#I know I normally don't mind spoilers but seriously

[rodent--quinn-queen--posts]

Eyes!!!

Eyes!! seriously!!! eyes again?

why do so many fandoms I'm in have some kind of association or whatever with eyes?

I can think of three off the top of my head right now! and yes one of them is the newest example but seriously I can't look at a picture of eyes anymore without thinking of one of several different fandoms

because first it was Hermitcraft/The Life Series and The Watchers (yes I know that the watchers are from Evo I did not watch it and I'm not planning on it but I picked up most of the lore from the fandom probably because most of the lore is made up by the fandom )

Then there's Gravity Falls and Bill Cipher (that one is pretty self-explanatory it also ruined triangles I can't even look at traffic signs when the show is on my mind)

And now it's something in The Magnus Archives (and I don't know what's going on with the eyes they haven't showed up in the story for me yet but I saw it quite a lot in fanart I saw so chances are that eyes are something significant even if it's only significant in the fandom it's still more eyes. eyes!! why so many eyes! I like eyes but why!)

I've only started listening to it a few days ago I've only just now finished episode 34 and I was like "oh I'm gonna look at the hashtag on Tumblr and see what they have going on just briefly not enough to get proper spoilers and I'll start following it when I'm done with most of the show I'll just have a peak" and then there were eyes! there's eyes again!!

(I'm trying not to think about the implications for the story I don't want to give myself spoilers by overthinking it even if I usually don't mind knowing what's gonna happen in a story)

And the point is I don't know why so many fandoms I'm in or at least interested in like eyes so much I think its my personal like of eyes I don't like them that much on people (that's not to say I dislike when people have eyes but you know what I mean) I'm mostly neutral but eyeconography (see what I did) always seems to draw me in IDK why but it does

I have these lights... well I'll just include a picture

I got these very recently I do not use them as Halloween decorations they're just normal room decorations

I'm not even obsessed with eyes I like them a normal amount

It could also be because eyes are a very common imagery they're quite simple and can be used very effectively quite easily so that also plays a role in it

I don't know, it's just funny to me that;

there's eyes everywhere except they're not watching me, I'm the one watching them.

[personified-paranoia]

PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TwT

I know I don't post at all, but this has to be said PLEASE PLEASE TAG POSTS CONTAINING SPOILERS!!! I've been so excited to see this show and I know everyone else is too, but I literally filtered 4 seperate tags and I'm STILL getting spoilers. The new season just came out, and some of us hasn't seen it It's bad enough I'm barely avoiding it from youtube and tiktok TwT

[gardening--tools]

me while playing fo4 because i’m an opinionated bitch and i disagree with bethesda’s character design

anyway. presenting,

a detailed look at every companion’s appearance, according to me.

(these are all headcanons. they might not be yours, but they are mine. i wrote this as a fic-writing reference, but i don't mind sharing so long as we're all nice about it. also, spoilers ahead for companion quests, both in vanilla game and dlcs. you've been warned okay love you have fun. sorry in advance that you can clearly tell who my favorite character is.)

cw: heights represented by the united states customary system. sorry metric users :/

Ada. Modified RobCo Assaultron. 2074 model. SN has been sanded off and replaced with "ADA", painted carefully (lovingly) in blue script. It's clear that it has been reapplied multiple times, as many times as necessary. Post-Mechanist quest, she requests to have the names of her fallen friends painted on her body as well.

Cait. Pre-addiction recovery, scrawny-strong. Blood, muscle, bone and not much else. Very short. Like, south-side of 5'3". Has a very rectangular body shape. Hard angles. Was bright strawberry blonde when she was a kid, but it got darker as she got older. Hazel eyes. Freckles year-round and all over. She doesn't burn super easily, but she doesn't really tan either. Just freckles. Nose is crooked from being broken too many times. Post-addiction recovery she is a beef. cake. With Sole's help and resources she gains plenty of weight post recovery. Other than the normal weight gain that comes after recovering from addiction, she finds she enjoys exercise—especially weight lifting—and that it helps her manage her cravings. Her biceps are unfair. If I can be honest, I really only shared this so I can start proselytizing for my Fat Cait Agenda.

Codsworth. Standard GAI Mister Handy. 2076 Model. SN: 01HND-7619-0163. This is only visible because the 2076 Handys had their SN's embossed. All other markings that were printed or painted on have eroded away. A cute fact about Codsworth is that, despite his 200 years of wear and tear, he doesn't have a single dent on his exterior panels. Not. A. Dent. Scratches, yes. Scuffs, sure. No dents. He takes his structural integrity very seriously, thank you. He will brag about this if you let him.

Curie. Pre-companion quest, Modified GAI Miss Nanny. 2072 Model. SN has been scratched off and replaced with what is probably "CURIE", but the combination of chicken scratch writing and 200 year old marker makes it illegible. Post-personal quest, Generic Female Synth Body. Average body weight, brown hair, brown eyes. (I know she technically has "Hazel Blue" eyes but I disagree. It's my post and I get to make the rules here.) Her only deviation from "average" is her height. Generic Synth Height is 5'10", for both male and female synths. Takes time to look neat—neatly trimmed nails, trimmed hair, etc—and enjoys it.

Danse. M7-97 was a vanity design* so Danse looks a little different from the Generic Synth design. Still has the brown hair, brown eyes, but is a touch shorter than the standard. 5'8". Latino or Hispanic. His hair is insanely thick, but his beard always grows in a little patchy and with the odd blond patch just below his right ear. (This was not an intentional part of his “design.” Genetics, even synthesized genetics, get funky sometimes.) Carries weight like a strongman weightlifter. Thicker than average, even for the Brotherhood, so he's always had to have his flight suits and PA specially altered. (Thicker than average in regards to BODY TYPE you sickos– This is not that kind of post lmao.)

(This post from slocumjoe is a huge influence for my headcanon for Danse! Thank you for going through your archive to find it!)

Deacon. The Average Guy Ever™. Average height, average build. I'm firmly in the "Deacon is a Good Spy, actually" camp, so. Uncanny ability to adjust how he looks just by altering his posture. His weight has always easily fluctuated, so he can go from stick thin to bulked up in a matter of weeks. No matter how many surgeries he gets, he cannot hide the freckles. They always come back. He would have had piano hands if he hadn't been a chronic brawler in his youth. Knuckles are very crooked now. Eyes so blue they're nearly grey. Ginger. Has long eyelashes that are frankly illegal for someone who covers his eyes all the time.

Dogmeat. Dog. He has six toes on his back left foot.

Gage. 5'11". In an alternate universe, would tell people he was 5'9" just to fuck with them. Was a towheaded kid whose hair darkened significantly as he grew up. If he spends a lot of time out in the sun, though, it will turn a sandy blonde/light brown. He keeps his hair short because otherwise it gets very curly and floppy and it really kills his "bad-guy raider" vibe. Would be one of those white boys who tans super well but also thinks wearing sunscreen is for the weak. Scarred to shit. Holds onto muscle for a really long time. Underbite. Slutty little waist because I think that's funny.

Hancock. John Prime was already pretty wiry to begin with, and becoming a ghoul has only emphasized this. 5'7" but seems shorter because he's always leaning on something. Draping, even. He's like if a man was also a liquid, somehow. His remaining hair is incredibly thin, but is the most vibrant golden blonde anyone has ever seen. Eyes are dark due to discoloration, but sometimes—if he's taken in a ton of rads—the edges of his irises will glow subtly. Several piercings on his ears, but he used to have more. Lost them on account of his nose falling off. (You know how it is.) Replaced them with an astonishing collection of rings. Cheekbones that could slice a brahmin. Missing his fourth toe on his right foot.

MacCready. Definition of scrunkly. Not a lick of fat anywhere to be found. 5'5". Has a Gunner tattoo on the left side of his forehead and he hates it. It's why he wears his hat so low. Had an ear pierced once, but it got ripped out ages ago. His left earlobe is split now. He very clearly needed braces growing up but obviously didn't have access to that. Bottom teeth are crooked. His cuticles are picked to shit. Sandy brown hair. Cuts his own hair, but only cares about the hair around his face. Line of sight. Sniper. You get it. Is generally too lazy/uninterested in the rest, and will neglect it until it gets too long, so. Mullet (hot).

Nick. See, the problem with my synth grandpa is that this is the only character whose design Bethesda completely and utterly nailed. Like yeah, he does look like that. You got it. You did it. Perfect, no notes. Like all other Generic Synths, he's 5'10".

Old Longfellow. Exactly what you would expect an Old Hermit-Mariner Driven To Eldritch Madness By The Fog and The Sea would look like. The wildest eyebrows anybody has ever seen. Like you could take a comb through those bad boys. His hair is past his shoulders and fades into his beard. Stark white hair due to the stress of living alone on an island and from What He's Seen. You cannot convince me that there are not some Lovecraftian nasties living in the sea. They Know Longfellow, but Longfellow Knows Them. 6' until he stands up straight and then he's like. 6'5". Liver spots across his face and hands. Looks like he has cataracts in both eyes, but somehow can see better than you.

Piper. By far the companion whose Bethesda!verse appearance I disregard the most. In my heart she is a South Asian woman. On the taller side, between 5'8" and 5'9". Super thick, dark brown hair that in fact does just Look Like That (unfair). Her hair grows from fairly far down on her neck. Deep brown eyes. Spends lots of time on her makeup, even when she's out in the 'wealth chasing leads. Prefers red lips and dark liner close to her lid-lines. Her cupid's bow is super pronounced and she does her makeup to highlight it. On the softer side in regards to physique. Has a burn scar on her right forearm from a cooking mishap back when she was still trying to figure out how to live on her own and take care of Nat at the same time. Bites her nails.

Preston. Personification of someone telling you that everything is going to be all right. Tall, 6'. Pretty standard physique for someone who grew up on a farm and then became a soldier in a wasteland militia. Very square hands. Lets his hair grow out a little bit because he (forgets about it) likes it. Brown eyes that look like honey when the sun hits them. Other than the two scars on his face—one running down his left cheek, the other a small nick on his top lip—he has a scar from a bullet wound on his right shoulder. Has a stick and poke tattoo of the Minuteman coat of arms on his left arm, just where his shoulder meets his bicep. Top lip is bigger than his bottom lip. Dimples when he smiles. Huge smile, smiles with his whole mouth. Legs like an adonis. Someone get this man into some 4' inseam shorts, STAT.

Strong. Super mutant. He was a Butcher, so he's a little beefier than your average mutant. Of course, this is only known to other mutants, as the subtleties of mutant physiology tend to be lost on non-mutated humans.

X6-88. Generic Courser Build. While Generic Synths are designed to blend in with the everyman, Generic Coursers are designed to inspire fear in every man. (booo bad joke tomato tomato) 6'3" but stands so perfectly straight that he seems taller. Has the superhero build, but like naturally. Keeps his hair in a short fade. Bottom lip is lighter than the top lip. Has little lines around his mouth from all his frowning. Has one (1) singular scar on his chin. He won't tell you where he got it (it's from him eating it on concrete steps. That was the one mission he asked for an extension on, so the evidence of him beefing it would heal.) Also chronically wears sunglasses. Behind those aviators are grey eyes that are so pale and sharp, they almost look white.

[xiaoriae]

GENSHIN MEN AS ENEMIES TO LOVERS TROPE.

— PAIRINGS ; ayato, childe, itto & xiao x gn!reader (separate)

— CONTENT ; genshin's quests spoilers ahead (i don't really said them as spoilers but just a little heads-up, especially for those who are new to genshinblr) and slight mentions of blood in childe's.

— NOTES ; reposted from my old blog!

nobleman!ayato x commoner!reader

the kamisato head clan was your least favourite person of all time. this unsure, yet negative feeling you had on him all started since an eight years old AYATO did a prank on your younger self.

a long time had passed by, but since then, ayato seemed to find the joy in stirring your commoner life, until the name ayato engraved at the back of your mind with such revenge and hatred.

it went on and on like this, until one day, he heard the shogunate was going to enforce the vision hunt decree all around inazuma. he had no choice but to obey. after all, he needed to maintain his title as one of the heads in tenryou commission, yet all he thought was you, your stupid smile, and your vision.

he knew he had to do something about it.

“come here,” the moment ayato’s voice called you out, you rolled your eyes. you ignored him, spun and tried to blend in with the crowds, knowing too well that he couldn’t get you in public appearances.

but ayato was faster. all he did was pulling you aside, hidden from prying eyes. “do you have your vision?”

you scoffed, maybe too rude for someone as noble as him, but you did not really care when it was ayato who was right in front of you. “why? you are going to confisticate it? under the behalf of the shogun?”

your choosing of words should’ve made him baffled, or amused, but instead, he didn’t have the time for your nonsense and your attitude. “give me your vision,” his voice asserted command and it honestly intimidated you. “you really want it? no, not with your own hands, kamisato.”

ayato’s grip on your wrist tightened. you didn’t get why he was so stubborn with this, or even wanted to do this, but still, the desperation in his eyes was evident. “give it to me, now,” his tone went cold, and his low tone—almost like a growl—came out from him, frustrated and it left you in a confused yet startled state.

“i’ll take care of your vision, it is much safer with me.”

“ayato?” your voice sounded small, and you were left speechless with his actions. did he really go all this length just to protect your vision?

but... why?

he looked down on you, slowly pulling the vision away, and you nodded, and that was all it took for ayato to have your own consent. “take care, little one. i am hoping that you don’t go around making a fuss with the shogunate.”

you didn’t know why you believe him in the first place, but you did.

and now, your vision was in the hand of your worst enemy, yet he saved you from many unfortunate occasions under the decree.

fatui harbinger!childe x adventurer!reader

CHILDE was a cheerful and an easygoing person. one look at him and everyone instantly knew, that this man, was someone who didn’t take things too seriously.

that was, until your name came out.

both you and him, or maybe all of the people around you, knew that you hated childe with all your heart, and vice versa.

picking up occasional fights with him was normal. belittling each other in combats and talking big about who was better were your daily routine, yet him being like this was certainly out of the norm.

“what do you think you’re doing?” you frowned, retracting your body away from his hold. however, childe was stronger, and there was no point of you trying to fight his strength.

“who did this to you?” he boldly looked up and down at your whole dirty, and bloodied clothes, gently touching all cuts and bruises—in contrast with him forcefully made you sat down in front of him prior to whatever this was.

“why do you even care?” you pulled away for the tenth times from his touch. a foreign feeling bubbling inside your chest, and childe’s gaze was filled with rage, and you were stunned with his face.

“because you are someone i care about.”

you mentally cursed at your damned heart for skipping a beat at that, but childe seemed oblivious with his previous words. all you saw was the ginger in front of you slightly shook and his eyes burned when he saw your injuries.

he truthfully worried, what ifs questions were running around inside his mind, and all he could think of was his subordinates, the fatui.

he knew that they didn’t like him, and he knew that they purposefully injured you, you had been there once, and it was because of him.

sure, you didn’t look like you were hurting, or weak—you were strong, he knew that—but he couldn’t contain himself when he saw how awful you came back from outside of the city.

demon!itto x human!reader

ITTO was a cocky being.—

that was among infinite traits you didn’t like about him.

that sly smirk you had been aching to wipe off of his face. how he practically flaunting his muscles everywhere with no shame. yes, you slightly cringed at the sights but that couldn’t compare with how full he was of himself.

and by gods, he didn’t even give you a time alone. whenever you went, he would be following you behind with his narcissistic side, saying that he would protect you or something along the line of, “don’t worry, this is the one and oni, arataki itto, will protect you.”

no matter how many times you ignored him, that much would be a payback of how clingy he was towards you afterwards.

such a childish act for a huge guy.

“y/n!“ if you could do it sooner, you would’ve shut his loud mouth with a tape, because oh my god, he was loud as hell, and you were getting tired of keeping up with his random bursts of energy.

they said that you shouldn’t be around an oni for too long, but itto seemed harmless. too human although he was a half-demon that was supposedly be feared.

“what is it?” a heavy sigh passed your lips. you just wanted to go out for a morning walk, nothing more and nothing less, and what a wonderful way for you to start your day, you thought.

“just want to greet my favourite person,” he gave you a hug, tone too happy for someone who had just been whining about how he lost in a duel. his face slightly rubbed beside yours and you swiftly ducked your head, ultimately freeing your body from the figure who was too close in your opinion.

“aww,” he slightly whined. you didn’t understand his mood, so you were frankly, straight to the point. “what do you want, itto? you usually want to cut my head off, but today you’re acting like a baby.”

“hey! if you’re shorter than me, you are definitely a child. no room for argument,” he huffed. yep, definitely too whiny for a guy who could’ve break you with a single punch.

“although i badly want to duel with you, since, you know, i uh.. lost yesterday, but isn’t today’s your birthday?”

“and?”

“come on, now. you’re no fun,” he pulled his arms into his chest. “that is why i would like to make your dull life much more brighter,” he faked a cough. “happy birthday—

"yeah, cut it off, arataki itto.”

adeptus!xiao x human!reader

how did someone could be hating on social interactions so much?

that was the first question you only had, and it was for a specific adeptus.

XIAO was too lonely, and when he always shrugged you off, you decided that you didn’t like that side of his.

what was the point in protecting liyue but having a solitude life? did he really feel that bothered by having someone talking with him?

your numerous questions were answered when verr told you his backstory, and maybe you were being dramatic, but his reason was so heartbreaking for you to hear.

“don’t,” xiao’s hard tone warned, because you stared at him too much until he couldn’t bear to see your eyes. he knew that you figured out one thing or two about him, and he didn’t like the fact that there was guilt everywhere inside you. “i do not need your mortal pity.”

you almost cried when you remembered his karmic debt, because all this time, you treated him so bad, and now you were weighing with continuous guilt, guilt and guilt.

“xiao,” you finally, finally voiced out after long session of looking at the adeptus. his green spear in his hand, that mask beside his waist. “i’m sorry.”

“don’t, it’s useless,” xiao wondered how you suddenly became like this. usually, you would bicker with him, saying that he needed communications and daily conversations in his life but today, of all day, where he felt so heavy with karma, you decided to soften your heart and looking at him with such sympathy.

he truly hated that look you had been giving to him for hours now.

he knew you knew, your eyes told him everything.

you felt like comforting him, but you didn’t know how. it was weird when all you did was fighting with him, babbling about all the things surrounded him and then suddenly, you wanted to put him at ease.

so you decided to let the day passed by, silently enjoying the sky view from the rooftop of wangshu inn. no words were told to him, and he, for the first time, appreciated your treatment.

all rights reserved © berrywoo 2023 strictly on tumblr only. any form of wrongdoings under the copyright law is strictly prohibited.

[another-goblin]

Spoilers for 2.3

Some thoughts, speculations, and headcanons about our little dialogue with Ratio (+more)

1. This tells me that Ratio and Aventurine are friends (or as close to being friends as both of them are currently capable of, which isn't much, but still). Yes, what Aventurine thinks about TB could have been them discussing their mission. But I choose to think that they just chat with each other sometimes, because they actually enjoy it. Aventurine feels comfortable enough to just share what he thinks about the people he meets, and he knows that Ratio is interested in his opinions, and he's right. He listens and takes note. btw people being actual friends is my favorite trope for romantic couples.

2. Ratio seeing his relationships with Aventurine, and our TB, and people in general as a teacher and a student and being constantly in his teacher mode made me think. Probably all significant relationships in his life were those of a teacher and a student. He cannot see himself in any other role because he has never experienced it himself. I wouldn't be surprised if even his parents provided him with knowledge and education instead of parental love. This may also be why he's so frustrated with people who don't fit these two roles: normal people not interested in bettering themselves through education, students who don't take studying seriously, most scholars, and especially the Geniuses, for not actively sharing their knowledge or doing anything to uplift humanity.

3. Ratio seeing their relationship with Aventurine in particular this way is appropriately weird and a bit unhealthy, in my opinion (but what did we expect from him), considering that they are undeniably close. But that's probably the only way he knows to show his care for somebody:  to teach them stuff and help them better themselves.

4. On Avenrutine's side, he seems amused by it, in a good way (the way he playfully refers to Ratio in the descriptions of some of the 2.1 quests, "Your professor friend," and so on). He even seems to be a bit proud that an actual professor has taken an interest in him.

5. But what can he teach Aventurine? He might share his actual knowledge. I think the "Death" and "Dormancy" part of his note is him doing that. But he mostly sees his duty as a teacher in showing people that they can achieve a lot by themselves if they stop relying on higher beings who don't care about them and start relying on themselves (with little help from Ratio.)

But "relying on himself and achieving things" is what Aventurine has been successfully doing most of his life. So is it the "little help from Ratio" that matters here? Or is he helping Aventurine stop relying on his supposedly supernatural luck and realize how capable he actually is?

6. This. (btw 'philosophical zombie' means "a being in a thought experiment in philosophy of mind that is physically identical to a normal human being but does not have conscious experience" (from wiki), so basically just some weird concept in philosophy.) But what an admirably in-depth knowledge of his 'not partner' he's showing here. Are you equally interested in the inner worlds of all your students, doc?…

7. Anyways, that reminded me of what Jade said about the Stonehearts, even using the same word 'void'. So. Aventurine has a void in his heart, caused by his inability to protect people he cares about. It's very significant that Diamond gave him the power of Preservation specifically to help him fill that void, to be finally able to protect somebody he cares about. The problem is, he doesn't have anyone to protect anymore (he doesn't even see himself as worthy of protection). Until recently. So, and I'm being extremely self-indulgent here, if Ratio got in danger, Aventurine protecting and saving him would fill the void in his heart. And btw what can boost one's self-worth more than protecting somebody who's important to you? I mean, he should snap out of that 'I'm only worth the money my slaveowner paid for me' mentality sooner or later, I hope.

(the problem is, I'm not sure how it can play out now that he doesn't have his stone anymore. And he lost it, not protecting anybody but nearly killing himself and furthering the IPC's agenda. Although doing something like that without the stone would be even more significant)

Also, I hope Ratio won't realize that, and won't deliberately put himself in danger for Aventurine to save him. You know, for educational purposes.

8. He just runs around helping people, making sure everybody's okay, and, emm, 'enhance their living', that's his thing.  And even broadly speaking, with his scientific discoveries, and him saving people on Herta station. And considering that 'everybody's my student' thing, I feel like he sees himself as responsible for everybody (in his own way).

And some people still think that he's selfish and egoistic. He even gets angry when we ask for an autograph:

9. Aaand that's the third time he disappeared in the middle of a conversation involving Aventurine. I understand him, though. As somebody who also 'detests noisy gatherings', group chats aren't much better.

------

ok this was supposed to be hidden in tags but i think tumblr found it too scandalous or something i don't know, i'll just leave it here: the more I write about Ratio, the stronger the urge to just call him Rat, you know, lovingly also whoops sorry, I'm physically incapable of writing short posts, it was supposed to be a short comment about their friendship, how much content can I squeeze out of a half-minute long dialogue?, the answer is yes, but I just had to get it out of my system

[brynn-lear]

LOCKED AND LOADED [Yandere!Wanderer x Reader]

Prompt: The world is about to end. How will you grieve when you're forced to be with a miserable man until the last second? [Dedicated To: @mixed-kester for the Alone Together Event]

Content Tags: yandere!scaramouche "fluff" oneshot (yes, there are no other parts:]), major persona 3 spoilers but you DON’T need to know the game before reading this since everything is explained, improper use of a S.E.E.S evoker /j, Scaramouche is so normal about you, UNRELIABLE NARRATOR, major character death/s–

V. Acceptance.

"Where the hell are you, (Y/n)?"

Standing near what should have been the front doors of his university was a short man with dark purple hair. He leaned precariously against them, his head tilted upward as if the sickly green moon's ominous pull was nothing to be afraid of. Gekkoukan University's nearby dorms– fraternity and sorority houses included– are not usually this silent. Instead of people, coffins were aligned perpendicular to the ground.

The wanderer glanced at his watch with mild interest. He had been waiting for a while now. Your guest hoisted himself up, circling the ground with the tip of his shoe. The baseline of his attitude had always defaulted to irritability and passive-aggressiveness. The vertically aligned hour-and-minute hands do not placate it. The timing itself makes it worse.

It's December 31st, 2009, 12 AM– the Dark Hour.

With a harsh sneer, he pocketed his hands. You usually have the door to the Velvet Room open to him whenever. What's the big deal? Were you seriously THAT mad at him? Really? He didn't do anything to warrant this "pettiness". He had never known silence as much as this moment.

You should've accounted for the hostility that proceeds on the "off-chance" he did arrive early.

His tone darkened, his bloodied hands gripping his S.E.E.S evoker tightly.

"If you don’t show up, I will cleanse the world of human emotion all by myself"

You shook from afar, afraid of how he wouldn't hesitate to make his threat a reality. He had already taken so much– you were beyond mad at him. You were terrified. Wronged. Abused. You didn't want to step into the light. Much worse, step into his shadow.

The worst thing evil can do is to turn you into one of them.

He clutched the bloodied yellow scarf in his hands tightly.

Why did this happen?

How did things END up like this?

IV. Depression.

You took a deep breath and charged forward.

You don't trust [Wanderer] ever since Ryoji told him about the impending apocalypse.

Seldom do you leave the Velvet Room. You weren't hiding in the Velvet room months before the end of the world was imminent. When April had only reached its fourth day, there was nothing you wanted more than to spend time outside. So ignominiously innocent. You did not know who [Wanderer] was and how much effect he would have on your life at the time. You were just tired of the ongoing stream of uneventfulness.

And now here you are, berating the protagonist in full.

"[Wanderer], why is Ryoji missing?! US ATTENDANTS CAN'T FIND TRACK HIM ANYWHERE!!!"

With a fistful of his university uniform, you yanked him by the collar. Your eyes were livid as you reeled your composure. This wasn't what you had in mind when you were "isekai"d into a video game. Out of any game, why did it have to be Persona 3? And out of anyone that could be a protagonist, why did it have to be HIM?!

You thought this would be a grand affair... Whatever they spun in anime back when your reality existed were pure lies. Where are the scenic views? The mountains? The grasslands? This plane of existence you're forced to sit through for eternity was far from the RPG fantasy people would hope for. No closer you could ever be to paradise.

In fact, this man is threatening to ruin said paradise.

[Wanderer] pulled your hands away forcefully. His glare was not that different from yours. "Why do you care about him so much?"

"Oh, I don't know! Maybe it's because his death means forgetting everything?!" You clenched your empty fists. "You know damn well what happens if he dies! You'll lose all the help you can get to stopping the Fall!"

Such a heavy weight on your shoulders but the protagonist doesn't care. This may be a turn-based game– but it wasn't based on you. If it was, you wouldn't be screaming your heart out at him! You wouldn't be an NPC. Hell, you'd probably be a better protagonist than him.

You closed your eyes, took a deep breath, and sighed every stress out of your system.

"Listen—" You rubbed your temple. "You need to start forming bonds. Social links. Support system. Confidants. Whatever you want to call it. You were supposed to have the answer by now as to what life is for."

[Wanderer] remained silent throughout your spiels. His facial expression alone was enough to infer immense disinterest. You were mindlessly doing your job. There will be no tirade or physical aggression that can convince him that you believe in your assertions with full conviction.

"Do you want to see him?"

"Yes! Of course. Knowing you, you're—"

"Tempted to kill him because you think I want the world to end?"

"Obviously."

That's where you're wrong.

A nihilistic man can have other reasons to commit murder.

"But if he's missing, you can forget about him, right?"

"What on earth are you talking about?!"

[Wanderer] turned around. "Meet me later, you know the time."

"I'll show you where Ryoji is."

III. Bargaining.

XX/09/2009

He doesn't recall the time he was brought into this world like you had.

Puppets are malleable. Memories are easy to overwrite when your body is held together by white wood and "khemia". His past evades him.

Maybe it's better this way.

He took you to Chagall Café. Although it was your first time out in a long while, he had no qualms about ignoring your questions. He feigned deafness as you asked about the news, his college life, friends, or anything related to what was happening in 2009. And he even ignored your humble request to buy the cheapest coffee for you. Instead, he bought you a chocolate frappe.

"For Elizabeth's cutest little sibling." He said, sarcastically copying Elizabeth's tone as he sharply handed the drink. "Wouldn't want everyone's darling to get a caffeine addiction."

Thanks, asshat.

Of all his offensive behavior— he really spent more money just to insult you. You shook your head and accepted it. It's the most expensive one on the menu too. What dedication to being a hater. But before you could open your wallet, he shot your payment down.

"Just take it." He smirked. "Look at you, paying me back for treating you poorly. Are you a masochist?"

You immediately shoved your money back in. "You still bought me a free drink, so really, who's the loser here? Prick."

[Wanderer] laughed heartily before he pulled out his battered codal, which had underlined texts for provisions he deemed important. There was a momentary softness in his gaze that disappeared in an instant.

But that's the only conversation he planned on having that evening. He did mention he'll drag you out in his study session so you weren't too shocked by it. Instead, you sat and awkwardly people-watched. The world you came from and this one were identical. You got through your old 2009 just fine— it's just that Tatsumi Port Island was not a real location from your original Japan.

Your memories about the video game Persona aren't very clear since you reincarnated in the game, but the red band [Wanderer] wore on his sleeve affirmed that he is the leader of S.E.E.S. It's nice to know that someone like him has the potential to become a leader.

[Wanderer] appeared wholly immersed in his studies.

…

Maybe he wouldn't notice if you looked around—

…?!

He immediately grabbed your hand. You yelped slightly as you noticed the iron grip he had.

"Where are you going?"

Don't leave him.

He squeezed just a bit more tightly.

"W-What the— I'm just going to the bathroom." You felt a shiver down your spine as you shared his gaze. There's a dull coldness to it you couldn't quite place, as if he had been a witness to injustice, sevenfold.

You quietly sat back down. He still hasn't let go of your hand.

"Good riddance." He muttered.

"If it isn't [Wanderer]!"

You turned around, yanking your hand away.

It's Ryoji.

You stood up, gawking.

"W-Woah, are you okay?" Ryoji asked, hurriedly approaching you. While you were frozen in place, [Wanderer] looked at his empty hand, feeling your warmth escape his fingertips.

G-Good… he's still alive.

You thought [Wanderer] killed him.

[Wanderer] is the wildcard, and that's a terrifying factor to consider. He hasn't shown any interest in humanity. Knowing his past has not increased any hope on your end. Everyone else in his eyes are insignificant insects.

He has the power to end Ryoji.

He has the power to end this world.

Locked and loaded.

Ryoji's eyes softened. "Wait, I think I know a beautiful face like yours from somewhere… You must be [Wanderer]'s attendant, (Y/n), right?"

You blinked.

"Wait, how did you…"

He chuckled, taking and placing a soft kiss on your gloved hands.

"I have my ways." Ryoji winked.

"Don't touch them." [Wanderer] sneered.

Ryoji stood up straight, unfazed by his threatening tone. You took a moment to examine his appearance. He had a lot of white clothing and a big yellow scarf around his neck. Just below his left eye is a mole. On the surface, he appeared quite human, but everyone seated at this table was aware of his true nature.

He is the 13th arcana. The appraiser.

You and [Wanderer] have every right to be wary.

"I'm Ryoji Mochizuki. It's nice to be officially introduced to you, Mx. (Y/n)."

"Ryoji Mochizuki…" You tasted the syllables.

"Oh? Who knew hearing my name from your lips makes it sound so wonderful."

"C-Cut it out, you don't mean that." You said, a little flustered.

[Wanderer]'s gaze fixated on you, stewing in his concoction of envy and misery. His fists were clenched beneath the table, knuckles turning white. With narrowed eyes, he watched as you continued engaging in conversation with Ryoji. His laughter was grating his ears. He couldn't bear the sight of you engaging with another man, especially someone as flirtatious as him.

Ryoji, sensing [Wanderer]'s distress, shot him a casual glance. To top the look, he paired it with a knowing smirk. He made mental notes of the man's clenched jaw and tensed shoulders.

"You seem a little on edge, [Wanderer]. Finals coming up?" He feigned innocence.

"It's December, and I'm not on edge." He scoffed, trying not to make his gritted teeth evident. "Don't you own a calendar? Finals are in March. To think a pea-brain like you managed to transfer to Gekkan…"

"Right, right." Ryoji smiled, closing his eyes. "Then it must be my proposal you're thinking of."

You stiffened; [Wanderer] did not.

"Ryoji—"

"I know, Mx. (Y/n)." He started. "I know you're not too keen on the idea of killing me. My existence is the affirmation of the Fall. None of you— sorry, I forgot (Y/n) is from the Velvet room— I meant none of them will live till Spring… Or perhaps it's more accurate to say they'll forfeit the will to live."

…

"… I-I'm sorry." Ryoji buried his face in his yellow scarf. There's a certain tremble in his voice that truly emphasizes his sorrow. "Just as all living things die, the flow of time cannot be hindered. But there's comfort in killing me. If you do… you won't have to suffer for the coming days."

If [Wanderer] kills Ryoji, Tartarus, the Dark Hour— the burden of everyone's memories will all disappear.

But [Wanderer] can retain his.

He's not originally from this world after all…

However, should he let him live, the rest of S.E.E.S's life will continue until everyone's inevitable demise.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

[Wanderer] rolled his eyes, diverting his eyes back to his notes. "Everyone will die soon, who cares? I've heard your spiel several times already. You need to get more entertaining material."

"[Wanderer]!" You scolded him.

Your eyes widened in disbelief at [Wanderer]'s unwittingly casual jabs at the apocalypse. You wanted to ask him if he was even listening, but the truth will disappoint you. A cold sweat formed on your brow.

Ryoji's smile crooked into a hopeless one.

"You depend on (Y/n) too much."

[Wanderer] froze. "What did you say…?"

"You have a group of people around you, eager to establish a bond— eager to be friends with you. You have met Junpei, Yukari, Mitsuru, Akihiko, Fuuka, and many others– but you don't consider any of them as your friends." Ryoji shook his head. "Instead, you spend your time with just (Y/n). Never anyone else. Just them. To the point that I think it's unhealthy."

"I don't care for humans." He replied immediately.

"You're human too, [Wanderer]." Ryoji shot back. "You're made of blood, bones, and flesh."

[Wanderer] fell silent. What Ryoji said was true, and yet…

"Am I?" He laughed.

The sound was hollow and mechanical. Deprived of genuine mirth. It did not sound forced, yet his eyes were dull.

…

Perhaps he lived as a puppet for so long that the idea of being human has yet to reach him.

Ryoji shifted, uncomfortably glancing between you two. The tension was palpable despite the cafe's peaceful ambiance. Ryoji cleared his throat softly.

"I should leave…" He trailed off, voice slightly wavering. His eyes darted around, scrambling for words to say. "But, um, before I leave, I just want to say again that you need to give it some more thought, [Wanderer]... It's a big deal… Just…"

Ryoji sighed. "Remember to make your choice to spare or kill me by December 31st. I'm glad you're having fun but don't get too distracted with (Y/n). I'll be waiting."

That being said, his footsteps reverberated loudly in the otherwise still room as he turned and headed for the door. He dared to turn back as he grabbed for the doorknob and saw you two sharing a look that he couldn't determine if it was one of contemplation or displeasure. He hurried out and the cafe door shut behind him.

"Happy?" [Wanderer] bitterly asked.

You paused for a moment… then grinned.

"Tsk, what are you laughing at, worm?"

"Nothing, nothing!" You shrugged. "I just thought that for a guy with a stick up his ass, you're cute when you're jealous."

That riled [Wanderer] up in an instant.

You do not know the full extent of his envy's filth.

"I am NOT—" He stopped, realizing how counterproductive it would be. "Whatever. I don't care."

"Uhuh?"

"Shut up and finish your damn chocolate!"

II. Anger.

Before you know it, it's April.

"Seriously, you three, I'm bored as fuck! Can't I just take a stroll outside?" You yelled, waving the heavy persona compendium in the air as your sisters ignored you.

It hasn't been long since you reincarnated, so your right to go outside isn't as liberal. Given the impending threat of an apocalypse, the Velvet Room attendants are especially overprotective.

"(Y/n), dear sibling, watch your mouth! You mustn't let Igor or Nameless hear you speak so vulgarly."

Taking a good look at your new "siblings", you've noticed how almost everyone was present. Margaret sat elegantly on the sofa while Theodore & Elizabeth were doing their best to calm you down. It's almost rare to have all three in one place. The three oldest were busy-bodies who had more eccentric matters they devoted their attention to. Including rapping and dancing, though neither performances are good for your senses.

"If boredom plagues you, then you should try teasing Theodore." Elizabeth yawned. "He's easy pickings."

"Sister!" Theodore pouted. "Shouldn't (Y/n) focus on studying how fusing works? It would be a better use of their time…"

"The day (Y/n)'s new wildcard learns the value of social links might just be the day miserly politicians become generous." Elizabeth shrugged.

You paled, tugging her sleeve. "Oh fuck… Am I screwed?"

She gave you a lopsided smile. "I may be your new sibling but that does not mean I am obliged to resolve your problems, (Y/n). Learn to solve this on your own."

Theodore coughed.

"Please, stop scaring them, sister Elizabeth. It's not their fault this new guest is a cruel arbiter. I fear there will not be a second of groundless joy in store for them…"

"You're not helping me relax either! Motherfucker. Can't you two speak normally?"

"Settle down, all of you."

The four of you stood straight as Igor tilted his chin up. Though you've gotten used to his bloodshot gaze, it had a way of prickling your skin this time around. With his signature smile, he closed his eyes and snapped his fingers.

"Our guest is about to enter."

"W-Wait, RIGHT NOW?!?"

Before you could react, the room transformed into what appeared to be a large elevator. The walls were barred and creaking noises began to subtly make their presence. A floating door materialized, and soon, opened.

Dark purple hair and eyes, short frame, soft face.

"…Hmm?"

You blinked.

"Wait, no way…"

You know him.

Of course, you know him.

"Everyone, meet [Wanderer]."

You decided that you two should reintroduce yourselves and forget that the past ever happened.

For now, you had been gifted with a vital role: being the protagonist's attendant.

According to your Igor, your role is to assist your guest in fusing personas. He had chosen you specifically in advance as you are his "anima/animus figure". Initially, that job was for Elizabeth. However, your beliefs, your intuition, your emotions— they're in perfect tune with [Wanderer]. Igor expects you to facilitate their spiritual and psychological growth and implore them to interact more with others.

Which, based on that alone, sounds like this puppet just hired an unpaid therapist.

"What do you want?"

"Well…"

Since you became [Wanderer]'s attendant, you've started to have thicker skin. He will always make his crankiness known each visit. You're slightly grateful for it, for how else would you know patience otherwise? Though his personality rubs you the wrong way, his strength does have merits you cannot ignore. Even Belladona, the Velvet Room's devout singer, had sung praises for his mettle. There was one line that struck you about her song, something about him being like a puppet with a beating heart unbeknownst to himself…

Which is why you thought you might as well try to see if you could convince him to take you out sometimes.

"What, like a date?" [Wanderer] scoffed then smirked, a light blush on his face. "Are you really that desperate?"

"No, eww—" You rolled your eyes. "I meant it literally. Igor and the others wouldn't let me go outside unless I'm with someone they trust."

He looked away and covered his mouth, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Like a child?"

"Yeah, yeah, shut the fuck up." You deadpanned, your pride slightly chipped. "Like a child or whatever you want to see it, as long as it gets me out of here. I just want to see the world before it all…"

You paused.

Better not to bring it up. You're not sure if Igor told him yet.

[Wanderer] raised an eyebrow. "What's in it for me?"

You shrugged. "Is money not enough?"

He paused.

…

"You've got to be kidding me— Fine, what else do you want?"

His eyelids lowered, hissing slightly. "Evil expects evil from others, huh? I wasn't trying to think of anything more, but now that I think about it…"

"Oh, great."

"… I can take your request," he pointed at you. "But only if you join me in the library. Anywhere else, especially loud places like clubs, I'll send your ass back."

That's a no-brainer.

"Deal!"

Though you've missed the peculiar sight, [Wanderer] had a small smile on his face as you shook hands. The two of you had become nearly inseparable since then.

Worryingly, he's closer to you than other humans.

The only relationship he needed was with you.

And with what little time this world has left, you hope you could have a last cup of coffee with him…

I. Denial.

Your reality crumbled. What a START.

Your family, friends... all gone. No one was left. You convince yourself you "deserved" this punishment for smoking a life away with dreadful workloads, no matter how untrue it was. When the world burnt down, you were sent into a darkness you had not known before.

The person in charge of your reincarnation process told you that for the next few minutes, you and a selected companion will see your lives flash before your eyes in a void— and it will not necessarily be a comforting sight.

But you woke up relaxed. In an abyss filled with broken mirrors meant to depict your character to pieces, you donned a plain expression. There was not an inch of you that grieved for what was lost. Similarly, you had no care for how you were being transmigrated to another realm. Though you had grown accustomed to this isolation, humanity always struggled with silence. There was ringing on your fingers. When you unclasped your hands, you saw a pointed shard. Curiously, you clenched it. But no matter the tightness of your grip, no blood came out.

Your breath fogged up the glass. You wondered why that Memokeeper told you that you deserve to live on. You thought your life was rather unremarkable.

Makes sense. You thought to yourself. I'd rather pride myself on a boring life with integrity than an ambitious yet fraudulent one.

「Assignments. Commute. Study. Review. Assignments. Commute. Study. Review. Was that all your life was...? Then tell me, little (Y/n), why does the mirror in front of you appear distorted?」

And so, you gazed forward. Your reflection stood tall, larger than your life, and it beckoned you to come closer. This "(Y/n) (L/n)" had the opposite of a Cheshire grin- perhaps a caricature- perhaps an accurate depiction. Wearied of yourself and wearied of the sycophantic students around you. How unhappy are you to see yourself as someone like this? Are these the emotions you wish to be preserved? Is this the memory you want your world to be remembered by?

「These memories must be corrupted. Someone must be tampering with them. I do not think you lived a miserable life.」

I can't answer your questions either. But I think that reflection is who I am, because sometimes...

"I wish I had never been born at all."

Your lips were parted, but no sound came out. You resonated with those words, but they did not come from you. The voice was dark, hopeless, and alone.

When you were being sent off, you thought no one was around to greet you. There was another man. He had short hair and purple eyes- an incredibly rare sight in your world. This man seemed to be gazing at his reflection as well. You needn't know how he saw himself. The emptiness in his eyes did not differ from yours. He, too, was masking isolation as independence with an intense fragility. The dread he inflicted upon you was the closest you've ever gotten to facing your own perceived "weakness".

His memories were a mixbag. Some were filled with domestic bliss, but the anger in his heart triumphed more. He had friends but thought himself betrayed. His heart was constructed through a system of evasions, and he was a specialist in self-deception. This man knew little of emotions but had an abundance of it. It's no wonder he refused to sacrifice the artistry of his vengeance against humanity. You can sympathize with how he could not attach himself to those around him. He was burdened with malicious knowledge. Fakes. Lies. Insincerities. A class of his own.

However, he had a sin you cannot empathize with. A trait you can read that you're certain he had never noticed about himself.

He was a sickeningly beautiful man with a peculiar innocence.

He looked like a man who truly did not live in the real world.

This man did not feel real to you. He felt made-up. Fictional. His aura of flawlessness appalled you. Though you shared the same sentiments, you thought him dimensionless.

Yet this is supposedly your first meeting.

「Is it? Where have you seen him before? Can't you remember, dear (Y/n)?」

No. No, I can't.

「... What a shame. Worry no more, little (Y/n). Close your eyes. When you wake up, you will meet your new reality— new realm— new family.」

You nodded and agreed to a higher existence you did not believe in. Unlike others, you were a little bit more incapable of trusting a living soul. But there's no other choice.

Life is ordinarily far from anyone's control in the first place. Why bother fighting? If following can make her fuck off, it doesn't matter.

Nothing matters.

Wait…

Is that…

Scaramouche?

Before you closed your eyes and accepted your fate, you could've sworn...

He looked at you with a crooked grin.

「Thou art I... And I am thou...

Thou hast established a new bond...

Thou shalt be blessed when creating

Personas of the Universe Arcana..."」

"Hmm. Strange… Is that truly the order of the story?"

A woman stared at you.

Not (Y/n) (L/n).

YOU.

BEHIND.

THE.

SCREEN.

She smiled wryly.

Hate might empower you for a short while, but it comes at the cost of consuming you whole. Should a shard or any surface reflect [Wanderer]'s face, he would understand what he had become. However, it's too late. He had made his choice and stomped away any remorse he could have. When all is said and done, he alone will spread the ashes. He alone will stand. A blank slate.

[Wanderer] spent his life looking for scapegoats and ended up removing his responsibility.

Betrayals?

What a sad, sad puppet.

What a poor excuse to justify an entire apocalypse.

A poor excuse of a man.

"THE ARCANA IS THE MEANS BY WHICH ALL IS REVEALED." She muttered softly. "And you have been reading your story in REVERSE. Perhaps this is the only way this world can attain SALVATION. The chronological order is not a slice of life. You did not have a disagreement and decided to start your relationship over again. Life is far more WICKED."

"Read it again, but from DENIAL to ACCEPTANCE. The proper way to GRIEVE DEATH."

With great reluctance, she took the five cards laid on the table and placed them in an upright position.

"Let's see if you'd rather ACCEPT the truth or live in DENIAL."

Mixed-Kester can now message Wanderer [prior to 12/31/2009]

[14dayswithyou]

I was thinking over the landlord situation because a small detail stuck in my mind. Ren seemed surprised that the issues in Angel's building weren't being dealt with.

Possibly it's just that a negligent landlord would never happen to him with his fancy apartment, or he owns it, and he's out of touch with normal renting problems.

But for fun maybe he secretly is the landlord and wasn't getting the complaints because he doesn’t pay much attention to duties? Is he getting the complaints but putting himself in the position to fix them as 'Ren', impressing Angel? He already volunteered for guard dog duty against… himself.

Was it faked surprise because he's responsible for causing those issues for his own benefit? 

I feel Ren potentially did ruin the air mattress in advance hoping to be invited into the bed, blaming rats when it was discovered. Maybe it was done that day while waiting for Angel to get off work. 

Maybe he remotely jammed the elevator too because... idk why he'd do that, there should be cameras already in the lift and they should be hackable. Or maybe he just uses the stairs for stealth and only spies on Angel’s flat, so genuinely didn't know the crappy elevator wasn't working. Possible. Maybe he also wants the flat to be shitty and seem dangerous to push Angel into moving in with him.

Perhaps Ren knows who the landlord is and was surprised for that reason? It's not likely that he's installed a friend into the job if he's a loner, but I think he did once have family friends (of his parents) into some shady business. Perhaps they pivoted their legit real estate investments into a money laundering front and no longer attend to the tenants needs well. Maybe he knows the building layout from visiting them years ago as a child, and that's how he avoids being caught.

Or is Ren making a mental note to kill the bad landlord for inconveniencing Angel? and potentially take over the job

Anyway don't mind me, I like to puzzle on things.

✦゜ANSWERED: In case some folks might not know: if you make the right choices, you can actually meet the landlord in Day 3 instead of Olivia! They also address the rat complaints — though their response is kinda meme-y — and the overall scene isn't intended to be taken seriously.

Ren, however, does know the landlord’s identity already, but doesn’t do anything about it because they actively play a massive role in his plans.

⚠️ Day 3 + general lore spoilers under the cut!! ⚠️

Essentially, Ren wants Angel to move in with him — which is why he’s so adamant on giving them a key to his place. And like you picked up on; he keeps bringing up how awful it is to live in Angel’s neighbourhood in hopes of having them realise this and depend on Ren instead. After all, the only thing he wants is to be Angel's top priority and the person they go to first in any given situation.

Ren is also no stranger to rent problems while growing up. I've mentioned this before, but prior to living in a small, rundown home; Ren and his family used to live in a trailer park. There was hardly much room or privacy for everyone, and the maintenance there was awful.

I do like the theory about Ren using shady connections between his friends/family for his bidding!! Canonically though, Ren has no friends outside of Angel and River, and he hasn't been in contact with any of his blood relations in years.

Also!! I do want to restate that the rats in the demo genuinely are rats. It wasn't Ren tearing up a hole in Angel's mattress (he didn’t think you'd invite him over in Day 1 + he respects your comfort level), but it was him stealing specific items.

[bimobuddy]

Feeling Better

Hazbin TK fic

Lee!Alastor, Lers! Husk and Niffty

Everything in this fic is platonic

Soft and caring Husk :]

CW: Alastor in the bath, but everything is covered and nothing NSFW happens, angst as per usual in my fics at this point, mention of blood, mention of scars and past trauma (brief)

Spoilers

Summary: Alastor, while quite the dapper gentlemen, smells like swamp and deer carcass, as that is what his bedroom is. After some back and forth, his companions decide to take it upon themselves to take care of the issue (and take care of him)

Edit: I dont think this was my best work

It was no secret that Alastor wasn't the cleanest person. He turned his bedroom into a swamp to feel more at home, and often left blood stains from his meals on his suit, leaving it to rot and smell.

However, what many people didn't know, is that he also wasn't the best at keeping up with hygiene. Something that only Husk and Niffty knew about him was that he despised bathing. They didn't know why, they just knew that he did.

And they put up with it.. For as long as they could.

As Alastor sat at the bar, Husk found himself scrunching up his nose. To be polite, he made sure no one was listening first, then he turned to his boss, ears down. "Jesus, Al, when's the last time you bathed?" The radio host stared at Husk, trying to intimidate him, but for once, Husk wasn't budging. "I'm serious, Alastor. Not only does it reek, but I'm sure you don't feel good either. Right?"

This caught him off guard. He wasn't used to people other than Charlie showing him genuine concern. His smile remained as normal, but the folding of his ears seemed to give away how he was feeling. "I'll admit it has.. been a while."

Husk nodded and leaned against the counter. "Then maybe you should do something about it?" He asked, raising a brow. The other demon seemed to go quiet. Husk studied him, as if trying to read his mind. "Maybe... We can do something about it then? Niff and I?"

As if summoned by the mere mention of her name, Niffty appeared out of seemingly nowhere, hopping up onto the counter. "You know you can trust us, Alastor! I like cleaning!" She grinned.

"And you know I'm not going to judge or tell anyone." Husk said, looking him in the eye. Alastor thought it over for a moment. Niffty and Husk were two out of a small select group of people he genuinely trusted the most. "Fine." He shrugged, trying to make it appear as if there wasn't a growing sense of unease and anxiety sinking into his stomach.

Husk nodded. "Niffty, why don't you go ahead and go run the bath for Al. Use my room, I don't trust that he even has a tub in his." Niffty gave a quick salute then hopped down from the counter, running off.

Husk turned his attention back to Alastor, lowering his voice. "Is there a reason you don't like bathing, Al?" He asked, catching the demon off guard. "Why Husker, what makes you ask such a silly little-" "Don't think you can fool me, I saw the way you froze earlier. Al, you might own my soul, and you might scare the shit out of me sometimes, but I don't hate you," this surprised Alastor, "I'm only asking so I know how to go about this properly. If there's something about it that bothers you, I don't want to force you into it."

Alastor looked back at Husk for a solid minute, thinking it over. He stood suddenly and started to walk toward the hallway, where Husk's room was, signaling the other to follow, which he did. Once they were alone, Alastor finally spoke.

"What I'm about to tell you does not leave that silly little kitty mouth of yours, understood? If I find out that-" "You have my word, Alastor, you don't have to threaten it out of me." ".....Right. Well- Thank you.. Husk."

It wasn't often that Alastor used his actual name instead of 'Husker,' but when he did, the cat felt a sense of equality between them. No longer 'Owner of Soul and Servant,' but like they knew each other. All the more reason he decided to take this issue seriously, for Alastor.

"While I was alive, let's just say I've been through a lot. In my life, over many years, and many incidents, I acquired many scars. Reminders. Let's just say I do not enjoy them. I hated them, and hated looking at them. I assume that is why fate decided they would stick with me even in the afterlife." There was a moment of silence before Husk replied, "They make you feel vulnerable again. They remind you of those.. incidents.. Don't they?"

Alastor didn't verbally respond, but the glance he gave him confirmed to Husk that he may have been correct about this. Husk nodded. "You can trust us, Al."

As they stepped into Husk's room, they noticed just how much effort Niffty had put into this. She had drawn a bath, filled it with bubbles, already gotten a towel ready, and fresh new clothes for Alastor, folded neatly by the sink. As the Radio Host looked closer, he noticed some of the holes and tears had been mended.

"Wow, Niff, I'm impressed." Husk said, taking his hat off. Another sign that this wasn't between co-workers, but friends. His hair was slicked back as usual, though Alastor hadn't seen it like that since the day he won his soul.

When Husk looked back at Alastor, he noticed the look in his eye, his posture, everything. The look of 'I am trying very hard to be okay with this.'

Husk gave him a slight nod before turning to Niffty. "Why don't we give him some space real quick, alright?" He turned to Alastor. "Go ahead and get yourself ready in the bathroom, we'll be right out here." As he walked past the deer demon, he lowered his voice again, "We won't leave you."

Alastor stepped into the bathroom and shut the door, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He did deep down truly appreciate how supportive Husk and Niffty were being, it did help him feel less.. anxious about everything. Though he also no longer felt like an overlord. He felt like a kid again. The constant reassurance, the sudden comfort and concern he was being shown.. It reminded him of his mother. It was hard to describe, but if he had to, he would have said he felt 'weak, but in a way that was okay with him.'

He got himself ready and sat himself in the bath, the heat of the water somehow immediately helping him relax more than he thought it would. He was grateful for the bubbles as well, not only did it cover him, but he wasn't able to see his scars that much.

There was a gentle knock, then Husk's voice. "Al?" Wanting to at least pretend he still had control, he replied, "Enter."

Husk opened the door and before he even got a full step in, Niffty darted in, grabbed Alastor's discarded clothes and then ran back out, fussing about the blood stains under her breath.

"... Alright, well while she goes and does whatever it is she's decided she's going to do, I'll get started, if that's okay with you." Husk said, shutting the door behind him. Alastor nodded. It did feel odd to him to have someone elss in the room, but he reminded himself that he could trust the bartender.

As Husk stepped closer, he did catch a glimpse of a couple scars, littered across his skin. He didn't mention them, instead grabbing a rag nearby that Niffty had left out. "I know you don't like being touched, so I'm warning you beforehand that I'm about to, so you don't kill me. Satan knows Niffty would fuss at you over the mess." He said, trying to lighten the mood a little. Though Alastor didn't laugh, his grin did widen slightly, indicating that it had worked.

Husk dampened the cloth and got started, touching it to Alastor's back. As the radio demon jumped a little and suddenly gripped the sides of the tub, he paused, gave him time to calm back down, and continued. He knew he could have laughed at him, teased him for being such a powerful demon scared of something as small as a bath, but he didn't. He wouldn't. Because he understood. Sure, he was a feared overlord, rivaling with the King of Hell himself, but before that, he was a person.

A person that, surprisingly, he had come to understand and even care about. As Alastor suddenly jolted again, letting out a sudden ring of static, Husk thought it was due to him being anxious again, only to see his shoulders shaking a little bit.

At first, he worried that Alastor either was in pain or had started crying (a thought that really concerned him), but as he looked down, he noticed he had the rag placed on the back of his ribs, and that Alastor was arching away from the touch. Now this was something he could tease him about.

"Ticklish, kid?" He grinned, making a point to wiggle his fingers through the rag, making Alastor do the radio feedback noise again. "I-I'm oholder thahan you, you ahabsolute-" "Yeah but you died younger than I did, I'm more of an adult than you are."

Alastor opened his mouth to argue, but Husk had already slipped the rag under his right arm, wiggling his claws through the thin fabric. The radio demon slammed his arm down, trying hard to keep it together. He shook with contained laughter, his grin wide and wobbly, ears pinned back. He was doing quite well until Husk suddenly skittered his claws along the back of his neck.

He scrunched his nose up and broke, giggling hysterically, reflexively kicking a leg out, causing a bit of water to splash over the side. "Hey," Husk playfully scolded, "Keep it together down there, you know Niffty is gonna chastise you about that later." "My floor!"

Husk and Alastor jumped, the latter accidentally letting out more mic feedback, as both startled at the sudden sound of Niffty. Neither had seen or heard her enter the bathroom. She huffed, hands on her hips. "You boys. Always giving me more work." She shook her head, hopping up on a stool left by the tub so she could reach Alastor.

"I swear she appears whenever her name is mentioned, did you do that when you got her soul?" Husk whispered. Alastor shook his head, his eyes showing he was just as freaked out as Husk was.

Niffty ignored them, filling a cup with water. "Ears," was all the warning she gave before she dumped it over the deer's head, giving him a split second to fold his ears back to protect them from the water. Husk had to bite back a chuckle as Alastor's hair fell into his face, covering his eyes. He almost resembled a grumpy, wet dog. He reached up and pushed his hair from his eyes, looking slightly annoyed, but Husk knew he had all the patience in the world when it came to Niffty. She could get away with anything.

Even when she started to work in the shampoo, scritching behind his ears. Alastor visibly tensed up, his cheeks turning pink (something Husk had never seen him do). The cat grinned at him, leaning on the edge of the tub. "Your ears are ticklish too?" He chuckled.

As muffled, staticky snickers bubbled out of the overlord, Niffty just smiled. "Husk, dont tease him when you're worse." This shut him up quickly, Husk pinning his own ears back grumbling. Alastor would have laughed at him, had he not already been fighting it back so hard.

When Niffty started to gently scritch at the base of his ears, he started to crack more, giggling louder, yet it was clear he was trying to sit still for her. "Pff- Hmph.. M-Mhmhmhmhm- hahahaha nohoho!" His eyes flew open to glare at Husk, who had picked the rag up to start at the other side of his ribs now, under his left arm.

Alastor's ears were flicking from Niffty's tickling, as he gripped Husk's wrist, more just to have something to ground himself rather than to push him away.

Husk gently scrubbed lower down his side, earning higher giggles before Alastor gasped and flinched away. He hadn't been hurt, but Husk knew it more him trying to avoid getting hurt before it actually happened. The slash he had gotten from Adam was still healing. "Relax, Bucky, I'm not gonna hit it." Husk said.

"Don't call me Bu-hahahaha!" He had gotten cut off when Husk simply switched to his other side.

"Ears." Niffty warned before immediately pouring water over his head again. Alastor coughed a little before lifting his bangs again. "Careful, Niff, don't drown him." Husk chuckled, giving him a break to catch his breath.

As Niffty hopped down off the stool, Husk tossed the rag to Alastor for him to get his own legs, making a joke about how 'I know neither of us want me reaching down there.'

Husk took a seat on the stool as Niffty ran back in with a jar. "What's that?" Husk questioned. "Hoof polish!" She grinned. Alastor let a quiet growl escape his throat, though it was more out of embarrassment than anger, making the cat laugh a little. "As funny as that would be Niffty, I don't think we need it. I'm not pampering his spoiled ass more than I have to." She nodded and ran back out of the room.

"I couldn't help but notice," Husk started, "That you didn't try very hard to get away from the ticklin', especially around your ears." He smirked. Alastor just threw a soft glare his way and didnt confirm nor deny anything.

Once Alastor was done, Husk turned his head away and handed him a towel, before leaving the bathroom to leave him to it.

Alone once again, Alastor took a moment to take in just how much better he felt. Not only physically, but mentally. In the past, bathing would drain him of his energy, leaving him mentally exhausted. But this time he felt better than ever. He looked over at his newly mended suit, patched up by Niffty.

She didn't have to do that.. But she did. Because she looked up to Alastor and cared for him. And Husk didn't have to sit with him the entire time and help him. But he did. Because he saw him as a friend.

He got dressed and left the bathroom, meeting Husk again in his bedroom. Husk's ear flicked as he heard the door open, and he looked up at Alastor. "Feeling better?" He asked.

Alastor walked past him, quickly scritching behind the cat's ears as he passed, earning a loud snort as his hand was batted away. "Much." He smiled, and headed back out to the lobby.

It may not have been a verbal 'thank you,' but Husk had gotten the message anyway.

[short-yandere-stories]

Can you please do a yandere kenpachi zaraki x reader pretty please 🥺🙏

Of course! Big strong scary man but softie inside makes my brain go wild. I have another request for him in the inbox, so have this softer one first, and I'll go a little more crazy with the other one later :>

:✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:

:✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:

CW: yandere behavior, takes place post TYBW so spoiler warning, slight infantilization, unhealthy dependence, possessiveness, mentions of fighting, mentions of being severely injured

This is a yandere work. Proceed with caution and please be mindful of your triggers.

:✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:

✧ Kenpachi is not used to nice things. Ever since he was a kid, violence and fighting was all he knew.

✧ So, naturally, at first, he has no idea how he's supposed to treat the newcomer who personality-wise definitely does not fit into the 11th squad.

✧ Of course, no one whose fighting abilities are not personally accepted by Kenpachi has no chance of joining his ranks.

✧ You barely know how you managed to impress him, in all sincerity. You were far from as strong as he was, but he must have sensed something about your abilities that made him accept you.

✧ Your persistence had been admirable too, Kenpachi had to begrudgingly admit. None of the other guard courts had been of any interest to you. You'd had your eyes on the 11th squad, and that was the one you were going to become a part of.

✧ Kenpachi Zaraki's squad is full of people who seem to have next to nothing in common, so in a weird way, you fit right in.

✧ At first, Kenpachi didn't pay it much mind. You weren't a seated officer and wasn't brought along on too many missions, but you were always looking after the others upon their return.

✧ He joked that you'd fit in better in squad 4 with the healers, and the venomous glare you'd sent him had been laced with so much fire that he immediately fell quiet in shock.

✧ I consider this to take place after Kenpachi properly learns about Yachiru and she disappears.

✧ Your kindness is not a trait Yachiru had, but your positivity reminds him of her.

✧ Slowly, he finds himself seeking out your company more and more frequently, even going so far as to not take fights seriously at all or force his spiritual power down enough to be cut, just so you can be the one to patch him back up.

✧ You're surprisingly good at handling his temper and making him calm down as well, which the rest of your squadmates are quick to pick up on, dragging you along whenever they had to deliver unfortunate news that would make Kenpachi's anger flare up.

✧ In next to no time, Kenpachi has given you an unofficial seat of sorts, making sure that keeps you close to him at all times. It makes the loss of Yachiru's physical form easier to bear as well.

✧ The squad had filled you in about the last Lieutenant, and you felt your heart ache for the sake of your captain every time he looked over his shoulder with a grin to shoot a few words to the little pink-haired girl who usually sat on his back or shoulder, only to have his face fall.

✧ I believe that he would be pretty normal at first, that is until you are severely injured at the hands of a few hollows on a mission that he'd selfishly brought you along on. One moment of Kenpachi being occupied had been enough for an attack to reach.

✧ When you woke up, bandaged and in pain, but alive, in the barracks of squad four a few days later, the first thing you saw was the captain sitting next to you. He looked like he hadn't slept a wink while you'd been unconscious.

✧ The relief on his face once his eyes met yours was immense. "Don't do that again," he said gruffly, clenching his fist. He'd been beating himself up ever since the incident, cursing himself for that singular moment of not even a second that led to you being in this state.

✧ He would make sure nothing like that would happen to you ever again.

✧ He had already lost Yachiru (even though she was technically still with him) and he refused to lose another person he cared about.

✧ As soon as you'd regained your health, he'd firmly banned you from leaving on any missions at all, which had made you lash out and punch him (dealing absolutely no damage) much to Kenpachi's amusement.

✧ Knowing how stubborn you could be, the times when he personally had to leave on a mission, he locked you up with shackles blocking your spiritual power. No matter how mad you got at him or viciously tried to fight back and stop him, you were like an angry kitten, all bark and no bite.

✧ At all other times of day, you were effectively thrown onto his shoulder, taking Yachiru's place. It was the only way he could be certain to keep you from sneaking away on missions as he had no doubts that you would run off with your zanpakuto the second he let you out of his sight.

✧ Really, who was going to stop him? Few were strong enough to oppose him, and the positive impact you had on keeping him calm unfortunately had Head Captain Shunsui siding with Kenpachi. "For the greater good," he'd said in a meeting, shooting you an apologetic glance as you clenched your fists and bit back tears, seated in Kenpachi's lap.

✧ You'd spend your days glued to his side, wondering if things would have been different if you'd never smiled his way.

✧ If you'd known how things would turn out, you'd never have followed your dreams and fought to join the 11th squad.

:✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:

[raimoka]

— " IL BANCHETTO FINALE "

｡ ㅤꕤ ㅤ PAIRING: beast dazai & reader.

SYNOPSIS: in which, dazai wishes to dance with you for the last time as a goodbye before proceeding with his plan.

tags ➜ beast spoilers, dazai is hopelessly in love with reader, established relationship, gender neutral reader, kinda angsty but generally a fluff, author may or may have not described the dancing rather poorly, lowercase as always. ‹𝟹

⋆ author's notes: i miss my wife beastzai, do not read beast, that shit ruins you. please also read the end note.

send an order!! → guide ❀ flowers ←

It was raining.

the tune of russian waltz — on the hills of manchuria — was playing in the background, mixing along with the sound of the rain drops falling audibly down on the metal window ledge. your gaze remained on the glass of the window, sprinkles of the rain dripping down the mirror. the skies had gotten darker and the clock read it was 1:45 am — osamu would often come home sometime during midnight. you would normally be asleep during midnight, however, as you were heading to bed earlier, a part of your mind was telling you to wait till osamu came back home. you didn't understood why but the thought lingered and you ended up being persuaded.

you were currently sitting on an arm chair, back pressing against the soft cushions. a cup of tea you brewed laid before you on a table accompanied by a opened book you were reading previously; both forgotten as your thoughts began to shift to your lover.

as you rested your head on your hand, the noise of the door opening abruptly interrupted your thoughts and you stood up from the armchair you were sitting on earlier.

you approach him steadily and you pulled him into a warm embrace, pressing your cheek against his chest.

"welcome home, osamu..." you murmur wearily and a soft laughter elicited from him.

"you sound so tired, 'bella." he pointed out as he snaked his slim arms around your waist.

"i was waiting for you."

as you uttered those words, the words in his throat died. he parted his lips but no words came out. silence filled the atmosphere, the only thing that could be heard was the waltz combining with the sound of the heavy rain.

he cleared his throat.

"you didn't need to, you know I'd be safe." he spoke, breaking the serene air that was occupying the room.

you laughed softly, "I initially planned to go sleep immediately." you paused your words before continuing.

"but I couldn't shake it off my mind. for some reason, my mind is telling me to spend more time with you and i'm worried that someday, you will disappear."

you didn't understand why you were being so open to him this time but you felt like it was necessary to say. you sensed his arms withdrawing from your waist slightly and he placed his hands instead on your waist.

"why don't i help you forget it?"

you blinked, he smiled softly before adding something else.

"i wanna ease your worries and... it seems important to do so."

because this will because the last moment we will spend.

he bit back his words. as he speaks, he gently separated his other hand on your waist and took your hands within his, interlacing your fingers together. your expression seemed rather surprised but as he interlaced your fingers together, you looked up at him, accepting his invitation to dance around, you put your hand on his shoulder and followed his steps. with a soft smile, he pulled you come closer to him.

as you two dance to the waltz playing in the background, you noticed two things about this; he completely knew each steps of the waltz's dance, and he held a melancholic gaze as he spun you rhythmically to the instrumental. while you resumed ogling at him mindlessly, a small smirk adorned his plump lips and spoke.

"you're staring at me a little too hard, 'bella." dazai teased lightly and you rolled your eyes, shifting your eyes from him before speaking.

"I didn't know you were familiar with these type of waltz, 'samu."

"I always liked this waltz."

"seriously? I never thought you would've liked these sort of songs." but osamu was always unpredictable, he never talked a lot about himself often with you, even after you managed to break in through the thick walls that encaged his throbbing heart.

you proceeded to gaze on your feets moving on the floor. you didn't understand much why he was so melancholic during this time, he was also clearly masking his intentions. you couldn't read his eyes either, his eyes were always swirling with emptiness — this was the first time you saw his eyes with this much melancholiness. he was so close and yet so far. you wanted to be even closer, you wanted to be close to his heart.

perhaps you merely didn't understand something.

to you, this was a simple dance.

to him, this was a major extension — his goodbye to you.

with your gaze on your feets, he made sure to take in every single detail of you; how your lips were shaped, how your bangs framed your face, how soft your hand felt within his, how your voice sounded, how plump your face was, how warm your body felt compared to his ice cold body, that you had grown accustomed to over time, and how your eyes shone with light, even with the slightest — oh, how he'd hate to see the pain in your eyes to his death.

he didn't even want to die.

he wanted to sink in the warm embrace of your arms and always stay by your side till you both die from old age. your embrace is something he certainly will miss in the afterlife, whether it'd be purgatory, hell, or maybe an abyss of darkness.

he wanted to spend his moments in his life with you, even if they were meaningless and you two were acting just the same as you both were while being idiots hopelessly in love each other even if it was so, so, selfish of him.

he didn't want to die but he needed to, for oda to live, and all he could do was at least give you a final goodbye before disappearing.

he lowered his eyes, he seemed to be in his own universe, and spun you again, he twirled you around as if you were a piece of porcelain he deeply prized, you could feel your worries gradually easing — even if you were still worried about his other intention for this action — with your bodies moving along the music. you glanced up where your hands joined and as the waltz's instrumental faded, he bended you over backwards slightly, wrapping his arm around your waist fully. 

you shift your gaze to his eyes that usually reflected dullness once again but this time, they were closed. he was hiding how he felt... if he had his eyes closed you could never understand what was on his mind.

before you could part your lips to call him out to gain an ounce of his attention, he beat you over it.

"belladonna."

you lifted your head and answered with a hum.

"don't forget me."

you blinked, you seemed concerned and he couldn't blame you for that but you chose not to speak about it.

"I promise."

₍⑅ᐢ..ᐢ₎ taglists are open everytime.

2024 © reposts are prohibited with/without permission... plagiarism is prohibited. don’t translate my work without my permission. i will take measures of reporting you.

I know dazai truly wants to die but beast dazau doesn't want to. dazai in canon and beast are different, even in the slightest, this was proven if you read the day i picked up dazai.

[gardens-light]

Something Unexpected

Between debt collectors and the bank flooding the mailbox with eviction notices. Your father's positive attitude could no longer smooth out complications. And you once thought life on the farm couldn't get any harder...

Recent days- no months has been nothing but tough. This never ending sea of bad situations happening one after another, begun to drown and suffocate you. Feeling like you could barely keep float, while working two jobs. Attempting to keep some money flowing in.

But the universe has finally offered you a break. Something that could change you and your family's life forever...

Content: Reader insert. Event take place in 'Transformers- Age of Extinction' (Minor spoilers.) Mild coarse language.

Sparkmate Series- Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 (End)

"Hey, sis! I'm home!" Tessa shouted as she stepped out of her car and onto the driveway. "Lucas and dad has gone to the next town, so they won't be back for a couple of days."

Looking around the family farm, a heavy sigh left her as you were nowhere to be seen.

"Seriously..."

Making her way to the barn, Tessa called out for you. This time getting a response.

"Are you working with lasers? If so, I'm not coming in-"

"You have never seen a truck like this before!" your excited tone cut her off as you abruptly open the barn door. "Get in here. Lock the door."

Tessa raised an eyebrow as you grabbed her arm, pulling her inside the barn. While she closed the door behind her. "It doesn't have a lock..."

"Y'know that rusty ass truck dad brought in a few days ago? Look! Look at the hole in the radiator."

Tessa rolled her eyes at your enthusiastic tone, as you placed an arm through the grill. "Look at the size of it! Something blew a hole in it!"

"Yeah, so?"

"It's not normal steel! The shrapnel in the engine, it ripped all the connections apart."

Tessa watched you fractally climb the scaffolding which brung you a little more to the truck's engine level. Rubbing her temples as a sigh left her.

"I honestly don't know who's worse. You or dad-"

"Dad is going to lose his fucking mind, when he finds out what we've got! And watch! Watch!"

Your sister rolled her eyes before crossing her arms. Her unimpressed gaze watching as you took hold of two jumping cables.

"This took some family genius. You're gonna love this, sis! Just watch what happens when I hook this thing up to a working battery."

Placing the clamps onto the battery, the rusty old truck rumbled and shook in it's place. Headlights flickered as the engine inside failed to roar to live. But the deep robotic voice coming from the vehicle made Tessa's jaw drop.

"Calling all... Calling all Autobots..."

Throwing the cables aside, allowing the rusty truck to slowly die again. Tessa watched you jump for joy, while her stomach did a backflip.

"Oh yea!" you cheered. "I don't think this is a truck at all... I think we just found a Transformer!"

"Are you out of your mind? You need to get that thing out of here!"

"You don't have to worry" you called out, jogging after Tessa as she quickly left the barn. "I've been working on it all night. And look at me. I'm fine-"

"This isn't one of Dad's random piles of junk! It's an alien killing machine!-"

"Sis, it's DOA. Nothing is gonna happen."

Tessa ran a hand through her blonde locks, as she began to pace in front of you. "This isn't happening! This isn't happening!"

"Tessa-"

"Listen! I-I remember Lucas telling me about a number that you call- that you're supposed to call. He said something about you're supposed to call a number, and if something ends up being alien. Then you get twenty-five grand."

"That's bullshit, and you know it." You crossed your arms. "Nobody just hands out large sums of money- especially the government-"

"Y/N, I'm making the call." Tessa's fumbled through her pockets.

"I've seen the commercial. It isn't a guarantee" you protested snatching the mobile out of Tessa's hand and taking a step back.

"Look! If that's a Transformer from the Battle of Chicago. Dad's gonna lose his mind! If I could figure out how it works and apply that technology to his inventions. We wouldn't need to worry about money again-"

"Yeah! That's why you're working two jobs!" Tessa got onto her tiptoes as you held the phone above your head, slightly out of her reach.

She slightly pushed you, quickly grabbing the falling mobile. You both sighed, just giving each other side glances while pausing for a moment.

"Twenty-five grand, Y/N. It pays for the house. It pays for my collage."

"Please Tessa. Please" your begging tone caused a sigh to escape your sister. "Let me do this, and... and I'll do your chores for a week- A month!"

"No. I'm making the call and telling dad-"

"Keep this a secret and I'll... I'll won't tell dad about your boyfriend!"

Tessa's stiff body language made you smile. Stopping in mid-dail as she studied your features.

"I... I don't have a boyfriend"

"Yes you do" your teasing tone unsettled your sister's nerves. "Well at least I hope it was your boyfriend I saw last week, and not some pervert climbing out of your window in the middle of the night. And wearing nothing but his shirt and underwear, may I add"

Tessa bit her bottom lip, "you saw Shane...?"

"Saw him? Girl, I heard him falling out of the window and onto the damn roof. I'm surprise Dad didn't hear anything."

Tessa hesitated before speaking. Groaning at your smug smile.

"Ugh fine! But if you die I'm stealing your laptop!"

"Deal!... You just might wanna delete my browser history first..."

---

" I think the shrapnel took out your power core" you muttered to the rusty machine.

Your legs dangled outside of the truck, while your torso hung inside the engine. Grabbing random bits of shrapnel, lose nuts and bolts, and throwing them over your shoulder.

"Hmm... what this?"

Reaching out for a shiny silver cylinder, roughly tugging it out of the engine and holding it against your chest. As you pushed yourself back onto the scaffolding. Pushing your goggles up onto your forehead, examining the unusual object.

Climbing down the scaffolding and powering up your wielding machine. Hovering the fire torch over the metal, cocking your head to the side.

"Nothing... perhaps you have a higher melting point- oh shit!"

The flame of the torch ignited sparks from the cylinder. Screaming you dropped it, accidently allowing it to fly around the barn. Ricocheting off the walls and floor, banging into the truck and knocking the scaffolding over. Before breaking through the wooden barn door and flying into the house.

Tessa's screams could be heard from the house, as the missile slid around on the floor, going from room to room.

The sound of groaning metal plates shifting caught your attention, your eyes widening as you watched the truck grow taller. Cogs and gears made unhealthy churning noises, as the now 22ft tall robot struggled to get onto his feet.

"I'll kill you!" the machine's voice groaned, as you scattered away.

"Hold on! Hold on!" you cried out. Looking over your shoulder, as Tessa's screams echoed throughout the barn.

The machine pulled out a giant cannon from his back, backing away from you and Tessa, while aiming the intimidating weapon at you both.

"I'll kill you! Stay back!-"

"No! No! Don't shoot!" you yelled, stepping in front of Tessa. Attempting to shield her.

The robot's blue optics studied you carefully, watching your body language as you cautiously stepped towards him. Holding your hands in the air.

"Easy, human"

You slowly nodded before speaking, looking up at the robot as he groaned while sparks spat out of his mechanical joints.

"Weapon systems... damaged-"

"A missile hit your engine" you explained. "And we took it out of you. You're hurt really bad, but you're safe now. You're in my home."

He scanned his surroundings, looking at the messed up barn. A cough echoed from within his chest plate, as dust came out of his mouth.

Getting a little closer, the machine's gaze returned to you as he knelt to the ground.

"I'm trying to help you. My name is Y/N Yeager, I'm an engineer." You reached out for Tessa, whom hesitantly took your hand. "And this is my sister, Tessa."

"Y/N... Tessa. I'm in your debt... my name is Optimus Prime."

You turned back at Tessa, "it's alright. He won't hurt us."

"Wh-What happened to you..?" she asked, not letting go of your hand.

"We... We were ambushed. A trap set by humans. I escaped and took this form." Optimus' voice groaned and coughed. As he withdraw his weapon, allowing it to retract back into his back plates.

"But you're on our side. Why would humans want to hurt you?-"

"They weren't alone... ah! My Autobots! They're in danger!"

Optimus tried to get up again, but his legs gave way. Causing him to fall back down onto his knees and cough up engine fluid, as a part of his headpiece fell to the ground with a loud clang.

"I must go to them now. They can... repair me."

"How far do you think you'll get?" you questioned in a calm tone. "With all this damage, you'll wouldn't make it to them."

Optimus watched you carefully pick up his headpiece.

"But let me help. I can fix you."

Tessa's worried eyes glanced between you and Optimus, as he hesitated before speaking.

"Very well... for now. We have a truce..."

---

"Go in dad's shed, rumish through anything- everything he has. Try and find things on that list."

Tessa grabbed your arm, as you both stood outside the barn.

"Wait! You're gonna try and fix him?" she protested. "He's not a model train set, Y/N!-"

"You're right. He's important-"

Tessa raised an eyebrow, "important to who? You can't keep an alien locked up in Dad's barn. What are you gonna do? Play with him?"

A heavy sigh left your lungs before speaking, "calm down. Just please... calm down-"

"I'm trying to! But a moment ago that rusty ass truck you wouldn't stop messing with, turned into a fucking giant thing!-"

"You still promise not to say anything?"

A half-hearted chuckle left Tessa, as she stared at you in disbelief. "That's your concern right now?-"

"Look! Look! Dad and Lucas is gone for a couple of days, right? That's all I need to get him in a decent state. Once he's fixed, I promise you. He'll be gone. But I need you to stay quiet!-"

"Fine! Fine!" she breathed heavily before snatching the list out of your hand. "But you owe me big time for this! Big time!"

---

"You took one hell of a hit, y'know." You said while placing a molten bit of scrap steel into a bucket of water. "The missile just missed your power source."

"We call it a Spark." Optimus watched you climb up the reassembled scaffolding. Coming to the height of his chest plate, your eyes sparkled in the gentle blue glow of his Spark. "It contains our lifeforce, and our memories."

You flashed him a warm smile before pulling down your goggles. "We call that a soul..."

A low rumble came from Optimus, as he felt your hands carefully place the scrap piece of metal against the opening in his chest plate. Taking your time to weld it into place, while he placed a hand over his Spark. Protecting it from the ambers that occasionally left the fire torch.

The leader of the Autobots gazed down at you. Remaining silent as he watched you solder away.

It wasn't the first time a human patched him up. Back at N.E.S.T, there's been multiple times when soldiers put him back together after a mission. But with you, it was somehow... different.

Your touch was gentle. Each movement was careful and mindfully placed. You even welded things onto him in a cautious manner. It was like you treated Optimus like he was some sort of antique, rather than an millennium old alien being.

"Y/N..."

You looked up at him. Turning off the fire torch and placing your goggles back onto your forehead.

"Why are you willing to help me?" Optimus asked, as he pulled out a large bullet shell from his shoulder plate, and flicking it away.

You felt the Autobot study you, examining every feature upon your face and reading your body language. As you slowly leaned back against the railings of the scaffolding.

"I guess... maybe because you trust me to."

Your words were simple and true. Optimus couldn't detect any lies or waver within your voice nor tone. His scanners didn't read anything out of the ordinary from your relaxed posture.

Perhaps... I've judged too quickly...

"Is it... just you and your sibling?" Optimus asked, trying to make small talk.

You squinted at a few bolts, while holding them up to the Autobot. Judging weather they were right for the next job.

"Yes- well actually no. Our dad lives here- he owns the family farm. But he isn't here." You explained, while putting the bolts down and moving onto different sized ones. "He's in the next town over for the next couple of days. Working- well, selling some inventions."

Optimus looked around the barn, tilting his head to the side as his processors tried to make sense of the random machines and scrap bits of metal. "Are you an... inventor as well?"

A heartful chuckle left you, as you approached the Autobot. Tapping on his left leg, "no. No. I just help him put things together, or strip them down for parts. Whenever Dad has too many projects."

Optimus' groan quickly made you realize the tone of your sentence. You looked up at him.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean anything-"

"It's alright. None offence is taken."

Butterflies slightly fluttered in your stomach as his smile mimicked yours.

You quickly turned your attention back onto his leg. Making sure the bolt wasn't too tight.

Optimus noticed you trying to hide your blushing features. His smile grew wider, finding the action somewhat amusing. He watched you bend and stretch your body, after chucking the tool onto the workbench.

"You've been in here for hours. You should rest."

"I will later." You promised, "but first. Let's put your headpiece back on."

He speechlessly nodded, gently using a hand-crank to bring the scaffolding a little more to his height.

Gathering the tools required to put his headpiece back on, you climbed the scaffolding stairs. Reaching the top and placing the tools onto the metal floor of the scaffolding.

Optimus averted his gaze as you pulled off your hoodie. Allowing your torso to breathe in the light cotton tank top. You examined the wires and gears on the side of his head, tilting your head from side to side.

"I think the inside is fine. Your headpiece just needs to be welded back on." You spoke with a smile, placing your hands on your hips.

"I thank you, Y/N. Your assistance thus far has been appreciated beyond compare-"

"Don't go all soft on me now, Big Guy." You spoke with a smile. "Now eyes forward. You need to stay completely still while I do this."

Optimus faced the barn doors, as you pulled your goggles back into place. The headpiece slotted back in nicely, but you still held it in place as you welded the metals together.

His spark skipped a beat sometimes, whenever he felt your breath upon his metal plating. Through many years he's warned his Autobots about getting too attached to humans, yet here sat the infamous Optimus Prime, allowing a human he's just met for a few hours making him feel this way.

"All done, Prime!" your cheering voice snapped him out of his daze.

His optics falling upon your smiling face. Although you were covered in dirt and grime, to him you were the most beautiful human he ever set sight on.

"Thank you... I am in your debt-"

"Hush. Hush" you interrupted, pulling your goggles down and around your neck. "There's still plenty of work that needs to be done. So promise me you won't wander off."

A low chuckle rumbled in his voice, "I promise."

Your eyes glanced up and down at him, "and promise me one more thing?"

"Of course."

"When you do return to your Autobots... promise you won't forget about me..."

Tag List

@jellyfishxxi

[rainee-da]

Hello <3

Is it ok to request the "What they said when you're sleeping" but with the Divine Visionaries? Tysm!

🍀 The Talk When You Sleep [2]

CHARACTER ❥ Orter Mádl ⏳ / Sophina Biblia 📕 / Tsurara Halestone ❄️

W A R N I N G ⚠️ R13 for general fluff w/ slight angst as spice / Relationship HCS / BIG SPOILER!!!! / might be a bit too OOC for you.

O R T E R M Á D L ⏳

he opened the door to your bedroom and sighed loudly "Seriously? We're supposed to be at the office at 9 o'clock, and you're still sleeping in your bed? Your laziness is absolutely revolt-" he shook his head in annoyance and marched closer, but stopped abruptly as his hand hovers in the air "That eyebags... you must be staying up late again," he sighed and sit at the edge of your bed, thinking for a while "There's no urgency... I suppose it's fine to let you be for some more," his face is annoyed as he loosened the tie in his neck he looked up the window, his expression remained unchanged "Yesterday was quite frivolous, I didn't remember there was anything in particular happening... what made you stay up late?" he mumbled as he turned his head to watch your face "Are you overthinking again? Or is there something that I missed?" he frowned as he is thinking to himself, before sighing again "No matter... we'll just sleep together later at night so I can fix your sleep habit, should've done so for a long time anyway." he brushes your hair to the side with his finger, his frown softens slightly "Your expression is good, and your temperature is normal. At least you're not sick physically," his hand moves to stroke your cheek as he enjoys the silence for a while, his expression grows solemn as the deep thought overwhelms his mind "Every time I see you as innocent as this, I always wonder... Why do you want to be with someone like me?" his finger rubs your eyelids gently "I rarely said this to you, and I know I should, but... You're a smart person. You're strong, able to defend yourself when danger strikes. You also had good friends that cherish you," he tilted his head as he got immersed by your face "You're... a beauty, so beautiful that it made me wonder how many people felt envious when we made us official... And, most important of all," he paused as the word got caught up in his throat, he blinks rapidly to clear some of his senses "You're so altruistic, so kind... unlike me." he chuckled lowly "I don't even know how many people have died by my wands, for the sake of order," he sighed as he turned his eyes away to stare at the view outside the window "Order is made for a reason. I believe that as long as the order is properly maintained, there will be no more Alex in the world. No people would get hurt anymore... But," he paused "The whole incident with Innocent Zero made me reconsider those beliefs... But, if my actions all this time were wrong, " he paused, his face darkened "Wouldn't that make me.. a. criminal?" he sighed, rubbing his face wearily "No use thinking about that now. It only brings unnecessary questions that will hinder my rationality," his gaze shifted to you and his mouth formed into a thin smile "It's a new dawn, and the citizen will need to get used to the new order. A riot would be inevitable, and bringing the previous sense of normalcy would be a grueling task ahead for the Divine Visionaries. But," he leans in and gives your lips a chaste kiss "With you, I believe I'll do well—maybe even better than before." "𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙄'𝙢 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙬."

S O P H I N A B I B L I A 📕

"Oh my, the way you sleep is so vulgar! This won't do," she hurriedly move to fix your sleeping position and remove her coat to put it over you "There, all better," she smiles in satisfaction as she move your head to put it over her lap "You really had no grace, sleeping during work hours like this... you're lucky I'm more pliable than Mr. Madl." she sighed and shake her head as she opened the book in her hand to starts reading "Well, I'm only this pliable towards you if I'm being honest. If Mr. Revol's the one who's doing this, I would've already cursed him so he would dance bare-naked in the courtyard," she coughed softly and hums to stop herself from laughing "That's... such a tasteless threats coming from me, I can't believe I just said that." she tried to focus on reading but her mind is wandering "Let's see... Didn't you promises me that you would never napped at work anymore? So I think a punisment should be in order, no?" the thoughts in her head brings subtle-yet mischievous smile in her stoic face "What if, you have to cook dinner for a week? Or maybe I'll make you read one of my books? That's not really a punishment though," she tapped her chin as she's thinking "Or, I could also punish you," she leaned closer and blow into your ear "Like this? Fufu, you're so cute when you're wincing like that." she sighed and close the book to put it on the side, and her hand moves to brush your hair gently "You bring out sides of me that I never thought I have..." a soft smile formed on her face "For example... I never thought that feeling your hair against my fingertips like this could be so addicting," she lightly pinched the tip of your nose, and giggles at your reaction "Or that teasing you would be so much fun? Your reaction is so lively, it's never boring to be around you," she sighed and close her eyes as she lost in her own thoughts "Being with you has become one of my hobbies... Fresh scent of new book will never compare to the scent of your fragnance, and reading become a chores if you're not by my side," she smiles dreamily, slowly getting sleepy "Your influence is kaleidoscope of color in my life, I never thought that something as abstract as you would be so enjoyable... Really, I would trade everything in the world, if it means we could always be together like this," her hand lied in your chest as she slowly dozed off "𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 '𝙤𝙪𝙧' 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮, 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧"

T S U R A R A H A L E S T O N E ❄️

"Brrrr…. oh, you're asleep?" she lowered her hand from her mouth, her body shakes slightly "I guess you've been waiting for long… I'm sorry," she walked towards you, her face expresses remorse "I should woke you up, don't I? But… brrrr…. let me use your body to warm up first… You don't mind, right?" she lied beside your sleeping figure, and snuggle closer to your side "Hehe… your body is so warm," she smiles dreamily as she hugs your body "I'm sorry that it took me so long to finish my work… I was getting in the zone with my research, and finally made some progress… But then," her gloved hand move towards your neck to rub it gently "The heater suddenly broke down… I have to waited for the mechanic to arrive, and I didn't realize that it was already this late" she sighed and closed her eyes, looking exhausted "I should've told you to go home early... I'm sorry that you have to wait for me." her body shakes again, and she lay her head on your chest "Brrrr... Why is it so cold," she lost in her own thought as she listen to your heartbeat, a soft smile formed in her face "Your heartbeat is steady, that's good... I always used your body as my warmer, and I know you said that you didn't mind that one bit... " she blushes and shyly buried her face to your neck "... But I hope you're not forcing yourself... My magic made my body cold, I didn't want you to get sick because of me." she stumbles as she risen up, her smile is warm and her hand is stroking your cheek "I think soon enough I can make some potion that will help keep my body warm temporarily! Tomorrow I'll show it to you! I don't know how long the effects would last... But," she leans in to kiss your cheek, accidentally biting her inner cheek out of nervousness "Ouch! Eh, what I'm saying is, with those potions we, hopefully, can starts hanging out outside! Do some dinner date, movie night at cinema, stuff that I know you want to do but you never asked out of consideration for me. " she hums happily as she snuggle closer to your cheek "You're warm," her eyes is full of adoration as she stares at your sleeping face "I love that the most about you... You're such a warm person. You're patient with me, even though sometimes my magic combined with my clumsiness causes you trouble. But you're always being so kind with me... It made me so happy," she turns to look at the clock "Ah, It's already this late! I should wake you up now." "𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩."

Long time no see! I've been busy with my irl stuff and just finally got the time to write again. I kinda projecting on some of the characters lol I hope you don't mind... I originally planned to write for all of them, but I decided to split it into different parts since when I'm writing this I have a severe case of writer's block lolol. I promises that the rest of them will be uploaded in due time!

I've made similar prompt before w/ Devil's Quintuplet+Cell War so check it out! And I tried to make it as less OOC as I possibly could, but I don't know if it will suits your interpretation. I hope you like it all the same though! Thank you anon for your request 🍀 and thank you for reading!

[wandixx]

Ghost of fries and hero of cookies part 5

All work words count: 14 643

Words in this part: 1 685

Summary of whole work: Duke wasn't expecting to wake up from his quick rooftop nap to some meta kid with fries. He also wasn't expecting kid to stay

Or

Danny asked Dani to stay safe while she was in Gotham. Where would she be safer than under the wing of local hero? And he looked like he needed bad day combo anyway

This part summary: Steph finally gets to meet Duke's kid. And she comes bearing gifts!

Beta read by @audhumla-sailor though English is second language for both of us, so proceed with this in mind. I also know all of the charaters through fics alone, so probably ooc. Stay catious if it's something you don't like

First part, Previous part

Duke was really glad that Bruce was busy whole previous evening and couldn’t give him The TalkTM Vigilante edition. Maybe he shouldn’t because B being busy spoke trouble but he couldn’t feel too sad about it. He didn’t want to have The TalkTM though.

For now, Dani was running next to him, with a serious look on her face that was kinda uncanny. She wasn’t supposed to not be happy and some weird instincts were screaming at him to fix it and fix it now. But he didn’t know how!

Though some of his jokes caused a little smile, so it was good.

It turned potentially less good when she stopped without warning, lowering herself to the fighting stance (finally proper, which made him so immensely proud by the way). He stopped too, wishing they wouldn’t have to fight but he knew better than to latch on this hope.

“What’s up, Hoopoe?” he whispered.

“Someone is coming. Light, use grapple” Most likely one of the Bats then, they were due to a visit anyway. However better to not lower his guard in case he was mistaken or it was a prank/test. His expectations were proven right though, when purple blur flipped over the edge of the roof. He relaxed and put hand on Dani’s shoulder so she wouldn’t tackle Steph before they could explain anything. She seemed on edge like that whole day.

“Hey Spoiler” he greeted to further show that the blonde was a friend.

“Sup Signal! Heard I can finally meet your little friend!”

Dani straightened herself and tried to float a few inches up to seem higher probably.

“I’m considerably higher than most kids my age” she deadpanned. She really wasn’t though. He was still trying to learn whether her size was caused more by genetics or malnourishment. Her only family member Duke knew of was also small, so maybe it was a family thing though.

Steph shrugged, waving her palm a few inches below her shoulder, approximately where Damian reached, quite few inches over Dani’s head.

“Robin is the family’s smol violent bean and you’re shorter than him. You’re small bean, deal with this”

Little girl pouted, crossing her arms. Steph cooed.

“Oh, you even get angry like he does!”

Young meta looked like she was asking ‘Should I use violence?’ and inch towards the answer ‘Yes’. Duke decided he should step in before she acted on these thoughts. Teasing was the opposite of what girl needed at the moment. Some good fight might not be bad but maybe not with Steph.

“Cut it Spoiler”

She rolled her eyes so dramatically he could tell she did so despite her mask. He still thought it was impressive “Don’t be boring dude”

Dani growled in a way that couldn’t be fully human, just like she did when they talked about her training for the first time. Duke squeezed her arm. Girl glanced at him before sagging so much he was scared she would fall for a hot second. He exchanged concerned looks with Steph over her lowered head. It was not normal nor was it good.

“Alright, you’re not smol,” Steph agreed lightly “Officially at least. What’s in my head stays there. Does it work for you?”

Duke almost hit her in the arm. Not strongly, in a friendly manner but still. He didn’t only because it seemed to somehow work. He let his hands drop.

“Your mind is sacred,” Dani started seriously “what leaves your mouth is not. Can’t diss you on your thoughts but I’ll on your words” she shared like it was some important truth of life. Or folklore proverb though Duke wasn’t sure about the latter. Afterall he was Gothamite born and breed, he knew countryside from movies “And actions. Actions are kinda important,” meta girl added in lighter tone after moment of thinking.

“Yeah, actions are the best” Steph agreed easily “Hey, can I get it on a T-shirt? I’ll love and cherish it”

“First you laugh at my height and then you want my intellectual property for free? For shame, Spoiler, for shame?”

Steph looked thoughtful, theatrically over exaggerating her body language. 

“Valid” she nodded.

Duke decided he would just watch whatever was going to happen and did damage control if needed. He didn’t feel up to anything else anyway.

“Heard your cape went in an adventure,” the purple vigilante admitted after moment of silence. Dani shrugged rubbing her arms awkwardly. Duke knew she normally would fix said cape. It was her way of fidgeting.

“Yup, it’s good way to put it,” girl nodded. “Somebody needed it more, I hope it enjoys its travel. I should get a replacement soon”

“Well, I can’t let fellow caped crusader, who understands necessity of hood, run capeless”

Younger girl waved her hands in a flurry motion of dismissal.

“Don’t-” she stopped when her eyes locked on orange bundle Steph took from somewhere under her cloak. Opportunity to pull tricks like that had made Duke consider adding some sort of cape to his Signal suit back when he had been working on it back in a day but dismissed it. He still wasn’t looking forward to learning curve of fighting with such additional liability. He couldn’t turn it intangible when it was in a way like certain white haired cheater did.

Speaking of Dani, girl stared at Steph’s gift like she couldn’t quite believe it was real. She held her hands close to her chest but her fingers flexed in grabby motion. Her eyes were hidden behind black lenses of her mask but everything else about her face further proved how awestruck she was. Even her muted aura brightened a bit in a way that he learned to recognize as excitement.

It was still kind of weird, by the way. Normal auras haven’t changed, it was kinda their thing.

Steph wiggled her gift a bit. Dani finally took it but had yet to put it on.

“It’s for me?” she whispered so utterly shocked and small that Duke mentally did a double take.

“Yeah, like I said, can’t let you run around without it”

“Oh”

Dani’s hand was gnawing at the edge of the material as if it was some sort of squashmellow.

“Try it on,” Steph encouraged gently.

“We need to check if Spoiler haven’t messed up something”

“Signal!”

Dani snorted, which was all Duke tried to achieve.

She put it on and after a moment of shuffling she once again became orange cloak with feet. She grinned widely looking far more relaxed and settled than she did moments before. She moved around a bit like she was in model show or at least what ten years old thought it could look like.

“You like it?”

“Yup, it’s amazing, thank you Spoiler… Though it’s heavier than I expected”

“Well, I don’t know what your first one was made out of but this is material I use, I found it the best balance between durability, weight and comfiness. Still, it’s quite dense and a bit heavy. Also, I added pockets because you can never have too many of them. Plus there are few glitter bombs inside. You know, ‘welcome to the team’ gifts,” Steph explained eagerly and judging by Dani’s smile, she loved her gifts. Duke would be a little worried on a Gotham crime’s behalf if it wasn’t well, crime and if he wasn’t all there to watch chaos these two would unfold from sidelines with bat-popcorn in hand (though it wasn’t really a thing yet, he would have to mention it to Tim or Jason). For now though, they really should continue on the patrol.

“Now that introductions are over, let’s get going. Crime never sleeps or something,” It was really weird to be the organized one. Before Dani showed up, on a day shift he was a sailor, a captain and a ship (or maybe Gotham was a ship-), We Are Robins days were chaos in purest form and shape and when he was called out for a night he usually was too tired to behave and was just additional mess to organize (on purpose, let him have his goddamn sleep, he wasn’t Tim).

“Okay,” Dani agreed cheerfully “There is a robbery at the greek diner we visited last Thursday. ‘s been going for five minutes or so,” she added unbothered.

“HOOPOE!”

“What?”

***

Spoiler jumped through the open window of the diner with a graceful roll, glitter bombs at hand. Hoopoe and Signal came inside right after her.

“Spoiler alert!” purple girl yelled, throwing two bombs at robbers heads and kicking third one in the ribs.

Dani decided  that she liked Spoiler right then and there as she threw her own brand new, orange(!) glitter bombs at remaining criminal.

***

Three of them were running through the city mostly uninterrupted after diner mishap. Steph tried to engage Dani in quip battle but younger girl for once wasn’t jumping on occasion. She kept close to Duke and his only reaction was smug smile in Spoiler’s direction. That’s what she got for trying to steal his sidekick.

“Oh!” Dani exclaimed delighted, stopping abruptly, a smile that spoke trouble gracing her face.

“No, we’re not busting Joker’s scheme by jumping into the meeting to beat them all up without proper back up, again, Hoopoe. They had guns, Hoopoe.”

“Wha- Wasn’t last time enough? Anyway, I heard there is fan meeting with Martian Manhunter in Los Angeles tomorrow,” Great, so no giving him heart attack right now. Thank God for that.

“Shame he won’t make it, huh?” Steph mussed “He is in Illinois right now, isn’t he? It would take him two days driving to even get there”

Dani’s expression looked thoughtful “It’s quite far”

“Yeah, around… 2,500 miles from here”

“Huh”

“What got you thinking kid?” she inquired, ruffling her hair.

“Not a kid and I thought- there is kidnapping at three!” Dani darted in that direction before finishing sentence. Duke jumped right after her slightly scared. She was not ready to handle stuff like that without back up and she would try if he let her run of like that.

********

Steph: I'm meeting my almost niece tomorrow what should I- *gives a gremlin child an ultimate weapon of chaos*

Sometime before this part:

Steph: So, how is your kid?

Duke: She is not my kid!

Duke: By the way, wanna see video I saved of her doing proper side kick for the first time?

Danielle "looks like 10 years old is 10 months max" Phantom: I am in fact much higher than most kids my age

Duke "whoever is feeding this tiny child does bad job at it" Thomas & Stephanie "it's just a lil baby" Brown: Yeah... sure...

Next part

"Tag list" (i haven't expected to ever make it)

@pickleking8

[nexxocatt]

THUNDER SAGA & WISDOM SAGA RANTS!!

Genuinely how can I live my life normally after this. Like,, HOW.

Anyway,,,

MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

TWs/CWs: swearing, mentions of violence and death ig. If you're uncomfortable click off any time!

And without further ado, let's gooo!!

THUNDER SAGA

- Gosh, 'Suffering' is maybe probably most definitely my second fav song (after 'Thunder Bringer' ofc) in this saga. It's just so GOOD UGHH!!! I'm utterly OBSESSED with whoever voices Penelope/Siren Penelope cause they just sound ETHEREAL. Also the amount of memes with the "You know I'm too shy" is astounding. Def my fav part of the song.

- I hc that Ody, in 'Different Beast', when he said "You are no wife of mine!" that he pulled an "erm, actually-" and basically: "Nah cuz you got a few details ab my wife wrong, homie. You see, her ponytail's tips actually reach 3.5 cm lower than that, plus you got the shade of her eye color wrong. And gods she'd never wear that tunic without matching earrings!" Homie's obsessed lmao.

- Oh. My. God. KJ. KJ! THE ABSOLUTE QUEEN GAHH!!! The fucking growl Scylla had on "Give up your honor and wraith!" Made me literally almost fall over. I had a ton of fun just dancing to KJ's vocals. My GOD that's beautiful💯💯

- Tell me y'all can hear the absolute desperation in Eury's voice at the start😭 bro does NOT wanna believe his home bro Ody just gave up six men's lives like that. Also not Jay bringing back the "This is the home of the wind god" bullshit like pls I cried enough at 'Monster'😭😭 And not Eury turning Ody's words around by saying "I'M JUST A MAN!" then stabbing a cow, like HOMIE. WHY.

- Here comes Zeus the party crasher everyone! Yippee! But no, seriously, I've had 'Thunder Bringer' stuck in my head for a while cuz my boy Luke Holt's vocals be giving me shivers. Imma cry cause the absolute pain and crack in Ody's voice when he says "I know..." like,, 😭😭 Also the animatics where the crew just attacks Ody and the dude just accepts his fate are CRIMINAL. Ain't nobody asking me to cry today bro🙏🙏

WISDOM SAGA

- Gotta be my fav saga yet. The "Watchu gonna do about it, champ?" line was delivered PERFECTLY🙌🙌 Ayron is the absolute Top G. Also Miguel's voice for Telemachus is just UGHH SO GOOD!!! Also Tele be like: "STAY BEHIND ME MOM I'LL PROTECT YOU!!🤺🤺🤺"

- Let's fucking go Athena is back on track, baby! Literally LOVE both hers and Antinuos' vocals. They were ON. TOP. I couldn't help but giggle at Tele's "Woah,, that is so sick!!" Like he's my baby boy I love him smmmm!!!

- I ain't got no shit on Athena no more. Home girl's just guilty frfr. "You're a good kid." "Thanks!" AHHHH THEM>>> Anyway, great song. I love Athena now. I don't hold no grudge against her anymore, no siree. She my homie now💪💪

- WANGUI. THE LEGEND FRFR. They could never make me like Calypso but Barbara served. I listened to 'Love In Paradise' on my headphones and did not expect to hear Polites' voice in my left ear and Eury's in my right😭😭 The time-dive was LEGENDARY (haha.) and Ody's screams then him just yelling "ATHENA!!" cause he doesn't have anyone else to call for help was heartbreaking 💔

- Ahhh the fact that Jorge got his dad to voice Hephaestus is so cute <33 And Mr. PAM-PAM was right. Luke Holt's BEASTMODE ZEUS IS PHENOMENAL. I adored the transition between 'Warrior Of The Mind' and 'Legenday' after Zeus supposedly struck Athena down, which were – by the looks of the animatic shown in the livestream – the memories that got the goddess determined to stand back up💪💪 The way Ares' voice almost broke when he asked "Is she dead..?" broke me like😭😭 And whoever voices Hera is an absolute legend how the fuck is your voice that HEAVENLY😳

Also pls let the 'Silly Saga' be a thing, I had all the vids from Jorge's Disney Princess Era plus the Jimmy Neutron specials stuck inside my head non-stop for daysss🙏

Ooh and if we're lucky (and Jorge wants to ofc) maybe we'll get an album with cut songs! That would be amazing!! No pressure for the team tho, whatever they choose will be respected by everyone!

Also guys dw Athena's not dead, goddesses can't die you silly geese🙃 She's just injured n I'm absolutely sure we'll hear more of her in the upcoming Sagas! ^^

That's all for now! Take care y'all!! Stream the Wisdom Saga NYEOW👿👺!!!!

[yuri-is-online]

For who would go crazy in TWST trying to save u over and over i have thoughts:

Vil - Mr. Perfect? Not being able to reach his goal, trying to get to the person who understands him best? ESP. thinking about how he's based on the Evil Queen, someone well known for having a Very Poor reaction to not getting her way? He'd absolutely lose it, have a "where are they now" episode about washed up celebs cause EVERYTHING he has is dedicated to saving you

Malleus - He wields some of the most powerful magic in the world, but he can't save you? Absolutely not. He refuses. Also in his case he's probably resetting the world himself, so the repeated deaths he can't save you from are arguably being caused by him to. He has no sense to pet go - you love him, know him so intimately that a world without you is meaningless. Reset.

Azul - There's no bargain he can make, power he can steal, trick he can pull strong enough to fix this mess. He's blindly ambitious, and refuses to hear the word "no". How could he give up his precious pearl, the one person he knows could see through everything he is that's nasty and gross, and love the whole of it? He knows, deep in his mind, that he can't change this fate. But to give up on you? Truly impossible.

notes: referring to this shitpost here, discussion of spoilers for all currently available books including book 7, I'll slap Malleus's part under read more to make those a bit more avoidable

No but annon your mind... so correct about all of this for all stated reasons and more. Seriously how did I not think about Vil? That's genius?

Assuming the original timeline follows the events currently evolving in game, I assume that Yuu ends up dying as part of Grim's overblot. I think it makes sense for the boys to die that first time too, only to wake up alive and in the middle of preparing for NRC's entrance ceremony. After they make sure that this isn't a dream, and that they really are alive and somehow back in time they start making plans.

Vil

I can see og timeline Vil regretting that he didn't pay attention to Yuu before VDC, and trying to figure out how to stay in their life during his fourth year internship because (even if his feelings technically run a bit deeper) genuine friendships are important to him. Remember how happy to see everyone he was in chapter 6? It's all he can do to remind himself you probably don't know who he is anymore when he sees Crowley drag you into the mirror chamber, he just wants to kiss your preciously confused face.

Something Rook immediately picks up on because I'm pretty convinced he would notice if something was that majorly off script about his queen. Vil's raised eyebrow is .3 centimeters off from his normal concerned face :/ he needs an explanation.

Vil's relieved at first, he has Rook's help and you are surprisingly receptive to his advances. For just a brief moment he has you in his arms and you are alive, and then you are torn away again. And again, and again and again and-

Vil's signature spell is a curse, he can recognize the traces of one, and I agree he would be so determined to break it he would slowly start to deteriorate into a actual villain. It's not like time is advancing forward otherwise, it's not like he can advance his acting career while he is stuck in this time loop trying to save you, trying to not let your zero percent of survival stay zero. I could see him spending a loop killing the other overblot mages before they build up enough blot to hurt Yuu only for that not to work and him to get even more unhinged as a result.

Azul

Ok so you remember that bit in the Ghost Bride event where Azul gets borderline creepy over the thought of being rejected? Or that part of New Years where he suffers a bit of sunk cost fallacy over the grab bags and gets back in line to spend more money on more stuff he doesn't need? Or how about his level up lines? Laughing at the thought of being satisfied with "just this much power" or warning that you will just be taken advantage of in this world, and inviting you to seek safety with him when that inevitably happens?

Well you did and he failed you. And no he isn't really someone who lets go of things. He goes out of his way to tell Riddle that he thinks being greedy is a good thing; you could have had a very long and happy life together that hit every milestone you set out to achieve and it still wouldn't be enough for Azul. He will never be satisfied, never have enough of Yuu.

But he's smart, he knows when things just aren't possible. It makes him more determined to prove himself. If he can't outsmart something as trivial as fate, can he really claim to be a brilliant mage?

Unlike Vil, I don't think he would immediately tell the twins what was happening. I do think they would figure it out eventually, and I do think they would help, but I think they would also maybe... eventually... realize that there was no saving you and maybe it's best for everyone involved if that's accepted. I could see Jade and Floyd going to Yuu directly and asking what you want, not because they are opposed to saving you but because they want Azul's suffering to end.

I don't know if you have ever played Amnesia Memories, but I could see Azul following a similar path to the Joker World/Ukyo (they are not similar characters but meh) in a situation like this. Won't spoil that here but I highly recommend it if you like otome games.

Malleus

In a twisted way I could almost see him being satisfied with being stuck inside a time loop trying to save you. Not at first obviously, at first Malleus refuses to believe he could fail in saving you. He is the fifth most powerful mage in the universe. He is a King, he can not think of anyone, anything that is stupid enough to tell him no.

Maybe he speed runs his own overblot and tries trapping you in a dream, only for that to kill you. Reset.

How about killing the other overblot mages? He'd arrive at that one a lot faster than Vil. Also doesn't work. Reset.

I don't think Malleus would bring Lilia, Silver, or Sebek into the loop of what was going on. Lilia- he's smart, old, and understands just how powerful Malleus really is, but I'm not sure he would be able to realize time itself is being reset. I think he would pick up on what Malleus's plan is in each individual universe and goes out of his way to prevent him from doing something stupid. You know who I could see picking up on it though? Leona and Idia, forcing them to work together to get Malleus to stop further driving a wedge between Malleus and the rest of the student body.

And then there is you, troublesome you. We don't really know what causes Grim to overblot, I could almost see a situation where Yuu does everything they can to save their friends, aware that time is being reset and thinking that finally, this time they can keep everyone from dying. They are completely content to die if it means no one else gets hurt, completely unaware that self sacrifice is what is causing all of this. What is one life compared to everyone in all of Twisted Wonderland after all?

Everything, it is worth everything, this world really is meaningless without you in it. Reset.

[kiameicore]

Purple ribs [Vil Schoenheit]

Warning's: Spoilers for The Shaftlands' Tapis Rouge (some things are changed yet some parts are taken out of the actual in-game event), OOC Vil, Suggestive in The 24th of May at the end, mostly fluff with small pinch of angst in some parts, meet the in-law type, Reader is mentioned to have knowledge in humanities and able to play an instrument, Reader is adopted by Crowley. (Let me know if I forgot something).

word count: 19k

[NOT PROOFREAD]

A/N: So, after two years of not writing I decided to write something. Mainly because I watched the The Shaftlands' Tapis Rouge event on some JP channel and had to go through the trouble of translating almost every line in the wideo to get the grasp of what's going on. Generally I just saw Eric the th time again and thought 'damn, I wanna write something'. It's not my best work, so please, treat it as a crackfic. I wrote it when I had COVID and fever. I felt like I was high at that time so excuse me if the fic doesn't make any sense. Just keep in mind please that after not writing for two years I got out of shape. I'll be honest, I don't even like it, I disliked it when I was in the proces of writing it. I also got frustrated with OOC Vil and tried to write him in the most canon way yet here I am (failure) LMAO. Nevermind, please enjoy.

The 19th of April, XXXXX ' Today is… April, nineteenth.. ah, yes. So, where should I begin… Today my boyf- partner asked me if I would go with him to visit some city - Fairest City, to be clear. Well, I shouldn't be surprised yet here I am. I could say he just wanted me to tag along out of responsibility as a partner or something, but no. It isn't the reason.. not when I have The Vil as my bo beloved - yeah. He wasn't even hiding his intentions. He enquired just like that. As for me, of course, I agreed. I mean, how could I refuse? Personally, I wouldn't understand someone who would. Or in general, I don't get people who just because make a disdainful image of him in their heads, as if he's just a puppet on the scene, moving on strings pulled by anybody. Ah, it's not time for that. I just wanted to make a note of what happened today. But… No, seriously. It's confusing for me. How could someone hate him when he's just being… so sweet? '

Indeed. How could someone hate Vil?

The room temperature was just correct. Not too hot, not too cold. Even the air was perfect. It's one of those kinds when you wake up without feeling dryness in your mouth. The weather was nice too. It may be just april, yet you could feel the nature spreading it's wings and making every plant wake up from their winter slumber. The flowers started opening themselves and maybe by the end of the month the will show their beautiful petals to the world. The sun was softly shining and entering the room by one of the windows. Such radiation made the curtains have a beautiful glow, which could remind one of those paintings from the nineteenth century.

"[Name], dear, I almost forgot to ask you something"

At the vanity table was sitting a blonde man. Even though he was applying his make-up with utmost precision, he did not slouch nor did he had trouble keeping his attention at you. Heaven forbid someone accuses him of not being able to keep eye contact with you by the mirror, which was just one of the vanities table pros along with many small sized cabinets.

"Hm? Wassup?" If it wasn't you, the reply would make him angry. You didn't ever feel like it was a privilege, it was just normal for you that Vil never made a fuss about it. How were you supposed to know it? I mean, it's not like you talked with him like that before you were in relationship with him yet still. Maybe next time you say something similar in a public place (Pomefiore's lounge, for an example), you should look at others faces or maybe just give Epel a quick glance to see his expression. An expression, which would be aghast and then flabbergasted after seeing his scary housewarden just mostly ignore how improper is it to act like a blasphemous who doesn't know basic manners and just reply to you in somehow pleased tone. You hear that? A pleased tone! This should be a transgression!

"I'll be visiting Fairest City, I have some things to do there. I'll be also taking Jamil, Azul and Ace with me as my bodyguards." Vil said meanwhile applying some eyeshadow on his lid.

"Uh… that's great?"

"I'm not asking you to give me your opinion on the thing but to tell me if you would like to accompany me, dear." He seized your silhouette which was lazily spreaded on his majestically large bed (too large for normal school standards, but is anything in NRC even normal?), not very interested in the case. Once again, for tangling his sheets, he would probably throw out the guest from his room, but he didn't do it since why would he get mad at you for such a silly thing? It's just bedsheet. Besides, he would remind you later to fix them if they would look messy.

"Wait, you want me to be your bodyguard?!" From the shock his words gave you, you just as if you got hit by lighting, quickly got up on your elbows. "Hey, Vil, don't tell me I'm going to carry your shopping bags! I know how your most normal 'shopping spree' looks like! And I bet it will involve cosmetics, oh my god…"

It's not like you didn't want to help your boyfriend with his shopping or anything. You would love to, really! If only his shopping didn't look like a Chanel burglary.

"Potato." The stern voice made you frezze and stop your anxious muttering. It's not like you were foreign to Vil being his strict persona. You have heard and seen it many times. Yet now it felt like you did something very wrong.

"I would rather be condemned than suggest something like this to you my dear. My.. you think quite unflattery about me, hm?" The expression that could be a scowl (a pretty one!) soon after turned into not so condescending smirk. You knew he didn't mean anything harmful by it and was only teasing you.

"..Really. I wanted to ask if you would like to go with me there. Not as a bodyguard, 'unnecessary luggage' or.. Gott bewahre es, some porter but as an accompanying person, just as my partner."

He finished one of his eyes. The make-up, as usual, looked most perfect. Nothing was out of place. It wasn't heavy. It was soft, subtle look which somehow still made his eyes sharper and even more better looking than before.

"I want you to just enjoy the time we'll spend there. Treat it as a vacation."

"Oh."

"Just 'oh'? That's quite disappointing reaction I fear." Vil chuckled softly dovering his mouth with his hand which only gave him more elegance and properness, having the best time of his life it seems.

"I mean.. o-of course! I'll gladly accompany you, Vil!" You didn't want to sound shocked yet the way the blonde was still having his too happy for your liking smile, you were sure you failed.

He gave himself a look in the mirror. Content with the after look, he quickly finished it with a little bit dark red lipstick. Still gazing into the mirror, he moved his bangs aside as not to distract his vision. He moved a stray strand of hair behind his ear and then turned his head in your direction, now having all of his focus on you. His amethyst eyes tore into yours as if he was checking out your soul.

"Well then, shall I help you with packing?"

(DE) Gott bewahre es - God forbid.

The 20th of March, XXXXX ' Sometimes I just think how in the world I am dating this man. I mean, it's not like I am unhappy - it's actually the opposite. He's so pretty. So unreachable. Then why did he got interested in me? It's not like I am someone who's popular or attractive enough for other people to just turn their heads in my direction after catching a sight of me. You get what I am talking about, right? I'm pretty sure anyone would be surprised a superstar, a worldwide known model is.. 'yearning' for them. When did it even happen? When he started liking me? Was it me who fell first? Or not.. maybe it was him.. nevertheless, I remember how I started seeing him in different light. I think it was after SDC thing, right after he apologized for his behavior and him failing the whole team. '

Crowds. So many crowds.

"Godness.." You sighed. It was the lunch break and you were hungry. After having almost an hour long lecture, you were tired.

"Don't dramatize. I told Deuce to take our seats." Ace sure was in great mood for someone who recently failed their exam. He leisurely started walking towards our table where Deuce was already waiting for us. "Holy moly, look at that queue!" He commented with shock after seeing how many people decided right now was the most perfect time to get some food. "[Name], go sit. I'll order your usual. You look quite dejected, huh?"

"No, it's just.. I'm sleep deprived." The girl tried to divert her friend's attention from her state. She may have lied a little bit since the lack of sleep wasn't exactly the main cause of her upset mood.

"Man, if you were in Heartslabyul, Riddle would chew you out for that!" Ace laughed while he was putting his stuff near yours on the bench. "Okay, I'll be going. You owe me one." He winked and slightly sticked his tongue out and soon after left.

You sighed again.

"[Name], are you sure you're okay?" Deuce, who was sitting on your left, asked concerned. To him, you looked like him when he is preparing for an alchemy exam, which made him worried. "If you need a.. supporting shoulder, I am here!" He puffed his chest, putting on his 'honor student' persona.

"Thank you Deuce, but it's okay." You smiled at your friend and stared blankly at the table. "It's just.. I'm having a problem with someone rather than something."

"WHAT?! SOMEONE IS BOTHERING YOU?!" The dark haired boy shouted, thunderstruck from what he heard from you. A second later he cringed, realizing that he unconsciously raised his voice which made some studnets turn their heads in direction of your table. Some of them curious, some annoyed with the ucalled for noise. "Ag. Sorry.." He said still upset with his behavior. He bowed slightly in the directions of the others who heard him.

"No, I mean.. I'm just thinking about someone. Like, not a few times a day but day and night." You fidgeted with your fingers as to feel less awkward.

"Huh.. so you're saying you have a.. crush?" Deuce suggested, a little bit proud of himself that all those times where Cater was yapping his ear of paid off.

"Crush?" Startled, you questioned. Crush. To you it sounded a little bit weird. It could be a little, small fascination but a crush? No way.

"Yeah, like, a person you think about all the time and then you date them, right?" Spade maybe wasn't the sharpest tool in the sheet but he wasn't an idiot. He noticed your dreamy gaze and the absence in the material plane. Just like Ace, he payed great attention to you.

"A..yeah! But.. I don't think I really have a 'crush', you know. I'm just.. observing him occasionally. Nothing more." You almost felt yourself beam with elegy.

"..now that sounds like unconscious stalking."

"Agh! I'm not stalking him nor do I have a crush. I just like him only a little bit!" You tried to defend yourself from your probably knowing already what's going on buddy.

"Like who only a little bit?"

You squealed hearing somebody's voice behind you. You almost got a whiplash injury from turning your head too quickly. Deuce stiffed too.

Ace came back with two trays of food and placed them on the table. He put under your nose a croissant with choco filling. "A little gift for you." He patted your back and sat with you and Deuce.

"So? What both of you were talking about?" He chirped while eating his food. Ace's perceptivity was something you really admired but right now you wish your friend was as ignorant as you to the world.

Deuce gave you a look, a little bit uncertain if he should tell Ace your secret. You locked eyes with him and shaked your head as no.

"Nothing. We have been talking about our exams." You tried to keep a unmoved face.

"Yeaaah. Sure." Trappola was now one hundred procent sure you were lying. "Spill the tea."

You knew there was no running from this.

"So..you see.. I just recently had someone on my mind like..all the time."

The redhead snorted at this. "Now, be serious,"

"But I am! I feel like I am sick."

"[Name], by the way you didn't say who you have been thinking about.." Spade interjected, clearly curious.

"Yeah [Name], tell us!" Ace encouraged the idea.

"Ugh, give it a break you two. At least for a minute!" You snapped and rubbed your forehead slightly. You heard your friends snicker to each other quietly. You knew they didn't mean anything harmful but you were stressed and felt cornered to a wall.

"It's the guy who auditioned to the SDC. The blonde, you know who." You said very quietly and reluctantly.

"WHAT?!"

Once again, you felt people gaze at your table. Amazing. "Shut up you all!" you scolded them, not wanting others to hear such thing. My, in your imagination you could vividly see how all of the NRC is awaiting to hear the answer to the question; 'who does the [Name] thirst for?'

"Is it..Hunt-senpai?" Deuce hesitantly asked, as if he was scared that his assumption would turn out to be true.

"You mean Rook?! No, don't tell me you're after such weirdos, pff.." Your other friend sure was making the best he could do of this. So funny.

"No! it's not him, it's the other one!" You felt like you were talking to a wall.

"Don't tell me.."

"YOU MEAN SCHOENHEIT?!"

Godness. Today was truly a bad day.

"Hey, you three! Shut the hell up!" Someone yelled from a table that was close to yours.

"Be quiet you two. Others have been giving us looks the whole time since we walked in here.." you tried to hide your face in your arms.

"I am very sorry!" Deuce yelled back, bowing his head.

"Ugh.. what a pain." You gave them a glance only to put your arms around your face once again. You were tired and lost your appetite.

"It's Vil, isn't it?"

"Yes, Ace. It's him. Stop making a huge thing out of this."

"Okay, hahahah. So what now, you'll confess your big love to him?" Ace teased you with a stupid smirk. He took a bite of his food and watered it down with some soda. "Woa, I didn't expect this combo to turn out so good!"

"No, I won't be doing any confessing. I don't love him nor do I have a crush on him. I am very normal about it."

"We can see that clearly [Name]." Deuce dissed you with truth. Were you sure it was just fascination? Or maybe you were really crushing him not even knowing it? He was pretty, that's for sure. Many people probably liked him for that. You found his personality interesting. 'Oh, but so do everybody!', or maybe not. You sure didn't fall in love with someone who just apologized and started being better. What a change of character! A simple action like this wouldn't make you swoon. You had standards. However, whenever you though about his face, his fashion choice, his perfect smile and pretty lips, and oh.. those eyes, right.. his eyes were probably the best thing out of his whole face. It was them on which he put his make-up the most. Majestic, regal and dazzling amethyst. If only you could look into them for eternity, you wou-

"Heyy, Twisted Wonderland to [Name]! Were you just thinking about your fancy man, secret lover?" The redhead made an exaggerated smoch at you, comically pouting his lips.

"Stop it Ace." The dark haired boy tried to stop his friend's teasing but internally he also found it a little bit amusing.

"Why do you even like him? I mean he is a model and everything but he's so scary and strict.." The freshman tried to defend himself.

"You're not wrong on this one.."

"See! And you tell me to stop. I'm just spitting facts here. Someone as harsh as him doesn't fit [Name]." Ace stated believing he is right. You didn't feel like talking. You looked at the croissant and at the rest of the food. Since the sweet was packed, you could eat it later.

"Let's talk about something.. more nice, shall we?"

"…"

"…Fine."

The 3th of March, XXXXX

'Dear Father,

I am writing to you as to notify you that I have developed a relationship with someone who's very close to me. I know you would like to hear about this in person, so I will visit you this week.

sincerely yours, [Name]'

Oh, my little hatchling!"

As soon as you opened the door of The Headmage's office, you were greeted by Crowley. Sometimes you just wondered if he had another sense which made him aware you were near him.

"I couldn't be more content to see you." He said giving you a long hug as if he hadn't seen you a month at least.

"Ah.. y-yeah, I'm also happy to see you." You replied sincerely. The Headmage grunted and straightened up. Smoothed his clothes and shake off the imaginary dust from his pants.

"So, what brings you here, my dear? As much as I would love to justify your visit as sincere concern for your papa I am aware it is something else?" He began, giving you a knowing look.

As annoying and triggering Crowley was to others, he knew you inside out.

"…Right. As I have written in my letter, I have formed a relationship-" Your sentence was interrupted by a loud cry.

"O-oh..! Oh dear.. I am so happy for you!" He cried louder. "You have a new friend! A-ah, Godness, they grow up so fast.."

"No, It's not like-"

"Don't worry. You have my most approval." He said with solemnity after blowing his nose with his (probably) ancient, engraved and worth more than ordinary man's paycheck, handkerchief. "I was pleased with you joining Night Raven College as here you could broaden your possibilities. You're doing a great job. I'm glad you won't be lonely, my child. May solitary never reach you and your new relations bring you elation."

"Are you even listening to me?" You tried to explain that you didn't gain a 'friend' but a boyfriend. "It's not a friend. I have a b-o-y f-r-i-e-n-d." You spelled it to him.

"Ah, a boy friend? My dear, assuming your friend is from our magnificent and prestigious school, I am not surprised your friend is a male." He said, not even catching what you were implying.

"No-"

"Ah, how the time flies! My, I should go, I have a housewarden meeting in ten minutes.. My dear child, please excuse this poor man for I am ought to leave now. Farewell, youngling. May fortune fall upon you for the rest of the day." He pecked you forehead softly albeit quickly and walked out with his cape lastly leaving your sight. No matter how many times you saw it flutter and shine it would always leave you amazed.

"Ah."

You stood in his office for another minute which felt like an hour. What just had happened?

"I mean.. at least I tried. I told him everything and he seemed content. The rest is not my problem." You shrugged and eyed the whole room. After some time it started feeling like a home to you, even if it was just an office in the school. It may be pretty, but it's not as pretty as Headmage's residence, which was your home now. You walked to the desk and started to check out things on it.

A dirty mug with leftover lukewarm coffe? Check.

A bunch of documents halfway done and messily spread on the whole desk? Check.

A photo of you in frame? Check.

Everything seems normal.

You sat on the chair and eyed the room once again from the perspective of the Headmage. You crossed your legs. "Well, seems I am the Headmaster now."

You felt like you were missing something. Ah, yes.

You put one of your legs on the desk. Now, that's it. You picked up the mug. You took a sip of the coffe.

"HOLY-" You choked. You wanted to throw up.

"What the- ew.. why it's so disgusting.." You put the mug down. That won't do.

"I am the Headmage!" You put your hand in the air while making a pistol sign with your hand and blinking.

…

Silence.

You felt even more bored.

"Why do I feel like I will suffer from this meeting consequences?"

You leaned back on the chair while gazing into the ceiling of the office. There was a pretty chandelier. The light it's candles reflected in yours eyes making them have a little fire in them. You kept longing with a blurry look.

The 9th of April, XXXXX ' Today was my love's birthday. I should be the one who took him somewhere and set up a nice date. I didn't know Vil had other plans. He booked us a two day stay at some fancy hotel which name I don't even remember. I told him I should pay at least but looking back at that price for a two day stay.. uh, no thank you, at least for now. Vil didn't mind being the one who had to set up everything. I bought him something nice and made a small cake for him. He looked happy and enjoyed himself which made me happy as well. I thought he would complain about the cake since I was pretty sure he rejected everything that interferes with his diet. But how was I supposed to know that he actually had a sweet-tooth? I made the cake to his liking. He was curious about the ingredients but not in a 'I want to know what I am eating because I care about my diet' but as 'I want to know how you made it and how the process went'. I was glad that I could make him smile with something so little, but he was already content with just my presence. On our two day vacation (we visited the Fairest City). We mostly went shopping or visited some cafes. '

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

Precipitated from your thoughts you stared at Vil with slightly open mouth. "Huh?"

"I'm asking if you're having a good time, my love." After seeing your confused expression he smiled. Sometimes you were too cute for your own liking.

"Yes, I am. But I still think I should be the one spending on you today. It's your day after all…" You replied unsure.

A laugh has reached your ears.

…A laugh?

Vil was laughing softly. The more you stared at him the more you noticed a light forming near his head as if he was an angel sent down from heaven.

"[Name]," He started.

"I don't expect from you to spend money on me or I want you to do so. I would be just happy with you being here with me. And personally, I think my birthday is a good occasion for us to go out. It's my day, right? So let the birthday boy pamper you, will you?" He put his arm, which was before linked with yours, around your waist giving you a smug smile.

"..You're a lost cause, Villy."

Hearing this made him adjust your scarf. Carefully, he made it look once again as neat as it was before. "A lost cause, you say?" Adjusting your scarf made him close the small distance between you. You could feel his breath on your face. After he said that, he looked into your eyes deeply.

Goddamnit. Actors and their ways.

"Ah..Um.." Cat got your tongue for sure. But who wouldn't be speechless after having someone so pretty almost at their face? "It's surprising it's coming from someone who didn't notice their scarf is untangling." He teased you, noticing your slight blush from the closeness.

God. You seriously are too cute for your own good.

"How was I supposed to know it was untangling?! I cannot look at you and my scarf at the same time!" The girl was lightly fumming.

"Oh my, excuse me then. Had I known you were admiring me I wouldn't interrupt your passionate entrance."

Vil started walking slowly waiting for you to catch up. You were staying in the same place flabbergasted.

"Darling, I'm waiting." He turned his head, slowing his walk even more.

Like in a slowmotion you saw how his hair moved and how his corners were lifted up. You blinked and pulled yourself together.

"Hey, wait for me!"

"As if I could leave without you." He said quietly which made it barely reach your ears. "Hm, if my fans heard someone has kept me waiting they sure would be devastated." He sent a glance your way.

"Maybe if you didn't rill me up, I wouldn't be taking my time."

"My apologies then."

Both of you started walking at unknown to you direction. The whole city and it's street's were leaking with luxury. It just felt like Hollywood but a Twisted Wonderland version of it? Nevertheless, it looked beautiful. People who you were crossing paths with here were dressed elegantly, clearly wearing the newest collection of some popular clothing brand.

"We're going to the cafe, is there something you would like to order?" The blonde asked you keeping his eyes on the footpath since it was crowded and easy to get lost in.

"Something to drink and a small dessert I think?"

"Good choice. I was also thinking about getting something to drink."

"How much left before we reach the cafe?" You inquiried getting tired from walking all the time.

"We're here actually." He stopped walking and turned to some large local. You also turned yourself to see it.

At this point you should be used to seeing fancy things in this city but still the appearance of the cafe made you skip a breath.

I feel my wallet wailing.

"It looks very.. luxurious." Perhaps your awe was visible to your partner or maybe it was him having some mystical inner connection with you since he only replied with;

"I want you to enjoy yourself to the fullest."

He gave your hand a squezze and opened the door for you. After you two walked in you were greeted by a waiter.

"Mister Schoenheit, welcome, your reservation is at the table 19th on the second floor." The waiter handled the documents and showed you the direction to your table.

"Thank you." Vil took your hand and leaded you to yours table. The inside of the cafe was kept in gold and red colors. There was soft jazz music, you didn't knew if it was live or not. It wasn't crowded but there were quite a lot of people.

I mean, it's a expensive cafe. I would be freaked out if it was fully crowded. The most cheap thing here probably costs more than hundred thaumarks.

Next, you climbed the stairs which were quite winding and colored black. So polished that you could check yourself out in them. Finally both of you could sit. The menu was already there.

"So, Darling, does anything piques your fancy?"

"That milkshake looks delicious.. it's kind of large though.."

"Don't worry about it. How about the dessert?" The man scanned over the menu. Quite a lot to pick from, huh? He tried to find something that looked healthy but still could be a dessert.

"I think I'll go for the Lava Cake. I think I had it in the past. Maybe I even made one, I can't remember." You said and put the menu down.

"Okay, I have everything. Are you finished yet?"

"Hmm.. Yes, I decided. Oh, the waiter is coming. Perfect timing."

"Not really, it was you who took so long to decide. The waiter waits ten minutes I think." The girl joked at her boyfriend. The man in return rolled his eyes and made a soft frown.

"Dear costumers, what would you like to order?" You looked at the waiter. Hell, even the clothing of the staff here is fancy.

"We would like to order one Lava Cake, one Apple pie and the large milkshake." Vil politely announced with a small smile.

"Is there anything you also would like to order"?

"No, thank you."

"Well then, your order will be ready in 15 minutes, please enjoy yourselves." The waiter gave a polite bow and was ready to leave but Vil stopped him. "Ah, excuse me, but," he made some motion which looked like a secret code. What the hell he is doing? you thought.

"Add to the order, if that's not a problem."

The waiter just like someone who has been working here for their whole life, understood quickly.

"Of course, it won't be a problem. Please excuse me." The waiter once again bowed and left.

"What the hell was that?" You laughed in modest volume. You never saw Vil do anything like that. What was that, his try of acting as a secret agent?

"Hm? Ah, that. Nothing. Just a normal thing here when ordering something. I just forgot to add something to our order."

"You? Forgot something? Please.."

The man looked uncomfortable and quickly changed the topic.

"How is your.. pet doing?"

"Pet? You mean Grim?" You wanted to be assured.

"Yes, Grim. With who you left him? I doubt you left him alone without anybody to look after him." The man asked further, curious where was your 'baby', as you called it.

"Pa- The Headmage is looking after him. I told him to be gentle with him. He's not great with cats or animals in general… I remember he once told me Professor's Trein cat didn't like him. When I asked why does he think so, he told me it hisses everytime it sees him. I'm not surprised, since he always picked up cats by their tails, good God.." You rambled, getting only a bit concerned about Grim. You knew Crowley wouldn't hurt since you would be very upset if something ever happened to him.

"I feel pity for this poor creature."

"You mean Grim or Crowley?"

He blinked two times rapidly and exchanged looks with you.

"Actually, make it both."

You chuckled at this. Vil didn't find it as amusing as you did which he made clear with his look with hooded eyes. "I am being serious here. Both of them are a danger and disaster to society. What good would come from both of them interacting?"

"Vil, please, don't worry. They'll be okay." You put your hand on his, softly massaging it. "I assure you."

"I'll put my trust in them, but only because you trust them and I trust you heartily."

"Thank you for putting your trust in your adopted son." You giggled after seeing his expression turn into annoyance with a frown. "Please. Don't be ridiculous." He rolled his eyes and.. was it blush on his cheeks? A faint one but still a blush.

A pleasant silence filled the room. You looked out of the window and gaped at the scenery. The Fairest City was really a beautfiul place with it's own charm. From the second floor you had a nice view at the pedestrians who looked like ants, moving fast and knowing exactly what they want to do. You switched your view at Vil, who was already looking at you.

"Have you ever eaten here?" You asked.

"I have. I once had a photoshot near this local. It was quite a long time ago. I also went here with my father." He answered truthfully. "Now that sounds interesting! I never actually heard about your father beside that he's an actor and producer, you know." You gave him a smug smile and snapped his hand with both of your fingers. "So? Tell me something interesting, Villy."

The man closed his eyes for a while as if he was regaining his composure. Maybe the topic of his father irked him a bit? "My, are you perhaps a fan of his?" He shot you a glance. "I saw some of his photos on the internet. And I saw his photo in your wallet and on your nightstand." The girl reciprocated his gaze.

"..Yes, right."

"Man, I don't know what the Schoenheit genes are made of, but y'all look fine as hell." This simple sentence made him furrow his brows.

"Now, stop right there!"

You grunted with your hand covering your mouth. "Yes, Sir." You totally weren't sorry at all.

The blonde softly pouted. Sometimes you were surprised with how expressive he was when he was with you.

"Don't gush about my father, you're here with me, not him. It's rude to not pay attention to your date, you know?" At the end of the sentence, he gave you his special smudge face look. The one where he slightly furrows his brows and up lifts the corners of his mouth while striking a pose.

"But of course, my queen.. by the way, are you jealous?" Like a sparrow knowing his place in the persence of the maginificent peacock, you put on a fake, pathetic servant mask. But you couldn't help yourself and asked him the last thing, totally not to rise his pressure. Yeah.

"Please." Vil scowled. His face showed irk and annoyance.

"Okay, I get it, worry not, I only have my amazing, talented, beautiful partner on my mind." You put your hands in the air as to show you're innocent and sincere now.

"Heh. As if it could be another way."

"Here's your order." The waiter put your dishes on the table. "The bill will be ready at the reception. Please enjoy your meal."

Vil only nodded. You started to think that maybe he knew this waiter. You looked at your food.

"Uh.."

What the hell?

"Vil, I think they messed up our order. They forgot to bring your drink." You said uncertain.

"No, it is as it should be. I didn't order any liquids."

"But didn't you say you wanted to drink something though?"

"Dear, worry not about me. Now, enjoy yourself."

You shrugged. If he's not thirsty, there's no problem then. You wanted to take a sip out of your milkshake and then you noticed something. "Huh?"

"Why they gave me one straw for two people?"

"What do you mean, 'one straw for two people'?" Vil asked faking confusion. You knew it was fake. He looked too calm.

"You know what I mean. That one straw for people so they can drink at the same time, you know.. I just don't know how it's called."

"My, that's perfect." He said with a hidden enthusiasm. "Didn't you say that milkshake was too large for you? Cease your concerns, I will lend you a hand, my love." after he said it, he brought himself closer to the table. He squinted his eyes at you, which could be a flirtatious attempt as to make himself look more eligible, like he was preening himself to you. But no. It won't work on you. You knew something was wrong.

He took a sip of the creamy drink.

"You have an exquisite taste, dear."

You stared blankly. "I see."

"You should try it. Or are you going for the Lava Cake first?" The blonde without a care in the world (It seemed) was drinking YOUR milkshake.

"How about I try your Apple Pie? I'm curious how it does taste like." You said with a different motive in your mind than just trying his dessert. He thinks he's smug? Well, hell no, not today.

"Hm? Sure, feel free to try it."

You took the plate with the dessert. You took his spoon. You digged in.

The first bite felt like Heaven…

You should have expected that a cake from probably the most expecnsive cafe in the most rich city in the most known for it's value country would taste good.

Yet…

"Why it's so good.." you mumbled after you swallowed down. The appearance of the cake also was prepossessing. It also smelled nice.

"I see you're enjoying my meal, I'm flattered." Vil chuckled softly.

"Look who's talking" You murmured under your nose. You wanted to take another bite but you were interrupted by Vil placing his hand on your cheek, lifting it gently so you could look into his eyes.

"[Name]. I am happy to see you enjoy yourself. I'm glad you spent my birthday with me. I couldn't ask for a better gift." He said with a gentle expression. This was probably the most soft you have seen him today. His eyes shined in the light of the chandelier. You didn't know what to say. "I… how could I not spent your birthday with you?" You squeezed out, unsure if that's what you should say right now.

"Well, you could have said you're busy or that you just don't want to. I would've understood."

"But wouldn't you be upset?

"I would be. I would be unhappy and miserable, really. But I don't know if I could be really mad at you." Vil chuckled weary.

"I love you." You blurted out out of nowhere.

Vil's orbits dilated a little bit but soon after they returned to their natural state. He left a amused sigh and the corners of his lips lifted instantly.

"I love you too, sweet potato."

He retreated his hand and took your spoon. He digged in the apple pie and brought the spoon to your lips.

"Here you go." He nonverbally encouraged you to open your mouth and take in the spoon.

"I didn't expect you to be into something like this, how…extraordinarily." You opened your mouth and tasted the cake.

"Hm. A occasion like this happens only once in a lifetime, dear."

…The second took you there.

"So, Dear, how about we drink together the milkshake now-"

You kicked him lightly under the table.

"Today was fantastic."

You two walked slowly on the suburbs of the city near some park. It was almost dark by now. You were glad that since the city was famuous, the supervisors made sure that every lamp on the street was working properly. It may be just April, but the weather was still unstable and the day was still not as long as in the summer days.

You and Vil held each other's hand, the other had a glove. You thought Vil would be that type of person who would have had cold hands, but surprisingly, his hands were warm. Probably because he was working out everyday which made him have a proper blood circulation.

"I agree. I have enjoyed myself to the fullest." The model replied, a smile present on his face. "I must confess that I have relaxed today like never."

You headed in the direction of your hotel. It was too late to go somewhere else and you were too tired for anything new today.

"You know, I didn't expect you to be.. engaged when I mentioned your father."

A sigh escaped Vil's lips.

"I just don't want you to talk about others with such interest when you should be focused on me" He said.

"Right. Sorry. I should pay more attention to the birthday boy." You squezzed his hand.

"But it's good you asked about my father. I actually wanted you to meet him. He was curious about you, too. Maybe too curious for my liking, but I still would like you two to at least see each other."

"Really?!"

"Yes." He chuckled. "I know my father will pull something for sure, but I can't leave him in the shadows for too long. Especially that he doesn't have a lot of time."

"Oh, I see…"

"Don't worry, you'll soon meet him. Maybe sooner than you expect." You said nothing at it. You two walked in silenece to your hotel. Sooner than I expect?

You felt a chill run your body.

The 26th of April, XXXXX ' Today is the day me and Vil visited the Fairest City along Jamil, Ace and Azul. He said there was some production of some film. I wasn't really interested in the details. Vil showed me the photo of the garments he will be wearing today for the whole event. I knew he would nail the look. I didn't expect though that I would meet someone new. '

"Can you be any slower, you all?"

You felt bad for them. Carrying Vil's shopping bags was not a mere task.

You thought you saw one bag almost slip out of Ace's arms but in the last moment he corrected himself. It didn't go unnoticed by Vil, of course.

"Spudling number one, what do you think you're doing?" The blonde's stern voice made Ace wince. "Sorry!" He threw quickly.

You really couldn't admire Vil from far away, because he kept you near him all the time, arms linked or at least in two step distance.

"Hey, [Name]. Maybe you would like to help us out? Jamil asked while sweating a few droplets. When you were about to answer something, your boyfriend beat you out of it.

"Oh? You dare to ask [Name] for help? How bold of you. Did all of you forgot about our contract?"

The model gave them a cold look. With his new make-up, different hairstyle and luxurious clothing he looked more demanding and scary than before.

"My dear, I'm going to the cosmetics store now. Would you like to go with me? There's some products I wanted to get you." Vil turned himself to your direction, dropping his scary and cold demeanor.

The man gently put his hand out for you to take. You took it and he walked with you to the store. Before you two disappeared inside the store, he turned to the three boys.

"I expect all of you not to do anything foolish. Also, make sure to not drop anything." He seized all of them with his eyes.

The store looked like something out of vintage aesthetic. Most of the furniture was in brown tone, made probably from the most expensive and real wood of highest quality. The cashier was absent.

Vil approached some shelf and took some products. "Look, I was talking about those."

He picked a few and went to the other shelf. "They have unique products. I really wanted to check out those rice balms."

The cashier finally came back from the back room.

"Welcome, how can I help you?"

Vil eagerly went to the counter. "We'll be having those products. I waited so long for their release."

The cashier behind the counter laughed. "Ah, yes, they sell very well." Vil paid for the articles and you left the shop. From the distance you could hear a street musician playing on a instrument. Your boyfriend noticed you gaze at the crowd from where the music was coming from. "We can go there later, if you want." He sent a small smile your way. You smiled back. He turned to the three boys. "You three." He pointed a finger at them. "Quit your idling. We have four shops left to visit."

All of them shuddered.

Vil started walking. His polished shoes clicking against the surface. He really nailed the outfit which his strong personality only completed.

Ace, Azul and Jamil only sighed desperately. Soon after, all of them started walking. You quickly walked up to Vil, who took your hand and matched your peace.

With every shop you visited you saw how they started to enjoy dragging his bags, pushing each other lightly or just copying Vil's way of walking for fun. You noticed that once in a while Vil indulged them a little and also copied their way of walking, smiling slightly.

You liked how all of them looked happy, trotting to the next destination.

You once again glanced at the blonde, noticing how his face shined in the sunglow, basked in bliss.

"Desserts?!"

After visiting all the shops, you stopped at some bakery. You heard the boys yell, surprised that Vil would actually let them eat something… unhealthy near him. And at his own cost.

"Why, I thought you all would be delighted to try something sweet. Fairest City is known for having the best bakeries or cafes. I myself am interested what they are serving today."

You were astonished too. You knew he wasn't someone cruel who wouldn't eat someone sweets at least once in their life, but most of cakes or desserts in bakeries are full of unnecessary sugar.

"Then I want something with cherry filling!" Ace said with enthusiasm.

"I want to try something I haven't had before." Jamil replied while looking at the bakery's display. "How about you, Azul?"

"I don't consume anything too fat or too sweet." He said, spreading his arms. "But, since this is once in a lifetime occasion, I will indulge myself a little. After all, mister Schoenheit is generously paying for our orders, wasting a occasion like this would be such a loss." A smug expression made it to Azul's face.

"Now, don't let it go to your head." Vil said with slight frown, but actually not minding Azul's remark. "My, their selection of options is quite big. I'm hesitant to pick anything." His eyes flickered on things.

"Ugh, they have so much sugar. Is there anything a little bit healthier?" he squinted his eyes with down turned corners.

"Vil, there's some apple with caramel, how about this?" Ace suggested. The sweetness looked like an apple candy covered in caramel. It reminded you a little bit of a halloween treat.

"It looks utmost. Thank you kindly." He smiled, content with the thing. "And what about you, my dear? Does anything pick your fancy?" Your lover turned to face you, giving you a pleased look.

"I'm not sure."

"Oh, I didn't tell you, but this bakery connected to the cafe we have been at on my birthday. It's the same company." He said in a quiet tone so only you could hear him.

"You mean THAT cafe? The one with the milkshake?" You wanted to be assured.

"Now, now, please, let's keep our voices down. Yes, it's that cafe." His expression switched to something that resembled amusement. To see you so ruffled about such a small thing was quite a view to him.

Oh, yeah, so funny when you were the one who drinked all of my milkshake.

"Would you like perhaps the same thing as me?" He said gently taking your hand in his and softly massaging the surface of it with his thumb.

"Fine. But I would prefer to save it for later, so tell them to pack it as a takeaway."

"As you wish."

He went into the bakery to get your orders. The rest looked at you quizzically. You could see suspicion on their faces. "What?"

"What you two just were whispering about?" Ace squinted his eyes at you, like you have committed some crime.

"My, talk about playing favorites." Azul adjusted his glasses.

"Yeah. Stop complaining and go drag the bags." You dismissed them with a hand wave. Ace sent a smirk your way.

"Yes, our Lady."

Vil returned from the bakery. He held a stack of boxes and had a paper bag hanged on his arm. "Come on, take your orders. I won't be carrying all of this."

"But were already carrying tons of your bags!"

"Don't make me repeat myself." Vil furrowed his brows, making the rest sigh.

You walked up to get your bag with the apple candy. When Vil saw your stretched hand towards the bag, he retreated it. "Ah, I didn't mean you. I'll carry yours." He still had his hand with the bag retreated. You gave him a distrustful look.

"Hurry up, spudlings. We don't have the whole day. We have little time left before we meet the producent."

The three lighted up at this. "We'll be meeting the producent?!"

"Of course. He wants to meet all of you." He smiled pridefully. "You especially, [Name]." Huh?

Vil didn't say anything after that.

"Let's go, shall we?"

The place where you were supposed to meet the star of the whole stay, day and night. Were you stressed? It was hard to say.

The inside looked like most of the Fairest City buildings. It soaked with luxury. The restaurant (you weren't sure if it was one, but it had a bar and tables, so it probably was one) had a nice, chill music playing in the background. If you had to compare it to something you would say it sounded like french music, played in most of cheesy movies.

The palette of red and gold combined perfectly. You saw some people sit at the tables for two, talking with each other in hushed tones. They all looked like celebrities.

"Which table is ours?" You heard Ace ask.

"We'll be sitting at one of the couches, we'll wont fit at a normal table." Vil said, approaching one of the couches which had a table big enough for you all.

You all sat down finally getting some rest after walking all day. Before you met Vil you thought shopping was a hassle but it could be done. However after you two became a thing you just think how stupid and clueless you were before. Shopping with Vil is only nice if you have patience and you aren't carrying his bags.

"It was a rough day." You said to your peers.

"Yeah, it was. I feel like my back is ripping from all that shopping." Ace said and massaged his back with a slight painful frown. "I never knew Vil was this demanding… I mean, I knew but come on." He complained. You didn't deny what he said. "I feel kinda bad for you. How do you put up with this dude?" He gave you a look, somehow uncertain and worried for you future.

"He's not that bad." You said, slipping off a little bit from you sitting position. You looked out of place right now but you prefered to sit comfortably at least. "I get how it looks to others, but sometimes you need to make some.. sacrifices for love, you know." You winked at him at the end of your sentence. You pulled quite a inner poet of yourself.

"Now, don't tell me this bullshit." He laughed, hitting your side lightly with his elbow. "If you say so, I won't intervene. But if something happens, send me a SOS, okay?" You could feel care from your friend. Ace maybe didn't look or behave like a guy who would pull a prince act, but if you would ever need help - he would be there. He may be frolicsome, but he has his heart in the right place.

"You bet." you smiled at him.

You saw how Jamil and Azul talked about something. You didn't hear what it was about because they had their tones down. Vil was checking his phone and typing some message.

Where's that special guy? That 'producent'?

You lost yourself in thoughts. Once again, [Name] entered her world. All this socialisation doesn't do anything good for a man, huh?

"Hey, I waited for you all."

You felt a chill run down on your spine. You froze. No, it can't be. Your fingers digged in the soft couch. The voiced came from behind you. Just like the person who came to your table was perfectly standing behind the place of the couch where you sat down.

You didn't turn back.

If I do it,

I will die.

You heard some 'Huh' from your mates. All of them in awe, from what you could hear.

"Vil, it's been a long time since I saw you!" The mysterious figure said. You had your eyes glued to one spot, not really on the floor but not entirely on the table - something in between. You weren't sure if you were even blinking at this point.

"Indeed. I am surprised you had time for us. I thought you would be busy with meeting important figures." Vil said.

"Please, how could I not see all of you? I was very curious to meet you." The man (from the voice you suspected it was a man) said to everyone.

Dread. You felt yourself going numb.

The fancy french-like music was still going on. Long enough for you to gasp the entire rhythm of it. In your wicked mind, you hummed it's tune.

You hear Vil moving. He was walking up to the man. His shoes cliking against the floor. Such a nice sound.

From what you could listen, sounds of light and quick pecking reached your ears. So they're exchanging greetings now, huh? Your friends got up one by one to greet in person the guest (host would be more accurate, since it was him who wanted to meet you). Ace shaked hands with him with a friendly demanor, Jamil shaked hands with him with the elegance you would expect from someone who knows who it's better to side with and Azul shaked hands with him like someone who wanted to present themselves in a good light and give them a business card. You knew you should turn back. At least for good manners.

I can do it.

It wasn't your fault to be so scared of meeting,

You slowly turned yourself back when you heard the man express an interest in you, the only person he didn't had the chance of exchanging pleasantries with.

You saw him.

He had a nice smile on his lips. 'Pretty' you thought. His clothing was fitting him nicely. The color of his eyes..

You were fully facing him, still sitting on the couch. You wanted to close your open mouth but you couldn't bring yourself to do it.

From others perspective it must have looked funny. You, gaping at the man and the man looking at you with singularity and curiosity.

"Oh, hello. I believe we haven't met before?"

…Your future father-in-law.

Am I still alive?

You stared at the man.

Oh, right, I should get up and shake hands with him or something. It'll be worse if I don't do it.

You get up and walked up to him. You wanted to believe your entire 'walk' at least could resemble some basic elegeance and not wobbling.

When you were close enough to the man, you stretched your hand to greet him.

Smile, [Name]! Show him you're a great material for Vil! A total ten out of ten!

You tried to smile as pretty as you could pull. A ugly and twisted grimace showed on your face. You had your corners turned up, so in your opinion it was a smile (and others should also take it as one).

"Um.. Hello to you too." An awkward greeting sounded out of you. You were sure you were shaking a bit.

Instead of shaking hands with you, the man gently took your hand and brought it to his lips.

…What?

The man, while not breaking the eye contact with you, gave your hand a light kiss.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, [Name]. I have heard a lot about you." He dazzled you with his smile. He also gave Vil a look when he finished. "Father!" You heard Vil raise his voice.

Or maybe you wanted to hear it.

Neverthless, you were too gone. Too gone from this world, too gone to hear anything.

Maybe you were in something akin to a space right now, where planets slowly moved, star shined and a shooting star blinked far away.

I was wrong. I can't do it.

You were glad your boyfriend was here. So if you would, for an example, pass away he would be here with you at your last moments.

After hearing his son's raised voice, the man slowly let go of your hand. It was amusing to see his son be so pressed. He knew he would enjoy this event, but now? Oh, an occasion where he could ruffle his son's feathers was almost impossible to come by.

You stood there and just watched how these two had an invisible fire ignited between them.

How embarrassing…

Your friends were both shocked at what Vil said. "Father?" Azul repeated flabbergasted.

"Ah, yes. The producent I was talking about is Eric Venue, who is also my father."

"REALLY? AND WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US?" Ace shouted still in shock. Azul put his hand on his arm and said:

"My, his father is the most popular actor and producer. He's basically a big-shot in Twisted Wonderland."

"Holy.." The redhead looked at the man. He still had his handsome, million dollar smile on. Just now he noticed how similar he and his son were.

"But his last name is Venue, why is that?" Jamil inquired.

"I didn't want people to recognize me as 'the son' or just by the last name. The 'Venue' is only a stage name." Vil answered the question which seemed to puzzle the whole group.

"Indeed. I wanted Vil to gain his recognization by his hard work, not the name he bears." His face settled down a little.

"Right now I can say openly, without people doubting my worth, that we're related." The younger Schoenheit announced with delight.

You felt like everyone has forgetten about you. A part of you was glad, however you felt awkward. You could say something but it would probably only worsen your situation.

"How about we all sit down? The starters will be served soon."

'Great idea!' You thought.

"Ah, we'll be starting with starters? Nice!" Ace said with enthusiasm. You envied him how he could stay calm in a situation like this. You all sat down on the same couch you sat before. You saw how some chatted and some just sat down in silence. This time your boyfriend sat beside you.

"Is everything okay?" You heard him ask. You turned your head to look at him. You saw slight frown and concern on his face.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just… feeling a little bit out of the place. I'll get over it." You assured him, which didn't feel assuring at all.

You were right. He didn't look convinced at all. Your reply only made him worry more.

Just like always, he took your hand in his and gave you a light squezze. He always did it whenever you were anxious or just felt upset. You sent him a smile.

Your moment of peace didn't last long.

Just like a hound which was trained for hunting, Eric saw you two 'coddling to each other' as he would say. The hound sniffed out his quarry from the long distance.

"You two are quite close, aren't you? I'm glad Vil has such a good friend to lean on." He smiled in a way that screamed 'I know what you are'.

'Does he know?' you thought.

No, I doubt.

You were pretty sure Vil didn't tell his father that he had someone. He didn't had time to inform him, you two started dating in like February or something. He and his father met once in half a year or in a few months. There's no way.

You moved away from Vil. Your sudden movement only made the suspicion rise. From the corner of your eye you saw how your boyfriend's jaw clenched.

"I thought you would prefer to talk about the movie but I see you would rather go into private matters it seems." Vil narrowed his eyes at his father. You were pretty sure he was about to throw hands.

"No, don't take it that way. Put yourself in my shoes, how could I just pretend I don't have such a prosperous relationship before my eyes? I'm happy you have such reliable friends."

'I would never wear those' flew through your head. Maybe Vil would. Vil was seething at this point.

"I must tell everyone, you all have a really good fashion style." Eric complemented as if he wanted to avoid his son's wrath and ease the tension. He will strike once everything's will subside. "Thank you!" Ace happily thanked. His cheeks reddened a little bit and his face lightened up.

"I'm glad to hear this, however it was your son who picked all those outfits." Jamil said. "It's only thanks to your son that we could make it out in such style." To others who didn't knew Jamil personally it could sound like he was putting himself down and direct all the praise to Vil. But in reality you knew he also wanted to push Vil's buttons and have some fun.

"You know, I really like fashion myself." He laughed neatly with his hand near his mouth as to give himself grace. You could see the little shinning sparks fit his aura. Truly, everyone could agree this man was fine as hell.

"That's splendid. But to like something it means to know how to fix it. In this case it means to know how to wash it. You don't know how to do it."

You and almost everyone at the table were surprised to hear Vil's side mark. You knew he was petty, but would he go this far?

"Ah.." Eric seemed perplexed. Deep down he didn't mind his son's jab, however… "I try my best when I'm doing the chores."

Vil face changed to disappointment at this. "Right. You always need help of the housekeepers."

Everyone at that stiffed clearly. You and your classmates didn't know what to do. You felt like you were in a conflict which didn't include you.

"That was quite harsh…" Jamil commented in a hushed tone. You all looked at each other, sweat forming on yours foreheads.

"Oh, they are about to bring the starters! Incredible timing." Eric said, happy that he no more has to be in his son's quarrel.

On the table were placed starters, all of them looked delicious. Maybe too small for you, but it's proably the restaurant rules.

Time to dig in.

A reflection was shown on the knife.

The light shined on it which caused the reflection to appear. You held your fork in the other hand thightly.

You looked at your meal. You took a deep breath.

You looked to your left.

You saw your friends eating in comfortable silence. You noticed how Ace struggled with handling the utensils and how Jamil instructed him as not to embarrass himself. You hear him say if his housewarden had seen his table manners, he would have cut his head off.

You looked to your right.

Vil was handling his utensils with elegance. He even ate in a proper and neat way. He didn't smudge his lipstick nor did he dirty his clothes.

The music is playing in the background.

Once again you look at your food.

You raise the knife. The fork already stabed the meat. Just like a surgeon cutting the body, you cut the meat. A slick, straight and deep line.

You were glad Vil learnt you a little bit of the basic (for Pomefiore) table manners. Everytime you ate with him you watched how he raised his utnesils and how he wiped his mouth with a handkerchief after the meal.

You brought the food to your mouth.

A subtle flavor could be tasted on your tongue. You could say it was too unseasoned for you.

The comfortable atmosphere was interrupted by Eric.

"What a lovely time we have. But I wanted to ask you something." He adressed it to you and your friends. "What is Vil like at school?" A simple question. However you saw how Ace choked on his food, how Jamil stared at him and how Azul stiffened.

"Ah.."

"Well.."

"Uh…"

You also didn't know how to respond to this question. "Um.. Vil is quite an admirable figure." Jamil started sweating a little bit. "He's also very.. precise." You noticed that the rest only readily nodded their heads in agreement.

"I'm glad to hear this." He gave them a content smile. Then his expression changed into something else, like he had remembered soemthing just now. "Oh [Name], I would like to hear your opinion!" The girl stared at him with wide eyes then turned to her boyfriend. Vil only sent her a smirk. "I also would like to hear it."

Maybe this is the time you start praying.

"So…" You started hesitantly. "I also think he's an admirable figure. He knows his way and he moves very elegantly..um," what were you even talking about?

"Please continue." Eric encouraged you.

You closed your eyes as to calm your self and continued. "He cares for students in Pomefiore. He's strict and only sometimes annoying."

You smiled awkwardly. "I mean, it's a different experience for everyone. It depends if you're close with him or not." You were sincere. It would be stupid to expect someone to treat dear people to them the same way the treat strangers. "As for me, I don't have any complaints. Some people might have though." As you finished an image of Epel showed in your mind. You laughed to yourself in your mind.

"That's a very interesting way to put it in." Eric said after you finished. "And I was worried that he had problems at school." He chuckled. "Guess I worried over nothing."

"Please. Let's not be ridiculous." The blonde also laughed. "Even in elementary school I never was bothered." "You went to elementary school?"

"Of course. I remember I had joined a theatre group at that time." Vil finished with pleased expression. "And what is up with that shock?" His face turned into annoyance.

"Ah, how the time flies! I believe they will be serving dinner soon." Your in-law annouced. "The food here is great. It could be used as a buffet. In acting, actors often are offered pancakes, sweets, salads, meat and others type of meals."

"It sounds delicious." Azul commented while shifting his position. The starters weren't very fullfilling, so most of were still hungry. After some time, dinner was brought on the table.

A large pot was set on the table. "The goulash is inspired by the fairest queen tale."

You spent quite a lot of time in Twisted Wonderland. You found it interesting how many dishes are inspired by the great seven. The goulash looked just like the rest of the food served today - very delicious and worth a fortune.

The portions on your plates were small. You doubted someone could fill their hunger with it but you got it was a restaurant. Even in your world some served portions like this. How absurd.

You had a great time with everyone eating the dinner. The atmosphere wasn't that stiff and uncomfortable.

'It's not that bad' You thought.

When you all finished you started conversing and chatting. You saw how happy your friends were and how Vil was in a good mood too. Just when you wanted to ask something Vil's dad slapped his thighs and stood up.

"I'm glad that we all could meet up today. I'm pleased I could get to know you." He spoke to you and your classmates. "Sadly I have a meeting with other producer's now and won't be able to stay. I'll join you after the meeting is finished. Please excuse me." He smiled politely. When he was about to go, he turned back and walked up to you. "Ah, [Name], can I ask you for a moment? It will be short, worry not." He looked at you from the above giving you his million dollar (thaumark?) smile.

You froze. What?

"Um.. sure," you rose from your seat and walked up to him. He guided you to a more secluded place. When he was sure you two were alone, he spoke.

"Ah, don't be nervous. I just wanted to ask you something." Once again his expression turned into delight. He felt bad for making you stress over this.

"You see, I know you and Vil aren't just friends. Vil never told me it in person or verbally. I just guessed on my own." He crossed his arms and seized you.

"Oh," In a moment like this you could only make a short sound. "I guessed it when he called me one day. He was very happy when he was talking. I thought something good had happened. He didn't want to tell me what it was, but considering that since one day you were the only thing he was informing me about I guessed you two started dating." He looked in your eyes and his face became serious. "I see how he looks at you. I never saw him this happy."

"Um, sir…"

"You two have my blessing." He smiled and put his hand on your shoulder. "Others may not be able to notice it, however as his father I don't need a confirmation. Vil can say what he wants, but he won't deceive me."

You didn't know how to react. Too much information for you for such a period of time. You still didn't knew why he wanted to talk to you in person.

"Ah, but it's not about it. I wanted to ask you if you would accept an invite to a dinner. I would love to know closer my daughter-in-law." He sent you a noble and kind-hearted smile.

"Oh.. of course, I accept." You were shocked. Daughter-in-law? Did he just see you as family at this point? Even if you and Vil weren't engaged or something? You were like at the first base, almost reaching the second.

"I also heard you have a guardian who's your father, right?" He asked hesitantly as to not cross the line of making you uncomfortable. When you shocked your head as 'yes', he continued:

"Splendid! I would love to meet him as well." He seemed to be too happy about this. "Feel free to bring your furry friend too." Something akin to a wink was sent your way. Holy, was he trying to kill you? It's not like you were attracted to Vil's dad, but it also wasn't like you weren't attracted to him. It is not my fault - that was what you would say to enraged and rabid Vil.

"Oh, thank you!" You were happy that he knew about Grim and wanted to include him as well. Your furry friend was as important to you as Vil was.

"Well then, I'll await our dinner patiently." And with that, he gave you a slight bow and left.

…

What has just happened?

After the talk with the Eric you came back to your table. Everyone asked where you were but you just swept it away with a visit to the toilet. The only one who wasn't convinced was your boyfriend, Vil.

"Where were you?"

You didn't want to lie to him so you said the truth.

"He knows." You eyed him with solemn face as if you had just witnessed a murder scene. "He knows. Your father. He knows, Vil."

"My, how perceptive of him." He narrowed his eyes. His make-up didn't help and only made his gaze more serious and gravely. "So what now?" He changed his expression to something more soft as not to seem like he was directing his negative emotions at you. "He said he wanted to ask me to a dinner, Vil."

He tsked and his scowl only worsened. "What a-"

"I agreed Vil." You said still with the same wasted tone as before. "And he wants to meet the headmage as well. And Grim."

Your boyfriend turend to a new shade of red. You saw a vein form on his forehead. Maybe you should've unaccepted?

"Don't worry, dear." He unexpectedly put his hand on yours. "We're together in this. I'll be with you." You weren't sure if this situation was this serious but you appreciated the effort.

"Thank you.." You said not sure what to say. A furious Vil was a dangerous one. You didn't want to piss him off more than his dad did. "I don't understand why he is interfering in my relationship." He sighed while closing his eyes.

"Well… maybe he just misses you? And he's interested in how is your life going, or something?" You tried to make the mood less uncomfortable.

Vil looked at you with a puzzled expression. "Darling, you don't understand. It won't be a normal dinner. He's going to ask you many questions and the whole meeting will last til night. He will probably suggest staying at our home for the night." He was clearly upset. "I know you don't like when people press you or just ask you things you rather not talk about. I'm worried for you… I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable." He confessed closing the space between you.

His face now was very close to yours.

"I.. I understand. But I also want to know your father more personally. After all, he's your father and an important figure in your life. Knowing him is as important to me as knowing you, Vil." You said trying to fix his mood.

His eyes twinkled at this. If you were this interested in meeting his family then it meant you were thinking about your future together. The future which involved him.

"[Name]…" He whispered. You didn't have much time to react before you felt his lips on your cheek. A slight peck however it was filled with many emotions.

"My sweet potato, I understand." He was still close to you. His expression different now, eyes filled with comfort.

"A dinner it is."

The 15th of May, XXXXX

'Dear Father,

I am writing to you as to notify you about coming dinner with mr. Eric Schoenheit and his son, Vil Schoenheit. The date is 24th May, current year. Your presence is required and the host asks for confirmation of presence. (I will pass it to Vil and he will pass it to his father) Yours sincerely, [Name]

"My dear child."

A grave-like voice boomed through the room. This is not going in the right direction.

"What is the meaning of this?"

You stood as straight as a plank. A solider waiting for an order.

"I told you before, that I have formed a relationship. Vil is the one whom I bonded." Your answer was the last nail to your coffin.

Sometimes you wondered if your father was stupid or stupid. No, let's take it back. Was he playing a fool or was he just one? At this point you should run.

"And Sir Schoenheit has invited you and me to a dinner. Is that right?"

"Yes,"

"Oh my dear." He wraped his arms around you. "I'm so happy for you! You may be young and helpless, however you already lined up nicely…" He was at the edge of breaking down.

"Ah, such an inportant moment in the life of a parent.. I accept the offer. I'm impressed you found such a well positioned friend! You adopted all of my life tactics, o-oh…"

You didn't want to say anything. Your father still thought you and Vil were just friends. At this point, you didn't even care. You just wanted him to confirm whenever he will attend the dinner or not. You just were worried if he will pull a stunt. Please, no.

"And your letters improved too! But, what was the last note, huh? Do not break your character at the end, no matter if it's me or a stranger!" He scolded you. Ah, so dumbing down the last sentence was unnecessary.

"Right. I'm sorry."

"I hope a mistake like this won't happen again. The act of writting a letter is very important. I want you to master it for your own good." He said in a serious tone.

"Well then, hatchling. I'm looking forward to this meeting! Ah, I wonder how the Schoenheit maison looks like…"

Right. You were correct. Let's just hope he won't do anything.. embarrassing.

It will be fine, just like always.

"Vil, I'm not sure if it's a good idea."

You were laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Your mind was clouded with doubt.

"[Name]." He sounded stern. He sat beside you on the bed. Vil gazed at you with tired eyes. It was past 6 p.m and the sky was turning fully dark. Your boyfriend normally was starting his routine at this time, however since you came to him looking very anxious, he put it aside. It can wait.

"Don't worry, it will be okay." he rubbed your shoulders. "I will be there with you. It's just a dinner."

"A dinner on which my father and yours will meet." You corrected him. The whole thing was taking a toll on you. You didn't want to be stressed however you couldn't suprass your mind.

Vil didn't say anything at that. He continued massaging you hoping it would help.

"Do you want a cup of tea?" Your boyfriend asked. He didn't like seeing you in a state of stress and anxiety. It caused him pain and the fact he couldn't help you only worsened everything.

He sighed and got up. Vil left the room without saying what was he doing. You stared at the ceiling following it's patterns. You liked how his room presented itself. Pretty and velvet purple with light white.

The dumbbells layed on the floor in tidy. You knew it wouldn't really bother Vil if you stayed here for a longer time, yet you knew you couldn't do that.

After 15 minutes which felt like an hour the bloned returned back. He held a tray with some snacks. "Maybe this will improve your mood?" You saw your favorite snack. You appreciated that even though it was late he still decided to eat something with you.

"Eat to your content, love." The girl saw him flash her a dazzling smile. You enjoyed how Vil no matter what could bring comfort to you. "I thought you didn't support eating this late." You joked taking one of the snacks.

"Don't let it go to your head, Darling. This is the last time I'm doing this." A smirk appeared on his face, joining you in this fool's parade.

"Okay, okay, I get it." You waved your hand as a sign you gave up.

The two of you spent the rest of day munching on the snacks while having the best mood ever. Maybe a little time together was all you two needed. At least it seemed so.

The 24th of May, XXXXX ' Today is the day. I have prepared myself. It will be okay. Despite mentioning Vil many times, I haven't actually told anything about him at all. I haven't even said why I make sure to say Vil is my partner rather than a boyfriend. Okay, so the thing is; Vil thinks that the title boyfriend is.. very degrading. It's not bad however it means the two of us are just a 'temporary' thing and it has some high shool after taste.. and partner sounds neutral yet loving. You can call someone who's been in a relationship with you for like twenty years or five months. I also prefer the term partner than boyfriend but I tend to forget myself. Actually, now that I think about this.. boyfriend sounds very cute. Ah, what else to say… I remember how I and Vil were like before we started dating. I seriously had some one sided beef with him. But it was hard to understand Vil and it was probably hard to understand me. Looking back, we made a lot of progress. Oh, also I find it quite cute how Vil lights up whenever I mention some new way of putting on make-up! Or when I mention theatre, ah, he looks just so- '

"[Name]? What are you doing?"

You jumped at the sound of Vil's voice. You hurriedly closed the journal hoping no one saw what's inside.

"It's nothing." You reply was too quick. It didn't escape your lover's attention.

"Huh? I am not the one to pry into private affairs," He gave you a interested look which quickly turned into his special smirk. "But I won't hide that I am curious what's inside. Did my presence cause the quick closing?" He teased you. Ah, if only he knew what you were writing about.

"When are we leaving?" You asked as to step away from the topic. You already packed your stuff for the two day stay.

"In an hour. I hope you're prepared for the fantastic day?" His manicured nails reflected some light which only made them more dazzling. He looked very dolled up, you weren't sure if it's for you or just for the occasion.

"Riiiight. I can't help myself. I'm gonna die from happiness." You jokingly said. Both you and Vil weren't prepared for this in reality.

"So funny." Vil said with an amused expression. "I thought you would be more excited. You're meeting your, as you once said, amazing and talented super-actor." You felt the jab stick in your chest. Indeed you said that, but no matter what you won't call Eric like that in person.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. You're my most precious, talented and amazing actor, model, icon and so go on." You put your hands in the air as a sign of defence. "You can stop your jealousy now."

You saw how his face twitched. "Me? Jealous? Over my father? I couldn't ever to that. I am secure in my relationship and my choices." Ah, the perfect defense of someone who obviously jealous. You decided to give it a stop as not to torture your boyfriend furthermore.

"Check if you packed everything 15 minutes before we leave. It may be just a two day stay but I won't let you neglect yourself." He scolded you giving you the harsh reality of most basic Vil-self.

"Yes, my queen." You saluted and left the room. You walked through the corridors searching for something. You looked left and right and no sight. Where did he go?

When you were losing hope for finding the lost 'person' you suddenly saw a flash of gray. Oh, you found him.

"Grim, behave." You told your companion stoping your walk. It wasn't like Grim was some slob who didn't know manners, yet he also wasn't the example of proper behavior. He may be a little lost, yet he got the spirit.

The direbeast presented himself before you. Most of time you were happy to see that grin of his, but this time you were too tired for this chaos. "[Name,]" He began while his tail was twitching from side to side. "I can't pack my whole stuff. This trip is a hassle."

"What were you trying to pack?"

"My blanket, cans of tuna.. you know, the special edition I got from Azul and the plush I got from you." He stretched his paws as to emphasise the tragedy (Nothing too serious in reality).

"My God… I have some space left in my suitcase. You can pack some of your things there. But not too much, understood?" Sometimes you felt like a parent nagging their kid.

Grim's ears turned up and he uttered a howl.

"Ahaha! Right, there is my hunchman!" You let him be. A moment of happiness in his life wasn't forbbiden. You watched as he ran in big jumps to his room.

You went back to Vil. He was supervising everything from luggage to the most unimportant. From a different perspective he looked like a frea-

"Why you're standing in the door?" He zipped one of the bags and mentally checked it as done.

"I was talking with Grim a moment ago. He wants to bring his food along, you know." You told him.

The blonde raised his eyebrow, "Why would he do that? There will be food at my family's house." right, Vil didn't seem like a person who could understand Grim's sentiment for his food.

"Let him be." You defended the creature. You felt bad enough when Vil suggested putting Grim in a pet carrier.

"Check if you packed everything you wanted. We'll be leaving in a few minutes."

You walked up to one of your bags and then to your suitcase. "I think I got everything. I'm ready."

With the last check and zip, the man picked up the stuff.

"Well then, let's set off."

You used the mirror chambers to move to the Shaftlands and when you got there, limousine drove you to your destination.

The views you could see from the limousines window were breathtaking. A different world in many colors. The city in which Vil's house was located was only a half hour ride away.

When you reached the house you weren't surprised how it looked like. When the headmage said 'maison' or 'villa', you knew what will you see.

Once you stepped out of the vehicle you took a better look at things that surrounded you. You saw a nice garden which was quite large. The sky also was presenting itself nicely today.

"Ah, what a ride it was!"

The loud voice of Crowley rang and you turned to look at him. He was stretching his back making too much noise for your liking.

"Dear, take your bag and I will take the rest." Vil said while taking your suitcase in hand and the other stuff in other. You knew he was taking too much to carry so you voiced your worries out, "Isn't it too much? I can carry something…"

You saw a flash of confident smile and heard, "My, are you suggesting I am feeble and won't be able to carry all of this?"

"No, not at all."

At the doorstep you wondered if you'll be ringing the bell, however you saw Vil pull out a key. When he was about to open the door, it opened itself.

"Ah, you're already here. Welcome Mister Crowley! And you too, [Name]," You weren't sure if he smiled more widely at the sight of your or was it your imagination. "Please, go inside. Feel like at home." You unsurely entered the maison looking around. You saw how the classicism dominated the whole interior style and furnishings. The whole place was spacious.

"Your rooms are at the end of the left corridor on the first floor, I'll guide you there-"

"No need for that. I'll do it." Vil interrupted his father taking your hand in his and moving to the direction of the rooms.

"Oh, fine.." Eric was shocked at the sudden annoucement from his son but he didn't worry about it for too long. "Well then, please let me escort you to your room, mr. Crowley."

The whole 'walk' was accompanied with silence. You could only hear your and Vil's footsteps. You felt how his nails slightly digged into your skin. You gave him a glance but you only saw his profile and clenched jaw. Oh, how pretty he looked, even if he was upset or furious.

"Vil?" You shot your chance into the air,

no respone.

Only for it to be sanked away in the deep sea.

The silhouette of perfection and you, dragged by it, not sure if it was a right choice to poke it with a stick.

"I don't want you to deal with them, you should rest."

He looked at you. You saw no fury in his eyes. Oh heaven's, my gratitude!

You were still walking.

"Um, Vil, I think you might have skipped the guest rooms-"

"You'll be staying in my room." He saw your shocked face and immediately corrected himself. "If it's okay with you."

"I don't mind. I am actually excited to see your old room." Both of you entered the second floor and went through a corridor and then turned right. Once you reached a white door you stopped.

"We're here." He opened the door and let you go first. When both of you entered the room he closed the door.

You switched the light on and observed.

It looked.. normal. Empty, almost.

"I took most of my things when I got accepted at Night Raven College." He answered your inner question, while joining you in looking around.

A diploma was on one wall, trophies and awards were on a shelf. You walked around and turned yourself to him. "It looks neat. Hope you won't my sleep wriggling, hm." You shot him a smirk that didn't held any innocent intentions.

"Hah. I would like to see you try."

You ignored him and slumped on the bed. You tried to make yourself as cosy as possible.

Your boyfriend sighed. "I'll go and bring your luggage here."

You checked the time on your phone. It was still a midday yet it already was looking like evening.

You waited ten minutes and Vil finally brought all your stuff into his room. You looked how he was putting your clothing in the wardrobe.

"Does your dad know that I'll be sleeping in your room?"

He continued arranging the clothes, "Does your dad know that you'll be sleeping in my room?"

"..Touché"

You heard him laugh. "See? Potato, you'll need to learn how to be more underhand."

He probably noticed how yours eyes rolled because he only continued chuckling at you.

Then, you heard a knock at the door.

Vil and you stopped in your middoings, unsure what to do.

"Vil?" You heard from behind the door. It was Eric.

The blonde looked at you and then at the door. "Yes?"

"Supper will be ready in 10 minutes, please inform [Name] as well."

You two catched an eyecontact. "I will inform her as soon as possible."

That smile. Again.

You heard the footsteps fade away which meant Eric left.

A moment of silence was present in the room. It was ended by your comment, "That was close."

"He wouldn't come in. In this house we respect privacy."

"In this house we respect privacy." You imitated him as to bother him a little.

Vil turned to you and furrowe his brows. "Care to repeat that?" His eyes squinted at you. It didn't mean anything good.

"I'll pass this time." You waved your hand at him. Your response made him curious, "So there will be a next time?" His derisive grin was stopped when he realized you two should be on the ground floor.

"Oh."

You two quickly fixed yourself to look decent (Vil made sure he didn't look just 'decent' but perfect) and hurried to go down.

"So, how was the ride?"

When you came to the dinning room you felt the eyes on you. You suspected that both the headmage and Eric knew you two were together somewhere. What a hassle.

"Uh.."

You didn't feel like speaking right now.

"Marvelous! It was very kind of you Sir to send a pick up for us. My, my I enjoyed the ride very much." Ah, Crowley was the only one person who wanted to talk.

"I'm happy to hear this." Eric smiled politely. He looked at Vil and then at you. "And what about you two? I understand you were very tired. After arriving you two just wanished away.. I was wondering where you have been." He shook his head sadly. You knew he was faking it. He must have. What's the meaning of this?

"I just wanted to show [Name] the house. I wanted her to feel familiar with it." Vil said with a calm demeanor. He niped his mouth with a handkerchief.

"Oh, I see! I take it you wanted [Name] to familiarize with it because you two plan on visiting once again in the future?" You saw how Vil's dad teased him. You didn't blame him, it was a funny thing to do in free time.

"I never said anything, stop making presumptions."

You didn't want the atmosphere to go foul, so you tried to save the situation.

"Dad, will you pass the salt, please?"

"Here you go."

"Please."

You stared owlishlyat what just happened.

Both Crowley and Eric tried to pass you the salt at the same time. "Ah, excuse me." He chuckled while covering his lower face slightly with hand. "I tried to help as a good host would. Please, help yourself everyone."

You took the salt from Crowley still unsure what just happened. You glanced at Vil who was as shocked as you. You were sure you never saw him so surprised before.

"Oh, mr. Schoenheit, you're such a generous host!"

Right now you just wanted to go to sleep and sleep for eternity.

The whole late dinner was short and it ended after twenty minutes. You bid goodnight's to everyone and went to Vil's room. Vil was already here with lights dimed. He was making the bed. You noticed that he made your side to your liking.

"Where's Grim?"

You walked up to him and sat on the bed.

"He's sleeping in the guest room. He's been sleeping since we arrived. I was surprised he didn't turn up at the dinner." You saw his corners rise.

"He sleeps a lot. He'll have a lot of energy tomorrow."

You were grateful you could take your furry companion with you. If he had stayed at home, you would be worried for him and you would probably drown in sorrow from missing him.

You gazed at the room once again. Even though both of you were here it still looked too blank and bland. It didn't suit Vil's character. At all.

"Your room here looks funny compared to yours at the school. Seriously, it doesn't scream 'Vil' at all." You told him, wanting him to maybe open a little bit on why, even though he didn't spent his time here, he left it so undecorated.

He glanced at you, with confusion painted on his face. "Didn't I tell you why it looks like this? I took my things to the room in my dorm."

"Yes, I know, but.. it looks rejecting." You put emphasis on the adjective. You should buy something for him so he could leave it here and if he comes back to his home room, he'll have something to remind him of the colors of life and give the whole space more liveness.

"Hm, so I am not good enough to cover the deadness?" Vil jested. He himself wasn't really bothered by not being cornered by many items and only be embraced with nothing.

After you heard what he said you nudged him with your elbow. "so funny." You moved closer to him. He saw how you squinted your eyes at him with a fake scowl. Ah, how your face looked so beatiful close-up-

"What you're gawking at?" You noticed how silent he was. He was just.. staring at you. The ultimate uncertainty of not knowing what will happen next has flooded you.

"Schatz, you didn't answered my question."

You felt his hand cup your cheek and saw how the mesmerizing and violet eyes were getting closer to you. When you blinked you saw his face a few inches away from yours. He was looking at you vainly, his thumb wiping your lips.

"Well, you know my main focus is on you," You tried to explain, not sure what he wanted to achieve.

"Ah, that's what I wanted to hear." Vil smiled triumphantly. He closed the left distance between you with a kiss. When he tore off from you, he gave you one last look.

"Dear, come closer. Put your hands on me." You slowly were sanking on the bed second by second thanks to overwhelming Vil's body. After you fully were laid on the bed, you saw how Vil's face looked at you from the above. "I got a little bit lonely during the whole ride.

Would you mind giving me your attention?" You felt his hands on your body, only making soft circles in some places waiting for your agreement. With the way he bated his eyelashes at you and how his pretty eyes were toring into you, you couldn't bring yourself to reject such a tempting offer.

"I shall give you my wholly attention."

Vil's eyes widened at your words, elated with your words. Not caring for being patient, not so gracefully, he threw himself at you. Dipping into you as to taste once again what perfection is.

(DE) Schatz - My treasure/beloved.

You woke up. You had trouble with fully opening your eyes and only limited yourself to slow blinking. The sun was visible as it's rays bursted to the room through one of the windows. You guessed it must have been almost afternoon. You felt heavier than ever and.. was that your imagination or the sheets made it look like it crushed you? You could only see things that could keep you in bed.

Fighting and battling led you to finally open your eyes. You turned to where Vil should be. You noticed that his place was made up. He must have probably gone to eat something or do his routine.

After sitting and gaping at the wall like a man that lost his mind, you got out of the bed. You walked up to the window. Nothing interesting outside. You made a face at that and scratched your arms. The isolate location of the house made everything calm outside. You felt the freedom of having nothing to do. Such a great feeling.

Still in your sleepwear, you left the room. You looked at your left and right. Which corridor was it once again…?

Neverthless, you found the way. On your way you passed painting hanged on the walls. Some of them had people painted on them, some had places, and one even had an animal. Many of them showed different tehnique, style and ceuntry period.

Oh, was that classicism? My, that looked like baroque! And, isn't that Romanticism?

You observed all of them with wonder. You doubted they were fake or just an imitation of the originals. They had to be original.

Such a house, filled to the brim with art. You recalled Eric's words where he in short asked if you planned to come here more frequently. Well, now you were sure you wanted to drop in next time you'll have a chance to.

Your walk was finished once you entered the groundfloor. You passed some housekeeper's and even bid greetings to your animal buddy. You went to the kitchen in which you found Vil. His back was turned to you. He was making.. something.

"Hello, Vil." You said in a little bit raised voice so he could hear you through whatever he was making. He looked over his shoulder as to acknowledge whoever was talking to him. When he saw it was you he gave you a small smile still continuing whatever he was doing. "Hello to you too, my love."

"What you're making?" You came closer to peek at the cooking process. You saw some veggies on the pan, an egg made in a sunny side up. On the countertop there were two cups filled with a green liquid.

"I went down when I noticed you moving in the sleep. I'm almost finished with the breakfast. Feel free to sit down, I already set the plates."

You sat down on one of the chair's in the kitchen. You looked at the plate. Snow-white. Ah, it was the same as the Vil's room. "How are you feeling?" Vil asked as he was giving the vegetables some last touches.

"Great. I slept really good. I'm surprised I woke up so late though." You gave him a look.

Vil took the pan and put the food on your plates. He also took the cup's and put one near you. He sat down on the chair beside you. "I'm happy to hear that."

You dismissed his almost suggestive smile and caught his attention with, "I saw the paintings in the corridors. They look neat." You took a sip of the green liquid (which turned to be a smoothie), and felt the taste of some vegetables on your tongue. A fruit also rolled through. "I knew you would love them. They're lovely, aren't they?" He smiled fondly. He also appreciated their beauty.

"Indeed they are!" You chimed in happy. Your love for art could rival Rook's.

"It's rare to see you so hyped. Maybe I should get myself a painting in my dorm room?" Vil said pleased that you liked so much his family's home.

The rest of the breakfast you two spent on chatting about a few topics, enjoying the cosy atmosphere created by you.

"So, that's the painting you wanted to show me?" [Name] and Vil been standing for what felt like an eternity before the painting. It didn't show anything complicated, it was just some background. Even if it looked pretty basic, the technique of it made it stand out.

"Yes, it's the one I wanted to show you. What do you think?" Vil thought for a while then replied. "It looks nicely done. I remember it was hanged a few years ago."

You were sure it was painted by an artist you knew. You were amazed that you could see an original in the person.

"Your admiration for art is one of the things I like about you." Vil knew many things about you. For an example, you loved art. You excelled in art in your own way. You liked music. You loved to play some pieces from your world not caring what others thought about it. No one ever commented on it because you could do the best performance ever. The way you held an instrument just showed how much you put of yourself in your play.

"Hmm, don't you say so. I still remember the painting I gave you one day." You teased, the picture of it came to your head.

"I actually have it on my desk. The canva is small, so no one really notices it unless they have an eye for the details." You opened your mouth slightly hearing that. You didn't knew he would keep it. You just asumed he would just toss it somewhere or keep it in one of the wardrobe's shelves.

"Really?! You liked it that much?" Your change in mood made Vil smile at you. It was quite easy to light up your mood, wasn't it? "Why, of course. I treasure every gift I get. "

Your nice time was interrupted by your alarm which started ringing. You could see it was past 3 p.m. The dinner was supposed to take place at 4 p.m. You had only one hour left. "Oh." Your bitterness was quickly noticed by Vil. "That alarm was for dinner, right? Let's go and change our clothes. I picked outfits for us." You could hear the excitement at the end of his sentence.

"I swear you're the only person who's happy and cannot wait for the dinner. And only because of the clothes." The girl rolled her eyes at his behavior.

"Don't worry, I made sure to not give you anything that is not stylish." He replied with pride and content face.

"You're the only person who would worry about such things actually.."

And the touring ended.

It was 4 p.m already.

The long table was decorated with a fine tablecloth. It's patterns only gave it more glamor than it had. The chairs were comfortable. The food on the table looked delicious. Everything was perfect. "Ah, mr. Schoenheit! You're being too nice, really! Oh, there's even the wildgame… gracious…"

Or so you thought.

You have been sitting here for only ten minutes. But it was enough for chaos to sprout.

Your father was voicing out his good humor. The vain nonsense was hurting your ears and you wanted him to be silent even for only a few minutes. Vil's dad, Eric, was sitting here too. His flashy, milion dollar (Thaumark) smile was blinding your eyes. You waited for him to laugh like those old rich men do when they play golf. Enough, enough.

Your last straw was Vil. He didn't do anything wrong and that was the problem. Did he not notice the things around you all? The damned things that were about to happen. Oh, maybe he was just playing nice and he actually did and just decided to ignore everything.

The first dish you put on your plate was a steak in jelly. With some vine-like dressing. The food which was put on your plate looked good. It smelt good too. So this means it must taste good too.

You took the first bite. After one second, your tongue tasted it.

Ah, how to say it…

Disgusting. Or more like, not to your taste. The dressing wasn't vine but something sweet which made the dish taste awful. It was a wrong decision to mix something bitter with something sweet.

Mentally you cross yourself.

Since the beginning of the dinner, no one really said anything interesting. Everyone ate in a cosy atmosphere (In their opinion, to you it was dreadful).

"I wanted to thank everyone that we could meet today and be able to taste this excellent food." Eric began out of nowhere. You shuddered at the unexpected noise.

"No, it's us who are grateful. It was a pleasure to met you in person, outside of the school matters." The headmage said, clearly sucking it up to Eric.

"Sir Crowley, you're being too polite." Eric smiled in his direction. "I just wanted to know you closer. People who are important to my son are important to me too. And everything is heading towards us becoming a family soon." The older man finished and took a sip of from his glass.

"Ah, really, How could I not be polite… huh? Family?" The headmage started in a uptone which quickly ended in confusion. Eric swallowed the liquid and send his son and you a look.

"It seems so. They're growing up too quickly, aren't they?"

Crowley's confusion only deepened. Who was growing up too quickly? Surely not you, for him you'll always be a little hatchling which only started walking just now. If he wasn't talking about you, then who was he talking about?

You turned to him and shook your head in a 'no' manner. Please, give it a rest, don't respond, don't respond-

"Hm.. I suppose."

You mentally gave yourself a handfive. You also sighed in a relief.

Thanks heaven.

The second dish you tried was a salad.

The only thing which differed it from a normal salad was that it had tuna in it.

"Oi, [Name]! Give me some of that salad too!" Grim after noticing what you had on your plate automatically also wanted to taste it. You were surprised he was quited this whole time. You didn't want to think about it but maybe he prepared some.. surprise. Not a good surprise.

Stop. I'm overthinking.

"Okay, but please calm down." You put some of the salad on his plate. Not too much in case he decides he doesn't like it.

You also tried it. It was.. good. Normal.

After chewing it for some time, you look at Vil. He was consuming a fish. You also wanted to try it, but it was marinated in sauce you didn't really like.

The blonde notice your gaze on him and pointed his head at you as a sign that you had his attention. You showed him with your thumb up that you liked the salad. He replied back with the same sign. At least in this whole mess you two were eating good.

This time Vil decided to take his voice.

"I'm thinking about collabing with that one brand from Queendom of the roses. They have some new products I wanted to test out."

Ah, how smart of you, Vil. To break the awkwardness with such a text.

"I have heard that you're modeling beside acting. It's very impressive." Crowley commented with a gleeful expression.

"Thank you. I put a lot of effort in my work. I hope the collaboration with that brand will give me new opportunities."

You stopped paying attention to your surroundings. Grim was the only person (Or animal, as Vil likes to say) in the room who didn't really join the conversation. Not surprised.

You picked to eat something sweet as your third dish.

Chessecake with melted chocolate inside sounded good. The sweetness of it made you, even if for a while, forget where you were. For a moment you could escape the harsh reality. With only one bite of a cake.

Eric was talking with Crowley in the background about something. They stepped aside to have some space to converse about some matters. You were sitting with Grim and Vil who joined you two. "Are you tired?"

Vil tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. You probably didn't look good now, tired of the whole dinner and it's length. You nodded your head and leaned back on your chair.

Vil's face became soft and he moved closer his chair to yours. "Feel free to lean on me if you're that tired. It'll be a long time before they finish talking." You leaned your head on his arm.

"Thanks." You smiled at him with close eyes.

"[Naamee], I also want to sleep. I'm tired after eating.." You didn't want Grim to be left out so you patted your lap.

"Come here, Grim."

And so the three of you were half sleeping on two chairs. The only one who was half conscious was Vil who didn't want to fall asleep here.

After some time both Crowley and Eric finished talking and walked up to your little camp near the table. Right now even Vil was sleeping, not being able to resist being awake for such duration.

"Oh," Eric left out and came to you three. "I should have knew they would be sleepy by this time. Maybe I should go get them a blanket.." He put one hand on his son's shoulder as to check if he really was asleep.

The boy didn't even move. He was sleeping hard as rock now. "They look adorable together, don't they?" The older Schoenheit turned to the Headmage with a cheeky grin. "Maybe I was teasing them too much with this whole wedding thing. I saw how furious Vil was yet I didn't stop. I hope he doesn't hold it against me for too long." He chuckled softly and shook his head lightly. "They really fit together. I'm glad my son has someone who supports him and is there for him."

"Excuse me?"

Crowley suddenly frowned and put on something akin to defensive posture. "What do you mean by a wedding? Is there something I don't know?" His face didn't falter. Sometimes even he could look.. scary. Eric's face turned into confusion. "Ah, I understand what do you mean. I know they will think about such things after they finish their school and be old enough to understand that marriage is not a easy decision. Please don't take it in a wrong way, sir Crowley." He tried to fix the atmosphere which turned to the wrong way.

"Eh? So you mean that this boy over there and my precious daughter are in a relationship?" With every word, the headmage managed to put emphasis on every one of them.

Vil's father didn't know what to say. He thought that your father was aware that both of you were dating. "..Of course. The whole reason of this dinner was to get to know each other since ours kids are dating."

"SO THEY'RE DATING? MY [Name] AND YOUR SON?"

After having such a loud talk and the latest yelling of the Headmaster you two were more conscious. Sleep was leaving you with every shout. At first the voices were close to you then they started to fade away.

You groggily looked at Vil who also was in the same state as you. you held eye contact for a while and then asked each other the same question; "What's going on?"

Even though in the background you could hear things like, "She's too young for this,", "They're of age,", "My precious daughter.. to think some boy would steal her from me," or "Sir Crowley, please calm down, you're going to pass out," and "Sevens, please, save me!". You Could count all of them but none of it concerned you.

Ignoring the shouts from far away, with head turned in Vil's direction you only could bring you hand closer to his. He squezzed your hand and you only could see the corners of his lips lift up

. And in such position, the two of you fell asleep once again. In each other's embrace you felt peaceful, no matter if it was some tragedy or just you father's arguing. There, in this large and spacious room you two found a place of comfort.

The only one who was able to see such a sight was Grim, who still sat on your lap. Before he met you he was used to being alone. After meeting you, he understood what love meant and what it was like to be loved. The sight of you and Vil only reassured him that what he was seeing now was love in it's purest form.

ⒸKiameicore. Do not repost, translate, stole. This work is currently only posted on Tumblr.