room did not help with the minor pain that left regardless. âI canât compare how bad it was⊠I donât think Iâve been hit by someone before. Iâve only hit⊠others, and myself.âÂ
Her staring froze. âIs that where these bruises are from?âÂ
âYeah,â he answered, âIâm dumb arenât I?âÂ
âIdiotic.â A hand grabbed bandages from the side and wrapped both injuries. âLetâs see whatâs next.â
She pricked deep enough into his finger for a decent amount in her sample vile. The color of his blood strained darker than most other shades he had seen.Â
âWhat are you gonna do with that anyways?â
She answered, âTest it with everything else. The plant will be the more interesting subject considering how an iblisâ blood can be poisonous if found.â
âHow poisonous is the monster blood?â It was a strange idea to Ayu, considering he had never seen the blood of the monsters before.
She scoffed, âYou can turn into one of them yourself if you indulge in it, though it takes a couple of pints.â She grabbed the cursed cross again, âLetâs try it here first.âÂ
On top of a wooden plate, the experimenter tipped the vile ever so slightly. With time, the dark blood crept down on into the cross, and at the first touch, the blood burnt off. Â
A click nipped from her lips. âUncommon attributes in your blood I see.âÂ
Throughout the entire procedures, her hands never wrote notes onto anything, to Ayuâs notice. Her calculations all occurred in her head with little analysis, and the methods all formally played out in her assumptions. In curiosity of these readings, he asked her, âHow do you know all this stuff?âÂ
Already, her focus faced the plant in the very corner. Its stems stuck up in thickness and lines whilst the leaves made no focus for themselves, leaving the stems to wander up and about around the vase. âI know most of these through experience. However, Alice did teach me of basic human study after her days in home remedy.â
Another drop formed from the vile into the plant, and after a mere second effects arose.Â
Eilwen stepped back from the reaction, as the stems that stretched so lively began to wilt and grow black. All the parts of the plant dove down from its previous ways and lied dead on its vase with the dark colors quickly proceeding.Â
âThisâŠâ Eilwen held her breath, only to Ayuâs wonder for the plant.Â
Despite its obvious death, once the black corroded through the being, it dissolved back into the vase. Then abruptly sprouted again into snapping little creatures. The creatures almost hissed in wails, seeping out the tiniest bits of liquid, but soon enough a flame was put through it.Â
The flame, brought upon by Eilwen and her candle, also died down relatively quickly with the monster.Â
Without Ayu even realizing, Eilwen huffed from assumedly her held breath. âThatâŠâ She placed her candle down. âI wouldnât have guessed.âÂ
The door appeared once again.Â
âYou may leave,â she said, âI believe I have enough of what I need⊠Be wary of whatâs to come soon.â
*
Oliver left himself in his âI give upâ stance again, lying down in the grass field after ages of exhausting himself over shapeshifting.Â
Into the sky, he groaned, âYou think itâs supposed to be easier after making a fucking cup disappear but now youâre warping your physical form.â And the frustration leading his hands to pull his face.Â
With the sky, he stared at it for far too long. Enough for his focus to trance into the abyss of his blank thoughts. But after another blink, a pair of eyes stared down at him.Â
âWhatâre you doing,â Ayu asked.Â
The suddenness of his appearance bolted Oliver up, knocking their foreheads together evenly. âHoly shit,â Oliver hissed while getting up, âwhere did you come from?â
âI just walked up here!â
âBut I didnât evenââ He paused. âIs this how it feels to get invisible-pranked?â
In reaction and quick recovery form the hit, Ayu only blinked. âI donât know.â
âGreat response.â Oliver brought himself up again from Ayuâs arrival. âHow come youâre here so early.â
A shrug rolled from his shoulders, âEilwen let me off just now so I came to watch you practice.â
The new pressure of the hour claimed itself to Oliver. Now with his widened eyes and his lazy state, he waited for Ayu to add.Â
âIâll be quiet support,â he cheered with jazz hands, to the otherâs adoration. âBut⊠what are you doing?â
The topic, in which Oliver never wanted to try again, needed to be explained yet again by his sigh, âI got introduced to shapeshifting today.âÂ
âOh, my God,â Ayu jumped in his seat, âYouâre doing it for once?â
âYeah,â the excitement rolled Oliverâs eyes over. âBut, I have to figure out how to deteriorate my body first!â
And with just those words, Ayuâs expression changed and his head tipped over.Â
â⊠Iâll turn into a black abyss then I can turn into things.â
âOh!â The idea finally clicked. âThat⊠Okay I get why thatâs hard now.âÂ
Oliver nodded along with him, and sat back down with him. âToday Iâm just trying to get my hand to warp.â He placed his hand into front attention, and both him and Ayu stared into it.Â
â⊠Is anything gonna happen?â
âNope.â
The issue brought some struggles into the table for Ayuâs day, as thought was required. Though luckily, ideas already crept through his mind during the conversation. âDid you try⊠turn your hand invisible.âÂ
The command baffled Oliver at first. âWhat? Okay.â But the command was simple by this point. Within a few seconds, his hand vanished between the two of them. âNow what?âÂ
He needed to think up of the words. âPretend like that hand that should be there, belongs to someone else?âÂ
âLike whose?âÂ
âI donât know.â Some digging dove in his mind. âLetâs say Faustus to make fun of him.âÂ
Oliver chuckled.Â
âFaustus wants his hand back,â he said. âBut youâre hiding that hand from him.â
âThrough invisibility?âÂ
âNo,â he replied. âFrom making it not exist for him.â
With his foreign words, Oliver followed what Ayu said with hesitance. âNow what?âÂ
âTurn off the invisible stuff.â
And from those silly words, Oliver did just that. His hand slowly revealed itself, to both of their dismay to see the typical brown. However, soon enough the tips of his fingers appeared, and one was missing.âÂ
For a few seconds, they both stared. Then Oliver spoke out, âWhat the fuck?âÂ
A bend of the hand later, the piece is still gone. He pulled it over and inside the missing piece of limb was a void of nothingness inside the hand. Eyes widened, Oliver shook it back and forth, and then poked himself with the finger. The piece literally was not present.Â
Disheveled, Oliver confirmed, âOkay, so I think it worked, but how do I undo it?â
âUh,â Ayu panicked after realizing even he never knew what he was saying. His own limbs shook in thinking. âJust think it exists again?âÂ
âI donât think thatâs enough description, Ayu!âÂ
âDo you think I know what description is,â he barked. âI donât know, bite your finger?â
âAyu,â Oliver stated, âMy pain tolerance is nonexistent; Iâll bite my finger off if I do that.â
âFuck youâre right,â he agreed. âAnd I donât want to punch you againâŠâ
âWhy are all your backup options involving me getting beat up?âÂ
 Ayu answered back, âBecause those are the ones I was always taught!â
âWell, thatâs another thing thatâs concerning but weâll talk about that later,â he exclaimed. But it turned out that after their small argument, they looked back at the issue and it already returned.Â
They both took a minute, but sighed in relief once they hit the ground.Â
â⊠You really resort to punching?âÂ
Ayu reminded himself of the comment. After a few shuffles, he said, âI guess so.â He went on, âI ask what to do and itâs pretty much always fighting back⊠and hit yourself to make you stop. All that stuff.âÂ
A tense grew in Oliver. âAyu, thatâs really not a good thing?â He rolled over towards Ayu, leaning himself on one arm. âThatâs just bad for your wellbeing, and makes you a dick. Besides, itâs cooler to use your wits nowadays.â
Ayu replied, âBut Iâm not smart, Iâm just dumb.âÂ
And at that moment all the insults Oliver threw months before clicked back to him. Oh shit. âYou can be smart, like just now. You were able to figure out deterioration before I could.âÂ
âI guessed though. I didnât even know what I was saying.â
âBut it worked.âÂ
âEven though I couldnât help you get rid of itâŠâ His body turned around, away from Oliver.Â
A small frown packed Oliverâs face, obvious of Ayuâs growing discomfort. A new strategy had to be formed, quickly at that. He stood up from their lazy states. âYou know what? I think I know what we could do while weâre here.â
âWhat?â
And Oliver turned invisible.Â
âReally,â Ayu complained.Â
However, it was all in Oliverâs plans of new fun. Backing up, he set himself to charge at Ayu and run away of impact. Luckily, he gained some speed through his dieting, and the abilities helped. After a decent distance, enough to only view Ayu as a well-sized blob, he ran towards him. Swiftly, the breeze grazed his hair and face at the charge, and with nifty hands, he patted Ayuâs head.Â
âTag,â he yelped while appearing again, only to hide himself once more.Â
âOh,â Ayu got up as well. âOh, you little fuck,â he smiled. A jump and a kick off later, and he busted running in his speeds.
The speed itself flinched Oliver for its arrival, but he laughed and continued running nonetheless.Â
For Ayu, however, was a different story. Despite Oliverâs own advantage of his invisibility, the crunches he formed onto the grass still paved his path everywhere he ran. Then lurking in his ears, Ayu heard those footsteps and all the twists Oliver made in his own escape, an experience he already faced prior. But regardless, he played along with Oliverâs sense of superiority in the game.Â
âCome on, Ayu! Iâm pretty sure out of anyone, you can catch me,â Oliver cheered.Â
Oh, is that what heâs going for? Ayu sighed in his head, but figured Oliver was already putting all his efforts in anyways. Suppose he just wanted to lift his spirits, in fact, he was, but the comment already seemed forced. Regardless, he determined himself to take advantage of the moment. âAlright, guess I will.âÂ
Tracking Oliverâs running patterns seemed easy enough. His turns, after a good bit of fake-running and waiting, finally made to where Ayu could catch him. And at that time and curve, Ayu ran for the win.Â
With Oliverâs breeze of a run, he turned his head to check Ayuâs whereabouts, ready for the next tease. However, he did not expect Ayu to run directly at him in the side, then tackling him with the yell of a, âTag!âÂ
The momentum of the tackle left both of them falling and rolling together on the grass in recoil. Through the rolling and tumbling with grass sticking to their clothes, it ultimately ended up with Ayu pinning Oliver underneath him in winning fashion. They stared into each other, but the rolling pains hit them both as Oliver laughed, âOkay, I think I lost.â
Ayu, blinking for a second, laughed back and let go of the position, returning to lie down next to him.Â
They giggled off a little more for the childish game, disregarding them still being children.
âThe tackle didnât do anything, did it?âÂ
âNo,â Oliver reassured, âThe rolls just cracked my bones a bit much.â
âNo breaking?â
âPretty sure not.â
The new silent peace brought upon Oliver to add on to it. â⊠How long has it been since weâve met?â
Ayu said, âWe met in October, so thatâd make it seven months, right?â
âGood math.â
âThanks.â
Oliver continued after his compliment. âA lot happened after that, didnât it?â
âMainly because of coincidences but fair point.â The grass itched Ayuâs skin but in a comforting manner. âHonestly, the monsters have been gone long enough that I can relax a little more.â
âYeah, now Iâm the only one you have to deal with.â
âDonât say that!âÂ
Oliver giggled at his retort, âOkay Iâm exaggerating; we havenât seen the wolf in forever, I know. But you have to admit, I still have monstrous tendencies even if we doubt it.â
âDonât we all?â
â⊠Yeah everyone hereâs a little fucked up apparently.âÂ
A calming ambiance chilled them over while they gazed at the sky together. However, for Oliver, the topics that he hid from himself and Ayu rushed back in his mind through the silence. The time was perfect for him to ruin it, but everything always ruined everything, so he pushed ahead.Â
âAyu⊠How are you feeling right now?âÂ
Ayu tilted his head towards him. âGood? This is kinda nice, you can say.âÂ
âNo, I donât mean that,â Oliver said. âI mean, itâs good that youâre feeling good right now butâ. How are you feeling about life? With how you got here, and the wishes, or your dreams?â
Ayu gripped his hair. âIsnât that a little much to ask?âÂ
âI just want you to let out whateverâs in your mind for once,â Oliver said. âSince I donât think youâve ever gotten much of that.â
âYes, I have,â he argued.Â
But it was all invalid with, âAyu, you told me you were taught to cope by beating stuff up six minutes ago.âÂ
The counter jabbed Ayu a bit with his own prior words. He blinked a few times, then breathed out. âOkay, but thereâs not much to say.âÂ
âThatâs fine, just let it out.âÂ
Thinking forced Ayu to sit up. â⊠Where do I start?â
âAnywhere, I assume. And Iâll ask as you go on probably.âÂ
That help reached Ayu as if nothing touched him. âOkay⊠I guess letâs start with my dreams?âÂ
No reply.Â
âThereâs nothing that bad with my dreams; actually, I think I like them,â he began. âUhm, I like them because theyâre good for my stories. But, they usually add more to it than needed from what people told me, and it makes everything too confusing for them to like. My stories are trashy, compared to how I wanted them to be since⊠I never told anyone this before, butâŠâ
âBut what,â Oliver asked.Â
For some reason, Ayu could never control his grin at the motive. âIâm making my comics for somebody; I want them to be proud of me after I worked so hard.â
A smile crept from Oliver. âThatâs pretty sweet.âÂ
However, the tone died after breaking innocence. âThey donât like how I made it, though. Itâs disappointing⊠They said nobody would ever bother to read it⊠Thatâs one of the ways Iâm kinda incompetent, really incompetent.âÂ
âAyu, youâre notââ
âShut up,â he exclaimed, âyou already told me that a million times.â
His tone brought Oliver to fear in his tangent. Had he ever heard the boy tell him something like that?
âIâm an incompetent, dumbass kid,â he said. âIâm that dumbass who killed so many people because I asked without thinking. I was eight sure but can I do anything about it now? No; because Iâm too fucking weak to do anything about it despite every step I take and Iâm hurting people somehow.â
His words picked up in volume, and his speeds brought his monologue into rambling. The more he spoke, the more he pulled his hair as well.Â
âEverybody is suffering because of me and my stupid, selfish wishes. I wanted to be a hero; I wanted to have friends, but I didnât know what that meant. And I canât stop it! I have to rely on everybody and sit around with only comics at my side and even that is terrible! I do nothing and I practically am nothing; pretty much nobody knows I exist anymore anyways. And none of this would have happened if I was a bitch andââ
With all of his huffs and drive, he stopped. Gasps for air came his way for his held breath. But soon, his breathing crumbled, along with his voice.Â
âWhy did I runâŠ?â
All of his venting shook Oliver in his core. The pieces of this conclusion seemed as something that laid right in front of him for ages. Yet, only now did he see them pieced together. And that, processed poorly. âAyu, whatââ
Ayu propped himself up and his feet moved with his mouth. âFuck this.âÂ
Oliverâs processing unit somehow slowed from its increasing malfunction. But once Ayu continued walking farther, he himself propped up into a quick run. âAyu, wait.â He grabbed his hand, grasping it and holding it steady. Denying words could never work again, he figured. So, basic assurance seemed as the only thing of help. âItâs going to be okay.â
âHow?!âÂ
He gulped, âIâm here⊠and weâll fix it all together. One step at a time.â Lacing their fingers together, Ayuâs shaking, Oliver brought to him a smile. The same peaceful smile he raised up to his mom for so many years, all to preserve life behind the dread.Â
Despite his efforts, Ayu did not turn and eye into it. Instead, he froze with the shaking hand, and clenched his grip.Â
âAyu,â he cried, âthatââ but he stopped the rest of the sentence. Another trigger would ruin the moment, so he endured the pressure.Â
And afterwards, Ayu chuckled with the smallest sound. âYouâre a lot nicer than before. You know that?â
Ignoring the pain, he replied, âIâve always been nice; itâs just that I think I forgot how to care for a while until you came along.â
âIâm just that much, arenât I?â He yanked out of the hand-holding, much to Oliverâs lost balance. âWe should go back to Alice. Itâs been a while hanging out here.â
Regaining balance, Oliver stared at the now calm Ayu in disbelief, as it seemed he copied his own style of emotion recovery and avoidance. Well, not entirely, but similarly in nature. âUh⊠Yeah I guess we should.â
As they arrived, Alice stood by the porch table, setting the final touches to what appeared as Oliverâs proper meal of the week. The faint scent already hit his nose as he waited for the satisfying dish.Â
With a quick glance, Alice jeered out, âOliver! How is your progress now?âÂ
âItâs okay,â he yelled back. âWhatâs the food today?âÂ
âAn average roast. I didnât have many ideas in mind today.âÂ
âWell, it still smells good,â he added. Once he reached to Aliceâs spot, he took over the seat.Â
âWait a moment, Oliver, I still need to fetch a utensil.â However, right as she began entering back into the cottage, her eyes glanced at an Ayu standing by the side. âOh, you can sit along with him. I prepared a meal for you too.â
âYou did?âÂ
âYes,â she nodded. âI knew of Eilwen calling you over for something so I figured you should have something else for the occasion.âÂ
âHuh,â he said. Hopping from the steps to the porch floor, he replied, âThank you,â as he sat by Oliver, ready for their first time dining together.Â
***
âAlice, why are you taking us inside?âÂ
âBecause,â she led them inside her cottage and the surprisingly various rooms inside. âItâs been some time since you asked me for that gift you mentioned, and Iâve finally gotten what I needed to give it to you.âÂ
One final turn interrupted Oliver. âWait, do you meanâ oh, my God!â He ran towards the present in astonishment around his face.Â
Ayu watched in confusion. What Oliver gushed over in awe appeared to be a piano, but one of old browns and rust. He figured the boy would never be impressed by the quality. Though, the rustic nature had an appeal.Â
âAlice, how did you find this?â He squeaked at the press of an out-of-tune key. âThis is an antique!âÂ
He studied the features of the metals and the wood cuts around it all as Alice spoke. âWell, I went and talked to Akeldama about you wanting the instrument, and he happened to have a lot lying around according to him.â
The name rang a bell for both of them, and they both questioned, âAkeldama had this?âÂ
âWhy, yes. He has many items in his pocket dimension.âÂ
Ayu asked, âAnd whatâs that?âÂ
âHis storage space.â
Oliver cracked up at the fact, but Ayu stood baffled at the idea of Akeldama giving such a gift to Oliver.Â
In playfulness, Oliver played a few chords to test. âI wonder how old this is from the lack of tuning⊠Did Akeldama not care?âÂ
âHe may have not been interested in this one specifically, but it may have been the best he had. And if it needs adjustments, he may still know a thing or two.âÂ
The offer seemed promising, but Oliver shrugged it off. âNah, I think this is fine. It fits the old-ness in a way.â
The chords built themselves off more and more, but they all played choppily. And after a few more notes he knew from his own signature instrument, his mind paused. ⊠I donât know how to play this thing. Through a simple yet rushed transition, he set aside his playing. âIâll need some practice but honestly, this is great,â he laughed. âHey Ayu, why donât you try a little?â
Ayu, staring by the side, whipped his mind awake and asked, âWhat?â
âCome on a play,â he repeated.Â
âWhy would I play it? Itâs yoursâŠâÂ
He beamed at him. âBecause, it sounds funny. Plus, itâd be nice for you to just try it out since I donât know much either.â
That smile intimidated Ayu somehow, enough to give in. And he sat beside him on the piano seat. Once some moments of silence set in, he knew Oliver would not guide him yet. Thus, he prodded his fingers onto the keys, one by one, pressing at random. No melody formed, nor did a tempo, or a key, or anything of substance. This went on for multiple seconds to a few minutes.Â
The stiffness bothered Oliver to no end, in reality, as his patience stabbed him in the gut for letting Ayu play in such a way. However, an alternative was found to save himself from such experimentation. âHere, letâs teach you a chord.âÂ
He guided one of Ayuâs hands to the beginning of an octave, and slowly adjusted his fingers to the right keys. Once they aligned correctly, he gently pressed for him to play.Â
âThatâs what should be a C major chord.â He patted Ayu in the achievement. âAnd I think you can make up your own now, can you?âÂ
For a moment, Ayu glared at the keys, carefully placing his fingers over new ones and pressing.Â
âInteresting⊠Thatâs a suspended chord.â
âYou know I wonât remember anything youâre telling me, right,â he asked deadpanned.
Oh no, the attitude is back. âProbably.â
âOh,â Alice said while in the background. âOliver?â
âYeah?â
âI assume youâre about to leave, correct?â
Oliver nodded while playing with Ayu.Â
âThereâs something else Iâve been saving for when you do leave,â she said.
Curious, Oliver turned and stood from his seat towards her. âWhat is it?âÂ
Opening her book, she summoned a flat-looking bag in front of them. âWhen I asked for the piano, Akeldama said to also give you this along with it.âÂ
She handed it off to him, and both him and Ayu looked at the small bag in confusion whilst the inside felt hollow. âWhyâd he give me this?â
She shook her head, âI do not know, but you may open it.â
From the bag, Ayu gathered next to Oliver as well. The strangeness of the gift increased most definitely for both of them, but what was inside still mystified the air.Â
Reluctantly, Oliver opened the bag to find the hollow item, and even then, was there more confusion.Â
***
Huh, Oliver stared at the gift after his research in his room. From its sheen wood surface that plated itself with small metal keys, it was a confirmed kalimba, or thumb piano as the internet sometimes called it.
Such a strange item, he studied. Its keys played gently of that of a music box for a lullaby, which it technically could be accounted for both literally and purposefully. Sure, it was mix-matched, and the pretty keys were jagged from age, but the sound made up for it all. Melodies formed easily and gracefully even if played choppy from his infers. Honestly, it seemed of some use for his style of music and covers.Â
While studying he joked, âAyu, you can probably master this thing, its super simple.â
But Ayuâs reply was nothing.Â
Despite the silence, Oliver continued. So, Akeldama first gives me a switchblade and now a nice, aesthetic instrument? We need to look more into him nowadays. âÂ
âHey, Ollie,â Ayu called out from the bedside.
âWhat is it?â
âCome over here.â
A lopsided look was given to him, but light only illuminated in Oliverâs corner of the room, so Ayuâs expression hid in the darkness. Regardless, Oliver stepped onto the bed by Ayuâs side and asked, âWhatâs up?âÂ
And only in the matter of seconds did Ayu tackle him again, only onto the bed and in a shaking hug. He grasped and clung to Oliver as tight as ever, yet the grip was weak and shivering.Â
Soon whilst lying down, a sniffle covered the roomâs sound, then another, until cries rang onto Oliverâs ears.Â
âI,â Ayu trembled in his words, âIâm sorry⊠I canât do anything.âÂ
He continued crying into Oliverâs chest, rubbing his tears all over his sweater. Oliver looked down upon what was occurring, but instead of any surprise or panic, he knew something would arise from that conversation. More than he initially expected.Â
He hugged back, cradling the boyâs head in his arms and brushing the tuffs of his hair.Â
âItâs okay, itâs okay,â he whispered, âIâm here for you, remember?âÂ
With every comb, his hands faintly touched Ayuâs shaking body. He gasped for the air out of his cries and wailed in choking up.Â
âHere, letâsâŠâ Oliver glanced over from their position, in which they were stuck in the middle of the bed, and all of Ayuâs weight hefted onto him. âLetâs get a little bit more comfortableâŠâ
He moved them into the pillows and under the blankets, where Ayu still hung on Oliver under his head. Â
âAyu,â Oliver began, âyouâre a good person. I know that for sure.âÂ
He remained silent, much to Oliverâs incline.Â
âYouâre probably the best person Iâve ever met. A best friend if you will. Weâre best friends, right?âÂ
He felt a nod underneath him.Â
Oliver smiled. âIâm glad⊠Out of anyone, I think I was the selfish brat at first, but then I met you, as dumb as the introductions were,â He chuckled at his speech. âYou changed my life, and helped me realize that I wasnât going to be alone forever andâŠâ Even he began to choke up at his words.Â
âAnd what,â Ayu croaked.Â
âYou arenât going to leave me.â Despite the emotions, Oliver set it aside from Ayuâs turn. âThat was my fear, I guess. But you disproved that and you havenât left me alone since; and, youâre wonderful to be around.â
Only those sniffles were left to handle.Â
âYouâre moreâŠâ Damn, compliments are trickier like this. âYou have this stubborn bravery to you that I like. And your simple thinkingâs actually calming for me since I overthink half the time⊠Simpleâs the best way to put it; you answer everything as you see it and I think it works for a duo like you and me. Despite everything youâve been through, you still want to stand with your goals since you know thatâs right⊠Thatâs what I love about you; you have hope. You had enough hope to give me a chance, to tell me that everything will be better just like Iâm telling you right now. I wouldâve given up, Ayu, so long ago, and right now Iâm stopping you from going down the path I couldâve gone to.â
He hugged Ayu back as tight as he did.Â
âIâm sorry if I ever said or did anything to hurt you. I didnât know what I was saying. Youâve gone through just as much as I have⊠Thatâs something else I realized.â
With his words, Ayu kept silent. But finally, he said, âThank you.â Then asked, â⊠Can you keep on talking? Just about anything. I want to listen to you.â
He nodded back. âAlright. Anything?âÂ
âYeahâŠâÂ
Memories of his own request flurried back in Oliverâs mind in his understanding of that need of comfort. âI can talk about how my day was with you, then,â and the words fluttered in Ayuâs ears as he calmed from his stuttered breathing. Â
âOh yeah, there was this thought I had for a while.â
Ayu nuzzled in from the cuddling, still listening to Oliverâs words as it started to dry out from speaking. He listened to his day, his thoughts, his imaginations, ideas, epiphanies, everything that whisked him away somehow. They all expressed mindfulness in each word, and he could not have enough. âWhat is it?â
âI started thinking about this scenario,â Oliver rasped, âabout if the world ended.âÂ
His own voice drowned in a drowsy state, eyes burning from all the crying and exhaustion. âThat doesnât sound like a nice thought.â
âObviously not,â he huffed. âBut, I was wondering what people would do⊠and what would I do in that scenario. If the world was dying, and it was only a matter of time for me, or you, or anybody to be next.â
ââŠAnd?â
âThere wasnât much I could think of, since it really does depend on how the world ends, but out of all the routes, thereâs only one thing I want to do for all of them.â
The nature of the conversation rang dangerous bells for Ayu, yet he continued it with, âWhat would that be?â
He said, âI would never want to go to sleep.â
âWhyâs that?â
âBecause,â he explained, âyou can die at any point when itâs all over. So, if Iâm asleep, I can die in my sleep, and I would never have the chance to goodbye⊠to anybody.â
His answer spoke to Ayu, and remained as words for him to remember always. However, with his tired mind and recovering state, he replied, âMakes sense⊠Ollie, can you sing for me?â
He looked down upon him. âIs there a particular reason why?â
âThe worldâs not ending, so I think Iâm ready to sleep right now.â
He chuckled a little, combing his hair once more. âOkay. Iâm guessing you want an original.â
âI never heard one so,â Ayu snuggled in with his own smile, âobviously.â
Oliverâs face warmed, but without any embarrassment. âOkay, Ayu.â
And with lyrics for the occasion, he quietly sang a piece from those nights of new beginnings.
âMy dearest,Â
all the shadows that have followed us have comeÂ
and gone.Â
My dearest,Â
all the darkest that had weighed me down
is far and long evermore.
My dearest,Â
you have come to greet me in a lightÂ
that shines across us every nightâŠ
My dearest,
We will roll along again.â
Oliverâs eyes drifted, with his last view being Ayu sleeping by him, his tears gone and his breathing cooled. He smiled as he closed that view, uttering the last words.Â
âMy dearest,Â
We will roll along again.âÂ
-
Ten Dollars | Bread and Water | Red Eye | Crimson Capture | November 1st | A Mother | A Demon | A Child | The Wolf | Bloody Fingers | A Monochrome World | The Pocketwatch | Iâll Have My Day | Two Weeks | Monsters | Sleepover | First Meal
#writing#my writing#writeblr#writblr#writers on tumblr#black sun tale#bst#chapter 18#swearing warning#burn warning#blister warning#crippling self doubt warning#missing limb#minor aggressiveness?#apocalypse mention#death mention#bst ayu & oliver#bst eilwen#bst alice#bst akeldama mention
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
Black Sun Tale | First Meal
i kNOW ITâS MIDNIGHT AND ITâS VERY LATE BUT I SAID IâD POST ITÂ âTOMORROWâ AND RIGHT NOW ITS TONIGHT IâM GETTING THISâ
that being said, remember that this is a first draft with only minor edits, but regardless enjoy! comments and reception is always appreciated.Â
-
A gathering placed itself in the living room on a midwinterâs day. Cups stacked up around each other at the table whilst the group of three conversed together.Â
âNow then,â Ayu sat beside Oliver, a cup of apple juice in his hand after becoming a fanatic over it. They both eyed Vittorino in their seats for the new conversation topic. âWhat are people in your society like,â Ayu asked.Â
Oliver never bothered with the question, considering already meeting two of the second eras and never wanting to meet another again. âI think you should know what theyâre like, Ayu.âÂ
âI still wanna know,â Ayu retorted.Â
The question still had Oliver rolling his eyes. But he allowed Vittorino to speak for once.Â
The teen rolled back on his chair, facing upwards and reaching for what to say. âThat isnât that great of a question,â he said, âthey all kinda suck.âÂ
Keep reading
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
Black Sun Tale | First Meal
i kNOW ITâS MIDNIGHT AND ITâS VERY LATE BUT I SAID IâD POST ITÂ âTOMORROWâ AND RIGHT NOW ITS TONIGHT IâM GETTING THISâ
that being said, remember that this is a first draft with only minor edits, but regardless enjoy! comments and reception is always appreciated.Â
-
A gathering placed itself in the living room on a midwinterâs day. Cups stacked up around each other at the table whilst the group of three conversed together.Â
âNow then,â Ayu sat beside Oliver, a cup of apple juice in his hand after becoming a fanatic over it. They both eyed Vittorino in their seats for the new conversation topic. âWhat are people in your society like,â Ayu asked.Â
Oliver never bothered with the question, considering already meeting two of the second eras and never wanting to meet another again. âI think you should know what theyâre like, Ayu.âÂ
âI still wanna know,â Ayu retorted.Â
The question still had Oliver rolling his eyes. But he allowed Vittorino to speak for once.Â
The teen rolled back on his chair, facing upwards and reaching for what to say. âThat isnât that great of a question,â he said, âthey all kinda suck.âÂ
âOf course, they would,â Oliver commented.Â
Ayu sipped on his cup, but continued asking questions. âBut, werenât you basically raised with them?â
He shrugged in his seat. âSure, yeah. We talk like a normal family almost, but I think we can all agree that weâre all dysfunctional for one another.âÂ
The interest finally peaked for Oliver, his ears raising, and he asked another question. âHow come?â
âItâs just how we were raised,â he answered. âWe didnât have to like people and get along with our situation. Mei-ling never bothered with us; Adeenâs a baby; Oreliaâs too mental to deal with; and Hans and Margaret, well, theyâre nice to each other, but theyâll nitpick and gossip every little thing about you.â
â⊠And that isnât even half of it?â
âNo,â he sighed. âThere were too many kids that were ditched in forests or being ignored by parents or something back then. Thereâs still some getting picked up today, but most refuse getting contracts for murder nowadays so thatâs good. No more that I have to deal with.âÂ
Ayu tilted his head, changing to an expression of confusion, but reverted back to drinking.Â
âAnd how do people complain about you?âÂ
âEasy, Iâm apparently a personality-switching kinda guy, and rude both ways. So, people get irritable around me most of the time.âÂ
Ayu then told him, âYou arenât that annoying.âÂ
âI wouldnât deny what they say,â he said, âIâm supposed to be the voices in peopleâs heads. Iâm sure thatâd make me a bit of a pest when they want to die.â
â⊠You know, youâre all mental,â Oliver said.Â
And Vittorino only replied, âItâs our specialty.â Then after another one of Ayuâs sips, he reminded him, âItâs about time we get to Alice, Oliver.âÂ
âOh right.â He sat up, brushing off whatever imaginary guts he left on his cardigan. Ayu in particular checked for any earlier, but precaution always arrived first for everything. âGuess Iâve been procrastinating for once.âÂ
âMy, what a feat,â Vittorino sarcastically claimed. He jumped up himself from a seat to summon a door.Â
Though, before the rush to attend training, Oliver noted to ask Ayu, âDo you need anything for when I get back?â
He set down the cup and answered, âI think Iâm fine. Iâll try and make food myself before you get back.â
âThatâs good to hear,â he opened the door, ââmeans youâre listening to my lessons?âÂ
âObviously. I donât want you to cook for me all the time.â
Oliver joked, âWhat? Makes you feel like a baby?â
His shoulders drooped while he eyed away in a reply, âNo⊠well, maybeâ but I just feel bad about you having to be responsible for me.â
A smile crept while Oliver sided his own eyes. âYouâre definitely more selfless than most kids our age.â
âI wouldnât say thatâŠâ
âI would.â Oliver let Vittorino pass before he closed the door himself. âSee ya later, Ayu.â
The transition from a homey living room to the vast, dead-inside forests of Fowls never flinched Oliver anymore. He stepped out of the entrance, following the routine of his early stretches and a heavy breather for what he could only dream as fresh air.Â
Vittorino already wandered off as per usual, and Oliver left himself to his own devices of finding the nearest human in a nature walk.Â
The barks on the trees had begun to peek interest to him after the many times of walking past them. Questions spurred his curiosity in tendrils around the wood as he eyed them in a pace for someone else. For, what would those trees be made out of, that had no substance of plastic yet no life of true bark. The feeling of reality, melded with the missing authenticity, brought Oliver to a puzzle and kept his mind off of his lonesome.Â
âOliver!â Alice appeared from behind a tree to even Oliverâs surprised.
He swore, and stumbled back from the flinch of his senses. Retaining his balance once again, Oliver asked with a confusing exhale, âWhy meet here of all places?â
She answered, âI knew youâd be here. Vittorino left you to yourself in this forest, hasnât he?â
The question forced him to nod.Â
âCanât leave you alone like that, now can we?âÂ
The comment wavered in Oliverâs ears as Alice began walking onwards. He followed, but begged to ask, âDid he tell you?â
âOf what?âÂ
âOfââ Oliver stopped. The admittance of past desperation from months ago fluttered out of the system, had it not? âNever mind, it was a while ago, I guess.âÂ
A judging glare from Alice turned to a worriless smile in an instant. âI suppose I should be of concern for it, but itâs likely I already have my sources for it.âÂ
âAnd⊠whatâs that supposed to mean?âÂ
âOh, simply my usual way of learning.â
The grass crinkled whilst Oliver theorized the many ways the statement alluded itself to. â⊠Alright.âÂ
âHow has your latest batch been doing for you,â she asked.Â
The question Oliver expected still led him rummaging his hands behind him. His gluttony managed to indulge itself in eating the entire bag of meat in one day. However, the heart of a liar never quit. âItâs a pretty good one this week,â he smiled, âMargaretâs got nice catches this week.â And oh, did he hate those words from his mouth.Â
While the fib seemed average on his account, Alice still leered at him with her own grin and continued on. âI see⊠why, I still have a surprise for you after todayâs training.â
âA surprise?â
Nodding her head, her hands guided to the exit and entrance to the field. âI hope youâll like it, but you have to finish your work first, remember.â
A groan almost hefted from Oliverâs voice. âWhat are we even doing today?â
She pointed towards a stool in the distance with giddy reach and answered, âThis.âÂ
The stool barred a cup, from what Oliverâs perspective held, an average metallic cup without even a shine. Bemused, he asked, âWhat am I doing with it?âÂ
âItâs a small subject, but youâll be making the item invisible today.âÂ
âOh,â the difficulty of the subject before irked him at the new idea, âdoesnât seem that hard, but how do I do it?â
They surrounded the stool together as Alice answered, âIn all honesty, this is the subject I know least about. Christopher never used it all that much, but it might be of convenience to you some day. All you need to do, from what I can assume, is practice what you have done, just on another object that isnât yourself.â
Oliver glared at the cup. âIt took me three months to figure out invisibility and now Iâm off to calculus.âÂ
âExcuse me?â
âItâs fine. You donât know useless classes,â he threw off.Â
God-fucking-damn it. Oliver groaned at his grass-bed seat. The cup tucked itself within the grasps of his hands; however, his hands were the ones to disappear instead of the cup. Alice already went off to whatever affairs he imagined, perhaps a killing or who knows, abandoning another child into their own devices. How tiring.Â
Another tiring factor appeared the more his magic efforts put into his energy, as it all dwindled in his noticeable and reminding stomach.Â
The cup still mocked him, rustic and dull in its place, much to Oliverâs annoyance. âWhy couldnât we have done this on Tuesday?â An hour or so had already passed, he assumed. His patience in being left isolated had improved and the forest brought him more comfort in space, but that never fixed anything. âCan you just work with me here?âÂ
He glared at the cup, hoping its disappearance would be apparent this time, unlike the multiple other times he used to same strategy. But to no avail, he fell over to the ground.Â
The sky irritated him that day, as he stared at it in his frustrations. No beauty was present just like his skills. Though, eventually he sighed, âHey Vittorino, I think Iâm bored this time.â
The sound of a door opening appeared in front of him, only to answer, âNot right now, Alice told me to talk to Ayu.âÂ
âAgain?â
âYeah, and Ayuâs being a peeve.â
âAlright then,â he sighed.Â
In which Vittorino then asked, âAre you dying right now?âÂ
âJust a little bit mentally.âÂ
âNothing serious?â
âNot really.âÂ
ââKay, Iâll check in later.â And the door silently closed.Â
Back in silence, Oliver wiggled himself in the grass for some time, bringing himself back to his senses. Although a figure interrupted his personal forest ritual.Â
âTired, are you,â Alice asked.Â
In seconds, Oliver brought himself up again. âYeah.âÂ
âFigured. You seemed paler today if you didnât think Iâd notice.â
He rolled his eyes, âCourse, I didnât.â
With a giggle, she forwarded herself to the cottage. âHere, follow me.â
Drifting off with her, a familiar friend exited from inside and into the porch. She huffed in her plain dress with her coat hanged by the side, and placed her arms tucked together by the door. âYou ask me to help you cook when we havenât done culinary since the 17th century.â
âIs it a bother?â
âOf course, it is,â Eilwen exclaimed. âYouâve seen the amount of times we almost cut a finger.âÂ
In a retort, Alice continued talking. âWell, we arenât ones to use blades normally, but is it ready?â
With a nod, Eilwen gestured towards a plate on the outdoor table.Â
Alice brought Oliver to said plate and telling the other, âThank you, it looks lovely.â
Oliver begged the question, with the attractive scent of the dish in front of him. âUh, Alice? What is this?âÂ
The small meal contained a slab of meat, with black speckles of char and a shine on the opposite end, and alongside it contained a collage of vegetables and rice.Â
They both sat down while Alice explained. âWell, Iâve heard from Margaret that human meat has a similar taste to pork or veal. So, I imagined it would be nice if you were to have a home-cooked meal of deviled pork, with the flesh as a substitute.â
The words brought oddity within Oliver. âHuhâŠ,â he breathed. Poking the food with a fork beside him, he stared at the strange thought of a filling, cooked meal.Â
âDonât forget to eat your vegetables,â Alice added.Â
Oh yes, the vegetables. âAlice, thatâll just pass through my system.â
She shrugged, a spoon by her hand and balancing on the table. âJust eat it, itâs average motherly words to tell their child, is it not?âÂ
Eilwen handed off a bowl to her: a trifle stacked with custard and sweet fruits. She cheered a little at the sight, and made dove into it as it hit the table.Â
Oliver lifted his brow at her sugary meal. âShouldnât you be a good example by eating some veggies too?â
âIâm an adult, you have no say on this matter,â she retorted while chewing. âMy! Eilwen, thank you so much for the help today!â
The woman tossed her apron into the other chair as she gathered her own hair back in place. âNever mind it, this break leads to nothing for ourselves, doesnât it?â
Alice scoffed. âYouâre always such a pessimist, nowadays. You should lighten up again like how we met.â
Oliver caught Eilwen rolling her eyes back at her as she stepped out of the cottage porch. âIâm off now. I hope you two have a fine day,â she sighed.
âYou, as well!â A dismissing wave appeared from Alice who continued eating her trifle. Once Eilwen disappeared, Alice turned back to the child. âNow then, go on and eat! You havenât bitten a thing yet!â
âOn it, Iâm on it,â Oliver repeated to her. The cut of the meat left it harder for Oliver to cut in its density. Although, after some time of gathering every bite of the meal together with a fork, he bit into it. With a chew, there laid a burnt char on his tongue; with another chew, an array of flavor from the juices melted into his mouth. But the taste brought him not of a crazed or desperate ecstasy and greed, but instead the serene texture of real food. The strange reality of the sense left Oliver blank into space, but he ate quickly out of habit.Â
âSo,â Alice asked, âHow was it?â
In a blink, Oliver glanced back down at his empty plate, with leftover browns and goldens. To imagine that Alice was the one to make the meal for him after all the times she had not, in which it never passed through his mind of depravity. He answered to it all with what he always told: âIt was pretty good.â
âOh, thank goodness!â She laughed. âI was hoping you didnât hear Eilwen talk more but we had no clue what to do with the meat!â
âWell, uh,â Oliver awkwardly laughed. âItâs always good I guess.â
âIâm only glad you liked it. Now I can say I can still feed other people,â she giggled back with him.Â
âWait, what do you mean from that last partââ
âHere, do you want to try my trifle?â She offered the spoon to him. In which, Oliver obliged.Â
And soon enough, he entered a coughing fit of spiting it out. âHoly shit that was sweet enough that I thought it was too much.â
Alice laughed at him, all while taking another bite. âJust remember, Margaretâs sweets and tea has even more than mine!â
***
âThanks, Vittorino for just the door.â Oliver slammed the exit from Fowls in his living room. And in the slam, Vittorino jumped up from his seat and straightened his coat.Â
He excused himself. âCome on, I was finishing up my conversation. Iâm about to head out anyways.â The door opened again by him and he jumped through. âSee you later.â
âYeah, bye,â Oliver nodded as he stole the new free seat. The entrance disappeared once Oliver tossed his new bag of food aside on the counter.Â
Turning the other direction from the food, and slouching into the couch, he found Ayu staring at him keenly with his journal.Â
His legs curled up into his seat with joggers that covered up his healing bone of legs. And his eyes peered with the bright mixture of blue and grey. His hair still flew around as the mess it was, albeit floated like a dark cloud in its disaster. Oliver smiled at him, but Ayu only said, âYou canât surprise me by turning invisible again.âÂ
âOh really?â An acceptance to the challenge was immediate by just the flick of his magic. Turning invisible eased in mere seconds despite previous difficulties, though the motivations made the magic strong enough.
Ayu soon blinked around and realized. âGoddamn it,â as he sighed up into the air and sketchbook falling out of the symmetry of his legs.Â
In his unseen state, Oliver pranced down to behind Ayu, slowly gaining to behind his shoulder. He allowed himself to be known after saying, âYou know it isnât that hardââ
And that was the moment Ayu literally jumped in his seat, jabbing Oliver chin from the shoulder in the process.Â
Oliver stumbled and fell back, the same Ayu-pains stinging in his jaw.Â
âOh fuck.â Ayu crawled and fell out of his chair onto the ground with Oliver. âIâm so sorry again.âÂ
âNo, no, itâs fine,â he hissed. âThat was a dumbass move from me; I know youâre jumpy sometimes⊠Plus, it isnât that bad.â In hesitance, Oliver let go of the pain. âSee? No bleeding, and Iâll ice it right now if it bruises.â
âAre you sure,â he stuttered.
âDefinitely not your worst accidental hits.â Oliver whisked himself back up, gesturing to his stomach in reference. âI wonder how you would do with a punching bag, to be honest.â
âReally?â
âIâm mainly joking,â Oliver affirmed whilst opening the freezer. âActually, there was this one timeâŠâÂ
And yet again, did Oliver tell of another lovely, mundane story of his younger ages. In which Faustus made a fuss with a six-year-old for both not knowing what to do in a sports store. All of it spoken by Oliver in the most vivid details despite the sameness and the bag of frozen veggies on his chin.Â
Ayu seemed to have listened, to Oliverâs pleasure. Faustusâ character still laid as an oddity to them both after two months of Oliver telling his stories. However, it was time for Ayuâs sharing.Â
âI donât think I have much about⊠punching bags?â Oliver nodded to him. âYeah, I think the closest thing was this kid breaking a chain of one of em in one of my foster homes.âÂ
Oliverâs eyes widened. âThey what?â
âYeah it was weird. I think we were trying to see who could punch it the furthest and none of us were winning, but some of us thought we were.âÂ
âReasonable.â
âAnd there was this one kid which others were saying didnât do anything to it, and we left it for the day. And overnight the kid apparently got one of the kitchen knives, climbed up to the top of the stand-thingy, with only a single small cut and no falling, and chainsaw-ed the heck out of it.â
âHow old were they?â Oliver asked flabbergasted.Â
âI dunno, maybe six? I was five. But they cut up the chain to where it could snap in a single move, and they did just that the next morning to prove himself.â
Oliver laughed. âAnd how did the forest-parent react?âÂ
âOh, she got mad. Like, made a gate to keep us away from the kitchen mad. And eventually give up foster-parenting.âÂ
âHoly shit,â Oliver gasped in delight. âHow come all of your foster-homes were so chaotic?â
âI donât know. Maybe I bring chaos with me.âÂ
Oliver giggled at the comment. But then the chin and stomach began to sting the slightest. The distraction caused sighing. âMy god, even after Alice gave me food Iâm still hungry⊠I think the chin is making me more drained.â
âSorryââ
âHoly shit, thatâs a lot!â Oliver grabbed the food-bag, opening it to reveal a plethora of more than the regular. He beamed at the amount and the scent and turned to Ayu, then died down at the realization. He was unreadable, to Oliverâs discomfort. He forced a laugh, and got up, telling Ayu, âIâll just go to my room and eat someââ
âNo,â Ayu stopped him. âNo, uh⊠You can eat here.â
Oliver raised a brow.
âItâs fine.â
â⊠I think youâll think Iâm weird if you see.â
With a smile back, and attempted rolled eyes, Ayu said, âYou attacked me as a werewolf and I already know youâre a cannibal from multiple other stuff. What else could be weirder?â
In a moment of thinking, Oliver sighed. âAyu, I donât eat it cooked. I eat it raw.â
And with the statement, Ayuâs eyes widened, and blinked multiple times nonstop. âOh.â He flustered his words for the next few seconds. âWhy raw?â
He shrugged. âWell, for me it never mattered whether it was cooked or not. I wouldnât need to prep anything either since when itâs raw, it kinda tastes juicier.â
Ayu gulped, staring into the abyss, then shook his head. âYeah, thatâs beyond the point. Just eat. Iâll be⊠not directly watching.â
Oliver continuously stared back to back from his bag to Ayu. â⊠I still need a plate.â
Ayu rushed his words. âYeah, go get that.â
And after the awkward venture, they sat together in silence, bag and plate in Oliverâs hands, and Ayu squirming left and right to Oliverâs own notice. He gulped at the event, âYou know, I can really just go to my room if youâre uncomfortableââ
âNo,â Ayu said. âI think I have to get used to it by now⊠weâre practically living together and you have to be by yourself when you eat.â With hesitance, he patted Oliverâs hand holding the plate.Â
The slightest tint of red floated on his cheek from the touch, no matter how many times they had clasped in the night. âItâs embarrassing.âÂ
âIt both shouldnât and should be, so thereâs not much to get away from it,â Ayu affirmed.Â
âThatâs just everything in my life.â Oliver grinned at the comment. Yet, the topic still stood up top of him. Glancing back down to the bag, opening it once again for the stronger aroma. Grabbing the first section, he placed it down onto the plate, with some leftover blood dripping by the side and his wanting to lick it all down. He turned his head back to Ayu, who drew his own eyes away, then returned to the meal. His hands already drenched themselves, and he continued the routine. Out of the plate, Oliver picked up the meat, facing it directly in front of him, the taste already itching in the back of his throat, and he made his first bite against his sore jaw.Â
The texture and taste melded into his mouth in the usual satisfaction, nothing much else to say. But, he continued taking bites, staring at the blank television screen in front of him, avoiding Ayuâs eyes at all cost.Â
â⊠Are you feeling better?â
âRelatively,â Oliver chewed.Â
The next reply sat there delayed. âThatâs good at least.â
Another minute passed by while Oliver ate, with him seemingly forgetting of the one next to him or the anxieties with the subject.Â
âSo⊠Oliver.â
âYeah?â
âI think Iâve been knowing you enough to tell you something⊠Something Iâve been hiding, really.â
He continued chewing. âLike what?âÂ
âHow the entire black sun thing happened, and how I got here⊠and the monsters.â
âOh.â Finally, the questions he had wondered of ages ago. It seemed to have past his mind for the last few months. âFigured you knew something.âÂ
âYeah. I did,â he agreed. âI donât really know where to start but uhm⊠so, you know how the entire society thing is led by Akeldama, right?â
âYou were tricked by him, werenât you?â
After a few blinks, Ayu whined, âIs it really that easy to figure out?â
âYouâre easy to read,â Oliver explained, âThat and thatâs what happened to the rest of the society, but what exactly happened between you two?â
He sighed. âOkay⊠Basically, when I was eight, he gave me three wishes, with the deal that I couldnât wish to undo wishes, wish for more wishes, or bring back the dead.â
In comprehension and analysis mode, Oliver nodded. âSounds fair.â
Ayu looked down at his seat. âI already made two wishes. I made the first one when I met him: where I wouldnât die by natural stuff and have powers to fight monsters instead.â He looked at Oliver. âIt ended up with the monsters coming to me since I asked for a fight. And even then, my powers are too shitty to fight them back.â
The outcome seemed rough, Oliver could tell. The chewing stopped as he searched for a reasoning. âWell, at least you were just eightâŠ?â An eight-year-old wouldnât think about mass-murder unless it was me so.Â
âYeah, but I was still being dumb.â The legs curled up again. âI made the second wish a year after⊠I got lonely pretty quick while being in the alleyway. So, once I was sick of it, I just wished there were people like me so I wouldnât be alone anymore.â
An instinct kicked in. Despite his bloody hands, Oliver placed his hand onto Ayuâs in return from earlier.Â
âAnnette came into my life, on June 6th as a birthday present I guess, and an anniversary for when I met Akeldama, but I didnât really care. I was happy, really happy. I explained everything to her immediately, and I was excited to fight with her when the monsters finally came.âÂ
He replied to the hand, squeezing it back and staining his own. âThey came a while after, and one of her dads was the first to goâŠâ A head tilt down and he told, âItâs my fault sheâs in this mess. And it still might just be my fault that youâre a part of this too.â
For a time, Oliver waited for any tears to be shed; however, he was silent, only shaking and squeezing harder the more time went on. A sigh escaped from the last comment. âAyu, you know that Iâm still impossible to exist because of you. Alice was just an idiot and Iâm guessing she committed voodoo or some shit.â
He chuckled.Â
âAnd it wasnât your faultââ
âThatâs what everyone says.â
âBecause itâs true.â Oliver finally set his food aside, and clasped both of his hands to Ayu. âYou were a kid who was just a naĂŻve little mess. We all were. Look at me, I was done with this bullshit since I was nine.â Perhaps that was a lie, who knows.Â
âBut thatâs the problem. ââ
âNo, it isnât. Weâre all dumbasses that fuck up. Everything in our lives have been through mistakes.â
Ayu gazed at him, lids lowered and position unmoving. He only replied with a silent, âI guess,â and nothing else.Â
Ayu remained silent, to Oliverâs dismay. But in dedication of patience, Oliver let it go, returning to his snack.Â
â⊠What was it like to talk to a dictator like that?â
Ayu shuffled his position into laying down on the couch, letting his cold and bloody hand out of Oliverâs. âWeird. He annoys me sometimes in my head and messes with stuff. But who could tell heâd be an asshat when he looks like an albino angel?â
âAlbino?â
âYeah, he has like, really pale skin and white hair.â
âUh,â Oliverâs own breath heightened in confusion. âCan you describe him a little more?âÂ
Ayu shuffled. âSure? He looks around our age all the time. The hairâs messy but neater than mines, and he has a crown thing that has a piece of coal on it for some reason.âÂ
âOh god,â he stated.Â
âWhat?â
â⊠Remember FaustusâŠ?â
âYeah?â
âWell,â he ticked, âguess who matches the same albino description, and constantly appears and disappears just to mess with people?â
It took a matter of time for Ayu to stare into the abyss and process. â⊠Youâre trying to say that your ghost friend from when you were six turns out to be the bitch that fucked up the entire city?â
âIndeed,â Oliver nodded.Â
âWhat the fuck?â A jump forced the couch to jumble all over, as Oliver shook his plate from the momentum. âFaustus is actually Akeldama?â
âYeah, I feel dumb that I didnât connect the dotsâŠâ Oliver sat dumbfounded with his recovering food that had almost fallen. âBut yeah no, what the fuck.â
âYou have been talking to an actually demon-child since you were six!â
âI know!âÂ
The hysteria dragged the plate to the counter. They both got up and jumped in the couch. âAkeldamaâs a faucet!â
âI know!âÂ
Their peak discovery led them hopping around and yelling at each other.Â
âWhy would he do that,â Ayu begged to question.
âThe hell if I know about that!â He gasped for air. âWait! I think he talked to me while he was in the dungeon but⊠fuck, I forgot what he said!â
âThatâs not helping!âÂ
âThatâs obvious! But weirdly enough Faustus was actually nice when he wasnât annoying?â
âImpossible,â Ayu huffed, âAkeldama is never nice.âÂ
âWell we have proof of a counter-claim!â
âThen what the fuck does Akeldama want if he isnât just an ass?â
âDo you think any of us would have a clue?â
âNO!âÂ
They screamed together, and fell over at the revelation, both thumping on different side of the couch. A moment of silence let the hype die down. Only for them to realize the amount of screaming that had occurred in a minute.Â
They laughed at it.Â
âGoddamn, weâre a mess,â Oliver said.Â
âI think thatâs all what weâre supposed to be.âÂ
Ollie sat up. âSee? Thatâs what Iâm saying, weâre all fuck ups!â He laughed again. But after the entire fit, Oliver picked himself back up again, and picked up the food and bag by the counter with a relieved sigh. âI really shouldnât eat the rest of this.â
âThen donât.â
âThatâs the plan,â he said, âIâm just gonna take one last bit and weâre good forââ
âOh, the doorâs unlocked cool.â And then entered a young voice. In the fastest second, Oliver whipped his head to the door in front of him, facing Annette straight to the eye with guts and blood all over his hand.Â
They both stared, eyes widened at each other, but it was Oliver to say, â⊠fuck.â
***
âI knew you had some kind of problem but holy cow.â
After the obligated explanation, Oliver finally packed up his meals, to Annetteâs staring.
Ayu told her, with pinching eyes, âTo really be honest, I forgot you were coming after I punched Ollieââ
âYou punched him?â Annette forwarded her seat.Â
âIt was an accident!âÂ
âAnd it was me scaring him and him jumping up at me,â Oliver corrected. Off in his room, he placed the bag down and brought of notice his stains across his hands and on his face from the mirror ahead of him. His face strewed in the situation. He asked, âAnnette, you want me to wash up, donât you?âÂ
The frantic nod and smile seemed as something Oliver could visualize. âIâd appreciate it, and Ayu too.âÂ
The question held in Oliver but not for longer after remembering the handheld support. âShit,â he muttered.Â
They both washed off the blood to Annetteâs comfort, clowning and bumping each other in the meanwhile for the humor of it all. And while they entered back, Oliver found a distinct melody to Annetteâs patient humming.Â
âThe Emerald Maiden,â he questioned the song.Â
She peered back at them, scanning yet hiding it with a kind gesture. âYeah, my parents were big 80s junkies.â
Ayu and Oliver sat down together, Ayuâs composition growing drowsy to the otherâs notice. âThey seem to have interesting taste,â Oliver added. âBirke was kinda surreal back then.â
She smiled in argument, âI think that was the point of the trend.âÂ
âWell, it wasnât that good of a trend in the first place.â
âOh, so youâre declaring war today, I see.â A sleeve was pulled from her dress with a fake fist. Her laugh forced its way while she joked.Â
But Oliver shrugged. âNot much of an argument, just a sad counter.â
âWhat are you guys even talking about,â Ayu asked.Â
He answered, âJust some obnoxious music.â
âExcuse me!â Annette objected, âThey had some good slappers.â
âYes, slaps to the ears,â Oliver muttered, to Annetteâs dismay.Â
â⊠You know what? Iâm not gonna be a part of this.â Ayu rolled out of the couch, crawling back up and into Oliverâs room. âIâm gonna sleep.âÂ
Again? Oliver asked. âAlright, weâll try and be quiet.â
âYou donât have to, Ollie,â he yawned. âItâll just be a quick nap.â And with the comment, the door closed gently from the distance.Â
The two, one discovering that their friend is a cannibal and the other being that friend, were then stuck together in the forgotten topic of prior. Oliver quaked at the situation, however Annette created the simplest icebreaker.Â
â⊠He calls you Ollie?â
He shifted, âYeah, but I think he just does it when heâs lazy.âÂ
âDo you think I can call you that?â As weird as it sounded, she questioned.Â
âUh⊠no, I donât think that would sound right,â he answered, âcoming from you.âÂ
She nipped, âThatâs a shame. I thought I would get âI just found out youâre a murdererâ rights.â
â⊠No. No, you donât.â He set aside the already annoying topic, and moved on. âAnyways, howâs high school for you? You seem pretty busy.â
âOh, you have no idea.â A groan fell out of her mouth. âImagine you being an all-A student in middle school and say, âHey, Iâll be fine doing all advanced classes. I always do that!â And then proceeding to have a nine-paragraph essay due in two days and three other different projects and reports that take up four hours of your time each and you thought youâd be smart about it but you end upââ
âHold on, arenât you a freshman?âÂ
Her head tilted back at him, a mad expression peering from her face. âYes. A freshman who has made mistakes,â she said. âDonât make my mistakes,â she said.Â
â⊠Duly noted.â Curiosity poked itself at him, despite his own wondering of his future in school considering new lifestyles. âIs middle school easy then?â
She ticked at the question. âYou donât even have to turn in half the work and you hit a decent B if anything.â But then her body slouched into the coach. âHonestly now with both church and school hitting me under the bus, I donât have time for anything. It blows.â
âSeems like it,â he imagined.Â
A little sigh wavered the room in Annetteâs rare leisure. Soon, she added in her time, âBut, aside from that, you and Ayu seem to be getting along well, so I donât think I have to worry about him as much anymore.â
âAs much?â
âWell yeah.â Oliver noted her fidgets all over the place with her words. âBefore you, he was a kid without any kind of home or anyone to talk to except me⊠and a few others that just hurt him.âÂ
The last comment churned Oliverâs guts somehow with only a little clue as to who she referred.Â
âI couldnât manage to take care of him well enough since I had to help my baba after Dad died. Not to mention myself for a bit,â she huffed a laugh.Â
The conversation handed little leeway for Oliver in the conversation. âI guess that makes sense⊠My mom had to counsel a patientâs parents after the kid died from an attack, and she was stressed too since the girl was getting better.â
Pulling back her hair, she nodded. âGuess you didnât have to deal with losing someone.â And a blink later, he met her with skeptical eyes on the topic. âRight⊠That wasnât what I meant to say. Itâs justâ Ayu just seems better overall now.â
â⊠You knew about Akeldama, right?â
âI did,â she answered.Â
âHe talked about it with you a lot, didnât he?â
Another nod. âItâs rare but he gets more into it the more you hang out with him. Itâs weird with how much he insists on how Akeldama is the worst, but heâs one to put himself at fault. If you know what I mean.â
A previous conversation floated in his mind. âYeah, I think I do.â
An arm rested by the chair as she said, âHeâs a good kid. Screwed up along the way but he didnât mean for everything to turn out this way.â
âThatâs what Iâve been saying, though. Itâs obvious.â
âNot to him,â she replies. âItâs definitely some kind of⊠emotional trauma.â Without much else to add, she shifted. âI remember when I met him, he was jumping around like a five-year-old kid. I thought it was creepy at first but it was easy to tell what the issue was⊠I stuck with him because I knew he needed somebody, and once he told me about the wishes, I knew I was right.â
Oliver listened to her monologue keenly.Â
âI used my birthday money for his birthdays, and almost everything else for him. It doesnât seem like much from how you met him but I tried to help him however I could think of.â
âSo, what youâre saying is you were a good person to Ayu,â he summarized.Â
âI guess you can say that, but I feel like I babied him too much.â
Oliver tilted his head. âAnd what do you mean by that?â
Her eyes glanced down. âI tried to act like nothing was really wrong for him. Like, everything was perfect the way it was for the most part.â Smiles peered through her face no matter the tone she made. âI was acting like some manic pixie girl, I guess. But, I think it ended up with Ayu thinking I didnât careâŠâ
No continuation began, nor did Oliver allow himself to reply. He let the words contemplate in Annetteâs mind while the time passed.Â
â⊠Well, I didnât really get the job done, but you came at a good time.âÂ
Unsure of the compliment, he replied, âThanks?â
A soft punch met Oliverâs shoulders to his surprise. Its gentleness seeming foreign. Annette giggled at his face, âYeah, youâve probably done a lot better than me.â A whistle blew up quickly, off pitch of whatever went on, but all right he supposed. âHowâre his comics doing, actually? I havenât listened to those in a while.â
âOh,â he completely forgot about them. âWell, heâs still drawing, but he doesnât really bring up his stories.â
âReally? He would tell me about it all the time!âÂ
Ah yes, show off what I forget to ask about. âActually, Iâve been getting him into writing some more, since he seems to have a knack for it.â
âWith his handwriting,â she laughed.Â
Oliver shrugged at the question. âHe wasnât that good at drawing either, but his handwriting doesnât look as bad as some kids in my class to be honest.âÂ
Her bubbly nature peaked at the seams throughout the new conversation. âItâs a good thing youâre getting him into something new though, he sometimes focused way too much on that comic.â
âDidnât he not have anything else to do?â
With eyes rolled back, she agreed, âYeah, youâre right, but thatâs why I made game days!â
âOh, donât remind me of that Ono game.â
Their conversation continued of that of miscellaneous topics that flowed together with only some effort. However, after some time a mumble caught Oliverâs ears. He turned around to the source and led to his room.Â
Standing up, he already figured the occurrence, but Annette, unbeknownst of why, followed.Â
Entering into his room, there lied a lump on the bed, a homey one at that. Rummaging around the blanket endlessly and uttering scared words indecipherable to even such sensitive ears, Ayu slept his usual naps, and Oliver went over.Â
Oliver whispered to Annette, âDid Ayu talk about this before?â
She nodded, âHe mentioned them a couple of times, itâs where he gets half of his story ideas, aside from Lillie dreamsâ. You know about her, right?â
Shaking his head, he answered, âHeâs barely mentioned it; Iâve been curious for a while. He says her name sometimes when he sleeps, and when he thinks heâs alone⊠I wanted to ask but I could tell he didnât want to talk about it.â
She sighed, âYouâll have to wait for him, then. Itâs not my place to tell.âÂ
After a moment, Oliver went ahead and poked around at Ayu carefully. âAyu, wake upâŠâ
The pattern continued with some shivering from the sleeper. Though, once he woke, he jolted with his arm into Oliverâs.Â
He winced at the immediate pain, followed by Annette saying, âYeah this is why you prepare yourself.âÂ
Ayu blinked at the both of them, and told Oliver, âSorry.âÂ
âItâs okay, it wasnât the bad arm.âÂ
He still shrank down, to Oliverâs own worries. But instead of anything else, Oliver followed with a smile to him as they were together.Â
âHey Ayu,â he said. âHowâre you doing?â
-
Ten Dollars | Bread and Water | Red Eye | Crimson Capture | November 1st | A Mother | A Demon | A Child | The Wolf | Bloody Fingers | A Monochrome World | The Pocketwatch | Iâll Have My Day | Two Weeks | Monsters | Sleepover | Next>>>
#writing#my writing#writeblr#writblr#writers on tumblr#black sun tale#bst#chapter 17#murder mention#abuse mention#suicide mention#cannibalism warning#bruise warning?#gore warning#death mentions#bst oliver#bst ayu#bst vittorino#bst alice#bst eilwen#bst faustus mention#bst akeldama mention#bst annette
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
Ayu Cake



it's Ayu's birthday today so i made a cake for him yesterday; i've been meaning to post this a few hours ago but time really did fly by.
i'm aware that today should've been the first update for bst's part iii however due to minor fatigue and some distraction i failed to make the edits i wanted to do before posting, so i hope i'll be able to post it tomorrow for you all.
regardless, i hope you all have had a great week, and congrats for ayu aging up a bit in irl canon!! (considering bst is an alternate world.) you all get a virtual slice of cake
- maika "mickey" t.c.
5 notes
·
View notes
Photo
ahhhhh thank you! i literally just went on an art sprint to get all of my wip pieces done including yours ajdnakfjakâ i honestly really did have fun working on this when i actually worked on it lmao. and i agree, i'm really loving the hair work on this one and i couldn't help but add those notes to the final product; they were too cute to pass up.
AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF BEING ON AND OFF I FINALLY FINISHED THIS DRAWING OH MYâÂ
so this is Aryia from The Eternityâs Magic (wip by @tenacious-scripturient go follow him uwu) with a transparent in which i started in late february and only finished now. this probably isnât how he visualized it (especially after i saw there was a picrew that was fairly differentâ) but i mainly went by how she was described from a powerpoint and a summary. hopefully, this can be considered good enough for the effort. not gonna lie i do really like the final result though i still have the psd in case i feel the need to edit again, also sorry if this is a little messy.
#also had to google references for her twin babs#and ultimately said no to trying to add fine detail to both the blades and the gem in the pendant-#objects in general aren't my forte huh#reblog weblog
11 notes
·
View notes
Photo
AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF BEING ON AND OFF I FINALLY FINISHED THIS DRAWING OH MYâÂ
so this is Aryia from The Eternityâs Magic (wip by @tenacious-scripturient go follow him uwu) with a transparent in which i started in late february and only finished now. this probably isnât how he visualized it (especially after i saw there was a picrew that was fairly differentâ) but i mainly went by how she was described from a powerpoint and a summary. hopefully, this can be considered good enough for the effort. not gonna lie i do really like the final result though i still have the psd in case i feel the need to edit again, also sorry if this is a little messy.
#my art#character design#the eternity's magic#tem#aryia#tem aryia#don't know what to tag this whoops#i'm gonna go drink water oh my#oh yeah i can't draw weapons sorry not sorry
11 notes
·
View notes
Text
iâve been thinking a lot tonight and i came to the conclusion that fifth grade was a mistake
#imagine ripping off of avatar after only seeing six episodes and never finishing it#then continuing on to make the story without following the original plot#or the main character#looking back i've made my worst that year and it wasn't even my first
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
*finally starting part iv after years of waiting*
*gets stuck on the beginning of part iv*
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
*finally starting part iv after years of waiting*
*gets stuck on the beginning of part iv*
#god fucking damn it#bst#bst part iv#this is going shorter than i anticipated#and i don't like it#delete later
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
oh yeah, there's an extra part in the beginning of bst that i forgot to put in:
"
#bst#i'd recommend to maybe question it#also don't @ me about how this is a change i just realized adding this would make more sense
1 note
·
View note
Note
sen t with confespagetti (˶âŸá· â»Ì« âŸá·
Ë”) đ
(˶âŸá· â»Ì« âŸá·
Ë”)
1 note
·
View note
Text
what if angels in their âtrueâ forms are actually more terrifying than demons because demons reflect human sins and fears but angels are so entirely other and alien from us as to be truly eldritch
#sorry i have to reblog this because like#jdjfjsjJSJDJAJ EXACTLY#i want to explain more but#ugh#i dislike the angels
65K notes
·
View notes
Note
5 (grettie obv) and 17
5.) Which character deserved better?
actually iâd admit that ayu is most likely the one that deserved better, but iâm in a toss up since akeldama i think should have also had something different, because its very possible that literally almost none of the bad things in the story would have happened if he had a different past, though that may also just be a sign of how bad of a person he is considering everything is his fault tooâ
17.) How far along are you in your current WIP? How long have you been working on it?
uhhh doing math in terms of chapters iâm apparently 72% done with the entire draft. iâm a chapter away from completely finishing part three, and in its entirety i have finished 21 chapters out of 29 (because i realized i forgot how to count and have been saying i have 32 chapters this entire time even though i wrote down the order-). and when it comes to this draft, iâve been working on it since november of 2018 i believe, so iâve been working on this version for almost a year and a half. but if weâre counting the entire idea and versions of bst, iâve been writing this story since august of 2016, so thatâs about three years and eight months since i had to google that honestly.Â
-
send an ask :)
1 note
·
View note