#Foliè

[drchenquill]

Foliè - Chapter 21

The after

Leaning against a wall, I watched the now no longer dead man as he looked at himself in my mirror for the past hour. I had invited him into my temple. It was spacious, at least for one person. When you entered, you found yourself in a hall that could accommodate at least twenty people.

The walls were decorated with grotesque drawings of me, or rather, of what people thought represented me. They knew what I looked like because I had shown myself to them, but they had to exaggerate, so much so that they often drew me foaming at the mouth as if I had rabies. Well, rabies was something I had invented, but it was in bad taste to portray me in such a way. At the end of the hall was an altar where offerings were often made. They slaughtered rabid animals with the idea that I liked it. I was never present at the sacrifices, I didn't want to assist such things, but I couldn't forbid them because I wanted them to continue visiting me. In retrospect, I realized that the main reason for many of my actions was loneliness. I was spreading misery because loneliness had filled me with anger. But since I had made that little swap, loneliness was a distant memory. “It's been so long since I've had that pretty face in front of me.” Said the now clearly alive man as he looked at his face sideways. Behind the hall was a small room they had built for me to retreat to. There wasn't much in it, as I didn't need much as a deity. The mirror he was standing in front of was a gift from when I once helped a young man take revenge on his superior. Since I didn't need sleep, I didn't have a bed at my disposal. On the floor was a large carpet decorated with a drawing that had faded over the years and was now covered in dust. There was no window, just a large candlestick next to the mirror. “God I missed me.” With that sentence, I couldn't help but laugh softly. I pushed myself away from the wall and stepped closer so that I too could get a better look at him. I couldn't lie, he was handsome, but not because of his beautiful gray-green eyes or his soft hair. Nor was his shiny skin the reason for his good looks. He looked alive. That was it. He was alive, no longer the walking corpse I'd had in front of me until now.

My hand moved of its own accord and my fingers stroked the back of his neck.

Warm.

His skin was warm under my fingertips. Is this what a living person felt like? My fingers wandered and buried themselves in his hair. I lost myself in the feeling and didn't notice the rosy color in his cheeks as he looked at me through the mirror.

He cleared his throat and I pulled back.

His hand stroked the place where my fingers had recently been.

“So... what now? I mean, everything's settled. What's next?” he asked me. What next? I didn't know. I was immortal, I was madness, but I was not omniscient. I didn't know the future and I certainly didn't know his thoughts. What did he want?

“I doubt you want to go far from this temple and I have nowhere to go. The village I come from would not be eager for my return.”

He was right. We both had nowhere to go, we just existed, I because I was what I was, he because he was probably not well regarded. I was about to ask him what was on his mind when his eyes widened. What was going on? What had crossed his mind? My thoughts fell silent as he explained the reason for his sudden panic.

“That girl whose body you used, is she gone already?”

Confused and slightly irritated that he mentioned her, I nodded. “Yes, she disappeared as soon as we were back in our own bodies.” She wasn't part of the story anymore, why did he bring her up? I wanted to forget her, I wanted to forget what a monster I was. I crossed my arms again and tilted my head. “Why do you ask?” He gave a forced smile as if to soothe his next words.

“Didn't you bring down an entire village with her body?”

The world fell silent as reality hit me like a slap in the face. I had used her body to destroy a village. But she had known about it, she had been there. There was no way she was stupid enough to go back there. Was she?

“Do you really think she went back there?” I asked him, hoping to hear a ‘no’, but instead he just shrugged. That wasn't the answer I wanted. “She can't be that stupid,” I said louder than I intended. He put his hands up and explained, “I don't know, but one thing's for sure, she's blinded by joy, so there's a chance she just went home for the sheer joy of getting her body back.”

“And that village is her home.” I finished his sentence and stroked my now tired face. Why couldn't I get any rest now that I had hoped everything was settled? I tried to be optimistic, but it was difficult. Now I had to save a girl from arrest and very likely execution that I had never wanted to see again. I wanted to close this part of my life, forget it, bury it, but no, fate had other ideas. I had resolved to stop seeing people in a bad light, but they didn't make it easy for me when they did such stupid things.

“What should we do? Should we go and see?” he asked uncertainly.

With a sigh, I stepped out of the room. He followed silently and stepped out of the temple with me. Outside, I felt the pure air flowing through my lungs. I closed my eyes. As much as I didn't want to go and leave her in misery, I couldn't ignore the fact that I met him thanks to her. Thanks to her, I got to know myself again through him. Thanks to him, I found out that my life didn't have to be filled with loneliness, and I hadn't been able to experience that without her.

I turned to him and held out my hand. He took it and smiled bemusedly. “I take it you've made up your mind.” I nodded and pulled him slightly closer.

“We're going to go save her ass.”

He laughed slightly in surprise, which made me raise an eyebrow. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because you've changed, little mouse.”

My heart pounded out of my chest and my cheeks heated up. Little mouse, he had called me little mouse again. I smiled softly and pulled him close to me.

“Okay, it looks like you're stronger than I expected.” he said with a laugh as he wrapped an arm around my waist. I couldn't help but grin as I said, “That's nothing yet. Do you feel like traveling like a deity?”

Despite the smile, I saw panic in his eyes. “I would like to travel like a human, thank you very much. On foot, just on foot.”

I shook my head and held him close to me to keep him from slipping out of my grasp.

“Little mouse, I mean it, I want-” his words melted into the wind as I dashed through the forest at superhuman speed without warning. His grip on me was painfully tight and his screams deafening, but I couldn't dwell on it.

I had a young woman to save.

~~~

chapter 20/ chapter 22

Foliè tag list: @theink-stainedfolk , @frostedlemonwriter , @leahnardo-da-veggie , @rivenantiqnerd , @thecomfywriter , @fablesandfragments

[distortedsense]

[ART FOR OTHERS]

This week’s belated episode of Art for Others (the series where I make some free art for someone else’s story) for @drchenquill’s dystopian story called Foliè. From the link:

We went in groups, a different one every day, because it was exhausting and dangerous. We had to go into the core of the machine, a giant metal curved shell that sucked in the air, “eliminated” the madness by stuffing it into vessels, and then pumped it out clean. That was all.

Silently we entered our metallic salvation.

Versions uncrunched by tumblr for you here

Check it out and show them some support! I had a lot of fun making a piece for Foliè. If you’d like me to make free art for one of your stories all you have to do is be following me and have a titled writing project!

New episode of Art for Others this time next week >>]

[automatismi]

spesi 9.50€ soltanto per vedere un A Star is Born ma condito con disturbi mentali, grazie Joker: Foliè a Deux

[theink-stainedfolk]

This is currently my favourite one from my one of my favourite mutuals. I could have given you the 1st chapter but this link actually has links to all the other chapters so i thought it would be much easier for you to find her other chapters so here. It's by @drchenquill

Also @thecomfywriter her lores are super interesting and she is also a published author!!!

If I did a "recommend me a favorite writeblr WIP or writer", would y'all indulge me? (hint, you can show yourself off too)

- original fiction only please (fanfic, y'all rock it but it ain't my jam)

- if it's queer I super extra want to see it

- any genre is cool

- links are especially appreciated!

- so are reblogs!

[handsomegentlebutch]

For the Tarot ask:

The Emperor, the lovers, wheel of fortune, death, the moon, the hanged man

🥰

The emperor: what are some names you like?

I can only assume this means kids names tbh. I love kids but don't want them for a myriad of reasons (mostly bc world bad) but I've always loved the names Rosalind Joan, Annabel Lee, Jolene, and Beauregard. Never did pick middle names for the other two but I like them :3 Rosalind is my fave Shakespeare character ever and Annabel Lee is an Edgar Allan Poe poem I love

The lovers: do you have a crush?

A handful of tumblr ones but nothing serious atm. I don't know any of the folks I've got tumblr crushes on well enough to really call them a proper crush yanno?

Wheel of fortune: first 3 songs that come on shuffle?

Bang The Doldrums by Fallout Boy, White Blank Page by Mumford and Sons, and Twin Sized Matress by The Front Bottoms

Death: what are 3 things you want to do before you die?

I want to travel and see parts of the world. There's too many places to list but getting to another continent is a goal of mine. I want to learn to speak Spanish. I've been trying and struggling to learn for years now. One day I want to master it. I want to fall in love. A real love that's passionate, never boring, and reciprocated.

The moon: have you ever written a love letter?

Nope! Maybe one day I will

The Hanged Man: favorite movie soundtrack?

I dont really listen to movie soundtracks tbh! Just regular albums. Some of my favorite albums are Wasteland, Baby! By Hozier, Hozier's self titled album, A Real Good Person in a Real Bad Place by Des Rocs, Impera by Ghost, and Foliè a Duex by Fallout Boy

[wentzoftheday]

MASTERLIST:

FALL OUT BOY:

1. Take This To Your Grave

2. From Under The Cork Tree

3. Infinity On High

4. Foliè a Deux

5. Save Rock And Roll

6. American Beauty/ American Psycho

7. Mania

Compilations:

1. Believers Never Die: Greatest Hits

2. Icon

EPs:

1. Project Rocket/ Fall Out Boy

2. Fall Out Boys’ Evening Out With Your Girlfriend

3. My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue

4. Leaked in London

5. Welcome to the New Administration

6. America’s Suitehearts: Remixed, Retouched, Rehabbed and Retoxed

7. PAX AM Days

Patrick’s Solo:

1. Truant Wave (EP)

2. Soul Punk

Pete’s side project (Black Cards):

1. Use Your Disillusions

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE:

1. I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love

2. Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge

3. The Black Parade

4.Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Compilations:

1. Conventional Weapons

2. May Death Never Stop You

Gerard’s solo:

1. Hesitant Alien

2. Pinkish/ Don’t Try (EP)

3. Baby You’re a Haunted House (Single)

4. Getting Down the Germs (Single)

5. Dasher (Single)

Frank’s side projects:

-frnkiero and the cellabration:

1. Stomachaches

-Frank Iero and the Patience:

2. Parachutes

-Frank Iero and the Future Violents:

3. Barriers

-Leathermouth:

4. XØ

-Death Spells:

5. Nothing Above, Nothing Below

Mikey’s side project (Electric Century):

1. Electric Century (EP)

2. For the Night to Control

3. Electric Century

BLINK-182

1. Buddha 

2. Chesire Cat 

3. Dude Ranch

4. Enema of the State

5. Take Off Your Pants and Jacket

6. Blink-182

7. Neighborhoods

8. California

9. Nine

Extended Plays:

1. They Came To Conquer...Uranus

2. Dogs Eating Dogs

Box Car Racer:

1. Box Car Racer

+44:

1. When Your Heart Stops Beating 

Angels and Airwaves: 

1. We Don’t Need to Whisper

2. I-Empire

3. Love

4. Love Part 2

5. The Dream Walker

6. Lifeforms

[jerseymuppet]

fave album(s) of all time / fave color / childhood pets if any

Bullets - mcr, underdog alma mater - forever the sickest kids (nostalgia hits hard with that one), riot - paramore, foliè a deux - fob, ceremonials - Florence + the machine, hot pink - doja cat. I’m a big fan of willow green. And I made a post about my childhood pet here!

[telodogratis]

Joker, il sequel con Joaquin Phoenix si farà: adesso è ufficiale

Joker, il sequel con Joaquin Phoenix si farà: adesso è ufficiale

Lo conferma il regista Todd Philips Il sequel dell’apprezzato film dedicato a Joker si farà: dopo i rumor diffusi lo scorso anno, arriva la conferma ufficiale. A fornirla è il regista Todd Philips che ha pubblicato su Instagram una foto che ritrae la copertina della sceneggiatura del film scritta insieme a Scott Silver. Sul frontespizio spicca il titolo del sequel, Joker: Foliè a Deux. I…

[drumsofth3cityrain]

I JUST LEARNED WHAT FOLIÈ A DEUX MEANS IN ENGLISH THEY'RE SO CLEVER WHAT THE FUCK

[drchenquill]

Folie - Chapter 22

A so-called rescue operation

The wind blew around us as we dashed through the forest. The bushes rustled loudly as they made way for me. The forest sensed my haste and did everything it could to stay out of my way. I was focused on my speed, except my right ear had gone deaf from the loud shouting of the man in my arms. He cried out every time we came dangerously close to a tree and he was almost brushed by a branch. He cried out as we sped through the deserted village, as I took no care to be careful as I raced close to the houses.

Fortunately, the journey didn't take too long and we were already on the outskirts of the village I had plunged to its death. My feet stopped and so did our dash. My arms were tight around him as he toppled forward slightly.

“What the fuck,” he cursed under his breath, but I put a hand over his mouth. He widened his eyes in surprise, but calmed down when I pointed ahead.

In front of us, hidden between the trees, was the metal rescue that had set this whole thing in motion. I smelled no gas, no fuel and certainly no people.

“Is that the machine you broke and killed a lot of people with?” he asked without flinching as he stepped closer. Outraged, I punched him on the shoulder. He winced, rubbed it and turned to me in surprise. “What, you're not even allowed to ask a murderer about their murder weapons anymore?”

I raised my hand to slap him on the shoulders again, but he was quicker and gave me a fleeting kiss, which silenced me completely. Triumphant, he smiled at me and stepped closer to the machine.

From the outside, it looked like a lighthouse, except that instead of the large lamp, a shell-like device hung to filter the air. Well, it was supposed to hang, because there was nothing like it here. The walls were cracked, which was a sign of the great fall. I stroked my hand over them and felt the cold.

“They've abandoned it completely,” I muttered.

“Do you think they've given up?” the man asked. We stepped slowly around the huge building. They hadn't given up, people didn't give up. People raged, raged, but they didn't give up. My footsteps were silent as we finally reached the other side.

“ Fucking hell” he whispered as he stepped beside me. “Is this the village?” he asked as he stared at the rubble of the village just as I did. As I had said before, people didn't give up no matter what was in front of them. The only problem was that humans can be stubborn fools. They can be so easily blinded by something. The machine was broken and instead of fixing it, they had panicked to fix it another way. They didn't give up, but they weren't able to think clearly because they were so scared.

We stepped closer and tried not to stand on the debris. Windows were smashed. Doors ripped open. My fine nose smelled burnt, underneath I recognized death. They were probably back to old ways of getting rid of the madness.

“Maybe we were wrong. Maybe she's not here at all.”

I recognized worry and a hint of fear in the man's voice. He grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away again, but I stood firm. “Just because we can't see her doesn't mean she's not here.”

“Okay, and now less cryptic,” the man said pointedly. He dramatically pointed to the rubble in front of us. “There's nothing there. Not a soul. We see nothing, then there is nothing.” With these words, he turned away again and wanted to leave, but I walked further into the village. I followed my instincts and they told me that she was here, I just had to find her. The man's footsteps sounded behind me, followed by unenthusiastic grumbling. We walked on, occasionally hearing footsteps that weren't ours, probably people hiding. From the corner of my eye, I saw faces emerging from behind shattered windows. Eyes watching the strangers. But I paid them no attention. The closer we got to the center of the village, the louder my instincts became, which meant I was right.

“We're being watched,” the man whispered, looking around briefly. More faces grew, peering out at us from curiosity, but no one ventured out into the street.

“We're strangers, a danger, of course we'll be scrutinized. They won't do anything,” I explained to him. Apparently people hadn't yet realized that I had withdrawn my poison, hence the fear. Everyone watching us in hiding thought we were infected.

I saw many faces. Young to old. All with some kind of face mask. Masks, cloths tied together, gas masks, anything that could be used as mouth and nose protection was used by them. My feelings went from compassion to irritation. Stubborn, stupid people. Couldn't even see past their noses. Did we look crazy? Did we look like people who had fallen victim to madness? They had to know what a madman looked like. Unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to show my irritation, because we needed their help.

“We're looking for someone!” I called out loudly. As expected, I got silence in response.

“I know you can help me,” I continued. The man next to me took over and shouted into the seemingly deserted village: “We're looking for a young woman, about this tall…” He raised his hand to shoulder height. “Curly hair, big doe eyes. After what happened, she might look a little manic.” I punched him on the shoulder. He just smirked proudly and went on with his description, “She looks young, she looks a bit like a very irritable little doll.”

I rolled my eyes and was about to hit him on the shoulder again when we heard shy footsteps. We listened with bated breath and watched as a young woman with a scarf wrapped around her mouth stepped closer.

“Can you help us?” I asked her. Her cat-shaped blue eyes looked at us skeptically, but she stepped closer anyway.

“You're looking for the murderer.” she said suddenly.

The man and I looked at each other, puzzled. The murderer? Is that what they called her because of the incident with the machine?

“You will not get her. She'll pay for what she did to us. She plunged us into the abyss and now she has to suffer like us.” the lady continued and seemed to get angrier with every word. I and the man next to me exchanged brief glances of surprise before I turned back to her.

“And how will she atone?”

“She will be sacrificed to Lyssa herself.”

~~~~

chapter 21/chapter 23

Foliè tag list: @theink-stainedfolk, @frostedlemonwriter, @leahnardo-da-veggie, @rivenantiqnerd, @thecomfywriter,

@fablesandfragments

(if you want to get added or taken off, feel free to tell me~)

[forourbly]

• • • 🌟 ¡Hola, Blýng, Blýng! Sé que no nos conocemos mucho pero las pocas veces que pude interactuar contigo me caíste súper bien. Un recuerdo gracioso que tengo sobre ti es cuando me cambié de cuenta, te diste cuenta mucho tiempo después de que era Serena/Massiel y creías que era nueva JSJDJSKA siempre tan despistado. Otro recuerdo podría ser hace poquito en el baby shower de abejorrito, cuando jugábamos los juegos del hambre, me hiciste reír mucho con todo lo que decías. Quizás compartimos muchas cosas más como actividades en foliè pero mi memoria de Dory no me permite recordarlo, lo que sí recuerdo es que eres una persona muy linda y divertida por eso hoy en tu cumpleaños deseo que logres sentirte amado por todos tus seres queridos. Sigue brillando, sigue siendo tan ocurrente y creativo. ¡Feliz cumpleaños!

—Con amor, Belle.

[magpiebeetle-moved]

im on to foliè now bc i’m crying in the club

[ao3feed-mavin]

À Là Foliè

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2zAiPDF

by Deviless

In a maddening game for the crown, one is asked a single question. Will it all be worth it in the end, for the power?

Words: 3577, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 2 of One Shots

Fandoms: Achievement Hunter

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: M/M

Characters: Geoff Ramsey, Jack Pattillo, Ryan Haywood, Gavin Free, Michael Jones, Ray Narvaez Jr., Jeremy Dooley

Relationships: raywood - Relationship, Mavin - Relationship, Jermwood - Relationship, Ryan Haywood/Ray Narvaez Jr., Jeremy Dooley/Ryan Haywood, Michael Jones/Gavin Free

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Achievement Hunter Kings, Kings AU, Minecraft Kings, Betrayal, Murder, Romance, Blood and Gore

read it on the AO3 at http://ift.tt/2zAiPDF

[waiting4afriend]

Saremo andate alle foliès o come porcodio si scrive

[keplerrol]

• Nombre: Gustave Adrien. • Apellidos: Barrel.   

vEdad: 28 años. • Raza/Planeta de origen: Lares. • Ocupación: Inspector de policía. • Habilidad: Electrokinesis. • Historia: —Provenientes del planeta Lares, los Barrel se mudaron a la Tierra cuando Gustave y su hermana Foliè tenían respectivamente cinco y un año de edad. Ambos progenitores buscaban ser partícipes de una vida mejor, pues en su planeta de origen su calidad de vida no era ni mucho menos buena. Por ello, decidieron que la Tierra podría proporcionarles esa estabilidad. —Se instalaron en París, Francia, donde su padre encontró un trabajo en la “Police Nationale”, donde iría escalando puestos hasta convertirse en Inspector Jefe. Aquello hizo que el dinero llegara rápidamente, haciendo que la familia pasara de comer una vez al día a vivir entre lujos. Por ese mismo hecho, a pesar de tratar a Foliè de manera cariñosa, con Gustave siempre se mostró realmente estricto: le inculcaba los valores que a él le interesaban, e incluso cuando ya fue algo más mayor se encargó de entrenarlo; supuestamente para hacerlo más fuerte y que en un futuro ingresara también en el cuerpo nacional de policía. De este modo, su futuro estuvo planeado desde un principio. —Su padre murió poco tiempo después, cuando él tenía unos doce años de edad y, como sus padres se habían divorciado años antes a causa de las disputas, pasó casi toda su infancia entre la casa de su abuelo —que llevaba viviendo en la Tierra desde mucho antes que ellos se incorporaran— y la de su madre. Como él no quería ir con su madre, su abuelo luchó por quedarse con él alegando que era una empresaria alcohólica sin escrúpulos. —Se crió entre buenos modales, dinero y gente falsa. Él siempre pensó que las personas no eran auténticas así que decidió encerrarse en los libros y en sus estudios, ignorando incluso a su madre. —Con la llegada de la adolescencia y a pesar de haber tenido siempre calificaciones excelentes, la situación con su madre y hermana acabó por afectarle. El chico empezó a forjar una personalidad bastante problemática. Los profesores comenzaron a fijarse en él y no precisamente por sus notas: solía saltarse clases, e incluso lo habían pillado saltándose las normas. Aunque aquella faceta no era solo dentro del instituto, pues casi siempre llegaba a casa con moratones. —Con su abuelo las cosas eran muy diferentes: era un hombre liberal, que vivía en una pequeña casa entre el bosque. Fue gracias a aquel hombre que el chico comprendió que quería seguir los pasos de su padre y convertirse en policía. A pesar de que este último no hubiera expresado el cariño como debía en su día, Gustave siempre había sentido admiración por él y su muerte había resultado un duro golpe. —Cuando acabó sus estudios marchó a trabajar a Nueva York, ciudad donde gran parte del conflicto a causa de la ruptura de los pactos se estaba desarrollando. Allí se hizo con un pequeño trabajo como policía en el departamento de la ciudad, que a medida que los años pasaron acabó convirtiéndose en uno de los más importantes cargos. —A pesar de no agradarle el contacto con nadie ajeno, no distingue entre razas, por lo que se muestra a favor de la convivencia entre las razas y en contra de la invasión. • Personalidad: —Adora pasar el tiempo encerrado en sí mismo o en los libros. —No es que sea tímido sino que considera la humanidad como un gran error. —Se pone nervioso cuando hay una persona estúpida cerca de él porque lo considera como una pérdida de su tan preciado tiempo. —Se rige completamente por la lógica: lo que es lógico está bien, y quien no actúa según sus principios no merece siquiera su tiempo. Por otro lado, es bastante curioso, aunque intenta frenarse constantemente y no preguntar más de la cuenta. • FC: Chris Wood.

[drchenquill]

Foliè - Chapter 20

I want...

Someone had once told me that we deities had no feelings, because feelings were human, they were weaknesses. We deities had no weaknesses, because we were powerful beings who stood above humans. We were better. We were everything humanity wanted to be.

Then why had this someone never mentioned to me that deities could become weak? Why wasn't I warned that I could lose my petrified heart to someone? A human being. I was lied to. Deceived.

Deities could not grieve.

So why did I cry when I heard his story?

Deities could not empathize.

Why did I feel his every pain when he spoke of his past?

Deities could not love.

Then why did my heart beat for him?

I opened my eyes blearily and with blurred vision. In front of me, I saw the treetop ceiling separating the sun from us. I breathed in slowly and then out again. I lay on the grass, silence surrounding me, a silence I was all too familiar with. I was too tired to sit up, too exhausted to move. Breathe, just breathe. That was the only thing I did. I didn't care about my surroundings, I didn't care what was going to happen now. Fatigue was my closest acquaintance and was about to take me away again when a shaky voice pulled me out of my spell.

“I had already figured that a creature like you couldn't be killed so easily.”

My head tilted to the side and that's when I saw him. He was sitting on the ground, his back leaning against one of the pillars. His knees were pulled up and he had his arms resting on them. His head hung, looking down at the ground.

“You were good… really good…”

Slowly, he turned his gaze to me. His eyes were red from crying as he looked at me for a moment without any emotion. “You won. I have no idea what your little game was supposed to accomplish, but you won…” He took a deep breath and tipped his head back. “I can't kill you… I… I can't.” He tensed his hands and looked down at his curled fingers with a furrowed brow. “I wanted to watch your life fade away. I wanted you to know the pain you've brought me and so many others. I wanted the last thing you saw to be a human being.” His voice dropped to a whisper as he added, “I thought I wanted that.”

Slowly and carefully, I sat up. I couldn't say anything, because there was nothing to say. I couldn't beg for forgiveness, not when I didn't deserve it. So I remained sitting silently and left everything in his hands.

He buried his hand in his hair and let out a loud breath. “I don't know what to do. I don't know what to think, what to say, what to feel.”

His eyes met mine again and this time I saw desperation. “I… W-when I saw lying there, so-so lifeless… God, I panicked. I was so scared, and then I realized I couldn't lose you. You're the only thing that got me this far, you showed me that there's more than revenge. This time with you was the best thing that had happened to me…” He then laughed bitterly and looked up at the sky. “How fucked up is that? I'm falling in love with the creature that ruined my life.”

Heart pounding, I dared to scoot closer. He glanced at me but said nothing as I sat down next to him. We were silent, no one knew what to say, no one knew what to do next. I was selfish and wished for his affection back. I wanted everything to go back to the way it was when I was still his little mouse. But was that even possible?

“What now?” he asked. “I don't know if I can forgive you… You ruined my life…” Slowly our eyes met as he whispered, “But you also brought me joy again. What do you want me to do?”

“I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to leave me. I don't want you to see me as a monster again. I want you to take me by the hand, tell me what a bitch I am, smile at me with tenderness. I want to be your little mouse again…”

I swallowed hard and did my best not to shed any more tears.

“I'll… I'll make it all up to you. I will withdraw my poison and free people from my curse. I will free you from the curse. Humanity will hear no more of me, I will behave and live as if I do not exist.”

I don't know if it was my shaky voice or the salty tears rolling down my cheeks despite my struggle against them, but his face soothed. He searched my eyes, he searched for the truth, but I had laid it at his feet. I would do anything to make him look at me with love again.

“Do it. Show me that you mean it too. Prove to me that I can really trust you again. Show me that you're still my little mouse.”

I could have screamed with joy. He was giving me a chance, he was giving me a chance to prove myself. I couldn't let him down now. I quickly stumbled to my feet and wiped the tears from my cheeks. I could do this, of course I could. My back was turned to him as I took a few steps. My eyes closed. I felt the wind around us, every movement of the leaves dancing with it. Then I smelled the stench of my poison. It smelled like mold, rotten and forgotten. The poison was the manifestation of my loneliness. It was created as a means to make humanity feel as lonely as I did.

I took a deep breath. I felt it slowly seeping back into me, each particle coming back to me as if it were coming home. I felt heavier, like I was slowly choking on it myself, but I had to do this, I had to take it on so that he would trust me again. I did it for him.

Slowly, I turned to him. He sat there, emotionless. I stepped up to him. Not a word was exchanged as I held out my hand to him. He placed his big hand in mine. Silence surrounded us as we looked at each other silently. I squeezed, digging my nails into his skin. He flinched but didn't pull out of my grip. Like a wave, his appearance seemed to change. First his hair. Short and dark. Then his eyes. Pointed and gray-green. His skin, now a beautiful sandy color, shone with life. His hand, which I always held in my grip, became softer and more elegant.

I let go.

Speechless, he looked down at his hands, which he tangled snappily in his hair, stroking it lightly as if he had to feel the texture to believe it was real.

He smiled, then he laughed, then he screamed. Then he cried.

I hesitated, then reached out to him. With newfound strength, he grabbed me by the hips and pulled me to him, capturing me in a suffocating embrace. Now I was the one smiling through tears. I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time.

Joy.

~~~

Chapter 19/Chapter 21

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