#Had to document it anyhow :)

[milkshakeworm]

my favourite detail about viktor's flashback is the fact that his cane is too small for him

its not much, just a few inches too short, as canes are meant to the level of one's hip and his is right above it. a cane user also should be able to flex his elbow at a 20-30° angle (MD R. K., 1995), which he absolutely cannot do, and their wrist should be creased so the palm of the hand can rest comfortably. ideally, canes are measured and fitted to the user with a formula that takes into account both arm length and height

i dont think he developed spinal "problems" (for the lack of a more concrete term) that caused him to get spinal implants and use a back brace because of a too short cane, but it surely contributed

and i like this detail because it tells you a little something about his character, it encourages you to create your hypothesis, maybe he was growing and he could not afford to replace his cane, maybe he was stretching it out as much as he could. he has been probably using that cane for years now and you can see how it was obviously meant to be used by a smaller child AND also while we are at it

it is hand made, its a stick with a handle built into it, and the base just doesn't exist. makes you wonder.... who built it? maybe one of his parents was also an inventor, maybe they were good at building.... i dunno, maybe they built it for him

it just says so much about him, about his background, and it also creates this tragic picture of this kid with a cane that is meant to be used by someone smaller.... maybe he hasn't realised he has grown, or maybe he doesn't want to acknowledge it because he knows he cannot afford a new cane, maybe thats scary for him, i dunno

— R. K. (1995). Methods for estimating the proper length of a cane. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. url

[lunasilvis]

Dad's factory

[hipsofsteel]

bemoaning the state of the american education system, specifically the economics class i took that taught me absolutely nothing

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

Having the most hilarious little thoughts about Richard Harrington making a deal with demon!Eddie, trading wealth and success in exchange for his firstborn. 

The Harringtons climb the social ladder, Richard’s business thrives. Little Steven is born, grows up … and nothing ever happens, so they sort of put it out of their minds and never tell him about how they sold him off to a creature from the underworld before he was even conceived. 

The day after Steve’s 18th birthday, they return from a business trip to find their son frantically cleaning up the remains of a party. They’re three minutes into a lecture on how there’s soda and chips all over the expensive carpet when Eddie materializes in the middle of the living room, ready to collect his prize. 

Chaos ensues. 

Steve is freaking out. Why is that red-eyed, black-clad weirdo lounging on their couch, chunky boots up on the table as if he owns the place? Why is he looking at him like he’s a particularly tasty piece of meat? Why does the guy only need to snap his fingers and Steve finds himself straddling his lap, one ring-clad hand groping his ass? What the actual fuck is going on? 

The Harringtons are not amused. They have invested so much money into Steve over the years, thinking that Eddie had forgotten all about them, and NOW he shows up? Eddie just shrugs, idly playing with a lock of Steve’s hair. He never specified WHEN he’d come back, did he? What would he have wanted with a baby, anyhow? What is he, a daycare? 

“We thought you wanted to eat him!” blurts Mrs. Harrington, and Eddie just absolutely loses his shit. 

What the fuck is WRONG with those people? They thought he ATE babies? And they were still fine with giving him theirs? Holy fucking shit, humans are disgusting! This is it, deal’s off, he’s taking their wealth and success away again. No, the boy is still coming with him, do they honestly expect him to just up and leave him in this shithole? No fucking way! Oh, and they better never try and summon him again or those incriminating documents will find their way to the tax authorities! 

And that is how Steve finds himself living with a sassy, strangely kind-hearted demon who may or may not own his soul - they’re still trying to figure out the specifics of that. 

# hype's demon!Eddie fic

Part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6

[kkvqwrites]

Family

Word Count: 282

Characters: Simon "Ghost" Riley, gn!Reader

A/N: This is really short but the idea wouldn't leave me alone. I might flesh it out further later on - we'll see!

“Why is the safe open?” 

You hear Simon’s voice carry down the hall from your shared bedroom where the safe was located. You were in the living room, folding laundry while your newest true crime show was on in the background.

“I’m sorry - I opened it to get our marriage certificate and my documents out so I wouldn’t forget them. I have to send them with the application for my name change. I must have forgotten to close it all the way.”

“Understood. Just please try and remember, yeah?”

You nodded. It was one of the very few things Simon was fussy about, and not arbitrarily. In addition to important documents such as birth certificates, it also held the firearm and ammunition that Simon kept in the house for home defense.

“I will, I’m sorry.”

“No worries, love.” He kissed the top of your head as he walked by you. “Name change, huh?”

“Well yeah,” you replied with a smile. “We’re married. I’m excited to be a Riley.”

You felt rather than saw his demeanor change, and stifled a sigh. Family was a touchy subject for Simon.

“Not much fun bein’ a Riley, love,” his voice was soft with both affection and distant sadness. “I’m the last one left anyhow.”

Smiling, you approached him where he stood waiting for the tea kettle to boil and wrapped your arms around him from behind. He didn’t tense up anymore, which was a small miracle in and of itself. He had finally grown comfortable enough to leave himself open to your affection, and you hoped to have many years to keep giving it to him now that you were a family.

“Not anymore you’re not.”

[moonastro]

the vibe you give out to others

pick a picture

left to right(top)-> 1,2

left to right(bottom)-> 3,4

°DO NOT take this as literal, take everything with a grain of salt as this is purely and intendedly for entertainment purposes. °Don't be afraid to give feedback and opinions about this post (as i would entirely appreciate it). ° This is a GENERAL reading, take what resonates and leave and pass on what does not!

PILE ONE

someone who can communicate hours on end with someone, usually about the deeper stuff. so you may like to share your thoughts a lot which leaves people guessing that you would be a very good person to talk to. you also are good with reading the vibes of a room, people almost expect you to change the atmosphere of the vibe within a group. you really are someone who solves problems, situation ships and other things people may need assistance with. i feel like you help others grow, you teach people from wrong or right and perform humanitarian acts. if you are in a bad situation, you get the heck out of there as soon as possible, people know that because you may express your thoughts and feeling through communication. i feel like you talk about the little things to others that they might even find that you can be oversharing at times. anyhow, you may look back on what people did you in the past or vice versa. you don't hold onto a thread, you make very clear decisions that take you wherever it may.

yeah, you learn from your mistakes and only go forward which makes you a stronger individual. there is still some youthful energy surrounding this pile, so don't forget to not be hard on yourself all the time, you give out but not necessarily get given back which allows people to use your time unnecessarily. people can also see a child in you, you may get told that you remind someone of their son or daughter. being behind the scenes is what you are used to and may project a certain insecurity that others notice. i feel like its that others see their own insecurities in you as well which may cause jealousy. you are careful though, you plan, you observe and you double check. there is nothing wrong with being in routine but i feel like people notice that you are too afraid of failure because you might have grew up to be the high achieving kid or the oldest child who had influence on the younger siblings and so forth. overall a very sensual and hardworking pile.

assigned song: Black beauty- Lana Del Rey

PILE TWO

very energetic around people or friends and family but think a lot by yourself, you may keep your true self hidden. you are such a good manifester and people notice that whatever you say out loud becomes real. people may call you a psychic because you just know things before others do, for example if a friend asks about something like an event and you just tell them like "watch this happen in there" and something like this and it happening. you are quite reserved with your feeling and emotions, you use them on better things. around you, others feel confident and secure. you are a very good empath and feel whatever others are feeling, so it is very easy to empress ones feelings to you. you are such a caring and observing individual that others feel nothing but security and comfort around you. honestly such a nostalgic pile!!

you crave a free life where you are not stuck to anything or anyone, people feel the freedom you possess. you don't aim to be powerful nor business oriented, you just want to see what's out there and see what other cultures and countries have in store for you. i feel like you have a plan that you have that consists of you travelling abroad and creating a happy home there at a new setting. you are good with legal matters like documents, credit cards, the law and so forth. you may know about it as you may be interesting in becoming a lawyer or working somewhere that involves a law, like police and so on. but on a real note, you balance everything out in your life, people see how well you split your routine in even pieces. overall, this is a very free spirited and intelligent pile!

assigned song: Ride- Lana Del Rey

PILE THREE

someone who reserves there space and energy, someone who talks very cautiously and are aware of their surroundings. a lot of people don't actually know how to figure you out and it may sound very cliché but i think its just because you don't reveal your feelings by making facial expressions and people don't know whether to laugh or cry when you tell them something serious. you might like to do stuff alone and may feel like a burden to others but it is not the case for other people, they see you as a sweet and isolated human being that likes their space and peace. i see a LOTTT of overthinking and just daydreaming in general. i feel like something is restricting you from taking action and i think it is your thoughts, relax pile 3😅. no but for real, others avoid you not because you are unlikable but because they see how you thrive alone and you don't look like the type of person that needs help from others.

you may have moved a lot as a child and felt like you lost many things because of that. i feel like you don't feel secure and people notice the disease you portray in your body language. that is totally not a bad thing but i feel like others see the frustration and a void that you have, this is very deep but I'm getting an image of just a black figure which may translate of you feeling numb or not feeling anything at all. i feel like this was in the past for some of you, however where there is hardships there is hope and that is exactly the case for this pile. on a good note, your smile brings comfort to others, may make others happy with your smile and that's just so sweet. you do have many ideas flooding in your mind and i feel like that could bring you excesses so be careful. you have many ideas to start over or to change your personality completely. overall, this is a very reserved and a busy mind pile!

assigned song: How to Disappear- Lana Del Rey

PILE FOUR

check out pile one if you felt drawn to it as it may resonate with some of you!! so, you care about others very deeply and this gives me motherly vibes. i feel like you may not listen to people and do your own thing but that's entirely okay but the way i see it is that you sometimes need to take advice in order to move forward. you stand your ground fairly and see the contrast between right and wrong, i feel like that gets people thinking how you pick up on things others don't pay much attention to. say if you called someone out for something, others may go like "oh yeah, i didn't even notice". you really cant be bothered to argue with no one, you feel like there is no point because people are childish and immature and that is something you would rather pass on. conflicts and any other sort of fighting is a strict no go for you. people get the vibe of how can you keep your cool??? they actually are very impressed of your skill to maintain your cool😊. i feel like also you go through very transformative periods in your life that actually change your way you act, maybe you go through different eras and like to experiment different styles and ways of living which is totally fine.

wow, you are a very powerful soul, you have some sort of power that others are stunned. you are literally the lion of the jungle, the boss, the CEO, the millionaire, the royal. WOwww just wow. people just keep getting surprise on surprise from you, you may have so many precious hidden facts about you that make people stunned by the fact that you have so much treasure hidden. people see you as a very humble individual who is always there for people and see the good in everyone. it is such a pleasure to be around you, people may feel almost lucky to have you in their life. you hold a lot of secrets as you may stand with he statement that if you talk about your achievements to others it may delay your success. overall, a very very very powerful and mysterious pile.

assigned song: LION- (G)-idle

that's it everyone, thanks for sticking by and like always don't be afraid to interact with this post however you'd like as i entire appreciate everyone's support and kindness!!

FRIENDLY REMINDER- paid tarot readings are available (DM or check out here for more info!!)

*IMAGES ARE NOT MINE*

[crimsonstonetranslations]

Shinrei Tantei Yakumo volume 11 - prologue

Shinrei Tantei Yakumo novel translation

Volume 11 - Worth of a Spirit

I’d like to ask those who deem my actions brutal. What are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of your loved ones? I will offer everything— That is all.

prologue

-

1

-

A square shaped hole on the floor.

No, this was no ordinary hole. Though enveloped in darkness, the man could make out a ladder extending underground from the mouth of said hole.

He happened to find this door on the floor by mere coincidence.

Had nothing been there, surely he would’ve just thought that the colour of the floor was slightly different in that area. It wouldn't even cross his mind to approach it.

Yet his ears had caught something strange earlier.

Clunking noises, like metal being hit.

He had gotten closer after following that sound, and when sharpening his vision, he noticed there was a door in the direction of that noise.

He should’ve ignored it, but nevertheless, his curiosity over the door overpowered all else.

By the time he came to his senses, he had already opened the door.

“What’s this?”

“There’s a basement area.”

“Don’t you guys feel creepy?”

The other students that were with him came closer, talking to each other and commenting with enthusiasm.

Just what actually lies underneath here?

Led by overwhelming curiosity, he intended to go down that ladder. But at that moment, something grabbed his arm.

It was a female student from the same seminar as him.

“You’re going in there?”

“I heard a strange noise just now,” he replied before lowering one foot, stepping onto the ladder.

Next, putting a hand in his pants pocket, he took out his phone and descended the ladder one step at a time whilst relying on the small light from his phone.

Reaching the end of the steps, he arrived in an open space.

Even so, the small light from his phone wasn’t enough to look at his surroundings in its entirety.

“What is this place?”

“Feels scary.”

Voices echoed.

While difficult to see because of the darkness, apparently the other students followed after him despite complaining in the process.

Using the light from his phone, he illuminated the room.

It was an old room, with both its walls and floor made out of bricks, and an area roughly the size of a large classroom. On one side of the wall were bookshelves storing a sizable number of books as well as documents that were poorly arranged. On the wall across it were shelves lined with medicine bottles. Then, placed in the middle of the room was an old operating table.

Only thing was—

No one was there.

Perhaps the noise he had heard earlier had merely been his imagination.

However, when he changed his mind and was about to head back, he discovered something strange.

That object resided in one corner of the room.

It appeared to be a box.

“What…is this?” he said as he approached the box.

The box was fairly old and made out of metal. Nearly every part of it had rusted.

Did this box used to store equipment?

No, that would be strange.

Something that looked like a talisman had been pasted on the box, and it wasn’t just one. The darkness made it hard to tell for certain, but there had to be at least thirty of them.

That wasn’t all. Something had been written on top of the lid.

Not with a marker or the like. The letters had been carved directly onto the metal.

He lifted his phone, casting a light over it, and read the letters.

This box shouldn’t be opened.

That was what it said.

Could this be someone’s prank? No, for a prank, this seemed like a lot of effort. Someone had been afraid of something, and had locked whatever it was inside this box.

By reflex, he reached out towards the lid.

“Is it fine to touch it anyhow?” asked one female student.

Under normal circumstances, he would’ve stopped his hand by now. Yet for some reason, he couldn’t resist the force of the box pulling him.

His fingers trembled slightly.

As if led by something, the man placed his palm on the lid of the box.

His fingers were greeted by the rough sensation of the rusty surface combined with the coldness of the metal.

You wouldn’t be able to return after opening it, a voice said to him.

A voice that sounded like it had spoken directly to him from within his eardrums, or from inside his brain. That might have been a sign that he had to stop here.

And yet—

He drew out his strength, attempting to open the lid of the box.

Several talismans ripped in the process and the lid opened alongside the creaking sound of metal rubbing against each other.

A powerful smell invaded his nose and he spontaneously turned his face away.

As he lifted his phone to peek into the box’s contents once more, he felt a piercing gaze from behind.

He turned around to find a man standing there.

Both of the man’s eyes were dyed blood red—

-

2

-

Along the riverside road that was part of her school commute, Sana squeezed the brakes on her bicycle.

Her bicycle came to a stop with a high-pitched squeak.

Still on her bicycle, she turned her face in the direction of the river.

My eyes weren’t deceiving me.

A girl was standing at the edge of the river.

However—

The girl’s condition was unusual.

She gave the impression that she was about to commit suicide by jumping into the river.

Not even Sana knew why she felt that way, even though she had merely seen the girl from the corner of her sight while cycling.

Besides, what should she do if the girl was contemplating suicide?

Even that was something she had no idea about.

It felt strange to call out to her even though the girl wasn’t doing anything in particular. Yet it would be all too late if the girl had already jumped into the river.

What should I do?

While she was thinking, the girl slowly turned her neck to look in her direction.

With her head lowered and her hair hung loosely, Sana couldn’t see her face very well.

Cold breeze blew along the riverside, making a wuthering sound as dusk drew near. On the opposite side of the river, a white heron flapped its wings and flew away.

Was it her own imagination?

Compared to before, the girl’s figure appeared larger—

No, it wasn’t just her feeling. That girl was slowly walking towards her.

As the girl drew closer, Sana noticed something.

The girl’s black hair was sopping wet. And not just her hair. Her uniform blouse and skirt were soaked through as well, almost like she had just come out of the water.

Drip, drip—Sana could almost hear the sound of water droplets falling from the girl’s body.

Before realising, the girl had already closed the distance between them until a mere five metres apart remained.

At this point, Sana noticed another peculiar thing.

The girl was barefoot.

In the middle of winter, had she really been walking around barefoot? No, regardless of the season, it would be unusual to walk outside barefoot.

“A-Are you alright?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Without answering Sana’s question, the girl extended both of her hands.

Her hands were so pale and skinny they felt impossible to belong to a living breathing human. Droplets of water dripped from the tip of her fingers.

“......”

The girl was saying something.

Even so, Sana couldn’t catch what the girl had said over the sound of the wind.

Once again, the drenched girl moved her lips that had turned purple.

This time, Sana was able to hear her clearly.

“I… never wanted that...”

Sana couldn’t understand what the girl wanted to say. Yet her words sounded terrifying, reverberating through her eardrums.

This isn’t normal.

Sana lifted her feet onto the bicycle pedals and rode the two-wheeled device with all her might.

She wanted to get away from the girl as soon as possible.

If she stayed there any longer, she might get dragged into the river by the mysterious girl. Consumed by that thought, Sana pedalled her bicycle using all her strength.

“I never wanted that…” said a voice next to her.

Eh?

She was currently cycling as fast as she could. Catching up on foot would be impossible. And yet, the voice sounded right beside her.

Unable to bear it anymore, Sana screamed—

[moodymisty]

Part 1 (some needed context)

Author's Note: Part two, as was requested. I need to stop listening to Halsey when I write, I always end up making things too verbose and hyperbolic.

Also pspspsps @rivalriotrenegade you wanted to be tagged in the sequel? Here you go.

Summary: Angron will be leaving soon, and he comes to take in a moment of you beforehand.

Relationships: Angron/Fem!Reader

Warnings: Angron being Angron, Vague descriptions of death violence and gore, General 40kness, The most emotionally stunted man in the galaxy receives an affection, Historitor!Reader is scared but in love horny

Word Count: 1942

Guilliman hadn’t been pleased with the news. 

It had arrived to him via a distressed captain who had been attempting to deal with the issue discretely up until now, but in his attempts to track down their missing historitor, he had found you in Angron’s company. You didn’t seem to be in any sort of severe peril, but the captain expressed his concerns of the World Eater’s Primarch trouncing when he didn’t belong, as well as encroaching on someone who might hold secrets to their legion. 

Guilliman agreed with most of the captain’s concerns, but also hesitated. His hand hovered over half written parchment as ink threatened to drop from the tip of his pen.

Roboute has no desire to pick a fight with another Primarch over one historitor. And if any information ended up in the hands of the World Eaters, he would know exactly where it came from. He would deal with the matter then as swiftly as he would any other traitor.

In the end, he simply instructs the captain to keep watch on the matter. 

The scenario is unique after all; You seem to be no traitor, but now spend almost all of your time in the presence of the World Eaters. Guilliman’s captain had described the scene in a confused manner, wondering as to why the Primarch had taken such a keen, almost obsessive interest in one soul in particular. Roboute thinks he has an inkling why, but his captain simply doesn’t have the experience to understand. Afterall he’s known nothing but battleship halls and bolters, these sorts of thoughts are… Foreign. 

With no solid solution and the threat of a legion wide war with any misstep, The Macragge native elects to largely abandon the matter, and mark any information related to you with a note saying to refer to the relevant paperwork for more information.

—------------------------------

The Conqueror is the first Gloriana class battleship you’ve ever seen in anything but historical documents, and those transcriptions fail to even capture a hint of the overwhelming scale of the massive battleship. The barges you’ve seen are huge, but even they don’t compare to the size of the World Eater’s flagship.

It stays moored in the planet’s upper atmosphere, but it’s impossible not to see it lingering in the sky alongside a myriad of other ships. Servitors and other such are loading heaps of supplies into low orbit cruisers to bring back up to the massive battleship, preparing it for another long journey out into the reaches of Imperium space.

Part of you wonders if Angron expects you to join him. You desperately hope not, but in another odd sort of way, you find it almost saddening to be without him for an extended period of time. You know that there are horrors out there that can rend the mind into pieces, that being behind Terra’s walls is to be afforded a luxury so few in the galaxy will touch that the mere thought of leaving should cast you in an unbearable shame. But it seems so completely ridiculous to say that you’ll miss him. Though the thought still crosses your mind anyhow.

You hear the sounds of his heavy footsteps approaching. You’ve been away from his side most of the day, so you figured it was due time for him to eventually hunt you down. He stands not a step away from you once he finds his hunt for you concluded, looking outward towards the mass of Terran servitors and other workers hauling World Eaters requisitions to where ever they're needed.

“You are staying. If you are wondering.” 

Part of you feels a sense of relief from it. While you might have a fondness for Angron, his World Eaters are significantly less appealing to you. They only tolerate your existence due to the repeated threats of their Primarch. Khârn has also questioned his genefather; The still unfilled crack in his ceramite armor remains as evidence of it. His doubt had hurt, but you can’t help but feel his questioning was justified. 

It’s not as if you can do much for them, beyond what you do for their Primarch. In the eyes of men bred for war, you’re the meaningless byproduct of a planet they protect more because they enjoy the bloodshed of doing so than anything else. Whether you are alive or dead is a meaningless query to them.

You curiously look up at Angron, who is gazing over the massive shipyard.

"You're leaving soon, I suppose." The Primarch lets out an affirmative grunt in response.

It hasn’t been long of you knowing him, and you’re still cautiously testing what territory can be tread, and what very much cannot be. There’s not much of the former, and plenty of the ladder.

You have learned that he seems to enjoy whenever how larger and stronger he is than you- when his prowess in brutal combat, is prominent. That isn’t a hard thing to achieve, given his height you stand at roughly his midsection. The Primarch absolutely towers over you and while he knows it sends fear through you, you fight it. 

As you watch over the railing you suddenly feel a heavy weight on your shoulder, and glancing to your left it’s easy to see the bronze colored gauntlet that now rests there.

You know that whenever he does that, a weight on your body, he’s attempting to take solace in the weird ability you somehow possess. You gently lay a hand over his armored one, fingers brushing over the knicks and scratches of his worn, battered plate. He’s worn it for many years, it shows the story of endless battles and it’s still able to hold so many more.

You don’t know how long it’ll be till you see him again. The warp, it’s, power; Time doesn’t work the same way out there that it does on Terra. You want to give him one last before he leaves, but you hope that it doesn’t ruin the little bit of progress you’ve made with him.

“Can you, bend over? So I can reach you?” 

You don’t know what you had expected for when you hesitantly asked, but you hadn’t expected the Primarch to indulge you. 

His massive weight shifts, landing on his right knee with a loud enough thud, that you swear the marble beneath his knee plate is surely cracked. With him at this height, your hands can touch his face, feeling the way it’s decorated with a million different little scars. Some large- thick, deep cuts like one over his brow, or over his lips. Others are smaller, not visible from so far away but you can feel them under your fingertips.

“Can you tell me how you got some of these one day?”

Angron grunts.

“The arena, most of them. I killed anyone who struck me. They are nothing but sand now.”

Your face drops. Sometimes you forget that Angron has never felt anything but pain his entire life. And it’ll continue, as the nails will never be removed. What little you can do to them only serves to prolong what he feels. Your fingers brush over more of his mauled skin.

One might call it cruel. But you want him to have at least a few moments of peace in his life.

Your fingertips brush along the scarred skin around where the nails dig into his skull, glancing at his expression. It’s softened ever so slightly, but you can see anger still etched into his skin. 

You don’t know how you went from the brain hijacking, heart wrenching terror, to feeling this way. Part of you will still always remain frightened of him; Of the sheer strength he can barely keep in check in the best of moments, that is always boiling beneath the surface. But there’s something that over time has gradually fallen over that terror like a thick heavy curtain draped atop a coffin.

You love him.

In a way that makes you sick to your stomach, churning in a way that has you petrified to be near him, but also away from him.

You can’t say that he’s been kind. You’d be stupid to even assume as such; Even with the key you hold, he’s still him. His grip on you is rough- your body has bruises from shoulder to wrist, he speaks to you in short quips. He uses more words now, but he still will never reflect back whatever you give him. You can see the moments where he tries, but he simply isn’t capable of it. You can’t ask a man who’s known nothing but endless pain and suffering to suddenly not rip and tear every hand that reaches for him. But you can maybe numb it- put bandages over gushing wounds and cover scars, trying to give a modicum of kindness before he’s sunken down too deep into his own abyss. 

You can feel him watch you as your hands touch his face, his brow is tight knit and his armor makes soft metal noises as pieces gently knock against each other when he shifts. The hand that had been on your shoulder has long since moved, it now wraps around your elbow instead; As if he’s debating removing you.

You hold a softness in your eyes reserved for the closeness of family, friends, or lovers. He’s so rarely seen it that recognizing it was nearly impossible for him. But you look at him like that, like he’s the only thing in your world that matters. Your hands touch his face so gently he swears he can’t feel them. Like they would fall right through him as if attempting to touch a hologram.

How? 

Angron doesn't understand why. He isn’t something you can love. There’s just, nothing in him capable of receiving or reciprocating it. He’s done nothing but kill, tear, maim, splatter every wall he’s near with the blood of others or his own. 

To be the object of another’s affection is a laughable concept. He’s a creature, a creation of war; Lorgar likes to call the Primarchs the product of the Emperor’s Mastery, his sons, as much as the phrase makes bile rise in his throat- but Angron knows he’s nothing but a pieced together amalgamation of DNA made to fulfill a purpose. He was not made to feel any of this. 

You kiss him. 

You feel his hot breath on your face, his hands clenching into fists and threatening to dent the ceramite of his armor. He tries to funnel his anger there; His anger at the galaxy, at the Emperor, at the thought that you actually are stupid enough to think there’s something in him worthy of paying this level of gentleness to. He’s never felt things like this before. He’d never wanted to; Because he knows that the pain of it being taken away hurts far worse than the pain of never feeling it to begin with.

His face is rough as he pushes back into you, and you feel pleased to know that you didn’t overstep. He hears your soft sigh as you lean into him, hands still on his face.

But Angron knows there will be a point where you can numb it no longer. The nails are a part of him, an ever growing sea pulling him deeper and deeper into a blood red abyss. It drags him down no matter how hard he fights it, with no hope of safety or even temporary sanctuary. 

When he’s fully under, when he can no longer see ally from foe and your face and touch and voice becomes no more soothing to him than the likes of any incomprehensible field of demons yearning for his blade to slice their hide, as his nails scream and bite and beg for him to taste blood;

He dares to hope only then will someone fulfill his role of taking anger unto themself, and put him out of his torment.

[edutainer2022]

A little thing riffing off the concept of Scott, probably, getting mistaken for Alan’s father quite often. It turned out sadder than I hoped.

DAD

The loose end of his scarf got tugged lightly and he swiped his hand low to catch baby brother's palm, without shifting attention from the rows of pasta on a stall. Allie had hop-skipped away to the end of the aisle, mumbling something about waffles for dinner, and now probably demanded his immediate input. His hand grasped nothing but thin air. A scarf, however, got another insistent tug.

The scarf was not an eye-wateringly expensive brand-name cashmere that would usually go with his coat and the "Tracy Industries appropriate" look, but was infinitely more precious. Long, blue, hand-knitted and a bit loopholed, it was a gift from Virgil his last Christmas on leave from WAF. It was rediscovered in one of Dad's drawers on the island, apparently a keepsake of the things the GDF returned to the family after Scott himself was lost in That Place. Now it was Scott's keepsake after Dad... A full circle.

Scott peripheral vision detected a movement of blond and skinny far down the aisle, as Allie was, it appeared, reaching up for his waffles. They were in NYC together. Not only the Tracy Industries Board demanded a piece of him for one reason or other, but Tracy Legal and the family private solicitor required tweaks in the custody documentation. Scott took the opportunity to show pre-Christmas NYC to Alan. The boy was only seven when they visited the last time, bar Dad's massive public memorial service Allie barely remembered, wrought with grief. Scott hardly remembered much of it himself through the blur of shock, pain, doubt, and a kind of fatalistic determination. Anyhow, it wasn't a ten years old Alan demanding his attention now. Scott looked down.

A pair of huge grey eyes regarded him from under a gigantic pink bow. A small hand was tugging his scarf again, like a doorbell string. Up from Scott's height the little girl seemed positively tiny. He folded himself down, not to intimidate the child. Even crouching, Scott was still towering over her.

"Hey, sweetheart! Are you lost?"

Attentive eyes regarded him, then a pink clad arm shot out to point at the general expance of the rest of the supermarket.

"Mommy 'der!"

In between Gordy and Allie, Scott was proficient enough in three year old speak. Johnny, it seemed, was communicating at AP English level all the way back at two, or not at all.

The little girl's mom was, obviously, "there" - but nowhere to be seen down the aisle and behind the shelves. Out of a years ingrained habit Scott kept half and eye on Alan, engrossed in comparative analysis of the various boxes of waffle mix. The prudent thing to do wound be to call a store employee - Scott was aware it would send an alarm if he, all of the imposing 6'4, Armani coat and a Young Jeff Tracy face of him, walked away with a little girl. But the nook of the store was empty of anyone in telltale uniform. Huge grey eyes kept regarding him in expectation of some effective Mom-finding action. An idea occurred. Scott bent down some more and made sure to smile.

"Is it okay if I pick you up, sweetie?"

The child gave it a moment's thought and nodded. Scott sprung up easily, the girl securely in his hold, and propped her up on his shoulder. Tiny pink shoes kicked the air (and his ribs a bit) excitedly. There was some enthusiastic waving going on above Scott's head, well above the shelves, and even more delighted squeeing:

"Mommy! Mommy! Look'er! Mommy!"

That produced a young woman with a shopping basket AND Alan, running to him from the opposite side of the isle. He transferred the eager girl into her mother's arms in a fluid motion and reached out without looking again, to stop Allie from colliding with him full force. Alan bounced in place and looked up at him quizzically. Scott put an arm around the boy's shoulders. He saw the mother's eyes widen in surprise, once she was done thanking him for helping out a lost Polly.

"Oh, is he yours? So big already!"

Scott's hand tightened on Alan’s skinny shoulder on instinct. He could see the boy's face shift from curiosity to confusion. And it could be a matter of seconds before confusion gave way to anger or worse - tears.

Scott himself was used to that. He was getting those questions ever since Mom was gone and he had to pick Allie up from nursery after his own classes. Tall for his age, athletic and marred by grief and way too many worries - he was definitely spawning a "teen Dad" rumor among the pick up line Moms and babysitters more than once. He didn't have the energy to explain to anyone not in the know back then, no more than he had the energy to explain their whole situation now.

"Um... Alan is ten. You have a Merry Christmas, Polly! Don't get lost again!"

He could see the math recalculated in an instant behind the young woman's eyes, as she counted silver threads at his temples, stark in supermarket lights, and dark circles under his eyes towards a higher age bracket she thought he was. He wasn't. Dad's explosion in Zero-X and everything that followed added to the silver That Place wove into his hair. And he hadn't been doing much sleeping anymore. He didn't think he ever would again. Before the conversation could lead any further down those lines, he offered another polite smile and steered Alan away toward the exit.

Scott managed to order a hovercab without breaking a stride. The original plan was to walk back to Tracy Tower, maybe look at some Christmas window exhibits. They spent the afternoon gift shopping for everyone back at home and Scott could tell Alan was getting tired. But the boy seemed exited for their special time together, even if part of it was spent in the boring opulence of the family law-firm. Scott promised to cook dinner, not wanting to foster with baby brother his own habit of take-away Tai and more work crunched through the night.

Now, pressed to the window of the cab, small frame leaning away from Scott (a fact that was sending sharp pangs through his chest), Allie was quiet and listless.

"Are you my Dad now?"

Alan was still looking outside the window.

Scott was seriously dreading that conversation, but the incident at the store, apparently, accelerated the inevitable.

He reached a hand to ruffle soft blond hair. Then landed his palm between hunched little shoulderblades. Alan didn't flinch, which was maybe a good sign.

"Allie! Dad is always Dad. But I am your guardian now, and I will do EVERYTHING to protect you! Just as always!"

Small bony shoulders shifted in a sigh. Alan was puffing fog on the glass and drawing shapes with his finger. The hovercab stopped by the entrance to Tracy Tower, but Scott made no move to break the moment and leave just yet.

"Can I call you Dad sometimes? I told Nikky you were my Dad, back in Kansas. Mom didn't come to pick me up, so I didn't want to not have Dad pick me up too, so I told him you were Dad. Is it okay?"

The words came out a bit jumbled and interlaced with pending tears. Huge blue eyes turned to look at Scott finally, anxious and glistening. His own eyes were burning. So was his heart. His very soul.

"Oh, Allie... Of course it's okay! Always!"

His arms opened invitingly and were instantly filled with a crying child. He leaned down to press a kiss on the top of blond head and hug the boy closer, wrapping his coat around a little trembling body. It took a moment to conquer his own heaving sobs, but he still didn't trust his voice at full volume.

"I love you so much, kiddo! I've got you!"

Scott ended up just carrying Alan, quiet by then, but firmly clinging to him, to the penthouse, while a concerned head of security shift helped out with the shopping bags. Allie was probably feigning sleep - Scott didn't care. He toed off his own shoes, shrugged off the coat, settled against his headrest, the child still in his arms, and shifted to tighten his hold. There would be no sleep for him that night either, but that was just as well. He had been watching over little Allie (and little Gordy) since he was born and a tenfold that after they lost Mom. No name or legal capacity could change much about that, till Scott was breathing.

He wasn't anyone's son, though. Not anymore. Not ever. And that made breathing so much harder.

[multifandumbmeg]

Alright SCREW IT here's my Kiara defense post:

Is it annoying to watch get paired off with everyone in the main cast? Sure. Let me explain why that's not a character flaw or terrible, unplanned writing so yall can put some respect on her name.

1. They're ALL in love with her, and literally throwing themselves at her all the time. This is so important and well-documented that John B literally tells us IN HIS INTRODUCTION TO THE GROUP in episode one. It is literally so relevant to their entire group dynamic that he brings it up in the first episode summary of who they all are. Guys actually do this I have seen this happen. One of my high school best friends was constantly manic pixie dream girled (despite being profoundly depressed) and several entire friend groups of boys fell in love with her. She dated one guy, who was a piece of shit and dumped her saying it was because of his parents but told his friends it was because she had too much baggage. The fallout was so bad, one guy from one of the friend groups tattled to her and a different guy, who was best friends with the douche, literally got into a fight with him and THE DOUCHE HAD TO CHANGE FRIEND GROUPS BECAUSE HIS BOYS KICKED HIM OUT. I'm serious about these teenage boys all having the same taste and thinking it's a competition.

2. John B kissed HER. She immediately shut him down. Immediately. Everything before that can easily be explained as Kiara being concerned about him after losing his father. Teenage boys are dumb anyhow, but it's particularly easy to see why John B and JJ, who have both been routinely neglected and grew up without mothers (read, any positive female attention/influence) would interpret this as Kiara having feelings for them. They fall in love with anyone who sincerely gives them the time of day, basically. And that's a little too relatable moving on.

3. "Mixed signals" by kissing boys on the cheek. While I would not recommend this, I think there was a very clear pattern to her behavior and I have a theory I'm 99% sure is canon, based on copious textual evidence.

Kiara was in love with JJ all along. I'll come back to this. She only kissed the boys she friendzoned on the cheek. With John B, I genuinely think she never had any sort of romantic feelings for him and just saw him as a best bro. But she was worried about him, and maybe realized he listened to her more when she did it. Nonetheless, the minute he gets with Sarah it's almost like she feels relieved and never does anything remotely mixed signals to him again. Now Pope? That is a rich text. What the hell is going on with her and Pope?

4. When Pope first confesses, Kiara is once again caught off-guard. She once again rightfully turns him down IMMEDIATELY and gives extremely accurate and self-aware reasons. Her rejection of him is surprisingly mature, that the life he plans on and wants is ultimately and assuredly not compatible with what she wants for herself. So why did she kinda date him? Honestly, I think it was an attempt to move on from what she believed were doomed feelings for JJ. After all the things that happen in season 1, after Pope going off the deep end a little bit by smoking weed, getting drunk, and engaging in acts of violence, as well as ditching his scholarship interview, Kiara suddenly experiences a spark of attraction towards Pope.

Because he's acting like JJ. Reckless. Using substances to cope. Chaotic. Spontaneous. She knows these things are bad for Pope, and she's at times put off by how un-Pope-like they are as his friend, but she has a type. So following a moment of attraction and the sudden supposed loss of John B (and Sarah), she decides to give it a go. Maybe Pope's different after everything that happened. And he is, but not quite the way she was expecting. To link this back to the cheek-kissing thing, honestly, I think Kiara lowkey has the ick 😂. She consistently shoves any of the boys who try to touch her at all away except for JJ, the entire series mind you, except for these little cheek kisses like that's all she can manage to do. She kisses Pope like twice and ends up sleeping with him, at which point she realizes she just can't do it. She's not consistently attracted to her, and she can't get past her feelings for JJ, so she calls it off. Again, that's a fair healthy, and kind thing to do. When you realize it's not going to work, especially if you have feelings for someone else, it is distinctly NOT dragging people around to cut it off. If Kie has a real problem, honestly? I think it's that ultimately she wants a man she can fix. And Pope's fine. So that's him out.

My proof that the writers absolutely intended Kiara to have feelings for JJ from day one:

"Did you tell JJ?" specifically. Just JJ. She doesn't want HIM to think she's taken.

Shoving away John B and Pope every time they try to hug her or put an arm around her etc. Letting JJ hug her, take her hand, sling his arm around her etc. She also goes out of her way to touch him by taking his arm, holding him when he's crying, hugging him several times and then almost kissing him. So in a way, I'd very much like you to consider, Kiara was not in fact sending everyone mixed signals, her problem was that she was so consistent. Consistently attracted to and in love with someone she thought had no real interest in her. JJ flirts with her jokingly, and from episode 1 and the convo in the bell tower between John B and Sarah, we know that he's a horny little dude. And that's not surprising either, because people who've been abused tend to go one way or the other- either very physical touch-seeking in an attempt to balance about the bad, or very touch-avoidant. JJ is clearly, demonstably in column A. Not just with Kiara, but he also initiates hugs with John B and Pope, touches their faces, and even kisses Pope on the cheek once. He's clearly a very touchy person with everyone, so I can see how Kiara would be unsure about his feelings when he very much does not communicate his wants or needs with words.

Finally, the proof that Kiara had feelings for JJ, and that Jiara was the direction the show was headed, was in their conversation in thr storage container. When JJ tells her what he wants from life and plans to do with the money, it's a direct parallel to her initial reject of Pope. He wants to travel the world and be spontaneous and non-sedentary and have no use for money. Everything she said to Pope and is always trying to explain to her parents. That was 0% accidental, that was the writers making it clear: these two are a match, they're compatible on a much deeper level.

4. So if they always planned on JJ and Kiara, why didn't those two just get together to start? The answer, my friends, is jealousyy. This is a common tactic in writing to get a couple together: force the reluctant one to acknowledge their feelings by putting the other in a relationship with someone else. Im short: every moment between Kiara and John B or Pope was to show us JJ did not like that and therefore that his feelings for Kiara were serious, unlike how she interpreted them and him being a flirty himbo with other girls. It also helped Kiara realize she wasn't getting over him any time soon, and that she couldn't avoid her feelings either. So it forced them both to give up and acknowledge to themselves that they had feelings for the other.

5. "Teenage girls don't act like her" JOKES. This is the dumbest argument I've seen, I'm sorry. I'm happy you have met such well-adjusted teenage girls but buddy... I have known some teenage girls and people who used to identify as girls at that age who would make you roll over in your grave. Some people don't know what they want, some people desperately crave attention, some people just can't seem to avoid drama or make good choices and sometimes that's even a resulted of untreated disabilities or mental illness. Sometimes it's all of the above. My point is absolutely there are teenage girls who act like Kiara and faaar worse.

6. Lastly, why not John B or Pope? Why was Kiara totally valid for not liking them romantically? Well feelings are feelings so she's valid anyways but can we talk about them both touching her/making moves at inappropriate times without consent?? It's understandable she likes JJ and feels the safest around him when he's the only who doesn't act like he wants or expects anything from her. He never kisses her without consent, let alone while running from the cops randomly. He never tries to put his arm around her or make a move in the middle of them having an emotionally intimate conversation where she is clearly seeking emotional comfort. I'm not saying John B or Pope are bad people, but with Kiara both showed a lot of immaturity and failed to read the room numerous times. They acted whenever they personally felt attraction, regardless of where she was at at the time. There's such a thing as reading body signals, and the only times JJ comes close to making an actual move on Kiara is when she comes to him, gets close to his face and leans in. In the end, he only kisses her after she looks him dead in the eyes and tells him I LOVE YOU. That's on respect. Also, John B and Pope both get their shit together and learn this with their next girlfriends! So good on them!

But Kiara confessed to JJ at a random time too! I hear you shouting. NAY. Incorrect!! JJ is actively avoiding her and having a mature conversation about how they feel about each other, and also the fact that he stole from her family, and that is on HIM. That is a result of his issues and his fear and poor coping mechanisms. Kiara forced him to address it at an inopportune time because she already attempt to address it privately TWICE and he wouldn't let her. So all she did there was clear the air and make her own feelings known, which he needed to hear. That is the last conversation they have before he attempts to apologize and confess back. That is what convinces him that Kiara's feelings for him are both genuine and serious, and that no amount of pushing her away will succeed. She loves him unconditionally, which he did not know was possible until then.

So in short!! Kiara actually behaves like a real human being. She's not crazy, extremely selfish, nor an example of writers just testing out the waters and seeing what the fans want or who has the most chemistry. She is very consistent. The only thing I can really begrudge about her behavior towards her friends (her parents are a different story) is that she's insensitive to both John B and Pope after rejecting them, which I believe is because she doesn't realize they had actual feelings for her so much as thinking she's hot.

[xomakara]

Warrior of My Heart

SUMMARY |  You returned home after a successful journey with your knight Jaehyun. Your brother, the king, wants you to start marrying and you knew there was one person that you wanted. PAIRINGS | Jaehyun/Fem!Reader GENRE |  non-idol au, knight!jaehyun, fantasy au, smut, unprotected sex, fingering, oral sex, fluff towards the end RATING |  Mature LENGTH |  6,412 words AUTHOR’S NOTE |  I was originally writing this with a whole story in mind with like an assassination attempt or a battle or something. But apparently it didn't turn out that way lolol. I don't even know if this has a storyline haha. Anyhow, I hope it's still okay!

You sat atop your horse, holding your sword in hand and looked at the road ahead that led to the capital city and the place you called home. Neo City was a bustling city filled with wonder and hope. You looked at Jaehyun, your bodyguard and the knight-commander of the White Lotus Order, and gave him a happy smile.

"Home, sweet home." You exclaimed. "The journey has been a long one for us. I'm ready to sleep for the next month."

"Indeed, Princess." Jaehyun smiled at you. "I'm sure the knights are long over due for rest."

Jaehyun let out a chuckle and then started to lead your horse towards the city gates, taking off his helm and placing it on your horse's saddle.

"So what shall we do once we get there?" He asked you, making you blush lightly. You were so used to going to bed alone now, that being in a relationship seemed almost impossible for you to handle. Your eyes traveled up and down his body and all you could think about is how much you wanted to feel his body pressed against yours. It had been too long since you last felt his touch on your skin and seeing him here, made you wonder if he ever thought about you as well. If he had moved on. You quickly shook those thoughts away and stood up straight, your armor settling around your frame as you tighten your grip on your sword.

"There is something I have always wanted to do but never had the time for." You said quietly. "When we get to the palace I will need you to help me."

"Of course Princess." Jaehyun answered, bowing before giving you a respectful nod. "Anything you ask."

You walked through the gates of the city in awe. Neo City was a thriving place with a large economy and political influence within the nation. The streets were lined with people running from all directions and you got lost in their jumble. Once they finally cleared you found yourself standing outside the main gates of the palace where your brother, King Taeyong, resided. Your jaw dropped at the sight of the majestic building and stepped forward towards it.

Once you stepped through the gate, the city grew silent as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. You smiled at the people around you and headed straight towards the palace. The guards opened the doors to the main hall and allowed you to pass without question. All the servants and the cooks stopped what they were doing and bowed to you. You smiled politely and then proceeded to head towards the throne room, passing by all the chambers until you reached your destination. As you entered the room you immediately noticed Taeyong sitting upon the throne, drinking a cup of tea while reading some reports. When he saw you enter, he set down the documents and gave you a bright smile.

"My sister! You're back!" He greeted, rising from his seat. "Come give your brother a hug."

You rushed into his arms and he embraced you tightly, lifting you off the ground in his embrace. His strong arms wrapped around your waist as you hugged him tight, not wanting to let go of him. After several moments of just hugging each other, you let go of him, still keeping a firm grasp on his shirt as you looked into his face.

"How was your journey?" He asked you curiously, giving you a puzzled look. "Did you finally find a lover? Or broke some hearts along your travels?"

You laughed lightly at his question and ran your fingers through your hair.

"Maybe." You replied with a smirk. "But I am tired and want to get some sleep. How is mother?"

"She's fine." He answered. "You know her love is pure. She never leaves my side even when she's at work. But if you really must know, I heard she wasn't feeling well earlier today. That's why we didn't see you coming back."

He chuckled as you let out an annoyed sigh.

"Oh… Well I should probably check on her then." You told him with a small laugh.

"By all means my dear sister." Taeyong told you kindly, bowing to you before getting up from his chair and heading towards the door. "You go check on Mother and I'll call you when lunch is ready."

With a nod, you went to leave the room but stopped halfway to hear Taeyong tell you to come closer. You leaned in close to his ear, hearing the sound of the papers under his desk shifting as he leaned in as well.

"If you ever do end up having sex, don't forget to use protection." He whispered, chuckling at your look of confusion. "I know I'm only your older brother and that you probably think of me as an idiot most of the time, but I don't like to see my little sister get hurt."

You raised an eyebrow at him.

"Why would I be having sex?" You asked innocently, causing him to burst out laughing.

"Well…" He managed to say between laughs. "You are my little sister after all and… We are royalty. Who knows who might want to take advantage of your status?"

You gave him a light shove to stop his laughter and looked away. He's right, though. Being royalty, there was bound to be someone that would try and exploit your position and power for their own gain. In fact, one such person tried just that just two years ago. Thankfully you managed to stop them in time but it was also because of your efforts that the man ended up losing his life and eventually became the reason you decided to become the leader of the White Lotus order. But thinking about that story put a dark shadow on your mind and you turned your attention back to your brother.

"Taeyong." You whispered softly. "Do you think I'll ever get married and have children?"

He gave you a thoughtful look before answering. "I don't know, sis. It depends on the person you end up with and whether or not you both feel comfortable with the idea of marriage."

He sighed and then placed a gentle kiss on your forehead.

"I just hope you'll be happy." He told you gently. "And I wish you'd hurry up and find a lover so you can stop moping around."

You gave him a playful punch to the shoulder and stepped back.

"A lover huh? Who do you suggest I should choose?" You asked, looking him dead in the eye. "One of our knights?"

"Hey!" Taeyong laughed at your suggestion. "Don't tempt me! They might not seem very nice at first glance but deep down they are loyal and honorable men."

You rolled your eyes and shrugged.

"Whatever you say, my king brother." You told him with a smile. "Besides, I doubt any of them are single. I bet they are all happily dating someone right now."

Taeyong shrugged and smiled fondly at you.

"I guess that is true. But don't worry, there are plenty more handsome young men that would gladly accept you into their lives."

You giggled at his comment and then grabbed his arm, tugging him toward the exit of the room.

"C'mon. Let's go see Mother." You urged him, stepping past him and heading out of the main hall.

"Yes, yes." He agreed, following behind you with a small grin on his face. "Let's go see Mother."

It was 3 days later and the entire kingdom was celebrating your arrival back to the palace. There were decorations lining the halls and dozens of servants hurried about to prepare for the celebration. Your brother was busy trying to make plans to invite all the nobles and members of the government to attend the grand feast that was planned to be held tomorrow. Everyone in the castle seemed cheerful and eager to celebrate the reunion of the royal family and you couldn't help but smile brightly at the sound of their voices.

In the courtyard, hundreds of servants worked diligently preparing the meals and preparing them for delivery to different parts of the palace. Inside the gardens, knights were gathered near the edge of the lake cleaning and repairing their weapons. Looking around, you spotted young ladies wearing colorful dresses waiting in line to speak to Jaehyun, the Knight-Commander, hoping to catch his eye.

Your brother stopped talking to a couple of soldiers near the gate and looked around, spotting you nearby. He raised an eyebrow at you and pointed at you, motioning for you to join him.

Walking up to him, you tilted your head at him curiously and waited for him to continue.

"We're inviting the Knights to participate in the feast as well." He told you. "I figure we should show them our appreciation for helping save Neo City while you and the White Lotus Order were out on your journey."

You nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, that's a good idea." You replied with a slight nod. "I bet they would enjoy attending the feast as well."

"And maybeeeee, we'll find you a husband." Taeyong let out a laugh. "If that happens, I promise I won't tease you anymore."

He sighed as you let out a giggle and turned around to head back inside the palace.

As you passed by the garden, you noticed that many women were beginning to approach the knight commander and talk to him. Their smiles were wide and their eyes filled with excitement. Some women wore beautifully embroidered clothing and others were dressed in simple dresses, yet no matter what they wore, their beauty shone through their attire.

And just watching them talk excitedly with him made you feel a little jealous.

You've slept together multiple times during your journey. The times where you were lonely, the occasional drunk nights, or even that one time where you suffered a shoulder injury from an arrow and you had a fever.

You thought that there was something developing between you two. Or was it all one-sided on your end? And now that you were back in Neo City, Jaehyun didn't even bother showing any interest in you…

No, this isn't fair. You shook your head and frowned, feeling a bit depressed as you began walking again. Just then, you felt a hand grabbing your arm and stopping you in your tracks.

"So, the Princess General and the Knight-Commander, huh?" Taeyong muttered as he caught up with you. "Who would have thought?"

Looking at him, you could see he was clearly concerned about your current mood.

"What do you mean?" You asked with a frown.

"When you stopped I was going to ask you if everything was alright but now I wonder." He answered with a chuckle. "Are you alright, my dear sister?"

Your frown intensified and you shook your head slowly, trying to calm down your growing anger.

"He doesn't even care about me, does he?" You asked Taeyong angrily. "Not after we spent two whole years traveling around together, constantly risking our lives for each other, yet as soon as we arrived back home, it's as if nothing happened between us."

You paused and let out a frustrated sigh.

"It feels like he barely acknowledges me anymore and I'm starting to get really mad about it." You explained in a quiet voice. "It's not fair. He always used to make me laugh and joke around but now all he does is ignore me. It makes me even more mad since he's my bodyguard and the knight-commander."

"I see." Taeyong murmured, glancing over at the young women approaching Jaehyun. "I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to hit him in the face, just so you can prove to yourself that he does care about you."

Your eyes widened and you started laughing bitterly.

"Oh yeah, punching him will definitely solve all my problems." You said sarcastically. "Do you really believe that hitting him would somehow magically fix things between us?"

"Well, you said it yourself. He doesn't care about you. So maybe if you show him that you don't care either, he'll finally notice how much he missed you." Taeyong said quietly.

"How can you be so optimistic?" You asked, rolling your eyes. "Aren't you worried that I'll just break his nose or something instead?"

He chuckled and placed a comforting hand on your shoulder.

"My lovely sister, I assure you that there's nothing wrong with hitting him. If anything, it will only bring you closer together." He said with a soft smile. "Now, come. Let's get dinner ready."

At his words, you looked down at the ground and gave him a reluctant nod. He's right. You sighed and followed him into the palace, feeling your temper slowly dying down with every step. At least he seems to be right, after all.

The next day, everyone in the city celebrated your return and preparations were underway for the banquet being prepared in your honor. By early afternoon, the entire city was covered in clouds of dust as numerous carts were being pulled through the streets carrying food and drink items for the upcoming feast.

In front of the palace, a large tent had been set up and several caterers were already busy setting the tables and arranging the dishes. As you walked into the courtyard, several of the young girls you saw yesterday were standing near the entrance, waiting for a chance to speak to Jaehyun.

Most of them were dressed in pretty clothes adorned with sparkling jewels. They all seemed nervous and kept staring at the tent entrance nervously. You took a seat near the table and watched them wait for a few minutes before Taeyong joined you and stood beside you.

"All these beautiful ladies are competing to win the heart of our noble Knight Commander." He informed you with a proud smile. "And according to rumors, they are all vying for his attention."

"It seems so." You nodded, grinning as you watched the women walk by, one after another. "They're really trying hard."

A servant approached you with a tray full of drinks and handed you a glass of water. You thanked her and then watched as the girls continued to approach Jaehyun. They tried to talk to him politely and tried to make him laugh with silly jokes, but as soon as he didn't respond, most of them quickly retreated, disappointed.

"I swear, he has the best poker face in the world." You remarked with a laugh, sipping at your water. "All these girls came here believing that he'll instantly fall for them and he never breaks character. How he keeps doing it amazes me."

After watching them for a few more moments, you heard footsteps coming your way and turned to see the Knight Commander approaching.

Jaehyun's eyes scanned over the crowd and eventually rested on you. He gave his greetings to Taeyong before coming to face you.

"There you are, Princess." He greeted, smiling at you. "I was looking for you."

A warm smile lit up your face and you couldn't help but nod as he spoke.

"Oh really?" You asked. "I wasn't planning on spending the entire afternoon watching these girls trying to get your attention though."

Jaehyun chuckled softly as he glanced over the girls who still lingered around him, searching for his approval.

"Don't worry about them." He reassured you. "They will leave once they realize I'm not interested."

“Really now?” You chuckled as well and turned away, resting your chin in your palm. “Who wouldn’t want the attention of the Knight-Commander?”

“Don’t tell me you’re jealous?” Jaehyun teasingly asked.

“Why would I be jealous? It’s not like you have feelings for me.” You muttered.

"Oh? Didn't the princess forget that I like her?" Jaehyun sounded surprised when you glanced back at him and his eyes narrowed in confusion. "Did you forget those restless nights by the fire? Those nights where our limbs were tangled together?"

His gaze softened and you blushed lightly as his fingers reached up to gently stroke your cheek. His touch sent tingles across your skin and your stomach fluttered with excitement.

"I didn't forget." You whispered softly, unable to stop your lips from curving upward into a tiny smile.

You suddenly realized that Jaehyun's smile had changed as well and his eyes were shining as he stared down at you. It made your cheeks grow warm and your heart begin to beat faster.

"I was just wondering…" You hesitated slightly, biting your lower lip as you looked at him. "Do you remember that night by the fire when you helped me take care of my shoulder wound? When you wrapped your arms around me and stayed with me until morning?"

Jaehyun blinked and a wide grin spread across his face as he glanced down at you.

"Princess, I remember everything about that night." He breathed huskily, reaching out to caress your cheek with the tips of his fingers. "But I didn't think that you remembered it either."

You smiled at him shyly as he leaned forward, his mouth just inches from yours. Your breath caught in your throat as he brushed his lips against yours, sending shivers down your spine.

Then he pressed his forehead against yours and whispered in your ear.

"I've never forgotten about that night either, Princess."

You bit your bottom lip as his words slowly sank in. A dull ache was slowly building within you as your heart raced. With a shaky breath, you closed your eyes and nodded slightly.

"You know, this reminds me of that day we found ourselves trapped in the dungeons together." You admitted quietly, bringing your free hand up to cover his. "We were surrounded by darkness and death. There was only one light and that was you."

"That's when I knew that I'd spend the rest of my life protecting you." He whispered in your ear.

"I'd hate to ruin your love fest, sister," a voice called out next to you. You looked at Taeyong, a smirk on his face. "But did you and the knight-commander forget that we are in public?"

With a groan, Jaehyun stepped back and placed a hand on your shoulders. He glanced over your shoulder and you could see the rest of the girls still lingering around, talking quietly amongst themselves.

"Yeah, sorry." He mumbled sheepishly. "I guess I got carried away."

He bowed to Taeyong and the servant, leaving you alone with your older brother. Taeyong eyed you suspiciously, a mischievous grin on his face.

"So?" He asked slyly. "Do I hear wedding bells?"

"Taeyong!" You gasped, narrowing your eyes at him.

He laughed and reached out to ruffle your hair playfully.

"Sis, I know you love Jaehyun." He said seriously. "You two belong together. He's practically shown that he loves you in front of all the nobles and servants."

You opened your mouth to protest, but Taeyong raised a finger and silenced you with a look.

"Just think about it, okay?" He told you with a wink. "If he asked you to marry him tomorrow, would you say yes?"

You paused and thought about what Taeyong said. What would you do if Jaehyun asked you to marry him tomorrow? Would you accept his proposal? The answer was clear: Of course you would!

As you thought about your future husband, a soft sigh escaped your lips and your eyes slowly closed. You rested your head on your hand as Taeyong and Jaehyun started chatting casually while taking their seats.

After some time passed, you noticed that the young women you saw earlier were gone. You sighed softly and leaned back in your chair, relaxing slightly.

Despite all the festivities, your mind kept wandering back to your relationship with Jaehyun.

You loved him. More than anything else in the world, you loved him. And deep down inside, you were sure that he felt the same way about you. After all, they were soul mates. Two halves of the same whole. And you were confident that he was the only person you would ever want to share your life with.

Everything seemed perfect.

Why should you even bother to try and find someone else? It was almost as if fate was telling you that you were meant to be together forever.

As you watched the people dancing in the ballroom below, you smiled as you thought about the first time you met Jaehyun.

It was an exciting day, filled with uncertainty and joy. But no matter what happened, no matter how the day ended, you always believed that everything would turn out alright.

Yes, today is going to be a good day. And every day after that. Because your life is already complete.

Even if he won't admit it, Jaehyun loves you. And you love him.

You always knew that one day you'd have to choose between love and duty, but now… Now, it's too late to make such a choice. You can't separate your heart from your duty any longer. Not anymore.

With a small smile, you turned away from the window and faced the palace wall.

"Jaehyun." You whispered softly, letting your lips curl upwards into a small smile. "Tonight… Tonight, I'm finally going to tell you how I feel."

"Princess Y/N?"

Your name sounded out from behind you and you slowly turned around to see Jaehyun giving you a soft smile.

"Are you alright?" He asked, his voice laced with concern. "What happened? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah, everything's fine." You assured him, walking over to him and giving him a small hug.

"Good." He nodded with a smile. "That's good to hear."

After a few moments of silence you pulled away from him and smiled at him.

"I want to thank you for being here for me, Jaehyun." You told him, reaching up and brushing a strand of hair from his face. "It means a lot to me."

"No problem." He told you with a nod. "You've always been there for me whenever I needed someone. It's only fair that I return the favor."

You smiled softly at him.

"I'm glad you're here, Jaehyun." You said softly. "This is… Kind of lonely being alone again."

"You don't have to be alone." He said with a comforting smile. "You've got me here with you."

His words made you relax and your eyes trailed down to his lips. You remembered how amazing it felt when he kissed you and how perfect he tasted. You missed kissing him. Not only did you miss kissing him but you also missed cuddling up to him. Before you knew it, your lips were on his and your arms wound around his neck. A gasp left your mouth as you leaned in, letting your lips part slightly as you opened your mouth for him. With a moan you slid your tongue across his bottom lip and met his tongue with your own. Slowly you started to pull away from him, kissing his jawline and down his neck, enjoying the sweet scent of his sweat mixed with his natural smell.

"Princess…" He breathed heavily, pulling you into another long kiss.

"Come." You grabbed his hand and led him to your bed chamber. Once inside you shut the door behind you and pressed your back against it.

"Do you remember the night you saved me?" You asked, tracing the shape of his mouth with your finger. "The night of that bandit attack where I almost lost my life?"

Jaehyun's hands came up to cup your cheeks and he stared at you with a heated expression.

"I'll never forget it." He promised you with a growl. "I'll never forget the way you screamed my name and the way you fought off those bandits. You were such a brave girl and I was proud of you."

"Some Princess General I was, getting caught by bandits." You let out a small laugh. "But then here comes the Knight-Commander coming in to save me."

"Nothing you could've done, Princess." He retorted playfully. "Those guys wouldn't have stopped attacking you if it wasn't for me. Besides, I think they appreciated me showing them how a real man saves a damsel in distress."

You let out a quiet chuckle at his comment and traced the line of his collarbone with your fingertip.

"What if I told you I want to repay you?" You asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "That I want to repay you for saving my life."

Jaehyun's eyebrows furrowed as he listened to your words. His eyes searched yours as you held his gaze intently. For a moment, he couldn't move or speak. All he could do was stare at you in awe. He wanted nothing more than to keep kissing you but something seemed to be holding him back. Finally, he gathered himself together enough to reply.

"Princess…" He breathed out hoarsely. "I would be honored if you wanted to repay me for what I did that night."

Before you had a chance to react, Jaehyun lifted you up onto the bed and lowered himself down to lie next to you. Your body melted into his and he pulled you close to him, wrapping his arms around you tightly and drawing you into his embrace. His lips pressed against your forehead and your hands tangled in his hair as you nuzzled into his chest. His skin was smooth and warm to the touch and it reminded you of the way it felt against your body. The thought made you shiver and your stomach clenched tightly as you held yourself tighter against him. You wanted to stay this way forever . To never let go of him. To never stop being held by him.

Your hands moved down to his waist and unbuttoned his tunic. He sighed deeply and ran his hands up and down your arms as you continued to undo the buttons. As soon as all the buttons were undone, you slid your hands underneath his shirt, resting your palms against his warm bare skin. You wanted to make him feel as good as he made you feel and for a moment you wondered if this would actually happen. Would he actually let you repay him?

With a growl, Jaehyun sat up and pulled you into his lap, placing a firm kiss on your lips before pulling away and staring at you with intense passion filled eyes. His hands came up to cup your cheeks and then slowly slid down your neck until they reached your shoulders.

He began to caress your shoulders with featherlight touches and his lips returned to yours.

As his kisses grew deeper and his touch rougher, you closed your eyes and laid your head against his chest, enjoying the feeling of his strong heartbeat beneath your palm. This was your favorite place in the entire world. Your safe haven. Your refuge. Whenever you were troubled, whenever you felt pain or anger or sadness; whenever you just needed some time to think; this was where you went. It was always a sanctuary for you. Where you were free to express yourself without worrying about being judged or chastised. No matter what you were going through, no matter what you were trying to hide from everyone else, you knew that you could always come here and just relax and be at peace. Now, lying here in Jaehyun's arms, you finally understood why he was willing to go through whatever hell existed for you.

Why was he ready to risk his life to save yours? Because you were precious to him and he couldn't imagine a world without you in it.

When his lips touched your ear lobe, your heart began to race and you bit your lower lip, trembling as your hands traveled up and down his back, lightly kneading the muscles in his arms. When his hands dropped to your waist, you tightened your grip around his neck and moaned softly as his fingers brushed against the sides of your breasts.

Suddenly, you pulled away from him and looked into his eyes, noticing how much they had darkened with desire. You smiled softly and gently traced the line of his jaw with your fingertips. His eyes widened as you leaned forward and gently took his lips in a tender kiss.

Just like before, his lips parted for you and he eagerly accepted your tongue, opening his mouth wider as you swept your tongue across his teeth and against his lips. The electricity running between the two of you had increased tenfold since last time and it sent ripples of pleasure throughout your entire body. You didn't realize how much you missed him until he was in front of you again. How much you missed this. How much you missed his presence.

Slowly you broke apart from the kiss and ran your hands down his chest, feeling his heartbeat accelerate as your fingers stroked the ridges of his abs.

His arms wrapped around you once again and his fingers skimmed across your hips, causing you to moan loudly. The tension in the air became thick and heavy and neither of you could breathe properly as the feelings coursing through your bodies intensified and every touch felt even more erotic than the last. His lips touched the skin of your cheek and down your neck, sending waves of shivers down your spine and goosebumps popping up all over your body. Your breaths became shorter and quicker and your heart began to pound harder as you clutched at his shirt desperately, wanting more of his touch.

In one swift movement, Jaehyun pulled away from you and unbuckled his belt, tossing it aside. Then, with a seductive smirk he pushed his pants down, revealing his cock which had hardened considerably since the last time you saw it. You licked your lips as your eyes roamed over his naked body, memorizing every inch of him. In your mind, you already knew exactly how his body felt against yours. Just thinking about it caused your nipples to become erect and you squirmed under his gaze, unconsciously wanting him to continue exploring your body with his mouth. Suddenly, his lips found their way to your nipples and he took one in his mouth while the other lay nestled in his palm. The vibrations from his mouth and the warmth from his hand were too much and you arched your back as the sensations built within you. You held on to his head and whimpered quietly, begging for more.

"Oh God…" You moaned softly as he drew circles around your nipple with his tongue. "Please, please…"

"Say it." He whispered roughly, moving his hand to rub against your clit.

"Fuck me, Jaehyun." You begged him, gripping his shoulders tightly. "Please, fuck me!"

With a groan, he turned his attention to your clit and used his thumb to massage it. You closed your eyes and gasped, moaning louder and louder as your legs buckled and your nails dug into his shoulder blades.

He rubbed his thumb in slow circular motions and you thrashed your head back and forth in an attempt to find relief. He sucked one of your nipples into his mouth and flicked it with his tongue before switching to the other one and doing the same thing.

As he suckled your nipples and teased your clit with his thumb, he continued to stroke your pussy, making sure that every sensation you experienced was amplified and intense. Soon, your body began to shake and you started to scream incoherently as a violent orgasm tore through you. You squeezed your eyes shut and screamed out loud as the sensations rushed through you. It felt like your entire body was on fire and there was no escape. You screamed so loudly that your throat began to hurt and your body began to cramp up. Finally, after several minutes, you fell limp in Jaehyun's arms, unable to stand any longer.

As your breathing slowed down, Jaehyun kissed your temple and pressed a soft kiss against your neck. After catching his breath, he removed his thumb from your pussy and gave you a wicked grin.

"Not quite yet." He whispered, pushing you back onto the bed and crawling up next to you.

With one hand still rubbing your clit, he lowered his head and buried his face between your thighs. You closed your eyes and moaned softly as he began licking up and down your slit. You spread your legs as wide as possible, eager for his tongue to get closer to your most sensitive area. He opened his mouth wider and took your clit into his mouth and gently began sucking on it, making you shudder uncontrollably.

His hands massaged your inner thighs and as his tongue continued to explore your pussy, his fingers began to gently run along the length of your labia, spreading your juices all over your swollen clit. You jerked slightly as his fingers slid over your sensitive spot and his tongue kept up its relentless assault on your clit. Your head fell back as he increased the pressure on your clit and he continued to lick and suck on it as your hands fisted the sheets and your body trembled violently. You cried out loudly as another powerful orgasm rocked through you and you bit down hard on your bottom lip to stifle your cries of pleasure.

Finally, your breathing returned to normal and Jaehyun slowly rose up and glanced at you. His eyes were burning brightly and you could tell that he was absolutely overcome with lust. Without saying anything, he climbed on top of you and pressed his hard cock against your entrance. Before you could say anything, he thrust deep inside you and the shockwave of pleasure that ran through you made you gasp loudly.

The way he held you tightly as he pounded into you sent shivers through your entire body and you couldn't help but grab his ass and pull him closer to you. His hot breath washed over your face and his teeth nibbled at your neck as his fingers gripped your hips tightly.

It felt amazing to have him inside you again and you could already tell that he was giving it everything he had. There was nothing soft or gentle about the way he moved, grinding his hips against yours with each thrust, slamming into you with such force that it almost hurt.

Each thrust seemed to strengthen your feelings for him and it scared you slightly because they felt more passionate than ever. As his fingers rubbed against your g-spot, you felt your orgasm building up quickly and you bit your lip as your vision clouded and blurred and your heart raced wildly.

You let out a small scream as you lost control completely and threw your head back as a powerful orgasm ripped through you. The orgasm itself was short lived but the aftershocks were even stronger than before. The intensity of the emotions coursing through your body overwhelmed you and you collapsed into Jaehyun's arms, crying silently as he continued to move inside you. Every movement of his hips felt incredible and when he grabbed your hair and kissed your neck, your heart nearly stopped beating. Everything about this moment was perfect.

When your orgasms subsided, you managed to catch your breath and open your eyes, only to see Jaehyun smiling back at you with a look of pure satisfaction on his face. He stared deeply into your eyes and cupped your face with his hands, bringing his lips closer to yours. Slowly, he brought his lips towards yours and you felt your heart skip a beat as his soft lips touched yours and his tongue entered your mouth. As you wrapped your arms around his neck and ran your fingers through his silky hair, you realized that you never wanted this night to end. You never wanted this relationship to end.

"I love you." You whispered against his lips.

"I love you too." He replied simply, leaning in and pressing his lips against yours again.

Slowly, you laid your head on his chest and listened to his heart racing. It was incredibly calming and you breathed in his scent, relishing in the fact that you were here, with him, right now. All was right in your world and you were thankful for the moments like these. Moments like this when you get to feel loved by someone who actually meant something to you.

He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on your forehead and sighed.

"I need to ask you something." He asked, brushing your hair away from your face.

"Okay?" You replied, looking up at him.

"Will you marry me?"

Your eyes widened and your heart leaped into your throat. You nodded slightly and smiled softly as tears welled up in your eyes.

"Yes." You whispered, squeezing his hands.

He grinned widely and grabbed your face with both of his hands, kissing you passionately. When he finally pulled away, he was beaming at you with pride and happiness. You ran your hands down his chest and stomach and then moved them up his back, lightly tracing your fingernails against his smooth skin. He closed his eyes and savored in your touch.

"Do you know what I'm going to do when we're married?" You asked playfully, tilting your head to the side.

"What?" He asked curiously.

"I want to have a baby with you." You giggled.

He pulled you close and planted a soft kiss on your lips.

"Well, if you want kids… I think I can give you one." He chuckled, tightening his grip on your waist.

"How many?" You giggled.

"Five? Ten?"

"A hundred?!" You laughed, making him laugh as well.

"We'll see how many come after the first one." He smirked.

As your laughter died down, you tightened your embrace and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. He stroked your hair lovingly and rested his chin on top of your head.

"I love you." You whispered softly.

"I love you too." He whispered back.

Neither of you spoke anymore. The moment had been perfect and neither of you wanted it to end. Instead, you fell asleep in each other's arms, basking in the feeling of being loved and knowing that this was where you belonged.

[kurishiri]

epilogue . . . alfons main story — blind love (with letter)

꒰ ִ ֺ ⊹ @ notice ⊹ ֺ ִ ꒱ this translation may not be 100% accurate or contain creative liberties due to characterization or narrative flow purposes. if you enjoy, please consider reblogging, but don’t repost these or claim these as your own!

— cw: a bit suggestive.

To him, love was a fleeting thing, and the everyday fragile.

So, that was why every day and every second, I wanted to engrave his heart and body, and hold it dear.

——That was how I loved this beloved illusion.

Kate: Roger, I found an account from this church that could be of interest.

Roger: Hm? Which one? Let me have a look.

Sometimes I would go to the basement, continuing to research matters concerning the ‘Curse of the Mirror’ alongside Roger.

Reading through documents was a given, but we would also narrow down places and people to conduct interviews as well.

(And Alfons is... ah, he’s sleeping.)

He seemed adverse to cooperating in the research, but for some reason, Alfons would accompany me every single time,

always spending his time freely, fiddling around with the tools for experiment, reading a book, or sleeping on the bed used for examinations and the like.

Roger: Al, lend your arm real quick.

Alfons: Whaaat...? ...No way. You are probably trying to draw blood from me yet again anyhow, no? Are you that smitten by my blood, you deviant?

Roger: For sure, I do like the valuable sample to monitor the blood transfusion process that is your blood.

Although his expression was distorted by displeasure, he would end up cooperating once every ten times.

(Hehe... he reminds me of a moody cat.)

Seeing Alfons’ profile cheered me up, and once again I turned back to the documents,

so that I wouldn’t forget the visage of the one who bore the Curse of the Mirror.

—— Time skip ——

Kate: Thank you for accompanying me again today.

Alfons: Hardly. If anything, thank you for your hard, albeit fruitless work today.

Kate: Hehe, it’ll bear fruit in the end, so you can rest easy.

Alfons: Yes, yes, I very much look forward to that.

(Ah... there it is again.)

Alfons would sometimes look at me with his eyes narrowed, as though he were looking at something bright.

(I like when he does that... it’s like he’s trying to burn the sight into his memories.)

Just as much as myself, it felt like Alfons, too,

tried to engrave me into his heart and body.

Alfons wasn’t one to say things like ‘I love you’ or ‘I like you’ very liberally,

so finding the ‘truth’ in these small gestures of his had grown into a habit of mine that made me happy.

Alfons: Ahh, also, Kate.

Kate: Yes...?

Alfons: I will be out once again tonight. And I won’t be returning until the next morning, so you can head to bed first.

I wanted to ask, ‘Where are you going?’ but I swallowed the words down.

—— Flashback ——

Alfons: When it comes to playing at night, it does pain me to say, but I reckon I won’t be able to stop that. It’s my hobby, pleasure, and my life work, you see.

A: The same applies to drinking and going around showing illusions——but.

A: I would very much like to try my best loving you back to the fullest.

A: So, when it comes to kisses, loving caresses, and sex... I won’t do it with anyone but you.

—— End flashback ——

I had yet to tail him to see whether his not doing such things with ‘anyone but me’ was true.

(After all... I believe in his words.)

That said, on days he went out to the city at night, I would end up thinking about nothing but him.

And when I thought about how even on those nights, Alfons carved himself deeply within me, it was endearing.

Kate: ...Alright. Have a good night out then.

Alfons: Ahha! Then how about not making such a blatantly lonely face?

Kate: ? I’m not really lonely. This is the norm, isn’t it...

Alfons: Well that leaves me in quite a pickle then. By all means, please feel the loneliness even at the norm.

Kate: Wha...

Alfons: Well then, until tomorrow.

With that, he pecked my cheeks before departing for the entrance.

(Jeez... first he says don’t make a lonely face, only for him to say right after to feel lonely...)

Roger: That guy’s pretty full of himself, huh?

Kate: R-Roger... So you were listening?

When I turned around, Roger was in the middle of the staircase leading to the basement, a mischievous smile on his face.

Roger: How about I keep you company while he’s not around, if you’re lonely?

Kate: No, it’s fine. I really am not lonely at all.

Roger: Ho-oh?

After sparing a glance toward the entrance, where Alfons disappeared,

in one smooth motion, Roger grabbed my chin and——

Roger: I think I get what Al was saying. The way your lips pout when you’re sulking is pretty cute.

Kate: ——mngh!?

He then stole my lips as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Kate: Wh... why this all of a sudden...!?

In a panic I pushed him away, and Roger quirked his lips up, not showing an ounce of remorse.

Roger: ‘Cause you’re a good woman who acts tough even when lonely, and Al’s full of openings.

(W...what should I do...)

Kate: And after Alfons told me he wouldn’t kiss anyone but me...

Roger: ... (O_O)

R: Pfft, haha! I see now, lil lady, so that’s what you were all hung up on.

Paying no mind to how I was growing pale, Roger stifled his laughter, amused.

Kate: ...? What else could I mean but that?

Roger: Haha... nothing, I say. Nothing. Sorry for teasing you. I won’t do it anymore, so you can relax.

R: Ahh, but if he makes you cry, I might end up doing something I shouldn’t.

R: I happen to like crying faces, you know.

Kate: Wh—absolutely not...! I don’t intend to cry anyway!

Roger’s lips quirked egotistically, and as if running from him, I ran up the stairs.

And then——the next day.

(Yesterday’s kiss... was on me, for not being on my guard.)

(I’ll have to be more careful from now on so there is no next time at all.)

(...It wasn’t as though I was going out of my way to make Alfons feel bad, so I think this matter is best kept a secret.)

Alfons: Why, what’s got you so positively troubled, Kate?

Kate: Eek...!?

He gave a poke to my side, causing me to jump up.

Alfons: Aha, quite sensitive, are you? Could it be in a lascivious kind too?

Kate: No, it just tickled...!

Alfons, who had returned in the morning, just woke up, and with his shirt disheveled from sleeping, he let out an amused laugh.

(Yeah, I think that matter should definitely stay a secret...)

(It’s not like Alfons tells me what he does at night either, so...!)

As a change of pace, I announced my plans for today.

Kate: Anyway, more than that, today’s the day I draw your portrait, right?

Alfons: Why of course, clear as day. Ah, perhaps I should take this off?

Kate: No, the way you are right now is fine.

Alfons placed his hands on his shirt button, when I stopped him and pushed him down on the chair.

Alfons: If the ink is going to disappear, you wanted to test out making a painting in its stead?

A: And the day before that, by that same line of logic, you also took photos, no?

A: Oh, and sometime before that, I seem to recall you using a gramophone or some recent technology like that to record my voice...

Kate: Just in case, okay! Anyway, stay still now.

Alfons: Yes, alright.

After some bantering, Alfons crossed his long legs and rested his chin on his hand.

I set up the easel and canvas, then began to sketch.

Alfons: So you can paint pictures as well, can you, Kate? I didn’t know.

Kate: But I can’t draw? That’s why I’m practicing.

K: But I’ll be good at it by the time I become a grandma, and I’ll become a master artist.

Alfons: Ahha! Are you implying you intend to live with me until your elderly years?

A: What rose-colored glasses you must wear, given your partner works for an assassination organization.

(Of course, I do know that. And nobody knows when death comes knocking either.)

The things I’m doing right now also may not amount to much when it comes to overcoming his fate as well.

(But, even so...)

Kate: But that’s exactly why I want to engrave this moment we’re living together in me.

Alfons: ...Hehe, what an earnest soul.

Once again, Alfons kept his eyes on me as though he were looking at something dazzling.

Every time I looked at him to make sure I got his figure, my eyes would meet with that look I’ve come to hold so dear, causing my heart to skip a beat.

(I-I have to focus.)

As if to rid myself of any distractions, I moved the charcoal. But...

(This... I can’t even say this can even amount to a ‘lack of skill.’)

The more lines I connected, the more despair I felt at the result.

Alfons: Is there something wrong? You’ve been growing ever more paler, dare I say.

Kate: Ah, don’t move from there... agh, don’t look!

Alfons: Let’s see now——

The moment he laid his eyes on the canvas with the disastrous drawing on it,

Alfons, paying no mind to any consideration, pointed at the painting and burst out laughing.

Alfons: Ahaha! T-this... are you telling me that’s a person, by any chance? Ahahahaha!

Kate: From now on, I say! From now on, I’ll get better!

Alfons: Hah... truly, you are quite interesting.

After laughing so hard to the point of tears, Alfons took the charcoal from my hand.

Kate: Ah...!

Alfons: Say, Kate.

A: If you do want to improve... wouldn’t it be better to get to know my body even more?

Kate: ...!

Hearing his seductive tone——my body started to sweetly ache suddenly, as if a switch had flipped on then and there.

My fingers, no longer holding the charcoal after having been taken away by Alfons, was tempted toward the buttons on his shirt.

Kate: ...Your shirt... it’ll get stained...

Alfons: Then by all means, go ahead and stain it, with your fingers.

He went out of his way to use suggestive wording as he relished my reactions.

(I know that... and yet...)

He made me imagine lewd scenarios, as expected, and my body became wet on its own with anticipation.

(...It’s like I’m being trained to Alfons’ tastes,)

(and it is embarrassing... but it also makes me happy.)

After all, it was proof that he was carving his love into me——

And I ended up feeling happy, to a hopeless extent.

When I took off his buttons, Alfons invited my fingertips within.

Alfons: See now, if you touch me like this... you can get to know my figure better, no?

Kate: ...!

While being guided by him, my fingers went from his chest to his stomach, as though tracing his muscles——

Kate: ah... Alfons...

Alfons: Make sure you remember this shape well, alright?

——By the time I touched his heat, I had already fallen into his sweet trap.

—— Time skip ——

Alfons: You took my picture, recorded my voice, and even made a painting... but in the end, none of them may be left behind, you know.

After the sketching gradually devolved into a sweet moment in bed——

I was sulking while Alfons was playing languidly with my hair with an amused smile.

Alfons: I actually did not like photos, you know?

Kate: ...Really?

Alfons: Indeed. All that to say, you have taken my virginity when it comes to photos, so be sure to take responsibility for that.

He booped the tip of my nose, and my heart throbbed sweetly in response, having forgotten I was sulking before.

(Alfons, who had tried to throw aside this relationships without taking responsibility and disappear,)

(was now saying binding words to this relationship, like ‘take responsibility’ and whatnot...)

I felt happiness bubble up inside me at that——but at the same time, I remembered something I had felt guilty about.

(Here Alfons is, trying his best to love me to the fullest,)

(so thinking I should keep a secret from him... is not really good, is it.)

Kate: U-um... Alfons, actually, I have something I need to apologize for...

Alfons: Well I’ll be, an amusing feeling does tickle me. So, what is it?

Kate: I...

K: While you were out, I got kissed by Roger.

Alfons: ......... (O_O)

Kate: So, I’m really sorry...

After a bout of surprise——Alfons burst out laughing, his shoulders trembling.

(W-why is he laughing...?)

Alfons: Ahh... you...really are... hehe——

A: For the record, if it’s a ‘kiss you don’t really mean,’ then by all means, go kiss however many times you fancy.

Kate: Wha—!? But, you said you wouldn’t do it with anyone but me...

Alfons: It hardly counts if you were forced into it anyhow, no? That’s nothing but an accident, I’d say.

(Oh, I see, thank goodness… hm? But wait…)

Kate: Wouldn’t that mean you also don’t count such kisses then?

Alfons: Oopsie, that was my bad. I got a tad loose-lipped there.

Kate: ………Ever since you told me you would only kiss me, how many times have you kissed?

Alfons: Weeell, my memory is quite a bit foggy. Perhaps two or three times, if I had to guess?

(I swear, this man——!)

Going on top of him, I pressed my lips on his in a reckless motion.

I found it frustrating how his lips took in mine with an amused smile playing on them.

Kate: Mm… Alfons, you good-for-nothing, you!

Alfons: Oh, I am very well aware of that.

Kate: You womanizer! Liar! Pervert!

Alfons: Why, that last one does have a positively nice ring to my ears, yes?

Kate: Eek…

I tumbled down onto the bed, our positions reversed.

The springs of the bed sounded as Alfons went on top of me.

Alfons: And… have you come to dislike this good-for-nothing, womanizer, liar and pervert?

Kate: …I……! ——!

While doing things he shouldn’t, he already knew how I would answer as he smiled like the devil.

And as if to burn the sight of each of my reactions in him——his eyes narrowed like he was looking at something bright.

(There he goes again, playing with my feelings like a toy and teasing me… he really is out there.)

(But…)

Kate: I… I like… it…

(I can’t bear to think about a life without you in it anymore.)

Alfons: And I as well, Kate.

Those lips, curved up in an arc, showered kisses on me.

I didn’t want this playful exchange between us to end.

Until they were engraved into my memory, and left a scar that would never fade away, I wanted it to last forevermore.

Today as well, a gloomy darkness blanketed over London, as always.

The man who went around showing illusions as a temporary escape from reality threw his body into the darkness of the night once again.

Roger: Heading out again? You just never learn, do you.

Alfons: I could very much say the same for you. Do you find it that fun to talk with me?

Roger: Well, if only I could find out what you’re really up to, what with you making her lonely and uncertain every time.

Alfons: And what makes you think I would openly share that with you?

Roger: Beats me. But if there ever comes a day you don’t come back the next morning, I’ll be taking the lil lady.

R: ——What would you do, if I said that?

Alfons: Ahha! Are you insinuating that I’ll once again up and kick the bucket just like that?

With a smile, Alfons turned toward Roger.

Alfons: The prospect of dying first can dig itself in a ditch for all I care.

A: Even if it’s by one minute — or even by a single second — I will die after Kate.

A: After all, I would just loathe to be forgotten by her, you see.

A: Ahh, and before I forget——

Roger: …!

He grabbed Roger by the collar and pulled him in.

With a smile plastered on his face, those ashy gray eyes seemed to contain an icy, murderous intent.

Alfons: …The next time you kiss Kate, I will bite off these lips of yours.

Spitting out those words as if trying to hit him with them, he turned his back and frock coat on the castle and departed.

Roger: I see now. …So even the way he loves is a handful.

As Roger saw him off, he immediately heard two people’s footsteps.

Kate: …Oh, Roger, what good timing.

Roger: Hm? What’s up, lil lady… and is that Elbert?

Elbert: I was taking a stroll… when Kate called out to me…

Kate: Roger, could you help with tail… or rather, umm, oh yes, that’s it!

K: Could you accompany us… on this stroll while watching his back?

Roger: …So the lil lady’s love is also the same.

Kate: Did you say something…?

Roger: Nope, I was just talking to myself.

To him, love was a fleeting thing, and the everyday fragile.

So that’s why, no matter if it was night or day, he would play me and drive me to insanity——that was his way of love.

He seemed to enjoy it more since falling in love with me.

And today as well, I was being played by this villainous, yet ever endearing illusion.

To you, my beloved

I tried to add on ‘my beloved’ and whatnot.

So, how goes it? Did your heart skip a beat or two?

I’m the one who wrote it of my own volition, but I couldn’t help but laugh.

After all, this is the first time ever writing something as colorful as ‘my beloved’... it just seemed like I wasn’t myself, like this wasn’t reality at all.

However, when looking at those words, I am sure that more likely than not, you would have a happy grin on your face, and when I thought of that, it wasn’t a bad feeling.

Ah, wouldn’t you say this has come to sound a bit like a love letter? I suppose I really can do it if I try.

Someday, the words I’ve penned on this paper with this ink will fade to nothing.

So that’s why, Kate, engrave these words in your eyes and your mind... so you may never forget.

And now at this point, it’s become a tad like a cursed letter, so I will end it around here.

Ahh, it completely slipped my mind to write out a naughty invitation that you so seem to enjoy. Indeed, how unlike me.

What shall it be tonight... Well, I suppose I’ll use this quill to play a little prank on your body. Do look forward to it, alright? Well then, until next time.

← prev fin. both ends clear

masterlist🪞 ╱ ko-fi ☕️

꒰ ִ ֺ ⊹ @ tags🏷️ ⊹ ֺ ִ ꒱ @drachonia @.comment, send an ask off anon, or dm to be added or removed!

[spudfromspace]

Is this actually real?

Hello, this story is the result of me thinking of multiple things at the same time and spiraling into a rabbit hole of thoughts, i think i might have ADHD. This is the first story I've written in a long while (around 4 years), so it might not be that good. Anyhow, let's get on with it. Also, this'll be male character/s x male reader, ok? No hard feelings, but we need more x male reader works, also this is an au if you couldn't tell

*i groan, rubbing my head as the world around me feels like it's spinning. Eventually, i was able to stand up and take a look at my surroundings, it looked like a forest*

W-where am i?

*i was about to explore my new surroundings, but then i saw something approach me from the woods. It was some cat thing with rings on its ears. It looked strangely familiar, but i couldn't remember why*

Welcome, i am kyubey

Wait- this seems oddly familiar-

I am capable of granting you one wish, anything you desire

Wait a minute-

But in return, you will become a magical boy and use your powers to fight witches

WAIT A DAMN MINUTE-

*i start to freak out, realising just who this is*

OH HELL NO, I AIN'T RISKING MYSELF AND BECOMING A WITCH. BACK YOU DEMON!

*i yell at it, picking up a random stick on the ground and pointing it at it*

*"kyubey" starts laughing and falls on the ground*

Hahahaha! I'm just kidding!

*it transforms into something else, something with a more human appearance but the ears and tail were still there. They stand up and walk towards me, putting their hands up to show they weren't there to hurt me*

Chill, I'm not gonna do anything bad

*i lower the stick*

Then who are you, where am i and what the heck is going on?

Well, first my name isn't important but you can just call me kyu. Second you are in America, well, America in another world. And third basically you died and are now being subjected to a similar fate as most shonen isekai anime protagonists

Wait.... WHAT!? THAT CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN!?

*i was very shocked after what i was just told. I died... and was now in another world like in those isekai animes*

You good? Had enough time to get it together yet?

It's been barely 2 minutes... THAT IS NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO GET IT TOGETHER AFTER LEARNING I JUST DIED AND AM NOW IN ANOTHER WORLD!

Well get it together already, there's still a lot we need to get through before i can leave

What?

Well i cant just leave you in this new world without having any knowledge about this place and unable to live by yourself, i am legally not allowed to. Since unlike most of those isekai tropes where people get sent to worlds in more medieval times and you can just start your life without people questioning who you are and where you came from, this world is just as modern as your previous one, and since you don't originally belong to this world you wont have things like your birth certificate, school files, personal files, proof of existence, etc...

Wait.... so then how am i supposed to live here if i basically don't exist?

*they chuckle and snap their fingers, multiple documents appear around us*

That's what I'm here for, I'm in charge of your transfer to this world and with some magic i made some of these documents and files that will serve as your identity and proof of existence in this world, stuff like your birth certificate and things i mentioned previously, these will become apart of this worlds databank making it as if you were always part of it. I kept your information identical to your original one except for the fact that now it would be as if you were already an American citizen, instead of living in (insert country), your data would be stated that you moved to America just recently with the purpose of studying

But what about where I'll live? How am i supposed to get money or a job? And studying, how could i afford tuitions?

I'm getting there, jeez, be a little patient won't you? You'll be provided with a small house for yourself, as for school stuff, you'll find documents inside said house for your school, since I've already enrolled you. And as for money and job, well, that's where the fun stuff starts

*they were grinning after saying that which worried me a bit for what they meant by that*

What are you talking about?

Well, remember what i said earlier? I wasn't kidding about that turning you into a magical boy part, but before you panic, no it's not like madoka magica. You will be a using powers and stuff to fight bad guys and get paid by the government for saving people, sounds fun right?

What kind of powers? And is there some kind of catch? Cuz a free house, powers, and a job sounds too good to be true...

The only catch is college, you'll have to balance fighting bad guys with attending school while not failing. And as you probably now from all the shows you've watched with similar tropes, that isn't an easy task, but one thing you won't have to worry about is hiding your identity

Is it because magical girls/boys outfits have magic that make people as blind as a bat when it comes to their identities, regardless of how identical they look?

What? No, not like miraculous ladybug blindness, it's more like the powerpuff girls

Ah, ok then. So....what powers do i get? Are they cool powers?

Eh, I'm too lazy to come up with powers, here just pick which ones you want

*they hand over a screen displaying multiple characters fictional characters*

Wait, aren't these characters from works of fiction? Won't they exist in fiction in this world too?

Well yeah, some fictional works from your world exist here too, just like how things like nintendo exist here too. But don't worry, all the characters in that screen are characters that don't exist in this world, as to avoid copyright infringement. So just take your pick and I'll give you those powers.

This isn't an easy decision to make, can't i just pick later? How about you show me where ill be living first?

Fiiinnnneeee..... but I'll only wait until tomorrow, so make up your mind by then ok?

*kyu snaps their fingers and then we suddenly appear in a bedroom, me falling into a bed*

This is your new home, information about your house, school, and city are all in those documents beside you on your bed, and just use google maps for getting to your school. You'll also have food in the fridge and some money if you look in your drawer. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking my leave, I'll be back tomorrow afternoon so have a decision by then ok?

*kyu then disappears, leaving me alone in my new house, in a new world, in my new life. I plop myself properly down on the bed, looking at the ceiling and thinking of everything that just happened during the last hour or so*

Holy shit.... i think i just became an shonen protagonist.... ew

*thinking back to what kyu said, i needed to think of what powers i want*

Eh, I'll figure it out tomorrow morning, i need to sleep after all this shit

End of part 1

This is the end for this part, i hope this wasn't too bad. As for the powers and stuff, I'll keep thinking for what powers would be good or i might just make a poll later on which characters powers we could have, you guys can even comment some suggestions. No dogday and catnap for now, maybe in the next chapter if i get to that part fast enough

[exclawshou]

...Making sense of it all was like untangling a giant ball of yarn without scissors. As far as he could tell, the legalese inferred that there had never been any potential wrongdoings committed towards his person. No abuse. No coercion. No altercations. A dotted line beckoned for his signature on the final page. With a sweaty hand, he scribbled his name. No one here--his friends, his mentor, his leader--had ever held a gun to Teruki's head and asked him to do anything. Joining Claw had been his choice. The possibility that it could have been anything other than his free will had never even entered his head until now. And in the months to come, the thought would not let go...

Teruki's decision to join Claw wasn't initially a hard decision. It was more complicated. For the first time in his life, Teruki had friends, a mentor, and a new family who actually understood him. More than that, he was infatuated with the idea of becoming a stronger ESPer like he'd been promised. Being a part of a larger-than-life ideology made every single day worth living. He took the teachings imparted to heart, but being worthy of heaven wasn't so easy.

🔹️ Claw if it was a religious cult 🔹️

More context under the cut

In time, the organization crept into each and every aspect of Teruki's life. You couldn't miss lectures. You couldn't dress the way you wanted. You couldn't go anywhere without permission first.

Above all, you were to remain dedicated to a single man, and a single man alone could save you.

Of course, you didn't have to do any of the above. It was only highly encouraged to follow the expectations if the organization really meant that much to you. Not obeying would make The President very sad. And The President only wanted the best for you, after all...

To deny his leaders wishes was to deny himself.

----

Rebellion was brewing in Claw. Most members were ignorant to the politics happening in the upper echelon, or of Toichiro's loosening grip on the fringes of his massive organization. A contract to silence new converts had been devised up, though no such document would ever hold up in the court of law. It was this very contract that eventually led to Teruki's awakening. Coercion wasn't a word he would use to describe what had happened to him, at first... But eventually, he came to understand that he needed to leave. Somehow. Anyhow.

So, one evening in the middle of a winter storm on the outskirts of Seasoning City, Teruki Hanazawa found himself walking out of the local Claw headquarters without submitting his request for travel. He arrived home without a single personal belonging and took a long, hot shower before curling into bed.

Claw members wouldn't actually come after him, would they?

He'd been confident at first that he could simply leave and wash his hands of all the misdeeds he'd been witness to. Yet in the next few months of being free, in both nightmares and reality, they were there. Dark figures snatching at him with their eager claws, desperately trying to bring him back to The President...

Fighting back was the only thing left to do.

He became a ghost walking through life trapped in an incessant spiral of self-blame and rumination. Had it really been free will? Wasn't this all his fault, in the first place? Would he have to live in fear like this forever? Wouldn't it be easier to just...go back?

His parents couldn't know. He had no friends to talk to anymore. No mentor to guide him.

Without anyone left to confide in, paranoia and isolation swept through Teruki's life like a storm. The best he could do was get even stronger. Stronger than Claw. Stronger than The President. Stronger than anyone.

Hanazawa was smart, after all. He'd seen the entrails of their organization and lived to tell the tale. He'd fought off so many mindless followers and seen so much, that it had to all amount to something. It had to.

Eventually he came to believe that the meaning he had sought all along was closer than he'd realized; that maybe the meaning to life and its secrets were buried within himself, and himself alone.

[blushstories]

I’m back…I’ ve had mote thoughts. If possible please can you write something with Butcher and reader + the boys like figuring something out and reader makes a really good point or gives really useful information and Billy just gets really excited and snogs the living daylights out of her in the middle of the room. Like cheek grabbing full on. idk…i just UGH. I have too many thoughts about this man djkdke. Thank you!!!

you know what ME TOO!!! at first i wondered whether he was the type to do this but i think i made it work!!

“Oh, we’re dead,” Hughie hasn’t blinked for a few seconds. “We’re so, so dead.”

Butcher tuts, running a hand over his jaw, his beard. He tugs a little at the hairs by his ear, a nervous habit you’ve noticed kicking around recently.

Your tongue presses against the roof of your mouth, winding up your jaw with it. Your heart stutters as you try to gather your courage to speak in the testosterone-heavy room.

“No, we ain’t. You ‘aven’t got a clue if they know,” Butcher insists. He’s got Hughie to work his computer magic to connect to a Vought server, and Hughie completely believes that they’ll track his connection.

“What are we even looking for? Do you know how this stuff works?” Hughie says, voice taut and pitch wobbly.

“Not one bleedin’ idea. Not like I give a fuck anyhow, that’s what you’re for,” Butcher says with mock cheerfulness.

“Guys—“ You’re immediately spoken over.

“Oh, great. Here I thought we were friends. So much for canary.”

“You might want to—“

“Oh, give over.”

“You know what, Butcher, I—“

“Hello?!”You say, loud and sharp. As if buckets of ice water sloshed onto their heads, they paused. You take a deep breath and smile.

“Great, thanks. I just wanted to say, you might want to check that folder,” you point to a spot on the screen. “Annie told me it’s where Homelander saves promotion emails, under-the-table emails, everything. He’s not as secretive as he should be.” You watch with silent delight, Butcher’s eyes flashing with recognition, plans being drawn up in his mind’s eye, creases by one eye introduced by an enlightened smirk.

Double click of the mouse.

“It’s password protected,” Hughie frowns.

“Oh, it’s biggestdick2,” you say. Butcher scoffs with amusement, then snickers when Hughie inputs it… and it works. He’s silent for a moment, rolls Hughie’s chair over and he scrolls and scans some documents, before freezing and looking up at you with glee in his eyes.

When he stands, the ends of his coat almost can’t keep up with his movements, and then there’s warmth on your cheeks and his lips are on yours and he kisses you with everything he has. It’s passion and love and admiration and relief.

You’re breathless and giddy when he pulls away, shoulders heaving, “That’s my girl.”

[satureja13]

Jeb had been ingame for a few hours (real time, ingame time almost a whole day) and Saiwa didn't allow anyone to watch his investigations on the monitior to not interrupt. So everyone had been busy doing their work. After Jeb returned, he'd still been so upset, they delayed the meeting and went up to Jack and Kiyoshi's shop. They made pizza.

Their chatter and laughing distracted Jeb from the madness that has happened ingame and he soon laughed with them (especially when Jack told them the story how he fell into the tub full of nectar and Kiyoshi, in autopilot mode, didn't even react ^^' Kiyoshi didn't even react now on that story. Still on auto pilot. They'd had a quiet day together, Jack and Kiyoshi. After a while, Jack just started talking to him, as Jeb had suggested. Nothing important or upsetting about their past. Just funny stories and stuff about their shop and their work. Even though Kiyoshi never responded or showed signs he even understood what Jack was saying, it was a good experience for Jack to get more comfortable around Kiyoshi. And who knows, maybe Jack's words did find his way to Kiyoshi, anyhow. Jack was even able to keep it up during dinner. And Jeb calmed down eventually.

They changed into their detective attire and went down to the PD to let Jeb tell them about his investigations. Changing the clothes helped Jeb to change into a different role and put a lilltle distance between him and the happenings. He knows it's just a game but it was deeply touching him seeing dead Jack ingame. It reminded him of Jack in his coma and of the message future Jeb and Jack had sent them. That some of them might die should they drift apart.

The first thing they saw was the whiteboard Jack and Tiny Can had outfitted with the latest screenshots from the victim, the suspects and the crime scene. Jack made some effort to clearly point out who the main culprit is. And Tiny Can had a hard time putting Lou's photo on the culprits side, Jack only allowed it because Lou looks so hot ^^' Saiwa: "Omg, Jack! Greg didn't kill you. He just made this innocent - and understandable - wish and the demon got it all wrong!" Jack: "I will only believe it if we find the real murderer - the one who ripped my heart out!" Saiwa sighed. He bets his brand new Flamingo Island Balcony that Jack would still believe Greg killed NPC Jack, no matter which cast iron evidence they provide to him...

Eventually Jack sat down and Jeb stepped forward. He's nervous about how Jack and the others would react to the latest happenings... But Saiwa reassured him and so he started to tell them anything he witnessed and learned while he investigated.

About - the footprints at the crime scene, - interviewing new culprit Lou (but Jack didn't let that count, he just interrupted and asked Jeb how Lou is doing without him...) - and that Greg obviously found Jack's corpse and revived him - in a creepy frankenstein manner...

After Jeb ended his report, Jack hugged him tight. Jack: "Thank you for reviving me! You're a true friend! Now I can finally go back ingame and meet Lou again!"

Saiwa: "Let him breathe, Jack!" Jeb contradicted and told Jack that Greg did the majority to bring NPC back, but Jack does not want to hear anything about that. He still hates Greg ^^' And he's quite sure that the footprints are from Greg, who carried him away from the crime scene to Saarburg - and not from Lou.

After a short break to take everything in, they sat down again to discuss their further actions.

First, Saiwa made very clear that Jack will not go back to Lou until their investigations came to an end and they have a clear documentation about what had happened. They still need prove that the Therapy Game will be ready for the open beta at some point. But with warnings and disclaimers - enter at your own risk... But it might be still of great help for any lost creature out there. Creatures like them are often used to violence - sadly.

So, what next?

They gathered some ideas: - ask NPC Jack what happened That might be tricky since he appeared a bit a lot 'absent', to say the least. But maybe his memories of the happenings will come back at some point. - go back to the crime scene and see if Jeb overlooked something. He was distracted by the pawprints (that probably belonged to Greg) and followed them as soon as he found them and didn't look further around. - find the Demon (and maybe NPC Jack's heart) If the demon really 'changed' Jack's heart, he must know where it is and with whom's heart he changed it. Ji Ho agreed to help finding the demon, but Vlad was utterly against sending Ji Ho back ingame unless the murderer is found. He didn't believe in the 'crossroads misunderstanding'

Jack: "Hey, I could go ingame together with Jeb and see if I can help NPC Jack get back his memories. Then we know what happened and I can go back to Lou!" Saiwa: "And witness first hand someone ripping your heart out? No!" Omg, Jack! ö.ö

'The scenes that I spit out I don’t know how much influence it’ll have here Can’t even understand A single word I’m saying They’ll try to chase me but then give up Those who ran away will probably become rotten water' (translated from korean/not by me)

Living in the City - Pullik OST from the K drama 'Lawless Lawyer' I love this song <3 Still so good after all those years. Plus the male lead, Lee Joon Gi, is one of the most beautiful and stunning and talented men I've ever seen ö.ö

Outtakes

Barfolomew showed up out of the blue and Jeb was not happy about it ^^'

The Therapy Game Master Post with the sessions and places so far is -> here

From the Beginning  ~  Underwater Love ~  Latest

Current Chapter: 'Who killed Jack?' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 17-22 ~ 23-28