#I thought I had recovered but typing out the whole thing made me realize – VICTOR I STILL WANNA SMACK YOU SO BAD. WHY ARE YOU SUCH A DUMMY

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor and MC – S2 Chapter 26 (Eng Translation Part 1)

⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a chapter that is yet to be released in the global server. ♡

[Note]: Do make sure you read CH 25 first, before proceeding further, or you won’t understand what’s happening~ ಥ‿ಥ

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[T/N]: I’ll be adding bullet point summaries for the parts that aren’t necessarily significant or don’t focus on Victor x MC~ (・∀・)

[T/N]: VERY HIGHLY recommend following with the video at least for the 1st two parts. Otherwise, you won’t be able to grasp just how dire it issss. ಥ‿ಥ

Link to the video: YouTube || Bilibili

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✧ [CH 26-1] ✧

Amid my pitch-black horizon, a powerful gravitational force accompanied by a weightless fall drags me down as though wanting to tear me apart.

The rumbling of moving clock hands in my ear pierces my eardrums, producing excruciating pain.

In the endless descent, I seem to have spent all my strength holding on to something with a death grip.

Click.

As innumerable rumbling noises roar away, I slowly open my eyes and am met with the vision of an endless sky.

My head is still in a daze, and the last image in my consciousness.... is an eerie black vortex and a black hand that pervaded the air!

MC: VICTOR!!

I jerk my head up, and my vision crashes straight into a pair of deep, dark-colored eyes.

Only now do I realize that what I have been clinging to from beginning to end is Victor’s arm. By now, his smooth jacket has been left with indelible creases.

He looks at me with furrowed brows that seem like helplessness and.... anger.

Victor: [voice rising slightly but extremely angry] WHY DID YOU FOLLOW ME HERE?

Victor: ARE YOU STUPID?!

MC: ....it was so dangerous just now. I got anxious, and the only thing I wanted to do was to rush to pull you away.

My voice unconsciously softens and I can’t help but mutter in a small voice at the end.

MC: It’s obviously the one who suddenly becomes motionless is more stupid, right?

Thinking back to that bizarre scene, I tightly latch onto Victor’s arm again in lingering fear.

He remains silent for a while, as though suppressing some turbulent emotions. After a few moments, he releases a long breath.

Victor: I don’t know whether I should actually praise you for being fearless or reckless.

MC: But regardless, we’re now safe for the time being.... right?

Looking at the corners of Victor’s lips that remain pursed throughout the entire time, I instinctively stop talking. The fact that he is wearing such an expression signifies that things are far from over.

—

MC suddenly realizes that every single big and small wound on Victor’s body has disappeared, even his clothes are clean, and finds herself spotless too as though the collapse was just an illusion.

Reminiscent of a border between heaven and earth, she finds the place too unreal to exist. Just as her brain goes in the direction: If they’re truly dead, Victor reads her mind as usual and gives her a head pat for her “wild imaginations” :>

He tells her she is right about one thing though, this place should be some kind of “space-time rift”. MC realizes this place is an independent existence regardless of time and space.

As she asks Victor what’d happen if they are trapped in the rift, Victor asks MC if she knows about the “Time Observers”, to which MC truthfully shakes her head.

—

Victor: They’re a group of Time-related Evolvers, responsible for observing the progress of world lines and maintaining the stable operation of the universe.

Victor: Generally, they hide their identity in any capacity in society. When they encounter any unforeseen event significant enough to alter history, they will appear to conduct historical revision.

His voice is very soft as he says these words, but it makes my heart heavy.

Vaguely, I feel as though Victor is hiding something from me, and as though he is concealing some emotions that he doesn’t want me to find out.

MC: I’ve never heard of this group of people before.... Victor, how do you know all this?

Victor: Because I’ve seen the Time Observers. They came to look for me.

He doesn’t evade my question. On the contrary, his calm attitude produces momentary bafflement in me.

Victor: What’s with that look on your face?

MC: ….I just didn’t expect you to answer me so candidly.

Victor: Why not? Or do you think I must have something I need to hide from you?

MC: OF COURSE NOT!

Having my mind seen through, I promptly deny it with a guilty conscience. But on the contrary, Victor releases a chuckle in a good mood.

MC: I have one more question….

Victor: Save your hundred thousand questions for after we leave.

I follow Victor’s gaze and look down.

The turquoise sky beneath our feet ripples with light corrugations as we move.

In the space where no time passes, it seems some sound is pressing in from afar, quietly.

Victor reaches out and takes my fingertips in his hand, palming them gently with his thumb several times.

I brush up my fingers and hold him back, inexplicably relieved.

Strong as Victor is, I have nothing to fear so long as I’m by his side.

Suddenly, the mechanical sound of violins slowly plays from all directions, suave and melodious, sailing between heaven and earth.

Victor stops in his tracks, his gaze straight ahead.

Victor: Time Observer?

—

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✧ [CH 26-2] ✧

MC notes: The whimpering violin grows increasingly urgent and violent as a black-hole-like fissure appears; the constantly changing twisted black lines seem as though countless fragments of time are falling into a bottomless abyss.

Victor, on the other hand, seems to reflect on something. Then, he takes MC forward with him.

—

In the next second, a myriad of strange sights suddenly emerges before our eyes.

Twinkling resplendent starbursts blossom above our heads and flow even farther away into the distance. The huge clock dial casts circles of light beneath our feet, as though guiding the path to follow.

I suddenly see countless pictures flashing by out the corner of my eyes. It’s like riding on a fast-moving train, not knowing where it will stop, just passing and departing unceasingly.

I incline my head to look at Victor. All along, he keeps looking straight ahead without saying a word, his gaze firm.

And somehow, the question swirling in my heart seems to have been answered.

I have seen Victor like this, and I’ve seen this place before.

At the end of this corridor, there should be a chair. A man once sat there, gazing at the passage of time and the shifting of stars, lonely and proud.

—

[Tidbit]: The memory MC is referring to is S1 CH 37-4, Victor Route~ 😭

—

At the end of the song, the endless flights of steps fade away little by little, and the shimmering glow of the dome shakes off, falling to our sides and dissolving into the air.

??: You guys are here.

A figure in black closes the zither case and appears in front of us. The man gives a polite bow and looks over at Victor.

??: Your judgment was correct, and everything seems to be going smoothly.

Victor looks back at him unmoved, as though he is scrutinizing, looking for some kind of confirmation.

Victor: I’d like to know the reason for the Time Observer stepping in and lending a hand.

??: This is our job.

The man called the Time Observer smiles and shrugs his shoulders. Then, he turns his gaze to me and bows.

??: Hello, my name is Zero. I’m a Time Observer. Welcome to the Space-Time Bureau.

He says it naturally, as though this is simply an everyday, general preamble, but my brain becomes cluttered and chaotic by the sheer volume of information.

Suddenly, my fingertips are pinched, and I look up at Victor. He takes a step forward as though nothing has happened and stands before me.

Victor: I don’t recall the Time Observers having such a job.

Zero: You should know that all the tasks that keep the world moving along its trajectory in an unaltered orbit; belong to the category of our work. The collapse of the BS Building will affect the course of history, so we must make adjustments.

....affect the course of history? What does that mean?

I crane my head in confusion and find that Victor’s Adam’s apple bobs silently.

Zero: Those who alter history and disrupt the order of time and space ought to be trapped in the space-time rift and reincarnate indefinitely.

Zero: You’ve borne a price you shouldn’t have had to pay. Even if it’s a coincidence, it also indicates that we have not found the wrong person....

Victor: [cuts Zero off] We can discuss this issue later.

I gaze at the tightly pursed corners of his lips, and the uneasiness and powerlessness in my heart intensify all the more.

Every word of this Zero means something. The only thing I can be sure of is that Victor is dealing with something even more severe than the complications under my cognition.

But he never told me.

I subconsciously tighten my grip on his hand, wanting him to know that I really want to share some of his burdens on his behalf.

After a long time, Victor speaks lightly.

Victor: What are the conditions for returning to Loveland City?

Zero: The wear and tear of time are irreversible, and this is a price everyone who alters the rule has to pay. If you stay at the Space-Time Bureau, there is still a possibility of restoration. Once you leave this place, the black vortex will come out again....

Victor: I must leave.

Victor interrupts him aloud. His voice, carrying within it a slightly commanding tone, is irrefutable, as though regardless of what happens, it’s incapable of wavering him.

Zero contemplates for a moment and releases a heavy sigh.

In the next second, a shimmering beam of light falls on the pocket watch on Victor’s chest.

The flecks of lights from the stars fall vaguely onto the dial as if to embed in the scale of time. With a subtle sound, the clock hands snap off a piece.

Zero: As long as you carry it, the black vortex won’t find you. Unless, of course, you’re using Evol.

Victor’s gaze lingers on the pocket watch for an instant. Then, he turns to me, a touch of tenderness flashing through his eyes.

Victor: [SOFT TO THE POINT YOU ALMOST CAN’T HEAR HIS VOICE] MC, wait for me. I need to have a word with him alone.

MC: But....

I look into his eyes, finding myself unable for a moment to find a reason to retort. Thereupon, I swallow my doubts and anxieties and nod gently.

Finishing the sentence, he lets go of my hand and disappears from my view with Zero.

—

✧ [Narrator POV Begins] ✧

Zero looks at the man in front of him. He is not surprised in the least by the outcome of this conversation. After all, this is not the first time this “invitation” has resulted in failure.

Perhaps thinking of something, he suddenly wants to ramble a little more.

Zero: The backlash of time and space is beyond your imagination. Both to yourself and to the time you have left.

Zero: For us, death is not the end of life; oblivion is.

–

[T/N]: Just to make it clear, Zero simply uses “遗忘 (yíwàng)” which translates to “become forgotten/ to forget/ oblivion”. It’s left ambiguous whether he means– Due to the endless years they spend at the Space-Time Bureau, people like them (i.e. the Time Observers) get forgotten by the world, or They’re the ones who forget their human emotions.

[T/N]: And we know from Victor’s S1 R&S “Fleeting” (narrated by Zero himself) – both cases are true. Zero has been forgotten by the “world” and he too forgot what human warmth was; until he met Victor again~ 🥺

[T/N]: And this “forgetfulness/oblivion” is a very important point to remember for the future~ :<

–

As Zero speaks, he casts his gaze into the distance as though passing through the vast ocean of stars and looking into a more distant past.

Zero: The Space-Time Bureau will respect your decision, but there isn’t much time left for you to consider.

Victor doesn’t speak, but the corners of his lips purse a little tighter.

Zero: We will subsequently erase the memories of every participant and bystander in the collapse of the BS Building and restore everything to its original state.

Zero: As for her memory, it can be preserved.

Victor’s expression finally slackens a little, but he remains silent for ages before opening his mouth.

Victor: [voice literally shaking, barely audible] Erase her memory, too.

–

✧ [Narrator POV Ends] ✧

—

I don’t know how long has passed, but Victor returns alone.

His silhouette melts into the stars falling from the dome as though he’s supposed to belong here in the first place.

A tide of unfamiliar emotions surges through the pit of my stomach as I trot up to him and give him a thorough look over carefully.

MC: Victor, are you truly all right?

Victor: Since when do I need to make the dummy worry about me?

MC: ....most of the time.

When the building collapsed, when you told me the Time Observers came to find you, when we came to the Space-Time Bureau.... and even right now.

Victor locks eyes with me; his gaze is softer than usual. He then curls his fingers and taps me on the forehead.

Victor: I know you have a lot of questions. So, just ask whatever you want to ask.

As I look at him fixedly, these words leave my mouth almost subconsciously.

MC: Apart from meeting the Time Observers, you’ve been here before, haven’t you?

He nods his head.

MC: Was it the time earlier when I constantly couldn’t get in touch with you?

I think about all those days when he disappeared without a word, and that night I went to his house, only to see him running back from somewhere.

Victor grunts softly in response, lowering his eyelashes.

I purse my lips, finally understanding the meaning behind the ambiguity of his words back then.

Victor: Any more questions?

MC: After the building collapsed, I saw both of us lying underneath the rubbles. Is it real?

I stare at him intently, my voice quivering faintly as I speak.

Victor: Yes, it’s just that it’s been overwritten forever.

MC: ....what does it mean?

Before the words are out of my mouth, a heavy and solemn bell rings out at the end of the long corridor as though urging something.

Victor: We should get going.

MC: ....w-wait! I still have questions. What is the price the Time Observer was saying? Does it have something to do with you?

MC: And the black vortex.... what should we do if it appears again?

I latch onto Victor’s arm, stubbornly finishing in one breath.

I suddenly have a strange sense of foreboding that if I don’t ask these questions now, I may never know the answers again.

Victor turns his head sideways. A little turbulence flashes through that pair of eyes looking into mine, but soon they return to normal.

He doesn’t say anything, only lifts his hand and combs my hair behind my ear, tenderly rubbing his finger pad against my auricle.

Victor: [I HONESTLY CAN’T HANDLE THIS TENDERNESS DRIPPING FROM HIS VOICE] I said save your hundred thousand questions, but are you really gonna ask hundred thousand questions?

The sound of gears turning can be heard little by little, and the splendor of gently swaying stars falls into Victor’s eyes, leaping to the corners of his lips and softening his profile.

Victor: A certain someone is always yelling at me to have more faith in her. Shouldn’t she have a little more confidence in me too?

Victor: Trust that I will stand in front of you from beginning to end, and that’s enough.

Victor: Even more so, for the sake of absolute “gain” – I’m willing to brave this risk.

His gaze is certain and profound, as though there’s nothing in the world that he can’t do.

Thinking about it carefully, he seems to be somewhat different from his usual self today.... he seems extraordinarily patient and particularly frank.

I always feel that there’s something strange somewhere.

Victor: What are you doing in a silly daze? Are you planning to stay here?

I raise my head, locking my eyes with his teasing gaze. My heart, which was hanging in mid-air, suddenly drops much lower. This man indeed is that Victor I know so well.

MC: Coming!!

I run forward several steps and take his hand in mine, clasping it tightly.

The lustrous white flights of steps stretch forward beneath our feet, casting a faint shadow on the rotating gears.

With reassurance and courage, I walk forward side by side with him.

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✧ [CH 26-4] ✧

There’s a flood of disorderly fragments in all directions, and it seems impossible to piece together the complete picture.

A space of nothingness in the frontier between heaven and earth, the mysterious and vast long corridor of time, the man playing the violin, the gigantic clock dial, and the light and shadow of the universe;

The collapsed BS Building, the rubbles blended with the reeking of blood, Victor covered all over in injuries holding out his hand towards me;

A myriad of complicated pictures congest my mind – genuine yet distant. Only Victor’s face is particularly clear.

—

MC finds herself awake in her room, confused about how she got here and whether what she just saw was merely a dream.

A moment later, she finds herself unable to even recall the dream she just had. Aside from the emptiness in her heart, she can only feel that something has been erased, leaving nothing behind.

The last image in her mind is Victor’s face; in the BS conference room – ordering her to leave the organization.

She immediately tries to contact Victor but realizes it’s already been 3 days since the incident. Perplexed, she calls Anna for confirmation, who gets all panicky about not being able to reach her for so long and then informs her of the updates on the radiation and meteors.

Confused and unconcerned, MC returns to what she wanted to do right after waking up and immediately heads to LFG to “interrogate” Victor about why he chased her out of BS. :>

—

When I knock on Victor’s office door, a momentary nervousness arises in me.

Should I get straight to the point and ask him for a reason, or should I pretend to be gentle and be tactful in a roundabout manner? Before I’m able to plan how to speak, Victor’s voice has already rung out.

Victor: I don’t suppose you have anything to report to me today.

Victor flips through the documents in his hand. He doesn’t raise his head and seems to be very busy.

His lighthearted tone of voice is just as usual, as though today is no different from any other day.

He simply tosses me a glance. Then, he continues to lower his head and deal with the papers.

Pretending to be calm, I sit down on the sofa and wait patiently, furtively observing his movements out the corner of my eyes.

A few minutes later, Victor finally closes the pile of documents. His gaze lands on me, and he raises the tip of his brow.

Victor: Should I thank you for coming over to inspect my work?

MC: Since CEO Victor is busy, I have to wait quietly for my turn to speak, of course.

MC: After all, I’m indeed not here to talk about work-related matters. I want to ask for your guidance on some personal problems.

Victor: Is that so? You’ve come to ask for guidance with that look of “sending punitive forces against the criminal” on your face?

I’m rendered speechless. Thus, I walk straight to his desk and slow down my tone of voice.

MC: I just can’t understand why you asked me to leave BS.

Victor gazes at me for a while, and a fleeting emotion flashes through his eyes that I’m unable to see through.

Victor: Your reflex arc is really too long.

Victor: At the very least, I thought you would’ve come to find me then and there.

MC: [confused] What?

Victor: I waited for three days. I was even being skeptical about whether my decision coincidentally really just happened to go along in the same flow and satisfy a certain someone’s cherished desire.

I freeze. Victor’s words make me realize once again that the period from after the BS conference to today is a complete blank for me.

His fingertips gently tap the table twice, pulling my train of thoughts back. Perplexed, I blink.

MC: You may not believe me, but I actually have no idea what has happened in these past few days.

MC: I thought I was trying to find you. But it was already three days later when I came back to my senses, and I don’t even know how I got home....

Victor: In that case, we’ll talk about it later when you remember.

He seems to believe my outrageous-sounding words and naturally turns the conversation back on track.

Victor: Didn’t you want to know my reason?

Victor: Because sooner or later, I will leave BS too. Therefore, your departure is only a matter of time.

MC: Then why can’t you just wait until that day and let me leave together with you?

I didn’t expect this to be Victor’s reason. So I subconsciously throw him a counter-question. His expression freezes slightly.

Victor: Because there is one thing that you need to do right now.

—

Then, he gives MC a whole lot of crappy reasons about why he made her leave BS: The extremists won’t sit still, it will require more resources to keep them at bay. If MC leaves BS passively, she will still have the opportunity to re-enter; as expected not telling her that he wants to brave the dangers alone.

MC doesn’t buy his crap.

However, trusting Victor under ANY circumstances is MC’s motto. So, ultimately she trusts his crappy reasons regardless. (´д`)_/¯

But MC’s other motto is “not leave Victor alone for even a second” – so that brings us to this:

—

MC: If that’s the case, you absolutely could’ve told me in advance.

Victor: When a certain someone stutters recording a voice message, I don’t think you would’ve had a realistic enough reaction on the spot.

I pout, then clench my fist with “great ambition and lofty aspiration”.

MC: Anyway, to be in BOSS’s good graces, I’m willing to obey any arrangements.

Just as expected, Victor doesn’t pay attention to me. Rather, he draws out a copy from the pile of documents on his desk and hands it over.

Victor: Before that, let’s talk about another matter first.

—

The file Victor gives MC is a project called “Redevelopment of Loveland City,” – issued by the City Hall.

MC inwardly suspects if this is another scheme like the Charity Football Match (in CH 18).

Reading MC’s mind, Victor confirms this project is indeed issued by the City Hall, and then we are met with this sight:

While Leto is giving a beautiful speech in the video, MC has a panic attack upon seeing this guy for the first time in the new world.

Concerned, Victor asks MC if she’s okay. Regaining her senses, MC tells him about her concerns that this is likely an attempt to create conflicts among the influential parties in society.

But what hits her home is LFG’s participation in the project, and then she realizes Victor was “testing her judgment” LOL. And we see his smile for the first time since the whole drama; knowing again how well this girl understands him god I still wanna smack you so bad skdvkskd

Victor informs that LFG has taken up the reconstruction of a mountain resort, MC is responsible for the media coverage of the entire process.

What gives MC the shock is, the landowner is the director of the Fulcrum Charity Foundation, with whom Victor plans to meet in 3 days.

—

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✧ [CH 26-5] ✧

3 DAYS LATER: MC goes to the location. The resort is right over a cliff; and the entire surrounding gives the place a much more solemn vibe.

Aside from the owner of the resort being a suspicious man; another thing that concerns MC is that this place was one of the most casualty-prone locations during the city-wide Game of Hunters.

There’re many rumors of this place having “ghostly shadows” and is also known as “The Haunted Mansion”.

Victor’s car arrives at the same time. Goldman greets MC very warmly and offers to help her with her camera, which takes her by surprise given their bitter patch~ :>

—

Goldman, who treated me with indifference before, is now suddenly being especially friendly. It makes me feel somewhat awkward. Having no better option, I send Victor a look asking for help.

Strangely enough, he doesn’t say anything and naturally walks up to my side.

Victor: The director of the Fulcrum Foundation has said he is unwell and won’t be coming.

MC: Eh?

Goldman: That Mr. Du is so insincere. We were almost at the entrance when he told CEO Victor that he wasn’t coming.

I can’t help but frown at Goldman’s words. Looking up at this towering, massive, gloomy mountain resort, I stand on my tiptoes and lean closer to Victor’s ear.

MC: Victor, this foundation was already suspicious, and now the Director changed his mind at the last moment.... could it be a scam?

Victor: This possibility can’t be ruled out.

MC: Then we.... how about we don’t go in today?

Victor doesn’t say anything, seemingly pondering over something. Then, he turns his head to look at Goldman.

Victor: Goldman, what do you think?

Goldman: Umm.... if you must ask me, won’t it be a waste of time coming to the site and not conducting a survey?

I detect a more complex emotion imperceptibly coming over Victor’s gaze.

Victor: In that case, let’s go inside.

Why do both Victor and Goldman seem a bit strange today?

—

The sight inside the resort sends a chill down MC’s spine. The musty indoor, dead leaves, shattered glasses, bloodstains here and there – everything speaks of the brutality this once elegant place has witnessed~ :<

—

Suddenly, a gust of breeze courses through the main hall, giving me a jolt. I hurriedly catch up with Victor and tug at the hem of his coat, clinging tightly to his back.

Victor: ....why are you sticking close to me like this?

MC: Victor, haven’t you heard that there are many terrible rumors here?

Victor: I told you to prepare in advance for the task, not to go read the weird city gossip.

MC: I didn’t do it on purpose....!

MC: Since you wanted to conduct an on-site inspection, I did a thorough investigation to get the complete picture for a more comprehensive understanding.

Victor: Talking about a bunch of major principles, when on the contrary.... you’re flailing your hands.

MC: Confucius said, “Learning the major principles and implementing them on the spot are two quite different things.”

Victor: When did Confucius say that?

MC: That.... you will have to ask Confucius.

Victor looks askance at me, speechless. But he still slows down his footsteps in tandem.

The closed iron doors isolate the light from outside. In the shadow of the staircase, a black shadow is eyeing us quietly.

—

[Trivia]: Confucius is a great Chinese thinker and philosopher; his teachings are considered influential in many parts of the world till this day. However, that quote MC says is not something Confucius said, it’s something Victor once told her~ 🤲🥺

—

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—

✧ [CH 26-7] ✧

In the dimly lit hall, Victor takes MC for half a round. Then, he asks Goldman to draw out some important documents on the resort.

MC notes: In a very OOC manner, Goldman seems very clumsy.

MC finds that Victor is keenly observing Goldman’s movements, as though he’s detected something wrong too.

After much hassle Goldman finds the documents, and we’re met with this scene that gives MC a fright too LOL:

—

Goldman: C-CEO Victor, I’m really sorry. I.... I’m probably still recovering from my cold. I’m a bit dizzy.

Victor’s face is terribly heavy as he flips through the documents in his hands, his entire being exuding an immense sense of oppression.

Victor: I have no time to wait for you. If you can’t even do the most basic things, leave now.

Goldman lowers his head with a flustered expression, not trying to defend himself.

Shrinking my neck, I can’t help thinking of that unsmiling, solemn and decisive Victor I knew at the very beginning.

—

[T/N]: Yes, MC is referring to her first encounter with Victor in S1~ 🤣

—

Goldman quickly recovers his blistering pace and finds the main power source. Fortunately, part of the electric circuit is still in good condition, and the lights flicker a few times before coming on faintly.

Victor turns his head to glance back at me, and I hurriedly let go of my hand, carefully patting the wrinkles of his coat for him.

I tactfully fish out the tripod out of my camera bag and start to adjust the angle of the shot.

MC: [trying to restore his mood] Before the construction team moves in, I can take a few sets of blank shots in advance. We’ll be fine continuing the usual activities.

As I explain, I fix a GoPro on my chest, intending to capture some footage of the “CEO of LFG’s Field Investigation” and run back to Victor.

MC: [trying to lighten his mood 2.0] Is CEO Victor going to start the inspection from upstairs?

Victor gives a faint “hmm” and heads for the stairs.

—

MC follows behind Victor to the second floor and enters a room that looks like a living room.

With two mutilated wooden rocking horses at the entrance and blood patches everywhere inside, accompanied by the increasingly gloomy weather – the environment is far more eerie than the hallway.

However, MC is still somewhat wary of the Victor from earlier LOL:

—

Putting on a bold face, I stand at some distance from Victor, clasping my palms together.

Victor: You’re standing so far away, not afraid anymore?

MC: ....if we’re too close, this camera won’t be able to focus....

MC: [finally settling down LOL] Besides, you are here. What have I to be afraid of?

Winding around the blood-soaked sofa, shards of mirrors on the floor reflect our silhouettes, reminiscent of a bizarre kaleidoscope.

I shudder, forcing myself to look away from the brutality. But the more one is afraid of something, the more one can’t help being darn inquisitive.

As I happen to squint my eyes, I notice a child’s wooden rocking horse swaying up and down behind me in the mirror, producing a creaking noise.

It’s like…. someone is sitting on it.

A fine, cold sweat instantly crawls up to my back. Trembling, I draw half a step back and suddenly step on a lump of something soft and sticky beneath my foot.

Before I can manage to react, that lump I’m unable to see clearly leaps over my foot with a sharp neigh, at a galloping speed.

MC: AHH——!!

I leap violently on top of Victor.

Victor: ....

Victor: What are you doing?

His Adam’s apple quivers slightly, and he looks at me inconceivably.

MC: I-I’m not.... I think something just crawled over my foot....!

Victor: You’re all grown-up. Have you never seen a mouse?

MC: ACK.... JUST A MOUSE.... A MOUSE?!

Victor: This place has been deserted for so long. It’s normal to have mice.

Victor: It’s not like....

MC: Stop talking!!

I hastily raise my hand to cover his mouth.

Victor is clearly stunned by my action. His eyes widen slightly, my entire figure reflecting within his pitch-black pupils.

The proximity of his breath so close at hand makes my heart pound out of control, and my mind goes blank subconsciously.

Until, a numbing tingle comes from underneath my palm, and his muffled voice rings out clearly.

Victor: [SEXY WHISPERING ft. MY MIND GOES BLANK TOO]  How come you don’t feel the distance is too close this time?

Realizing the teasing in his words, I withdraw my hand in embarrassment and jump off him.

After drawing a deep breath, I pretend as though nothing has happened and help him straighten out his clothes.

MC: It was a special case just now. Let’s not haggle over this matter.

Victor gives me a look that enunciates, “What was that again,” raising an eyebrow.

Victor: [MORE SEXY WHISPERING ft. MY MIND GOES BLANK 2.0]  Mm. After all, ordinary people don’t suddenly jump on top of others.

After that, he turns around and walks towards the doorway. I wave my fist at his back and scan the surrounding out of the corner of my eye as I catch up to him with indisputably quick steps.

Just as we reach the door, there is a sudden blaring cracking noise at the end of the corridor.

Victor speedily shields me behind him, staring coldly into the pitch-black depths. Immediately afterward, the sound of rustling footsteps comes forth.

My heart pounds in my chest. Victor squeezes my palm as though to appease me. Then, he strides forward.

—

As they enter the room at the end of the hallway, the door closes. Instantaneously, a violent wind breezes through the room.

Goldman informs that he’s trying to find a way to break the door. However, Victor seems to focus on something else: 

—

Victor: It seems that someone is not welcoming us.

MC: You mean.... someone is pretending to do these supernatural acts? You.... how can you tell?

Victor: With eyes.

Victor: Put away that jumbled mess in your head. You will be able to see it too.

MC: ....

Victor: There are no ghosts in this world. It’s only the humans who have ghosts in their hearts.

Although his voice is a little hoarse, it’s very sure.

I lower my gaze in thoughts. If these evil phenomena are man-made, could it be that all the rumors about this place are also a trick played by someone?

But the purpose of the perpetrator doesn’t seem to be just playing a pure prank.

I’m unable to figure it out for a while. Inadvertently, I catch a glimpse of a dark shadow emerging from the corner of the walls,  twisting and grimacing, sometimes reminiscent of a ghostly figure from a nightmare, sometimes reminiscent of the claws of a giant beast.

MC: ....V-V-Victor!

I pat Victor, my fingers shivering as I point in the direction of the wall, and lower my voice to speak.

MC: Can pretending to be in touch with supernatural beings go this far? Wouldn’t it be a little beyond common sense?

Victor looks in the direction I’m pointing. At the same time, all the lights in the room go out with a “pop.”

Beneath the dim light, countless shadows streak across the room, swaying and howling everywhere in succession.

Suddenly, a faint creaking sound rings out behind us, and the door opens slowly.

The corridor outside the room is extremely quiet. I make up my mind, thinking it will be the best idea to get out of here first, no matter what.

I give Victor a tug. But he stands rooted to the spot, not moving in the slightest amount or degree, staring quietly at those restless black shadows.

Victor: Evolver?

—

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

—

✧ [CH 26-8] ✧

Long story short, MC notes: At the sound of Victor’s word, the ghostly shadow tries to appear more fierce. But as expected, it only amuses him more, as though he is watching a “clown show.” me to PG oeweofhdg. After a while, the shadow goes away LOL.

—

MC: Victor, are you too fierce that you even scared away all the “ghosts”?

Victor: I think it was your foolishness that ran away.

Victor: Now that you’re clear-headed, let’s hear your analysis.

—

MC and Victor both share their analysis: 

MC tells him that she was thinking along the line he mentioned earlier about this being a trick and realized the person’s motive is to “scare people and drive them away from entering the resort.” Because people get scared and panicked when they are faced with the unknown and will choose to run away. MC also realizes this is how ordinary people feel about Evolvers as well~ :<

Victor says that the person who first claimed the existence of supernatural phenomena in this place – posted the news on all platforms simultaneously. They wanted to create a certain range of panic, but the true purpose was to attract the attention of the expedition community.

MC adds that this will gradually confirm the validity of the rumors and drive more people away.

—

MC: This strange possessiveness is similar to the pattern of some horror movies. Taking a different approach but achieving equally satisfactory outcomes.

Victor: Let’s hear it.

I blink, not expecting Victor to not only not complain, but to be actually curious.

MC: For example, the former owner of the house turns into a ghost after his demise and won’t allow anyone to set a foot inside.

MC: Therefore, he creates terrible phenomena at night to scare away the people living there. This is an ordinary and sorrowful horror story.

MC: But if he establishes a relationship with the new owner and is redeemed, it makes for a loving and touching horror story.

Victor: I think I have some idea about what a certain someone does when she doesn’t have anything to do.

MC: ....obviously you’re the one who’s curious.

Victor: But like you said, perhaps the problem lies in the mountain resort itself. Maybe there’s something in this place that someone doesn’t want to be discovered.

As he finishes speaking and takes a stride on the way out with his long leg, I think of something in hindsight.

MC: Victor, so you knew before we came here that someone was pretending to be a ghost to scare people in the mountain resort?

Victor raises his eyes slightly, not denying it.

MC: No wonder you’re not afraid. So you’ve already done your homework….

Victor: What are you muttering about?

MC: I was saying I still have a lot to learn from you!

—

Victor and MC find all the rooms on the second floor carrying the same brutality from earlier, along with traces of the aerosols used in the Game of Hunters.

Until, they tacitly look towards a door that seems to have been cleaned up purposefully.

Just as they’re about to enter, Goldman appears with a crowbar in his hand:

—

Goldman: Finally, I found you guys. I’ve searched high and low of this entire resort to find this crowbar….

Goldman: This place is really scary. I just heard some strange noises on that end. CEO Victor, do you want to go and have a look?

Victor’s brows wrinkle together in a frown, his eyes carrying within them a hint of deeper meaning as he looks at Goldman.

Victor: I don’t think this is something that’d require you so long.

Victor: If you have a misperception regarding your abilities, I can reconsider your job category.

I’m shocked. This seems to be the first time I’ve ever seen Victor get angry at Goldman.

But today’s Goldman is indeed a little strange, it’s so unsettling that it seems like he’s practically a different person.

Victor: Goldman, I’ll only give you two minutes to think it over and give me your answer.

With that said, he turns to look at me, his gaze stirring slightly. Then, he fishes out his phone and pulls out the floor plan of the mountain resort. As he holds it up in front of me, his index finger inadvertently slides to the right.

MC: ….??

Victor: What Goldman said, it should be this place. See clearly.

Victor: You go ahead and shoot. We’ll be right over.

I look at the screen of his phone – I’m standing in front of the mirror shard, squinting my eyes and shrinking my neck. Dumbfounded, I widen my eyes.

MC: ….

This man is simply….!

I very quickly realize that he seems to be pretending to get me to shoot, but I give him a hard glare regardless.

He looks a little flabbergasted when he receives my look. But after glancing at the screen out of the corner of his eyes, he retracts the phone naturally. His Adam’s apple, however, moves down unnaturally.

MC: Alright, CEO Victor. I’ve seen it clearly. I will definitely make sure to complete your task conscientiously.

I pop these words out the gap between my teeth. To my surprise, Victor curls the corners of his lips upward in a good mood.

He leans down and lifts his hand to help me arrange the GoPro on my chest. He then leans into my ear nonchalantly, lowering his voice.

Victor: [MORE SEXY WHISPERING] Go ahead. Come back when we have left, and enter the room in front of us.

I nod and wink at him. He pats me on the shoulder, and then turns back to Goldman and speaks.

Victor: Goldman, have you thought about it?

—

MC hurriedly walks out of the place as Victor told her to. Then, as Victor and Goldman leaves the place, MC returns and opens that unusually clean door.

—

┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈┈ ◍♡◍ ┈┈

—

✧ [CH 26-10] ✧

MC finds the room surprisingly clean and special. Although slightly dusty, everywhere it carries the traces of someone living here.

Suddenly, a loud bang sounds, capturing MC’s attention.

—

I shudder subconsciously, and cautiously poke my head out.

The loud sound…. seems to have come from the direction where Victor and Goldman have left.

MC: Something wrong couldn’t have happened….

My heart beats at the lightning speed incessantly. I hurriedly run towards that room from before. When I push the door open, the scene before my eyes leaves me frozen to the spot straight away——

A syringe falls to the ground, and Goldman actually has Victor firmly pinned against the railing by the balcony?

MC: ….GOLDMAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

Despite my response timing being slightly overwhelmed, I’ve already rushed forward instinctively.

Goldman: Wu Hang! What are you still hesitating for! Don’t you want her back!

The instant I run forward, a dark shadow suddenly flashes before my eyes.

In the moment of my dumbfounded silence, something applies a violent pressure on my back, knocking me to the ground instantaneously.

Victor: MC!

Beneath him is a bottomless overhanging cliff, his collar is tightly clutched by Goldman, and half of his body is suspending in the air.

I don’t dare to move in the slightest for fear of provoking Goldman, staring dead at their stalemate.

The wind that suddenly sweeps down the cliff violently blows Victor’s white scarf away, the hem of his coat rattling fiercely as though he’s the one who’s going to fall in the next moment.

Time seems to slow to a crawl, and I see Victor’s face condense, as though he can still calmly analyze the pros and cons even in such a dangerous situation.

Victor: [his voice quivers like—— and utters every word through his teeth]  Where is Goldman?

Goldman: Mr. CEO, aren’t I right in front of you?

“Goldman” reveals a sorrowful smile, his eyes full of madness.

Goldman: If CEO Victor doesn’t understand these words, I’ll make it a bit clearer for you.

He grabs Victor tightly by the lapel, lowering his voice.

Goldman: If anything happens to this body, it will be Mr. Goldman who will be in trouble.

While he speaks, he hovers his other hand in front of Victor’s heart, curling his five fingers slightly, as though he’s wondering what he wants to do.

But Victor clearly doesn’t intend to do as he wishes.

He seems to have had all his strength drained away by something. His arms have been trembling from the beginning, but he still firmly grips “Goldman’s” wrist, his arm sheltering his chest.

Goldman: If you don’t wish to die, get your hand off me!

Victor: [utters every word through his teeth, clearly in pain, but it sounds weirdly sexy HELP]  If you really wanted me dead, you wouldn’t have waited so long.

Victor: [utters every word through his teeth, clearly in pain, but it sounds weirdly sexy 2.0 HELP!!]  Do you really think you’re going to win?

Amid the rupture, the chain of the pocket watch on Victor’s chest is abruptly snapped off, and a flash of tension steaks across his eyes the instant it drops.

The delicate golden chain snaps suddenly, gilding the bursting water droplets with a golden edge. In a trance, it seems as though some tense line has also snapped open along with it.

??: As long as…. carry…. black…. vortex won’t…. you.

Who’s speaking?

My temples are pounding, and I always keep feeling as though I’ve forgotten something important.

Time seems to be elongated. The entire world turns into a slow-motion play as the falling pocket watch arcs through the air.

Must not.

That pocket watch is very important.

The pocket watch must not be broken.

My body acts one step ahead of my brain.

I don’t know where I get the strength from, but I turn my body and swing my GoPro in the direction of the dark shadow.

Although it is a hopeless test, it seems to have really hit something.

With a moments respite granted, I immediately spring over the railing and reach out to grab that pocket watch that has almost fallen off the overhanging cliff.

Victor: Don’t look up!

His voice abruptly sounds above my head, and I instantly lower my head obediently. With a muffled sound, I see Goldman falling to the side out of the corner of my eye.

Victor looks like he’s having some difficulty in standing up. I help him to prop himself up, letting him rest on my shoulder.

He seems to be trying hard to control his breathing. After taking the pocket watch I hand him, he allows himself to stand on the ground with most of his strength.

MC: Don’t mention it. I can hold you up.

Victor: [laughs extreeeeeemely softly]  Then keep holding me tight.

A low chuckle lands in my ears, making this moment seem not so panic-inducing.

At this moment, Goldman slumps down on the ground in a daze. There’s an expression of incredulity on his face, his entire body giving off the impression as though it’s completely empty.

“Goldman”: ….why did this happen?

Suddenly, he springs up to his feet, spreading his both arms towards Victor at a galloping speed. I hurriedly stand shield in front of him.

MC: Don’t you come any closer!

He simply doesn’t do anything more.

“Goldman” looks blankly at his empty palms, tears gushing out of his eyes, despondent.

“Goldman”: How could it fail? I clearly…. clearly succeeded. Why there’s no body swap….

The dark shadow that has just hidden in the corner slowly coats the surrounding, enveloping the utterly defeated “Goldman,” as though comforting him.

MC: ….what on earth is going on.

Victor also frowns just like me. He simply looks closely at the weeping “Goldman” in front of him in silence, strange and cold.

At this moment, “Goldman” suddenly seems to think of something. He climbs forward and tugs on Victor’s pant leg——

“Goldman”: Please, please, rescue her!

-

—

[PART 2]: Here!

—

[Personal Ramblings – feel free to ignore~] :

I really just want to take a moment to admire MC!!! And I want to illustrate it with a tiny instance:

At the Space-Time Bureau, when she asks Victor these two questions–> Does the price has something to do with you?

> What should “we” do if the black vortex appears again?

In the first scenario; she knows she doesn’t belong in this equation. And even if she wants, there’s nothing she can do about it either.

In the second scenario; she knows she doesn’t belong in this equation as well. But, there could be some space for her if she tries hard to squeeze herself in, and that’s exactly what she does! 🥺

It NEVER fails to surprise me how she embraces everything of his as her own. When she followed Victor, she didn’t know where it’d lead them. For all she knew, she could be devoured into the vortex or be trapped in the rift for eternity with him. And as Zero says, that’s exactly what’d happen if he didn’t step in to help them out.

Even if we only take S2 under consideration, starting from being in the assassination radar (CH 7, CH 23), to taking the blow for LFG (CH 10-17), to being a NW hostage (CH 17-18), to literally signing up for “the oblivion” with him – as much as I can understand Victor wanting to lessen some of MC’s burdens and not letting her guilt trip herself for this situation and for everything that might happen afterwards (you’ll understand more in the next part) –

VICTOR YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT!!!! 😭😭

You wanna talk when she remembers?? You dummy be ready for the smacks you’re gonna get 😭

Girl really did keep her words——

VICTOR YOU BIGGEST DUMMY EVER!! THE EMOTIONAL RANGE OF THIS CHAPTER WOULD BE SO DIFFERENT IF ONLY HE HADN’T.... I JUST KNOW HIS NEXT CHAPTER R&S IS GONNA BE THE END OF ME 😭🤲😭

— 

[litteidiot]

Plz headcanon request if that’s ok🥺👉🏻👈🏻 So like basically the boys are busy with somebody and then out of nowhere MC sorta just comes and sits in their lab,turns around facing them, hugs them and buried her head in their neck, and sorta just sTay tHere and the Bois become are forced to stay like this till the end of what they were doing even tho they get teAsed by whoever they were talking to. (Also MC amd Bois are In a relationship :D) thank you and please! I need that kyoot fluff🥺✨💞

Yes!!! SOMETHING FLUFFY!!! Sorry for waiting I’m kinda busy lately and I don’t have much time to write but here is your fluffy headcanon hope your like it!!!

If I fit, I sits

——————————————

Type: Fluffy headcanon

Attention! Characters are not mine credit to the Mr. Love Team!

——————————————

Victor

Working under his company for years and dating you for three months now, Victor thought nothing can surprise him when it comes to you

Mr. CEO that’s where you are wrong

Victor was having a video conference in his home office and you didn’t want to disturb him, you were in one of the rooms in his mansion

That damn place can fit two football team

You are doing whatever on your phone to pass time as you waited for him, but soon you got bored

WHAT TAKES HIM SO LONG YOU WANNA SNUGGLE

Caring about nothing you walk into his office, Victor’s eyes widened for a quick second when he sees you in the camera

Like nothing happened you slowly walk over him and plopped yourself down on his lap

During the conference

You slowly swung your arms around his neck and then placing yout head in the croock of his neck, fitting so well, like that place was only made for your head

And you stay like this

For 2 hours straight

Victor is internally screaming because he can’t move

#SoftCEO is suddenly used around the LFG building the next day

Kiro

Where Kiro goes, his Miss Chips goes too whitout exceptions

The crew get used to you being around him during shootings or song recording (even abroad) they now see you as a member in Team Kiro

It was a chilly weather and you were cold, all you needed is Kiro’s iconic bearhug under a soft blanket

But Kiro was on a table read for his new movie, he told you to wait for him in his dressing room

But. You. Are. Cold.

MC. Needs. Warm. Hug.

You stood up and went to find Kiro, and after a while you found him in one of the rooms

The crew looked up to see who is that and then returned to the script when they realized it’s just you

“Miss Chips, what are you doing here?” He asked in surprise seeing you

You said nothing, just sat on his lap and snuggled close to him. “I’m cold.” You murmured, so only he could hear it

Ma’am say no more

He hugged you close to him, and you sighed feeling his warmth. And you two stayed like that. You on his lap, and Kiro hugging you tight

His warmth was so good in this weather, you end up falling asleep on him

After the table read he noticed you fell asleep. He doesn’t had a heart to disturb your dream so he stayed there untill you woke up

He took a picture and posted it on moments (but of course made sure your face is not showing)

THE KIRO FANDOM LOVES IT

Gavin

Like usual, you were bringing lunch for Gavin to the police station

Birdcop only eats instant noodle, someone has to feed him

You went to his office finding him deep in his work. It was kinda crowded there, so it was also a little bit noisy

“Gavin!” You called out his name, but he didn’t even look up. He was deep into some files you could see his brows furrow under his bangs as he concentrated

To get his attention, you walked to his desk, put the food container on the table and took a seat

Oh, yeah. Took a seat on his lap

Poor birdie he is red like a tomato

“MC-” He tried to compose himself while the whole precinct was staring at you two, chuckling at how their always serious captain is now red af

S.O.S Birdcop is overheating

“I brought you lunch.” You said in a happy tone, pointing at the box full of yummy food

MC get off of him he is dying

Lucien

Nothing gets this man off guard

Like for real, Lulu is cool as a cucumber

So you needed a plan. You were curious how he reacts if you caught him off guard

Lucien was taking a class at Loveland Uni and you decided to go to his lecture

As you were listening, you noticed almost the whole class was girls. You couldn’t help it you felt a little bit jealous

He is your genious scientist, get your own!!

And then a lightbulb lit up. With a loud noise you stood up from your desk and like it’s the most natural thing you sat down on his lap, your eyes sending daggers at the girls

Shook

Not only Lucien looked at you in surprise but the whole class. You could even see a light shade of blush creep up on his cheeks

He quickly recovered and now his face was calm as always. “Ah, emotions and the element of surprise. I invited Miss Mc today to demostrate the element of surprise. I know she will act but I didn’t know when so it caught me...how can I say? Oh. Off guard.”

“Surprise is an emotion that can either make you feel good or it can make you feel bad. Surprise activates the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and the bilateral hippocampus. The hippocampus is strongly associated with memory, and the element of surprise is, by nature, associated with experiencing something that you do not remember or do not expect.”

“I would like to ask all of you to make and essay and a research about emotions and how the brain reacts to it and which part is responsible for that. I give you 45 minutes.” He said and the class fell silent as they began to write

During that, Lucien leaned to close to your ear and whispered

“My little butterfly, are you jealous? You know I have eyes only for you.”

Now it was your turn to blush

This class is now a famous rumor in the university

It was so good writing all this fluff, my heart needed this.

You can find more at the Collections section

[ey8508]

5 minutes encounter with …… (…… X MC)

Chapter 11

"Victor are you sure about this?! This is insane. I don't wanna do it"

 I was seated next to the driver’s seat as I tried to stay put in the car.

 Victor shook his head sideways, but proceeds to unbuckle my seat belt instead.

 "You agreed. Can't take back what you've said"

"I didn't say anything about this"

 He didn't reply but casually opened his side of the door and in an instant was already opening mine.

 "And I have not prepared any words for this..."

 I dreaded this kind of thing the most.

 "Did I say you need to do the talking?"

 He questioned me while extending out his hand to me.

 I sighed, completely feeling defeated.

 "What would they say about you being the same person? And I have never talked about anyone that I'm interested in..."

 He chuckled.

 "That would be weird... Also, I have never go out to dates or talk about man in general. And you just met them once... Then suddenly you're gonna talk about that?... "

 I started rambling on about it.

 He sighed as he calmly listened to my over reacting thoughts.

 "So, you're embarrassed?"

 He casually stated that out knowingly.

 I looked at him finally realizing that I actually was feeling that too.

 "I'm also nervous..."

 He nods seemingly acknowledging my actual feelings about the matter.

 I thought he was gonna drop the idea... But nah... I should've known that better. He's nowhere near the 'I surrender' type.

 "Well, I'll go ahead then... You come in if you're feeling better about it"

 He pats my head with a smile before disappearing and was now standing at the front door.

 My heart dropped. Eyes widen as I stared at his index finger seconds away from pressing the main door bell.

 Is he crazy?!

 I couldn't even take a breath before quickly jumping out of the car's door and slamming it close right after.

 His head turned to look at me as I run up towards the main door.

 While I was a few steps away, my mom was already stepping out from the main door.

 She looked at him and then at me who just arrived at the scene.

 Everything turned out so fast as my mind went blank.

 Heartbeat increased...

 But the feeling of constant butterflies inside my stomach can't seem to calm itself.

 I gulped while looking at my confused mother.

 "Good evening Mrs. (MC's last name)"

 My mom's eyes were now focused on him.

 I stayed silent and tried to mentally calm myself while constantly looking at either Victor or my mom.

 "May I introduce myself, I am Vincent Li Zen..."

 I slightly frowned upon listening to the different name Victor was addressing himself.

 He wasn't giving his actual name.

 But I understand, it must've been weird if he said his actual name.

 My mom knows who's the younger Victor in our world...

 Plus, Victor can't reveal his actual name to anyone without them realizing it themselves.

 So, yeah... I got the point.

 "I've seen you before. You're the guy who called us about the incident before..."

 He nods.

 "Yes, ma'am. That was me."

 Wait.

 Does that mean-

 "Well then, if you don't mind we would like to invite you for dinner tonight. It would be as a token of appreciation from us."

 Mom no!! I was totally screaming in mind.

 "Well, perhaps if you're busy we could arrange another suitable time."

 I looked at Victor... Hoping if-

 "No ma'am, it's fine. I'll accept the invitation"

 My mom smiled upon hearing his answer seemingly happy.

 Meanwhile me... I was totally feeling defeated.

 "Thank goodness. We'll be having dinner at 8 sharp tonight right after my husband's arrival from his business trip"

 It's 7 p.m.

 Right.... Now I'm definitely dead...

 Victor nods again.

 "That would be my pleasure. However, I hope I'm not interrupting anything..."

 Way the go... I told you, he's good with the neat talking...

 "No, if only we knew your address before... We would've had already called you earlier. Thanks to you, our daughter here is safe and sound"

 My mom then looked at me before smiling at Victor again.

 Victor haven't even managed to give her a reply when my mom urged us to come inside.

 He walks in the mansion without a word. I walked inside too as my mom joined us too.

 I'm more nervous right now... I can hear my heartbeat way better than our footsteps or the door being closed by the maids.

 Well, at least that part went well.

 "So, why are you here honey? Anything happened?? Your shoulder is fine right?"

 I almost jumped when my mom started talking to me but of course I could keep my cool.

 "Well, I was just bored at home. And no, nothing happened, my shoulder is way better too"

 I beamed a smile at her.

 "That's good to hear."

 She smiled back.

Somehow, my mom doesn’t seem to ask about why we’re both here…

 "Do please make yourself at home while I prepare the meal for the dinner tonight."

 She was now talking with Victor who was standing right next to me as we arrived at our mansion's grand living room.

 "Thank you ma'am"

 He nods politely before taking the nearby seat.

 "Mom, I'll head upstairs"

 My mom nods before gesturing the maids to serve Victor some tea and biscuits.

 "If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask from the maids"

 She beamed before heading her way towards the kitchen.

 He nods again with a smile.

 Mom loves cooking and will do it herself whenever she's free. It's why the chefs are only helping her with the plates and stuff.

 I was walking my way towards the staircase when someone called out my name.

 "MC..."

 The stairs were quite close with where he was seated and I know it was him.

 I ignored him.

 I didn't even look or stop on my tracks.

 "MC."

 I ignored him again.

 "MC."

 But by the second his voice becomes louder than before... Seemingly ignoring the maids nearby.

 I sighed and finally turned my head towards him.

 He quickly motioned his hand indicating for me to come over.

 I shook my head sideways as I tried to refuse.

 A frown was suddenly visible on his forehead as he yet again motioned for me to come.

 He's not giving up on this...

 I calmly walked my way down the staircase as I approached him.

 "Yes, Sir. What can I help you with?"

 "You can call me Zen"

 He seemingly was amused by it but then naturally act out to close the suspicion from the maids.

 I nodded in response.

 "How have you been after the attack?"

 He asked me as he motioned his hand to take the seat next to him.

 I sighed.

 I can't escape then...

 He's totally trying to keep me here to accompany him even when the maids are present.

 "I'm recovering quite fine. Never been healthier..."

 I had to act this out... He totally knows about this already.

 He nods.

 "Zen, if you don't mind I'll be going now"

 "Hmm, I'll just help your mom with the cooking then"

 This Victor... Why is he out of his mind?!

 "Fine, go then."

 I whispered to him while not even hiding the fact that I'm slightly annoyed.

 "Then, stay with me"

 He softly whispered back.

 Right, I was the one who's problematic here.

 "I'm sorry..."

 I whispered. Somehow, this whole situation is making me disappointed with myself.

 Why can't I even accompany him here instead of constantly wanting to walk away.

 He's not even asking me anything that could trouble me.

 "No need..."

 He whispered, reassuringly.

 Somehow, I can't even believe how did we become friends at the first place anyway...

 We were totally the opposite and yet similar at the same time.

 I don't even understand it myself.

 "Victor, how is it that you're confident in everything?"

 I was now looking down at my hands. I couldn't really look up at him but I can sense that he was.

 He sighed seemingly unhappy.

 "Look at me."

 I hesitatingly turned my head to face him.

 "I'm here and you don't need to worry about anything. Okay?"

 I nodded.

 "Plus, this is your house. Isn't it me who's supposed to be nervous"

 I smiled.

 "But have you not been doing this in your world before or previously?"

 I just suddenly thought about it...

 It's a bizarre thought-

 But I'd rather not assume anything

 He suddenly chuckled.

 "No, I've never had the chance before..."

 I nodded understanding the fact that it's actually sad.

 I felt bad for him.

 He had to go through so much just to be here today.

 "Victor..."

 "Hmm..."

 "What would you do if you're not a time evolver?"

 I shouldn't be asking him that because he seems to be thinking about it himself for quite a while... as we then stayed in silent.

 "Nevermind... That would be-"

 "No, it's just that... I've been thinking how would you be then?"

 He cuts through my words adding up a question that I can't even answer myself.

 I blinked as we were starting at each other and finally had the courage to say my thoughts out loud.

 "I- I'll probably die alone..."

 He smiled.

 "There wouldn't be anyone else, but you. Do you understand?"

 His replies are sometimes not connected with whatever we're talking about but I do get what he meant by that.

 He would've absolutely be doing the same thing as what I would do.

 That is-

 Living a single life without even trying to be with someone.

 The heart who would never accept love again.

 Just thinking that now, made me acknowledge how precious this chance that had been given to us.

 I beamed him a smile.

 We went on talking about random stuff afterwards.

 We weren't that talkative ourselves but somehow knowing that we needed each other's company is definitely something I can't explain.

 "It's almost 8"

 Victor reminded me of the time as I quickly looked at my wristwatch.

 "Right, I'll go upstairs for real now"

 He nods finally agreeing on the idea.

 I quickly walk my way up the staircase straight to my room.

 The real thing is about to happen.

 I'll just trust him on that.

 I just calm myself down and waited for another 5 minutes before finally the maids started knocking on my door.

 I'm definitely feeling nervous again.

 But yet again kept my cool and walk my way towards the dining room.

 As I walked in...

 The table was all perfectly set and both my parents were there.

 I just smiled at them and sat across my mom.

 Just from the corner of my eyes, I know it's Victor who was seated across my dad.

 They seem to already have a conversation even before I entered the dining room.

 So, I guess everything's fine.

 Somehow, we started eating the meals...

 I could barely eat it but I tried to slowly eat the food eventually...

 "Son, you said you were an accountant... Were you perhaps working for the bank or a company?"

 My dad suddenly asked Victor as I act as if I was focused on my plates instead.

 But really though...

 An accountant?

 I could've laughed at that but yeah... I couldn't do that.

 "For a bank, Sir"

 "I see. Son, if I may ask you about the incident that day..."

 I looked at my dad, than at Victor

 Victor was of course calm as a cucumber. He was just casually holding his spoon while carefully listening.

 "How were you happened to be there that day? It was so late at night"

 "If you don't mind, Sir... I do want to clarify about that in detail."

 He then carefully placed his spoon and fork beside the plate.

 My dad casually nodded as my mom was now focused on Victor

 "Under the circumstances, I'd like to take the chance to announce something important for the both of you"

 I gulped. This is going to be real.

 Mentally screaming my lungs out.

 Slowly, I take the courage to take a glance at Victor... But he was already looking at me.

 We stared at each other for a few seconds before he averted his gaze towards my parents.

 They were now somehow had already stopped eating.

 "That day, we promised to meet each other right after she was finished with her daily schedule. I know, she was gonna be late from work but she was always on time regardless. So, I decided to look for her at her workplace instead, when she had not arrived..."

 I looked at my parents, but both of them seems to be intently focusing on Victor.

 At that moment, I don't even know what they were thinking.

 They looked rather calm.

 "I arrived there and went straight to her office but she wasn't there... Then, I walked back to the parking lot and noticed that her car had already been there all along. I checked the surroundings and saw her handbag"

 I've never seen Victor talking in this way. He had always made the sentence shorter.

 "I didn't walk far from there when I finally saw her there. Lying helplessly, trying to stay conscious."

 Victor looked at me again. He surely didn't show much emotions but you'll see the truth in his eyes.

 "I'm sorry, I couldn't help much"

 I didn’t know that he still felt guilty about that…

 "Don't worry son, you've done your best…"

 He nodded with a faint smile.

 "Son, how long have you been dating with our daughter?"

 There it is...

 My dad really be asking that as if it's a casual question as his stare never left Victor.

 "MC...??"

 My mom seemingly finally realising about it as she looked at me than at Victor.

 I was about to answer my mom when Victor suddenly answered to my dad

 "3 years, Sir"

 My dad nods

 "Why didn't you tell us MC?"

 My mom asked me again.

 "That would be on me ma'am. I didn't want to trouble her about it. She looked quite stressed out if I suddenly mentioned about introducing myself to the both of you"

 My mom nods, but now seemingly a frown was visible.

 "How did you guys met?"

 My mom looked at me than at Victor.

 My dad however was now had continued eating with his food. He seems to enjoy the moment.

 Victor looked at me as I looked at him too.

 "Well about that..."

 I sheepishly started the talking this time.

 "We met at the beach on a usual sunny weekend"

 Victor replied back seemingly backing me up.

 "He actually helped me from almost drowning"

 I added another reply

 "What, you never told me about that?!"

 My mom was obviously shocked.

 My dad however tried to calm her down and asked us to continue with it.

 "He told me something like "I'm not gonna safe you a second time" and from that day I actually hate him"

 I could sense that Victor wasn’t going to accept that.

 "But we had quite a lot of encounters, which I don't even know why it happened... I was always annoyed to see him every time he shows up in my view..."

 My dad was now slightly laughing while hearing me talking about it.

 It was quite true at some point.

 "Then, one day I had a really bad day at work because of a case. But don't worry it's solved now... "

 I looked at my mom again as I tried not to overwhelmed her with too much information.

 I used to share everything with my mom so, I know she's quite not okay with me keeping secrets from her. Even though the actual secret is heavily hidden...

 "Anyways, I went outside and randomly started walking in the neighbourhood but I was actually planning on buying slices of cakes on the way out. But then I met him again"

 "Well, actually she didn't even payed attention on the road. Almost got-"

 Victor added before briefly his words being cut off by my mom.

 "MC, how many times do I have to tell you about that"

 Once again, my dad calms my mom down.

 "Yes Mom..."

 I nodded sheepishly, act this out.

 When I actually have been really careful on the road....

 Well, that can't be helped.

 "So, Zen actually saved me that day again. But this time he said "You wanna get killed?!"

And I obviously ignored him because I was already stressed out about work and he just happens to scream at me"

 "I did not scream at you..."

 Victor exclaimed from the background as I briefly glanced at him.

 "Anyways, my face must've looked really ugly when he suddenly frowned at me before saying ‘You need the cake more than I do’ then he offered me the box of cake. I refused of course but he insisted..."

 My dad chuckled upon listening to my story.

 "I told him that I don't trust food from strangers and he could've poisoned it but he replied back saying ‘Well, eat it together with me then’. So, he ended up eating the cake first as I finally took a bite of the cake"

 My mom finally smiled as she continued on eating the meals.

 "We had a lot more of weird encounters together. At some point, I thought he was stalking me but he's just really trying to do his daily basis."

 "I don't know how or when did we actually started dating because he doesn't talk much but he'll be there if I said ‘my head hurts’. That one time, he even came by my work place just because I told him my shoulder hurts."

 Somehow, started laughing myself.

 "Then he told me that I should go to the hospital because it could get terrible. I couldn't say no because he threatened me to carry me instead if I didn't go-"

 "I did not threaten you... You could barely move your left arm"

 Victor made another comeback yet again from the background.

 "What happened MC?"

 My dad was the one who's questioning me this time.

 "I actually fell from trying to get the books high up the shelves. Somehow, dislocated my shoulder. But the doctor did fix it really quick"

 Both my parents shook their heads sideways.

 "So, it's actually like that... We're in a stable place now. I do sometimes argue with him but he's calm about almost anything"

 My dad chuckled seemingly amused.

 However, my mom was looking quite okay with it.

 After my parents were seemingly accepting the fact about us being a couple...

 Victor yet again caught their attention.

 "Mr. and Mrs. (MC's last name), we're actually here to inform you about our engagement plans"

________________________________________________

?DNE

[cartoonfan7]

I’m bringing something back.

On my previous blog, delicatelytoomany-fandoms, I made a post early on in my tumblrite career where I brought up an idea to make a streamlined universe for Batman and possibly the rest of the DC Universe as well by taking inspiration from many sources and working them into a cohesive timeline. I thought I’d bring it back now considering the relatively mixed success of the DC Extended Universe among other recent developments, such as Injustice 2. Although my old blog and other posts relating to this idea were seemingly erased from the face of tumblr, I copied the initial post onto my deviantart page, link here if you want but I don’t really use it, and will post it in it’s entirety below, alongside added notes and commentary since my 2017 self is different from my 2013-ish self.

Notes made by my 2017-self will be bolded.

This is kind of strange for me to be typing right now, but I have an idea for Batman and how his mythos fits into the greater DC universe. I started thinking of this after I saw the trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. I started to think about how the Batman there has already been through serious stuff, what with Robin dead. But then I started to think about Lego Batman (The Videogames and Lego Dimensions/Rick and Morty/other crossovers like DC vs MK, Injustice 2, and crossover comics that don’t involve Marvel due to multiverse shenanigans and the fact that RnM kinda belongs to Warner Bros. due to airing on Adult Swim, but that’s for other posts) for some reason and thought about the progression of events in the trilogy with the wider DC universe outside Batman coming into play. I also began thinking about the animated series (Batman: The Animated Series that is) and some stuff from the comics. (I haven’t really read the comics, but I do know a lot about them, I do lots of research into the source material) I also began thinking about the Batman: Arkham series and how it’s incorporated a lot of things from the multiple Batman sources into the game universe and I thought about how that might work with a lot more things and a wider timeframe. (I’ve also had The Lego Batman Movie considered as well because I love so much of it, from it’s portrayal of Gotham to the characters and characterization.) I’ve been doing some thinking in my head and figure that the earliest that Bruce could begin his crime fighting career would most likely be his mid-to-late 20s as most versions of Batman have Bruce leaving Gotham around early teenagerhood to study abroad on how to be Batman for about 7 years. (Give or take) I figure that somewhere between 25-30 is when he would start being Batman. Starting at this age, he could be Batman for decades, anywhere between 40 to 60 years depending on how well he keeps in shape. His early years as Batman would make up a pseudo-adaptation of Batman: Year One, as he struggles with being early Batman, while a young James Gordon is struggling with joining a corrupt Police Force while trying to take care of his Wife, Sarrah, and his daughter, Barbara (and possible son, Jim Gordon Jr., and he is NOT a nice person.) . A few years into his career as Batman, a crime boss puts a hit out on Batman (Redundant much, redundant?), leading assassins to come for him on Christmas in a very faithful adaptation of Batman: Arkham Origins. (Only minor details are different, for example, Barbara in Origins is a teenager in High School, while in my rearranging of events, she’s about as old as she is when she first appears in Beware the Batman) (Later the year after the christmas hit, Mask of the Phantasm happens) Following that, the events of The Long Halloween (with elements from The Lego Batman Movie) play out, Harvey Dent has begun his transformation into Two-face, the mobs are systematically offed by the strange Holiday Killer, Gordon comes to put his trust further into Batman after Origins, but Batman begins feeling isolated. Around his 4th or 5th Year of being Batman, he adopts 2 young boys, both of them 9. Dick Grayson, who’s parents were murdered by what’s left of the mob after their failed attempt to extort the circus, and Jason Todd, who comes from a very bad household. The events of Dark Victory subsequently play out, cops are killed by the Hangman, supercriminals have begun to spring up in Gotham, Dick becomes Nightwing in an outfit reminiscent of Nightwing’s first appearance, while Jason becomes Robin in an outfit similar to his Dawn of Justice memorial. Dick and Jason are raised as brothers and sons of Bruce and they have a good run fighting crime in Gotham for several years. It’s around this time that several street level superheroes begin popping up, such as Batgirl (Who joins up with Batman), Batwoman, Green Arrow, Black Canary, etc. It’s also around this time where Bruce has a fling with Talia (He’s already had some romance with Catwoman, but Bruce is playboy in the Batsuit or not, Talia is his Veronica and Selina his Betty) The Batfamily has had some run ins with The League of Assassins during this time and tragedy strikes as Talia is forced to cut off her budding romance with Bruce after the seeming demise of her father, Ra’s Al Ghul. Things seem to be going well for the time being, but sadly the Joker’s not too happy about the whole Batfamily concept. He’s managed to evade capture for years after he first introduced himself to Batman on that fateful Christmas Night, returning to Gotham to terrorize the citizens and Batman for years, assisted in his evasion of the authorities by his former psychiatrist at Blackgate and Arkham (and also self proclaimed girlfriend) Harleen Quinzel. Joker’s had enough of the Batfamily and with how confident the police are with Batman around, so he takes matters into his own hands. Convincing Harley to go out into the field with him as Harley Quinn, they engage in a series of crimes, helping to kickstart a few supercriminals in Gotham to distract Batfam from what’s going on. Joker’s gang kidnap Commissioner Gordon (He became Commissioner after Dark Victory) and set about trying to drive him mad, while requesting that the Bat’s sidekicks come or else Jim dies. While Batman is working on another (arguably bigger) case (He decided to let Nightwing work another case by himself since Bruce thought he was ready, much to the jealousy of Jason) Batgirl and Robin go to save the Commissioner in an Adaptation/Combination of The Killing Joke/A Death in the Family/Arkham Knight’s A Matter of Family. Batgirl gets into a confrontation with Harley that mirrors scenes in The Animated Series episode “Mad Love” where Batman is trying to tell Harley that the Joker was using her. It practically ends the same way too, with Joker almost killing Harley while trying to kill Batgirl. Joker soon after tries to escape, but he is pursued by Robin. Batgirl meanwhile saves Gordon and takes him and Harley to a hospital. Jason finds Joker in a warehouse on the edge of town and goes after him in a scene that mirrors the Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles episode “Twisted”, only with a lot less Victor Zsasz inspired mutilated corpses and dead body parts. In one of the Joker’s boxes, Jason finds his mother, as it turned out that she couldn’t accept the fact that her son was “taken” (read: saved) from her and she found out he was Robin. She, however, inadvertently told the Joker this information and he kidnapped her for the hell of it. Joker and Jason then get into a huge fight that plays out sorta like Homestuck’s [S] Game Over with Jason as John and Joker as Caliborn, I mean Jason comes really close to killing Joker here. He’s only stopped by the Smilex Gas Joker uses. Jason’s weapon is then taken from him by “Uncle J” and he beats Jason with it pretty bad. Earlier during the fight, a few missed batarangs, a fuse box, and some gas barrels cause the building to catch fire. Joker decides to write a message to Batman on Jason’s suit before escaping. Batman, having finished the other case and hearing from Barbara and Alfred that Jason decided to pursue the Joker on his own, is rushing to the coordinates where Jason’s Robincycle is, but he’s too late, as the building comes down just as he’s arriving. He finds Jason’s body, sees the message, and vows to go after the Joker with the intention of “ending this”. The next Day, Barbara’s at home, grieving over Jason while her dad is still recovering in the Hospital, when she hears the doorbell. A man in strange, vacation-esque apparel with his back turned to Barbara while clutching some kind of box, asks her if Sarrah (Gordon’s wife, also sorry about the spelling, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her name, I only know her name) is home. Babs says she isn’t and that’s when Joker turns around and shoots her. Barbara’s paralyzed with fear the second she realizes the Joker is on her footstep, she heard from Bruce that Joker knew who Robin was since he found Jason’s mom’s body as well, she initially thinks that Joker might know she’s Batgirl and she doesn’t know if she should run or fight the Joker. In those few seconds of fight-or-flight paralysis, the Joker doesn’t give her the opportunity and shoots her. A camera he tied to his vacation hat repeatedly takes pictures as evidence and Joker mocks Barbara about her dad before he leaves. Batman later has a confrontation with the Joker, but finds himself unable to kill him and he leaves him for the cops. Bruce is now debating if he has actually done his job as Batman and considers leaving crimefighting. He shows Jim Gordon the Batcave and comes clean, giving Jim a high-tech Batsuit for him to fight crime in. He knows Jim will work better with the Police Force and will put his family first since Bruce put a different case over Jason. Bruce also encourages Dick to leave crimefighting, but this convinces Dick to leave Bruce and become his own hero in Bludhaven. Barbara becomes Oracle to Jim’s Batman and he and the cops crack down on crime. Joker becomes disillusioned with reality since Bruce left being Batman going comatose like in The Dark Knight Returns. It stays this way for 8-10 years, when Superman appears in a Man of Steel-esque origin story (because I love that movie despite it’s faults). Bruce, who married Selina (he couldn’t settle down with Talia, he could never find her after she chose the League over love), witnesses first hand the Kryptonians devastating power. This, alongside the rise of new supervillains with metahuman abilities* and far stronger heroes, like Supes and Wonder Woman, begin stirring Bruce out of his funk. He begins training and preparing for the true Batman’s return. Selina understands and takes it in stride. While this is happening, a group of school friends made up of Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake, Carrie Kelly, and Terry McGinnis (as Batman is making his comeback, they are sophomores in High School) meet a strange, very quiet girl named Cassandra Cain. They help her escape her assassin dad (via shenanigans) and they resolve to become vigilantes, having been inspired by the new age of superheroes that started with Superman and is continuing with the return of the Original Batman. All of them eventually meet Bruce and become his new Batfamily. After the Justice League (which may include incorporating Batman) is founded, Batman proposes that the heroes sidekicks, if they have any, should either join the full fledged league or become a special, black-ops-esque team. The League decides the latter, with Robin (Tim), Spoiler (Steph), Batgirl (Cass), Batwing (Terry, yes I know someone else had that name in the comics, what do you want me to do about it), Catgirl (Carrie, her appearance is more modeled after Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises than from Frank Miller’s TDKSA, cause by god that comic sucked), Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven, Kid Flash, Supergirl, Superboy, Miss Martian, Zatanna (Zatarra is with the League), Red Arrow, Aqualad, Aquagirl (Tula), Tempest, and Artemis, become the Titans. I have an idea about the end of Batman, but I’ll continue in another post. I’d also like to make a voice actor sheet for this, as I like animation. I guess it would also be my headcanon voices for the characters. I take back the no horrific fridge stuffed with body parts. The Entirety of the scenes where Jason hunts down Joker is almost lifted directly from Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles. Why? Because of this.

From the Batman Arkham Games wiki:

The Fall

Batman was wrong. He'd always been wrong about Joker. There was no madhouse qualified, no prison secure enough. Jason knew that now, after he'd seen tonight-

Little arms, little legs, little heads, crudely, mockingly stitched together.

He'd come straight from the kindergarten, followed a trail of innocent blood back to Arkham Asylum. Tracker switched off. Cowl communications disabled. He was a ghost. Batman wouldn't find him until it was done.

Weeping parents, fighting over patchwork corpses.

The sanatorium had been derelict for years. A burnt-out patch of dead earth on top, a forgotten warren of cells below. Good, Jason thought, he's already in the dirt. There was a moral line that Bruce had sworn never to cross. Jason would cross it for him.

Jason had been watching a grief-stricken mother piece her son together when the kindergarten speaker system came to life.

No, Robin, he thought. Push it down. Jason pulled back to the heavy iron doors that would have once led into a laundry chute, and dropped into the dark.

"Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall," Joker sang.

It was a net, half-way down, that caught him. It broke with his weight, sending him tumbling out of the end of chute onto the granite floor. Jason gritted his teeth breathed through the pa-

The first swing of the crowbar took out two teeth. The second broke his ankle.

"All the king's horses, and all the king's men, couldn't put Humpty together again," Joker was singing.

*My explanation for the appearance of meta-humans in this kinda-sorta AU would be slightly more successful versions of the Nanites from Generator Rex (spoilers). They are only slightly more successful because when they do activate, they have about a 50-50 chance of either giving you superpowers or mutating into a horrible monster. While most instances of nanite activation are, like in Generator Rex, random, other instances have been recorded and observed where they activate in response to some type of trauma. They also enhance pre-existing abilities. Superman and other kryptonians have powers from Superman in the Golden Age, but thanks to the nanites, they begin evolving into Superman’s powers circa Man of Steel. Or Cyborg, who basically gets Rex’s powerset. These versions of the nanites could have something to do with the technology of the New Gods, because why would a scientist trying to save his son’s life give his prosthetics with weapons of mass destruction built in?

Also, watch Generator Rex. It is a woefully underrated show.

Also also, Batman is a fan of Rick and Morty. Watch the Justice League Trailer.