#ALRIGHT I FINALLY FINISHED THIS POST

[analyzingadventure]

Ghost Game Episode Guide

This post is an episode guide for Digimon Ghost Game. Some people may not have time to watch all 67 episodes of the series. This post exists to help people pinpoint which episodes of the anime they want to watch and what to skip, as some episodes aren't plot-relevant at all. So get out your 🍿 popcorn 🍿 and let's watch some Ghost Game!

NOTE: I am posting this before the final two episodes of Ghost Game have aired. As I do not know how things will go at the end, there is a possibility I might change the way I've labeled certain episodes once the series is completed.

I do want to note that although Ghost Game sometimes calls back to previous events or characters, I may not label all such episodes as important/reccomended (see: 🦐). Sometimes you have two non-plot relevant episodes connected by a side character who never appears again, sometimes an episode might call back to another episode in a "remember when we had fun" kinda way, where I do not believe having seen the specific episode is nececary to understand the feeling/idea that they are trying to get across.

Here is how episodes have been labeled:

Episodes labeled as 🌟 are the Bare Minimum you should watch for the most bare-bones Ghost Game experience, as this is purely Plot Relevant and nothing else.

Episodes labeled with 🌠 may not be purely plot-relevant, but they may either develop the world of Ghost Game or its characters, sometimes in ways where it may become foreshadowing for things to come.

Episodes labeled with 🧍 are filler with single word lore bombs, and I would frankly reccomend skipping them if you're not desperate for single word lore bombs

Episodes labeled with 🦐 may introduce side plots or characters who might appear in more episodes but aren't plot-relevant and might only appear a few times within other filler episodes. If it's labeled with an additional ❤️, I'd really reccomend watching it, if it's ❌, then I'd really reccomend skipping it.

Unlabeled episodes are filler, some are good, some are bad, regardless, you can skip these.

So for The Bare Minimum experience, watch the 🌟 episodes. If you want to experience all of the sideplots and see every single re-occuring characters, and not miss out on a single crumb of lore, watch all of the 🌟🌠🦐🧍 episodes. Personally I'd reccomend just 🌟🌠 with a few ❤️ labeled 🦐s.

One last thing is that there's TWO versions of this guide below: first there's a spoiler free version with JUST the labels, episode number and title. Further down the post is another copy of the list, but this one will include information about why an episode has been labeled the way it is, as well as highlighting the major Monster of the Week of the episode. (For example, the first episode is labeled 🌟 because it introduces important characters, while the MotW is Clockmon.) I've done this to give extra bit of information about why some episode are/n't skipable, and to help people find specific episodes if one of their favorite Digimon appear in an episode as The Major/Main Monster of the Week. Mind you, these are not full episode summaries, they're summaries done in about 5 words or less.

Episode Guide - Spoiler Free Version

🌟 1. The Sewn-lip Man 🌟 2. The Mystery of the Museum 🌟 3. Scribbles 🌠 4. The Doll’s Manor 🌟 5. Divine Anger 6. The Cursed Song 🌟 7. Birds 🌠 8. Nightly Procession of Monsters 🌟 9. Warped Time

🌟 10. Game of Death 🌠 11. Kamaitachi 🌟 12. Chain Letter 🌟 13. Executioner 🌟 14. Zashiki-warashi 🌟 15. The Fortuneteller’s Manor 🌠 16. The Maneater Forest 17. Icy Hell 18. The Land of Children 🦐 19. The Witching Hour

🌟 20. The Prison of Fire 🌟 21. The Spider’s Lure 🌠🦐 23. Moaning Bug 24. Twisted Love 🌟 25. The Crimson Banquet 🌠 26. Cannibal Mansion 🦐❌ 27. Monster’s Beauty Serum 🌠 28. Face Taker 🌟 29. Monster Pollen

30. Bad Friend 🦐❌ 31. Killer Blade 🦐❤️ 32. Who Are You? 33. Whispers of the Dead 34. Wall Crawlers 🌟 35. Werewolf 36. Labyrinth of Grief 🌠 37. Herd of the Dead 🌟 38. The Diviner 🌟 39. Contagion Island

🌠 40. Spiral Beach 41. Clown 🧍 42. Human Hunter 43. Red Eyes 🦐❌ 44. Rust 45. Ghost Newspaper 🦐 46. Queen's Banquet 🌟 47. Memory of Eternity 🌟 48. The White Bride 🧍 49. The Crimson Harvest Festival 🦐 50. Payback 🌟 51. Headless 52. Mysterious Lake 53. King of Knowledge 54. Second Sight 🧍 55. Bakeneko 🌟 56. Impurity 🌟 57. Ghost Taxi 🌟 58. Pyramid 59. Jiraiya

🌟 60. Water Ghost 🌠🦐 61. Resurrection 🌟 62. The Strange Floor 🌠 63. Gluttony 🌟 64. The Call 🌟 65. The Black Zone of Death 🌟 66. UNAIRED 🌟 67. The Devourer of All

Episode Guide - Spoiler Version

For the Spoiler Version of the Guide, here is a Special Label:

Episodes labeled with 🤘 are for GulusGammamon's Appearances: please note that I do not considder all of GulusGammamon's appearances inherently plot-relevant, they can still be filler.

🌟 1. The Sewn-lip Man (Clockmon) 🌟 2. The Mystery of the Museum (Evolution: BetelGammamon) (Mummymon) 🌟 3. Scribbles (Ruri/Angoramon intro) (Dracumon) 🌠 4. The Doll’s Manor (Angoramon gives exposition) (Pumpmon) 🌟 5. Divine Anger  (Kiyoshirou/Jellymon intro) (Majiramon) 6. The Cursed Song (Sirenmon) 🌟 7. Birds  (Evolution: KausGammamon) (Yatagaramon) 🌠 8. Nightly Procession of Monsters (Uver can open Gates) (Sistermon Ciel) 🌟 9. Warped Time (Bokomon, Bakumon introduced) (Clockmon again)

🌟 10. Game of Death  (Evolution: TeslaJellymon) (Kinkakumon, Ginkakumon) 🌠 11. Kamaitachi (Digimon Community) (Reppamon) 🌟 12. Chain Letter (Evolution: WezenGammamon) (Zassoumon) 🌟🤘 13. Executioner  (Evolution: GulusGammamon) (Sealsdramon) 🌟 14. Zashiki-warashi (New chips and a message from Hokuto) (Koemon) 🌟 15. The Fortuneteller’s Manor (Evolution: SymbareAngoramon) (Phelesmon) 🌠 16. The Maneater Forest (Some Digimon are killing humans) (Jyureimon) 17. Icy Hell (Frozomon) 18. The Land of Children (Petermon) 🦐 19. The Witching Hour (Piccolomon introduced as a minor re-occurring character) (Piccolomon)

🌟 20. The Prison of Fire (Gammamon learns to control his evolutions) (DarkLizamon, Saberdramon) 🌟🤘 21. The Spider’s Lure (GulusGammamon) (Archnemon) 22. Nightmare (SkullGreymon, Pilomon) 🌠🦐 23. Moaning Bug (Mummymon returns) (Morphomon) 24. Twisted Love (Ajatarmon) 🌟 25. The Crimson Banquet (Evolution: CanoWeissmon) (Vamdemon) 🌠 26. Cannibal Mansion (MINOR worldbuilding) (Digitamamon) 🦐❌ 27. Monster’s Beauty Serum (Hiro sends his dad a letter) (Splashmon) 🌠 28. Face Taker (There's a timelimit to Perfect evolutions) (Asuramon) 🌟 29. Monster Pollen (Evolution: Thetismon) (Tropiamon)

30. Bad Friend (ExTyrannomon, WaruMonzaemon) 🦐❌ 31. Killer Blade (Musyamon, Zubamon) (Letter sideplot wrap up) 🦐❤️ 32. Who Are You?  (Betsumon introduced as a minor re-occurring character) (Betsumon) 33. Whispers of the Dead (Sepikmon) 34. Wall Crawlers (Salamandamon) 🌟 35. Werewolf (Evolution: Lamortmon) (Manticoremon) 36. Labyrinth of Grief (Gigasmon) 🌠 37. Herd of the Dead (Re-examining death) (Rareraremon) (CW: Animal death) 🌟 38. The Diviner (Espimon, Airdramon introduced) (Doumon) 🌟 39. Contagion Island (Ryudamon introduced) (Gyukimon)

🌠 40. Spiral Beach (Gamma character development, Fake Hiro) (Calamaramon) 41. Clown (Technically introduces Ultimates but this is never brought up in the episode itself nor made a big deal of, so this episode can be skipped) (Piemon) 🤘🧍 42. Human Hunter (Single Word Lore Bomb) (Oboromon) 43. Red Eyes (Eyesmon) 🦐❌ 44. Rust (Minor Hokuto Lore, Fukatsu introduced) (Antylamon) 45. Ghost Newspaper (Publimon) 🦐 46. Queen's Banquet (Minor Hokuto Lore) (Oleamon) 🌟 47. Memory of Eternity (Death/Rebirth lore) (Letter to Hokuto 2) (Nanomon) 🌟 48. The White Bride (Evolution: Ginryumon) (Chamblemon) 🧍 49. The Crimson Harvest Festival (Single Word Lore Bomb) (Witchmon) 🦐 50. Payback (Gets referenced in the finale briefly)(Pucchie/MeiCrackmon) 🌟 51. Headless (Letter 2 Follow Up, Digivice upgrade, Warp Evolution unlocked) (DarkKnightmon) 52. Mysterious Lake (Shaujinmon, Gawappamon) (Angora first Warp) 53. King of Knowledge (Ba'almon) (Jelly first Warp) 54. Second Sight (Fujitsumon) 🧍 55. Bakeneko (Bastemon) (Baste almost recognizes Gammamon) 🌟 56. Impurity (Evolution: Siriusmon) (Kuzuhamon) 🌟 57. Ghost Taxi (Lilithmon says things that get called back to multiple times) (Lilithmon) 🌟 58. Pyramid (Evolution: Diarbbitmon) (Ancient Sphinxmon) 🤘 59. Jiraiya (Tonosama Geckomon)

🌟 60. Water Ghost (Evolution: Amphimon) (Cthyllamon) 🌠🦐 61. Resurrection (Hiro obtains MoonMille, reappears once but unsure if plot-relevant) (ZeedMilleniummon) 🌟 62. The Strange Floor (Evolution: HoverEspimon) (ClavisAngemon) 🌠 63. Gluttony (Something Is About To Happen) (Quartzmon) 🌟 64. The Call (Dagomon) 🌟 65. The Black Zone of Death (Rafflesimon) 🌟 66. The Black Dragon of Destruction (BloomLordmon) 🌟 67. The Devourer of All ()

[martyryo]

*posts and crawls back in hell*

[mayhemspreadingguy]

Beautiful Nightmare 🖤

[sforzesco]

CARRION EATER

this is some kind of standalone idea. the original version was much more goofy, crassus was going to cover up pompey's mouth and say, 'no, no. he's got a point. let him speak,' and then pompey was going to bite his hand and say, 'you're not even supposed to BE here.'

then I read a review about a staging of julius caesar that sounded like it got REALLY mean (because it involved improv since it seemed like the intention was supposed to be interactive with the audience) and decided to add some teeth into it.

(also yes, I broke the 180 rule. it’s fine. usually I try to include panels that show characters walking around when I do that, but this comic was a standalone, so instead pretend that I’m spinning the theoretical cameraman around on an office chair or something. or that the camera is a ghost.)

also because titling something Carrion Eater and then NOT having it get a little mean and nasty in the dialogue seemed. like a waste.

eventually, I'll figure out a design for lucullus that I like, I keep wanting to draw other characters when I draw him, so he might need a new hairstyle.

ONWARDS! this is playing off of this scene

To this Lucullus retorted that Pompey was going forth to fight an image and shadow of war, following his custom of alighting, like a lazy carrion-bird, on bodies that others had killed, and tearing to pieces the scattered remnants of wars. For it was in this way that he had appropriated to himself the victories over Sertorius, Lepidus, and the followers of Spartacus, although they had actually been won by Metellus, Catulus, and Crassus. Therefore it was no wonder that he was trying to usurp the glory of the Pontic and Armenian wars, a man who contrived to thrust himself in some way or other into the honour of a triumph for defeating runaway slaves.

Plutarch, Pompey 31

the romans are fightingggggg 🍿🍿🍿

finally, the painting panel is taken from Giovanni Battista Tiepolo's The Triumph of Marius (through the Met's Open Access/Public Domain use policy etc)

bsky ⭐ pixiv ⭐ pillowfort ⭐ cohost

[jils-things]

by the lighthouse.

dividers

[shkika]

There are some things you just can't have.

[shady-tavern]

Vampire’s Lullaby Part Three

The last and final part of Vampire’s Lullaby, part one and two can be found here. I hope it turned out alright! This is another long one.

Warnings ahead for mentioned child murder, please take care of yourselves.

***

Annabelle had worried the letter thin at the edges, folding and unfolding the piece of paper so often it started to fray a little. She was no fool, she knew exactly what Charlette was promising her. What she was trying to do.

Annabelle had often felt helpless and small in her life. She had felt it every time she had raced away from the shadows at dusk and every time she had chased after the sun at dawn. She had felt it every time she had to watch Dion step outside with no way of helping him.

She felt deeply touched that Charlette wanted to do something. That she cared enough about Annabelle, cared for her enough to want to change things for the better. Annabelle just wished she could help as well. She had never been an overly protective person of her loved ones, but she absolutely wanted them safe.

She just had no means to make that happen.

"You don't have to worry," Ophelia said, sitting on her windowsill tonight after Annabelle had invited her up. 

She had her son with her, who was climbing all around the roof, playing lookout with excited determination. The little werewolf looked very cute, much like an overly enthusiastic boy rather than a monster of fur and claws and teeth.

"Charlette is very tough," Ophelia added. "She had claimed a pretty big territory both in her old home and here as well. And you did notice how no one's coming to this part of town anymore, right?"

"I know, it's not that I don't think she can do it, I just wish I could support her," Annabelle answered. Of course Charlette was capable, but that shouldn't mean she had to do everything on her own.

Ophelia tipped her head in thought, one ear swiveling constantly to keep track of her boy and the hunters down on the streets. "You can't fight night folk," Ophelia pointed out, rather unhelpful in Annabelle's personal opinion.

"I know." Annabelle forced herself to set the letter aside. "If you see her, make sure she's taking care of herself, would you?"

Ophelia nodded. "Of course, she's family after all." Then her head snapped around and she made a quick growly noise in warning when her son tried to creep towards the edge of the roof where the hunters would see him.

"I should get to bed," Annabelle said quietly after a moment. "Thank you, for keeping watch."

Ophelia offered a gentler, less toothy smile. "You're my friend too, you know? Of course I'll be here if you need me." With those words she clambered off the windowsill and easily jumped onto the neighboring roof to join her now more cautious son.

Annabelle got ready for bed and struggled to fall sleep for long minutes, staring up at the dark ceiling. There had to be something she could do to help.

The thought occupied her mind throughout the following day, right up until they got another order from an impatient noble who wanted to have a notebook done by tomorrow to gift to a friend whose birthday he had forgotten. He was willing to pay triple the regular price for the rush order that would force them to stop working on all other orders.

Annabelle offered to work late again to finish up the notebook and Mr. Bell left with a reminder to be home before the sun was gone entirely.

"I'll be careful," Annabelle promised and focused back on her work. The trick was to not get sloppy despite feeling the urgency to head home, the fading light making her restless after a lifetime of fearful hurrying. 

Even though she was very sure nothing would happen to her, considering the protection she was under and the friend and lover she had now, that needling along her nerves remained.

She was nearly finished when the front door of the shop opened with a jingle. It made her startle, heart leaping into her throat, right up until she heard Ophelia's voice.

"Annabelle? Why aren't you home yet?" the werewolf called out and a glance towards the window showed it was pitch-dark outside. She had entirely lost track of time despite her best efforts.

"I'm back here," Annabelle called out. "I was finishing up an order."

The door creaked open and Ophelia poked her head in, ears swiveling as she listened and nose twitching at all the scents inside.

"I've never been inside a printing shop," the werewolf murmured as she ducked through the door, hunching down and shuffling to make her large frame fit. "It kind of reeks, though."

Annabelle couldn't help but chuckle. "I can imagine, my nose is nowhere near that sensitive, but even I don't like some of the smells around here." Especially some of the glues Mr. Bell sometimes bought. If he went for the cheaper stuff, their books always needed some time to air out to stop smelling.

"I was just wrapping things up," Annabelle said. "Thank you, for checking in on me."

Ophelia offered a wolfish grin, revealing fangs and teeth strong enough to bite straight through bone and metal. "Of course. Could I watch? I've always been curious."

Annabelle gestured her closer and showed how she put on the finishing touches.

"You know, if you ever want to stay late, you could," Ophelia offered. "I don't care if we sit around here or if I'm keeping watch outside your window."

That was a very nice offer and one Annabelle seriously considered taking. She could get so much more work done that way. But for now, she needed to go home or her family was going to lose it.

"You'd have to sneak me out my window if we want to return here," she said. "I have to be home or my parents and brothers are going to think I died."

Ophelia winced a little. "Yeah, that's fair, we don't want that. Let me know when you want to come back to the shop." She grinned again. "I could offer you a ride. I'll bet you I'm faster than you."

Annabelle snorted. "I'm not even going to take that bet, I know you are faster than me." There was a reason why hunters didn't run from the night folk unless panic took over. Why they chose to attack and lay traps instead.

She wrapped the book up in a soft cloth and left it to be picked up the next day. When she locked the store, Ophelia keeping watch, she jumped in surprise when the large werewolf suddenly started to growl, fur bristling.

"Peace," a calm voice spoke from the shadows. "I have not come here for blood."

Ophelia slowly settled down, tail lashing a bit and she kept standing half in front of Annabelle. 

"If I may have a word with the human?" the voice asked and Ophelia snorted.

"How about you show your face first," the werewolf rumbled. "Then she can decide."

After a moment's pause, a tall, willowy man stepped into the light of one of the sparsely placed street lamps. His dark eyes held a red shine and he was dressed neatly and cleanly and offered a polite bow of his head.

"You are Annabelle, correct?" he asked and Annabelle stepped away from the door, resisting the urge to fiddle with her keys. "The one who convinced Charlette to pick a fight with our kind?"

That did not sound like it would be a pleasant conversation. Ophelia's ears pinned back a little and Annabelle answered, "I am." While Annabelle hadn't asked Charlette to fight other night folk, she knew her words had had an impact on her vampire.

"Do you think it possible for us to get along? Humans and night folk, I mean," the man asked, watching her closely.

"I think it's going to take a lot of work," Annabelle answered after a moment. "But if I can befriend night folk, why can't anyone else? If the killing stops, we could start building something better."

He was silent for the longest moment. "I think you are very naive. It is not that simple. We night folk have tried, you know? To be part of your world." 

He stared off into the distance, something dark and grim crossing his face. "There are children no humans want, even though they are of their people. So I took them in. I loved them and cared for them, clothed and fed them and paid for their education. Do you know what happened to them?"

Annabelle found her mouth growing too dry to speak at the tone of his voice, her throat closing up when their eyes met. Fury and grief made his eyes glow a deep, dark red. Like blood. He was a vampire, she realized.

"I woke with the sinking sun to find them all hanged in secret," he said, low and with an underlying snarl that sent a stab of instinctive fear down her spine. "Children who had done no wrong. Children who died for consorting with monsters, as your lot call us. You humans didn't want them, but you didn't want anyone else to have them either."

He took a step forward, eyes blazing, only for Ophelia to step a little more firmly in front of Annabelle. He stopped and took a deep breath to reign himself in.

"I hold no insignificant sway in my part of this city," he said, voice calm again, but the darkness kept lurking in his gaze. "I will not support Charlette when we gain nothing. When the humans we dare to care about get slaughtered by their own kind. I will not fight for that kind of world, nor will all the others who agree with me."

He straightened, looking tall and imposing despite his willowy frame. "We are not the only ones who will have to change our ways." He then briefly bowed his head, polite enough but a little stiff now. "I said my piece. Do with it as you will."

Annabelle's mind was reeling too much to speak as he disappeared in the shadows. Ophelia glanced over her shoulder at her, a questioning look in her eyes.

Annabelle swallowed, wetting her lips, before she managed to speak, "Has this happened to many monsters?"

Ophelia looked away, her ears drooping a little. "To enough. It keeps us from trying to get closer to humans and it makes the other night folk more angry as well. It feels like we can do nothing right in the eyes of humanity. As though, after humans took our king, they now want to blame us for everything wrong in their lives."

"I'm sorry." Annabelle had no idea what else to say. Ophelia sent her a reassuring look.

"That's hardly your fault. Come on, let's get you home before your family worries too much."

They walked in silence and Annabelle's family was indeed very upset at her late return. The hunters outside who had escorted her home the rest of the way had scolded her as well, looking worried.

As she sat in her room, belly filled with a cold but delicious dinner, she found she was too restless to even consider sleep. The vampire's words kept circling in her mind, followed by what Ophelia had said. It wasn't until she restlessly fiddled with the papers on her desk that an idea hit her.

She couldn't grab a weapon and fight, at least not without dying needlessly in the process. She had no idea how to wield weapons after all and she especially couldn't help Charlette win against other night folk. 

But there was more than one way of fighting and more than one battle that needed to be won. She grabbed a piece of paper and her quill and began to scribble furiously, writing and rewriting parts until she thought she had gotten it right.

She shoved to her feet and hurried to the window, paper in hand. "Ophelia?" she called out in a whisper and the werewolf looked up form her perch on the neighboring roof. "Can you look at this real quick?"

The werewolf jumped across the distance easily enough, accepting the paper Annabelle held out. She was silent for a long moment after she read it and Annabelle fidgeted nervously.

"What do you think?" she asked and Ophelia looked up, astonished surprise on her face, then she grinned.

"I say you are amazing. What will you do with this?"

Annabelle smiled in relief. "Can you take me back to the shop?"

"Sure," her friend answered, puzzled and curious. "But why?"

"I've got an idea." Annabelle was already climbing out the window and was easily picked up by a big, strong arm covered in warm, soft fur.

Ophelia hauled her onto her back as though she weighed nothing and went bounding across the rooftops far faster than Annabelle would have traveled on the streets. They arrived at the shop in record time and Ophelia watched curiously as Annabelle got to work.

Annabelle printed two big stacks of flyers and by then exhaustion started to catch up to her. She had worried at first to blatantly use so much paper and ink, but should Mr. Bell ask, she'd come up with a fabricated story about tripping when she hurried to leave and spilling ink everywhere and that she had to regretfully toss things out.

"Can you help me spread these?" she asked the werewolf, who grinned, wide and a little wild.

"I can do better than that. Wait here." Ophelia ducked out of the shop and a moment later, Annabelle heard a loud, howling call. It was answered by others, near and far and as she peeked out the window, she saw shapes move and gather along the edges of artificial light.

"Annabelle, come meet our friends and bring some of the flyers," Ophelia called out and Annabelle took a deep breath and lifted her chin. She would not be afraid, she told herself. If night folk were meant to share a world peacefully with humans, fear had no place in it.

She walked out with a stack of paper in her arms and made sure to smile at the gathered night folk. All kinds of creatures had gathered and they all stared at her with varying levels of curiosity. She spread the flyers among them and within seconds she heard low chatter and murmur, the click of claws and clatter of hooves and the ruffle of wings.

"We will help," a raspy voice of a spindly, pale creature said and it smiled with a mouth full of sharp needle teeth. "We are tired of a never-changing world that does nothing but hate."

Ophelia ducked into the shop to retrieve the stacks and Annabelle decided that she would not worry about being this close to other night folk while her friend was gone. No one made a move to attack, on the contrary, the nearest night folk offered a bit of polite small talk. They were nothing like the stories of feral beasts she had heard all her life.

Soon every one carried a stack of flyer as tall as Annabelle's hand was wide and they left with excited murmurs and chatter, dispersing to spread the paper all across the city.

"That's just the first step," Annabelle said as she locked up the shop and Ophelia carried her back home. "Are you and they willing to help more often?"

"Of course," Ophelia said with a smile. "We've all wanted and waited for a real chance to change things. While some night folk have fallen too deep into the dark to return, many others who will take this chance with both hands and not let go."

*.*.*

The entire city was in uproar the next day. The flyers hadn't simply been dropped in the streets, the night folk had put them up on shop windows and street lamps and along all the intersections. They had even shoved any leftovers into mail boxes. It was impossible to go anywhere and not see at least one flyer.

Annabelle heard people curse and tear the flyers down, not wanting to hear what she had to say. But that was alright, minds didn't just change overnight. The few glimpses she got of people silently pocketing flyers, looking contemplative, was worth it.

She printed flyer after flyer as the days passed, sacrificing sleep gladly. And the more she did it, the more she told the truth, the more she spoke of injustices and wrongs committed that had to be made right and the possibility for actual peace, the more people stopped to think.

They started to look at the traveling groups of clerics and town guards differently, who tore down the flyers and demanded the heads of those who had done this. They all remembered the humans killed for being seen with monsters.

They hadn't known about the dead children, but someone had broken into the cleric offices and had returned with proof that such things had indeed happened. They had spread the information all over the city and people had been furious ever since.

Annabelle saw the expressions in the eyes of the citizens change as more and more things came to light. Most of all, people wanted safety and peace. The idea of no longer fearing the night, of not sacrificing their children or spouses just to try and keep the rest of the family safe was a very luring call.

Of course, the nobles weren't going to take this sitting down. Fear was one of the things that kept them in power, after all. Fear was what the clergy was built upon and how they got their money, by making people think they could buy safety off of them, as well as blessings for their homes.

Considering how swiftly the nobility retaliated, Annabelle knew that she was on the right track. Houses of rebellious fractions got raided and one day, the guards stood in front of Mr. Bell's shop as well.

"Feel free to look around," Mr. Bell said, making a sweeping gesture. "You won't find what you're looking for."

As the guards stomped past him, Mr.Bell met Annabelle's eyes, his expression telling her that they were going to have a long talk. It made her swallow nervously.

"You're very low on ink and paper," the head guard rumbled and Mr. Bell nodded.

"Yes, our resupply shipment will arrive tomorrow. It always looks like that at the end of the month. Especially with the rush-orders from various nobles we've been getting."

Annabelle involuntarily held her breath. This was not what their shop looked like at the end of the month. So Mr. Bell had noticed, of course he must have, that their supplies had dwindled down fast. Why hadn't he said anything?

"Show me the receipts," the head guard demanded and Mr. Bell dug out more bills than there should be. 

Annabelle didn't let her confused and worried tension show and soon enough the guards left, having found nothing suspicious. Not even a stray flyer anywhere. Annabelle made sure to remove any and all hints of her activities and any messed up prints she took home to burn in the fireplace while her family slept.

"So," Mr. Bell said as he watched the guards march down the street towards their next destination. "Explain to me why you've been making those flyers."

At her surprised, startled look, he huffed. "I'm no fool, girl. I know how much stock we have and how much we use. You're lucky I forged some receipts in advance when I realized what you've been doing. So, why have you decided to become a rebel?"

The entire story tumbled out after a moment of hemming and hawing and Mr. Bell listened carefully and intently, asking questions when he needed her to clarify things. At last he leaned against the counter in thoughtful silence.

"I know some supplies who sell under the hand," he said at last. "They'll bring us more ink and paper than we officially need."

Annabelle stood up a little straighter. "You'll help me?"

Mr. Bell chuckled. "Oh, my dear, you're looking at a rebel yourself. I might be getting old, but I've caused quite some mischief and trouble in my younger days." His eyes were bright and he grinned, excitement starting to shine through. "And here I thought I was going to have a quiet, boring life until I died. So, what's next on the agenda?"

Annabelle managed to collect herself, drawing away from the reeling surprise to lay out her plans. Mr. Bell had some great ideas himself and together they started to build a more solid plan of attack.

"I can't let you work on the flyers during the day, in case they come back for another surprise search," he said regretfully. "You'll be safe coming in after dark?"

"I am," she promised and he nodded.

"Then do that. In the meantime, you'll go and get some sleep, I'm sure we can throw something together." When she tried to protest, he waved her off. "I can handle the work by myself for a few hours. If necessary we'll refuse some orders in the future. We have enough money to give us that leeway for a couple of weeks." 

He gestured at the book she had finished for the noble. "And if we get more orders like these, we don't have to worry about money for even longer."

Annabelle couldn't help but hug her old mentor, who chuckled and gave her back a pat. "

Now, none of that," he said when she tried to thank him or to reimburse him by cutting short her earnings. "If anything, you are doing me a favor. I was wondering what to do considering that everyone keeps urging me to retire. Having a purpose is very fun, isn't it?"

She couldn't help but smile and he ushered her away to get some rest on their coats on the floor, while he got started on their remaining orders. Annabelle managed to doze off for a bit, waking up again when the noble dropped by to pick up the book. A well filled coin purse was left behind and Mr. Bell grinned at her when he saw her sit up.

"Ready for work?" he asked and she hurriedly got to her feet to join him.

Mr. Bell left in the afternoon and returned cheerfully. He kept what he had been up to a secret, right up until the evening bell rang and someone knocked on the backdoor. The one they only used to bring out trash to the small alley.

To her surprise, three young men were there, delivering crates of parchment and ink. Mr. Bell paid them and sent them on their way with a cheerful wave. The boys briefly peered at Annabelle with silent curiosity, though they said nothing.

"I'll keep the backdoor unlocked," Mr. Bell said as he ushered her out the front door. "Please use it just in case some guards show up to patrol at night in order to try and catch the flyer-rebel." 

The thought made her nervous, but Annabelle took a deep breath and steeled her resolve. If this was how she could help, she would do it, no matter the danger it brought. Things had to change.

She returned home, ate with her family and was glad to hear that Dion would return home at the end of the week. He'd stay in his bed for another week and then he'd have to return to guarding the house. 

The only reason Annabelle wasn't deeply scared for her brother was the knowledge that their part of town had become very, very safe. Not a single monster showed its face, at least not to attack anyone.

Ophelia waited by the window the moment her parents and brothers had fallen asleep and Annabelle climbed out and onto her back. They traveled along the rooftops once again and Ophelia dropped into the small alley to let Annabelle use the backdoor.

They printed another round of flyers, more monsters showing up to disperse them. Some smiled at her, others looked curious. Some seemed hesitant to be hopeful, but they had come to help all the same.

Annabelle didn't print flyers every night. Neither Mr. Bell nor she had the funds for such a thing, but she made as many as she could. Aside from flyers, she printed posters to leave on market squares and when one of the monsters handed over a well-worded letter their daughter had written, she published that one too.

Dion was home at last and she made sure her brother was comfortable. He looked tense and unhappy, though his worry eased whenever his hunter friends visited. They had told him they had guarded his family in his absence and how quiet things had been recently.

"It's weird, in all honesty," one of his best friends muttered, the woman who always waited and made sure Annabelle came home safely. It was the day before he had to resume his duty and he'd been high-strung since this morning. "Sure, there are times when things are calm, but never to that extent and never for that long."

Her brother was quiet that evening as they ate and he only grimaced a little in pain when he sat up for too long. Everyone knew he shouldn't return to duty tomorrow, but no one spoke up either. Annabelle kept her head down, her determination to change things stronger than ever before.

If the fighting and bloodshed ended her brother could finish healing in peace. Everyone could heal.

A knock at the door made her family and she startle. It was too late for visitors, there was only a faint glow of light remaining in the sky, the sun itself gone. 

"Open, in the name of the Inquisition," an authoritative voice shouted and Annabelle jolted in her seat, heart leaping into her throat.

Everyone knew the Inquisition. They were the ones who dealt with those who loved monsters, with humans who had gotten 'corrupted', as they called it. They also took care of rebels and 'threats to the city', which usually meant threats to the nobles. 

Nerves made her stomach clench and her appetite vanished in an instant. Her parents exchanged a nervous, confused look, before they got up to hesitantly open the door.

One of the head priests was waiting on the other side, flanked by two of his subordinates and behind them were three guards.

"How can we help you?" Annabelle's mother asked, shifting a bit to stand more firmly in front of her children. "I fear we do not have enough food to feed you all, but if you seek a safe place for the night, we offer our humble home."

"We are not here for peasant gruel or to beg a spot in front of your little fire," the head priest said with disdain. "We are here to question you on the integrity of your family."

"There is nothing to question," her father said sharply. "We are good, upstanding citizens."

"That remains to be seen," the head cleric sniffed, pushing forward until her father yielded and stepped back.

Annabelle watched warily as the priests and guards walked through the open door and when they didn't bother with closing it, a bad feeling began to churn in her gut.

"Leave the door open, woman," the head priest demanded when her mother rushed to close it. Her parents and siblings stilled, nervous and tense. Dion glanced to where his weapons sat by the door, gaze calculating.

Annabelle saw his hunter friends milling outside, watching warily and inching a bit closer, half of them staring at the open door, the other half watching the surroundings keenly. 

"We wish to question your daughter," the head priest demanded, those pale eyes boring into Annabelle, who scarcely dared to breathe. She sat ramrod straight, hands a gnarled knot in her lap as she gripped her skirts tightly, her heart pounding. 

The way he looked at her said it all. They suspected her. They didn't know for sure yet, which was the only reason she wasn't getting arrested, but they heavily considered her the culprit.

"Our daughter has done nothing wrong," her mother said, shifting to stand more firmly in front of her. "Anything you have to say to her, you will say with all of us present."

The head priest looked faintly annoyed, but continued on without pause, "Seeing as lately someone has been stirring up the masses, we've conducted a thorough investigation as to the people capable of such foolishness. And we've now come to you, Miss Annabelle. Care to tell us if these are yours?"

He reached into his pocket to pull out some of her flyers, unfolding them and tossing them onto the dining table.

"They aren't," Annabelle answered after staring at them for a second, heart pounding so hard she felt as though her very bones were rattling in time with the beat. "I've seen them stuck on walls before though, why do you think that I made them?"

"Because she works at a print shop?" her oldest brother asked sharply, smiling in a thin and very much unamused way. "Our little sister has worked her ass off to support this family and you come in here, accusing her?"

"I do not like the tone you take with me, boy," the head priest said sharply and at a look from her mother, Rudi settled down with a fierce glower. 

"Do you have any idea who could have made them?" the man asked Annabelle, who shook her head. "Or anything else you can tell us?"

Annabelle reached out to the closest flyer, coincidentally the newest one, pretending as though she was inspecting it. "The paper is thicker than the one we use in our shop," she said and the head priest's eyes narrowed. "And we don't own that shade of midnight blue either, it doesn't work as well when you want to print books."

She had never been been more relieved that Mr. Bell had gotten things for her under the hand, otherwise she could not have made those claims.

The head priest appeared faintly miffed, but turned to her parents next.

"Has she come home on time every night and not left again?" the head priest asked.

"She's shown up at dusk every day and she doesn't leave before dawn," her father said firmly. "We never heard strange noises or saw any wounds on her. Neither has she brought home gifts we couldn't explain. Go ask the hunters if you don't believe us." He gestured at the lurking neighbors outside.

"I shall," the head priest said, sounding colder and more displeased now. "You better hope your stories line up."

"They will," her mother said firmly. "Please leave now, we don't wish to invite monsters in and we still have to finish dinner."

The head priest stared Annabelle down a moment longer and she knew he didn't quite believe her, but he must have other suspects with how easily he accepted her answers. For now, at least.

"Have you considered that a monster printed these?" she found herself asking just as the man turned around to leave. "I heard some are smart."

"They're all mongrel beasts, mindless and driven by bloodlust," the head priest said sharply, looking at her over his shoulder, his eyes burning cold. "Don't be mistaken, girl, they can fake intelligence long enough to ensnare you. There is nothing more to them than instinct."

It was a fight to look appropriately chastised and agreeable and Annabelle made herself dip her head in embarrassed supplication. The head priest looked a bit mollified at that and stepped outside with his companions and guards, striding towards the waiting hunters.

Her mother closed the door, not quite slamming it but it made a clear, decisive sound. The entire living room was utterly silent, then her mother exhaled heavily.

"We will finish eating and then we'll wait for Dion's friends to knock." She turned around to look at Annabelle. "And you will tell us what exactly is going on here."

Startled, Annabelle glanced at her family and found all of them watching her with troubled frowns. She swallowed, nodding, and found herself too nervous to take another bite. No one ate in fact and Gerard soon got up to clear the table. It was almost unbearably quiet.

It didn't take long for someone to knock at the door and the hunter woman poked her head in. "They're gone. What happened?"

"Please come in and close the door," her mother said after a moment. "I think no monsters will attack, will they?" She looked at Annabelle, who ducked her head a little.

"No," she answered quietly. "They won't."

The hunters filled in and Annabelle found herself in the uncomfortable position of explaining what had happened weeks ago. Haltingly at first and then with more and more passion the story tumbled out of her.

She did not tell anyone about the kiss she had shared with Charlette, worried that it would be a step too far for them. Not because she had kissed a woman, they weren't like that, but because she had kissed one of the night folk.

Heavy silence rang after she finished, everyone staring at her with varying expressions. Dion looked guilty, Gerard and Rudi baffled, her parents incredulous and confused and the hunters were thoughtful.

"Is it possible to speak to one of these, erm, night folk?" the hunter woman asked.

"I think so," Annabelle said, thinking of Ophelia who was most likely waiting on the roof. "I can ask."

"Outside, not in here," her father said. "I just..." He sighed heavily, briefly rubbing his hand over his head. "What were you thinking?"

"She wanted us safe," Dion answered in her stead to her surprise. He sounded tired but understanding. "I can't say I blame her, father." He took a deep, steadying breath. "I'm tired of fighting for my life. Of worrying what will happen to you all when I fall. If there can be peace, I want it more than anything."

"As do I," the hunter woman asked and the other hunters of their street hummed and nodded in agreement, though they looked like they didn't really believe it possible either..

"I can go ask right now," Annabelle offered. "I could meet you outside?"

"Alright, we'll wait in the alley where no one will see us," the hunter woman said. "We just...we've got to see you're right, girl."

She got to her feet with a nod and hurried up the stairs. She heard voices rise behind her, but they were too quiet to understand individual words. It sounded like a hissed discussion, though.

"Is everything alright?" Ophelia asked the moment Annabelle opened the window. "I saw those fuck-awful priests prowling around."

"I have a request," Annabelle asked. "Would you be willing to meet my family and, um, our hunter friends?" When Ophelia reared back in surprise, she hurriedly tacked on, "It's safe, I promise. They just found out about everything and they want to talk to you. To see if peace is actually an option."

Ophelia was silent for a long minute, then she exhaled heavily. "I trust you, so, yes. Alright."

Annabelle smiled in relief, then visibly surprised her friend by climbing out the window. Ophelia easily hauled her onto her back and hopped down to the alley. Considering how everyone startled in surprise at her appearance but eased up immediately upon seeing Annabelle unharmed on the werewolf's back, Annabelle had chosen wisely to go with her friend.

"Everyone, this is Ophelia," Annabelle introduced her, clambering off her back and easily accepting the big, clawed hand that her friend held out for easy support. "Ophelia, meet my family and our friends."

"A pleasure," Ophelia said, sketching a bow, though she never took her eyes off of the hunters, who stared at her with the same intensity. "Annabelle said you have questions?"

The hunters hesitated, before Dion took a step forward, face tense but hope lurking in his eyes.

Slowly, with every question, Annabelle watched as the suspicion, the battle-ready worry, began to easy and fade. She watched as  hope began to glow brighter and brighter instead. As if a gentle hand had found an ember that had been about to go out and brought it back to life with steady care in order to create a fire.

"Alright," the hunter woman said at last, turning to Annabelle. "How can we help?"

At Annabelle's surprised look, she grinned fiercely and added, "We want peace and we want things to be fair. For everyone, nobles and commoners. And those night folk too, if they help us. So, I think it's high time we join your little rebellion."

Ophelia looked positively surprised and approving, grinning back just as fiercely. "Oh, I like you."

The hunter chuckled in her low, raspy voice. "The feeling is starting to be mutual." She turned to the others behind her. "What do you say, are you lot ready to go and fulfill our dreams of cozy fires and full bellies and night skies we do not have to fear?"

The hunters rumbled strongly in agreement, faces determined and even her parents and brothers looked convinced. They met her eyes with care and a supportive, if worried gleam.

Annabelle felt relieved down to her bones and she realized she was grinning just as fiercely as the hunters and the werewolf at her side.

*.*.*

A knock at the door drew Annabelle out of her concentration. "I'm almost done, Ophelia," she called out without looking up. "Just a minute."

"I'll wait," a familiar and sorely missed voice made her startle and she looked up to find Charlette stepping through the backdoor. 

Annabelle grinned wide in happy relief. Her vampire looked a little worse for wear, but proud in a way that told her of won battles. Her gait had changed as well. Where Charlette had been confident before, now she moved with the prowling knowledge of power, of tested strength and defeated opponents. 

To her surprise, Charlette wasn't alone. The willowy vampire she had spoken with what seemed ages ago accompanied her, tipping his head respectfully.

His eyes were considering as he watched her, then he looked at the flyers and posters she had printed. It was getting easier and easier to find just the right words to convince the people, to sway their minds and draw them to the side of change.

"I didn't believe it, at first," the vampire said as he slowly stepped forward to get a closer look. "When I heard of humans rallying behind the cause of this one." 

He nodded at Charlette, who curled her lips enough to reveal one impressive fang. He rolled his eyes at her, but looked fond rather than annoyed. 

He continued, "I didn't believe it either when I heard of hunters willing to lay down their weapons and hearing us out. Of other night folk protecting them from their mad cousins."

Annabelle had been surprised most of all when she had heard of the change that had traveled through the city ever since her conversation with the hunters. Of the impact the people who joined her had. 

Whoever had broken into the office of the high priests had done so again, publishing more and more damning material. They had brought proof as well for their claims, spreading committed misdeeds and crimes all over the city. More murdered children, stolen money, people forced and blackmailed into admitting night folk had threatened and thralled them when that had not been so.

The opinion of the night folk continued to shift slowly but steadily. Annabelle was helping where she could, doing her best to be a voice for the unheard. A voice for the people.

"None of that would have been possible without Charlette," she said, smiling at the vampire who smiled back with a warmth so sweet it made all the accumulated aches and stress and tension melt away. 

Annabelle yearned to be held by her love, but held back for now. She wouldn't want to be rude in the middle of a conversation by getting distracted.

The willowy vampire raised a brow. "And none of it would have worked without you." He glanced between them. "Somehow, the two of you have done what I thought impossible. You're bringing our two separate worlds back together, piece by piece."

"People don't want to fight anymore," Annabelle said. "They want warm fires and full bellies and peaceful nights." 

Or rather, most of them did. And those who wanted to continue fighting, well, there were always horrible night folk that still needed slaying. Just like there were horrible humans that the guards arrested to stop their evil deeds.

At this point, all that was left was getting their hands on the aristocrats, on the high priests, to force them to bow so they could cement the changes the people were demanding with increasingly louder voices. So they could have the peace back that greed and hunger for power had stolen from them.

"I will fight for that soft world," Charlette said firmly.

"Yes, you have proven as much," the willowy vampire tipped his head in respect and acceptance. "I only doubted if the humans would as well, but that doubt...it has waned with every sunlit voice that joined your cause."

He stared at the flyers for a moment longer, then looked up. "You will have my support. Every night folk from the warehouse district to the Emerald Park will immediately cease any hostilities towards humans and instead work with them when safely possible."

Annabelle's breath caught in her throat. That was...that was easily a third of the city. She stared at the vampire in surprise, who smiled thinly.

"Your Charlette isn't the only powerful one and I have many, many night folk to protect. I would not offer my support easily or foolishly. But you have convinced me, mortal maiden." He swept into a low bow. "I look forward to working together."

Annabelle hurried to curtsey back. "As do I. Thank you, really. This might...this is just the help we need to for a last push."

"I do my part as long as you do yours," he said and stepped back, gesturing at a finished and twine wrapped parcel of flyers. "I take it those are ready for distribution? May I take them?"

At Annabelle's nod he picked the thick parcel up. "I will spread these and I will get into contact with other night folk willing to help. We shall speak more on this matter tomorrow night. I believe it is high time both humans and night folk plan together." 

With those words he excused himself and Annabelle stared at Charlette in baffled surprise. The vampire smiled at her.

"I've been kicking a lot of teeth in lately," Charlette said with a casual shrug. "He's had to bend the knee to me, but that doesn't mean he had to help."

"I missed you," the words were out before Annabelle could stop them, though she didn't want to either.

She got a glimpse of Charlette's face softening, then the vampire stood in front of her between one second and the next, opening her arms. Annabelle threw herself forward to hug her tightly, strong, cool arms wrapping around her firmly, holding her securely.

"I'm so glad to see you again, well and happy," Charlette murmured against her hair. "It was hard, not coming back sooner. But I had to make sure I could return with good news. And I'm so proud of you, for all you've done for me and mine."

"This is our world," Annabelle said and pulled back enough to look up. Charlette gently touched their foreheads together. "Let's fight for it together."

"We already are," Charlette answered in a whisper and when she grinned, it was fanged and fierce and not at all human and Annabelle loved her so much in this moment. "And we will win."

[flowerakatsuka]

kept on thinking about some of the more emotional beats of the kurokara lore while i was trying to fall asleep last night and i just... i need to explode...

[sskk-manifesto]

(｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡

[thecorvidrotation]

spoilers. it has been a year. and i still have not read greywaren.

[that-was-anticlimactic]

take me where my soul can run

From the moment Ranpo first laid eyes on Naomi, he knew she wasn’t real.

No one else seemed to realize it, though, so he didn’t say anything. It wasn’t his place, he supposed.

And, well, he couldn’t blame them for not noticing. She certainly seemed real, acted real. She carried conversations, ate meals with the agency, and was even able to make physical contact with everyone. There was nothing about her that screamed fake.

[or, naomi died years ago and the one who joins the ada is light snow - ranpo & jun'ichiro and their relationships with naomi]

happy bday jun'ichiro 💞

💐5,959 words | ranpo & jun'ichiro & naomi💐

[todayisafridaynight]

fathers day is this month how am i going to inflict psychic damage on myself

[purble-gaymer]

i want to draw but i have to pass chemistry first!!!! why am i cursed like this!!!!!!

[taniushka12]

*coming out of the doc covered in blood* i bridged the gap................... i bridged the gap between two parts that could be described as writing and rewrote all the godawful unending paddling i wrote in the name of finishing the stupid fic.................... i did it.............. OTL

[joys-guys]

Average Morning, Average Days

OOC: I figured out what I wanted Carolyn’s story to be. Strap in, folks. This one’s probably gonna hurt. Story under the cut, as per usual.

Contains depictions/implications of: manipulation, mistreatment, trauma, an unhealthy relationship, and other things typical of We Happy Few(specifically relating to taking Joy)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Side note: Carolyn is not in the right, nor is she justified in what she’s doing here!

If someone is treating you the way she treats Alan, I hope you can get the hell away from them as soon as possible. You deserve to be safe and okay.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun rose as it did every morning, bathing the island in beautiful rays of light. It trickled through the partings in the curtains and bounced off the little crystalline flower sculpture in the center of the Days household’s coffee table, filling the room with little splashes of rainbow beams.

Awakening in the next room was Carolyn Limericks Days, her long golden hair cascading like a waterfall down her back as she sat up. She raised her arms above her head and stretched with a satisfactory little pop, a yawn spilling out of her mouth in the process.

“Good morning, sunshine!” she cheerily greeted the day, sliding out of bed gracefully as if she were some kind of angel. “What a gorgeous day it is! I should go outdoors to watch the sun finish rising.” With that last thought, she changed into a sundress, brushed out her hair, and got ready for a nice moment out on the doorstep.

-

In the other bedroom, Alan Earl Days woke up feeling groggy and unrested. He stretched a little himself before unceremoniously getting out of bed, changing into his day clothes, and brushing his hair. Heading to the bathroom and looking in the mirror, he saw how dark the bags under his eyes were getting. He grimaced and opened the medicine cabinet, grabbing a bottle of Joy to take one.

It wasn’t long before the room lit up a little more and his body felt more relaxed. With this newfound cheeriness, he shut the cabinet and looked in the mirror again, seeing nothing but a blur. “That’s quite alright!” he said carelessly, striding out of the room with a grin.

-

He headed to the kitchen and began making breakfast, something that was expected of him at that point. The delicious smell of meat and eggs wafted through the house and out the slightly-ajar front door, alerting Carolyn that her husband was doing what he was supposed to. As she stepped inside, he greeted her merrily, nearly burning his hand in his distraction.

“What are you making?” she asked, her voice sweet and airy.

“Sausage and eggs, ma’am,” he replied, “just like you taught me to do.”

“Good!” She clapped for him. “Give them to me when they’re done.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

-

After breakfast, Alan did the dishes and Carolyn did nothing in the ways of helping him clean up, as usual. ‘That’s okay,’ he thought, ‘this is how it’s always been.’

“I’m bored of looking at you, so I’m going on a walk,” she stated, her tone flat and unimpressed. “Don’t bother asking me to get anything while I’m out, I don’t care.” She grabbed her handbag and sunhat, then left the house with a resounding SLAM! as she shut the door behind her.

“Of course.” He dried the dishes and put them away, then gripped the counter tightly when he suddenly felt sick. “Oh crumbs, m-my Joy!” He staggered back to the medicine cabinet and took more, then dizzily stumbled out of there, only to collapse onto the couch face-down.

-

Carolyn walked about the town, greeting her neighbors with more affection and care than she gave her husband. “Lovely day for it!” she excitedly said, practically skipping with happiness.

Passing a group of Bobbies, they all gave her a tip of their hat, and some even winked at her. ‘They love me! They love me!’ she thought to herself.

Carolyn loved going for walks. It seemed everyone loved talking to her, everyone returned her smiles, and if she made a joke, some of them would even laugh! Sure, Alan did all that at home, but he was such a bore to her lately. ‘He was more fun to flirt with when he wasn’t my type.’ She sighed. ‘I guess making a bad boy good wrings all the fire out of him. Shame.’

She stopped by a few little shops to get some coffee- something Alan wasn’t very good at making, since he didn’t like coffee -and treats (he was too poor to afford extra treats most of the time).

On her way back, she saw some people performing live music on the street for all to hear. “You all are so great!” she cheered after one of their songs, placing some money in the guitarist’s case before merrily strolling along.

After all that, she believed she had planted another seed in the minds of those she talked to that she was the kindest, sweetest, most loving woman someone could ever take as their wife. It would make them miss her even more when she finally left, wouldn’t it?

-

“Alan, I’m home,” Carolyn announced happily as she stepped back into the home she shared with Alan, carelessly tossing her bag onto the couch… only to accidentally hit her husband on the head with it. “What the- get up!”

At his wife’s sudden reappearance and the rough feeling of her yanking on his arm, he scrabbled to sit up. “S-sorry, ma’am! Took too much Joy at once!” He expected her to let his arm go, but she only twisted it further behind his back, so he stood up. “Y-you can let go now, I’m- I’m up.”

Carolyn finally relented when she saw his face contort with pain. “Stop taking so much of that stuff, this is the third time this week that you’ve ended up like this.”

“Sorry, ma’am,” he practically whimpered, rubbing his sore arm. “I-I don’t mean to. I just want to be a happy husband for you.”

“Well, maybe I don’t want you to be happy,” she snarked back, turning away from him to spend some time alone in her room.

Alan solemnly nodded, then walked out the door in the kitchen into the garden.

‘Useless except for entertainment. And even then he fails at that,’ she thought with a sneer, brushing her hair once again and changing into a nicer outfit. She even put on some very nice earrings and some makeup.

When she stepped out of her room again, she took a look out at the garden and saw him just standing out there, almost motionlessly. “Eugh,” she scoffed, “I’m glad I have something lined up for me after this…”

She grabbed a pen and paper and wrote a quick little note for him, taping it to her door before slinking out into the night through the one of the windows by the front door.

-

By the time he came inside, the house was cold from the breeze coming through the still-open window. He also noticed Carolyn was gone again, with only the note on her door reading, “I’m going out for dinner. You’re not welcome to come. Have fun in the garden. -Carolyn”

He shut the window and sighed defeatedly. “Yes, ma’am,” he mumbled, his brain foggy as he practically dragged himself back to his room.

Just another night at the Days household.

[lit-in-thy-heart]

one fic completed for merwaincelot week :D