#❜ ✞ the heir of heaven walking in darkness / the heir of hell walking in light ( roberto and julia )

[tamayakii]

The Devil watches.

Warnings: Not connected to any episodes of HOTD, but is set after Daemon & Laena marry after Rhaenrya & Laenor do. My timing may be off by a tad, Pairings: No Pairings, it's pretty much Darling on her own. notes: I chose the flowers with purpose, anyone who can guess will get a cookie. Also thank you to my friends for being my beta-readers. Also part two IS in the works!

The Belladonna swayed in the wind, dancing with the butterfly weeds. They were a beautiful sight. A change from the rainy scenery on Dragonstone, it rained like hell on the island. The colder season was here. Your family wrapped themselves in furs and thick leather. 

The Velaryons and Targaryens frequently met on Dragonstone because of the marriages between Rhaenrya and Laenor, as well as Daemon and Laena, with Dragonstone and Driftmark being sister islands. 

At a slow pace, you traversed the halls of the stone castle, the one that had held many of Targaryen's heirs and ancestors. Since your entrance into the royal family, you dug yourself into research- you wanted them to know you truly did not look down at this chance of a better life. 

You learned the history of Old Valyria with your father, Viserys. He believed himself a dreamer, you found, like Daenys the Dreamer- perhaps the reason the Targaryens survived the destruction of Valyria. 

With Aemma, you learned of Rhaena Targaryen, Queen of the East and West. Daughter of Alyssa Velaryon and sister to Queen Alysanne, sister-wife to the King Jaehaerys the First. Aemma wanted you to know about her mother, Daella Targaryen.

And you knew, you discovered her meek nature, her fear of gardens, bees, and cats. You acquired all knowledge that could be learned, all knowledge that the Maesters wrote. Even once at a dinner, you asked Ser Corlys what he thought of Daella, who was 3 and 10 at the time of their meeting.  

They quickly escorted you to your chambers, with Rhaenrya following closely behind you. It seemed you had upset Aemma and changed the mood of the dinner. Queen Aemma miscarried that night, something that you would place blame on yourself. 

Outside, the wind blew through the paneless windows of the halls. The salty taste of the sea sat upon your lips. The thoughts of your late-queen mother made your eyes water, the pain of her death still ever present in your soul. Your veil billowed behind you as the wind blew harder, pulling your fur robes tighter as you descended the staircase. These were the nights when you felt the need to be under the shrouded night, humming the Mother's Hymn, as the darkness seemed endless and the stars never shined. The castle was as silent as ever. Besides nature's song, everyone tucked into their warm beds. Protected by the guards that you’ve come to know as background ambience. 

“Gentle mother..” You sang under your breath, letting your fingers feel every grout of the walls that followed the staircase, “font of mercy…” you dragged your voice out as you reached the bottom of the tower, pushing the thick oak doors open. 

“Save our sons..” Closing your eyes as you felt the wind caress your face like Mother herself as you sang her hymn, “from war…” stepping into the courtyard, you looked up at the looming castle of Dragonmont. 

“We pray.” Your feet step slowly across the gravel, mimicking a dance you once saw. Slowly, you step from the left before taking a long graceful one to the right. “Stay the swords,” you dance yourself through the protective gates of Dragonstone, skipping from one step to the next. 

“And stay the arrows.” Your voice trails off as you walk onto the shore, the waves lapping at the sand. You stopped to admire the dark sea, your veil waving in its wind with force. It was as if the sea’s wind washed away your sins. 

“Let them know a be-” A large gust of air comes from above, nearly knocking you on your arse. It punches the air out of your lungs. Gasping for air as you looked to the heavens above, but nothing was there except the night sky. 

“Better day..” whispering, eyes wide as you stare into the abyss night. You rack your brain for answers. Perhaps it was Ceraxes. If left alone for too long, the blood wyrm was known for its lonely flights. The thought comforted you. 

Looking down the long rocky beach, you begin your trek again with caution. You listen to any sound in the night but all there is howling of the wind, trying to comfort yourself with a sigh; you sing once more,

“Gentle mother..” you pause, waiting for an interruption that never comes. “Strength of women,” pulling your robe against you tighter as you round a tight bend in the beach, skipping over rocks to dodge the waves licking your feet. 

The sound of rocks tumbling catches your attention, watching as small rocks fall down the cliff side. Looking up to find that the rocks seemed moved on their own, not a lively shape to be seen up top. 

‘The wind, perhaps.’ you think to yourself before moving onward.

“Help our daughters through this fray.” You lost yourself in thought as you walked. The Mothers Hymn was of comfort to you. Aemma sang it every time she tucked you in, unable to ignore your pleas to sing it just once more. 

The first night you sang the Mother's Hymn without Aemma was after her funeral, Rhaenrya would not sleep, her grief too much for her to bear on her own. You hummed as you brushed the girl's hair with your fingers, whispering the lyrics.

It took an hour until she fell asleep- your voice raw from repeating the Hymn with no breaks. 

A cove sat in your path, the sandy path too thin for you to walk, the water becoming more shallow as it flowed into a cave. Finding yourself upon a high rock, enjoying the sea breeze, you were ignorant to the eyes that stared from the cavern. 

“Soothe the wrath and tame the fury,” You wondered about Laena’s adventure to Vhagar, the woman had her eyes set upon the dragon since she learned of its history and location. Vhagar, the last of the conquerors' dragons, was a mighty green beast, but her song was as beautiful as a gentle maiden. 

“Teach us all a kinder way.” 

The air gets warmer, almost too warm. You start to wonder as you pant about the change of weather. Turning around and looking into the cavern's mouth; you realize why.

A dragon, as dark as the night and as sharp as a blade. Its horns curled around its face, green eyes glowing in the dark. It begins to climb out of the cave, its body seeming never ending. It  towers over you with his horrifying size. 

Fear gripped your frail heart. You were going to die. 

Smoke billows out of the beast's nostrils. Its chest glows with the heat of a thousand fires. Flames tickle your legs as you throw yourself off the rock, gasping as the freezing water below you flee for your life, forgetting the sharp rocks and barnacles tearing at your hands.

Thunderous booms follow you, a song that told you your fate, but the song was not comforting. It was dreadful. It screeched and wavered unceremoniously, and that was the song you would die to.

There was no escape. The breath of the fearsome dragon was hot on your back. Did the beast enjoy this? It could end this chase with one snap of its giant teeth, but it did not. 

A light at the end of the tunnel appeared.

A crack within the cliff side, just big enough to hold you. 

Tripping over your feet as you dash for it, shoving your body between the jagged stones, it hurts. The sharp edges tore at the front and back of your dress, crying as it dug into your skin. What were you to do? 

The dragon paces back and forth, a cry that sounds too much like a chortle leaves its throat. It was laughing.. It was laughing at you.

“Gentle Mother” You sang with fear, trying to comfort yourself, a bit of solace as you sat at death's door. “Font of mercy” voice wavering as you sobbed, you wanted your mother. You wanted Aemma. 

“Save our sons from war, we pray- oh gods!!” you sobbed against the stone, begging the gods- all of them, the old and new, for Mercy,. 

The dragon had stopped, listening to your voice. 

“Stay the swords and stay the arrows-” you realize the dragon has stopped. You look at the opening and see its green eyes watching you as it slowly lays its large body against the sand. Its lips curled once you stopped singing, 

“Let them know a better day..” 

It snorted, laying its head down. Perhaps it once heard the Mothers Hymn, or maybe it was the own Mother's hand coming down to save you. 

“Gentle Mother, strength of women..” Slowly, you begin to sidestep out of the crack. “Help our daughters through this fray.” you can feel its hot breath once more. Fear makes you stop, but memory reminds you of your family.

“Will I have a dragon, Papa?” Viserys held you tight on his lap, the book open wide on your thighs. The man hums with thought before he smiles, kissing your temple. 

“A girl as brave as you? Of course you shall have a dragon., I will make sure of it if I must.” His hands rub your sides with love. The thought of him forcing the gods to give you a dragon made you more happy. 

Looking up at him with a toothy grin, “Thank you, Papa!!” The rest of the night you discussed dragons. Viserys suggested that once Dreamfyre laid a new hatch, he would give you a dragon egg, but each egg he gave you failed to hatch.

“Soothe the wrath and tame the fury,” 

The dragon chirps softly, a weird noise coming from such a devilish beast. 

“Teach us all a kinder way…” The Hymn ends and soothes the dragon., "Do you like that? It's my favorite... is it yours too?" with cautious steps, you finally emerge out of the rocks. The dragon huffs, and the clouds split and the moon shines upon you two. 

If you tamed this dragon… perhaps you would feel more Targaryen, maybe you could fly in the skies with Rhaenrya and Daemon. 

The dragon sniffs you as you step closer. Your hands touch the scales of its snout and it rips its head back with a grunt. It was still a wild dragon. You almost laughed at yourself. It had tricked you. You were no Targaryen, and it would kill you.

Awaiting the flames hotter than the hells to blanket your body, you waited for the never ending pain with your eyes closed, but it never came. When the wind picked up again, you found yourself opening your eyes once more.

There it was, spreading its wings and taking off with a mighty roar. You watched as the dragon flew further into the mountains, 

You had walked along the devil's hand and came unscathed. 

With the speed of a hare, you picked your soaked and ripped dress up and ran. Feet ripping up the sand, leaving spits of rocks behind you. Desperate to reach the safety of your chambers within the safety of the castle.

You reached the castle gates, heaving for air, but it did not stop you. Brushing past the confused guards as you blazingly push the doors open to the side tower and running up the stairs, 

Your mind came back to the wild dragon, the way it had multiple sets of horns, but its biggest curled in towards his face like a ram. Its eyes were more green than the richest jade, scales so deep black that it could rival Balerion’s skull that resides under the Red Keep. 

Shoving your body against your chamber doors, they slam shut. You wheeze for air, the pain pinching your throat as you try to breathe normally. You should’ve been dead ten times over. Slowly, you walk to your bed, shaking as you collapse. 

The silk sheets are warm against your slick skin, fingers stretching as they tremble from the cold. Your eyes fall heavy, the distant roar of a dragon seems ever faint as you slip into a deep slumber.

That night, you dream of dragons. It is you who is the dragon. You see flashes of broken eggs and the bodies of baby dragons ripped apart, oddly; you feel no remorse for the creatures but only satiated hunger. 

You see the rough choppy waters of the Narrow Sea below as you fly through the dark nights, ships cross in many numbers- You destroy them, roaring with a laugh but you hunger for your own brethren, for the taste and feel of fire and talons.

No longer a dragon, you’re a human once more. A baby within a cradle, your mother Aemma above you, or was she Aemma? Her long white hair and purple eyes entranced you, but as you studied her further; It was not Aemma, but another woman.

Her eyelids were gently dusted with a purple hue, and her lips were glossed to match the same shade of purple. She seemed tired, but she still smiled. Above her was a painted tapestry of dragons, but among the many, only one caught your attention. There it was. The beast swirled and its jaws were wide open with a flurry of green fire escaping its mouth. 

The eyes seem so alive and penetrating, as if they're boring into your very being. The green-eyed devil had been watching you for a long time. 

Your dreams end before you can look at the woman once more, but you hear her voice, 

“Gentle Mother, font of mercy…”

Let me know what you guys think!! Reblogs over likes!!!

[devilmen-collector]

My MC: Klein

Picrew link

Name: Klein

Sex: Male (Pronouns: he/him)

Age: 23

Birthday: July 28 (Leo ♌️)

Height: 174cm

Family & relatives:

King Solomon (ancestor and father figure)

Lovers:

All love interests in What in “hell” is bad? are his lovers, including all devils, angels and Minhyeok

Other relationships:

Cedric (butler)

Multiple robots and mutants (creations)

Occupation: Evil Overlord who terrorizes the world / student ig

Religion: Roman Catholicism ✝️

Dog person or cat person?

Although Klein loves both, he prefers dogs.

Evil Lair address?

Invincible Fortress, location changes frequently

Cooking skills?

Not a master chef, but his cooking is good.

Titles (updating)

Evil Overlord

Lord K

The Dark Lord (kinds of cliché)

Overlord of Devils (self-proclaimed)

Overlord of Hell (self-proclaimed)

The One Whom God Favors

Son of Heaven (origin of this title)

The Lightbringer of Hell

The Heir of Solomon

Fics and other writings featuring Klein

Birthday Gift (my birthday fic 2023)

Aftercare (Satan x Klein)

Wake Up! (Satan x Klein)

The Beginning of The Contract Breaker

Prayers

Night Walk

Food Allergy (mainly Mammon x Klein)

Funny Nonsenses

Prank & Revenge (Beelzebub x Klein x Bael)

Astigmatism

My MC's voicelines

My MC's Lore

No. 1

No. 2

Pet names the kings gave Klein (p1)

Sketches (by my friend Tokiba on Discord)

Angel AU

Nightmare

The Fourth Realm

Other AUs

Desperate Pact

Memes

Horny for Lucifer

[b1zmuth]

Welcome To Hell!

Episode 2 

‘’Shitty Beginnings’’

´angel, angel, go away!´

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**BOOM**

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My head hurts. 

Well, considering how i just landed flat on my face after falling 50000+ miles, would be a pretty much expected response. 

Starting to look around at my newfound surroundings, i noticed a brightly lit sign up ahead- so i dusted myself off and pulled the gigantic splinter out of my hand and walked up to it, inspecting it and reading what it said.

‘’WELCOME TO HELL! YOUR NEW GUILTY PLEASURE LIES AHEAD.’’

Cheeky.

I also noticed that there was a small booth box with a older looking demon inside of it- walking up to it i got ready to speak but was interrupted by the woman speaking.

‘’Another one? Jesus facking christ! You little angels are dropping like flies down here! *HACK* *COUGH* name and registraaaaaation pleaze.’’ the clerk lady said whilst puffing her lung cancer smoke in my face

‘’I go by Koi, no last name nor registration- they dont really do that up there.’’ i responded fanning away the thick black smoke with my hand

‘’Thats just sooooooo facking nice. I guess ill jast have to *COUGH* make you a licanse.’’ the clerk lady said whilst printing me out a card and handing it to me through the shielded screen adorned with bullet holes and.. Something else. 

‘’Thank you’’ i said whilst attempting to walk away- only to be abruptly stopped by the clerk lady flagging me down. 

‘’Sweethart.. That gate is only used for the royal personalities! Youll have to use the tube to get to da main citay.’’ 

‘’The tube? What do you me-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!’’ 

‘’Cane. Where the hell is this new transfer student? Weve been sitting here for HOURS now!’’ 

‘’I dont know, Calico just said be here early so they wouldn't wander off’’ 

‘’Great! I really wanted to spend my Monday night sitting on the cold hard floor instead of fucking SLEEPING.’’ 

‘’Dont you do this shit every NIGHT? Get over it. Youll be o-fucking-kay!’’

‘’I hope you slip and fall.’’

Really. I JUST came out of my comatose state from breaking a bone or two even getting here- only to be send flying downwards through a tube that smells.. Rancid! 

It smells like garbage juice in here..gosh.

Landing facefirst on the ground again, i found myself fully redressed in a school outfit, and having two large figures standing above me 

I JUST GOT HERE!! How am I already getting mugged? Oh right.. This is hell..

‘’Well, there's your answer, finally! after an hour of waiting.’’

‘’Hi. Are you the new transfer student?’’ 

‘’I guess so, i just landed facefirst in the ground so?’’ 

‘’Ha! Thats so tough man- could never be me though.’’ 

I got up and dusted myself off only to get up close and VERY personal with the two figures, examining the one to my right, seemed like someone who would be a serial killer- he had on a weird mask that had a crude drawing of a smiley face on it, seemed to have dark skin that was rough like a dragons scale, had long goat-like horns that seemed to reach around his head, and was significantly taller than the one to my left. 

The one to my left seemed WAY more approachable than the other.. Guy. he had multiple long horns and multiple eyes, all narrowly pointed towards me, he looked sinister, but also like someone i could possibly use and trust.

But alas, this is hell.

‘’Welcome To Hell.’’ Both of them simultaneously said.

‘’My name is Cane Witherspoon, future heir to the throne of Hell, and current prince of hell.’’ The one to my left ‘’Cane” said whilst giving me the worlds most blank stare.

‘’Im Simon. No last name. Lets keep the introduction short and simple.’’ The one to my right named ‘’Simon’’ responded

Great. Nevermind my great thinking on making these two my allies. There is no way in HEAVEN that will i fool around with someone this wicked.

‘’My name is Koi, they don't give us last names in Heaven. Short and sweet- just like how you wanted it.’’ i responded, now starting to tense up

Simons eyes seemed to light up when he heard my name.. I guess we knew eachother in a different time.

‘’Thats great. Fuckin amazin. Now i have to deal with even MORE paperwork.’’ Simon said whilst rolling his eyes

‘’I guess we’ll have to be your guide, cmon. We totally dont bite!’’ Cane added starting to walk away

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‘’Lucky for you, my father has prepared a special room for you.’’ Cane turned to me and said

‘’Did your dickass dad really make this poor kid sleep in the basement of our dor-’’ Simon almost said before i cut him off

‘’Its alright, its better than what i was sleeping on up there.’’ I said whilst preparing a spell.

Suddenly, the room was lit and shrouded in clouds and dim lights, with a gigantic and fluffy cloud bed and furniture, adorned just the way i liked it.. Not to bright to where it would irritate me.

‘’What the fuck?’’ they both said looking at me with the most confused look on their faces 

‘’Language! Saying bad words in here will TOTALLY kill you oooooh!’’ i said mimicking a ghost whilst flopping ontop of my new bed

‘’Har har, very funny.. Did they not give you this treatment in Heaven?’’ Cane asked whilst playing with my dangling stars that hung from the roof

‘’No, not since HE took over. We got forced to sleep on.. Something.’’ i said trying to hold back a voice crack

‘’Oh. I know we arent supposed to really show any type of emotion but, i feel for you.’’ Simon said whilst rolling on the floor, clearly loving the clouded floor

‘’You two are demons, i highly doubt that you even feel for me, to you guys i am of lesser value.’’ i said whilst still laying in my bed

‘’Never thought of you as lesser value, we just dont like meeting new angels since they always are cocky about them coming from heaven- you seem different.’’ Cane responded still playing around with the dangling stars 

‘’Thats somewhat reassuring- thanks.’’ i said whilst giving a playful kick to Canes shins

*Two yellow auras, one swirled with grey and one swirled with pink.

Their auras dont tell me anything concerning, for now i guess i can trust them?

I still dont see how Cane is actually finding some excitement by playing with dangling stars. Ha.

‘’Oh yeah, we still have to introduce you to school and more around the eternal shitdump of hell.’’ Cane responded, looking down and at a faint snoring noise. 

I also instinctively looked down to find a sleeping Simon.. Sleeping. On. MY. floor!

Ugh. Cmon.

‘’If you want, you guys can stay the night- because im NOT waking up that sleeping beast.’’

‘’Sure, but as much as id love to sleep on your floor, i can really only get a goodnights sleep floating.’’ 

‘’I don't even like sitting whilst floating, so the fact that your able to sleep whilst doing it baffles me.’’  

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‘’An influx of memories caused by a traumatic event.. Is that why your here?’’

‘’Yes.. I think.’’

‘’Lets see.. What type of tramautic response is this causing for you?’’

‘’I guess more nightmares and ----.’’ 

--scribble scribble--

‘’Ah, yes! I realize now.. Are you feeling like this due to the daybreak event?’’ 

‘’That might be the stemming problem for me.. I just miss ---sh and --i. I left them up there with HIM.’’ 

--scribble-- --tap-- tap-- --scribble--

‘’Do you want me to watch over them for you?’’ 

‘’Yes. Please make sure that they both remain safe.’’

‘’As you know, i cannot guarantee their safety as they eventually will have to come down here to hide.’’ 

‘’Thats okay. They are mature enough to handle the crown prince and any other foe that comes into contact with them.’’

‘’But! --sh, poor, poor --sh. Hes always had a savior complex- so im afraid that if --i goes, --sh will stay behind in order to save him.’’

‘’Him and his fucking savior complex. Its nice when your being the one saved but trying to save him just makes that a pain in the as-’’

‘’Language. This is technically a holy sacred temple of our savior.’’

‘’Okay. Can we talk a bit more about arrangements for them?’’ 

‘’Of course, Castiel.’’

‘’Koi? Wake up.’’ a tall figure standing right over me said 

‘’Wha- what? Why?’’ i responded in a groggy tone

As i FINALLY opened my eyes and looked up, i saw Simon and Cane standing over me with tired looks on their faces  

‘’Because i said so! You have to get up and get ready for school’’ Simon said whilst picking me up from the neckline of my cloud pajamas :(

‘’Hey HEY! Easy on the pajamas!’’ i said whilst jumping out of my bed  and successfully landing flat on my face 

‘’Ugh.. Hold on i have to get my uniform dont i?’’  i asked simon

‘’Yeah here.. I ironed it out for you last night’’ Cane said whilst holding up a perfectly good red and black school uniform’’

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*jingle jangle* ‘’can you stop with that shit? Does it look like i want to hear your car keys- knowing good n’ fuckin well where we are going! ‘’ Simon snapped at Cane 

‘’Aw. Youll be fucking ok! Koi looks happy to go’’ Cane responded with a smirk 

‘’Thats fantastic!! You point out the goody two shoes and say ‘’HE LOOKS HAPPY TO GO TO SCHOOL!’’ dickwad.’’ Simon snapped back, rolling his eyes

Boy do they bicker much. 

I dont really think that Simon has the hots for me considering their attitude this morning- but they just might be upset that they cant do their regular dose of  anarchy.

‘’Oh PLEASE! Shut the fuck up! Clearly robotnik is the better villian than metal sonic’’

‘’Whats better? A metal robot designed for killing and kicking ass or some fatass long nosed bitch?’’ 

Both of the boys bickering slowly faded as they walked out of the door.. Without Koi. Maybe he should stop with his lousy daydreaming and catch a hint.

‘’What?’’ ‘’Simon left something here.. Looks like a diary. Wait WAIT! Did they seriously leave me?? On the first day of school??’’

After 2 hours, Cane finally noticed that Koi was nowhere to be seen and promptly turned around the car and sped back to the house. ‘’You FUCKING idiot! How the hell can you lose a damn bright ass angel??’’ ‘’Hes not my obligation or problem now- this ones on you’’

Yeah, that car ride to the school was pretty uncomfortable. 

Simon thought it would be a funny joke to make me sit in a childs car seat.. What a piece of work he is. 

As Cane pulled into the parking lot of the school, Simon only sighed in response and got out of the car, throwing a fit all the way to the door and punting some poor kid like a football who was just minding their own business. 

‘’Ight Koi. i have only one rule for you- and thats STICK WITH ME. im not getting in deep shit because you wandered off.’’ Cane turned around and said to me 

‘’Im not stupid. They atleast teach us that you demons would have a ‘’ory.. Gasm?’’ if you saw us anywhere near you.’’ I responded tugging on the door handle to no avail though.

Cane only started laughing and got out of the car to meet me at the door.

‘’Whoopsies, child lock’’ he said, winking at me and offering his hand.

‘’You both are so insufferable! I am not THAT short!’’ (i still took this hand though, his car was pretty tall.) i snorted back with a small smile 

‘’Yeah yeah whatever you say short boy’’ Cane responded smiling back and walking to the office. 

Whilst we walked in the long hallways, Cane suddenly stopped and looked at me with a weird face, and asked me a question

‘’Oh. I have to take a quick piss- and i have a student council meeting in 5 minutes too. Can you find a student with a red tag on and ask them for directions to the office?’’

‘’Sure- but-’’ 

‘’Kay, thanks’’ Cane responded and ruffled my hair and PROMPTLY disintegrated into.. Nothing? 

I guess he has teleportation powers or something.

As i looked around, i finally found a student with a red tag on and asked them for directions, but they were about to say something before a taller female figure hushed them and told them sternly to help me. 

Sooner or later the teacher walked away and so did the STUDENT?? 

So now, poor Koi stood there like deer in headlights frantically searching around for someone else, to literally no avail since the hallway was CLEAR. 

‘’Oh my.’’ Koi said to himself 

Walking down the halls he eventually found a curtained off room with about.. Six shadows moving around inside.

Good god am i not going inside of there- ill just keep on walking around and pray that the office magically appears.. 

‘’Are you looking for something?’’ A deep and gruff voice said from behind him 

Poor Koi almost jumped out of his skin hearing a sudden voice.. Only to find a shadow.. Man? Standing behind him. ‘’Im sorry, im looking for the office or somewhere to find my schedule. Are you a guide here?’’ Koi timidly asked because aside from demons, he HATED shadow people. ‘’Im not a guide, but i am apart of the Student Council here. Your overseer Cane asked me to locate you to give you your schedule.’’ the shadow figure responded, blinking its red eyes and handing a paper to Koi 

‘’Well, arent i supposed to address you or something? Also thank you!’’ Koi responded with a smile 

‘’Excuse my rudeness. I havent introduced myself. I am Kortax, and yes, i am a higher being shadow.’’ Kortax said, bowing as an apology and greeting

Oh, you cannot be serious. NOT HIM. ‘’Oh, yeah… thanks.’’ 

‘My pleasure.’’ 

You best believe i booked it to the nearest hallway.. Just to get away from him. Well, luckily i had my schedule now so i can atleast go to class… Worship & backwards messaging.. 

Great! That seems like a fun class to attend, maybe i can learn how to- ‘’This class has to be the most mind-numbing class ever, when will the teacher shut up for once? I actually cant believe i thought this class would be somewhat FUN.’’ .

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The intercom crackled to life with a loud ear-shattering echo. ‘’Will Koi Kishimoto report to the office immediately’’

Seriously, out of all the names for a LAST name they pick THAT??

The silence in the room was deafening as everyone nearly broke their necks to look back at him and koi could only hold his head down in shame. A consecutive ‘’OOOOOOOOOOH!’’ roared across the classroom Koi got up and took the walk of shame to the office. As he arrived, you could hear distant shouting, and as Koi got closer to the office doors, it got louder… and louder.

“I want to know where the FUCK is our tour guide! We cannot have a transfer student roaming the damn halls!’’ shouted a very tall and muscular demon ‘’Im so sorry Principal Wither, apparently the tour guide decided 9AM was smoke break time.’’ A much smaller and frail demon responded ‘’That doesnt matter anymore you lazy shit! I will just get this new transfer student…’’ Principal Wither responded ‘’Koi Kishimoto?’’ ‘’Yes him, i will get this Koi Kishimoto to get a full tour by my youngest son.’’ Principal wither said ‘’Okay, Koi should be on his way soon then.’’ ‘’Finally, you do something fucking GOOD for once Blanco! Principal Wither laughed out Koi just had to listen to that whole dramafest, a bit mentally scarred from the Principals endless yelling. The Vice Principal named ‘’Blanco’’ turned around and finally addressed Koi. ‘’Ah, you must be Koi Kishimoto, correct?’’ ‘’Yeah, im Koi.’’  

‘’Take a seat then’’ Koi VERY reluctantly took a seat at the desk “Its about time that you show up, Let me introduce myself. I am Principal Wither, and this Fuckhead right here is Vice Principal Blanco”

Seriously?

“I see that your tour guide wasnt up to par, no?’’ “Yeah, he kinda like ditched me the second the teacher walked away.’’

“.. so your saying Cane defied his duties today?’’ 

‘’No, no sir. Cane had to excuse himself to go use the restroom and deal with a student council matter’’

‘’Thats splendid.. The student council meeting should be ending soon.. CALICO! Bring my son to me this INSTANT!’’

‘’Oh! Uh.. ye-yes sir!’’ 

I really just figured that maybe i wouldnt want to be in the same room as both Canes father and him so i just packed up and went back to class.

The class was boring. Litterally had nothing to do with Worshiping and backwards messaging. But since i still have no cl

ue in the world where im going, i just waited for Cane to appear, either way, my next class is Dark Magic training, but im hoping that the teacher will just let me sit the class out.

  ‘’Koi?’’ Cane said, suddenly appearing right behind my shoulder, and finally moving to stand beside me.

‘’Yes Cane?’’ i responded, clearly tired

‘’Sorry about my dad, i know he frightened you a bit.’’ Cane retorted, with a small snicker and putting his arm around my neck 

‘’Look Cane, ive had a really, REALLY stressful day- could you NOT? Everytime i turn a corner, this man and that man wants to look me up and down like im a piece of ham!!’’ I finally snapped, yelling at cane

‘’Jesus, calm down for a second- first of all, you are quite literally a piece of ham to these animals up here, you know how valuable angel scent is going for?’’ 

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‘’What?’’

===============

Cane is pretty cool. He makes me laugh alot, it helps distract me from what happened above. My head hurts anytime that i really think about it.

‘’Koi! Quit fuckin spacing out. Were supposed to be helping you tour the school, not watching you run into a damn wall because your heads stuck in fucking lalaloopsie land.’’ Cane told me, purposefully bumping into me to wake me up

‘’Huh? Oh yeah sure- wheres that serial killer guy or whatever his name was’’

‘’Ha! Thats oh… HAAAA- oh my fucking god- ive gotta tell Simon you said that HeHEEEEEE’’

‘’Dont! Please for the love of god, hes gonna murder me!!’’

‘’With what? A fucking Cereal box and a bowl of milk? HAAAaaaa’’

[angelasscribbles]

Dark Elf Chapter 2: Forced Alliances

Series: Dark Elf

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Liam x Riley

Rating: R

Warnings for this chapter: Dark themes, mature themes

Word Count: 2,090

My other stuff: Master List.

“I haven’t seen you here before.” An attractive redhead twirling a flute of champagne approached her.

Riley Brooks turned her lithe body to greet the new arrival.

“Olivia Nevrakis, Duchess of Lythikos. And you are?” She extended a hand, her green eyes suspicious, belying the friendliness in her voice.

“Riley Brooks.” The brunette took her hand, “Duchess of Mayhem.”

“What?” The redhead blinked at her.

“It’s a joke. I’m not a duchess. Not of anything here anyway.” Riley tipped her glass back and drank deeply, draining it. She plopped it onto a tray as a waiter walked by.

“Not to be rude, but if you’re not nobility and you’re not from around here, how did you get an invitation?”

“Oh, I’m here with a friend.” She replied, her left hand moving to her right arm to finger the jade bracelet just above her wrist. It was coiled around her arm in the shape of a serpent, with two dazzling rubies for eyes.

“Oh, my!” Olivia exclaimed, “That’s quite striking! Where did you get it?”

“It was a….gift,” Riley responded as her eyes tracked the movements of a russet-haired young man with cobalt blue eyes as he strode toward them.

He was just a tad above average height for a man, with a lean and well-toned body that was set off nicely by the Armani suit he was wearing.

Olivia’s eyes followed Riley’s gaze with a raised eyebrow, “Maxwell Beaumont? You could do worse.”

“Oh, I have.”

Olivia chuckled, “Nice to meet someone around here with a sense of humor.” Leaning closer, she lowered her voice, “Just a friendly word of advice though, if you’re here for Leo, you’re wasting your time. He’s mine.”

Riley cut her eyes sidewise at the other woman, “Your prince is safe. I have my own to worry about.”

She turned her eyes toward the dais where the royal family was seated. King Constantine, Queen Helena, and their two sons, Crown Prince Leo, heir to the throne, and Prince Liam, the spare.

Three of them blonde haired, blue-eyed, and fair-skinned.

Then there was Liam. He was the reason she had been summoned to Cordonia.

Maxwell reached them before Olivia could ask Riley what she meant by that. He slid an arm around her waist, “There you are my little lotus blossom! I see you’ve met Olivia.”

“Yes.” Olivia replied, “I find her delightful! Wherever did you find her?”

“She fell from heaven obviously.” He answered.

“Or crawled up from the pits of hell.” Riley quipped glancing around for another waiter. She really needed a drink.

Olivia laughed at the reference to Riley’s devil costume. She had on a body-hugging, floor-length red dress with fake horns. There was a matching red silk mask that was clutched in her right hand.

“Well, this had been fun,” Olivia said as the music started, “But I promised Leo the first dance! Ta!”

Maxwell waited for Olivia to walk away before hissing in Riley’s ear, “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m doing what you summoned me here to do. Making friends!”

“You know damn good and well that’s not why you’re here! You’re here for Liam, nothing more.”

“Whatever.” She pulled her arm away from him and stalked toward the bar.

“What’ll it be?” The bartender asked her.

Tossing the mask onto the bar she slid onto a stool, “I’m sick of champagne. Don’t you have something with a little more fire in it? Whiskey, perhaps?” 

“Whiskey, really?”

She turned toward the voice. Well hello, tall, broad-shouldered, and hot as hell. Silky chestnut hair fell almost to his shoulders. Gold flecked his copper-colored irises.

Her lips curved up into a smile, “What? Never seen a woman drink whiskey before?”

“Not a noblewoman, not at one of these functions.” He answered then signaled the bartender for one of his own.

“Hm. Well, I’m not a noblewoman for starters.” She threw the shot back without flinching and signaled for another one.

The bartender delivered a shot glass to each of them.

“I already like you!” Drake laughed, tipping his glass toward her.

She tipped hers toward him then they both drank.

“Keep ‘em coming!” She told the bartender, “You know what? Just leave the bottle.”

“Better pace yourself. You don’t want to have to be carried out of here by security.”

“Not gonna happen,” She told him, “I have a very high metabolism.”

“Me too.” He poured them another drink, “But I’ve never met a woman, or a man for that matter, that could go shot for shot with me!”

“Well then,” She peered at him over the rim of the shot glass, “I’d say that you’ve been keeping the wrong company.”

He threw his head back and laughed, “Obviously! But it looks like my luck is changing!”

Her eyes raked up and down his body as she tossed another shot down her throat, “Keep up the sweet talk and you might get really lucky tonight.”

“Oh yeah?” He leaned toward her with a flirty retort on his lips but froze as she leaned toward him.

They each recognized what the other was at the exact same moment.

Riley felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

Well if this wasn’t a bunch of bullshit.

She pulled away from him as disappointment washed through her, “You’re his spell breaker.”

“Ah, and I guess that makes you the woman I’ve been hearing so much about. You’re here for the….ceremony.” His eyes shuttered immediately.

She threw another shot back then slammed the glass on the counter, “That’s what they tell me.”

Not like she’d had any choice in the matter.

“So are we enemies now?” She asked him.

“We’re on the same side. We’re both here to serve Liam.” But his entire demeanor had shifted.

Before she could decide how to respond, they were interrupted.

“There you are, love!” Liam called out.

Riley eyed him disdainfully as she took another shot, “I am not your love.”

He gave her a smile that would have thoroughly enchanted most women as he leaned in and said, “You’re whatever I want you to be right now, aren’t you?”

She grunted in consternation as she twisted the bracelet on her arm, “For now.”

Once her business with Maxwell was concluded, there would be nothing holding her there.

“I see you’ve met Drake.”

“That his name?” She asked with disinterest.

“That’s my name.” Drake lifted the shot glass to his mouth as his eyes moved between her and Liam, tracking their interaction with laser-like intensity.

“Mine is Riley.” She told him with a smile full of malice, “At least the shortened version that you can pronounce.”

“Come, let’s dance.” Liam extended his hand to her expectantly as he glanced briefly in the other man’s direction, “Drake.”

“Liam.” Drake nodded to him before downing another shot.

Riley slid her hand into his hating the way it made her feel. Magic swirled through her every time they touched.

Perhaps if she had met him any other way things could have been different, but she hated being at anyone’s beck and call.

Fucking Maxwell.

Liam led her out onto the floor and then swung her around, pulling her body against his.  

“Are you enjoying your stay?” He asked her.

She smiled up at him but it didn’t reach her eyes, “No.”

“I’m quite sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to improve the experience? I am a full-service prince you know.”

She scoffed loudly, “That elven charm doesn’t work on me. You know that, right?”

Elves, even halfing elves, could easily glamour most humans without even trying. It was part of their magic. It was the reason there were so many stories of mortals following elves off into the forest and never returning.

Or returning after what felt like a night to them, only to find that a hundred years had passed in the human world.

Never trust any member of the fae.

They were diabolical.

No, humans never fared well in their interactions with elves. Especially the dark ones.

Good thing Riley wasn’t strictly human either.

He pulled her closer and held her tighter against his body as he lowered his mouth to her ear, “I was hoping my regular, run of the mill, human charm might be enough to win you over.”

She shivered as his breath brushed the side of her neck.

Damn it.

“Why would I be remotely interested in a man that brought me here against my will? I’m a virtual prisoner.”

“That was Maxwell’s doing, not mine.”

“Ah, but it was on your behalf that he sought my help, was it not?”

“It was.” Liam admitted as he spun her under her arm and pulled her back again, “But I was hoping we could be friends.”

“You want to be friends?” She held her arm up to him, the serpent bracelet glittered in the soft light of the ballroom, “Remove the manacle.”

Liam chuckled quietly as he ran a finger down the side of her face, “Do I look stupid to you, Riley?”

“You look like a man that might be worthy of my attentions….if they were freely given.”

“You can still do that. I’m not forcing you to have sex with me.”

She laughed as a smile of amusement spread across her face, “As if you could, my prince. I’d rip your heart out and eat it while you watched.”

She felt him harden against her.

Her eyes glittered with surprised amusement, “Like it rough, do you?”

“I like you.” He dipped his head and caught her lips with his own.

She sank her teeth into him.

“Ow!” He pulled away from her.

She smirked at him as she licked his blood from her lips, “Mmmm, delicious!”

He drew an arm across his lips, wiping the blood away as his pupils dilated, “If you think that’s going to dissuade me, you don’t know me at all.”

He jerked her closer again as he hissed, “I do like it rough.”

She tipped her head back, bringing her lips to his. One hand tangled in his hair and pulled, hard, as she ran her tongue along his bottom lip.

He lunged for her lips and she moved back, with a taunting smile, “Remove the manacle, my prince, and I’ll show you things you’ve never dreamed possible.”

A slight scent of singed hair reached his nose as heat crept out from her fingertips and spread enticingly along his scalp.

He gently tapped a finger on her bracelet and she released his hair with a yelp as an electric shock jolted through her.

“Fucker.” She muttered as her left hand went to her right arm to rub the skin just above the jade serpent.

He laughed quietly as he surveyed her discomfort. “I’m not so easily tricked. You are very tempting, but I am not foolish enough to trust a demon.”

“Half demon.” She corrected him.

On her mother’s side.

A guard approached them, “Excuse me, Your Majesty, but your father requires your presence.”  

“Certainly,” Liam replied as he calmly adjusted his cufflinks, “I’ll be right there. You’re dismissed.”

The guard bowed and hurried away.

With an affected smile pasted on his face, Liam nodded to her before taking his leave, “Until next time.”

“Can’t wait!” She replied, infusing the simple comment with ample amounts of sarcasm.

As Liam turned and walked away, Riley glanced up and around the ballroom.

To her left, Leo and Olivia were cozied up at a table in the corner, he was feeding her sweets from his plate.

At the back of the ballroom stood Maxwell Beaumont, Liam’s wizard, his spellbinder. The one that had summoned her. The one responsible for the enchanted bracelet on her wrist that bound her powers and allowed the elf to control her.

Maxwell was staring at her with the same mix of emotions on his face that he always wore when he watched her. Equal parts fear and fascination. She smiled at him but there was no humor in it.

If she could get free of the manacle, she would find the most delightful ways to torture him. For eternity if possible.

To her right she found the spell breaker still at the bar, watching her with an unreadable expression. Her eyes narrowed.

Was he friend, or foe?

Could you ever really trust a shifter?

As she turned to leave the ballroom, her eyes fell on Hana Lee. Sweet, innocent, unsuspecting Hana.

The sacrifice for the spell she was there to kindle.

[writerfae]

The Knights of the Alder - Anastasia AU: Stormy Night

Synopsis: When Aiden was eight, he was found half-dead at the side of a road, with no memory of his past or who he really was. He has no idea that he's the prince of his country, whose family was killed in a riot.

Ten years later, he makes his way to the city, determined to find out about who he is and to find his family. His destination: Paris, where he hopes to find all the answers he is looking for. But getting to Paris isn't as easy as he thought and so he searches for help.

That's when he meets Talon and Maya, two con artists who want to find a boy that pretends to be the lost prince, so they can introduce him to the dead heir's husband in Paris, who promised a reward to whoever brings his brother in-law back to him.

Together the three make their way to Paris and their journey holds a lot of surprises.

Context: it’s that dream scene. You know the one.

Talon’s dream of swirling dancers and a smiling young prince was interrupted by a heavy weight on his back and agitated barking close to his ears.

He groaned, trying to shoo away the dog that just woke him up, not even bothering to turn around.

“Kara. Get off of me you brat,” he mumbled, face pressed into his pillow, determined to continue sleeping.

But the pup didn’t stop, barking and pulling on Talon’s blanket as if her life depended on it. Annoyed he finally turned and sat up.

“What is your problem?” he asked.

But then his gaze fell on the bed across the room. It was empty. “Aiden?”

The other boy was nowhere to be seen. So that’s what got Kara so worked up.

Worry flooded him immediately. He looked back at the dog.

“What’s wrong Kara? Where is he? Show me.”

Kara barked and then ran out of the room as fast as he’d never seen her run before.

Cursing quietly he pushed aside his blanket and scrambled after her. When he realized where she wanted to lead him he froze.

The deck? What did Aiden do on deck? It was way too dangerous to be out there during a storm like this.

“Wait here,” he told the dog and ran up the stairs.

Struggling to keep his balance as the ship was tossed around by the high waves of the sea, Talon clung to the railing, looking over the deck.

The scenery in front of him looked horrifying.

The heaven was dark with storm clouds, lit up only occasionally by lightning, accompanied by roaring thunder.

The turbulent sea was pitch black. Enormous waves dashed against the ship’s prow, breaking over the deck.

Harsh wind made Talon shiver and the darkness and heavy rain made it almost impossible for him to see properly, but soon he noticed the most horrifying sight of it all.

In the middle of all the chaos was Aiden, walking across the deck despite the raging storm - and straight up to the railing of the ship.

Struck with a sense of horror Talon called out Aiden’s name. Again and again and again. But it was useless.

Aiden kept walking across the deck, getting closer and closer to the edge, as if it was just a light walk through the park.

Talon had no time to question why Aiden was out there and what the hell was going on with him. He had to do something - before he reached the railing and fell over it.

He called his name again, but Aiden didn’t hear him. So Talon did the only thing that came to his mind.

He braced himself and ran. His heart was beating wildly in his chest as he struggled to make his way over to the other boy.

~

Aiden was having a quite pleasant dream. He lay in a field of flowers, watching the clouds pass by.

The sky was blue and the sun bright and he felt content. Suddenly, the face of a boy appeared in his vision.

Aiden knew that boy, had dreamt of him countless times before, but never did his face seem as clear to him as it did right now.

It always used to be more of a blur.

The boy smiled down at him, amber eyes warm and gleaming with amusement.

“Don’t tell me you’ve become lazy,” he said. “Come on, quit lying around and come play with us instead. The others are waiting for you already.”

Aiden smiled at the boy, taking the hand that was offered to him and following him.

He didn’t let go of his hand as they crossed the field and walked down a small dirt path. It made him feel save and comfortable despite the bumpy road.

Pointing out all kinds of birds and plants they saw on their way the two boys kept walking until they reached a small cliff.

As Aiden stood at the edge and looked down, there was a lake underneath him. In it swam people in bathing suits, waving and calling out to him gleefully.

There were two women, one a bit younger than the other, but both looking similar to each other.

And also similar to the boy who stood next to Aiden, still holding his hand.

Both women called up to him, smiling widely. The older one opened her arms as if she wanted to embrace him.

Next to her stood a man with the same brown hair and dark eyes as Aiden. He, too, grinned up to the two boys standing at the edge of the cliff.

“There you are! What are you waiting for boys, come join us! Jump!” he called out to them.

“We’re coming, father,” the boy next to Aiden called.

Squeezing his hand one last time, he let go, jumping down and into the water. The water splashed up around him, soaking the people around him even more.

They all laughed at that, loud and happy and Aiden too couldn’t help but to giggle delightedly.

He was about to jump as well, but a distant sound made him hesitate. It was like someone called his name.

Surprised he looked over his shoulder. He knew that voice somehow…

~

The water on deck made it hard to move, but Talon kept pushing forward.

He slipped and stumbled more than once, moving out of the way of waves clashing with the deck and objects moved by the swinging of the ship.

Aiden had meanwhile reached the edge of the deck.

For a while he just stood there, staggering with the movement of the ship but otherwise unmoving, hands clenched around the railing.

Talon almost reached him when to his shock Aiden started to try and climb over the ceiling.

Talon felt like his heart would stop. Did Aiden want to jump? Panicked, he called his name again.

He was almost there…

~

That voice calling his name irritated Aiden. Who was it? There was no one behind him.

He considered to go and investigate, but the people calling out to him directed his attention back to the lake once more.

“Come Aiden,” called the older of the two women, voice sweet and warm. “Jump.”

“Yeah,” agreed the boy with a grin. “Jump, little rabbit, jump!”

Aiden wanted to, really. He wanted to join them so bad that his heart hurt, but he was frozen in place.

A chorus of “Jump, jump, jump!” sounded from the people underneath him. But he didn’t. He just couldn’t.

With time the people started growing impatient, their shouts angry. It made Aiden take a step back in caution.

“You foolish boy,” called an angry voice from underneath.

As Aiden looked down at the lake again, the whole scenery shifted.

Suddenly the clear water was replaced with sizzling red flames, the cheerful people with horrifying creatures, reaching out to him with their horrible claws.

“Jump,” the angry voice shouted. “Jump and finally complete the curse. Complete the curse.”

The clawed creatures echoed the call and tried to pull Aiden down to them, down into the flames.

Aiden tried to fight it, but their pull on him was strong.

His name was called again, and he could feel something grabbing him from behind as the world around him started shifting once again.

When he opened his eyes, all he saw was a pair of concerned golden eyes.

~

As Talon finally managed to grab Aiden and pull him away from the railing, it took all his strength to not lose his hold on him.

The other boy’s eyes were closed shut, yet he was struggling against his grip as if he was being attacked.

He came to realize that Aiden was probably sleepwalking, caught in a bad dream.

Though right now it was more of a sleep fighting. Talon had to dodge away to not end up getting punched in the face.

He caught a hold on Aiden’s shoulders and shook them to wake him up.

“Aiden,” he called to him. “Aiden!”

Only then did Aiden’s eyes flutter open, unshed tears glistening in them. His fighting slowly got to a stop.

“Talon?” he asked quietly, reaching for his face, yet not quite touching it.

Then the tears finally fell and he hid his face in Talon’s chest.

On instinct Talon pulled him closer, arms tightening around the shivering boy.

“The curse,” Aiden sobbed. “That damn curse. All these faces…”

Talon didn’t know what he was talking about, he just felt the strong need to hold Aiden close, to comfort him.

“Shh,” he tried to calm him, caressing the back of his head. “It’s okay. It was just a bad dream.”

Talon buried his face in dark locks, trying not to think about how badly that dream could’ve ended.

Good thing that Kara woke him up on time…

“You’re okay now,” he whispered to the still shaking boy in his arms. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

[hexdoodlez]

REPOST: BF, GF and Pico in my AU Friday Night Funkin' Angelic and Demonic Harmony! in Heaven, Boyfriend is a well known rapping phenomena and also the second heir of the Heavenly Throne. He even travels to Earth to have some rap battles with human celebrites, and collab with them in songs One day, he heard the Elite Angels talking badly about the demons, and the princess of Hell: Girlfriend. He was curious about what they were talking about, so he decided to go in disguise, sneak out and go to Hell and see her in action. Luckily, there was a concert at the time. He went to it and the moment Girlfriend on stage, and sing her first note, he was not only in awe, but he fell in love. After the concert, he went into a dark alley where no one can see him to take off his disguise for a bit while Girlfriend was walking by and noticed that Boyfriend was an Angel, wondered what he was doing in Hell.  Boyfriend said that he saw her on stage and thought she was an amazing singer, and she was great on stage, and he also told her that she was really beautiful, and wondered if she wanted to go out with him. This made Girlfriend blush, but was worried about her parents and the rest of the demons finding out an Angel was with her, but he said he didn't care what the others thought. It wouldn't change anything between the two, and he'll still love her and be there for her, no matter what happens. Girlfriend was touched by his words, and decided to give it a shot and date in secret.

A few weeks pass, Boyfriend and Girlfriend's relationship has gotten stronger and they have grown much closer, until Daddy Dearest found out they were dating and was highly upset about this, and since he found out that he's a rapper, he challenged Boyfriend to a singing battle, hence Week 1. He lost, of course. But he told him that it isn't over, and will do anything to tear their relationship apart. For Girlfriend, Despite the way she's dressed, she actually very nice and sweet, but is a bit impish at times. She's the most famous demon in Hell, and of course, the princess, and heir to the throne. She's made millions with songs and albums, and is also a supermodel. She is quite bored with the celebrity life, and wishes to explore different places and see many things. Pico was an Angel before he has fallen. He was at a bar one time, got really drunk and ended up getting into a violent fight that's escalated so bad the police had to get involved. While he was stripped of his status being an Angel and still has the privilege to stay in Heaven, but for only 1 hour, he became a Fallen Angel and was sent to Hell. Pico then was hired by Daddy Dearest to kill Boyfriend and on Week 3, when they both met, Pico immediately recognized him and ended up having a rap battle with him instead. And in this AU, All three of them are in a polyamorous relationship

[lya-dustin]

Someone will remember us

Chapter 76

Cw: death, peril, description of a heart attack

Taglist: @mercedesdecorazon @stargaryenx @arrthurpendragon

Gif by @hvitserkk

He does not like waiting.

Aemma doesn’t either, but Aemond thinks motherhood has done what Teora’s teaching didn’t.

The north wanted four days and Sabitha Frey begrudgingly agreed.

Elmo Tully was needed, if they were to join forces and have the last of his brother’s supporters brought to heel, they needed everyone they could get.

There had been a letter from Aegon.

‘Weep no more, little brother, I live.’

He had taken Dragonstone with the help of Larys Strong, Larys who wasted no time in ensuring he knew what Aemond had done.

Some had deserted him and now he and Cole were branded as traitors.

Cole who stayed because his loyalty to Aegon was a byproduct of his love for mother.

Cole who bent the knee knowing there was a large possibility he would be taking the black for Joffrey Lonmouth and Lyman Beesbury’s murders and for his part in the usurpation of the king’s heir.

Aemond would be dead anyways.

Daemon had come from Maidenpool and demanded only one thing.

Daemon had said. “A trial by combat, let the gods be our judges, nephew.”

“May they judge us true.” Aemond nodded and agreed to the time and place. “We have lived too long, nuncle.”

“On that much we agree.”

And so Aemond seals his fate.

“If you wish to remarry, I only ask your next husband not be Stark.” He said refusing her pleas.

He only asked for a moment to bid his wife and son farewell.

“I hate this is what you want your last words to me to be.” Aemma dried her tears with her sleeve, and he thinks most of their marriage has been Aemma crying because of him.

“No, I will die with your name in my lips.” He said kissing her one last time. “If we cannot be together in this life, let us be in the next.”

She should have told him about Addam.

But she doesn’t because she doesn’t want to ruin his last moments by telling him she nearly fucked her brother in a moment of weakness.

If he lives she will tell him.

If he lives.

Gods, she hoped his seed takes.

Aemond, named after his father. Yes, that’s a good name.

“If you give me leave, I will kill Prince Daemon myself.” Cole suggests as second sons take flight.

“No, I suggested poisoning Daemon and he said he wants to die with the last shred of honor he has left.” The queen shook her head as they watched from Harrenhal’s battlements. “Besides, how would you do it?”

“A Myrish Crossbow.” The Dornish knight said showing him a rather expensive arbalest handsomely decorated with Larys Strong’s personal sigil, a bug in amber. “Lord Strong was given this by the Triarchy and now it is mine.”

“If we ever find him, I do hope you let me borrow it.” Aemma said taking out the Myrish spyglass she pilfered from Strong’s treasure trove.

Ser Osferth Whent would have enough riches to make everyone forget he was a hedge knight.

If Harrenhal survives the battle, that is.

She cannot see much, even with the glass, too high up and gives up because she knows her life will be over when Daemon plunges Dark Sister into Aemond’s eye.

But she can hear the roars, both men shouting and the dragons slamming into each other and biting whatever flesh they can get their teeth on.

And yet suddenly, both beasts and riders come tumbling down into the lake.

She hears Aemond’s screams as he falls to his death just as she had seen it every time she closed her eyes since that night when he told her he loved her.

Aemond thanks the gods he took the one lesson Daemon gave him to heart.

Had he been chained to the saddle as he usually was, he would be dead. Had Aemma not told him how the story ends, he would have not had a chance in the seven hells of making it out alive.

Daemon leapt off his saddle with Dark Sister in hand and walked towards him as if their dying mounts were not falling like stars from the heavens.

The one eyed king moves to block Daemon’s strike and prays to whatever god hears him not to make an orphan out of his son.

“I. Will. Kill. You.” The Rogue Prince’s eyes flash in anger, overconfidence and something else.

His words are garbled, his usually smooth movements replaced by savage and even clumsy.

“Not before I do.” Aemond taunts and uses Daemon’s sudden weakness as best as he can.

He has always loved the singing of Valyrian steel against Valyrian steel, plain steel was enough to get his blood running even as a boy, but Valyrian steel was music to his ears.

Unfortunately, Daemon had earned his reputation. The man was relentless even as it becomes evident he is having a stroke.

“For Luke.” The prince managed to say after disarming Aemond and getting him on his back. They were falling faster now; in the next heartbeat they will be food for the fishes below.

Aemond’s life flashes before his eyes as Daemon raised his sword one last time and bites his lip bloody to avoid screaming in terror like a child.

The sword never comes.

Instead, it falls out of its wielder’s hand as the Rogue Prince clutched his left side.

This had not been the work of man.

The Gods had condemned Daemon for his crimes and avenged all those who died by his hand.

And yet Aemond falls into the Gods’ Eye as his foot got caught in a loose chain.

“Aemma.” It is not the whisper like the singers will claim, it is the terrified screams of a boy only a few months away from his nine and tenth nameday.

[theascent]

☼☾ ( gemma chan , 36 , she/her , cisgender female , wolfenbuttel 3) - have you seen ROSINA WOLFENBUTTEL?  we’ve heard through the grapevine that they’re DIGNIFIED but also RESENTFUL. when you think of them , you think of SLENDER FINGERS POISED ABOVE IVORY PIANO KEYS, LETTING THE MUFFLED SOUNDS INFIDELITY LULL YOU TO SLEEP,  AND ALLOWING HATRED TO FESTER IN THE WOUNDS HE CREATED.

if you prick us, do we not bleed?

name: rosina wolfenbuttel birth name: 姜小宛 ( jiang xiaowan ) title: duchess; betrothed to duke frederick age: 36 pronouns: she/her gender: cisgender female nation: brunswick nation of birth: china orientation: bisexual/biromantic

if you tickle us, do we not laugh?

hair: black height: 5 feet, 9 inches eye color: dark brown positive traits: compassionate, romantic, vivacious neutral traits: optimistic, ascetic, delicate negative traits: scornful, calculating, vindictive love language: physical touch, quality time vice(s): pride likes: playing her piano, writing home to her sister, managing the affairs of brunswick estate, walking through the gardens, getting fitted for gowns, gossiping, attending church services, sharing her culture, listening to orchestral music, frederick's frown. dislikes: anything capable of dirtying her dresses, being the last to be told information, the stench of tobacco, windy days, heights, silence, being wronged, frederick.

if you poison us, do we not die?

tw: infidelity and infertility

xiaowan was the eldest daughter born to the duke of the first rank, a title bestowed upon her father for his work in the imperial army. it was this connection that landed her a sponsorship to brunswick. having shown both an affinity and natural talent for the piano, she was taken under the wing of brunswick's most accomplished composers. it was during this time that she met him: frederick wolfenbuttel. this was her destiny. he was her future. suddenly it made sense; it wasn't a matter of fate, but faith. just as she had given herself to god, he had given her frederick. she adopted the name rosina after her favorite pianist, rosina cannabich, and bathed herself in frederick's adoration, allowing his love to soothe the beating heart she wore upon her sleeve. and she was loving, god was she loving. consistently doting on her husband and writing home to her sister just now lucky she was to have settled into such an ardent marriage - but even a woman of faith such as herself could not convince the omniscient entity up in heaven that she was deserving of a glorious life. after failing to convince for the entirety of her marriage, she still managed to reassure herself that one day the seed of an heir would plant itself insider her womb, and finally rosina and frederick's family would feel complete. but as the years passed the two only grew distant and frederick, unfaithful. still, rosina never strayed. never even looked the way of men who weren't the man she promised herself to. but that was then. and france? oh, france was now. her vows no longer belonged to fredrick, but to vengeance. retribution. rosina ensured the estate was cared for. rosina checked on the wellbeing of the servants. rosina corroborated every story, every lie frederick uttered. and so, it's only natural that it be rosina to take brunswick. to end frederick wolfenbuttel. to watch him suffer just as he did her.

and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?

tw: loss of faith

☼ rosina wants revenge. against frederick. against bernadette. against brunswick. hell, against the entirety of the human race. this is her purpose in france. ☼ she has grown further from religion. why would her god allow such a heinous act to take place under her roof. didn't she pray enough? wasn't she faithful enough? so then why wasn't she enough? ☼ "poor rosina. how could the duke do this to such a lovely woman? dignified. classy. noble." this may have been true, once upon a time. back when her husband occupied the space next to her. when their hands held on to one another. now? it's a farce. the more people she can turn against that bastard, the better. allies will legitimize her rule. when she rules. because she will. she'll make sure of it. ☼ she does not want frederick dead. no. that's too easy. egocentric playboys deserve to watch their life turn to dust. to shambles. unable to do a thing but sit and watch as the relationships forged between fathers and grandfathers crumble under the weight of your actions. the knowledge that you are responsible.

"heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned."

paramour: if frederick can have one, why can't she? sick of remaining faithful to a man with no intention of doing the same, she finds comfort in your embrace. whether or not love will bloom can be discussed! note: this is a new lover, one she meets in france as she has only recently allowed herself to push her husband to the back of her mind. accomplice: for whatever reason, you offer to help rosina enact her revenge. she doesn't want your aid, nor does she think she needs it. and yet, your company is strangely encouraging. bonus for this doubling as an enemies to lovers. and as always, bring on the friends.

[yuujispinkhair]

The songs you grow to like never stick at first (Chapter 5)

Chapter 1 ++ Chapter 2 ++ Chapter 3 ++ Chapter 4

Falling for your best friend is a blessing and a curse at the same time, especially when it’s painfully obvious that your friend doesn’t feel the same. So what is Yuuji supposed to do? He doesn’t want to lose you but also can’t help wanting to get out of the friendzone. Maybe his other friends can help him. Or he just has to wait because sometimes the songs that become our all-time favorites are the ones that don’t stick at first.

Pairing: Yuuji x Reader (female) Genre: College AU, fluff, my attempt at humor, friends to lovers Word Count: 3.5k Playlist: College AU Warnings: 18+, slow burn, a lot of cheesiness, pining, unrequited love in the beginning, alcohol, masturbation, sex dreams. Cheating (but NOT Yuuji or reader!! Naoya cheats on reader). All characters are of age. The story and my blog contain 18+ content, so minors don't interact. 

Chapter 05: A rivalry goes so deep between me and this loss of sleep over you (Part 2)

The weeks pass. You are in romantic heaven with your boyfriend. And Yuuji is in heartbreak hell, with dark circles under his eyes and the emotional baggage of the frontman of an emo band.

He's officially a member of the boxing club now, spending more and more time at the gym to let his anger out on the punching bag that he calls Naoya in his mind.

You keep telling Yuuji about your dates with the Zenin heir, oblivious to the pain it causes him. He has to put a stop to it though the moment you start talking about your and Naoya's sex life.

"Can you please not?!! I don't want to know these things!"

"Hey, that's not fair! You tell me everything about your bedroom adventures too, Mr. Too much information."

Yuuji throws up his hands in exasperation. He knows you are right. Unfortunately, he seems to lack that gene that is responsible for feeling ashamed, so he always goes into too much detail anytime he shares his sex tales with his friends. Guilty as charged.

"Ah, dammit! But that was ages ago!! I haven't even had sex in months!"

"And maybe that's the problem! You need to get laid, Yuu!"

You have a point. But the problem is that the only person Yuuji wants to get sexy with is you. But, of course, he can't say that, so he just makes an incomprehensible noise and changes the topic.

He is relieved when a few weeks later, you pull a face while stirring your iced coffee listlessly, sighing as you rest your chin on your hand and announce:

"Naoya has to go on a business trip. He's leaving in an hour, and I already miss him. Those gonna be the worst three days!"

No, that's wrong! Those are going to be the best three days if you ask Yuuji!

He feels energetic despite his lack of sleep and the physical exertion from last night's boxing training. This is great! The sun shines brighter all of a sudden, and his coffee hasn't tasted this good in months!

Yuuji can't help but smile while walking next to you, accompanying you to your first class of the day, just like he does every morning. There's a new spring in his step now that some of the weight got lifted off his shoulders.

An hour later, when he's sitting in acting class, waiting for his turn to portray a Yakuza leader, the guilt catches up with him. He shouldn't feel happy about your annoyance that your boyfriend is away. He's a horrible friend!! How can he smile and celebrate the fact that you miss the guy you are in love with??

Yuuji is on the brink of punching himself and only gets saved from making an absolute fool of himself because his name gets called for the next performance.

Half an hour later, he walks out of class with loud praise from his professor.

"Itadori, that was an outstanding performance. I could practically feel the anger! You really got into the role! Keep up the good work."

Hysterical laughter bubbles up in Yuuji's chest. It seems like method acting is his way to a possible movie star career, huh? He will have to mention Nayoa in his thank-you speech when he receives an Oscar.

He can't stop laughing all the way to the cafeteria, earning himself raised eyebrows and giggles. Yuuji just rolls his eyes when he realizes it and lifts his left hand to show some of the guys from the volleyball team his middle finger.

He doesn't have time for this. He has to find you and make sure to make the best of the next three days, where he can have you all to himself again! And after all, he is your best friend, and it's literally his job to keep you company and keep you busy, so you won't wallow in self-pity and lose your mind over longing for your man all the time. Yuuji's motives are totally pure!!

Another chuckle escapes his mouth. The mix of lack of sleep and giddy anticipation to take you to the mall and eat ice cream with you is gradually turning him into a lunatic. But Yuuji can't be bothered at the moment. He bursts into the cafeteria with a bright sunshine smile and an excited:

"Finish your tea, princess! I'm taking you to the mall!"

And the loud laugh and happy sparkle in your eyes he receives in return are even more reasons to be a bit crazy.

Three nights later, Yuuji jolts up when his phone blares loudly on the pillow next to his ear. He groans. For once, he fell asleep early. The lack of sleep finally got the better of him, and he felt so at ease after having you all to himself for three days that sweet sleep claimed him.

He was even having a particularly nice dream of you straddling his lap, your hands in his hair, while you were slowly riding him, moaning his name and whispering sweet love confessions in his ear. It was the perfect wet dream!

Until his stupid phone ruined it!

Yuuji sits up and looks around groggily. His brain is too fuzzy, but his hand finds his phone and lifts it to look at the screen. His eyes widen.

Why are you calling him at 00:13?

"Hey! What's up? Are you ok?"

Your voice sounds strange, when you answer him:

"Yuu... Are... are you up?"

Yuuji is completely alert in an instant, the sleepy confusion and the horniness gone completely. Something happened! He can hear it in your voice! Worry washes over him.

"What's wrong? Where are you?"

Yuuji's already out of bed while speaking, balancing the phone between his shoulder and cheek as he's jumping into his grey sweatpants. He has to go wherever you are! He can tell that you aren't ok, even when you didn't say it yet. You need him!

"I.. can you.. can you please come pick me up?"

"Of course! Already on my way. Tell me where you are!"

He only hears a shaky sob, and it makes his heart drop. You sound like you are crying. Yuuji is scared. Cold fear has its chokehold on him. What happened to you? He has to get to you right now!

He's stumbling over his backpack, cursing loudly, before finding his shirt from yesterday lying on the floor next to his desk. He shrugs hastily into it while listening to your thick voice giving him instructions:

"I'm downtown... you know that street corner near our McDonald's and the karaoke bar?"

Fuck. So you were with Naoya tonight? His apartment is near that location. Yuuji's worry is laced with anger now. What did that asshole do to make you cry and call Yuuji in the middle of the night? And why the hell are you out there all alone? That's dangerous! It's the middle of the night!

"I'll be there in a few minutes! Don't hang up, ok? Stay on the phone with me."

He puts the call on speaker so he can pull his red hoodie over his head, not caring how messy his hair is or that he puts on two different colored socks. All that Yuuji can think about is you!

He quickly jogs out of his room, grabbing the car keys on his way out, and almost falls down the stairs because he's struggling to put on his sneakers while running and also holding his phone in one hand.

But he manages to arrive on the street in one piece and sprints over to his car. Well, technically it's Fushiguro's car. But he lets his friends use it too because he's embarrassed about being the kid from the rich family and feels better about it if he shares his privileges.

Yuuji throws his phone into the center console as he slams the door shut and then hastily starts the car. The car audio starts blaring loudly, making him jump.

This is side one, flip me over. I know I'm not your favorite record. The songs you grow to like never stick at first. So, I'm writing you a chorus, and here is your verse!

"Oh dammit! Not that song again!"

Junpei must have used the car before him. Yuuji swears and turns the stereo off as he quickly backs out of the parking spot. He knows he's driving too fast, but he can't bring himself to care. He has to get to you as quickly as possible!

You were probably right when you joked about Yuuji being your personal knight in a red hoodie. He is so worried and just wants to be by your side and make sure you are safe. He can still hear your sniffles, and it tugs at his heart.

"I'm driving now. Hey, can you tell me what happened?"

"I... I wanted to surprise Naoya. It was stupid... I don't know. He texted me that he's back from his business trip and that he'll just go to bed and we should meet for breakfast...but I... god, I am so dumb! I thought, hey, why not pay him a surprise visit to celebrate him coming back home...I.. arrived in front of his apartment and I..."

Your explanation gets interrupted by a muffled sob. Yuuji grinds his teeth, his hands are grabbing the steering wheel in a death grip. But he tries to sound calm for you, be the safe place you need right now.

"It's ok, take your time. I'm almost there. What happened at his apartment?"

It starts raining now, and the cars in front of him slow down, making Yuuji almost lose his mind. He glares at the red light that dares to keep him away from you. It's torturous having to listen to your tearful voice telling him about your night while he is caught in the car here and not able to pull you into his arms and comfort you.

The engine howls loudly once the traffic light turns green again and Yuuji presses down on the gas pedal impatiently. Only a few more blocks!

Your voice fills the car and there's so much pain in it that it makes Yuuji's own eyes tear up.

"Naoya.. he was walking out of the door with some other woman. I... I thought maybe it was just his co-worker and nothing more. But.. but.. they kissed."

"Oh fuck!"

"He... he held her hand and smiled at her, and then he kissed her. Like a real kiss! On the mouth...and it... It was just like he.. just like he usually kisses me. I don't know what to do. I ran away before he could see me. And now I'm sitting here and crying and being a dumb bitch!"

Yuuji smacks his hand onto the steering wheel. God, if Naoya was here right now, he would get a taste of Yuuji's fist. Yuuji hates that guy! Really hates him! How can he hurt you like that? Doesn't he see how lucky he is to have you!? How can he cheat on you?

"He's such an asshole! God! Please, you aren't dumb! HE is the one who's the dumb bitch!"

Yuuji has almost reached your destination now. He spots a parking space and quickly pulls the car over, almost scratching against a tree. But it doesn't matter. Nothing matters except you! He's out of the car at light speed, jogging down the rainy street to the corner where he knows you are waiting for him.

He almost stumbles over your outstretched legs as he turns into the dark side street. You are sitting on the stairs in front of a tea shop, looking up at him with tears running down your face, looking so heartbroken and miserable.

Yuuji crouches down in front of you, placing his hands on your knees, gently rubbing them. His voice is soft and warm, talking to you like he would to a scared animal. His need to comfort you and soothe your hurt is almost overwhelming.

"Hey, I'm here. It's gonna be ok. I got you, sweetheart."

He can feel you trembling beneath his hands, from the cold or the anxiety or a mix of both.

"Yuu..."

Your voice sounds so weak. That's enough! Yuuji can't take it anymore. He reaches out with a murmured:

"Come here.."

He pulls you into his strong arms, feeling you slump against him. You sniffle and press your face against his chest as your arms wrap around him, clinging desperately to him.

Yuuji rocks you in his arms, whispering some stupid little things to you, anything to comfort you and reassure you.

"Shh, it's ok, sweetie... it's ok. You can cry if it helps you, ok? I'm here. I won't leave. I'll look after you."

It breaks Yuuji's heart to see you like this, your tears soaking his hoodie, sobbing against his chest and your fingers clutching tightly to his back.

He feels a bit helpless, not really knowing what to do, so he just does what his instincts tell him. Holding you and letting you cry, stroking your back soothingly, and keeping you tugged safely under his chin, pressed tightly against his broad chest, wrapped in his strong arms where you are safe and hopefully a bit warmer.

After a while, Yuuji feels you relaxing in his arms. Then, finally, you lift your head to look at him with puffy eyes.

"Th.. thank you for coming here. I'm so sorry for waking you up, Yuu."

"Of course, I came here. Please don't apologize. I told you I'll always pick you up, no matter where you are or what time it is. There is nothing to be sorry for."

His eyes scan you worriedly. Of course, he has seen you having breakdowns over university or when you had trouble with some girls from your dorm. But it was never anything like this. Yuuji has never seen you crying so much, and it pains him to know you are so distraught.

"Let's get you home, ok?"

You blink at him through wet lashes and nod softly. Yuuji gives you an encouraging smile and then pulls you to your feet. He cannot let go of you, though. He definitely spoke the truth when he said that he's overprotective when it comes to you. And so one of his large hands stays on the small of your back.

He sees you shivering, looking so miserable that it breaks his heart even more. Yuuji realizes that you are drenched from the rain. He doesn't even think about it but is already pulling his red hoodie over his head and handing it to you.

"Here, put that on, please. Don't want you to catch a cold."

You don't even try to turn his offer down, which means you are really a mess right now. Yuuji's chest feels too tight. He puts an arm around you and pulls you against his side to offer you more of his warmth as he gently steers you towards where he parked Fushiguro's car.

On the drive home, Yuuji can't stop himself from looking over at you repeatedly to check on you. You're leaning your head against the cold car window, staring out into the rainy night, looking so lost, hugging yourself and sniffling occasionally.

It's a heartbreaking sight, and Yuuji's need to comfort you almost drives him crazy. It pains him to see you like this! You deserve happiness and love, and warmth. Not this shit! Soaked to the skin, shivering from the cold, and crying from a broken heart.

Yuuji reaches out to put a hand on your thigh, right above your knee, gently squeezing it. He hates that he has to drive and can't hug you and keep you warm. But he has to get you home safely and make sure to get you into dry clothes as soon as possible. So his hand on your thigh will have to do at the moment. At least a little bit of physical comfort.

Your hand lands on top of Yuuji's immediately, grabbing it tightly, so desperate for his comforting touch. The car swerves slightly to the right as Yuuji's other hand clenches the wheel. He's angry, so fucking angry at Naoya for doing this to you!

But his need to be there for you and make you feel ok again is stronger than the anger. You don't need anger at the moment. You need your best friend who treats you with love and care. And so Yuuji turns his hand on your thigh so you can interlace your fingers with his, holding hands for real now.

You hold on so tightly that it's almost painful, even to a strong guy like Yuuji. But he definitely won't complain. You need this, need to hold his hand, need the comfort of your best friend next to you, and Yuuji will give you anything you need.

You drive in silence for a few minutes, just holding hands and waiting for the car heater to work.

But Yuuji knows that one of his biggest flaws is that he cannot seem to shut up and often talks before he thinks, so he isn't surprised when his mouth decides to blurt out:

"Do you want me to beat him up for you?"

"Oh my god, Yuuji! Please don't!"

"Ok, anything you want. But my offer stands if you change your mind. He would deserve it. And my right hook is really good, says my coach."

"Maybe he would deserve it, but I don't want you to get into trouble. So please promise me you won't try anything like that."

But at least you sound a bit more like yourself again, and your voice isn't as weak anymore. The corners of Yuuji's lips lift in a half-smile, and he gives your hand a reassuring, gentle squeeze.

"I won't, I promise. Let's get you home and into dry clothes. And then we'll eat ice cream and watch a movie. That's probably a better way to deal with this than going all violent, huh?"

"Thank you, Yuuji. Like, really. I am so grateful for you. When I was sitting there crying, all I could think of was, "I want Yuu here, with his broad shoulders and bright smile." You always make me feel so safe and... I sound so stupid, but you feel like home away from home. You know what I mean?"

Yuuji has to gulp hard against a lump forming in his throat all of a sudden. He feels like home to you? This is the most beautiful thing anyone ever said to him. He blinks rapidly against the sudden moistness in his eyes.

"It's nothing. I'm always here for you. Will always be. And you are my home too."

The rain is getting heavier again, drumming loudly onto the car top while the windshield wipers are doing their hypnotic dance across the car window. The street leading out of the city is pretty empty at this time of night, so the drive home is pretty serene, only the darkness of the night and the pouring rain illuminated by the car's headlights.

Usually, Yuuji is a sunshine type of guy. He loves summer and the sun and never complains about the heat. But he has to admit that there is some beauty in the rain too, especially when you are sitting in a car at night with the person you love the most in the world and they are holding your hand and visibly and audibly relaxing after having such a tough breakdown, and it's all because Yuuji is here to offer his comfort.

You have almost reached the campus again when Yuuji speaks up again, voice soft and low:

"Hey, just let me tell you this, ok? Please don't get mad. But I think you should break up with him. I know he will call you and make all kinds of excuses, and I know you are a sweet and forgiving person, but please don't listen to him. Don't go back to him, please. He's an asshole. You deserve so much better. You deserve someone who only likes you, someone who doesn't want anyone else. Someone who will never hurt you."

Someone like me.

Your answer is another squeeze of his hand and a soft:

"You are right, Yuu. Zenin Naoya is history."

You sigh and reach over to turn the car audio on, and Junpei's emo mix starts playing again. 

This is side one, flip me over. I know I'm not your favorite record.

Yuuji loses it and snickers. Why is it always this damn song? He feels like you caught him doing something naughty, listening to Fall Out Boy and screaming along to lyrics that somehow fit his personal situation all too perfectly. It sends him into hysterics, and now he really laughs like a lunatic.

But to his enormous relief, he hears a chuckle coming from the passenger seat. And then your hand is on the car audio again, and you turn up the volume and tap your finger onto the dashboard to the beat of the song.

It's the next song that makes the two of you break out into loud laughter.

Let's play this game called "when you catch fire, I wouldn't piss to put you out." Stop burning bridges and drive off of them. So I can forget about you. 

Yuuji can hear that you are crying through the laughter. Of course, you are still sad, and it will take a while for you to get over Naoya. But it's ok. Yuuji's here to dry those tears, and he will be by your side and help you make that broken heart whole again.

And at least you already have an "I hate Zenin Naoya" anthem now.

Thank you so much to everyone who keeps looking forward to a new chapter of this series! It makes me so happy when I get feedback on this story! So, Yuuji is really the perfect knight in a red hoodie, hm? For me, the answer is YES! He is so sweet. Everyone should have a Yuuji in their lives aww.

Please let me know how you liked the chapter! Comments and reblogs help me a lot!

Only one chapter left now aaaaahhhhh!!!

I added a second FOB song, "Tell that Mick he just made my list of things to do today," aka the "I hate Zenin Naoya" anthem lmaoo.

Chapter 06

[ficsilike-reblogged]

Precious Inexperience II

A/N: Welp. You guys voted and here I am...trying to deliver my second attempt at a dark fic. Please let me know what you think. I never expected this little fic to take off like it did. I love you all. If you want a refresher--here’s the first part!

Pairing: King!Robb Stark x F!Reader

Rating: M for DARK THEMES including dub-con, death, death of children, Robb being a dick, a bit of smut, and canon-typical sexism

Warnings: Again, dub-con/dubious consent, talk of pregnancy and childbirth, men being terrible-PLEASE DO NOT READ IF THIS TRIGGERS YOU

Word Count: 3.1k

Summary: The King in the North was now King of the Seven Kingdoms. Peace reigned. Kings need heirs. But queens need love.

King’s Landing had over a half a million people calling it home and she had never felt more alone. Her ladies in waiting were kind but aloof, more preoccupied with making sure the child she was carrying was healthy than if she was happy. Court was filled with lords and ladies and foreign dignitaries who were all but throwing themselves at Robb’s feet in hopes to gain his favor—she was barely more than another tapestry on the cold stone walls of the Red Keep. 

A pretty thing to be looked at and then ignored.

Whenever someone had deemed it a worthy venture to speak to her, Robb quickly put an end to it.

“You are here to speak to me, my lord, are you not? Do not let your eyes linger on my queen.”

But she was lonely. The only time she felt the smallest bit seen was when Robb came into her chambers. His hands still left her tender and hurting, even after the maesters confirmed she was with child a month after their wedding night. But he was all…he was all she had.

Writing to her mother, asking if she could come to the city to spend a season at her side, was quickly rebuffed as well. My darling girl, you are the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. I will not distract you from your duties. Your husband and child will come first, always.

That did nothing to bring her comfort.

And she learned quickly that Robb did not like her tears.

“Have I not given you enough? A crown? Jewels? Dresses from Essos? What more do you want?” His face was bright red with anger so she quickly wiped at her cheeks and nodded, murmuring an apology. He let out a strained sigh and she watched him walk toward her through watery eyes. His warm hands grasped her face and rough thumbs brushed away her tears. “You are my queen. You are bringing my heir into the world. You have made me happy, Y/N.” His hand settled over her stomach, now showing the advanced stage of her pregnancy. “That should be all that matters. You are emotional because you are with child. This will pass.”

It will pass.

It will pass.

It will pass.

It didn’t.

She winced as she felt her child move and kick as she laid atop her featherbed, listening to the city start to wake before the sun. Thankfully, the morning sickness had subsided only a few months into her pregnancy but the need to rise early had not left her.

Her door opened and she felt herself smiling as Robb entered. She knew he would stay, at least for a few moments. She would have someone who wanted her all to herself, even if just for a little bit.

Without a word, she held out her hands to him and welcomed him into her bed. 

His hands were still rough as they tore at her thin nightdress. They were rough as they spread her legs. They were rough as grasped at her shoulders as he rutted against her.

“This is the first of many. You’re so beautiful like this.”

“I want…” The words were strangled in her throat when she felt that all-too familiar coil start to tighten and fray. He always made it feel good. “I want to be beautiful for you. Always.”

                                                **

A visiting Pentoshi magistrate was the reason almost all of the court had gathered in the Great Hall. He had a band of exuberant contortionists and firebreathers to entertain the lords and ladies of Westerosi court while he spoke with Robb. His entourage were quick favorites of the upper echelons of society in King’s Landing and it was all so… strange. All this pomp and circumstance around a man who was essentially begging for help against the Dragon Queen who seemed hellbent on rebuilding the Valyrian Empire, including Pentos. 

Robb would not help. She knew this. The Court knew this. But they wanted a bit of entertainment. This Pentoshi politician was not the first to come to beg for the Wolf King’s help and would not be the last.

But it did give her a little more to distract herself with, as the days dragged on.

She watched a young man contort himself into a strange shape while another contortionist balanced her entire weight on his foot. Robb was seated atop a raised dais with a grey stretch of fabric to keep the sun off his skin. 

Beside him sat the Magister who had come and a handful of his advisors—Naavio was his name.

He had silver hair with piercing green eyes, a little thin compared to the King, but handsome in a strange way. He spoke the Common Tongue with the lilting accent of the Pentoshi people which made Y/N smile for some reason. Perhaps it was just the abnormality of his and his entourage’s presence that made it exciting but she felt a little like she had friends whenever one of them would stop and speak to her.

“How are you feeling this morn?”

“Have you decided on names for the young prince or princess?”

“You look as if you are glowing, your grace.” It was all so lovely. And it seemed so genuine, so unlike the empty-eyed smiles she would receive from her ladies-in-waiting and the rest of court. But her favorite was Naavio.

The magistrate made it a point to seek her out whenever he could.

“These two are my favorites,” he whispered to her.

Y/N nearly leapt from her skin, having not noticed him sneak up behind her. “Oh, Seven Heavens, Lord Naavio, you must not frighten me so!”

He chuckled. “I am sorry, Your Grace. You know I would never try to scare you. You are in a delicate state.”

Y/N pressed a hand to her stomach with a smile. “Yes, the maester said only a few more weeks until I can welcome them into the world.”

Naavio’s hand was suddenly pressing against her stomach too and she laughed when she felt her little one’s foot kick right where he had placed his palm. “They enjoy my presence just as much as their mother does, it seems.”

A sudden shadow loomed over them and Y/N pivoted to see Robb standing behind them. His silver and iron crown glinted in the sunlight, a sharp contrast to the near feral light in his blue eyes as he looked at her.

“Take your hand off my wife.”

Naavio’s hand quickly pulled back but he chuckled—again. “Your heir has a strong kick, Your Grace.”

“Yes. My heir.” Robb reached out and snatched Y/N’s wrist. His grip hurt but she knew better than to let out the hiss of pain she felt bubbling at the back of her throat. He tugged, just once, and Y/N knew to walk to his side.

There would be no spectacle.

“You must know how precious a child is,” Robb’s voice was steady but she knew better. The grip he had on her wrist dropped and he pressed his hand against the small of her back. “For a man who seems so desperate to save his kingdom, you are playing a dangerous game.”

Naavio blanched but he still smiled at the wolf-king. “I was only congratulating your wife on the health of her babe. It was a compliment-”

“My wife, the queen of my kingdom, knows how beautiful and lucky she is to be carrying my heir. She does not need your input.” Robb turned to her, eyes piercing. “Am I correct, wife?”

Y/N could only nod.

                                                     **

Y/N knew that Robb would never hurt her. His grip while in the throes of passion left her sore, but he never raised a hand to her. Seven Hells, he barely raised his voice. But Y/N knew of the violence that simmered just below the surface of his skin.

He was a wolf.

He was King.

He was the husband the gods had given her.

And she was scared of him. Something innate and quiet in the back of her mind told her she could not truly trust him. She was not safe.

But he had always kissed her when he was finished with her womanly duties. 

And he still found pleasure in her even after he knew she was with child. His eye never wandered to the other many, beautiful highborn ladies who were readily available and arguably eager to be a young king’s mistress. But no.

He had his queen.

And he was his father’s son—that was what Robb had said, anyway.

“You are my queen. I will not dishonor you. And I know you will not dishonor me.” The words were cold as he slammed the door shut to his solar.

Y/N nearly lost her footing as she stumbled in but caught herself on the table, accidentally sending a stack of missives across the floor. “I thought it was a queen’s duty to make allies with her social graces and-”

“A queen’s duty is to provide for her husband.” Robb’s lips were pulled tight against his teeth. But he took a deep breath and then reached for her, hands grasping at her face. “I love you. You hear me? I love you.”

And she wanted to believe it. She had wanted to believe he could love her. “I love you too.”

He leaned forward to press a kiss against her forehead and then righted the spiked crown on the top of her head. “I will not have you near him again.”

Y/N nodded, resigning herself to the loss of another possible friend. Her one solace would be Robb, it seemed. As it had been since she came to King’s Landing. As it always would be.

                                                    **

But Naavio was persistent.

And she was lonely.

When the first letter was smuggled to her, she had not answered. But when the fourth came again and asked her to meet him in the gardens at midnight, her need for some sort of friendship won out and she slipped away from her maids and met the magistrate in a familiar stretch of the garden maze as the moon looked on from above in a starless sky.

“You’ve come!” Naavio said, reaching out to grasp her hands. “I was beginning to think I have offended you in some way, Your Grace.”

Y/N shook her head with a smile, ignoring the sudden sharp pain she felt in her stomach. “I am hard to offend, my lord. But it is good to have an ally in a city such as this.”

Naavio chuckled. “Yes, it seems King’s Landing is as fearsome as its king.” He was quiet for a moment, simply looking at her as his thumbs idly swept across the soft skin at the back of her hands. “Pentos is much more amiable.” His grip tightened. “I shall like to take you there, show you my home.”

Y/N’s smile widened just a fraction. “I would like that. I have heard such wondrous things about your home.”

“I could take you there. Spirit you away from this wretched city.”

She gasped and tried to tug her hands from his but his grip did not relent. “My lord, I-”

“You are not happy here. I can see it in your eyes. Do you want to raise your child here? Do you want to spend the rest of your days hoping your king does not lose his supposed love for you? You should be surrounded by people who worship you, adore you—and the babe you will bring into this world.”

Y/N stood and ripped her hands from his with a grimace as the pain she felt started to bloom and grow. “You misunderstand my intentions. I have only wanted friendship.”

Naavio stood with a sneer. “Then you are a fool. Only a child would misconstrue my attentions for mere friendship.”

Y/N opened her mouth to say something, to argue, to do anything—when she doubled over, clutching her stomach with a whimper as something trickled down her legs. “I…” Her legs shook and she threw out a hand to tangle in the branches of the greenery at her side, the only thing keeping her upright. “The baby. They’re coming.”

“What have you done?”

Another contraction had her almost falling to her knees but she looked over her shoulder to see Robb and a handful of his kingsguard at his back.

Naavio stood straight. “Your Grace-”

“Seize him.”

And the kingsguard did, almost gleefully taking the foreign magistrate to his knees and, by the sound of it, dislocating his shoulder as well. Naavio shrieked but Y/N could scarcely hear it over the roaring of the blood in her ears.

Familiar hands grasped at her face, tilting her chin up so she could look into the dark, hard eyes of her husband.

“The…baby…the baby is coming…”

“I know.” Robb pulled her close and she could feel the next words rumble in his chest. “Magistrate Naavio, you have tried to take my heir and seduce my wife.”

“I have done no such thing!”

Y/N crumpled in her husband’s hold with a choked scream.

“Take him to the Black Cells. I will deal with him later.”

                                               **

It took two days to bring little Prince Eddard into the world. But he was beautiful—the most beautiful little one she had ever beheld. Her body was tired, her mind was buzzing, but all she could see was the little bundle in her arms.

Robb did not care about the blood and water and sweat coating the featherbed as he sat beside her and pressed a hard kiss to her temple. His finger traced down his son’s nose. “You have made me happy, Y/N.”

She smiled, eyes finally drooping.

“But it is time the magistrate is dealt with.” He stood and waved his hand, having one of her fine dresses laid out across the bed. In a blur, she was cleaned and dressed and a cup of Milk of the Poppy was all but shoved down her throat by an impassive Maester.

The Great Hall was filled with lords and ladies and knights from across the Realm. All of them had been waiting the birth of the heir of the wolf king but were now going to be witnesses to the king’s judgment, too.

“Naavio. You have come here to beg for reprieve against the Dragon Queen, to ask for help against her campaign.”

Naavio said nothing as he glared up at Robb on the throne, thick chains around his wrists and ankles. His Pentoshi ginery was dirty and ripped. The two days he had spent in the Black Cells had not been kind.

“Instead, you have tried to usurp my own power.”

“I did no-”

“I have sent a raven to Daenerys Targaryen, giving her the information you have given me. Your city will fall. It will burn with dragonfire.”

“Your Grace!” The words broke in Naavio’s throat.

The sudden noise made Eddard fuss in her arms and she gently rocked him, mind still hazy from the Poppy. But the cold green glint of Naavio’s eyes cut through the mess. He was a caged animal.

“This was you! You played your part so well. The innocent queen in need of rescue-”

“Silence!” Robb said, standing from the jagged throne. In the strange quiet of the Great Hall, he descended from his perch and took the reformed Ice from its sheath. “For your crimes against your host, against the good queen Y/N, I sentence you to die.”

Before Naavio could even plead for his life, Robb lifted the greatsword and took the magistrate’s head.

                                              **

Robb was rutting against her, hard hands grasping at her breasts, pulling at the flesh of her hips, wrapping around her throat.

It hurt.

It hurt.

It hurt.

But she loved how he wrapped himself around her, loved how he would press his lips to her sweat-slick skin, loved him. Even if the maester had said it was too soon for the king to visit her chambers for such an act.

“You’ll give me another. You’ll give me ten more.”

“I will!” She cried.

“You’ll give me all of you because you are mine.” His hand tightened around her neck as his hips moved faster and faster. “Only mine.”

“Yours,” Y/N said as her throat burned.

His hips stuttered and a familiar warmth bloomed but he did not stop, could not stop until she was sobbing against his mouth with her own release. It hurt even more.

Sweat cooled on their skin as the high slowly died. Robb turned and pressed a biting kiss to her throat, still tender from his grip. His beard scratched her slick skin. “Mine. And you will always be mine.”

As she caught her breath, Robb rose from the mussed blankets of her featherbed and pulled his trousers on just as the door opened and a nursemaid brought in Eddard, snoozing in her arms. She readily handed the babe over to the king and then left, not even acknowledging the queen’s presence aside from a small curtsey.

Robb smiled down at his son and he looked genuinely happy—the smile he had reserved only for her.

She had made him happy. That was all she wanted.

“I will not have another man thinking to steal you away, wife.”

“O-of course not. You know I would never-”

“I must keep you to myself. And I will.” He looked at Y/N for a moment before leaning down to kiss his son’s forehead. The babe reached up and cooed, pressing his little hand against his father’s cheek. “You are mine. Only mine.”

He walked to the side of the bed and let her hold him as he dressed again and she lathed happy little kisses over her son’s face, listening to him giggle—but then Robb took him away. “What are you doing?”

“I am keeping you.” Robb kissed her cheek and then stood straight and walked to the door. When it opened, she saw three kingsguard standing outside, bedecked in their battle armor and swords at their hips.

“Robb?” His name was soft, strangled in her throat. “Your Grace?”

“She does not leave this room unless I am at her side.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Robb nodded and then smiled down at his son as the door swung closed. A heavy lock twisted.

Y/N stared at the door. She was not sure if she expected it to open again, or to at least hear another word from Robb on the other side, telling her what she must to do. But there was nothing.

She was alone.

A/N: All right! There we go! Please let me know what you think! Thank you for reading!

[classpect-crew]

Ode to the Timebound

A figure appears suddenly from stage left, shining like a sun against black cosmic curtains speckled with stars. It is difficult to look at their face directly—one’s eyes keep slipping over their form like water over smooth glass. They are beautifully divine, wholly androgynous, their body wrapped in a cloak as dark as night. It does nothing, however, to conceal the radiance of their form. They reach center stage and turn to the audience, raise their arms in a grand gesture, and in a voice that seems to come from everywhere at once, they speak:

“I have given birth to this world, but my children shall never drink from my breast. I gave them life, but I cannot give them milk. They must discover this human kindness on their own. I have placed a heart in each of them that yearns to touch another, and a mind that is restless and filled with wonder. They will struggle without my ambrosia and fall victim to those thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to. Yet, again and again, they will rise from the earth anew.

Just as the mighty phoenix bubbles up from her own ashes and takes to the sky like the chariot of golden-eyed Helios, so too will these mortals shuffle off the dust of death like the humble sparrow and strain even harder to reach the sun. Feathers and wax—oh, how they blister and burn!—great towers to reach forbidden heavens, Enlightened Masters and brilliant scientific minds. Is it only through suffering that they experience such profound joy? Must they always descend into the bowels of Hell before they are worthy of Heaven? And yet, their artwork, their music, their minds at work: what beauty comes from this rivals the gods’ creations.

My siblings will forgive me for being so bold. We, who never die; we, who walk the nine realms like stepping-stones; we, who believe ourselves first-born; we, who are unchanging; what can we learn from decay?

What can we learn from death?”

[yandere-wishes]

⭐Yandere Joestars⭐

(Parts 1-7 + Bonus Charcter: Joseph and Johnny’s characterizations are based off @dear-yandere​ ‘s interperations) I tried to write this mostly in the Joestars' POV. Their respective darlings resemble lifelike dolls rather than human beings to further illustrate how out of touch with reality the Jojos have become.

Warnings: Gore, kidnapping, dehumanization.

Edited: By the amazing Peri!! (@tealyjade-libran )

⭐Jonathan Joestar is possessive. ⭐

It's only when you lose something, that you start to cherish it...

It's an old saying, one that Jonathan remembers from an antique storybook his mother use to read him. It didn't mean anything back then, when he was still an infant too young and new, to fully comprehend what "owning" and "losing" was. But as the years ticked by faster than any clock could keep track of, things started to change. What had once been a passing quote in a chivalrous story about knights and dragons, soon turned into the epitome of Jonathan Joestar's life. 

Soon love wasn't about saving a princess or impressing the neighborhood girls with his boxing skills. No, all too soon love became about own and guarding. 

There may have been a time -long before "Jojo" and Dio met- when Jonathan was just like any other gentleman. Tender and sweet, flirtish at gatherings and charming in ladies' companies...but that was a Jonathan from a could-be-past that had been demolished the minute Dio Brando stepped foot onto the Joestar estate. From then on things depleted all so quickly. Everything Jonathan had come to unconsciously cherished had been so easily stripped from him by his beloved new "brother". 

Everything he loved had been killed, destroyed, or broken in some inhuman way. His friends had abandoned him, his lover had distorted him, his father didn't even notice him...

"It's only when you lose something, that you start to cherish it". The second time he hears that phrase, it freezes him to the pavement, his body star-struck like he just received a message from the heavens. Although it's rather peculiar, why "heaven" would convey a message to him in such an unholy place. 

With Dio having practically kicked Jonathan out of the mansion and countryside. Jojo had no other place to go but the back allies of London. Sure he still tried to be home for supper and bedtime and any other time his father may get an inkling of his absence. But when there was no need to 'appear' Jonathan took to the London streets away from Dio and his lackeys. 

In fate's bizarre game, it's in a backstreet that reeks of days old licker and rotting flesh of paupers that no one has bothered to bury. That Jojo hears that life-defining idiom once more. His dulling sapphire blue eyes follow the mist of those melodious words. Staring until they're practically itching to cut through his sockets and run after those little words. But they stop right before they can leave their eyelets, they stop and stare at the figure that strolls out of the shadows, in such a way, that would make Jojo's father slap him across the face for being "barbarous".  

It's luck or fate or maybe even destiny that leads the heir of the Joestar legacy to meet his darling in the slums of England. 

"How my heart resonates when I lay my weary eyes on your enchanting face..."

There's an odd sweetness about the naivety that surrounds his little friend. A sort of innocence that comes with not knowing about the hell that he's gone through. It's charming in a moderate way, his darling can't come to despise him if they haven't got a clue who he is. Keeping both his worlds as far apart as possible is really the only option left. Dio and his friends can't hurt his new friend? Lover? Companion? In actuality, Jonathan really doesn't know what you are to him. At first, you're merely a distraction from his crumbling, lonely shell of an existence. A sort of invisible pillar holding up London's bridge before it collapses into the  River Thames. Sure he views you as another person, unlike the other noblemen Jonathan has no desire to treat you as anything less than a respectable young lady despite your social statutes. 

 Dio can have the noblemen and ladies, he can have all of George's affection and favor, Heck Dio can have the whole goddamn world for all Jonathan cares. So long as he has his darling, his sunflower, his only means for living, then he will be content. 

Jojo lost everything he once loved, but he swears it to every star in the night sky that'll preserve his darling from the wickedness that runs this cruel world. He'll cherish her while she's still in his arms...

He'll protect her, just like the knights did in the old bedtime stories his mother would tell him. 

"...I swear on my honor as a Joestar that I shall never lose you to the likes of anyone, I'll be a true gentleman, a true knight and I'll protect you from any who wishes cause you harm."

⭐Joseph Joestar is Protective and all so patronizing.⭐

Why must Love hurt so much?

It's solitude, pure utter solitude that attracts Joseph to his darling. Oh sure, he must have known them from an earlier time in his life, back when the words Hammon and Ripple just sounded like fancy dessert names. Back when he was still a naive kid wishing on every goddamn star that he could just meet one of his parents for a fraction of a second. Back when life was easy when everything made sense. That's when he first met his darling. Although all so many years ago he probably just thought of them as the little sister he never got a chance of having. 

There's a numbness growing inside him now that his life has slipped off its axes, hurling into unknown darkness that plagues him in the form of Pillarmen and red gems. 

Everywhere he looks there's a reminder that nothing's going back to the way it used to be. No waking up to Granny Erina's voice calling him down for breakfast, no running around chasing Old Man Speedwagon. Everything is gone, replaced by Lisa Lisa's brutal training and Ceaser's endless taunting. 

Day by day nothing changes, but once he looks back every little thing is different. Ruptured and mangled into something unrecognizable. 

But then there's his darling. Someone -or rather something- that's still the same. Just like before. Her smile is still the same as ever, bright and cheery as she runs up to him wrapping her arms around his abdomen muttering about how much she missed her "Dear Big Brother".

(Y/N) is a comfort, a familiarity in a strange new world. She's something so frail and vulnerable, not to mention naive. Thrusted into a world where horror writers don't dare venture into. It's so likely that she'd be captured by one of Kar's zombie vampire things or -even worse- charmed by Caesar’s silver tongue. 

It's thoughts like these that haunt Joseph at night, keep him up and wandering into her room just to gaze at her sleeping form. He's lucid enough to know how it might look. Like he's the bad guy trying to take advantage of a defenseless little girl. But he can justify his actions, he's her big brother, he has to watch over especially when she's at her most vulnerable. If Ceaser ever tried anything or some vampire freak snatched her away in the dead of night, Joseph would never forgive himself!

But what does he get for all his efforts? What does he get for all his sleepless nights and hours upon hours of worrying? Just a small smile and a fleeting kiss on the cheek. No sincere, "Thank you big brother," or, "You're my hero Joseph!" Nothing, nothing worthwhile anyway. 

Now it's a competition, a battle to the death if it has to be -funny how he takes this more seriously than his match against Wamuu.- He's competitive by nature and he's willing to do anything to earn his darling's affection once more. He doesn't care who he has to beat within an inch of their life so long as he can have his darling back in his arms.

There is an aftermath to all of these, once all the fighting has ended and the battle's won. Once Joseph has finally claimed his prize. There's a certain way his darling has to act. She’s got to smile and play the role of the dotting little sister once more. Just so Joseph can justify his actions...

"And your next line is, 'I love you more than anything else big brother Joseph!'...at least I wish it was." 

⭐Jotaro Kujo is cold and sadistic.⭐

Never learned how to love...

A lover by Jotaro's book is nothing more than a walking, talking doll. Someone who cooks meals, irons clothes, and kisses him on the cheek before he leaves for the day. Sure they have other uses, in flares of passionate moments, they're something to hold onto, another pair of limbs to get tangled in. Something hot and solid, someone to push down, to weigh his force on. 

That's it, that's all there is to it...

A lover and a convenient toy are one of the same. 

He knows it's wrong to think about someone that way. To deprive a living thing of all their thoughts and feelings just so it's suitable for him. But at the end of the day who wants to hear idle chatter and gossip or go outside for walks in crowded areas. All too social, it's all so troublesome. All Jotaro wants is a closed-off life, away from the scums of the earth...away from people in general. 

It's such an inconvenience to seek out a lover, to hassle through dates and meetups in hopes of finding someone that clicks. Jojo would even go so far as to call it wishful thinking. So it has to be a pure accident that he even meets his darling. They're just someone who gets tangled in with the crusaders. A perfect living perception of 'wrong place, wrong time'. Someone who's life gets blown to bits and shambles just because fate decided to play a cruel joke on them. 

And that's what piqued Jotaro's interest. The desperate, depleted look of pain cemented over their face. The sparse dying gleam of determination that blazes within their eyes. Oh, what Jotaro wouldn't do to snuff that little ray of hope. To watch as what little purpose they have is ripped from their arms. What he wouldn't do to see them in pain...

Pain is submission, that's really all Jojo wants. A darling submits, not out of their own free will, but because every little thing they've ever loved has been slaughtered, all that they cherished has been stolen from them. 

But it's not enough 

It's never enough

Although Jotaro adores the looks of anguish that decorates his lover's face. There's something more satisfying about maltreating them. About leaving marks all over, about leaving bruises that never lose their violet glow. He's claiming his darling, physically and mentally. Not a single day goes that Jotaro doesn't remind his lover who they belong to. From verbal taunts that plague his darling's mind day and night, to punches that break bones leaving them paralyzed on the floor begging for help, to cuts that are just a little too deep to ever heal properly. 

Even when his darling is behaving, even when the poor little thing does everything her lover tells her to do, there's still going to be some sort of violence directed at her. Some backhanded remark about how useless they are just because they couldn't follow his mother's recipe. Some sort of blow just for greeting him 'too late'. Trivial things morph into punishments, just for Jotaro's sick amusement.

At his core, Jotaro is an unresponsive man, one with no regard for how others feel. He's distant, it's a trait he can't change. He likes how he does things, how there's no room for slip-ups when it's only him. Even his darling isn't someone he'd consider opening up to. Their opinion of him doesn't matter and their feelings are irrelevant. Most days he's gone until the last possible moment, leaving his darling an endless amount of time to mull over every word and scar. 

But here's the catch.

As the clock ticks by, as the nights and days begin to merge into an endless existence, as all hope burns in the pits of hell, darling's mind is also going to stray. Ever so slowly losing its perception of reality. 

'Maybe' spiders begin to spin webs of doubt through darling's empty cranium. The isolation begins to bite at her skin like the razor-sharp fangs of frostbite. They start to crave Jotaro's harsh touches, they start to miss the venom-like words. Every insult and slap to the face is welcomed, all the misplaced anger and death threats start to feel like sweet kisses and flowery touches. 

Poor darling no longer sees big scary Jotaro as a monster. They've lost the ability to see him for what he truly is.

And what happens when Jotaro does finally come home? Oh, how little (y/n) will ravish in the gut kicks and loathsome words. How she'll take every beating with a sweet sugar-coated smile.

Cause this is her life now. A meaningless existence that revolves around Jotaro and his bleak personality. A life that's only worth living when Jotaro is around.

Is it even a life?

"Yare yare daze you're such a hassle, be glad I keep you around...”

⭐Josuke is obsessive with delusional tendencies.⭐

Maybe I'm the one you'll fall in love with next...

Just like his "father" Joseph, Josuke is stuck in a perpetual state between diaphanous and phantasm.

There's something all too wrong with Morioh nowadays. The narrow streets and verbose buildings have started to feel like a transparent cage. The town has always been small, barely reaching a population of 3,000 despite all the new families that keep moving in.

Nevertheless, everything has dulled, faded, and withered into a monochrome collage. The layers of repetitiveness had finally begun to pick at Joskue's nerves...

And yet somehow, by some diabolical twist of fate. In the mists of the oceans of familiarity, Josuke’s eyes grab onto some shimmering pearl lounged into between the crowd of familiar faces. 

Sure he's seen this girl before, but he's never actually seen her. Never stopped to look at the odd way their eyes twinkle like newborn stars or how their skin shimmers with the glow of a thousand suns. 

One second is all it took, a fleeting compliment as you passed by Jojo in the peppermint flavored afternoon. Your hair flowing like a tapestry of the galaxy as you disappeared in the crowd of dead pulsars. Not a care in the world, not for him, not for anyone.  

Destiny was definitely up to its old cruel tricks again. 

He's not stalking. Josuke will swear on his grandfather's grave that he'd never "stalk" a harmless little girl, like some distorted maniac. He just happens to bump into you at the beauty parlor when he's picking up a new brand of hairspray. And it's totally an accident when he meets you out in the abandoned fields! Honest! It's not his fault fate wants the two of you to keep meeting, it's not his fault that you guys are meant to be!

It's not technically a friendship that you two start to build up, it's far from one. Friends don't dream about sugar-filled kisses behind school walls. Or about ice cream that tastes like scandalous touches and candy induced moans. No, Joskue isn't your friend, he NEVER wanted to be your friend. He knows that! He knows what he wants...but with each passing day, he's beginning to doubt that you know that. 

He'd never realized he's been so sensitive on you. So entranced by your out of tune voice that muttered rather than spoke. He's seldom been so eager to throw a punch and crack his knuckles on someone's skull, just for saying you looked "lovely today". 

Whenever his eyes don't land on you, a rage-filled volcano bubbles in the pit of his gut, uncontrollable anger that festers inside of him, like lava waiting to spill out and burn anyone that wanders too close. His palms itch with the need to hold you, to feel your soft skin rubbing against his. 

The jealousy is always there, pricking at his skin like rose thrones. Until they inevitably cut through his flesh and make him lose his composure. He's ready to kick and punch and hurt and kill anyone that comes too close to you, anyone that saunters off their orbit and makes a beeline for you, disturbing the balance of solitude that Josuke so eagerly sets you into.

Sometimes in the dead of night, when the world has finally dozed off, Joskue's mind begins to wonder. He thinks the way he feels about you is the same way an addict feels about his drugs. Maybe to him, you're even more addicting than heroin and ecstasy...and yet he can't quit you, he just doesn't want to quit you. Nothing in this world could compare to your sweet voice that tickles his ear when you lean in, to whisper a secret, or the may your full lips move when you throw another honey-filled insult at him. 

He prefers when you're alone when he's the only one you talk to. 

Sure there are exceptions like everything in life, although in the end  

there's a sort of backhanded irony.

It's those exceptions that are going to hurt him in the. 

Josuke trusts his friends, he knows that Okuyasu and Koichi would never do anything to hurt him...

But you're not on that list and to be fair you're surely the only one who can truly hurt him.

You fall for a friend of his. Not him, not the boy that's been driving himself insane just to earn a smile from you, not the boy that let you get away with insulting his hair and poking insults at his look, not him never him, it just can't be him.

"You're like an older brother to me"...Did you wash your mouth with acid before you spat those words at him? Did you intend to lace your words with knives and blades and rubbing alcohol before you stabbed him? It's figurative, sure. But it might as well be literal. No pain, no cut, no punch from any stand would ever hurt so much! You really don't know what you do to him, do you?

"I'm happy for you," it's a lie, blank and simple. Automatic words that he's practiced in the mirror a thousand and one times. He'd rather watch you suffocate on your own blood than in the arms of another man. He'd rather break every bone in your body than watch you kiss one of his friends. 

How on earth had he ever come to love you? Someone as cruel and cold. Were you even human? You resembled some ice stand more than a flesh and blood person. HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO HIM.

He really hadn't meant for it to become an addiction, he hadn't meant to get all so used to the crunch of bones beneath his foot, and the bloodied lips quivering, shuttering out apologizes for having the gall to utter your name in his presence. But there's only so much a teenage boy can take, only so much torture that he can bury inside with a moonlight smile. 

Addictions really do funny things to semi-sane people, huh?

It's a split-second decision, done in the heat of an all so regular moment. It's just a simple half-hearted punch when you beat him at another videogame. Then another

And another

And another

Then a crack, another and another, and before either of you knew it you're on the floor screaming out in pure agony. 

Josuke vows he's not being cruel when he breaks your bones so delicately. He can justify every crack, every fracture. Although it's rather repetitive and in certain cases borderline petty. 

Five broken bones on your left leg just for "kissing" your new boyfriend. Your right leg is bent at an angle you're sure it's not meant to be. All because you hugged said new lover before going to class. 

Josuke's once liquidy blue eyes that held the softness of clouds have been dulled over by a sort of thick mania. His once soft touch is nothing but nails digging into already bruised tissue. His lips wobbling as stray tears flow past his eyes. Muttering apologies and stuttering curses at both you and himself.

It's not really like his darling can leave after that incident. Josuke is known around town as the boy with a diamond heart. There's no way in hell anyone will believe what he did to you. It's just better, safer, to stick close to him, to swallow the indignities and paint a loving smile over your face when you gaze into his depraved eyes. 

It's better to pretend to love him, rather than have another limb broken...

"Come on (Y/N), it's just a little crack. If you promise to give me a tiny kiss I'll let Crazy Diamond fix you right up."

⭐Giorno Giovanna is sneaky and manipulative. ⭐

Sono pazzo di te. Sei la cosa più bella che mi sia mai capitata...

There's a sleekness to Giorno, a cunning that's hidden behind layers of charisma and charm mimicking that of his birth father's. It's so easy for him to fool his darling into believing that he's a charming prince from a storybook. He's the good guy trying all so damn hard to make his dream a reality. He's admirable, he's noble, he's Giorno Giovana, the golden boy.  

It's not like he ever intends to hurt his darling. He'd never dream of laying a hand on them, he's all too familiar with the wounds that come from endless beatings. The bruises and phantom pains, that get worse as the days slip by. He knows real pain, and unlike all so many others on both sides of his family, Giorno doesn't want his lover to experience an uncia of it. 

He'd never repeat what his stepfather and mother did to him. He's going to try and do everything he can to make sure that his darling is safe...

Because isn't that what's important? To make sure the one you love is safe. To make sure they don't get swept off their feet by some masquerading drunkard or taken advantage of by some fanciful sadist. 

Giorno will do anything to keep his darling safe, even if it means tampering with their mind a little. Nothing too serious, he'd never even considered changing anything about them. Although isolating them isn't completely off the table and a few verbal threats are fine from time to time. Just for precaution...

Giorno is a rather determined boy, he'll go to any lengths to isolate his lover. Scaring away friends by letting Gold Experience give them a small out of body experience. If they're persistent then he can't guarantee that that out-of-body experience will simply remain an experience much longer. It's not out of malice, but it's what must be done for the sake of his darling, the only other thing he cares about.

There's a shift, a difference between the young naive Giorno Giovanna, the golden boy with starry eyes, and the new boss of Passione, the Mafioso who holds the whole country in the palm of his hand. 

Oh sure, as a simple Soldato Giorno was dangerous in his own right. But Don Giorno? He's the sort of monster written about in the grimmest fairy tales. Wearing the appearance of a true king but underneath the luxury suits and priceless watches, he's just another greedy, fire-breathing dragon.

As the Don of Italy's most influential gang, Giorno's manipulation tactics have gotten rather ....hazardous. He doesn't have time to waste getting rid of every single person that poses a threat to his darling. If someone looks their way, he'll send some goons to take care of them. 

Although it's so much easier to keep his lover locked away, he even has the perfect excuse now. He's the head of the mafia, he has all so many enemies who jump at the opportunity to hurt him in some way. So he has to keep his defenseless little lover locked away in some mansion that's all so far away. 

He's also a bit more violent now. Giorno's more physical, ready to break a bone just for a wrong word or a cracked jaw from a punch for even asking to go outside. He blames it on the stress of running an organization...although it's more likely that all the power from passion has begun to rinse away Giorno's caring side. 

"Cuore mio, Resta con me per sempre"

⭐Jolyne Kujo is clingy and obsessive and delusional.⭐

I can't stay away from you...

Jolyne is a rather condescending yandere. Her rough ragged exterior does little to hide the clingy neediness that writhes inside her shattered heart.

She's soft, dependent, desperate at best. Wanting her darling to approve of every tiny trifling thing she does. Needing their words of praise and approving smiles to have the courage to live another day. 

At times it seems like the only thing keeping Jojo alive is the  "good girl!" and "I'm proud of you!" her darling throws her way. Chanting the words of praise with closed eyes and fluttering smiles of anxiety. 

It's difficult to make her sweetheart realize how virulent this relationship is, far too hard to call Jolyne a Yandere. The derogatory term applies to someone who ceases all control from their lover, who locks them in a basement, and throws away the key. It applies to murders and 

stalkers and lunatics that roam the streets in the dead of full moon nights. It applies to those who were thrown into Green Dolphin for a reason.

 Not to some girl whose life has been demolished over and over and over again. 

Not to the girl with a star birthmark that follows her darling around like a lost puppy in the freezing rain. 

But even Jolyn has her limits. She's been let down time and time again, abandoned and framed by those she thought she loved unconditionally. From friends to boyfriends to even her own father, everyone leaves, they take what they want, and then they leave. 

Flesh like strings, stitched into a web of antithesis and distraught moods, act as a  solid, interchangeable reminder of who really holds the power in this relationship. Of how Jolyne can go from needing her darling to controlling her darling in just a fraction of a heartbeat. She loves them, she swears she does...but they need to stay close to her, they need to only think about her. 

Her addiction gets worse as the days tick by. It's less romantic, less loving. Morphing into a dependency, a compulsion. Rotting thoughts of her darling suddenly leaving, plague her every waking moment. The once semi pleasant conversations between her lover and her friends, get cut off like a severed limb. 

Even Hermes and Foo Fighters aren't "good enough" to be around Jolyne’s lover. She's all so, scared they'll try to take them from her. Stealing the ONLY good thing in her life.

There's a certain degree of control that Jolyne's willing to give to her darling. A sort of freedom to make, revolting appalling choices, so long as they include her. A freedom to boss her around and make her submit. Her darling is free, so long as that freedom revolves around Jolyne.

"(Y/N)~ don't look at them! You should only focus on me! I'm supposed to be your world!"

⭐Johnny Joestar is sadistic and manipulative.⭐

Arrogance disguised as affection...

It's all degradation, all harsh words that sting worse than bullet wounds. Glares from dull wicked blue eyes that might as well kill, cause it's better than the alternative. Smirks that make being alive so damn distasteful. Kisses that engrave the lingering taste of rotting lead into your tongue.

Johnny isn't sweet, he doesn't smile at his little sweetheart. He doesn't pat their head and kiss their temples while uttering sweet nothings into their blushing ear. No, his lover doesn't deserve a honey-coated life. They don't deserve to have what was stolen from him by his so-called "loved ones". Instead, he uses them as a living dart board, for both his acid-laced words and bullet-like fingernails. 

There's no love when it comes to Jojo. He doesn't want to waste time on something so frivolous as a "significant other". But he does like having someone -or rather something- to play with, a form of entertainment that bends at his will. Not a pushover, not someone who's too proud either. But a living doll that can take a few verbal spats and survive an armada of fingernail bullets through the stomach. 

Oh, sure he wants to break them, having a toy that's so conflicted, that questions their own sanity is so much more fun. But it's the intervals that count. Johnny wants to be the one to break his darling. To engrave the helpless look of distress into his memory. He wants to preserve every scream, every tear. That's the whole purpose of even keeping a darling. 

Johnny rarely lets his darling out of his sight. It's so much easier to play with their mind if he's the only one they ever talk to. They'll become so easily dependent on him if he's their only companion. Although sometimes Gyro can get a little too touchy and friendly. And there will be occasions when Hot Pants start to pry into the darling and Jojo's personal life. But the incidents are few and far between. Not like Johnny minds, if anything these minor secondary "meetups" are useful to the paraplegic jockey. They refill his darling with the most precious thing..." Hope". Just so Johnny can beat it out of them all over again.  

There's a darkness that resides deep within Johnny. A toxicity that laces his actions. His life is miserable and he's damn well sure it'll always be that way.....

So why not take his lover down with him?

"Don't you love me darlin' ? Cause I certainly don't love ya."

⭐Jorge Joestar is delusional and obsessive.⭐

What if we lost our minds, together?

A love story better than his parents, that's all Jorge wants. Flower field dates, and quick lingering kisses before midnight. Something sweet, that doesn't have a macabre end. A romance without body-snatching vampires and zombies that shed their flesh. Something normal, gentle, lovable. 

Although with the family he's been born into and the kind of things that keep finding him. Jorge doubts he's ever going to get such a hopeful love life. He's all so desperate to carve a life for himself outside of his family's shadow, but in the end, it's simply eager wishing. 

He's not exactly sure what he's even looking for in a lover. Someone sweet but strong-willed, an average answer. Someone who bears a sort of resemblance to Lisa Lisa. Not physically but rather mentally, he's not a coward, he swears he's not, but he just wants someone who can protect him. A fair exchange in his eyes. His lover will guard him against the bullies and freaks of the island and in turn, he'll protect them from the grim ghouls that run amok through the world. Although when push comes to shove he isn't sure if he'll really be 'protecting' his lover or running away and hiding somewhere with them.

He just wants to fall in love and not go insane, a reasonable request, if he hadn't seen the worst that the world has to offer. It's just wishful thinking, sweet dreams for a boy designed to attract trouble. 

He doesn't want to have conversations with his dead lover's head. He doesn't want to wear their skin and waltz around town. He doesn't want any of that creepy, supernatural stuff that destroyed his parent's love. 

He just wants normal. But as the years slip by Jorge's grip on "normal" slowly begins to decay.

Normal is something, but what that something is has become a blur. Normal isn't vampires and zombies and ghost clowns that throw nooses around people's necks...Yet on the other hand maybe it is? 

He's so far gone that he can't even differentiate between methodical and irregular. His brain's capacity to understand the difference has gotten so altered and broken.

Once he finds his darling he does try to act like the ordinary people of the Canary Islands or England, depending on where he's residing at the time. He tries to follow the mode, just to impress his lover. It's a façade, a bloody masquerade that's bound to deteriorate once he and his lover have settled down.

Although a poetic, domestic life had always been Jorge's dream, he soon comes to learn that it just doesn't suit him. Jorge's paranoia starts to increase. It's comical at first, the way his eyes dart to closed doors, half expecting a killer to emerge. Although the same paranoid tendencies can become rather smothering at times. He's all so certain something is going to jump out of the shadows, some creature with sharp fangs and knife-like claws is going to rip his lover's body to rags. 

He's gotten rather umbrageous now that he's the one who's married and living in the Joestar estate. His tendency to run away from any form of conflict has morphed into a rogue-like sense, much similar to a rabid dog barking at anyone who gets too close to its territory. He keeps his darling locked away inside, triple-checking the locks to make sure no one or thing can get in. He avoids the probing disquieting neighbors who still speak ill of his widowed mother and murmurs about the "curses" bestowed on the Joestar bloodline. Sometimes even getting physical when the insults shift towards him and his new lover. 

Punches are thrown.

Insults exchanged.

And then the door and windows are locked once more.

Leaving both Jorge and his darling in the chilling company of the semi alive shadows.

It's safer in the basement. It has to be safer down there. After all his mother kept his father's severed head down there for decades before anyone found it. So it's only sensible that his lover will also be safe, tucked away in the darkness of a brick room some few meters under the earth. He's not acting like his mother -and deep down he prays that this isn't something his late father would ever even consider doing- It's a thin line of justification, but he can reason with himself so long as he knows it's not something his other family members have ever done. He does try to keep his darling comfortable down there. Buying them the most luxurious furniture and comfortable bedding. Constantly bringing them new forms of entertainment. 

Keeping them in this preserved state is what any reasonable person would do. Not just another insanity driven Joestar.

"It's for your own safety" he's repeated that phrase an umpteenth amount of times, although every time the sculpted words leave his tongue, Jorge becomes less sure of who he's really trying to convince. 

Jorge is all so sure that he's doing all of this for both his lover's safety and to erase whatever misfortune follows around the Joestars, like an airy plague. Even his enrolling for the great war is done with this mindset...

Even though in the end it's also this mindset that gets him killed. Leaving his darling a wide window to freedom. 

"Darling, what do you think when you look at me?"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[genderbinaryisforlosers]

i want to talk about the shepherd’s boy

i always want to talk about the shepherd’s boy. for anyone who needs their memory refreshed, which is very reasonable because it’s been nearly six years since Heaven Sent/Hell Bent first came out, this is the shepherd’s boy as the Doctor tells it

There's this emperor, and he asks this shepherd's boy, how many seconds in eternity? And the shepherd's boy says, there's this mountain of pure diamond. It takes an hour to climb it, and an hour to go around it. Every hundred years, a little bird comes and sharpens its beak on the diamond mountain. And when the entire mountain is chiselled away, the first second of eternity will have passed! You must think that's a hell of a long time. Personally, I think that's a hell of a bird.

the Doctor tells this story while he chips away at his own diamond mountain, a wall of twenty-foot-thick azbantium, which is four hundred times stronger than diamond. it takes him two billion years to gouge himself a hole big enough to walk through. he tells this story because he is the bird, and he’s right - it is one hell of a bird.

but he’s also the mountain. he has been trapped inside his confession dial, and for every cycle, secrets are extracted from him. he is resilient, and unmoving - he knows there is one confession he can give to end the torture, but he does not give in. he forces the Veil to come back time and time again, until eventually, it kills him, and in the terms of the story, one second of eternity passes. he is renewed for the next second, and the cycle begins again indefinitely.

but there are two other characters in the story, the shepherd’s boy and the emperor. Twelve embodies those, as well. in Hell Bent, the Doctor’s story begins with him sitting in an old barn, where he used to sleep as a child. where we saw stars reflected in his eyes, one dark and fearful night (in Listen). when the emperor asks the shepherd’s boy his question, he does not expect the boy to have wisdom of infinity from nights sitting under the stars, far away from the dazzling palace the emperor calls home, full of its clueless wise men.

the Doctor doesn’t mention this part of the story when he tells it, but in the Grimms’ version, because the shepherd’s boy could tell the emperor the size of infinity, he was named the heir of the empire. Hell Bent sees the Doctor lay claim on Gallifrey, wresting it from Rassilon’s grasp before he can be cheated of his “inheritance” by firing squad. so the Doctor becomes the emperor - he also has been the emperor all along. he is the man trying to understand the shape of infinity and how he might preside over it. he does with the laws of time and space what he pleases, placing his goals above everything else and holding the universe to his personal standards.

the leitmotif of ‘The Shepherd’s Boy’ appears in another notable scene - in The Day of the Doctor, directly before Twelve’s first appearance. the track is ‘This Time There’s Three of Them’ (2:19-3:20), and the Doctors make the decision to try and save Gallifrey with their combined power. it’s an act of hope, defiance, and unimaginable hubris - kind of like punching through a wall of azbantium over two billion years. it is him staking his claim on infinity, saying “the laws of time and space are mine to control, and this war will not have its way over me or my empire.” because it's also when he takes Gallifrey as his own, the moment that allows him to depose Rassilon in Hell Bent.

that scene from The Day of the Doctor goes on to define Twelve - it's why he chose his face. “Just someone. Please. Not the whole town. Just save someone.” (The Fires of Pompeii) the people of Gallifrey burn, and he can't save everybody. but some of them. he can do that.

“And above all, it’s kind. It's just that. Just kind. If I run away today, good people will die. If I stand and fight, some of them might live. Maybe not many, maybe not for long. Hey, you know, maybe there's no point in any of this at all, but it's the best I can do, so I'm going to do it. And I will stand here doing it till it kills me.”

the Doctor is every part of the shepherd’s boy. that’s why it comes to represent him in his final moments - first as he fights to his death in The Doctor Falls, in the hopes that some people - just a few people, not everyone, but a few - might escape, before he collapses and stares up at the empty sky, wishing he could see the stars. then as he begins to regenerate, and accepts the next cycle. “How long can I keep doing this, Clara? Burning the old me, to make a new one?” he asks in Heaven Sent. “I suppose one more lifetime won’t kill anyone. Well, except me,” he smiles in Twice Upon a Time. the shepherd’s boy is humble, arrogant, helpless, resilient. eternal, and finite. and above all, the shepherd’s boy is kind.

[telehxhtrash]

On the cultural lore behind the late Hunter Exam Arc and the Testing Gates Arc.

Hi ! Today I want to talk a bit about Togashi’s use of mythology, legends and lore as a way to emphasize the narrative in his story. 

It’s no secret that Togashi loves to use details and symbolism in his story, but I think the Testing Gates arc is the one arc that uses this writing technique the most. In only a few chapters, Togashi manages to reference and intertwine 3 different legends to highlight the message in his narrative : Gon’s rescue mission is emphasized by the legend of Orihime & Hikoboshi, the legend of Eurydice & Orpheus, and the legend of Izanami & Izanagi.

As you may know, the early part of Killua’s character arc reflects the Tanabata legend, and it’s reinforced by the fact that his birthday falls on July 7th, the day Tanabata is celebrated. I’m going to link this post that is better written than anything I could ever write on this, so I suggest reading this before reading this post ! I’ll still go over the general details of Tanabata below though.

The legend of Tanabata can be closely paralleled to Killua’s early story arc. 

Orihime worked relentlessly for her father and weaved the most beautiful clothes. She was very, very talented and worked very hard for her father. 

However, Orihime lamented the fact that because of her job, she couldn’t meet someone and fall in love. All she craved was human connection, and her working for her father kept her from meeting someone and falling in love.

Her father eventually allowed her to meet someone, Hikoboshi, and they instantly fell in love.

But sadly for her father, that meant that Orihime didn’t focus on her job anymore and only focused on appreciating her time with her lover.

In anger, her father decided to separate the two lovers and forbade them to meet. (don’t take this too literally - the Zoldyck family in its entirety represents Orihime’s father)

As you can see, Killua follows Orihime’s story pretty accurately. He used to work for his family as a skilled assassin, the most skilled one in the entire Zoldyck family’s history. However, Killua lamented the fact that because of this, he couldn’t make friends. That’s his primary reason for leaving the Zoldyck Mansion : see if he could make a friend. And then, he met Gon, and it was pretty much love at first sight. The two of them enjoyed their time together, joking around and sticking together most of the time, until the final phase of the Hunter Exam where Illumi forbids Killua from seeing Gon and manipulates him into going back to the Zoldyck Mansion.

This isn’t how the Tanabata legend ends, but this is where the other 2 legends I want to talk about come into play.

Gon, after being passed out for hours as a consequence of his fight with Hanzo, learns about Killua’s fight with his brother and completely flips out. He proceeds to confront Illumi about it directly and asserts that Killua is his friend and that he’ll bring him back no matter what. After this, Leorio, Kurapika and Gon make their way to the Zoldyck Mansion to get Killua back. As they arrive at the Mansion, the tour guide proceeds to explain one of the particularities of the Zoldyck Mansion : there’s a huge gate that can only be opened by brute force. Anyone can enter, as long as they go through this door. And this is where it gets interesting.

The tour guide mentions that this gate is called “黄泉への扉”, yomi he no tobira. The gate to Yomi.

But Tele, why the fuck are you mentioning this, you may ask.

Because 黄泉, Yomi, is the land of the dead. Togashi is expressing that this is the gate to Yomi, the gate to enter the land of the dead : the Zoldyck Mansion. The Zoldyck Mansion is directly compared to Yomi. 

In Japanese mythology, Yomi is where all souls go after they die. No matter if you were good or bad, you’ll end up in Yomi. It’s not Heaven, it’s not Hell, it’s just…. A place where you end up rotting forever. It’s described as gloomy and dark, empty and cold. It’s not burning in hellfire, it’s just a place where you just sort of wander aimlessly, empty for the rest of eternity. 

And this cold and gloomy, empty atmosphere can directly be correlated to the Zoldyck Mansion. The tour guide mentions that this is the gate to Yomi, because if you enter, you’ll never come back, but this applies more to Killua. Killua is in Yomi right now after a trauma-induced dissociative episode. He was forcefully sent back to the Mansion, and is now being tortured by his family. If Killua stays there, it’s obvious he’ll never come back psychologically from this. He’ll be trapped in this meaningless existence, cold and empty, devoid of any passion. A life his parents chose for him, a life he doesn’t want to live, a life as Zoldyck heir. He’ll be stuck in Yomi, the land of the dead, forever.

But Gon won’t let that happen. He planned this rescue mission because Killua opened up to him about who he wants to be. He doesn’t want to live according to his family’s plans for him anymore, he wants to live a life for himself and be free. And Gon wants to help him achieve that, because he saw the good in Killua. Which is why he insisted he’d rescue Killua himself and will drag him out of the Zoldyck Mansion. He’ll get him out of Yomi.

Which leads us to the story of Izanami and Izanagi. Yomi is commonly known as Izanami’s retreat after her death, so when you hear Yomi, you automatically associate it to Izanami. And there’s an interesting piece of lore when it comes to Yomi and Izanami : Izanagi’s rescue mission. Izanami died a horrible death after being burned giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi : she descended to Yomi. However, Izanagi, her husband (and brother but we don’t talk about that) found himself miserable. He missed her terribly and couldn’t live a life without her. That’s why he decided to make the trip to Yomi to get her back. Izanami ended up pleading to the Gods of Yomi to let her go back to Izanagi, and the Gods ended up making her an exception and allowing her to leave.

I’ll spare you the details but the story ends tragically with Izanagi trapping Izanami in Yomi forever, her ruling over it and the both of them pretty much getting divorced. 

Anyways. What matters is that when you talk about Yomi, it’s automatically linked to Izanami, and Izanami is automatically linked to Izanagi and his rescue mission. A rescue mission that also happened in HxH. Just like Izanagi, Gon decided to take the trip to Yomi, as the tour guide said, to rescue Killua from eternal damnation and be reunited with him once again.

Additionally and still in the spirit of the Yomi lore, the etymology of Yomi (黄泉) is uncertain, but it is theorized that it could come from 山, yama, meaning mountain. Izanami was buried in the mountains and Yomi was thought to be located in the mountains in ancient society, which is leading me to believe this could be the reason why the Zoldyck Estate has a mountain. So it could simply be because the Zoldyck Mansion is referred to as Yomi, and Yomi was thought to be in the mountains : hence the Zoldycks living on a mountain, fitting the Yomi lore perfectly.

There’s one last interesting thing about Yomi. Since Yomi is not Hell, it’s not where peoples’ souls go to get punished but more of a place of eternal wander, it’s oftentimes related to the Greek Underworld also known as Hades. So usually, when japanese media refers to something as Yomi, translators choose to go with “Hades”, which is the translation choice Viz made here.

So by insinuating the Zoldyck Mansion is considered as Yomi, it also connects it to the Greek Underworld, since the two are deeply connected. And interestingly enough, the first thing that pops into my head when I think of the Underworld is Orpheus and Eurydice’s story.

Orpheus and Eurydice fell in love at first sight, and enjoyed all their living moments together, however, this provoked the jealousy of one man who despised Orpheus and desired Eurydice for himself. After multiple events including a chase through the woods, Eurydice got bit by a deadly snake and died, leaving Orpheus heartbroken and alone. He couldn’t do anything but grieve and he lost his will to live without his beloved. That’s when he decided to take a trip to the Underworld in an attempt to get Eurydice back. Orpheus, armed with his lyre and his voice, was pretty much protected by the Gods as he walked through the Underworld and sang his song of love to anyone who would listen. His song and story brought tears to Hades and Persephone’s eyes, and Hades eventually accepted to make a deal with Orpheus : Eurydice has to follow him and he must not look back under any circumstance as long as they’re in the Underworld, or she will be sent back there forever. 

I’ll once again spare you the depressing details, but basically, Orpheus turned back because he couldn’t bear to not look at his beloved anymore, they got separated again and Orpheus ended up grieving his entire life, ending up being killed because of it.

So once again, here, there are similarities between Gon and Killua and Orpheus and Eurydice. Falling in love at first sight ; Illumi despising Gon and wanting Killua for himself and his family, thus ending up causing a separation and sending Killua to the Zoldyck Mansion ; Gon deciding to get Killua back. And for this one, there’s one interesting thing, and I thank @gallyl very much for telling me this, but it’s very important to note that Orpheus got Eurydice back because he sang songs of love and proved his devotion to Eurydice. Gon did the exact same thing. During those 7 chapters where Gon rescues Killua, the word friend is highlighted 7 times.

Gon, and therefore Togashi, makes it a point to emphasize that his rescue mission is solely based on his love for Killua. He’s doing it out of devotion and care for him. Just like Orpheus rescued Eurydice with his song of love and brought tears to everyone’s eyes, Gon managed to go through every hardship he faced by highlighting that Killua is his friend. That’s how he managed to convince Zebro to let him train to pass the gates, that’s how he got to Gotoh and to Canary, and eventually to Silva. Because he kept on saying that he’s doing this because of his love for Killua, which eventually softened all of these people and made them get on board with his rescue mission. 

Another parallel is the fact that Hades strikes a deal with Orpheus with a condition, and should the condition be broken, Eurydice will return to the Underworld. Here, it’s slightly different but still under the same spirit. Silva strikes a deal with Killua, making him promise to never betray his friend, and that if he does… he will be unworthy of his friends and will have to return home. 

There are also a few other references to the Underworld in the way Togashi portrays the Zoldyck Mansion and Silva and Kikyo, but I won’t get into it too much for fear of not being too objective and reaching, so I’ll just go over one. The Greek Underworld is kept by Cerberus, a gigantic 3 headed dog. And while Togashi didn’t make Mike a 3-headed dog, he did include 3 different dogs as gatekeepers of the Zoldyck Mansion, thus keeping a connection to the Cerberus lore.

So by making one random character talk about Yomi, the japanese underworld, Togashi calls back to those two myths : the japanese myth of Izanami and Izanagi and the greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Togashi put imagery for both of these legends to emphasize that they are connected to the story, and as a way to further highlight the narrative of someone rescuing someone they deeply care about.

I never finished talking about Orihime and Hikoboshi’s story, so I’ll do it now! After being forbidden to meet, Orihime pleaded for her father to let her see Hikoboshi again, until he finally agreed to let them reunite on the 7th day of the 7th month. However, when they reunited for the first time, there was no bridge to cross for them to be able to meet. That’s when a flock of magpies came and promised to help the lovers reunite, creating a bridge between the two of them, and allowing them to finally reunite.

This is once again reminiscent of the Testing Gates arc. Killua asked his dad to be able to see Gon again, until he finally accepted. However, Gon found that it was hard to cross the metaphorical bridge that are all the hardships of the Zoldyck Mansion, until a bird finally helped him : Canary. Canaries are birds that symbolize happiness, freedom and that spread joy. On top of that, I could even reach a bit and highlight that magpies, the birds that reunited Orihime and Hikoboshi are mostly recognizable by their long black tail. Canary and Gotoh, butlers, are the main reason Gon managed to get to Killua, and butlers outfits are characterized with a longer back, reminiscent of a tail, detail that Togashi also put. So it’s easy with that to associate the butlers with the flock of magpie, since they’re the reason Gon managed to get back to Killua.

The Tanabata lore started from the moment we got introduced to Killua’s character up until Killua and Gon finally reunite, and this lore was complemented by 2 other legends that highlight this beautiful narrative of rescuing a loved one.

All 3 of these legends share common themes : they feature lovers who got separated for multiple reasons and one of them pleading to higher forces to let them have their lover back. There’s a common theme of love and devotion that ends up moving the higher forces and lets the person be reunited with their lover at last. All these missions were rescue missions done in the name of love : Orihime pleaded with her father out of love, Orpheus sang his song of love to plead to Hades to let him get Eurydice back, Izanami asked the Gods to let her come back to Izanagi. And Gon begged everyone to let him see his friend. He shouted on top of every rooftop that Killua was his friend and that he’s rescuing him out of love and devotion for him, and that’s exactly what made people help him get Killua back. It’s seeing Gon’s love that made people help him, just like in those legends.

So by giving us references to these legends, by making Gon and Killua follow the same tropes as these myths, Togashi is highlighting the beautiful narrative of Gon’s rescue mission. Togashi is putting little details and symbolism to give his story more depth and make us subconsciously link together a legend about lovers wanting to reunite after being separated, and two legends about people going on a rescue mission to save their loved ones. 

Killua’s story follows the Tanabata legend closely, he meets Gon and it’s love at first sight, they are happy together, until they’re separated. Then he gets sent back to the Mansion, Yomi, the Underworld, which prompts Gon to organize a rescue mission out of love, just like Izanagi and Orpheus. It’s thanks to this love that he moved Zebro, Canary, Gotoh and finally Silva, just like Izanami’s pleads moved the Gods and allowed her to (almost) leave, and just like Orpheus’ love songs moved Hades. Finally, they are reunited by a bird, Canary, and a flock of magpies, the butlers, just like in the Tanabata legend. The lovers are reunited at last, after a long rescue mission.

I can already feel the panicked asks, “but Tele, all these tales end tragically, is Killua and Gon’s relationship broken forever? Are they going to die?”. No. HxH is not a retelling of common legends. It’s not accurately and faithfully translating myths into a manga. It’s using cultural references to emphasize some narratives, and here, it’s the narrative of two lovers going against all odds to reunite with each other once again after being separated. I’ll link you to this post by @/buzzykrueger that explained it better than I could, but don’t worry, I can promise you, Togashi will never head this way. HxH is not a retelling of old tales, and he loves to subvert common classical tropes. He already subverted them many, many times in his manga, and I can guarantee you that Killua and Gon will be fine in the end.

Also, yes, I’m referring to Killua and Gon as lovers in this post, because Togashi made the conscious choice to refer to 3 pieces of lore focused on romantic love. 

Thank you for reading this ! If you’re interested, I’ll link all my references below! Also, Tumblr hates me and won’t let me appear in tags anymore, so reblogs are very appreciated. Ty for reading!

• On the general legend of Tanabata : here and here

• On Yomi : here and here

• On Izanami & Izanagi : here and here

• On Eurydice and Orpheus : here

[thestalkerbunny]

What are your favorite twilight zone episodes?

Oh god you get me; you aBSOLUTELY get me. So fun fact about me, I LOVE the Twilight Zone. I doubt any series of horror has enthralled me in such a captivating way as the ‘Zone’ did as a kid. The Horror in that show is just so real and authentic because of the time period. So I”m gonna do you what I think is the personal best episodes for me-pictures included!

So let’s get to Stalky’s Top Ten ZONE EPISODES

10: The Masks

A dying wealthy man is down to his last few hours of life on the eve of Mardi Gras and his spoiled selfish heirs are there to watch him die and get what is theirs-with the catch, until midnight they must wear hideous masks that compliment their awful personalities. This one always stuck with me because The sheer anticipation of what will happen in the end and the fact that all their heirs are just so very unlikable, it’s very much like the movie ‘Knives Out’ but much more tame-nobody gets murdered, but just the ending thrilled me the first time I saw it

9: The Monsters are Due on Maple Street

A Street full of neighbors experiencing a black out turn on each other in violent mob mentality of the blame game. This is a CLASSIC, This is true pure and realistic horror because it really asks the question ‘how well do you know your neighbors and do you trust them’ it also was very much a product of it’s time in the era of the Cold War were even in your own neighborhood, even your neighbors could be a ‘communist’ in disguise. The Ending was a real rug jerker for me. For those of you who haven’t seen the ending-you gotta go watch it. Just less than 15 minutes of your time. Iconic. They did a remake of it once but it didn’t HIT the way it did the first time.

8. Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?

A Bus making a stop realizes that there is one extra person among them is not accounted for and they may not be of this world. Now THIS is the originally ‘Among Us’ There is one more person on the manifesto and we gotta find out who the imposter is. This one just felt so witty and just the energy of the Moustache guy really stole the show for me as well as the diner chef. The twist was GREAT and I still catch myself thinking about it sometimes when I’m in a ‘ZONE’ mood

7. The Midnight Sun

The Earth is slowly falling into the Sun. We watch as a woman falls apart as the whole world around her burns. Now being a southern girl with a house whose ac loves to just BITE it in the DEAD of summer I FEEL this episode with all my soul. If you’re ever the littlest bit chilly, you watch ‘Midnight Sun’ and you can FEEL yourself melting along with this poor suffering woman in this apartment complex. Just watching these poor people just lose their minds to the heat is so real because just slight temperature changes just make people irrational and insane.

6. I sing the Body Electric

Children get a New Grandma! A ROBOT GRANDMA! This one is such a heart warming episode and concept, like if you don’t like scary stuff but still wanna know the Twilight Zone, you watch ‘Body Electric’ It’s very much a ‘Mary Poppins’ sort of story and it’s sweet and the way it explains what happens to the Grandmother once her job is done should be applied to all robots concepts of the afterlife. Plus the store the family goes to in order to make their custom grandma is kinda spooky. Like build a bear. But for Grandmas.

5. Number 12 looks JUST like you

In  Future, You can be anyone you want to be, because the cosmetic surgery is Mandatory. One girl protests it. This one breaks my heart because for some people, this is reality, they’re pressured into changing even though they’re happy with their looks but society refuses to accept them. You know how in cartoons there’s the trope of the popular girls being surrounded by identical clones. That. It’s that. It’s often confused with another iconic episode that talks about how beauty is about perspective and what people will go thru to try and be the standard for society.

4. Night of the Living Doll

A little girl’s doll decides to teach an abusive Step Father a lesson. TALKY TINA WALKED. SHE FUCKING STRUTTED THAT RUNWAY MAMA. SO CHUCKY/TIFFANY/BRAHMNS/ANNABELLE COULD FUCKING RUN. She was the ORGINAL Doll that is up to NO GOOD. We are ROOTING for Talky Tina. She is a QUEEN. WE STAN A LEGEND. The Dad is such a douche bag I do not feel bad at ALL for what happens to him.

3. One for the Angels

A sidewalk sales man stalls for time to save another’s life from Death himself. This one is a sweet one, the salesman-Marky-is just so genuine and the ‘bumbling type that’s loved by kids’ and he’s a clever character, if you like the cheating of death story-you’ll love ‘One for the Angels’. And even if it ends a bit sad-it’s a happy kind of sad, a sad where you know that this is the good happy ending even if it’s a little bitter.

2. The Hunt.

An Old man and his Hound explore the trail to the afterlife. This one speaks to my backwoods southern heart-because there are dudes who are just that passionate and affectionate about their hounds. It also does the whole thing where the path to hell looks just as pretty as the one that lead to heaven. It feels like it’d be the kind of bluegrass song I’d hear about a guy narrowly missing ending up in Hell because he doesn’t want to be apart from his beloved dog.

HONORABLE MENTION: The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtle

A Young man dies....and comes back to life? Again another southern themed episode that speaks to me, mainly because Wake Culture is a thing where you have to sit up with the body to make sure they’re REALLY dead. Just the whole set up to the ending really just fools you. It’s the kind of story I feel like I would set up. I think I HAVE set up that kind of story with ‘The Diver Boy’ Comic

1. The Obsolete Man

Nothing I can say can compare to the perfection and the dark statement that The Obsolete Man makes. Nothing hits home that hard in that way. A horrible future where people get to decide what is obsolete and once it’s obsolete, it must go away forever.

[lorei-writes]

(Not so) Infinite Bachelor State

Arthur Conan Doyle x MC Fluff

Written for: Dice be Nice Request: @saphyhowl Roll: Arthur + Arranged Marriage AU + A curse/A spell gone wrong Word Estimate: 3k

Whew, here it is! 

Content Warnings: alcohol (mention) 

Truthfully, there was one thing Arthur always despised about his position as the heir – there was always somebody, or even multiple somebodies, always knowing better and always thinking he owed them everything, obedience included. Perhaps if they cared enough to properly talk with him, they’d learn he never asked to be put in this position, that if it depended entirely on him, he’d chose a different life, he’d be a different person, and… Well, plenty other noble things, surely. Alas, they never seemed to be interested in the matter enough, only ever being preoccupied with how harmless or harmful his various escapades and romances – ah, the way the youth acts out, they would sigh – were to the family name. The games had to end, however.

Truthfully, there was one thing Arthur always despised about his position as the heir – there was always somebody, or even multiple somebodies, always knowing better and always thinking he owed them everything, obedience included. Perhaps if they cared enough to properly talk with him, they’d learn he never asked to be put in this position, that if it depended entirely on him, he’d chose a different life, he’d be a different person, and… Well, plenty other noble things, surely. Alas, they never seemed to be interested in the matter enough, only ever being preoccupied with how harmless or harmful his various escapades and romances – ah, the way the youth acts out, they would sigh – were to the family name. The games had to end, however.

“I am no decorative bird up to being displayed in a cage, sir, no,” Arthur exclaimed, storming out of the room. The door shut behind him violently, various relatives shaking within the constraints of their portraits covering nearly the entirety of the wall. Perhaps if he looked back, he’d feel their glares on himself, all the esteemed aunties and uncles being appalled by such treatment of the elderly, even if long dead. Arthur didn’t do it, however, all the seemingly vengeful looks being thus directed at the first brave soul willing to step out of the study, an elderly man pushing the door anxiously, as if wishing to make up for excess commotion with negative noise. “Young master, please, wait, wait!” he spoke in a hushed voice, rushing towards Arthur in an odd sort of semi-run enforced by wear of much too formal kind to easily allow for such frivolous activities. “I’ve said all I had to say, and please, do not make me repeat myself. Late mother’s bust would surely turn into an earless one if that were to be the case.” Arthur gestured angrily. “But master!” “Master? I am truly quite a powerless one!” He stopped abruptly and turned around, pointing an accusatory finger at the man. “And you did not drop me even a hint of warning, not even a word! I could have been long gone form this sorry place, could have eloped and…!” A sigh leaving his lips, Arthur shook his head and resumed walking at a much slower pace. “Young master, I am deeply sorry. Your uncles – they are quite hardy men to propose such an idea, and simple caretaker, I –” “I know, I am aware. You could do little, couldn’t you? Ahh, those bloody, money-thirsty, motherfu – !” “Young master, this is not the language I have taught you!” the man cut him off mid-word. “Mother… Lovers,” Arthur finished after a pause. “Cursed be their fate for arranging this fate, and cursed be mine!”

The front door of the mansion having seemingly materialised before them, Arthur pushed it open, fully intending to drown his sorrows in water of a rather unholy kind. At least then, to properly celebrate his last day as the bachelor, the bride already waiting somewhere in his estate.

***

For Arthur to wake up to the first lights of the day was rather unusual – for him to do so without a headache after such a night, and in his own bed? Plainly impossible. Arthur sat up abruptly, his memory hazy although in a familiar way, only the last few event being a little blurry. He sighed. The luckiest day of my life, eh?, he thought to himself, his back touching the mattress again, his head soon disappearing below the duvet.

Intending to fall asleep and perhaps even be late for his own – very unwelcome – wedding, Arthur opted to ignore the rushed steps outside of his room, being even more indifferent when the door opened and somebody stepped inside. Could it be his bride? Ah, heavens, as if he cared. She could be the nicest woman in the world, but this? This felt fake, so very unlike all the stories he had read. Wasn’t he capable of finding the one on his own, when the time came? Truly, to strip him off of his agency even in that regard, what a cruel – cursed – fate… “Young master?” Arthur groaned, the servant, his old care-taker, apparently being the one sent to unearth him. He pushed himself up. “Yes?” “Your uncles wanted to exchange a few words with you.”

Somewhat surprised, Arthur dragged himself out of the bed, fully expecting to hear either one of two messages – either the lady saw him in the city and wanted to call the marriage off (meaning the family name was spoiled beyond repair and he, Arthur, was the only one to blame for such a turn of events), or they truly wanted him to know something more about the situation than “you are getting married” by itself. It is no wonder his confusion only grew, the first few words being uttered having been spoken out just the day before, the entire conversation following the very same pattern. “Dearest uncles, I do believe you take me for a fool. I did drink a little yesterday, but be not mistaken, I do recall your scheme being revealed. It should be a wedding day today, shouldn’t it?” he ground the words through his teeth. The men looked at each other, no less puzzled. “Arthur, have you drank just now? The guests only just came few hours back, it’s – ”

They didn’t get to finish, however, Arthur already storming out of the room. A cruel joke, indeed, but it was never said he had to withstand such treatment, no. Somewhat annoyed, he walked the corridors, eventually sneaking out of the dreaded estate yet once again.

Arthur woke up with a start. Somewhat confused, he looked around, the room being no other place than his very own bedroom. The door opened, the servant stepping inside. “Ah, young master, I see that you’re awake,” the man spoke, a troubled smile on his face. “Your uncles wanted to exchange a few words with you.”

***

The days stretched, each beginning in the very same fashion. The time had seemingly started chasing after its own tail, thus stopping to progress on behalf of being stuck in a loop, memories of every attempt to break it being erased from nearly every mind – at least to Arthur’s knowledge, no other person appearing to realise what was happening around. At first martyred, Arthur cursed plenty (although quietly, as not to deprive dear mother’s bust off of her ears far too many times), fully convinced it would go on for no longer than a few days, consequently only extending the duration of his personal hell. The time seemed to have a different plan, however – and when a month passed, Arthur was certain, it would not move an hour more into the future. So to say, he was locked in an infinite sort of a bachelor state, eternally stuck on repeating the last day of his freedom from dreaded arranged marriage that ultimately, was one forever of days away.

At first he spent the time leisurely, each day listening to the very same explanations patiently, then opting to play along nicely, much less desperately than previously. For all he knew, he could both party and drink with friends, falling asleep just about anywhere and waking up in his very own – very comfortable – bed. Eventually getting tired of lengthy daily lecture of his uncles, Arthur came up with ways to shorten it significantly, asking questions as to get to the very bottom of matter and be able to go on with his endeavours. Having calmed down from the initial euphoria, he returned to his ordinary life, each day thinking up stories (although not writing them down, for the manuscripts wouldn’t last), indulging in reading, and perhaps spoiling his dog with a little more attention than usually. Few skills remained completely unobtainable to him, his personal library providing at least a single lifetime worth of information… And yet, despite all the things that he had learnt, Arthur began to feel lonely, no relationships developing in any way. There was no person he could confide in, no soul who’d feel compassion to him, no partner to converse with – and to keep the conversation alive during the next day, without the need to reintroduce the topic at hand.

Somewhat lost as to what he should do, Arthur began simply walking down the corridors of his very own estate, greeting the various guests who managed to arrive for his wedding on the day that would never end. Curious to the very bone, he found himself wondering who could the dreaded bride be, his uncles still having kept the name a secret from him. A goat can die only once, he thought, climbing the staircase leading to their study, his knuckles soon knocking onto the wooden door. A voice from behind it inviting him to come in, Arthur stepped inside, a question on his lips: “Dear uncle, a certain matter skipped me during our morning talk. What exactly… Is the name of my bride?” “Well…” “Well?” he inquired, leaning closer on the dark wooden desk. “The truth is, the lady in question requested not to tell you in particular. She arrived with her entourage yesterday, it was her only request…” “Dear uncle, please, we will be married tomorrow, what’s the difference?” The man paled, his hands trembling slightly. He weaved his fingers together, soon propping his head over his knuckles. “The thing is, we do not know ourselves. Or to be more precise, we do, but all of the ladies who had arrived seem to be of the same name. And which one… Which one, you see…” Arthur opened his eyes wider, his throat and mind alike refusing to co-operate – there were simply no words to explain his state. “I see,” he uttered, turning on his heel and leaving the room behind. A curious state of affairs, he reckoned.

***

One thing his library lacked were books on magic or ancient knowledge otherwise lost to time. Given how the loop did not extend past the period of one day, he was unable to obtain anything other than wares offered in the city’s bookshop, their selection being lacking at best. Unable to break the odd curse, Arthur found himself pacing, the monotonous chatter and otherwise strangely familiar dialogue turning his personal heaven into yet another kind of hell. Perhaps he needed rest? A few months passed and Arthur began to seek a solitary state, sneaking out to be by himself whenever an opportunity arose.

One of his most treasured spots was a lone swing, hung over a tree branch by his very father when Arthur was still a little boy. How did the line survive the years? He could not know, and truthfully, cared little of it, the place being secluded enough to grant him a moment of peace.  His dog sitting by the trunk, Arthur lifted his gaze, as if attempting to see through the tree crowns. “You don’t remember either, do you, Vic?” he sighed. “Although it can’t be much difference for a dog. Your days seem to be infinite either way, right?” he laughed softly. The pet rose his head. “What is it, my friend? You want me to play as well?” Vic yawned, getting up lazily as to sit before Arthur, two hopeful eyes staring at his owner lovingly. Having hoisted the animal into his lap, Arthur kicked the ground below them thus weakly propelling the swing. Absent-mindedly, he let his fingers brush through the soft fur, the wag of the tail earning Vic a little chuckle. “At the very least I’m stuck in here with you, Vic. An eternity with a dog seems much less lonely, heh…”

Too lost in his own thoughts, Arthur didn’t realise plenty things, one of them being the sun slowly sinking below the horizon – and the other one being a foreign sort of presence, a sudden inquiry startling him nearly to death. “Excuse me, have you just said ‘an eternity’?” a woman asked, leaning from behind the tree trunk. “Because, sir, you see… I seem to be stuck in an odd dream that nobody seems to be aware of.” Arthur snapped his head to look at her, their eyes locking. “Do you, by any chance… Do you wake up each day and start it in the very same manner, the very same news being revealed to you, over and over again? No matter where you fall asleep, what food you eat, what choices you make – all, everything, always the same?” he blurted out. The woman nodded in reply. “I’m Maria,” she added, extending her arm. “Arthur,” he replied, shaking her hand.

Finally, after so many days, they have met, the first breakthrough in lifting the curse having been made unknowingly.

***

To say her presence was uplifting would be an understatement, the couple growing to become friends rather fast – although it did cause few surprised glances here and there, few people wondering how two total strangers could act is if they knew each other for months on end. Each day they were asked of it, each day making up a new excuse, their explanations gradually growing more vibrant, almost detailed. As such, from a childhood friend, a long lost cousin and an apprentice he chatted with in the city few times, Maria ascended to being an orphan, estranged by her late uncles and aunts, and thus seeking support in the house of Doyle family, martyred by fate and unwelcoming humans alike. Arthur, on the other hand, evolved to don the alleged role of once met friendly, albeit unfortunate and rather superstitious, doctor-turned-writer, one who hated his very own creation beyond belief… Both introductions being lies, of course, they earned themselves pained sighs. There was little harm in it, though, wasn’t there, the memory of all other residents, of all other people, being erased with another day? Whenever they got bored, they made up new lies, all too aware that anything they’d do would be reversed. Somehow, the eternity ceased to appear merciless.

His hand holding hers, Arthur led Maria forward, careful as not to let any branches hurt her, this part of the groove still being fairly young. The setting sun finally starting to shine through the leaves, he relaxed, only the thrill of birds sounding off between the trees. A sigh of relief escaped his lungs. “Finally, some peace and quiet,” he laughed weakly, retreating his hand. “An almost married man shouldn’t do this, shouldn’t do that, I swear…” he trailed off, turning around to gaze at her. To his surprise, however, Maria stared at him intensely, her brows knitted together. “An… Almost married man?” she asked, his eyes opening wide in sudden realisation. “It’s not like this!” Arthur blurted out instantly, rising his arms in front of himself. “You see, tomorrow was to be my wedding, and today – or well, a couple hundred todays back – I was informed about it.” Maria shook her head in disbelief. “It’s not like this, I swear! It was arranged behind my back!” he exclaimed, her expression softening slightly. “I didn’t have a single say,” he sighed. “I cannot even find my bride, although she’s in this estate. Can you believe? She took a couple other girls by the same name, and my uncles – ” Arthur stopped abruptly, her arms shaking as she laughed, deeply and abundantly so, eventually even needing to rest her back against the tree as not to fall. “What’s so hilarious?” “You are!” she answered, few tears escaping her eyes. Maria brushed them off with the top of her hand. “And you didn’t tell me all this time? It could have been a clue to breaking this curse!” Arthur averted his gaze – and ever so observant, she followed him, eventually going even as far as to lean down and stare at him from below, a smile never leaving her lips. “Or… Perhaps there was some reason for this state of affairs?” she prompted giddily, already half-knowing the answer. His hand on the nape of his neck, a faint blush came onto his cheeks. “Perhaps, indeed.” “And what reason was it?” Maria asked, straightening her back a little. “I believe I’ve given you more than enough clues.” “I want to hear you say it.”

Wind played in the tree crowns, the sun hanging dangerously low. “Perhaps… I might have started to think I wouldn’t mind spending this eternity with you, Maria,” he mumbled, his head beginning to spin.

Arthur woke up in his very own bed, his ears ringing. Of course, he should have known better  - yet, it was too late for it. Still somewhat drowsy, he got up and began to hastily dress himself, fully aware that Maria was somewhere in the mansion, in the very same state. He confessed – and he would get to answer in return? Unthinkable! He needed to find out soon. The door to his room opened, the very same old servant peaking inside. “Young master?” the man mused, visibly surprised. “Your uncles wanted to excha –” “Yes, yes, a few words, a wedding, yada, yada,” Arthur cut him off, frantically buttoning up a mere minimum appropriate amount of buttons of his shirt. He stormed out of the room. “Young master! The wedding! It is today!” the servant shouted after him, but to no avail, Arthur being already far away, completely unable to think of anything but her.

As embarrassing as it was, it dawned on him he never once in the many months that had passed asked where Maria lived, her whereabout thus being a mystery to him. In any other case, he’d ask Vic for assistance, her scent usually having stuck to his clothes by the end of the day… In such a case, however, he was lost, and lost he rushed through the mansion, no staff being able to tell him where his particular Maria could be. Lacking any other clue, he stepped out into the courtyard, planning to spend even the entire day at the swing where they met. “Arthur!” He turned around – and there she was, running down the stairs extending from the balcony above, dressed still in her nightgown, her hair in utter disarray… Although he couldn’t help thinking it was lovely, no less. Maria showing no intention of slowing down, he opened his arms, the woman throwing herself into them. They tumbled to the ground, and he barely managed to catch a breath, the one he loved sealing his lips with hers in a rushed sort of kiss. Too little, too slow, too sweet, Arthur reckoned as they parted, his hand stroking her back lovingly. Their foreheads touching, he felt her fingers toy with the very top button of his shirt, his mind finding it less unusual than it should, perhaps, the notion that it would be all forgotten come morning still residing within his thoughts…

“Maria!” somebody called from the balcony. They froze. “Wait until the evening, for the love of god! You’re getting married to this man today! At least get a room!” The couple looked at each other in disbelief. “Today?!” they asked at the same time. “Today!” the servant exclaimed, finally catching up to Arthur. Wheezing heavily, he leaned on the door, sweat having come over his forehead. “The venue… Your uncles wanted to… Discuss… The venue… Last… Preparations…” he forced out of himself, yet was forgotten again, Arthur staring at Maria. “So you kept some secrets as well?” he teased, his bride laughing. “Partially. I did not know which Maria was to be married.”

Tag List: @cheese-ception , @kisara-16, @nad-zeta, @rikumorimachisgirl @bestbryn , @ichigoamamiya If you want to be tagged for my works, please, do let me know :D Please, specify fandoms as well.