#He's originally from MLQC

[cheri-cheri]

EN vs CN: Wildlight Chronicles Event (Caleb)

While the English translation of LADS content is definitely wayyy better than in MLQC, there are certain translations that I felt could have captured the original Chinese version more accurately. Let's have a look at some of the major translation differences in the Wildlight Chronicles Event:

1. Caleb's "Maturity"?

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: You're making me sound like a beanstalk in a fairytale. MC: Were you worried about not being taller than me? After all, it might make you seem less mature to me. Caleb: Was there ever a time you thought I was mature?

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: You make me sound like a spring bamboo shoot. [说得我像一根春笋。] MC: Back then, were you ever worried that you'd never be much taller than me and lose your dignity as a big bro? [你那段时间有没有担心过以后都不比我高多少，失去当哥的威严？] Caleb: When have I ever had the dignity as a big bro in front of you? [在你面前，我什么时候有过当哥的威严？]

The EN translation likely used "beanstalk" instead of "spring bamboo shoot" as the former is more common in a Western context, but this is just a small point.

The more significant difference is that the word "威严", which carries the idea of being dignified, stately, imposing and stern (think of the majestic aura exuded by royalty), is simplified to "maturity", which has a completely different word in Chinese (成熟). And as usual, the EN translation had to censor the reference to Caleb being a "brother" to MC 😂

2. Caleb's Retirement Plans

[ EN Version ]

MC: Caleb, you can be a farmer when you retire! Caleb: Workin' as a tutor, chef, and handyman... You already planned out my retirement. I'll be busy even as an old man.

[ CN Version ]

MC: Caleb, you might actually become an outstanding farm owner after retirement! [夏以昼，你退休以后说不定能成为一个出色的农场主！] Caleb: If I add this to what you said earlier about me becoming a tutor, chef, and handyman, you have already filled my post-retirement plans to the brim. [加上你之前说的家教，厨师和修理工，我退休后的规划已经被你安排的满满当当了。]

I find that the extra adjectives used in the CN version (e.g. "outstanding", "filled to the brim" injects more colour and vividness into their dialogue.

As a side-note, wouldn't you agree that the best post-retirement plan that Caleb could have is being a doting grandfather?

3. Casey's Chinese Name

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: The campsite manager said he named him Casey because the name's derived from a word that means "vigilant". Casey's always on top of everything, even catchin' field mice.

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: The boss of the campsite said that he gave Kuan Kuan its name because of how it oversees the wide field and can catch field mice. [露营地老板说，因为宽宽管得太宽会捉田鼠，所以才给它取了这个名字。]

Just a slice of trivia that Casey's name in Chinese is 宽宽 (Kuan Kuan), which literally translates to "broad broad" / "wide wide".

4. Caleb's Retirement Plans

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: I bought them because they're beautiful. also, beautiful flowers are meant for someone special.

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: Because they look very nice. And also because nice flowers are meant to be given to the person one likes. [因为它很好看。也因为好看的花要送给喜欢的人。]

To me, the phrase "the person one likes" comes across more intimate and direct (which is in line with Caleb's nature) than simply saying "someone special".

5. Bad and Good Results

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: There will always be a result. MC: What if none of them bloom? Will that still count as a result? Caleb: Yes, even if it's not what we're hoping for. Caleb: Regardless of whether the flowers bloom or not, they're the flowers we cultivated, protected and watched over together. Caleb: Even if none of them blossom, we can take what we've learned and plant new ones. Caleb: As long as you're willing to keep trying, our flowers will bloom someday.

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: Our flowers will bear results. [我们的花不会没有结果。] MC: A bad result where the flowers don't bloom also counts as a result? [开不出花的坏结果也算结果？] Caleb: Of course a bad result is also counted as a result. [坏结果当然也算结果。] Caleb: Regardless of whether it's a good or bad result, those flowers were cultivated by the both of us, protected by the both of us, and accompanied by the both of us. [但无论好与坏，都是我们一起耕耘，一起守护，一起陪伴过的花。] Caleb: Even if the flowers don't bloom this time round, we can carry this experience when planting the next round of flowers. [即便这一次没有开出花来，我们也可以带着经验去种下一次的花。] Caleb: As long as you're willing to keep trying, there will definitely be a time when our flowers bloom. [只要你还愿意继续尝试，我们总会迎来一次花开的。]

The CN version brings out Caleb's mindset towards results more clearly, where he sees purpose in the pursuit of something regardless of whether it ends badly or well.

Sprinkling in a little analysis: This dialogue is clearly layered, where you can replace the word "flowers" with "relationship" and it would be an accurate description of their pre-relationship dynamic. Caleb's tender care in cultivating the flowers, his patience in waiting for the flowers to bloom, having no expectations that the flowers would bloom (as we can tell by how shocked he was when the flowers actually bloomed), and him simply being content with being by MC's side is a mirror of what he has been going through so far with MC.

I also find it interesting that Caleb's says that the flowers will bloom someday "as long as you're willing to keep trying" instead of "we", and I'm glad that the EN version captured this accurately. Just like in his previous dates where Caleb holds himself back like the yearner he is, we once again see Caleb giving MC the space to take the initiative to make their relationship blossom. And she finally does that in the Floating Floraletter date ( ´ з `)🍎

6. The Little Assistant

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: It doesn't matter what role you pick after you retire. You'll still need your trusty assistant.

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: It looks like no matter whether I become a farm owner or handyman after retirement, I can't do without my specially hired little assistant. [看来退休以后无论是做农场主还是作修理工，都不能没有特聘小助理。]

This was unfortunately a mistranslation which changes the way this line is interpreted.

The official translation could be interpreted as Caleb wanting to become MC's trusty assistance regardless of what post-retirement hustle MC decides to take up.

However, in the original Chinese version, Caleb was actually referring to his own post-retirement plans and how MC is indispensable in his future.

⸜( ´ ꒳ ` )⸝ That's all for now! Thanks for reading and I hope you found this interesting HAHA

❀ Masterlist

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC Lucien’s Sinking and Floating in Indulgence MQ translation + video with sub EN (Part 3/3)

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for an MQ that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

Sinking and Floating in Indulgence MQ | Part 1 (1-3) | Part 2 (4-5) | Part 3 (6) | 🔞Secret Space ASMR🔞

[Warning]: The content of this MQ is explicit and may not be suitable for individuals under the age of 17 (CN server). It is recommended that those who do not meet this age requirement refrain from proceeding beyond this point.

Part 4 - 5->[Here]

✂———————–

[Subbed Video, TURN ON CC!]

LOSING IT OVER THIS GUY BEWITCHING VOICE TF TF AHHHH.

✂———————–

—[Part 6]—Video Timestamp: [42:23]

Inside the cabin, the banquet hall emanates a touch of warmth that feels out of place.

The flowing lights fall upon Lucien’s black shirt, where the glimpses of bandages beneath inexplicably add some bewitching allure to his elegant demeanor.

Early in the morning, Holden selects several formal dresses and sends them over, saying that since today is New Year’s Eve in Loveland City, everyone should start adapting to local customs.

I can’t shake the feeling that he has ulterior motives. Just as I lean in to whisper to Lucien, I see Holden raising his glass and approaching us.

Holden: Thanks to Professor Lucien’s involvement, our experiment has achieved substantial progress.

Holden: Although the process has been filled with too many unforeseen 'uncertainties', forcing us to start over from the beginning, I believe it has all been worth it.

Holden: Just as you said, accidents are to be enjoyed.

Holden: I trust that after returning to Loveland City, we’ll be able to collaborate more deeply, don’t you agree?

Lucien: I've always enjoyed working with intelligent people.

Beneath the calm of this moment, something continues to surge in the undercurrents.

Aside from Lucien and me, nearly everyone on the ship belongs to Holden’s team.

If Lucien wants to find what he’s looking for without using Evol, these past few days have shown that it won’t be an easy task.

Silently, I lift my gaze toward Lucien. His expression remains composed, as if unconcerned by the present circumstances.

Lucien: Speaking of which, that matter I previously requested you to arrange...

Holden: Of course, no problem.

The other person raises an eyebrow. Soon, this simple banquet comes to a close.

✂———————–

But Lucien does not take me back to the room. Instead, he weaves left and right before finally arriving at the cargo ship’s kitchen.

I blink in confusion, then turn to him with a laugh.

MC: Professor Lucien, didn’t you eat your fill?

Lucien: I really didn’t have much of an appetite in that atmosphere.

Lucien: But more than that, I just want to share a simple meal with you alone today.

As he speaks, he opens the freezer door and unexpectedly takes out several bags of frozen dumplings.

MC: There are actually dumplings here…!

As I recall that the banquet mainly featured Western dishes, I vaguely understand the cryptic exchange Lucien and the other party were trading earlier.

Lucien: Apologies. I originally planned to show you my cooking skills at home this year.

Lucien: But now, it seems we’ll have to wait until we’re back for my Great Producer to properly appraise it.

MC: No need to apologize. After all, we're still spending this Chinese New Year's Eve together.

MC: But Professor Lucien, you better not forget the New Year’s Eve dinner you owe me~

As we chat and laugh, we set the pot to boil, and before long, billowing steam fills our surroundings.

The cold, stiff dumplings tumble into the pot. As I watch the tiny bubbles on the water’s surface, I suddenly feel that this moment is very peaceful.

For a fleeting instant, it feels as if we’ve returned to our warm home.

Lucien: MC, Happy New Year.

Hearing the blessing that falls by my ear, I turn my head and find the answer in those smiling eyes.

Lucien: I think, the more we're in this kind of atmosphere, the more we need some relaxation.

He lifts the lid and serves a bowl of dumplings.

The steaming mist blurs his eyes, making it hard to see them clearly.

He picks up a dumpling, brings it to his lips to blow on it carefully, and then holds it to my mouth.

Although its skin is a bit tough and the filling is rather ordinary, the steaming dumpling still brings me a sense of happiness as it enters my mouth.

Afterward, I can’t help but pick up one for him as well. We share the meal in silence, as though words aren’t needed

MC: It’s incredible. Though everything’s been coincidental and absurd, spending New Year’s here with you doesn’t feel wrong at all.

Lucien: [tenderly] Silly girl.

In the dense steam, he leans in close to my lips.

Softer than his lips, his tongue lingers even longer, not just bringing happiness but planting a seed that blooms endlessly in my heart.

Lucien: It will be over soon. After that, we’ll leave immediately.

His words sound like some kind of farewell, making me subconsciously worried.

But before I can ask, a wave of inexplicable dizziness comes over me-

I struggle to keep my eyes open, but Lucien's face gradually dissolves into the darkness.

Gazing at the girl asleep in his arms, Lucien kisses her on the forehead once more.

Holding her quietly, he carries her back to the guest room, lays her on the bed, and carefully tucks her in.

Lucien: [gently] Sweet dreams, MC.

When he turns around again, the tenderness on his face has already vanished. His narrow eyes glint with icy coldness.

Just as planned, he smoothly enters the concealed storage room he had noticed earlier. Based on his analysis over the past few days, he also located the reagent he wanted to verify.

As expected, it has lost its activity.

Though this isn’t a good outcome, when weighed against the girl’s safety, it can hardly be considered an excessive loss.

It can be considered that everything has gone as he wished.

He casually finds a spot to sit and speaks calmly.

Lucien: Professor Holden, you still won't come out. Aren’t you afraid I’ll destroy this thing?

.

.

.

In a drowsy haze, I open my eyes.

The room is dark and almost lightless, lit only by faint moonlight filtering through the porthole. There’s no Lucien by my side.

Surrounded by deathly silence, I suddenly have a terrible feeling. I grab Lucien’s coat and drape it over my shoulders without much thought before leaving the room.

The quiet corridor seems endless—it's as if I'm trapped again.

At this moment, my mind is surprisingly calm. Those pair of serene yet inscrutable eyes flash through my thoughts.

Perhaps… I finally grasp why all of this is happening.

...Lucien, you truly are an absolute big fool, a big bad guy!

In an instant, a familiar force surges from my chest, and a lustrous white light burst forth—

I need to have a proper talk with Lucien.

A bone-chilling cold permeates the air, making it feel like even one's breath could freeze into a thin layer of ice.

Crystal-clear ice spreads throughout the corridor of the cabin. Icicles hang from the ceiling here and there, their tips sharp as blades.

Scattered weapons and unknown equipment lie strewn everywhere. I stare blankly at this frost-covered scene as countless terrifying images seem to flash before my eyes.

Without another thought, I pick up a dropped handgun and sprint toward the frozen corridor’s end.

There is no sign of anyone on the ship, deathly silent as if it had been swept clean, with traces of frost all over the place.

I don’t know how long I’ve been running until I stop in front of an unremarkable door—

the only door that hasn’t been frozen shut.

I cautiously look around, then gently push the door so that it opens a crack.

Various artworks are scattered throughout the small space, while cold light falls indifferently, making the entire room feel even more cramped and somber.

Under the cold light in the corner, numerous packaged artworks haphazardly piled on the floor, like a small exhibition yet to be unveiled.

Strips of bright yellow tape cut a glaring boundary across my vision, warning away any visitors who don’t belong there.

A cold, indifferent figure stands at the center. He turns as if sensing something, and his gaze crashes into my furrowed eyes.

The air falls into silence.

Everything before me seems beyond ‘excuse’. His calm gaze dips slightly, eyelashes casting a faint shadow over his tranquil face.

Like a bad kid who knows he's doing something wrong but still insists on doing it, soberly indulges in his own actions.

I walk step by step toward him, check that he has no additional wounds, and only then do I turn my gaze to him.

MC: Is there anything you want to say to me?

Lucien: ….

He blinks and smiles, his expression somewhere between resignation and satisfaction.

Lucien: [that mix of helplessness and pride at her managing to break out the dream using her power:"] Your power has grown stronger.

A rush of heat relentlessly floods upward and I can’t help but tremble all over. I scan the room and then point to a table covered with bubble wrap.

MC: [sternly] Lie down.

Lucien: ….

Maybe my tone is too harsh, or I seem on the verge of anger, Lucien says nothing and simply lies down quietly.

Then, I forcefully rip off the yellow tape nearby and walk back to his side.

MC: Put your hands behind your back.

As if it were some tacitly understood command, he obeys me without a word.

I resentfully wind the tape around his body, but out of the corner of my eye, I catch the faint bloodstains seeping through, and the strength of my hands falters with reluctance.

Eventually, the tape coils loosely around his neck, shoulders, arms, and down to his exposed abdomen. It’s as if he, too, were a dangerous yet precious collectible.

Lucien continues to let me do as I please. As the tape adheres to his skin, his expression shifts, initially calm and quiet but now touched with enigmatic depth and curiosity.

He watches my every move without blinking. Clearly, he's the one who's bound, yet it feels as if I'm the subject of his interest.

The inexplicable impulse melts into guilt. Suddenly, I catch sight of a golf club nearby and, feigning composure, pick it up.

MC: Lucien, do you know what I’m doing?

Lucien: [hoarsely] I know.

Lucien: But just doing this... I’m afraid it’s not quite enough.

As he speaks, he lifts a hand that had somehow slipped free at some point and rests it against the back of my head.

His slender fingers slide into my hair, stroking through the strands. Every so often, his fingertips lightly graze the curve of my ear, sending a faint, tremulous weakness through my body.

Just as I teeter on the edge of surrender, he leans in, closing the distance between us. His lips trail up along my cheek before gently biting down on my earlobe.

Lucien: [breathlessly whispers in challenging tone] It needs to be this much, at least.

The bubble wrap around us rustles from friction as I press my bent knee against the inside of his thigh, but afraid of hurting him, I instinctively ease the pressure.

Yet the man beneath me doesn’t seem satisfied with my movement.

He wickedly shifts his leg, making me suddenly lose my fulcrum and involuntarily tip forward, but he swiftly tightens his hold on me with his thighs, leaving me to almost completely surrender my balance to him.

MC: You…

Lucien: There’s no one else here.

Lucien: [provocatively] After doing something so far out of line… if you’re just planning to tie me up and give me a little scare, that won’t do.

MC:  Who said I’m just trying to scare you?

Saying this, I bring the club closer, brushing it against his chin, forcing him to tilt his head back and meet my gaze.

MC: You only care about your own fear, but don’t you realize I can tie you up just like this too?

MC: And lock you up in a place where only I can see you, where I’m the only one you can see.

Lucien: MC, would you also want to... lock me up?

Along with his intimate, bewitching words, some kind of shiver seems to surge wildly through my mind, causing me to look at him on instinct.

MC: Lucien, I am the same as you. I will also possess the same emotions as you… and the same love.

Lucien: [bewitchingly] Then I suppose… perhaps we could make it a little deeper.

Lucien: That way, I can remember even better.

He keeps tucking my hair back again and again, arousing waves of tingling sensation through me.

Everywhere his scalding fingertips wander heats up quickly, as if the warmth is pressing into my blood, until my entire body is slick with sweat.

Unable to stifle my soft panting, I lift my hand and brush over the dried bloodstain on his cheek.

MC: ...Don’t move.

Lucien: But when I locked you up, I let you move freely.

MC: You’re shamelessly twisting words again. That’s a false equivalence!

Lucien: I admit it.

Lucien: But with you right here, how am I supposed to control myself?

Lucien: I just want you to prove it to me… much harder.

From the room's far end, infrared rays cast a dazzling red light. The light's edges trace the outlines of our pressed-together bodies, staining my hair to the very tips of his fingers.

Everything before my eyes blurs into a haze of sultry crimson.

The distant murmur of waves drifts in dully, while the chill-laden air surges forward, as if breaking through the floodgates of desire and plunging into the most intimate depths.

Lucien: [chuckles softly, then whispers huskily] Don’t let me out.

————FIN———–

[T/N]

*: The original line (比表皮更柔软,"内馅"更悠长-lit translated to “softer than the outer skin, the “fillings” lingers even longer”) is more metaphorical than my more physical translation. It uses food imagery, essentially comparing the dumpling to his lips and tongue, and I really don’t know how to translate it in a way that poetically retains this food imagery while still being both understandable and steamy enough so yeah-

Also, the last scene wasn’t as explicit as some others, but they definitely fucked at the end too. The biggest giveaway? That last line before his 'Don't let me out.' The combination of '探进' (literally means to enter and explore/slip into) and '幽密的深处' (literally: hidden and secret deep place) is a phrase often used in erotic writing as a metaphor for entering and exploring a woman's intimate depths.

ALSO! before heading to afterwords and rambles, PLEASE TRY TO HEAR THE ASMR FIRST!!! It's very important bc it's where the seggs confinement + his 'punishment' explored a bit more-

✂———————–

[Afterwords + Some Rambles]

Okay, first of all…THIS DATE. THIS. DATE. A GOD-TIER CONFINEMENT DATE. Absolute peak, 10/10, would let myself get locked up again 🛐✨

Like, Lucien finally went all in on his impulse to lock MC up, and this time, it actually played out instead of getting cut short like in the main story. And the way they executed it? So quintessentially Xu Mo™. Seeing a man who has always "enjoyed" chaos, who has always kept control over every situation, becoming at a loss when it involves the one thing he can’t afford to lose? Delicious.

I love seeing this side of him, it is so raw, vivid, and real. I have to admit, it’s thrilling to watch his composure completely shatter the moment he realizes that accidents aren’t entirely within his control. Seeing his breakdown, his helplessness in the face of his greatest fear. Seeing the madness and tenderness intertwined in his desperate need to keep her by his side. The vulnerability that slips through, the hesitation he can’t quite hide. They all just chef kiss.

Then there’s also the (((mutual))) confinement… What makes this UR such a masterpiece isn’t just the act of confinement but why and how he does it and how she reacts to it. Lucien isn’t someone who simply wants to control MC for the sake of possessiveness or pleasure. He locks her away because, by rational calculation, it’s the most effective way to keep her safe. Not because he feels it’s for the best, but because eliminating all possibilities of her getting hurt is the only way to ABSOLUTELY ensure her safety. There’s possessiveness in his action, yet this date really, really makes it crystal clear that possessiveness is a smaller part of it; the bigger part is fear. He’s not even planning to keep her locked away forever, just until they get back to Loveland City, where she’ll be safe. The way he does the whole confinement thing is arguably logical yet it also circles back to being unhinged LOL.

The date starts with his apparent “indifference” and “coldness” toward war and lost lives, though in my opinion, neither word captures his true state. I think it’s just that Lucien doesn’t process emotions like a normal person. His default mode is rational calculation, not emotional response. When tragedy strikes, it isn’t that he fails to care; he simply can’t fully grasp and feel the emotions from it. It’s not “I see their pain, but I don’t care.” It’s “Why do people feel pain over this? I don’t really get it.”. People lose their lives all the time during war; that’s a simple fact. Some people inevitably need to be sacrificed for the greater good; that's also a simple fact. This detachment is compounded by the fact that he was raised by BS and the fact that when his parents died, he didn’t have time to process his grief as he was forced to run forward without pause, or he wouldn't survive.

Well, Lucien you soon will understand that feeling again- because when MC almost dies yet again for the n-th time, he gets it. As Chapter 25 of Season 1 puts it, she makes him understand an ordinary person’s fear, the fear of losing someone precious. She’s the only emotional reference point he has. It’s not like he lacks emotions, he doesn’t fully experience them unless she is the trigger. And when he does feel? It’s in the most intense, all-consuming way possible. The moment he realizes her plane has crashed, his entire world is shattered into pieces, turning this man, who always walks firmly towards his goal, just, so lost and doesn't even know why he is even walking forward. A sharp pain shoots through him, followed by a heavy numbness as his world fades to a dull, colorless monotony. Overwhelmed by the aching void left by her absence, he teeters on the edge of slipping back into hallucination.

But then MC appears, and her existence tears through the numbness like colorized film bursting from monochrome reels; the thought of almost losing her... again, forever this time, just aches so painfully. His usual composure just crumbles, and his emotions are on full display. Him, who is usually able to restrain his strength, just hugs her so, so tightly, like clinging onto the reality he desperately needs. He’s shaking. He repeats, “It’s okay.” over and over, but it’s clear he’s trying to convince himself ༎ຶ���‿⁠༎ຶ

Desperately, he wants, no, scratch that, needs to confirm that she's real. And what better way to prove that someone isn’t a hallucination than by touching, holding, and feeling them? In doing so, he also tries to calm her, shifting the focus away from her own fear. After all, physical contact releases oxytocin, reducing stress and reinforcing connection (and no, I’m not saying this out of nowhere sdjjdsjdjds, he literally explains this exact oxytocin mechanism in [Embrace Date]). I also like that MC mirrors this action to comfort him later;-;.

In everyday circumstances, he wouldn’t try to physically confine her. Even though he’s possessive, he knows that confinement (cause) would make her unhappy (effect), and since he doesn’t want that outcome, he chooses not to do it. It’s a simple, logical decision, an optimal solution based on cause and effect. But when random chance nearly robs him of her forever… he can't help but do the most optimal solution he can think of: remove chance entirely from the equation. So, he locks her up in the dream, eliminating all the possibility of her getting hurt.

Though it’s not without room for improvement, this date shows some of his growth too. For instance, compared to S1 chapter 25, where he waited for MC to fall asleep before admitting his fear of losing her, this time, he says it outright (“I’m afraid.”). Compared to Distant Similitude UR, he lets her comfort him here. And he’s painfully aware that she isn't exactly a fan of being confined (despite her also somewhat being used to this since it’s not her first rodeo LOL). That’s why he takes her out on walks from time to time and also tries his best to make the dream realistic so it seems as unrestrictive as possible. And deep down, he knows she’ll notice it soon, knows he can’t truly keep her locked up. That’s why, the moment she breaks free, he just smiles, both of resignation and satisfaction. Like saying, “Of course you did.”

MC’s reaction to all of this is just as fascinating. While she feels fear at first, it’s not because he trapped her, it’s because she’s afraid that none of it is real. Her fear isn’t about being confined; it’s about the possibility that this world, this moment, especially Lucien himself, might be an illusion. This aligns perfectly with what she said in [Tidying Date]:

Lucien: Why do you feel afraid?

Lucien: Is there something in my actions that makes you feel uneasy?

MC: No. I’m afraid because you make me feel so at ease.

MC: Afraid that this world which you made complete will collapse because of your departure.

MC: It’ll be like losing my own rib.

Her greatest fear isn’t being confined by him. It’s losing him. That’s why, after the first time she notices something is off, she no longer panics about being trapped; instead, curiosity takes over. Later, she’s mad that he lied, yes, but even more than that, she’s mad that he lied about his own safety. He’s always trying to protect her, but he refuses to let her protect him. And that? That’s what infuriates her the most. And perhaps, in the end, it’s also what drives her to realize she wants to confine him too, realizing that they have the same kind of love for each other.

Lucien, with his self-destructive tendencies, his guilt for being somehow related to her accident, and his need to punish himself for what he perceives as his failure to protect her, happily accepts the punishment and even goads her to be harsher. And perhaps, the moment she turns the tables on him, something shifts between them. I think, her act of confining him makes him feel happy and cherished in a way because it means that to her, he’s just as precious as she is to him. (And MC, your threat of locking him up in a place where only you can see him and he can only see you will only make him even more thrilled LOL. After all, as he put it on his first Valentine date, all he longs for is your eyes on him~).

This seemingly new side of her intrigues him as well. And he’s a greedy, greedy man who wants to possess all of her, which also includes her possessiveness over him and her dominance. In some ways, perhaps they’re just perfect for each other like this, mutually possessive and feeding on each other's possessiveness. Or, as the kids put it, they match each other freak/no. Anyway, thank you for reading if you have made it this far.

[littleglutton]

Bare with me, I never post anymore, but with the release of Caleb's trailer, I have the need to SCREAM.

I am so excited because let me tell you, I firmly believed the only way they could do it right was by bringing him back as THE villain. Not a villain, mind you, THE villain.

Now, hear me out, ok. As someone coming from both the original launch of both MLQC and LADS, I've been playing these otomes forever. Am I an expert? Absolutely not. Have I poured an obscene amount of time, energy, and even money into these games because they bring me joy? Hell yes. #noragrets

Mind you, this is just me speculating and having fun, take what resonates with you 😜

Let me ramble a bit more.

Slight spoiler ahead for mid MLQC lore, so maybe skip or come back to this later if you need to

I thought for sure that when Sylus was introduced, he was the be-all, end-all bad guy. But nope, what he got instead was a super delicious, badass mafia boss whose interests actually end up aligning with MC (because honestly, what he really wanted was YOU), therefore eliminating the truly antagonistic part of their relationship, even if it started that way. Don't get me wrong, Sylus is absolutely morally gray and suspicious, but for the most part, he's not malevolent.

Now, idk bout y'all but the entire VIBE of Caleb's trailer was dark. Stormclouds, abundant. Lighting, striking. Traumatic memories/dreams, all of the above. The best part, watching Caleb suit up into that delicious black uniform. Did that honestly look like a uniform the good guy wears? Because I say hell no, not with those eyes and smile that are suddenly less endearing and more unnerving! Also, let's take a quick peek at those handsome eyes for a second, hmm? What color are they, again?

VIOLET

In film and media history alone, purple is definitely a color associated with the more suspicious/villainous characters. And if we're going by Paper Games alone, you know who else has the dark hair/violet eyed wombo combo?

This shady bastard, right here:

My first love and the original, truly villainous LI of MLQC: Lucien, aka Ares.

When I first started LADS, being a Lulu girlie, I immediately gravitated towards Zayne, obvi. But then I realized the only thing that was really similar was their stoic personalities. While they are also similar in terms of looks and professions, they share completely different motives. In reality, Zayne's arc mirrors more of Gavin's - reunited childhood friends. And while Zayne is typically an icy person in general, throughout the story he opens up so much to MC, allowing their relationship to grow. And while he is secretive about some things, for the most part, he's honest, almost to a fault. I never got the feeling or vibe that there was always another shoe to drop, or that he was hiding one hand behind his back while distracting us with the other like a certain someone listed above. And that is Lucien's draw. As soon as you find out his alter-ego, you're never TRULY sure which Lucien you're talking to from that point on. Are you Lucien, or are you Ares? Also, much of the time, especially in the traditional-themed cards, Lucien is almost always referenced with a snake to really hit home the duality and suspicious nature of his character.

I honestly think we're heading this direction with Caleb. Caleb, whose symbol is an apple. (Original Sin, hello.)

I feel like he's been in-the-thick-of-it longer than we realize. Like...he was recruited for a reason and it's not what we think. That wasn't a rookie's uniform, guys, that was a big boi uniform 😳 if you go to his character profile, it blatantly states he's a COLONEL. WHAT THE HELL!

Why am I excited about this? Aside from the copious amounts of angst we're going to get, it means that Caleb is already established in his career just like the others and that makes him more sure of his personal motives and decisions. (And his bad decisions, I can't wait for his bad decisions 🫠) This is what's going to drive the tension and antagonistic relationship between himself and MC. Because I can tell you right now, whatever that boy is doing, HE probably firmly believes it's the "right" thing to do. There was not one ounce of insecurity or hesitance when he put that uniform on. Is he tied to Ever? I'm going to say, absolutely. The speculation before the trailer was the only thing keeping me interested. I feel like they gave us a bland start to Caleb on purpose so the reveal would hit a little harder. And now that this seems to be the route we're headed, I'm INVESTED.

Food for thought, before I wrap up this long-winded rant:

Caleb is also supposed to be a direct foil to Zayne.

We already know that personality wise, they are quite opposite, but let's check their physicality.

Physically, they are very similar: tall, pale-skin, dark shaggy hair that's cut only slightly different. So where is our visual cue to really cement this foil? Well, it looks like again, it's all in the eyes. Because, what's across the color wheel from purple?

Green

This is just my take on things. Could be right, could also be dead wrong to which I will come back to this post and say so and leave it up for posterity's sake. 😆

At the end of the day, let's all remember that it's just a silly otome game that we all enjoy and in this house we love ALL 5 of our boys, (10 if we're adding MLQC 😂) so if you're gonna say something disrespectful or mean, please scroll on. But if you're coming with fun takes and theories of your own, I'm always free to chat!

[mifluffy-thoughts]

MLQC & LaDs Comparison: Sylus and Gavin

This is the first post in my planned series comparing the LIs of LaDs to the ones from MLQC. I am doing this as InFold has already shown they have a few things they tend to gravitate towards in their writing, and common themes between the two stories can help better understand both and possibly even come up with theories. Originally, I planned to do a comparison between Sylus and all the MLQC LIs, but I just had too many things to talk about with these two so I'm going to do it one by one. For clarity's sake, the MLQC MC will be referred to as P!MC (producer MC) and the LaDs MC will be referred to as H!MC (hunter MC).

MAJOR SPOILER WARNING FOR BOTH GAMES

General Stuff

Sylus and Gavin are practically polar opposites if looked at from afar. Sylus is a criminal, Gavin is a cop. Sylus loves fancy suits, Gavin absolutely hates them (even if he looks great in them :3). Sylus's main colors palette-wise are black and red, Gavin's are blue and white. Sylus has very particular tastes and will barely touch anything he finds to not be "good enough" (you will not catch this man wearing Shein) meanwhile Gavin just wants his stuff to be functional. Sylus does not have the best musical abilities, while Gavin can play the guitar and sing on-tune. I could go on and on about the things they are complete opposites in, and they are on a surface level, but there's a lot more to look at with these two. Dates and Birds

The first thing that came to mind while I was thinking about this is the fact that they have dates that are terrifyingly similar in concept. When I was reading Sylus's Nightplumes memoria, my jaw hit the fucking floor. The concept is fairly simple. H!MC finds an injured dove and asks Sylus to take care of it when she has to leave Linkon. When she returns, they have a cute romantic moment when they meet up and when they free the dove.

Now, let me tell you the concept for Gavin's Brilliant Date. This date is attached to a card from an event in which the player had to log in daily and do a small task to eventually get the free SSR card. The story behind the event is this: Gavin finds an injured dove and begins taking care of it, however he gets a mission and has to leave, so he asks P!MC to take care of it. The date attached to the card shows their meet up once Gavin comes back and the romantic moments that takes place before, during and after they release the dove.

Sound familiar?

While the romantic moments that take place in the dates (as in, the scene with the snow and fireworks for Nightplumes and the window and rooftop scenes for the Brilliant Date) are very different, the overall concept is practically identical, the roles are just switched. And listen, I don't know if "nursing an injured dove back to health while the character who first found the bird is out of town" is a common trope in Chinese VNs (I have only played LaDs and MLQC. I tried Tears of Themis, it wasn't my jam), but in all other otome games that I've played, and I've played a lot, I have only seen this happen in these two occasions. Please correct me if I'm wrong, tho.

Now, what does this imply about the connections between these characters? Well, I feel like this was mainly just to strengthen both of the characters' bird connections, as they are both associated with birds. Sylus's bird association is much more concrete, with the crow imagery basically being yelled at us every other second. Gavin, on the other hand, is much less connected with one bird but rather all birds (that can fly). Gavin acts a lot like a bird- he eats everything with little complaint, he prefers to enter P!MC's apartment through the window, he is very curious and often gets into shit he shouldn't. As such, these two dates serve to highlight these two characters' "birdiness". Tracking MC and Protectiveness

You read that right, both of these characters track MC (with her consent, ofc), albeit in different ways. Sylus tracks H!MC via Mephisto and Gavin tracks P!MC using his Evol (although at first he tells P!MC it's through a GPS tracker in the bracelet he gifted her, probably because this was only a few hours after she found out Evol existed and didn't want to freak her out even more and to have a easy way to identify her). The reason they track MC is the exact same, to keep her safe. Both of them know their MC is being targeted by dangerous forces, and they are unwilling to risk her getting into danger.

However, there is one major difference in the ways they track MC that show a key difference in their protectiveness. Due to Mephisto having a camera and microphone, Sylus doesn't just know where H!MC is, he also knows what she's doing and what she's saying. This gives him a perfect image of what she's up to and, more importantly, who's around her. Sylus knows H!MC is in extreme danger not just because of her Evol and the aether core and whatnot, but also because she's involved with him. She's a target for countless of people. Not only that, she's a hunter. Her job puts her life on the line constantly as she fights to protect Linkon from wanderers.

Sylus knows how reckless H!MC can get if it means saving others. He's experienced that first hand. He knows the lengths she went to just to save him. Of course, we all know how that ended, since he was willing to do the same. But H!MC way back when they first met didn't love anyone aside from him. Now, there's so many people she loves, and he's terrified of that being used against her in any remotely similar way to how it was used in the past. Gavin, on the other hand, only knows where P!MC is. From what I gather, his Evol lets him "feel" what's in the wind. The bracelet was probably just a way for him to easily know that it's her since it's one-of-a-kind. Once he got used to how she felt, he didn't need it anymore. And while he may be protective of her, and he may be terrified of what could happen to her, he has much less to fear than Sylus.

Unlike Sylus (so far), Gavin knows he's not the only one looking out for MC. At the bare minimum, he knows Lucien will protect her, and implications from chapter 18 show that he might also be aware that Victor and Kiro are also looking out for her. And those are just the strongest. Minor and Anna are also keeping her safe in their own ways. Gavin will protect her the most he can, and is willing to go to any lengths to keep her safe, but his worry is much less about who could be a danger to P!MC, it's about what. When P!MC is about to get shot, who saves her? Gavin. Because he knew where she was and he could feel both the sniper and the bullet. And this happens twice. When P!MC is falling from Loveland TV Tower, who saves her? Gavin. Because he could feel her falling and could save her quickly. And in all but one of these situations, Gavin isn't the only one keeping P!MC safe. The first time someone tries to shoot her, Lucies further protects her with a force field. When P!MC is falling, Kiro is making sure Black Swan doesn't get to her.

So yeah, this is something where they are both extremely similar and also very different.

MC Saving them Through Music

The way Gavin's Evol awakened is pretty iconic (if you're in the MLQC fandom). For those who are unaware, Gavin fell off the roof of his and P!MC's high school. Unless something miraculously broke his fall, he was going to die. But then he heard P!MC playing the piano. Something about the tune she was playing awakened the Evol within him, allowing him to fly by controlling the around him. This made a ton of gingko leaves fly around him, and he was able to survive. Had it not been because of P!MC's song, he would have died.

Then there's Sylus. The way her song saved him is in a much less physical sense, but it was because of her song that he was not only able to begin understanding human emotion, but also get the will to survive for long enough to save H!MC. When he first hears the song on the organ, he is genuinely moved. Up until that point, he thought he was basically unable to feel anything aside from desire. Whether it was the desire for acceptance, the desire for gold or the desire for revenge, that was all he knew. But the song made him feel something different. When he was injured to near-death, it was that song that gave him the will to live. Of course, we all know how this story ends.

Honestly, both of these moments are extremely heart breaking. Neither Sylus nor Gavin really cared about their own lives. Sure, Sylus pretended he was happy just collecting treasure and getting revenge on those who trapped him, but he was absolutely hated by everyone. As soon as his horns started growing, his world fell apart. Everyone attacked him, everyone thought he was a monster and he hated it. And then Gavin was made to feel like dirt by his father. The only reason Gavin was alive was to protect his mother and his brother, but eventually he lost them both. And as soon as his father saw any potential in him, he became just another pawn in his games. Music reminded both of them that there's more to life then just surviving.

Other Stuff

To wrap it all off, I'll just list some other things I noticed about these two that are worth mentioning but don't have enough juice for me to write paragraphs and paragraphs of.

Both of them went through some kind of "rebirth". Gavin had his rebirth with his Evol awakening (keep in mind he thought he had no Evol as far as I'm aware) and Sylus had his dragon rebirth

Both of them learn that justice isn't as simple as it's made out to be in the worst way possible. Sylus through how he was hated by everyone due to being a dragon and how P!MC was tried in court and Gavin through basically his entire arc in S1

Both of their backstories are heavily linked to a plant. Gavin has the ginkgo while Sylus has the datura

Both of them are often perceived to be cruel or monstrous by others, especially when they were younger

Both of them have several occasions where their MC has to patch up their wounds

And that's it! Hope you enjoyed this very thorough comparison. Up next will probably be Zayne and Gavin because I just cannot stop thinking about their similarities. No promises, tho! -Fluffy

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

Hello Anika! I've noticed that another CN otome game "Lovebrush Chronicle" is being localized in English. What are your thoughts on the story, and is there a ML in the game similar to Victor?

I want to hear your thought because I think you have a good eye on judging a story ❤️ Sorry if this ask seems to be out of nowhere!

hello!!! thank you haha~ ಡ⁠ ͜⁠ ಡ yes, the game’s original name is 时空中的绘旅人, also known as For All Time. It’s one of the 4 big CN otoges (the other three: Light and Night, Love and Producer/ MLQC, and Tears of Themis).

idk why they had to change the name smh but then again i can see why too LOL, but if you’re gonna change the character names, change for all of them why change just two?? especially since Emerald’s name is explained precisely so aksjsjs i’m so salty rn lmao

uh about the storyline, i had to try hard to not be lured into yet another game lmao (eyeing L&N akshdhd), so i haven’t actually played the game personally after CBT LOL nor do i keep up with its contents that much, so my knowledge regarding the story and the characters isn’t deep and is limited haha. also, since the premise begins in the AU world + with some other factors, i kinda lost my interest to even begin with LOL.

here’s a brief introduction for you though—

the game’s setting is the AU world ahah, and it also has personal routes. it has battle systems for leveling up your profile / raising cards. i heard it can be pretty grindy, but since i haven’t continued playing it, i can’t comment on that :>

✦ The Heroine:

she is an art student / comic artist in the modern world, but one day she gets sucked into a different AU world while watching her friend’s performance. (she’s so pretty tho u.u)

✦ Ai Yin/ Ayn:

19 years old, goes to the same school as the heroine and a pianist in the modern world. He’s a prince in the AU world, focused on his revenge.

✦ Lu Chen/ Alkaid:

20 years old, a transfer student, the heroine’s senior in a different study (Astronomy), photographer. In the AU world, he’s a mage/ high level priest.

✦ Lu Xia/ Rorschach (re-named as Lars for EN):

27 years old, the heir of a wealthy family, CEO, flirty af. In the AU world, he’s an aggressive and headstrong king.

(if you’re into the “CEO trope”, he could be your pick LOL. but if you’re looking for similarities that actually matter— then aside from just the CEO title and maybe that body lmfao, Victor and him share no other similarities hahaha)

✦ Si Lan/ Clarence:

22 years old, goes to the same school as the heroine and is the student president. He is the head highest priest/ mage in the AU world.

✦ Ye Xuan/ Emerald (re-named as Cael for EN):

An art instructor, took the heroine under his wings, gentle in nature sus lmao. In the AU world, he is the silver knight and leading the revolution.

—

Over all, from what I’ve seen, the story is pretty good, has the intrigue elements for sure. Also plus point, in every AU/ arch you get a common part and then you can choose your love interest to progress for the rest of the story. what it does here is that unlike Lovepro/MLQC + Light and Night main story, where the story itself is very character-driven, you need to shut your brain and consider the MC that specific love interest’s heroine for the allocated segment- or else given the extreme lengths she goes for them/ the said borderline intimacy certainly don’t cut for “just friends” tag LOL. So, if you’re someone who self-inserts (consciously or not) and perhaps is a little uncomfortable with that kind of storytelling, For All Time/ Lovebrush Chronicles is certainly one you can give a try.

For me personally, the writing pattern didn’t seem like my cup of tea + I prefer the storytelling pattern of Lovepro and L&N (singular main story + parallel dates) haha. But hey, we all have different tastes, so be sure to give it a chance if you’re interested. Who knows, you could end up with completely different viewpoints than me! (⁠*⁠´⁠∀⁠｀⁠*⁠)

—

[degeneratewhores]

Hi! I'm Rika, known as @lucienbarkbark but I'm doing this on my alt account as I usually just like to keep writings to my main! Thank you for the tag <3 harmony and Brynn, appreciate it.

🦋 How do you spend your free time?

I usually spend my free time reading or playing games most of the time! Either that or just chatting with friends ^^

🦋 What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

My hobbies are, just as you guess, reading and playing games. I originally was a huge reader since I was a child and that never changed till now, I even got my book confiscated by my English teacher when I was younger because I wouldn't stop reading in class. Imagine instead of getting your phone confiscated, you get your book confiscated 😭

As for playing games which I'm sure majority does, I also played a ton of them when I was young because my uncle would introduce me to them such as Minecraft and I often played with him or either my younger brother.

🦋 What book or movie left a lasting impression on you?

I think as I grew older, less books left an impression on me, but I can still remember the books that I was obsessed with when I was younger. The very first example unfortunately being Twilight, followed by Keeper of the Lost Cities, Flame Of Olympus and finally Land Of Stories!

As for movies, I can only name a series which is the BBC Sherlock! I rarely watch movies so I can't talk much about this.

🦋 What kind of music do you enjoy?

I enjoy mostly Japanese music, and English covers of Japanese music. They all are usually are around the J-pop genre and I like to leave auto play on to random new songs I have either heard or haven't heard before!

🦋 Who is your favorite character (atm or all time) and why?

My favourite character is Lucien from MLQC (Mr Love Queen's Choice). I don't think there's a reason or 'why'. It's more of a 'i fell in love at first sight' situation to the point I can even remember when I first saw him HAHAHA. So far, it's my 5th year anniversary with him and the game is actually having their 7th anniversary! To be honest, I can't explain why or what I love about him. I'm always bad at describing characters I love. I just love him blindly, to how gentle he is, how calming his voice is, how resilient he is, how smart he is and more!

Tagging: @quimichi (because everyone else I know has been tagged already!)

tag + q&a game ₊˚ෆ

hello! i thought it would be cute and exciting to do a tag game with all my mutuals to not only talk about themselves, but have fun! so here is my short little game:

alongside this picrew, share 5 things about yourself!

• how do you spend your free time? • what are your hobbies and how did you get into them? • what book or movie left a lasting impression on you? • what kind of music do you enjoy? • who is your favorite character (atm or all time) and why?

i will start first!

my name is rurumi and i enjoy spending my free time writing!

some of my hobbies (outside of writing) includes: drawing, building gundams and keyboards, and fashion! i got into most of them on a whim and became instantly hooked. aside from self-expression, being into fashion also helps with making friends in college because you always have something to talk about!

a book that left a lasting impression on me would have to be either kafka on the shore by haruki murakami or before the coffee gets cold by toshikazu kawaguchi. both stories have kept me up at night thinking a lot about the 'what ifs' in life.

i enjoy soul/r&b alongside anything of jrock influence, but i will basically listen to anything that sounds good. i am currently listening to 'so what' by lucy!

my favorite character at the moment is rin itoshi from blue lock because hes so ridiculously edgy, but at the same time i sympathize with him a lot. on the other hand, my favorite character of all time is suletta mecury from the witch from mercury series, she's an absolute ball of sunshine that i aspire to be.

tagging (+ no pressure) ₊˚ෆ

@kaiser1ns @naenaex0xx @shomatoriashi @choccorin @ryescapades

@rindreamery @soleillunne @kissxcore @rainswept @mitsvriii

anyone can join as well <3

[frozcnhearts]

“ Don’t you think this is a fine world? No fighting, no tumult... it’s clean and quiet. I like this kind of world. “

Personal

Name: Yi Zhou Age: 23+ Nationality: Chinese Likes: Winter, Tea Dislikes: Loud and crowded places

Affilation: Black Swan ( former )

Yi Zhou, a mysterious man who mostly goes by the name ‘Hypnos’. He suddenly appeared in Yokohama, dragging people into a dream-like reality with his ability. Squeezing them out about informations, by manipulating them in this ‘other world’.

He only says things he sees as necessary, rarely even introduces, and even in the dream world he mostly is found somewhere playing on a white piano. His location in the real world is unknown, as he mostly is found walking on the streets.

Once, Yi used to be a member of the Chinese organisation ‘Black Swan’, until his betrayal towards them - causing him to leave China and coming to Yokohama.

Ability: Dream Edge

If touched by day he can trap the person, once asleep, into a dream he calls ‘their own world’. It’s a world, frozen in time and of colorless appearance that resembles lifelessly the city or town they are currently in. Snow keep falls and reacts to the confusion of the trapped person - becomes stronger, the more emotional they are.

The world can be escaped, once the trapped one truly realizes of being trapped in a dream.

[thatfanfictionchick]

MLQC - About that night

╔═══°∴,*⋅✲══〖✰〗══✲⋅*,∴°═══╗

Helios x Reader x Shaw

Rating: Explicit NSFW

Warnings: Talk of infidelity; Alcohol consumption; Threesome; Vaginal fingering; Vaginal intercourse; Oral sex; Multiple orgasms;

Word count: 5146

Notes: For the user that pointed out the link was dead because the co-writer is deactivated! This was originally posted in 2020? 2021? Anyway, enjoy!

╚═══°∴,*⋅✲══〖✰〗══✲⋅*,∴°═══╝

New Year's Eve.

I had just broken up with my longtime boyfriend, and my two best friends promised me a night that would make me forget he ever existed. Reluctantly, I agreed to let them whisk me away to a party at a local hotel bar, complete with a suite rental so we didn't have to worry about driving home after consuming an obscene number of drinks. I had no idea what to expect, but I can tell you this: it sure as hell wasn’t what ended up happening to me that night. Allow me to elaborate, if you will...

“Ya know, he was a loser, anyway,” Willow slurred, leaning drunkenly against my shoulder after gulping down the rest of her drink. “You were too good for him. And you. Deserve. Better.” She punctuated each of those last three words with an index finger poked against my cheek, falling into giggles at her own ridiculous antics.

“I know, I know.” I studied what was left of my own drink, tracing my fingers absently around the rim. She’s right, I thought. But it doesn’t make it hurt any less. 

Chad. Stupid, lying, cheating bastard that he was. He denied everything when I confronted him, thrusting his phone in his face to show him I had proof of his infidelity in text form.

“Who is Lauren, Chad? And why the hell is she calling you ‘babe’?” 

“I can explain! Please, I-”

I threw his phone at him, shaking my head. “Don’t bother. Kiki already saw you together two days ago. This just confirms it.” My vision blurred with hot, angry tears, but I refused to let him see me cry. “Merry Christmas to me, yeah?”

It was the beginning of our end. Christmas Eve, and there I was, kicking my boyfriend out of our shared apartment while he begged me to let him stay. 

“It’s Christmas, for God's sake! What kind of sadist are you, anyway? Where am I supposed to go?”

I was furious. I didn’t give a damn where he went, as long as it was away from me. My cheeks were blazing, the tears spilling freely now as I threw his belongings into a black trash bag. “Why don’t you go stay with Lauren? I’m sure she’ll be happy to take you in.” I paused, then added, more to myself than to Chad, “I’m sure she already has more than a few times, anyway.”

“Yeah? Well fuck him,” Willow spat, slouching over her empty glass.

Kiki nodded in agreement, looking like she was about to pass out, eyes blinking slowly, a tired, blissful smile plastered on her face. “Yeah….fuck ‘em.”

“Excuse me, ladies. Who are we fucking?” An attractive male voice cut through the din of music and conversation around us. He sounded young. He sounded hot. The three of us shared a look, then fell into giddy giggles. I turned around to answer and was met with a pair of eyes so intense, their golden hue cut so purely through the relative darkness of the venue. I couldn’t be sure, but his hair looked to be dyed a pale lavender color- whether on purpose or a remnant of a botched dye job, I didn’t know. And quite frankly, I didn’t care at that moment.

He took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled, his chuckle coming out in visible puffs of smoke as he studied the three of us, probably looking positively ridiculous after a few hours of drinking and dancing.

“Whoever he is, he’s a lucky man.” His eyes lingered on me, and for a moment I thought I recognized him. He reminded me of someone I had known in high school. I think it was those eyes…

Willow kicked me in the shin and looked up at him, her tone teasing, mischievous. “We were just talking about an ex boyfriend. Total douchebag. Old news.” She lifted her glass, the remaining slivers of ice and watered-down rum nearly sloshing out over the side. “To New Year’s Eve. To new beginnings!” She went to take a swig and realized there was nothing left worth drinking. “Hey, you should buy us another round, misterrrr…?”

“Shaw. The name’s Shaw.” He smirked, taking a step closer to us, his eyes never leaving my face. I felt myself growing even hotter, his intense stare causing me to feel a tad uncomfortable, but...incredibly turned on at the same time. “What’s in it for me if I do?”

Willow opened her mouth to answer but was cut off by Kiki, springing upright in her seat and slapping the bar with her hands. “Guysss that hot weekend band is here!”

“Weekend band?” I asked, briefly looking from Shaw to her and back. His smirk widened into an amused grin.

“They’ve played the bar near my place a few times. On the weekends. The singer is suuuuper hot.”

Can’t be any hotter than what’s right in front of us.

“Does the band have a name, Kiki?” I asked.

She looked at me, incredulous, her eyes swinging to where the band was almost set up, ready to play. “Um, does it really matter when that is center stage?’

I looked toward the commotion on the stage where the emcee was handing the mic off. He was a vision. Perfection. Distressed jeans, a black shirt that hung open halfway down his chest, sleeveless to showcase the tattoos that ran down one arm. The light reflecting off his white hair was blinding. A guitar hung across his back, the body shaped like a gun. The singer turned, eyes sweeping the crowd. 

Course I’d been wrong before…

I turned back to Shaw, giving him a head to toe sweep of my gaze, trying to look as seductive as possible. I reached out and traced my finger down his abdomen, my breath catching at how firm and warm his muscles felt under my touch. “So, about the next round. What is it you want?” 

He leaned over the back of my chair, so close I could feel his breath on my neck. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” I felt his teeth on the cusp of my ear; teasing, exhilarating. My inhibitions lowered dramatically by the alcohol, I turned my chair around to look him square in the eye; my hand locked around his wrist as his fingers grazed the inside of my thigh.

“You didn’t ask for permission to touch me.” He dipped his head, locks of his hair falling into his eyes as he chuckled. Kiki and Willow watched us without saying a word, holding back their squeals of delight.

“You touched me first. Besides, you were practically begging me to touch you.” I scoffed, my pulse pounding in my ears, heat pooling in my gut. He called my bluff, but I wanted to keep the banter alive. This was flirty.

Hot.

Fun.

Dangerous.

“You’re sexy. Your boyfriend is an idiot,” he said, leaning in close.

“He’s not my boyfriend anymore, Shaw. And you know what else is sexy?” I licked my lips and watched his mouth fall open. “Consent.”

He hummed, his lips so close to mine that I could feel the vibration, the pungent smell of tobacco and hard liquor on his breath. “Can I kiss you, then?” His question was met with my mouth crashing against his, hands rising to fist into the collar of his shirt, pulling him as close to me as I possibly could. It was reckless. It was wild. But I threw all caution to the wind, hearing my best friends screech beside me as I made out with this perfect stranger like it was my job.

He was first to break the kiss, pulling away, to suck in a breath. Just as he did, the lead guitarist of the band struck his first chord, letting it ring out over the crowd. People cheered and whistled, and stage lights cast a hazy glow all around. The singer stepped forward and grabbed the mic stand, leaning forward slightly to speak as he centered himself under the spotlight.

“How’s everybody doing tonight?” The crowd cheered again, and a woman somewhere behind us screamed, “WE LOVE YOU, HELIOS!” He must have heard her, because he smirked playfully and pointed in her direction. “Love you, too.” The drummer kicked them into gear; soon the whole place was pulsing with driving bass, drums, electric guitar, and the edgy, gritty, soulful rasp of Helios's voice. Kiki had dragged Willow into the crowd, and I spotted them easily, their bodies writhing to the music. I felt Shaw’s hand on my shoulder, hot and insistent with some unspoken desire, and I looked up at him, brow arched.

“Need something?” I asked.

“Yeah…” he began, leaning in to pin my bottom lip between his teeth, releasing it with a pop. “You. On me. Let’s dance.” Before I could protest, he was pulling me into the crowd, grinding his hips on mine to the beat. He had rhythm- I gave him that. He also oozed confidence and sex appeal, snaking an arm around my waist, letting his fingers trace circles on my backside as he bent to taste my neck, my jaw, and finally kiss me full on my lips again, hungry and wanting. I felt like he was searching for some deep, lost part of me that had been buried long ago. He kissed me like he had nothing to lose, and I kissed him back with the same fervor, my intense need growing with each flick of his tongue across mine. Maybe it was my messy breakup a week ago. Maybe it was some primal need to be devoured that he had awakened in me, but there with him, his body pressed urgently against mine amidst the other bodies around us, coherent thoughts clouded by lust and alcohol, I made up my mind that I was going to fuck him. It was beyond want at this point. It was an unequivocal need. I needed to forget...what’s his face? My ex-boyfriend’s name was just a fleeting thought when I felt the unmistakable push of Shaw’s bulge against my core, ready and eager to be driven inside me in some dark, secluded corner.

Or, right there on the dance floor. I was so turned on at that point, I didn’t care who saw it. 

I rode his thigh, grinding myself against his jeans, the friction almost enough to make me come right then and there. I dug my nails into his triceps, pulling him against me. His forehead rested against mine for a moment before he turned to speak, lips fluttering against my ear, “You got a room here tonight?” I nodded, tucking my bottom lip under my teeth while I tried to read the expression on his face. “Well?”

“Well, what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“You gonna invite me up, or what?” The nerve of this guy! I mean, I was every bit the drunk, loose woman that night. It was stupid, really. I was playing with fire and just asking to get burned, but I didn't care. I was hurt, horny, and looking for a fling, and the heavens had heard my cry and sent me Shaw.

I was a tigress, hunting her prey.

And I had him cornered, ready to pounce.

But I wasn't done teasing him just yet.

"That remains to be seen," I whispered against his ear, licking the cusp for good measure and secretly thrilling in the buck of his hips. I looked up and saw how close to the stage we had migrated, then locked eyes with Helios as he sang the chorus of the last song of the night. I hadn't realized how long Shaw and I had been dancing, but it must've been for the better part of an hour, off and on. Even in the poor lighting and haze of smoke, I could see his eyes: ocean blue, haughty, cold. He didn't smile when our eyes met, but he stared. Long and hard, like the cock I imagined he was packing in those ripped jeans. Jesus, get a grip, I told myself. Shaw seemed to sense my hesitation, because he suddenly grabbed me behind the knees and lifted me, hooking my legs around his waist. I squealed and locked my arms around his neck as he spun me away from Helios, who watched as Shaw nuzzled my breasts with his nose, playfully nipping at the exposed skin at the deep v-neck of my shirt.

"Focus, baby. I'm all yours." The way Helios watched us stirred my longing for him even more, and I was struck with an idea so filthy, so completely sinful that I was surprised I wasn't knocked dead right then and there and set into the pits of Hell.

I wanted both of them. Together. The three of us, engaged in carnal, lascivious, sleazy, lecherous, immoral activities that I had only ever read or fantasized about.

"I want him, too." 

Shaw stared at me, incredulous. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me. I. Want. Him. Too." To further entice him, I flattened my tongue against his Adam's apple and licked the rough path to his chin, nipping at his bottom lip with a snarl and a low growl.

"Easy there, tiger. Let me see what I can do." He surprised me by taking strides toward Helios, who was talking with a couple of fans. Setting me down, he patted me on top of my head, told me to 'stay there like a good girl', and promptly hoisted himself onto the stage where he began unplugging equipment and winding up cords. He's one of their tech guys, I realized then. It hadn't dawned on me until then that he was alone when he approached Kiki, Willow, and I. No friends, no girlfriend or even a date with him. Just Shaw and his brazen self, swaggering up to us like he knew what he wanted, and he was going to get it. 

As he was expertly looping one of the amplifier cords over his shoulder, he sidled up behind Helios and said something, looking at me the entire time. Helios turned and looked at me, something akin to a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, though his eyes remained cold. They shared a laugh then, with Helios watching my face for a reaction. I refused to give him much, but my heart was racing along at such a frantic pace I could barely breathe. And when he stepped off the stage and met me face to face, my soul left my body and I was promptly sent into overdrive. My pussy was throbbing so hard that it hurt. 

"Shaw tells me you're looking for a little fun." He reached out, brushing damp hair away from my face before trailing rough fingertips down my jaw. The girls he’d been talking to stared daggers as he slowly circled, humming appraisal as he went. He stopped behind me, hands around my waist sliding down to squeeze my ass through my jeans before stepping up and asking quietly, “you sure you can handle both of us?”

I swallowed, the heat rolling off his body like standing under the summer sun. “Yeah, pretty sure I can take it.” Need. Want. Will. He circled back to facing me, a sinful grin on his face. He leaned down and I popped up on my toes, meeting his lips halfway. He was softer than Shaw, lips moving slowly against mine with agonizing tenderness. I was aching for more, and I was determined to get it. I bit his lip before sucking his tongue in my mouth, tilting my head in a silent request. He obliged, teeth and tongue leaving me a whimpering mess before you pulled away.

“Well then, if that’s how you want to play it.” Soft lighting reflected in his gaze like a burst of gold. And when his eyes fell to my heaving breasts-and lower, to where my core pulsed-I knew that I was in trouble.

Nope. There was no walking away from this one now.

〖✰〗

Clothes littered the floor from the door to the king size bed. Helios was the first to crawl onto the mattress, apparently not feeling any shame in sprawling himself out naked. He reached out and grabbed my hips, pulling me flush against his chest. His erection felt like a brand against my back. He reached around, kneading my breasts before running his hands down, ghosting over my thighs and grabbing under my knees, opening my legs to Shaw who watched intensely. 

“I suppooose,” Helios’s voice was a sing-song tease in my ear as his fingers trailed up my inner thighs. “Since I’m the guest, I could let you go first.” He was looking at Shaw as he licked a line down my neck, calloused fingertips teasing my wet slit.

Shaw stood at the foot of the bed, stroking himself languidly, amber eyes watching every flick of those fingers across my skin. My head was spinning from the alcohol I had consumed, and I allowed myself to fall backward onto Helios’s broad, tattooed shoulder, opening my mouth as I moaned, taking in the vision before me. It was as much a show for him as it was for Helios, whose fingers worked themselves inside further at the sound of my cry.

“But I wouldn’t mind helping, if that’s okay.” Helios’s teeth skimmed my shoulder and he waited for an affirmative nod from Shaw.

“As long as we’re all in agreement, I’m down for whatever.” He took a step toward us and climbed onto the bed, that perpetual sneer now inches away from my own, hungry mouth. I pitched forward, eager for another taste of his lips, but he drew back with a click of his tongue.

What a goddamn tease.

“Easy now. We’ve got all night.”

Helios’s lips tickled my jaw and with a smirk I turned my head, kissing him instead. He wasted no time, tongue curling in my mouth the way his fingers curled to find my g-spot. I moaned and bucked my hips, brushing against Shaw’s jutting cock.

“Well, that’s just rude.”

“Play bitch games…” I whispered breathlessly. Helios chuckled.

“Win bitch prizes?” His wintry eyes met Shaw’s as he finished the sentiment.

“Now, now, there’s only enough room in here for one smart ass and that would be me.” Shaw reached out and pinched my stiff nipples, making me squirm. His touch softened, tickling and fondling my breasts before moving down to trace circular patterns on my belly. Helios seized my lips again, a slow expedition, barely affording me the chance to breathe.

Between the two of them I felt like a paper boat tossed in the ocean, pitching on the waves before starting to sink beneath the surface. I wondered idly if the noises Helios made was due to how my slick walls are starting to clamp down on his fingers. Shaw dipped his head, tongue lapping torturously at my nipples. “Gentlemen!” I finally gasped, breathless. “We may have all night, but if someone doesn’t fuck me now I’m going to lose it!”

Helios could barely contain his amusement. “You heard the lady.” He pushed his fingers deep, grinding his palm against my clit. Shaw crawled away, fumbled through the haphazard string of clothes for his jeans, produced a condom from his back pocket, and rolled it expertly down his intimidating length. In my drunken arousal, I hadn’t really looked closely at his cock until now; his girth was impressive, and sucked in a breath as Helios continued his ministrations, preparing me for the experience at hand.

“You ready for this, baby?” Shaw knelt in front of me, grabbing roughly at my hips and slotting his eager mouth against mine. Much to my chagrin, Helios withdrew his fingers, teeth and tongue tracing a path down the sensitive flesh of my back. His hands then traveled up my spine, vertebra by vertebra, as if he were memorizing the bumps and dips on the path to my neck. Then, gathering my hair at the nape of my neck, his other hand sliding around to rest at my throat, he squeezed-  just enough to thrill and terrify me at the same time. He lifted my chin and sucked hard on my shoulder, meeting Shaw’s eyes with a subtle nod, as if to urge him on. Shaw lined himself up against my throbbing, aching sex. In a suddenly tender moment, he pushed my hair away from my face, cupping my cheek in his palm. "Be gentle with me. It's my first time," he cooed, the corner of his mouth lifting into that signature smirk.

“I refuse to believe any of this is a first for you~” my reply trailed off to a loud moan as he pushed his cock inside me, Helios’s fingers tightening ever so slightly around my neck. They’ve definitely done this before. I briefly considered asking them if they were keeping track of all the roadies they had fucked together, but Shaw’s thickness stretching me in all the right ways left me without a second to even think straight. God, he felt good. 

Helios kept a tight grip on my hips as Shaw found his rhythm, coaxing me on in his breathy rasp. “That’s it, baby. You like it when I hold you up for him to fuck you?” I could only moan an affirmation, the room beginning to grow hazy as I felt my release coming quicker than I wanted. His arms slid upward, hands locking onto my breasts to pull me tighter against his chest. I leaned against his shoulder again and hooked an arm around the back of his neck, where I grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked, drawing a low growl from him. “Easy, killer. You gotta be careful doing things like that, or I might not let Shaw finish." He threw a look at Shaw, who-of course-laughed, the sound leaving his throat in staggered pants. A delicious, ruddy glow spread over his cheeks, a sheen of sweat glistening on his tanned skin. I pressed my palm to his cheek and hooked my other arm around his neck, pushing him flush against my own sweat-slick chest. His tongue caught one of my overstimulated nipples and teased pebbled flesh; then he sucked it into his mouth, effectively sending me over the edge. My pussy clamped down around him and he slowed his pace, obviously enjoying the sensation. I was vaguely aware of his breath on my ear, of a bead of sweat rolling down between my breasts and mingling with that of Shaw's skin. 

"Yeah, baby girl. Ride it out. God, you feel good, squeezing my cock. Unh…" Our ragged breathing mingled with the throaty grunts of Helios behind me. 

"Fuck. You don't mess around, do you?" Helios marveled, sweeping my damp hair away to lick the column of my neck once more, sending shockwaves throughout my already spent body. I searched for the words to retort, but I had none. I hadn’t meant to come so fast. I wanted to ride the wave, to feel Shaw working inside me for longer than those first few minutes, but I had been so painfully aroused before we started that I just couldn’t take anymore. His release came soon after mine began, his cock pulsing against my walls while his hips bucked uncontrollably against mine. I went limp against Helios’s firm chest and whimpered, quaking with pleasure, having lost any and all control over the movements of my body. 

Helios’s patience was strung thin. Watching, feeling me writhe against him as I came on Shaw’s cock was torture in its purest form. Shaw rolled to the side, taking me with him, and Helios slid to the floor. He picked his jeans up at the foot of the bed and pulled a string of three condoms out of the back pocket, tearing one off and tossing the others.

“Show off.” Shaw mumbled, grinning as he cradled my face in his hands and kissed me.

“Jealous.” Helios replied, tongue flashing between his lips in a childish display. “Now if the opener is finished he should make way for the main act.”

“Is it too late for me to apologize for him?” Shaw said with a laugh. I felt empty as he pulled away. Helios sauntered back, grabbing my ankles and chuckling when I squealed as he dragged me to the edge of the bed. He leaned over and kissed me, lapping a hungry line down my throat and between my breasts. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath the lower he went until his tongue passed over my clit and plunged into my overly sensitive pussy, making me exhale in a head-spinning groan. He braced my feet against his shoulders before grabbing my thighs, holding me in place as he pressed his mouth against me, pushing his tongue as deep as it could go. I reached down, twisting my fingers in soft white hair. My throat felt dry no matter how many times I swallowed, unaware of how loudly I was moaning. Letting my hands do the work of guiding him, Helios ripped the foil and rolled the condom down his throbbing shaft before reaching up and sliding two fingers inside me. My pussy clenched, his tongue swirling around my clit as he rubbed my g-spot. I didn’t think it was possible for me to come again so quickly, but I could feel my muscles tensing as the wave built low in my belly. Charles...Carl...what’s-his-name had never pulled this off.

“I...I’m gonna...gonna come-!” I wailed, bright spots flashing in my eyes, a small gush of fluid wetting the bed beneath me. I didn’t even notice Helios pop to his feet, dragging the back of his hand over his mouth as he lined himself up and filled me with one smooth thrust. My thighs snapped against his hips and my mouth fell open noiselessly.

“Ssshhit!” He hissed, grabbing my ankles and spreading my legs. I was still coming, my pussy fluttering around his cock. “You feel so good.” He fucked me deep and hard, using his grip on my legs to add leverage to every thrust. My vision swam, I couldn’t focus on anything but the feel of his cock driving into me over and over. 

“You didn’t forget about me, did you?” Shaw’s voice was soft and I jerked as his hands slid under my shoulders, hoisting me up so he could hold me against his chest. His hands skated over my body, one hand pressing against my mound, the fingers of the other coming up to trace my lips. I numbly parted them, sucking on his fingers as they slipped over my tongue. Shaw’s hand danced up my leg, replacing Helios’s grip on my ankle so that Helios could reach down to grab my hip. Shaw’s lips pressed against my ear, tongue tracing the contours. 

“And what if..ah...I did?” Each word I managed was a conscious effort; my throat was so dry and raw, and I licked my lips, desperate for moisture. Shaw sensed my need and rewarded me with another kiss, pushing his own tongue through my parched lips. 

“Look. Watch him come. ‘Cause once he’s finished, I’ll need your help again.” He shifted himself so that I was propped against his chest again, my head trained downward to where Helios was pumping furiously in and out of me, Shaw’s fingers expertly strumming my clit, his cock pressed hard and hot against my back. I whimpered at his command, not sure just how much more pleasure my body could endure. 

I was seeing stars at that point, tears pooling at the corners of my eyes. Every muscle in my body was limp and feeble, and I was thankful for Shaw’s support, as I don’t think I would have been able to hold myself up to meet Helios’s eager thrusts. And when I felt him twitching within, saw his cerulean eyes flash with a silent outcry of ultimate gratification, I came for a third time, my hips lifting high off the mattress and taking him in fully, completely. I think we all cried out together, sweat-slick bodies sliding together effortlessly, as if the three of us were one being. I had never felt more sexy, more desirable, more alive as I did in that moment. It was overwhelming in many ways, and when Helios pulled himself out, leaving me feeling barren and empty, I whined softly, curling myself against Shaw, the tears of euphoria I’d kept in check before now streaming freely.

Helios saw what was happening and sat beside Shaw and I, his fingertips tracing over my shoulders in a sensual, yet comforting way. They exchanged a look of concern, and Shaw covered my ear with his palm, whispering to Helios, “I think we broke her, man. Why’s she crying?”

“She’s spent, Shaw. Look at her. She is tapped the fuck out.” He hooked his fingers around a few damp locks of hair that were plastered against my cheek and pushed them away, then placed an achingly tender kiss on the newly exposed skin. I opened my eyes and found his gaze, my vision blurred but still able to discern his smile, edged with a hint of concern thanks to a furrowed brow. I tapped his chin with my fingertip playfully, my lips twitching into a grin. 

“You two lied to me,” I said, fingernails raking the stubble on his cheek.

They exchanged a look of confusion, with Shaw bending close, turning his ear toward my mouth to better hear me. “What did you say?”

“You said it was your first time. But you’ve done this before. There’s no way in hell you haven’t practiced that on another...helpless...victim…” I felt myself succumbing to exhaustion quickly, now slumping into the supportive arms of Helios, my hands clasped together under my chin, head resting against his chest.

I felt the vibration of Helios’s chuckle against my ear. The bed dipped slightly as Shaw stood and stretched his arms above his head with a loud groan, then staggered off to the bathroom. I soon heard the sound of rushing water, presumably from the shower. That soothing sound, coupled with the comforting heat of Helios’s embrace was enough to send me into a deep, restful sleep. When my breathing steadied, Helios slowly, silently slid away and covered me with the rumpled sheet before stepping out onto the balcony, naked, taking in the view of the city below.

After his shower, Shaw joined him, a towel tied around his waist, damp hair tousled and wild. He lit a cigarette and leaned on the railing, blowing smoke rings into the black, starless night.

“Guess there’s a first time for everything, yeah?”

[ikementally-deficient]

If you’re up to it, would you do MLQC Gavin’s NSFW alphabet?

Hi anon! Thanks for waiting 1,117 days for me to answer this. Unfortunately, since the Incident between Elex, the Chinese Government, and the original English VAs, it's unlikely I'm ever going to return to MLQC, so I'll give you the four letters I did complete.

Gavin's NSFW Alphabet: A, E, F, U

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Gavin is an aftercare hero. He’s there with the cuddles, the wet cloth, and gently nagging you to go to the bathroom before you fall asleep.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Not as experienced as you might assume from how good he is at this. There was some fumbling in the dark in high school, until he met MC and then every other girl in school just ceased to exist for him. It wasn’t until his final year at the police academy that he even noticed women again, and aside from a few first dates and one memorably ill-advised one-night-stand at graduation, Gavin’s love life has been quiet.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Gavin’s personal favourite is the position referred to by Women’s Health Magazine as the ‘reverse scoop’ - face to face, on his side, legs tangled together so he can hold her close in his arms.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

At the beginning of your relationship, Gavin takes things far too seriously, too reverently to tease. But as you stay together and he stops feeling quite so much like this is a dream, he begins to take pleasure in riling you a little when he knows you can’t respond.

[iasucirpa]

For You

Fandom: MLQC Part : 1 of 2 Warnings: None Pairing: Kiro/MC (Yuya) Summary: MC and Kiro meet up at a retro club. Kiro has something to tell MC, but she might be too dense to get it.

Yuya danced wildly across the club dance floor. Her body kept a fast rhythm as she sang the words to the retro song. She had spent her entire week working hard to bring together a show that would become a viral sensation. After putting in so many long hours she went to her favorite club to dance away her stress. The retro club would be almost embarrassing to be found in, especially since she wasn’t dressed for the part tonight. She came in her work uniform and didn’t much care. She just wanted to be free for the night.

She glanced at her watch. It was already ten and the DJ started to play a slower song. She sighed inwardly wishing she could dance a few more hours. It was time for her to go home, so she left the dancefloor only to hear the music change suddenly to an upbeat track she loved. She turned on her heels and ran back onto the dance floor. She vaguely wondered why the DJ decided to change his lineup. Swinging her hips from side to side Yuya caught the beat of the song.

“You’re enjoying yourself tonight.”

The familiar voice sent a warm feeling through her stomach. She glanced back to see the blond smiling at her. “Kiro?”

“You’ve been at it for a while,” he stated watching her damp hair swing back and forth.

Yuya stopped suddenly embarrassed when she thought about Kiro seeing her at the club, which led her to a question. “What are you doing here?”

A superstar like Kiro wouldn’t be caught dead at a retro club like this one. It would cause a flood of bad publicity.

“Hmm, I do like places like this,” he said not explaining.

“You like retro clubs?” she asked.

“Yes, is that odd? You like them,” he pointed out.

“That’s a little different. I’m not an idol. No one would care if I came here to dance,” she explained as she was about to leave the dance floor. Kiro took her by the hand and pulled her back to him.

“Dance with me. I love this song.” He said as the song started and more people poured onto the floor. The song was super popular during its time but had become a meme. Yuya still loved it even if people thought it was lame now. Kiro liking it made her feel less embarrassed. She followed him and they danced to the old song. She was shocked to know he knew all the dance moves to the song.

She wasn’t going to do them because that would be telling but when he started she stared. She danced the female parts to his male ones and she couldn’t even feel anything at that moment but excitement. The part where they mirror each other had her laughing because of the funny faces Kiro was making.

The song was the original version so it was almost ten minutes of intense dancing. Kiro didn’t give up and she hadn’t even thought about how tired she should be after her first few sets of songs. Dancing with Kiro made her feel so much excitement she couldn’t feel any exhaustion. As the song fade out and another one made an entrance Yuya kept moving. She was going to sleep like a baby tonight.

Kiro kept up with her even though it was to be expected since he did a ton of dancing as an idol. His knowledge of all the choreography for the song was surprising. She didn’t even realize they were causing a crowd to gather around them on the dance floor. Some were filming them as they kept up with the next song change. The crowd was cheering them on and Yuya felt a strange euphoria come over her. She laughed breathy as she spun into Kiro’s arms. The song hit its well-known chorus and Kiro called out to the crowd to dance with them.

The people seem to all agree with his request and joined them. As the crowd came in Kiro grabbed her hand and they slipped out of the crowd and off of the dance floor. Yuya had no idea where they were going but she followed him. They left the club from a side door and outside the scent of rain and the city floored her senses. Kiro’s cologne was sweet and light as he pulled her close to him. They walked down the small alleyway to the main street and the sound of the bass booming loudly from the club was drowned out by the rain.

They got to his car and he opened the door. She got in and he closed it. The warmth of the car was nice against the cold of the winter season and her soaked clothes from rain and sweat. Kiro got in the driver’s side and they pulled off. Yuya thought he must have started his car while they were dancing or he left it on.

After dancing so much she finally felt exhaustion set in. She felt sleepy and the lights from the streetlamps were lulling her to sleep. Kiro didn’t speak and only hit the play on his phone to play a song through the car speakers. It was one of his songs but one she never heard before. It was a ballad and one she would have thought she would know. She knew all his songs, but this one was different from all the ones she ever heard before. The emotion in this one was stronger than any of the others. She thought if he ever did the song on stage they would be carrying out a few people.

She couldn’t find any sleep if she kept on thinking about the song so she opened her eyes and asked him a question. “What album is this on? Is it new?”

Kiro was smiling again, “It’s new and unreleased.”

That explained it but there was something that was still missing. “What is it called?”

“For you.”

Listening to the song Yuya realized it was a proposal song. The emotion in the song was so intense. The longing and yearning in his words matched the underlying passion she could feel in his tone. It felt like he was offering himself to the woman that loved.

“Are you going to perform it on stage? You’ll probably need a few ambulances on hand if you sound anything like you do on the studio version. A live version is going to give a few fans a heart attack.”

“Savin said the same thing.” Kiro said laughing a little embarrassed, “But it won’t ever be released at least not to the public.”

“Wh-what? Why not?”

Kiro glanced at her and then looked back at the road. “Because… I don’t want to sing this song to just anyone. I put everything into it. My heart…soul… everything is in there. Singing this to a crowd feels like I’m laying bare everything about me. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I- I don’t want just anyone to hear me like this.”

Yuya couldn’t take her eyes off of him. “Should I be hearing it then? I mean…”

Kiro hit the brakes suddenly as the light turned red. His expression was incredulous. He sighed deeply and paused the song. He was quiet for a while as he pulled the car into an almost empty parking lot.

He stopped the car and left it idling. “Yuya you’re surprisingly dense.”

“Huh?” she said.

Kiro didn’t speak and started back to their destination. He looked frustrated but didn’t say anything else about the song. Yuya kept quiet trying to understand what she had done wrong.

They reached her apartment complex in no time and she got out. Kiro walked her to her door and before he left he spoke, “Let’s have lunch tomorrow.”

“Okay,” she supposed he wasn’t angry with her or he wouldn’t ask her to lunch.

“I’ll pick you up at eleven,” he said watching her go in.

“Thank you,” she said still feeling like she was missing something.

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

[purple-cat-demon]

I posted 548 times in 2022

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536 posts reblogged (98%)

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I tagged 525 of my posts in 2022

Only 4% of my posts had no tags

#mlqc - 370 posts

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Longest Tag: 135 characters

#the truth is it's like this. bc i started last summer and gave up but. today was a shaw day and i said screw it its getting. finished.

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

A little update of sorts:

I finally got back to Forever Starts Under the Ginkgo Tree after suffering a gnarly writer's block. Not quite done writing this last part but I'm getting there~

I started an origin story for my two OCs that will tie into my Dungeons and Dragons group, but it's a story that's been in my head for a LONG TIME.

Started writing down notes for Hazel and Gavin's Wedding Fic. (Then I started remembering all the details of my wedding and got a little overwhelmed 🤣)

4 notes - Posted January 9, 2022

#4

Ya know, it just occurred to me that I have failed to use the nickname "Hazelnut" for any of my Gavin x Hazel fics...

5 notes - Posted August 16, 2022

#3

So I have the first part of my OCs Origin Story typed out; eagerly getting the second part finished so it can be typed out, and still writing out the third part.

I have so many scenes in my cracked little mind that need to be written and honestly, it feels good to be this invested in my own characters 😅 Now if I could just DRAW these OCs, I would be ecstatic~

I promise I have not forgotten about the last part of Forever Starts Under the Ginkgo Tree! The material I wrote out for that last part seems off to me so I'm trying to revisit it and rework it somehow so it hopefully doesn't sound redundant or boring... I do plan on keeping the morning s*x part though😏

As always, I am forever grateful for your patience and thank you for enjoying my works!

6 notes - Posted April 2, 2022

#2

Forever Starts Under the Ginkgo Tree Part 9

Pairing: Gavin x Hazel

Genre: 🔞Smut🔞 romantic/domestic fluff

Word Count: 4,714

Warnings: wet dream leading to actual sex, unprotected sex.

Beta by the lovely @sin-with-quiche

Dear GEEZUS, this has been a very long time coming and I have my finicky Muse to thank for that (the highly distractive little brat), but yes, this little saga is finally done after about 2 years in the making?? So I hope y'all enjoy the final instalment of Forever Starts Under the Ginkgo Tree~ 💙 thank you all who have been reading it and have been very patient for each instalment~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~Sunday 7:30am~~

"Wakey wakey, my love~" Hazel gently whispered in Gavin's ear. A soft moan came from her fiancé, still touring dream land.

"Ngh, how is it that you're awake before me," he shifted towards her, "and here I thought I wore you out last night."

In a swift move by her deft fiancé, Hazel was back on the bed and under him, playfully laughing as he snuggled into the crook of her neck. A hand had snuck up her pajama top and lightly fondled her breast, his fingers gently pinching an already hardening nipple.

“Mmm, how are you this frisky so early in the morning, my love," Hazel giggled

He smiled into her neck before kissing it.

“I could ask you the same thing,” he answered, nibbling her ear before trailing back down to her neck. Lifting his head, he leaned in for a kiss while his knee parted her legs enough for his hand to move downward. Hazel anticipated that delicious next move—

A few moments passed before Hazel opened her eyes to find Gavin had disappeared.

“Huh,” she sat up and looked around, her bleary gaze settling on the sleeping form of her fiancé next to her.

‘What the hell? That was a DREAM?!’

Silently waging war on her rudely overactive imagination, her small tantrum roused the officer from his sleep.

“Mm, what’s wrong, my love?”

“Nothing…,” she whimpered, thoroughly duped by her very convincing wet dream.

Gavin sat up, shifting closer to his visibly dejected bride-to-be and nuzzled into the back of her neck, taking in her scent.

“You sure nothing’s wrong," he wrapped his arms around her torso and rested his chin on her shoulder.

“Y-yeah, I just had a super realistic dream, that’s all," she shivered at his touch.

“Oh? And what was it about?"

Hazel felt her face get uncomfortably warm as she recalled the unfinished business of her lewd dream.

“W-well, I guess you could think of it as a continuation of our…session last night.”

“Is that right,” he inquired, mildly intrigued by this dream of hers. He glanced over at the clock on her nightstand, it read 6:56am, he then had an idea.

“Judging from your cute pout, I’d say this dream of yours was…unfinished?”

Hazel squeaked at his deduction, squirming in his embrace as one bold hand found itself in her pajama bottoms.

See the full post

17 notes - Posted July 20, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I just gotta say, I wholly adore this card art so damn much~ Just look at these two 😍

I'mma just leave it here for y'all~

*note: it didn't actually take this long to evolve this card 🤣

33 notes - Posted January 11, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC’s Lucien Wonderful Moments Date English Translation

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for a date that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

Lucien boops Snowball's nose, his tone hinting at jealousy.

"You've been praising this little guy a lot."

"Pfft, is Professor Lucien jealous?"

Translation under the cut!

[Notes from Lux: Here’s the CN video link if anyone wants to follow along with his Voice Acting.]

A car moves slowly on the vibrant countryside road, joyful laughter spilling out of its windows from time to time.

Lucien casually rests his hand on the steering wheel, looking ahead, and quickly comes up with a Chinese idiom.

Lucien: The victory is in the bag. (shèng quàn zài wò)

MC: Idiom with wò… crouching tigers and hidden dragons! (wò hǔ cáng lóng! - 卧虎藏龙 - fig. mean talented individuals hiding their talent)

Lucien: Just a reminder to this beautiful contestant, this phrase was already said during our first round of the idiom chain game.

MC: Then, how about… I control my destiny! (wǒ mìng yóu wǒ - 我命由我- a phrase, not an idiom)

Lucien: [chuckles] That doesn't seem to be an idiom. Is Miss Producer starting to cheat?

Lucien tilts his head and looks at me with a smile. I sheepishly stick out my tongue, wracking my brain as I search through my vocabulary.

The gentle spring breeze seeps through the gaps of the car window. Looking at those cunning eyes, I have a sudden inspiration and break into a sweet smile.

MC: I like you~ (wǒ xǐhuān nǐ~)

Lucien's demeanor briefly halts for half a beat as though he doesn't expect my answer. But then, the smile on his lips grows bigger.

The warm afternoon sunshine reflects brightly in his upturned eyes, making them look particularly beautiful.

Lucien: [chuckles, then sighs] This is the most sophisticated cheating I've ever seen, so I concede defeat.

I cheer joyfully, but before I can utter a word, an electronic broadcast interrupts me.

"Distance to the next highway toll booth is 1.5 kilometers ahead.”

I glance at the phone screen and see it shows another hour and a half to the camping village.

Lucien suggested this camping trip to an ecologically pristine village with beautiful scenery, though the only downside is that the journey was a bit long.

I turn to look at Lucien, who appears to be in a good mood, and can't resist asking the small question that's been lingering on my mind.

MC: Lucien, what made you suddenly want to take me to this camping village?

Lucien: It was recommended by a colleague from the research center. I heard the scenery there is nice and worth a visit.

Lucien: I originally wanted to find an opportunity to spend time with you, and just last weekend we went to see a play, which gave me a very legitimate reason to invite you on a date—

Lucien: To create “beautiful moments”.

He deliberately emphasizes the words "beautiful moments", causing me to momentary pause as a recent memory quickly floods into my mind.

—[Flashback Start]—

At the entrance of the theater last weekend.

Lucien and I walked out of the theater hand in hand. I was still sniffling, lost in the storyline of the performance we just watched, unwilling to let it go.

Just as I was about to wipe away the tears at the corner of my eye, a warm hand handed me a tissue and gently dabbed it beneath my eyes.

Lucien: [gently] If this little audience member keeps crying, I'll have to go find the production team for an explanation.

MC: I'm just really moved by the play...

MC: At first, when I saw the protagonist growing up under the shadow of his mother's depression, I thought he would fall into despair.

MC: But he was able to diligently record the beautiful moments in life and ultimately salvaged himself...

MC: I just tried to put myself in his shoes, and it's really hard to be as optimistic as the protagonist, so I couldn't stop my tears.

Under Lucien's gentle gaze, I rambled on and on, completing my "review" of the play. He patiently wiped the corners of my eyes and offered a comforting smile.

Lucien: I actually think the lady by my side also has a pair of eyes that can discover the beauty of life everywhere.

His sincere praise caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but feel a little buoyed by it. My heart, which had been saddened by the protagonist's struggles, also eased a bit.

MC: If I had a "Book of Beautiful Moments," the first thing I would record is how Professor Lucien always generously praises me~

Lucien chuckled softly, and the strands of hair hanging over his forehead swayed gently in front of his thick lashes.

Lucien: [chuckles] I'm just stating facts. She shares the beauty of the sky with me and finds satisfaction in good weather...

Lucien: —Isn't that kind of you very much like the protagonist?

MC: Then next time I discover something beautiful, I'll make sure to record it promptly.

MC: Let's see if I can fill several volumes of "Wonderful Moments" just like the protagonist!

—[Flashback Ends]—

I casually remarked and thought it was nothing but a joke, yet Lucien silently remembered it in his heart. I come to my senses and blink.

MC: So, the reason you suddenly decided to take me out to play is to create more wonderful moments in my life?

Lucien: I wonder if it's because I'm not "competent" enough that you don't have much to record, so I deliberately created this opportunity.

Lucien: Of course, it's also to show myself off a bit.

He adopts a tone of pretended grievance that stirs a feeling of itchiness in my heart, I suppress the curve of my lips, nodding in mock annoyance.

MC: Well, in light of your "timely remedy," I'll reluctantly start recording officially!

✂———————–

MC: ...Lucien takes me camping;

MC: Before we set off, Lucien made me a cup of hot chocolate.

MC: While playing the idiom chain game, Lucien deliberately went easy on me...

As I speak, I open the Notes app on my phone and mutter to myself, recording a dozen or so entries. But as I continue to write, I suddenly feel something is amiss.

MC: Wait a minute, why do all these "wonderful moments" have Professor Lucien's shadow? I'm starting to suspect that I have a “love-brain”*...

[T/N: "恋爱脑" (love brain) is a Chinese internet buzzword that refers to a mindset that puts love first above everything. It refers to individuals who are deeply in love and often become consumed by their emotions, making it difficult for them to think about anything else. This phenomenon is characterized by extreme devotion to their lover, often leading to uncontrollable emotional dependence and intense desires to be with the other person... If anything, from the way Lucien takes her casual remarks seriously and uses them as a reason to hang out with her, this word describes Lucien more LOL]

Lucien: [with a pretending-don’t-to-know-anything tone] Oh, really?

Lucien is amused by my muttering, and a hint of sly self-satisfaction shines in his long and narrow eyes.

Lucien: [chuckles] It seems the Great Producer has already fallen into my sweet trap.

Lucien: Because my goal is to dominate your today's "wonderful moments" list through this trip.

MC: Hmph, then I won't let you succeed. Right now, I'm going to come up with something completely unrelated to you.

As I speak, I catch a glimpse of a white shadow flashing in front of the car. But before I can react, Lucien has already hit the brakes.

[Sounds of the car suddenly braking]

Almost simultaneously, a strong arm instinctively protects me in front of my chest.

Lucien: ...Are you okay?

He removes his sunglasses and swiftly scans me with his gaze as if confirming whether I'm injured.

I stare blankly ahead. After a moment of daze, there's no movement in front of the car, and my heart leaps into my throat.

MC: I, I'm okay...

MC: Lu, Lucien... Did something just rush onto the road?

Lucien: I'll go down and take a look first. Stay in the car and don't move.

He smooths out my disheveled bangs and then gets out of the car after turning on the hazard lights.

Through the windshield, I see him quickly walk to the front of the car. His gaze instantly shifts downward, as if he's spotted something, and he crouches down.

Did we really hit something?

Just as I nervously stretch my neck and am about to get out of the car to take a look, Lucien suddenly stands up, cradling a bundle of white fluff in his arms.

MC: Eh?

I take a closer look and can't help but exclaim in delight—

It's an adorable little Pomeranian!

Under my expectant gaze, Lucien quickly gets back into the car with the little Pomeranian in his arms, then raises the pup's paw and waves it at me.

MC: Hello there, cutie! How did you end up on the road?

Lucien: This little fellow must have gotten lost. I didn't see anyone else outside the car.

I follow Lucien's gaze out the window. The road is very quiet, there's no sign of anyone around.

MC: Is it injured?

Lucien: It wasn't hit just now. When I got out to check, it was still some distance from the front of the car. It's probably just a little startled.

As if understanding, the Pomeranian snuggles its face into Lucien's palm coquettishly. Its dewy eyes shift between Lucien and me, softening my heart.

I tentatively reach out my hand towards its nose, intending to let it get accustomed to my scent before attempting to pet its little head.

However, as soon as I reach out my hand, the little fellow enthusiastically licks my fingers. In the next moment, it leaps over the center console and goes straight into my arms.

MC: Wow, what a good little doggy!

MC: And it looks very clean, not like a stray dog... Could it be lost?

Lucien leans in and turns the collar of the small Pomeranian, discovering a small round tag. On it, it reads "Snowball*" and a string of numbers.

[T/N: the pet name, "雪糕" (xuě gāo), actually means "ice cream bar/popsicle"  LOL. I take some liberty in translating the pup name because “雪” (xuě) word alone means “snow” (while “糕” (gao) means cake). Imagine that this fluffy white bundle looks like a snowball so I give the pup that name :D]

MC: "Snowball"? Is that its name?

Lucien: Mm, below should be the owner's phone number. Let me try contacting them. Maybe the owner hasn't gone far.

Lucien takes out his phone as he speaks and quickly gets connected. After briefly explaining the situation, a wave of gratitude comes from the other end of the line.

??: Thank you so much! I stopped at the service area for a break and took the pup out of the car for a walk. I forgot to bring it back into the car.

??: I've already turned back onto the highway. I'll be there in about forty minutes!

??: Will it delay you?

Lucien doesn't respond, he just looks up at me and gestures with his eyes, as if asking for my opinion. I quickly nod in agreement.

[asking for opinion from the family leader.jpg]

Lucien: No, it won't. Then let's meet at the nearest gas station to the toll booth on the highway.

After a brief conversation, he hangs up the phone and shakes his head at me helplessly.

Lucien: [smiles helplessly] Looks like our journey might be delayed for a bit.

MC: What a careless owner! How could they forget such an adorable little dog?

I affectionately rub Snowball's head. It seems to whimper aggrievedly, then it straightens up, leans against me, and licks my cheek.

The adorable and silly look melts my heart once again. I exaggerate by placing my hand over my heart, then I scoop Snowball into my arms and give it a tight cuddle.

MC: Lucien, it's just too cute.

Upon seeing this, Lucien boops Snowball's nose, his tone hinting at jealousy.

Lucien: You've been praising this little guy since earlier until now for so many times.

MC: Pfft, is Professor Lucien feeling jealous?

Lucien: After all, I was the one who wanted to make a good impression today, but I didn’t expect to be outshone by this "little attention-seeker".

MC: I think, it's actually quite timely that Snowball showed up.

I mischievously wink at him and raise Snowball triumphantly.

MC: Just when I couldn't think of any beautiful moments unrelated to you.

MC: The appearance of this cute little fellow right now just fills that gap perfectly~

Lucien: Is that so?

Lucien presses his lips together thoughtfully, his clean fingertips lightly tapping on the steering wheel. He puts his sunglasses back on and, as if on a whim, starts the car again.

Lucien: Buckle up your seatbelt, let's go.

MC: Huh? Where are we going? Aren't we supposed to wait for Snowball's owner?

Lucien: MC's words just aroused my desire to win.

Lucien: In order not to lose to this little fellow, I have to put in some extra effort during these forty minutes of waiting.

Lucien: Before that, let's go find some more unexpected wonderful moments.

✂———————–

Ten minutes later, Lucien drives us to a countryside field.

The golden sunlight blankets the emerald green grass, while wisps of light mist hover amidst the sea of green.

Excitedly, I hop out of the car while holding Snowball, and find myself unable to tear my eyes away from the beautiful scenery for a moment.

MC: It's so beautiful! Lucien, how did you know there's a place like this nearby?

Lucien: We passed by here when Miss Producer was fully focused on playing the idiom chain game just now.

Lucien: The meeting point I arranged with Snowball's owner is very close to here, so it was convenient to stop by on the way.

MC: [sweats] What? During that intense idiom chain game just now, you still managed to notice the scenery on the sides of the road?

Upon hearing this, Lucien seriously crosses his arms, one hand supporting his chin as if deep in thought.

Lucien: Hmm, after all, even in such a tense moment, Miss Producer didn't forget to use "sweet words" to bribe her opponent.

MC: Pfft-

I can't help but laugh, but Snowball in my arms suddenly wriggles restlessly, as if trying to break free from my embrace.

MC: Do you want to go down and play?

I carefully place Snowball on the ground. It sniffs around with its tiny nose and then happily starts running around us.

MC: [laughs cheerfully] Hahaha, Snowball, you're so fearless, don't you?

MC: Even after such a day full of twists and turns, you can still play so happily!

Lucien: A puppy's mind is very simple.

Lucien: Perhaps in its eyes, it simply unexpectedly took a risk to venture into an unfamiliar place and met with a beautiful and empathetic Jiejie (big sister) who understands it well.

Lucien: And now, this Jiejie has brought it to a playground where it can run freely, so why can't it be happy?

MC: Oh, come on, it's definitely the credit of this reasonable and understanding handsome Gege (big brother).

I jokingly gesture with my hand, but as I watch Snowball's carefree figure, I can't help but ponder Lucien's words with a thoughtful expression.

MC: That being said, it seems like any simple thing can easily make a puppy happy.

MC: Whether it's the company of its owner, a friendly pat from a stranger, a passing butterfly, or even just a small treat...

MC: I often see videos of dogs being scolded by their owners. One moment, they're scared out of their wits…

MC: Then, the next moment, as soon as their owners call their names with a smile, they instantly become happy again.

MC: So, is life filled with beautiful moments everywhere in the eyes of a puppy?

As we talk, Snowball runs around a nearby grassy area and then returns to Lucien's feet, panting. It looks like it's tired from playing and eagerly starts pawing at his pants.

Lucien cooperatively lifts it, and it comfortably stretches lazily in his arms, then leans against his arm and rests.

Lucien pats its head, his expression somewhat resigned.

Lucien: I originally wanted to create a "wonderful moment" for MC, but it seems like Snowball is the one enjoying it more.

MC: Indeed, we should learn from puppies and embrace the spirit of enjoying every moment. I can't let Snowball beat me~

As I say this, I take a deep breath, and the fresh air instantly fills my heart.

MC: So pleasant... If it weren't for the tight schedule and better scenery waiting for us, I'd want to camp right here.

Lucien looks at me upon hearing this, seeming to contemplate something. After a moment, he gently places Snowball into my arms and gives me a mysterious wink.

Lucien: I've received the classmate's wish, please wait a moment.

He walks around to the back of the car, opens the trunk, and folds down all the rear seats, creating a spacious area.

[Lucien’s car being an SUV is really useful in times like this huh-]

Then, he hangs the small decorative lanterns that were initially used for the tent on the roof of the car. Finally, he shakes out a small thin blanket and spreads it on top.

After finishing all this, he bends slightly and makes a gentlemanly invitation gesture.

Lucien: Please, have a seat.

MC: This is...

Lucien: Our time is indeed limited, not enough to set up a proper tent.

Lucien: So we'll have to use this "temporary camping spot" instead, I hope you two* don’t disdain it.

[T/N: He actually uses 小朋友 (literally means: child) as the term of endearment to refer both of them (so the more literal translation should be “I hope the two children don’t disdain it”). I change it for an obvious reason here, but I swear it’s not as bad as the english language makes it to be-]

I stand still for a moment as his intention dawns on me. Pink bubbles seem to bubble up in my chest, making my heart move up and down in the ripples it causes.

I compliantly put on airs, playing along with his gesture as I cradle Snowball and settle into the car.

MC: Can you see a look of "disdain" on our faces?

I raise Snowball, showing a coy and obedient look at Lucien. Snowball, oblivious to the situation, cooperatively wags its tail and barks cheerfully at Lucien twice.

Lucien chuckles softly, then takes off his sunglasses with one hand, his gaze shifting between Snowball and me.

The vast expanse of clouds above his head begins to slowly drift away, revealing the warm and radiant sunshine.

His deep gaze is imbued by the golden sky, revealing a hint of childlike innocence and simple contentment.

Lucien: Indeed, I can't see it, because I can only see two adorable faces.

His doting tone is unreserved, and I satisfactorily squint my eyes, my heart full of joy.

MC: This one-of-a-kind camping area, with Professor Lucien's intention behind it, is priceless and worth more than any amount of money.

MC: I cherish it so much; how could I possibly disdain it?

Snowball seems to understand my words. With a "woof", he jumps down and happily rolls around on the blanket.

Both Lucien and I are amused by its adorable appearance. A gentle breeze blows by, and my entire heart feels light as if it's strolling in the clouds.

Our gazes lock into each other, and this tranquil moment is so beautiful that I truly want to record it in some way.

But I don't take out my phone to make a note. Instead, I instinctively reach out and gently pull Lucien to sit beside me.

The warmth beside me makes me unconsciously lean closer. I nuzzle his shoulder clingily, my heart filled with softness.

MC: Professor Lucien, you've succeeded.

MC: Now my mind is filled with countless wonderful moments, and each of these moments is related to you-

MC: Me leaning on your shoulder, your scent filling my senses, and us sharing this unexpected encounter of scenery together...

MC: And even if these moments aren't intentionally recorded by me, it's okay.

MC: Because every little thing that has been happening with you has already integrated into my world since a long time ago.

The breath above my head becomes even more gentle and elongated. Lucien enfolds me in his arms, his warm breath almost as if it's seeping into the depths of my heart.

Lucien: I am honored to be part of all the “wonderful moments” of Miss MC.

Lucien: As the sole recipient of this “award”, I will remain humble and continue to work hard, bringing her even more happiness.

I smile in his arms, but suddenly, I think of something and pull myself away from him a bit.

MC: But it's not fair, I've listed so many 'wonderful moments' of my own. How come you haven't shared a single one with me?

Lucien seems taken aback by my sudden mention of this. He is struck silent for a moment, then a flicker of wounded expression crosses his face.

Lucien: Perhaps because I thought even if I didn't say anything, MC would know what I’m thinking—

Lucien: My "list of wonderful moments" is very simple, so simple that it has only one item.

Lucien: Now, do you still need me to tell you this one and only item?

He stares steadily into my eyes, with an irreplaceable radiance that ebbs and flows in the depths of his gaze.

I softly laugh, and my entire heart feels as transparent and bright as if it has been meticulously polished.

MC: No need.

I shook my head, the stray hair on my forehead bringing a slightly unbearable itch, gently brushing against my heart along with the gentle spring breeze.

I gently cup his cheek in the palm of my hand, and the world becomes unusually quiet, only the sound of two hearts beating can be heard.

MC: You don't need to say anything.

Because in those beautiful eyes, I only see myself.

————Fin———–

[Bonus Phone Call - Want it Now]

Lucien: Hello? Are you busy?

MC: So, I was about to take a lunch break—I was just thinking about you, and then your call came.

Lucien: It seems like there's always some kind of wonderful little tacit understanding between us.

Lucien: Then tell me about it.

MC: Haha, here's the thing. The company's pet club is planning a charity event.

MC: They plan to sell some handmade items and donate the proceeds to animal shelters. But I don't have any inspiration for what to make at the moment...

Lucien: Mm... I just received a delivery that might be helpful to you.

Lucien: The owner of Snowball sent us some things as a thank you. There are small felt keychains shaped like Snowball, as well as cartoon-style standees and cross-stitch fridge magnets.

Lucien: Looking at the note in the delivery box, it seems that the owner of Snowball designed them personally and also has the same ones at home.

Lucien: Perhaps we can also make some similar small items.

MC: Wow! They actually make these for their pet? The owner of Snowball is so thoughtful.

Lucien: You can tell that Snowball is truly cherished, so its owner makes these everyday little things, wanting its presence to fill every corner of their home.

MC: Hmm... Just like how my phone screensaver is you, and all the photos hanging around the home are of you?

Lucien: If what you're saying is that feeling of 'even when you're not around, I still want to see you first thing’...

Lucien: Then we're the same.

MC: I have another idea, I wonder if Professor Lucien shares the same idea as me.

Lucien: Hm?

MC: Even though my screensaver and chat background are pictures of you... I still want to see you right now.

Lucien: What a coincidence, I was thinking the same thing. So I've already brought your favorite milk tea and the Snowball keychain, and I'm on my way to see you.

Lucien: I checked the navigation, and the route from the research institute to your company is very smooth.

Lucien: In twenty minutes, both of our wishes will come true.

[hakutaichou]

[JP] Love and Producer: Animage (2020 August Issue)

This translation is from “Animage Magazine” which released on July 10, 2020.

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Description from Koi to Producer’s Official Twitter: Director, Munehisa Sakai talked about his commitment to the works, OP / ED animation, etc.!

- Unexpected Encounter -

- With a sense of trendy drama, and sense of suspense -

Director: Munehisa Sakai

Interviewer: What did you think when you were first offered this work?

Sakai: First of all, since the original game works production is the first time for us, I had the feeling that we might be able to take on new challenges. It's the same with the approach to the work and the troupe of the production, and I felt a sense of expectation in many ways.

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Interviewer: What things that attracted you when you playing the original game?

Sakai: A trendy drama where a woman who are working hard in society, fatefully meet and interact with the men. And, a sense of suspense that includes sci-fi like elements that contradict with it. I was attracted to the unique view of the world where they are intertwined. I try to make the environment surrounding the main characters a little swanky, and draw sci-fi like movements in a cool way. I also cherish that area when I put it in the animation.

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Interviewer: What kind of ingenuity did you make in terms of drawing?

Sakai: The male characters are quite slender and tall, so I thought it would be difficult to put it together when thinking about moving them, but Jinshichi Yamaguchi-san (Anime Character Designer) representation the charm of the characters very well. If I don't pay attention to the head and body of the characters around it, the balance will get worse, so I became careful about that as well.

.

Interviewer: As directed by Director Sakai? What is the appeal of Yamaguchi-san's art style?

Sakai: Yamaguchi-san's art style have a delicate yet solid presence, which gives me a sense of security. It's also wonderful that he can make it well together while being aware of the whole world view.

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Interviewer: What will OP / ED animation be?

Sakai: The OP song is a song from the male side. I think that the feelings of the male characters can be directly conveyed with the image of passionately thinking about the MC. In the animation, she expresses it with a beautiful feeling, so please look forward to it.

On the contrary, ED song is from MC side. It feels like she is trying to move forward, but she don't have any courage. With the hope that I could express the image of MC, and when I hit the song, I can deliver a "winter image" from it. As a result, I think the song became very attractive.

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Interviewer: The ending of the story is anime original, and it seems that there is also a pretty flashy show.

Sakai: One of the keywords in the original game is「絆」 (Bonds). Through the series, the point is, what kind of relationship will be build, and how they share the same purpose. What kind of behavior each person's feelings for the other will lead to. Please pay attention to it.

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Note: In MLQC, the card system called “Karma”. Meanwhile in Koipro, it called 「絆カード」, means “Bonds’ Card”. Literally, the word “Bonds” is strongly attached to the game system and become one of main keywords. (example: that 「絆カード」  (Bonds' Card) and 「私の絆」  (My Bonds))

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Interviewer: At last, do you have a message for fans who are looking forward to the premiere of the anime?

Sakai: If you've been playing the game, I hope you'll be looking forward to seeing how the characters stand around and sprinkle their charm on the other side of the new screen. Even if you are new to this work, things that you cannot imagine will happen one after another, so I hope you will be captivated by this unique view of the world. Thank you.

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From 境 (Sakai)

“Since Lucien has his own purpose, he usually acts while making detailed calculations. That’s why, I think when MC takes unexpected movements, he’s confused, but also get attracted by her. I hope you looking forward to what decision Lucien will make”

.

“Gavin is a simple and honest person who acts with his straightforward feeling. He will continue to do what he thinks is right. It's the same for MC, but because he's also clumsy, I want to cheering him (lol).”

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“Actually, I don’t know how interested MC is to Victor, but I think he is attracted to MC’s hardworking. Maybe because he puts his trust in tough people, even if he treats them harshly”

.

"Kiro is absolutely a cheerful person, and the one who cheer MC up. Because I didn’t feel that he's an idol, I think he is very easy to talk to and I can feel secure with him"

.

[cheri-translates]

Hello, Cheri. I'm still new here so, I wanted to clarify some things. So, did Gavin actually have evol in him all along since birth but it was only awakened bc of MC in high school? Also, were all 5 guys + MC born with evol? Or some of them got it through experiments? Thank you!

( ´ ∀ `)ノ～ ♡ Welcome to the MLQC family!

Gavin, Shaw, MC and Victor had their Evol since birth, while Kiro and Lucien obtained their Evol through Black Swan experiments! 

This is mentioned in posts from the official MLQC Instagram page (extracts below):

Lucien:

Victor: 

Kiro: 

Shaw:

It will unlikely be confirmed that Shaw is Gavin’s brother due to drama in the CN community. But if he is, this scene from R&S [Little Guardian] shows that he was born with Evol:

Gavin: 

The origin of Gavin’s Evol hasn’t been canonically confirmed, but it’s likely to be natural since his mother had Evol too (revealed in his 2021 Birthday R&S):

[ontowanderlust]

*:･ﾟ✧ How to say I love you: Prompt #4

"I love you." he whispered, plain and simple without any hesitation, without any preamble, his eyes staring ahead at the cheap glow in the dark stars pasted on her ceiling, adding what little light they have in this darkened room.

"I'm in love with you," he repeated, his voice carrying the same reverence he held for her. "Ever since we were children and you gave me that teddy bear to ease the loneliness we felt in that dreary room, when you were trying to distract me from the pain I had just endured."

"Back then, I knew that you are the only one I'm willing to give my entire world to and it's because of you that I've been so desperate to escape from that place. Back then I thought that if only one of us makes it out, I hope it's you- no, I wanted it to be you and so I strived to make sure you escape."

"I never thought I would be seeing you again." Averting his eyes from the ceiling, he shifted slightly in his place, turning his head to watch her still form, the sound of her even breathing lulling him into a sense of peace. "You don't know how elated I am when I found you in that store- it's like the world telling me that everything will be finally alright... because I have you, my Miss Chips." his eyes softened, his voice wavering as a relieved smile crept on his face.

"And I-" his eyes widened as her breathing hitched, snapping his eyes shut as he turned away from her, praying to whatever deity up there for her not to hear the loud thumping of his heart against his chest.

Had she heard all of it? Was she awake the entire time? But he knew her to be a heavy sleeper- not even earthquakes and storms can rouse her.

He must be crazy- talking to a sleeping person about his emotions- the same ones he had hidden in the depths of his heart- the ones he vowed never to speak of.

And how easy it was to keep everything to himself- what with his ever changing top secret personalities. But there were days that everything's just too much.

And he just... forgets. Just like tonight.

How can he not tell her? She who wore that radiant smile, eyes twinkling in delight the moment their eyes met in a crowd of rushing attendants, tired directors, and overworked staff.

How can he not tell her when she looked absolutely stunning with that messy hair and worn band merch and pajamas? When her mouth struggled to balance the pair of chopsticks as she maneuvered her way to overtake his cart, guaranteeing her victory?

A minute passed, and then came another. When all he could hear was her even breathing, he let out a small sigh of relief... until her hand brushed his and just as he let go of his consciousness, he could've sworn her pinky wrapping itself around his.

Kiro! My sunshine boy, I can assure you that she did not hear your confession... but we did. *wink wonk* 

And with Kiro, we finally close this 8-parter fic brought to you by R. Mckinley. If you’re only reading it now, the order of posting were as follows: Luke, Victor, Lucien, Artem, Gavin, Marius, Vyn, Kiro. They’re not connected in any way so don’t worry about getting lost. 

I hope you guys enjoyed this mini-fic series as much as I did. And hey a little easter egg: It wasn’t planned but all the odd numbers were Tears of Themis guys while the even numbers are MLQC guys. 

Here’s the link to the original/inspiration piece: 8 ways to say I love you by R. Mckinley

[nightkarmaqueen]

Sinners from the Past

----- Sinners from the Past || Millie Candraningsih (OC) (ft. M. Adam (OC) & Nokto Klein)

Summary : How much time had passed before she finally found the truth? She didn't know anything back then, but now she knows what his father is trying to do. Before she could break his heart and leave him, he would leave her first, leaving nothing but pain for her.

WC : 2171 Words.

Warning : Grammar errors, mention of canings, suicides, and execution processions, using form of Original Character, traumatic past, Dedes reference, BSD reference, MLQC reference, Father I Don’t Want This Marriage reference, Overwatch reference, mischaracterization, mismatch lore, just Adam being a caring older brother for Millie, etc.

A/N : I should have written Hanging Gardens! AU for Silvio. But never mind. I read the local Webtoon, "Dedes" and now I have lots of ideas for this @ndoandou​‘s OC. BTW, TOO MANY STORY REFERENCES!

     IF Rhodolites had The Day of Bloodstained Roses as the darkest day in their history, then in a far away land where her blood is bound, they had The Day of Atonement for the Sinners.

     Back then, she didn’t know anything. Not that her father would get executed, or that her mother would committed suicide. Or even that her father’s life was taken by his own relatives.

     Adinatha had knelt before his father the king. Supposedly, the golden throne before him would be his in the near future. He should be able to become the ruler of this land which is said to be really, really rich. But seeing what he had done, he was sure it would all be gone. He couldn't even leave anything to pass on to his only young daughter.

     Does he regret it? No, he never regretted it. If there was one thing he regretted, then it was how he couldn't be a prove to his own daughter's growth. If he could pass some of his rights on to his daughter, then she would not have to live a miserable life. His daughter and wife could definitely live in his palace without the need to think about the sharp glares and cruel whispers people had about them. Ah, no. Honestly, Adinatha has a lot of regrets.

     "Sire, I will still hold on to my dedication and I will not ask your forgiveness for what I have done. Do whatever you want to me, I still won't change my mind and endure it," said the prince, didn’t feel guilty at all.

     “You didn't just embarrass me, Adinatha! You also tarnish the dignity and hurt the pride of this kingdom!” The king who was starting to lose his temper shouted. “I didn't make your mother my consort to give birth to a useless child like you!”

     Adinatha suddenly smirked. "Well, Lord Father." He clearly spoke as a son to his father, not a prince to his king. “Did Mother also want to give birth to me in the first place? Isn't it because Mother has the holy priest blood in her veins, so you married her to have a descendant that could become an invincible king?! Is my mother's value that low to you?”

     Anger exploded in the king's eyes, but Adinatha was not satisfied with that. “So that’s why, I won't be like you, Sire. If I had to choose a consort, then I would choose her out of love. She didn't have to be a priest's daughter or a princess from another kingdom. As long as I love her and she loves me, then she can be my consort."

     Adinatha was silent for a moment. “Ah, that's right. The question now is ... can you accept it if I marry Beatrice and have offspring with her? Will you all accept Beatrice as your queen and let her rule this land by my side?” Adinatha looked at the king with a very sharp gaze, as if he was not afraid of anything. “Will you guys ever accept my daughter, who is basically a woman, as the Crown Princess and the future ruler of this land after me?”

     "Sire, tell me. Didn't you make me the Crown Prince because you know I could destroy not only this land but also the surrounding kingdoms easily if I wished? And with my mother's position, don't you know I have the ability to kill you, even right here, and right now?”

     Thinking that Adinatha had gone too far, the king's anger exploded. “Drag him to the center of the plaza! Let our people know how despicable their future king is!” The guards did as the king ordered and dragged Adinatha out.

     The color of the night began to paint the sky. As soon as Beatrice heard the commotion in the hallway of her husband's chamber, she, who had been hugging her daughter, asked her to sleep immediately. She covered her daughter with the blanket, not letting the cold bite her. After confirming that she was really asleep, Beatrice immediately left the room with a couple of guards.

     But how surprised Beatrice was when she found her husband, with the painful whip wounds clearly visible on his back, being dragged and thrown into his own chamber. The Maiden of Jade immediately lifted her husband into a hug, tears already running down her cheeks.

     "Beatrice, it's okay," he whispered. However, his worrying condition betrayed his words that were supposed to be reassuring for his wife. "It’s nor that bad. This kind of wounds will be healed in a week."

     "What are you saying?!" Beatrice shouted between sobs. "Are you crazy or something?! Are you just saying it's not bad?! You know a wound like this must be treated immediately. After all, how many times have they whipped you?”

     “Uh, a hundred times?” Adinatha hesitated.

     "That's even worse!"

     A weak chuckle escaped Adinatha's lips. "My love, you will wake Ningsih up if you cry that loud." Adinatha turned his soft gaze to his daughter who was sleeping on his bed.

     But in fact, Millie Candraningsih was not asleep. She listened to her mother's every cry without knowing what had happened to her. All she knew was how she heard the sadness and regret in her mother's cries.

     “I wish I could send you and Ningsih back to Jade, but the king won't let me do something that easy. I'm sorry, Beatrice. I made you have to suffer like this," Adinatha whispered to his wife. He took a deep breath, still feeling the sting from the previous lash. “Really, even hell won't accept me because of what I've done. I abandoned you both."

     Hearing this from her husband, Beatrice immediately hugged Adinatha. She cried profusely on her husband's chest, not caring about the smell of blood that enveloped him.

     “Beatrice,” Adinatha called softly. “Beatrice, my love. Please, don't cry." Adinatha sounded so helpless as he uttered the request.

     "I'm sorry, Adinatha. I'm truly … sorry!”

     "Why are you apologizing? I’m fine. You and Ningsih are safe and sound too. So please, stop feeling guilty as if it was your fault.”

     “How can you be fine?!” Beatrice raged, hugging her husband tighter. “It was all my fault! It was because of me … that you … had to make this choice. You have sacrificed everything for me and Ningsih but what else do they want from you?! I-I'm scared … I'm scared that you will—” Beatrice couldn't say it, let alone imagine it. Like a nightmare, she never wanted it to really happen.

     “Beatrice, I love you.”

     “But I ruined you!” she snapped, feeling more guilty.

     "And I love you." Adinatha didn't realize the tears were already running down his own cheeks. "I love you, Beatrice."

     On the day the prince was judged for his sins, he was able to make a final request. “Let go of my wife and daughter. Send them back to Jade and forget the fact that a girl with the blood of this royal family running through her veins named Millie Candraningsih ever existed.”

     Beatrice's expression was so passive it was unreadable. Meanwhile, Millie could only tighten her grip on her mother’s dress. “Mother, why are Father's hands tied like that? Why did they pull Father like that?! Why did Father go there?! Where will Father go?!” Fear started to make little Millie panic.

     Beatrice held herself together to stay strong. If she fell apart there, then Millie would be in danger. "Father!" Millie shouted, screaming as loud as she could.

     Adinatha halted, hearing how loud his daughter was calling him. The prince looked at his daughter. Millie might not be able to understand it, but Adinatha's overly gentle and warm smile pierced Beatrice’s heart deeply.

     “You’ll be fine, Ningsih. I promise you’ll be fine,” he whispered to her daughter for the last time.

     So many things happened since that day, making the small girl grow up in the dark abyss of the past. She didn't know how tight the ropes of fate had to tie her. What she knows, the wounds from the past will always remain.

     “The court learned the reason behind the Crown Prince’s escape. He had an affair with a maid from the Kingdom of Jade and had a daughter as a result of it. To cover up the disgrace he created toward the Royal Family, he was … eliminated.”

     Silence enveloped the living room of Rhodolite Royal Palace. The smell of jasmine tea, which should have smelled so sweet, actually burned Millie's sense of smell. Her beautiful jade eyes were perfectly rounded, unable to believe what she had just read.

     Their warmth began to fade. Their voice that Millie had always imagined slowly began to sound so far away. She was afraid that the day she would forget everything about her parents would come.

     “It’s all right, Ningsih. You’re all right. Father is here with you.”

     "Ah!" Millie jolted on her seat. Realizing she was only hallucinating, Millie wiped the tears that welled up in her eyes. She put down the document and took an envelope that came with the document.

     The smell of dust and spices blends in the envelope. Her shaking hands struggled to open the letter. After she read the report, she wasn't sure if her heart would still be able to endure it.

     The sanskrit script is clearly displayed. The black ink that has been dry for a long time sticks to the paper. If it weren't for her dedication to learning the language of her father's homeland, Millie would have become an illiterate by the time she read the letter.

My dearest daughter, Millie Candraningsih.

When you're reading this, it means you either found this letter or someone delivered this letter to you. But the point is, I can't be by your side anymore when you read this letter.

Ningsih, my dear. Every father hopes for a better life for his daughter. I was willing to fight and die for it. But one mistake that I regret the most, namely the doubts that haunted me at that time. I'm willing to lose everything, but I can't sacrifice you and your mother. Therefore, before I’m being someone you both leave behind, I’ll be the one to leave. I need to break your heart so you don’t  have to break mine. This father of yours is truly a coward.

The most precious thing I want to protect. The savior that Beatrice gave me, my daughter.

I know I won’t be forgiven after I abandoned you and your mother. But even if you find out the truth, don’t forgive me. You don’t have have to do that. This father doesn’t dare to seek your love and forgiveness anymore. I’ll accept all of my sins.

Just like the name your mother and I gave you. You must live on with so much love and strength for yourself. And I promise you, you’ll be fine.

With love, Your Father.

     Their warm embrace returned to her memory. The part of her heart that felt empty began to fill again and their voice that sounded very far away sounded clear again.

     Millie Candraningsih has never asked for anything in her life, not even a hint of happiness. She resented herself for being the reason why her parents died, when in fact it was the embodiment of her father's love.

     “So all this time, it wasn't the diplomatic relation you were after. It was all to show her this?” asked a Marquis who had been leaning against the door, listening to every sob that escaped the young woman’s lips. The sweet aroma of tobacco pervades the surroundings.

     A sly smirk painted on the Seventh Prince of Rhodolite’s lips. “You already heard everything, I suppose?” he asked.

    “Apparently, you used your six month’s worth prince’s budget just to send a delegation to late Prince Adinatha’s kingdom, and to obtain those secret documents. How did such rumors escape in this palace? Looks like Lord Noir would be overwhelmed just by looking at your spending records."

     Nokto chuckled. "Don't be mean, Adam. But I suppose you're right." The prince peeked into the room to check on Millie's condition, which was still dissolved in the letter her late father had written. “She needs to know the truth about her parents. I already got my twin brother who has become friends with the abyss. And I admit it's not a pleasant place. She doesn't need to be there much longer."

     Adam was silent for a moment. His fingers fiddled with the cigarette he was smoking.

     “It's been a year since she came to the palace. You know it will take months just to get there. So I've been preparing for this since last year. ” Nokto explained. “I want this to be her gift for being such a good Belle and an amusing woman. My six months-budget I spent on this expedition is well spent.”

     Adam could only sigh. "You're a madman, indeed."

See you at the next works! Have a great day/night~