#MC is a bit unhinged in this ngl but I get her

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC Season 2 Chapter 59 Translation [Lucien’s Route (2/3)]

⚠️  SPOILER ALERT  ⚠️

This post contains a VERY HEAVY SPOILER for the chapter that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

"Perhaps we won't be able to see each other tomorrow"... could he have already foreseen tonight's situation?

I will never allow anyone to hurt Lucien.

Translation under the cut!

[Previous Part-> Click Here]

—[Lucien's Route - 6: Crimson Stained Pool]—

Baldhead: Hey, you've all seen it, right? Tonight, we're going to kill that uncle!

As soon as night falls, Baldhead eagerly states his intention. We follow him towards the older man's room, but Mousy looks a bit confused.

Mousy: Why... is there something wrong with that uncle?

Baldhead: How can you be so dumb! That old man is indeed very active in discussions, and just like X said, it seems like he wants to have some control over the conversation.

Baldhead: But later, he didn't raise his hand immediately. Didn't you find that strange?

MC: Mm... it seems like he's a seer who isn't good at hiding his identity, subconsciously excluding himself from the "people who need to be verified.”

Baldhead: Not bad. MC gets it.

Baldhead: That old man is too unfamiliar with the game. He doesn't realize that we are watching every move he makes. Got it?

Under Baldhead's forceful words, Mousy only dares to nod timidly and follows our steps forward.

Tonight's operation was very successful. Everything goes smoothly, from opening the door to throwing the uncle into the pool.

Sweeping away the strange events of last night, the three of us werewolves see a look of satisfaction on each other's faces.

The clear water surface is dyed red again, and the pool emits that inexplicable light before dimming. I look at my two teammates.

MC: Today, I was the first to raise my hand. The others probably won't suspect me too much. So I plan to…

MC: ...take the uncle's place and act as the seer.

✂———————–

The next morning, there's a knock on the door again. I open it and effortlessly slip into the embrace of the person standing there.

MC: Hmm, I feel like my headache has eased... Is Professor Lucien still acting as the alarm clock in the game?

Lucien rubs my head and, seeing that I am indeed much better than yesterday, sighs softly and holds me even tighter.

Lucien: [chuckles softly] Yes. It's a hidden feature that's only available to a certain little lady who worries me.

I smile and bury my face in his chest. His shirt presses against my cheek, and his warm body temperature melts away all my stress.

Whenever I embrace Lucien, it seems I can break free from my werewolf role and reconnect with the real world.

At this moment, I only wish this moment could last a little longer.

✂———————–

When the butler knocks on the door for the third time, I reluctantly pull Lucien out of bed.

[....is 'doing it' possible in VR. anw man really sneak out so early to sleep together with her hjdfjhdfjdf-]

MC: Alas, it's time to go to the banquet hall for another "meeting" again~

MC: Such a magnificent banquet hall. It would be so nice just to eat and drink inside, but it's always a war of words every time.

Lucien straightens my crooked collar, unable to hold back a smile as he takes over the conversation.

Lucien: [chuckles] Indeed, it seems that in this villa, being the "butler" is much happier than being the "guest.”

Lucien: They neither "lose their life" nor miss the chance to enjoy the sea view every day.

As we pass the uncle's room, I see his name has already been crossed off the door plate. Lucien and I don't stop; we head straight to the banquet hall.

After the luncheon begins, I take a deep breath and stand up.

MC: Everyone, I am actually... a seer.

I say these words rather haltingly. Although I don't look at Lucien, I can feel his scrutinizing gaze.

.......This is really nerve-wracking; I'm so anxious.

Almost everyone present holds their breath, watching me and waiting for my words. I compose my expression, speaking in a serious tone.

MC: On the first night, I checked White Angel. She is a good person, so I didn't rush to reveal my identity.

MC: And yesterday, the uncle was very active but didn't raise his hand immediately, so I found him suspicious.

MC: I checked him last night, and the result showed he was human. I planned to clear his name today but didn't expect him to become the werewolves' target.

MC: Although I haven't identified a werewolf yet, I'm afraid that if I don't reveal my identity today, I might be replaced by a werewolf…

Baldhead: Wait a minute, you say you're the seer? Who knows if it's true or not!

Baldhead: Is there another seer here? If so, speak up!

Baldhead questioned me as I planned to solidify my identity. Sure enough, no one else steps forward.

.......We bet correctly! The uncle really was the true seer!

I try to control my racing heartbeat and calmly observe the reactions of the others.

Angel: If MC were lying, the actual seer would have come forward. There's no mistake. She is the seer.

White Angel is a petite girl. After speaking, she looks at me with a smile, her eyes showing evident affection and trust.

I smile back at her, barely able to contain the overwhelming joy inside me.

Let's let it unfold this way. Now that there's no one to contradict it, no one can expose this "lie" that has become an established fact!

Joker: Anyone could be a wolf, and everyone could be lying.

Joker speaks coldly, pouring cold water on my overwhelming joy without mercy.

Joker: To place all your trust in an unverifiable statement is the height of foolishness.

MC: …..

I secretly grit my teeth. I know that he wouldn't let me off the hook so easily!

I hold back my anger and calmly return a smile at him, but suddenly, a long-haired man on my right side stands up.

Long-haired man: My intuition tells me that MC is lying. We should vote her out!

MC: …..?

Long-haired man: When she mentioned the inspection results, it was as smooth as if she had rehearsed it. Her emotions were clearly acted out!

His eyes are filled with conviction, and his tone is rhythmic and compelling…

If only his rousing words weren't directed at me.

I nervously organize my rebuttal, and even my breathing becomes messy.

How come so many people in this game seem to have mind-reading abilities? How are we ordinary people supposed to keep playing?!

Lucien: Can you listen to my thoughts first?

At that moment, Lucien suddenly breaks the stalemate, standing between me and the long-haired man like a fair and just judge.

Lucien: Voting for execution is the only way to punish the wolf in the game. You can't make a decision based solely on revealed roles or doubts.

Lucien: However, the associated risks cannot be ignored. So, for this vote, please consider which person would benefit the current human faction more.

His words are neither biased nor include his judgment; he simply organizes everyone's thoughts.

I look at Lucien; his gaze is as clear as ever, without any unnecessary emotions.

Because of my prolonged gaze, he even tilts his head slightly as if asking me what's wrong.

I force a smile at him, trying my best to ignore the strange feeling in my heart.

Lucien... he must be secretly speaking up for me, right?

After all, under his guidance, the focus of the discussion has shifted from whether my role as a seer is real or fake to whether the long-haired man or I should be voted for.

The long-haired man clearly did not expect to become a suspect himself, and his voice is filled with frustration.

Long-haired man: I've been a stage actor; you shouldn't doubt my professional judgment! Do you think I can't tell the difference between acting and reality?

After a moment of silence in the room, Zhao Jianqiang, whose nameplate read “Strongman” ("Qiang Lai Le"), cautiously glanced at me and spoke.

[T/N: so……… how do I explain this joke? "Qiang Lai Le" comes from the phrase "你的强来了" (nǐ de qiáng láile), which literally means "Your strength is here." It's a buzzword that roughly translates to "I'm here to support you." This perfectly coincides with Zhao Jianqiang stepping in to support the MC right on time~]

Zhao Jianqiang: But if you're an actor, shouldn't your acting skills be better? According to what you're saying, you yourself seem more suspicious…

Angel: The person that she checked last night died this morning, and she still needs to disclose their identity. If it were me, I would also need to prepare a statement in advance.

Granmeow: Reality isn't a script. It's natural for people to get nervous when they're suspected.

The man with long hair's face turns extremely unpleasant. No matter how much he argues, others only become more firm in their thoughts.

The final outcome is beyond doubt; he becomes today's victim.

This time, people left the banquet hall early, one after another. After all, no one wants to see such cruel scenes again.

I turn around and take a glance. The man with long hair has already disappeared into the pool. I then turn back and walk towards Lucien.

Lucien doesn't mention the "bloodbath" at the banquet. He simply raises his arm, inviting me to join him.

Lucien: There's still some time until nightfall. Do you want to explore the mansion together?

MC: Of course!

I loop my arm through his, deciding to cast aside the worries in my heart and savor the rare moment of being together with Lucien.

Outside the window, the clouds press lower and lower, blending the sky and the sea into one in the mist.

✂———————–

—[Lucien's Route - 7: Unspoken Feelings]—

Lucien and I walk along the intricately decorated corridors of the mansion, occasionally encountering other players who are also searching.

When we run into Zhao Jianqiang, I notice his complexion is a bit pale.

MC: [worriedly] Why do you look so pale? Do you need to rest?

Zhao Jianqiang: I'm fine, boss, just a bit of a headache…

MC: .......I also feel a headache, "Carnival Night" is quite a brain teaser to play.

I make sure he doesn't have any other symptoms for the time being and reluctantly feel a bit relieved. After asking the butler to help him rest, I continue on my way.

Although the mansion covers a vast area, there isn't much valuable information to be found.

Lucien and I stroll to the master's room. The tightly closed door is pushed open, and the heavy, wet sound echoes for a long time.

We both instinctively hold our breath and stand still.

In the pure white space, all that can be seen are clear waters. Rather than a bedroom, this place resembles an abandoned swimming pool.

The pool water gently ripples as if whispering or subtly warning, exuding an indescribable sense of cold and desolate beauty.

The snow-white walls and the bottom of the pool reflect a cool-toned light, and the space ahead seems like an endless liminal space.

Standing at the pool's edge, I suddenly feel an inexplicable attraction and deep fear, almost uncontrollably wanting to step into the water.

A hand wraps around my waist from behind, lifting me slightly off the ground. My toes trace a light circle in the air before I return to the floor.

MC: ….!

It is only then that I come to my senses and look at Lucien.

His gaze falls on the calm and mysterious blue pool water, then he looks at me and blinks somewhat pitifully.

Lucien: Does this lady want to explore alone and not take me with her?

Whenever Lucien speaks to me in this tone, my heart becomes completely soft.

So, I quickly dip my hand into the pool and sprinkle some water near Lucien.

MC: How could I not? Of course, I have to bring our Mr. Hunter along!

MC: I always feel like this mansion is so mysterious... Maybe there are some secrets hidden deep in this room as well.

MC: Will you go into the water with me to take a look?

Lucien and I intertwine our fingers together, and we slowly step into the pool, letting the cool water surround our ankles.

Step by step, we move forward. The pool water gradually rises to our knees, then our waists, gently pushing against our bodies as if guiding us to go deeper.

Lucien: Be careful, there are steps here.

After stepping over the underwater steps, the water reaches just below my chest. This is nearly the lowest point of the room, and my foot suddenly hits something hard.

Lucien reaches out and retrieves it. It's a metal box filled with yellowed pages that seem out of place in this mansion.

What is even more surprising is that the pages are completely dry, and they recorded some legends about an ancient underwater god and some incomprehensible ancient rituals.

A secluded mansion built by the seaside, with water visible everywhere inside, had an execution method of throwing people into the pool…

A series of clues appeared in my mind, and although they seem all related to my personal mission, they still leave me a little puzzled.

I hide my thoughts and cautiously phrase my question to Lucien.

MC: I don't quite fully understand all this information. Could this mansion be related to some kind of water ritual?

In the boundless pool, cool-toned light dances around us. The surroundings are so silent that only our faint breathing and the rippling of the water can be heard.

Lucien spreads out his hands and reaches into the pool water as if feeling this calm yet eerie expanse.

Lucien: These texts describe an ancient water ritual, and the design of the water channels in this mansion is also related to it.

He gently scoops up a handful of water and lets it fall back down, causing the light and shadows in the water to shift accordingly.

Lucien: I guess that with each person pushed into the water, a part of the ritual is completed.

MC: ...No wonder, when those people fell into the water, it was as if they were swallowed up by something, and the water emitted light!

Lucien: Hmm. So as long as we can draw the design of all the water channels connected in this mansion, we might be able to understand some things.

A meaningful smile appears on his lips, making me unable to resist asking further questions.

MC: Understand what?

Lucien: The truth behind the ongoing werewolf killings in this villa, the consequences of completing the ritual, and…

Lucien: The reason why the mansion's owner has yet to appear.

I am listening intently to his deductions while secretly plotting how to sacrifice everyone in the ritual.

But upon hearing the last sentence, I suddenly feel so guilty that I almost buckle and fall into the water. Quickly, I lower my head and change the subject.

MC: T-this is so dangerous! Let's quickly map out the pool structures in all the rooms and have everyone look for patterns together.

Lucien, who is standing in front of me, says nothing. When I look up, I realize he is silently gazing at me, his expression stern and cold.

Lucien: There is another possibility; perhaps we won't be able to see each other tomorrow.

MC: ….

I understand what Lucien means. Given his role as a hunter and outstanding performance over the past few days, tonight, he will likely be the werewolves' target.

I look at his faint, acquiescent expression, and suddenly, a heaviness settles in my heart.

I know that Lucien must have noticed my unusual behavior long ago.

I have never been good at lying in front of him. He must have already discovered the nights I secretly hid and the moments I was startled by my own cruelty.

I don't know how to respond to him. I should appear worried, but I want to tell him that the vicious "werewolf" never intended to kill him.

I also don't know whether I should continue enduring alone and playing this slightly strange role or be honest with him about everything.

Various possibilities tug at my mind, leaving me frozen in place. I don't know what expression is on my face, but it must be very odd.

A moist finger touches my cheek, and I tremble. I see that Lucien has already come to stand before me at some point.

Immediately after, he opens his arms and envelops me in a hug, covering up the response that I can't weave.

Lucien: [softly sighs, then whispers gently to comfort] Don't be afraid, we will make it to the end.

Amid the hallucinatory light reflections of the water, I am entranced, silently confiding all my anxieties and worries to Lucien through the long embrace.

✂———————–

["Perhaps we won't be able to see each other tomorrow." MAN 🤧🤧🤧 In addition to trying to probe her again, just like when he asked if she would lie to him, he predicted that other werewolves would definitely pressure MC. The outcome of this night would give him some kind of answer, and he couldn't help but secretly feel unease and grievance, which ultimately turned into a soft sigh as he comforted her again. No matter what, he will still respect her choice.]

✂———————–

—[Lucien's Route - 8: Heart Cleansing Cold Spring]—

Baldhead: Why are you thinking about killing Joker again? Did you forget that he was already guarded before? It's all for nothing!

As night falls, Baldhead and I engage in a heated debate over tonight's target for execution.

MC: I revealed myself as a seer during the day, so tonight, the guardian will protect me. Joker is too dangerous, he can't stay.

Baldhead: Then why not kill X? He's so clever. If we leave him till later, it's us werewolves who'll be the victims!

Baldhead: With so many people left, even if X takes someone out with a gunshot before he dies, it might not necessarily be us.

I endure the headache and listen silently, but suddenly, I recall the words Lucien said to me during the day.

"Perhaps we won't be able to see each other tomorrow"... could he have already foreseen tonight's situation?

I will never allow anyone to hurt Lucien.

From the beginning of the game, I've been very clear about my purpose in choosing this game.

Regardless of our roles, winning or losing this game doesn't matter. I want to walk through this game with him until the end.

I take a deep breath, trying to make my voice sound as calm as possible.

MC: You must have noticed that X and Joker have a distinctly different attitude towards me.

MC: Joker always shifts the suspicion onto me, while X often speaks up for me. It should be clear who should stay and who should go, right?

As soon as I finish speaking, Baldhead glances at me sideways, pulling a contemptuous smile.

Baldhead: You’re dressing your selfish motives with such grandiose words. Don't think I don't know—you and X know each other, right?

Baldhead: Every time you explore, you two are always together like conjoined twins, never separate. You just want to ensure he can be in the game for a few more days.

I instantly get angry and can't help but clench my fists. Because of self-righteous people like this, I've been having such a hard time playing!

As the atmosphere grows tense, Mousy weakly raises his hand.

Mousy: Um, how about we give up on these two and target someone we are sure to succeed with? After all, reducing the number of humans is our main goal…

We remain at an impasse for a long time, and in the end, we reluctantly draw lots from the remaining candidates and target the inconspicuous Granmeow.

Before we part, Baldhead stands before me and laughs mockingly without a care.

Baldhead: Now, let's see how the “fake seer" will come up with a story tomorrow!

✂———————–

Back in my room, I can't help but angrily pound the bed to vent my frustration.

MC: Damn it, it turns out that he looks down on me!

I toss and turn in anger, but there's nothing I can do because that person is my teammate. It’s only just before dawn that I finally manage to get some sleep.

However, I hadn't slept for long when the door was knocked on. I got up, still sleepy, and found that it was only 6:30 AM.

As soon as I open the door, Lucien walks in, opens his arms, and hugs me.

I initially want to say something, but when he holds me, the exhaustion and headache seem no longer need to be expressed with words.

I can't help but nuzzle his shoulder and mumble as I start to speak.

MC: Why is Professor Lucien the alarm clock going off so early today?

His chest is pressed close to mine and trembles like a resonating violin. Lucien's voice carries an unconcealed note of laughter.

[a fox wagging his tail happily when he finds out in the morning that his wife still wants to play with him.jpg. still, in addition to happiness, he is even more worried about her because it must be hard for her to protect him🤧]

Lucien: When I woke up this morning and found I was still alive, I felt that the little lady might have some troubles.

Remembering the argument with my teammate last night, I have the illusion of being completely seen through by him. So, I look up and poke the smile at the corner of his lips with my fingertip.

MC: It seems Professor Lucien is very happy?

Lucien shakes his head, his long fingers running through my hair, bringing a feeling of comfort to my heart.

Lucien: [in a gentle tone] Although I'm very happy, I'm more worried about you. How are you? Does your head still hurt?

Seeing me nod, he gently presses my forehead, the pressure so comforting it touches my heart. I lie quietly on him, unable to help but sigh.

MC: It's much better now, but... this game is more challenging than I thought. I don't know who I'll have to check next.

Lucien speaks softly by my ear.

Lucien: [whispers softly] Sometimes, to achieve a goal, it is necessary to sacrifice an unstable presence.

Upon hearing his whisper, my relaxed body feels as if it's been jolted by cold water, bringing me to full alertness.

An unstable presence...? This phrase sounds like a subtle hint, making me feel that Lucien truly knows something.

I can't help but look at him, and in those always captivating eyes, there is now only a gentle yet turbulent undercurrent reflected.

Outside the window, raindrops hit the glass, leaving behind glistening trails. After days of cloudy weather, the rain finally fell on the island.

✂———————–

The thunderous sound of waves crashing against the rocks comes from all directions, shaking the entire villa as if it were about to swallow the isolated island whole.

In the banquet hall, I stand up amidst the heavy and terrifying sound of ocean waves.

MC: Last night, I checked the Ferocious and Superior Baldhead. Unfortunately, he is a werewolf.

My accusation sparks a heated discussion, and I stand firmly amidst the flurry of voices.

Just as Lucien said, sacrifice is necessary, especially if it means sacrificing a "bad person.”

Baldhead: Nonsense!

Baldhead's face is full of disbelief as he pushes back his chair and stands up, his chest heaving violently.

Baldhead: This is a setup! I've always been human! How can you say that? You are the wolf!

I know, but so what? Aren't you curious about how I, the "fake seer," will perform today? This is my answer.

I look at him expressionlessly, my tone cold.

MC: As a seer, I'm merely stating the results of my checks.

Baldhead: You!

In the thunderstorm, the flickering cold light covers Baldhead's face, making his expression appear even more ferocious.

A twinge of fear arises in my heart, and I hear Lucien beside me start to speak thoughtfully with his calm voice.

Lucien: Hmm... I see.

Lucien: In the previous rounds of voting, he seemed to use emotional statements to guide the situation but quickly withdrew, avoiding decisive comments.

Lucien: His votes were also decisive, without any hesitation.

Lucien: This way of disrupting the situation without leaving any evidence does indeed seem like…

Lucien swallows the unfinished end of his sentence, and this pause clearly gives people more room for imagination. The others look at Baldhead with increasing conviction in their eyes.

Zhao Jianqiang: He... is the werewolf, isn't he?

Angel: There's no mistake. I trust MC.

More and more people believe that he is the wolf, the evil wolf mingling among the good people.

Baldman’s face is flushed red with anger, and I can even see his teeth gritting through his gaze.

Joker: Even if he is the wolf, you are not necessarily the seer.

Joker suddenly speaks, standing up while leaning on the back of the chair. His emotionless tone clearly conveys his distrust.

Joker: There is also a third possibility.

The Joker squints his eyes, his gaze circles between Baldhead and me, and finally returns to me.

Joker: It’s a dog-eat-dog* situation, a wolf kills another wolf.

[T/N: while 狗咬狗 literally mean “dog-bite-dog”, it's more of a metaphor for the struggle and fighting between bad guys]

MC: ….?

Joker: All of you subconsciously ignored a possibility. The real seer might have already died, and she is a fake.

Joker: If you later find out that the seer you firmly believed in is actually a wolf, there will be no turning back.

On the surface, I smile disdainfully, but in reality, I feel exhausted. He has guessed everything correctly.

Joker really should have been dealt with earlier! He will be executed tonight!

I don't dare let his words go unchallenged for fear that the people present might turn their suspicion towards me, so I can only speak up with “righteous indignation”.

MC: ....After saying so much, where is the evidence? It can't all be your subjective conjecture, right?

MC: Since I revealed my identity as a seer, no one has ever tried to "compete" with me for this identity.

MC: And Baldhead has never made any notable speeches; even if there were a vote, it would never come to him-

I take a deep breath, desperately and silently think of my words, then say them out loud with conviction.

MC: If we are all wolves, as you say, we should be biding our time and hiding our strength even more——

MC: Instead of throwing mud at each other at this moment, causing unnecessary losses to our own faction, right?

I speak convincingly, while Joker remains aloof, indifferently throwing a word.

Joker: Whatever.

In the end, those who were initially hesitant still tend to trust me.

The attendant drags the constantly struggling Baldhead toward the pool. Until the moment he falls into the water, he stubbornly looks at me, his eyes filled with hatred.

I do not respond to his gaze; I simply watch as the clear pool water is once again stained bright red.

✂———————–

—[Lucien's Route - 9: Lectures About "Dreams” (Non-story/a.k.a Stage part)]—

The closest dream represents the most distant thing.

✂———————–

[Next Part-> Click Here]

[wlw-lovestruck-fiction]

Ngl, the Nadia anons and fic have me in a Nadia mood. Can we get a fic where MC and Vivienne aren't dating, but Nadia thought they were and finds out they aren't, so she tries winning over MC, and MC is both wary and slightly charmed, despite the entire Poppy being exasperated, and finally agrees to a date? It could be a follow on from the other fic or it's own thing. (If you receive this ask twice please ignore the 2nd one, tumblr gave a bad request message for the first so idk if you got it)

Pairing with: “Can we have a Nadia stalking mc instead of Vivienne? Getting intrigued by the mc and then wanting her to join her instead“

...

Written by @an-awkward-ghost

“I’m a bit confused.”

The voice is firm, perhaps even a bit harsh, and it has Nadia instantly on edge. Were it not for the small, almost imperceptible hint of playfulness, the blond thief would have already brandished her knife. Instead, she just freezes there, wide eyed, letting the voice wash over her and awaken a torrent of feelings she had buried deep within her. Emotions only brought problems, only made her pick all the wrong options. She couldn’t trust something as fickle as that. She knew that. Well. At least she thought she knew that.

Yet here she is, eagerly spinning around after a moment’s hesitation, seeking the owner of that sweet, sweet, harsh voice.

It had only been a month, but Karina seemed to have changed drastically. Gone was the insecure little girl she had been, wrapped in Vivienne’s shadow. Now she stood strong and unflinching just a few meters away, shoulders thrown back in attempt to look taller, brown eyes calculating Nadia’s every movement like a predator. One wrong move, and it was over.

Nadia didn’t want to underestimate a woman like Karina ever again.

“You said you weren’t after Vivienne anymore… but here you are anyway.” Her eyes flickered up and down, her expression softening with a small, unconcerned smile. It didn’t look cocky, nor did it look happy. It was teasing, meant to irritate Nadia to her very core, but she found she couldn’t quite look at it without feeling butterflies rise. It was unfair. Nadia pursed her lips and looked away, and Karina continued. “What am I supposed to think?”

She felt like she had been put under a microscope, left there to be picked apart by the artist.

“It… was a coincidence?” She finally said, voice surprisingly steady despite the turmoil of emotions she was experiencing.

Karina hummed. “Yeah, I don’t really believe in coincidences and that only leaves me with plenty of creepy alternatives. You might want to explain yourself.”

“I didn’t know you would come here next.” Nadia forced herself to meet her gaze, half-wishing she could just burn the butterflies in her stomach so she could actually concentrate, half-berating herself for not realizing where her true affections laid sooner. “I had planned to stay away from you – that’s why I decided to come here in the first place.”

“Sure. Awfully close to our next target, too. How convenient.”

Frustration could not begin to convey what Nadia was feeling right now. Hot-headed indignation, barely held at bay by the cold, murky feeling of rejection. Her hands closed into fists, then opened, then closed again in quick motions, as if she were trying to grasp her conflicting feelings and bury them even deeper.

“I didn’t even know you had a target here.” She spat at last, scowling. “Look, I won’t get in between your relationship with Vivienne anymore. I won’t even stay here, if it bothers you so much. I could probably pick the next flight to–”

“My relationship?”

“Yes, your– why are you looking at me like that?” It takes a few seconds. Nadia has never had so many conflicting feelings in her entire life. There’s the bubbly, blissful hope that lifts her spirits and spreads over her whole body like a blanket of pure joy, warm and fuzzy, but there’s also the sinking, bitter sensation of a misunderstanding. Of not reading the room correctly, despite that being Nadia’s forte. “You aren’t dating Vivienne.”

Karina’s smile seems a little less detached, bordering on genuine. “It’s true I had some interest in her at the beginning, but I quickly realized a relationship wasn’t the best choice. Hey, maybe we should start a club or something! God knows there’s enough people interested in Vivienne to get plenty of members.”

“Then… but she didn’t– you were jealous!”

“Yeah, I can’t deny that.” A sheepish shrug. “But in my defense, who wouldn’t be?”

Nadia takes a deep breath. “You were jealous.” She repeats, more to herself than to Karina. She’s trying to make this whole situation make sense. “Of Vivienne…? Because I was giving attention to her.”

A light blush that might be Nadia’s imagination appears on Karina’s face. “I think we might be getting off topic here. You, uh, you said you were going to leave?”

“I was, but there’s no way I’m doing that after this revelation.” After a month of aimlessly swimming through the situation, Nadia finally thinks she might have found her footing. She smirks. “You are interested in me.”

Karina looks her up and down again, wary. “Was. You know, before I found out you are an obsessive asshole.”

“Believe me, I’ve learnt my lesson. I’ll respect your boundaries.” She takes a few steps closer. Karina seems rooted in place, body angling towards the end of the alleyway they are in, but making no move to leave. “But I can’t let this chance slip me by.”

“Chance? So because you couldn’t get Vivienne, now you are after me?”

“Ah…” Nadia hesitates, all confidence wavering. The other woman narrows her eyes. “No. No, I…” The words were right there. Somehow, they wouldn’t come out.

“You…?

“It’s just. I didn’t– I…” She lets out a small grunt of frustration. “I wasn’t interested in her. I thought I was. Turns out she wasn’t the one that interested me at all.”

“But then… why did you…” A beat, and Karina’s eyes widen. “You were projecting your feelings onto her.”

“Yes. And now that it’s come out into the open that you are also interested-”

“Was. I was interested. Past tense. Nadia, I’m saying no. Can you respect that, please?”

Nadia pursed her lips, feeling her good mood dissipate. This was what had ruined her chances in the past, her near violent approach. She backed the subject of her interest to a corner where they would have no other choice but to pick her, because the alternative was even worse.

That’s not something she wanted for Karina. Whatever this affection was, it felt far more fragile and precious than any of her other obsessions.  Far more real. Worth treasuring. Nadia wasn’t sure she could even call this feeling ‘an obsession’.

She couldn’t force something like this. She didn’t want to.

“I understand.” She said. “And you have every right to say no, but I want you to give me a chance to prove that I’ve changed.” That had been mostly thanks to the sheer number of sleepless nights she had had, just thinking about everything. Her ideology and how it clashed with the Poppy’s, mainly. That was why she had scrapped the video her crew was working on, why she had put on hold the heists they had planned.

She knew she still had a long way to go, but she was willing and raging to go. A change was long overdue.

“Just one chance. I won’t let it go to waste.”

…

“It was creepy enough when it was Vivienne, but I didn’t expect to endure this type of thing again.” Zoe holds up a gift for everyone to see with a small grimace. Jett takes one look at it and whistles in appreciation.

“Those are some quality paints, alright. You’re going to have a field day with those, Kar.”

“Who said I was going to use them?”

“So I can throw them out or-”

“What? No! Zoe, don’t!”

Vivienne smirks from where she is curled up on the couch, amusement crinkling in her eyes. “Now this is a development, thought I can’t say it was unexpected.” The mirth dies down soon enough. To anyone else she’d look composed, detached, but the members of the Poppy know her well enough to detect the hint of worry clouding her expression. “How do you feel about this, Karina? Would you like us to handle it?”

“I can think of a few ways that might be effective.” Leon adds, from the other side of the room, a frown firmly in place.

“She just can’t give up, can she?” Remy huffs. “First Vivienne, now Karina… When do you think you’ll have your turn, Zoe?”

Zoe gives him a dry look. “Never. Not if I can help it. But seriously Kar, what do we do? If I have to see another gift from that woman, I swear-”

“No, no, it’s okay.”

The living room is always alive with noise when the Poppy gathers in it, sharing laughs, the atmosphere light and welcoming. All of that skids to an abrupt stop as soon as Karina has finished talking. Silence reigns so perfectly it becomes deafening, all eyes on her, searching, prodding, as if they were trying to find out when Karina had been replaced by some kind of impostor.

The artist laughs. “Seriously. Just give me at least a week with her. I want to see something.”

“Something?” Nikolai repeats, one of his eyebrows so far up into his hairline Karina is almost expecting it to fall off. “Not that I don’t trust your judgement, but you must remember who we are talking about. One week is plenty of time for her to kill you.”

“One week.” Karina says again, resolute. “That is all I ask.”

The rest of the Poppy sputters in a chaos of half-shouted reasons why this won’t work, and half-muttered inquiries regarding Karina’s sanity. She takes it all in stride, mostly because they aren’t telling her anything new, something she hadn’t considered before making the decision. Curiosity kills the cat, some say, and Karina is definitely curious to see how much Nadia has allegedly changed.

…

“I’m definitely surprised this time.”

Nadia gives her a curious look, her smirk firmly in place. The confidence she exudes is something that had interested Karina from the moment she had first seen the blonde woman, an unhinged storm worth admiring from a distance.

She had certainly mellowed out. There was still a dangerous undertone to her every action, but it was more controlled. Karina wasn’t naive, she knew Nadia could still kill people if she wanted to, probably with no remorse whatsoever, but she had the impression she would at least consider other alternatives before rushing in for the kill. Nadia hadn’t been lying – she had changed.

Or she was a really good actress, but Karina was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

“I didn’t think you’d have such a drastic change in just one month.”

Blue eyes shimmer with delight. Nadia practically preens.

“I’m full of surprises. You’d better get used to that.”

“Good! That just means I won’t get bored anytime soon.”

“I’ll ensure you don’t.”

The chill of the night makes for an excellent excuse to get closer, not that Nadia really needs it. She moves closer to her in one smooth movement, but Karina catches the look the blonde woman sends her way, making sure she’s not overstepping any boundaries. It’s a sweet gesture, something she wouldn’t have expected from Nadia in the past.

They’re on top of the Eiffel Tower. Leon is somewhere near, out of sight, and Karina can just imagine him staring at them from wherever he is with a concerned frown, ready to intervene at any sign of trouble. But nothing of the sort happens. Instead, Karina stands there, transfixed by the anecdotes Nadia is telling her, eyes tracking her every movement with a shocked wonder she hadn’t felt before. There had been a spark with Vivienne, all those months ago, when the Poppy had recruited her, but nothing like the emotion she feels now. There’s a raging fire somewhere in her soul she had ignored until now, emboldened by Nadia’s smile, by her touch, by her mere presence.

And when the date comes to an end, and she stands inches away, blue eyes searching hers for permission?

Karina can only nod, eyes fluttering shut as Nadia slips one finger under her chin, directing her face up, expression softening as she leans in.

She feels like she is on cloud nine.

[zenlesszonezero]

Join Zenless Zone Zero with Tsukishiro Yanagi, the deputy leader of Hollow Special Operations Section 6! Beneath her ordinary office lady exterior lies a meticulous, emotionally intelligent big sister to the team.

[bobzora]

official persona 5 character review

i have only played up to the end of the third palace but i won’t be able to play for a few weeks because my sibling has ABANDONED ME (single tear) and we play together. and i’m bored. so HERES MY REVIEW of all the major characters so far. under read more because i do tend to ramble

- mc/joker (bob johnson)

why is my silent video game protagonist a catboy. it’s funny to me how much personality he manages to have despite being. yknow. a blank slate to project on. charisma! the dialogue options when you’re talking to shadows that are like “girl power!” live in my mind. joker is a girlboss to me. feminism win

- ryuji

he’s like one of those very excited big dogs where you’re like “oh good for you buddy! oh yeah buddy!” but you’re also just like man this is a bit much. on one hand he’s a very good guy but on the other hand sometimes i feel a very strong urge to insult him or just be mean to him in general, often for no particular reason. i like him i really do he just has that kind of personality. he’s a bro. his pirate thing is funny i know they’re named after like. historical figures/characters in literature(?) but captain kidd sounds so. it’s funny ok. it’s funny. he’d be a backyardagain. i like how he’s a mamas boy that’s cute. sorry about your leg buddy. he’s very. naive isn’t the right word but something like that. i still want to bully him. his grin looks dumb (endeared)

- morgana

i think it’s funny how big his head is when he’s in his metaverse mascot form he’s like a bobblehead i want him to fall over from the weight. the gags about his puppy crush on ann and his dislike of being called a cat are ANNOYING like sorry about your identity crisis but i really don’t care. he is cute sometimes though it’s not like i hate him but he’s a little annoying! you know! i’m not big on mascot characters in general haha

- ann

i adore ann she is cute and great and she deserves a lot better get this girl a better costume PLEASE. at the start of the game i was already rooting for her hardcore cause everyone was being terrible to her (very common occurrence that happens to like every character i have noticed. Society) and then she had that thing where she was like “let’s have him continue to live so he can suffer more” and i was like HELL YEAH ann is always saying the truth man. other thieves like “yah it wouldn’t be moral to kill them” (tho they’re cool with the mind control lol 🤔) but ann’s like “idc about that lol i just want him to suffer” SO TRUE. so true. i like her pigtails

- yusuke

ngl before i started playing i kind of already knew that i’d like this guy. i didn’t know much about him other than gay little artist but i knew. i was right. i am incredibly fond of this guy. partially because i too am a weirdo artist with parental issues (his persona awakening had me like *vibrates*) but mostly because he is just so funny. look at this guy! look at his stupid little tail! i lost my mind while doing his first confidant event thing he is GREAT. VERY cool. i just really like him. i could sit there and listen to his long impassioned speeches for a long time

- makoto

i was a big fairy tail fan in early middle school (unfortunate) and i play in dub so every time she opens her mouth i can only hear lucy/every other dub character her va has voiced cause there’s lots of them. ok first of all i’m not a big fan of her character archetype. yknow the straight laced student council president type. nothing personal just not my thing yknow! i do sympathize with her Issues of being useful and being used by the adults around her ofc but i’m not like INVESTED invested. tbf i haven’t known her too long. what’s his face mafia guy’s palace didn’t feel as personal as the last couple which probably contributes to that (underwhelming). on the other hand i really like that she has a motorcycle i was like ?! QUEEN and then THAT WAS HER CODENme??? very cool of her. i don’t care about her that much but i do think she is cool. if i were to encounter her irl i would be so intimidated

- akechi

he has not joined the team yet but he obviously will. i have not seen much of him yet but i do have many opinions. i did know he was this games komaeda archetype before playing because of the sheer amount of arguing i can vaguely remember scrolling past about him but even if i didn’t i would’ve instantly been able to tell. he’s fake as hell. i lose it every other sentence whenever he’s on screen WHO IS THIS GUY. “thesis antithesis *pretentious stuff*” “woowwwww you’re so interesting ^-^” “woahh look we happen to have met waiting for the train teehee” (whenever he pops up in those train scenes it feels like a jumpscare) there is a high percentage chance that i will like this guy a lot. there is a precedent for me really liking that sort of character and he is very entertaining. i hope he is just so unhinged. i mean there’s like a 99% chance he’s the ~mysterious guy causing all the accidents~ and also the “heh kid u were betrayed by one of your own” guy. so. he gives me the vibes of one of those really tiny cutesy dogs who are just incredibly aggressive. funny to me how ryuji hates him to an absurd degree like buddy chilll yeah he sucks but wowww. i LOVE that stupid doodle of him on the classroom chalkboard. the anime sparkles. his hair is ugly btw. we met on 6/9 which turns me into a 12 year old. i enjoyed our silly little tv debate

- futaba

i’m 99% sure that’s the name of the girl with the orange hair and glasses? i haven’t met her yet. she does the hackerman typing thing in the opening which is cute. i’m just mentioning her because i think she���s cute. she’s a techie with orange hair so i’ll probably like her

- fluffy brown hair girl

only character in the game art i haven’t mentioned so i kind of have to so it’s fair. she looks kind?? very fluffy. fluttershy is probably her favorite my little pony. she would eat bread

IN CONCLUSION everybody here needs therapy and also i’m mad that i got invested in a game with time / resource management / stealth mechanics :/ . the battle system is very cool. also the menus are the best character they’re SO sexy

[mrpenguinpants]

Alright, I finally read Reincarnation no Kaben

AFTER MONTHS (it’s probably been a month? My mind doesn’t keep track of the days) I FINALLY CAUGHT UP TO RNK. Ty to Okita anon for the recommendation (*￣3￣)╭💕💕💕 I absolutely loved it. 

After this I’ll start on the other recommendation you gave me. I kept a bit of a log of my reading journey under the read more tag. 

Major spoilers for literally everything in RNK up to ch 53 “Withdrawal”. 

Oh, and I’ll finish answering all my leftover asks and I SHOULD have a fic done by tomorrow. I was so ready to write and then I got up. Now I’m back to bed. 

I’m just gonna write this as a log since I read super super slow and I’m only on ch 7 at the start of writing this but I’m really liking it already. Though to be fair. I love everything okita anon recommends haha. I remember you saying you were simping over Kouu and I haven’t gotten to the part where he appears but I wanted to quickly google what he looked like to prepare myself and I see this:

Well. That’s reassuring. 

I was actually kinda surprised by how many western figures were in the manga since I know there are only like 7? Around 7 western figures that pop up in any anime/manga but seeing people like Albert Fish was kinda surprising but I really liked it. Also, at the end of certain chapters they write little bio’s on them so you get to know more about them was such a nice touch.  I also love that the tradition of making males -> females still stays strong even outside the fate universe hehe.

---

Literally, the next chapter I see him. AHHHHHHHHH. Well maybe not him but his eyeballs. 

This guy lowkey reminds me of the MC’s brother but it’s 99% because he has the same long ponytail. I wouldn’t be surprised if the brother was apart of the the Greats. Honestly, Ein reminds me of those really hard headed girls that are actually really kind on the inside but aren’t good at expressing themselves (maybe because that’s pretty much her character). I also like that Ein doesn’t like males but she’s hiding behind this guy. At least, I’m..99% sure this is Ein. 

I FUCKING KNEW IT. AS SOON AS I SAW HE GOT A THEIF TALENT I COULD FEEL THE SOLO LEVELING VIBES IN ME. HE CAN STEAL TALENTS I FUCKING KNEW IT!!! I’m surprised that Neumann didn’t say anything and  Haito seems to be aware of it.  

Edit: Ah okay, I understand a bit now but it almost seems like Haito is the only one aware of Toya’s second talent.

Edit 2: Okay, as much as I love power hungry MC’s I’m really glad they didn’t make Toya into that. I am such a softie for sympathetic and kind MC’s like these even though it’s been done so many times. I’m really glad this didn’t feel like a rehash. I mean, some points some of the stuff Toya says it does but it’s fine, I don’t mind that. I actually gave a crap about him since I usually prefer the side characters (I UNDERSTAND ANON, I CARE ABOUT KOUU SO MUCH AHHHHH) but HAITO?? AHHHHH. 

---

I like that Izo always has the same hat in every adaptation he’s in lol. Istg, cats are always op. Schrodinger seems so strong and the parallel universes are my absolute shit. Sometimes I think, in one universe I did this and in this universe I’m not. Would I rather stay in this universe or be in the one where I am actually productive. Usually I pick the productive universe and actually work but sometimes I’m a bit of a slacker haha. I think this is my approach to a lot of things in life. But I digress, I don’t wanna get too deep into my life. 

I can sorta sympathize with the sinners. At least the ripper guy to say the least. I love love love unhinged characters that just want to basically destroy the world or at least have fun. But then you find out- wait they are actually sympathetic oh no. That’s how I felt about Djoser in “im the great priest imhotep” (please...i beg...someone read this...I’m so starved). 

As much as character development and rooting for the hero is cool and all, I just want to simp for the crazy “let’s burn the world to the ground” kinda character. I’m also so glad Toya doesn’t automatically become evil and try and steal everyone’s talents because he does seem like a good person and I really don’t see him suddenly switching fields so when he saved (I don’t remember names I’m sorry), the undead solider it was really nice. Proves that he still has his humanity and isn’t strictly relying on the branch of sin. 

It makes sense that he wants to steal talents since he never had one (and it was kinda out of left field when he killed Vlad and we just never addressed that ever again haha) but to see him actually consider his actions and if he actually want’s to steal his teammates talents feels right to me. Poor guy doesn’t seem to have a lot of friends so this is the first time he’s ever seemed to have companionship, aside from Haito, so I really hope he doesn’t attempt to steal their talents. I think I’m thinking of the slime? That time I got reincarnated as a slime manga/anime. Where he’s the pokemon catcher of skills. I thought that was where it was going. 

But I do kinda like how selfish Haito and Toya’s talent stealing relationship is (I mean, later it develops but my first draft of writing this I wasn’t there yet). I’m not sure if selfish or like self-gratitude/pride is the right word but it’s kind of a breath of fresh air. Rather than Haito trying to contain or “help” Toya’s inferiority she’s actually encouraging it and using her own talent for her own...acknowledgement? Er, yeah let’s go with that. 

---

This. This interaction. I love this. Like, genuinely love this. We need more of this. Two people from opposite sides finding some common ground and their fight to the death is less about morals or whose on whose side but for themselves. I love that. This is actually some wholesome stuff. 

Edit: AHHHHH CATCH MY UGLY CRYING IN THE BACK BECAUSE ALL THE “SINNERS” ARE ACTUALLY AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. IM DEAD. YOU’VE KILLED ME. 

---

I KNEW IT! YOU CAN NEVER TRUST THESE KIND OF PEOPLE!! I’m going to slap the whiteboard on this but if I see any “goofy” character I’m immediately sus of them. 

As much as I hate that Hitler is getting drawn as a small child I really like this. I know the whole, oh I killed your friends but I’m letting you go because you express humanity but I’m gonna finish my death with a sympathetic line, can be annoying to people but idk I really liked this. 

Honestly this and the undead soldiers death hit me hard ngl. This manga might not have my favourite art style during some points compared to like main stream manga but it has some really beautiful scenes. 

BOOM CALLED IT, though it’s pretty obvious lol. 

THE PONY TAIL NEVER LIES AND HES DA VINCI IT MAKES SENSE NOW

He looks so cute lol. I like that Seiya has the talent of being talented in everything while Toya has the talent to steal other talents. Seiya can probably only cap his power by his own physical/mental abilities with Toya can pull a solo leveling and go further beyond. Thinking of it like jack of trades vs master of none type deals. Though, I might be thinking too hard on this. I like that this man is actually humble but I really wish there was a tiny bit more to him since we only get this one interaction/backstory but the manga isn’t completed yet. I really hope we get to know about Seiya more;; like how he became da vinci or etc. 

Everytime I see Neumann I look at that comic sans type and it kills me on the inside. But I love that her eyes are 01 just, mwah perfection. These little details that aren’t that big but it’s soooo nice. I also ahem, unhinged character heart be still. It’s really nice reading manga in bursts because you can see the art progression and damn does she look good. 

tiny fang appreciation post. 

ngl i’M HARD SIMPING FOR THIS MAN. It’s the pony tail, I have such a thing for guys with long hair (and this is why genshin broke me) but man the art really picked up here. 

I didn’t get into it but OKITA ANON I GET IT. KOUU??? AHHHH. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE??? As much as his whole “war” was a bit questionable in the beginning and tbh I still don’t really get it I like that he knows he’s not the same as the other Greats but still tries to help the other “sinners” in a way only he knows. That’s why Seiya was so important;; I get that he wanted them to have a fun death and to be understood but idk, the whole war idea and having them kill each other (especially the Hitler fights because I understand the others since they reached some kind of acknowledgement) but nonetheless, what a great guy.

Nightingale gives me mad masaki vibes from chainsawman. I hate them and I can’t wait for you to fail, but the inner part of my is cheering for you because unhinged characters are my shit. I feel really bad for Neumann, I had suspicions she wasn’t actually like that since it’s sooo out of left field but I’m really glad the manga seems to know what it’s doing. I really wish we got more Kouu interactions with everyone tho. 

NOW THIS. THIS IS SOME WHOLESOME STUFF. I WANT THIS. I REALLY WANT SPIN-OFF OF REALLY SAD ANIME/MANGA/STORIES WHERE ALL THE DEAD PEOPLE HANG OUT. That’s how I’m feeling about JJK and the scroll segments or BSD WAN that just came out. IT’S SO WHOLESOME TO SEE EVERYONE NOT TRYING TO KILL EACH OTHER. 

UGLY SOBBING IN THE CLUBBB AND KOUU AND CHARLOTTE AHHHH. I hate how this is phrased but the respect I have for Hitler?? YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD THAT IS TO TYPE?? Kitazuka is cool tho, I really like him. Some god given talent. I’m hard simping over him but I really hope we get to know more about him later. 

Getting smug mona vibes, I love this. 

AHHH IVE NEVER FELT THIS UPSET OVER AN APPLEEEE. I’M ACTUALLY UPSET. IF HE DIES IM ACTUALLY GOING TO CRY MY HEART OUT. 

THE FAMOUS SLAP 

I’M SORRY WHA- SLENDERMAN?

Oh..wow. Okay, be still my heart. When I first saw her I thought she was really pretty but now I’m absolutely smitten. God damn, can I please have some more crumbs on these characters before they die;; 

AHHH SAME GIRL FUCKING SAME????? I adore these small panels and translator notes. It’s a real breather after the sad 3am hours talk these characters go through. 

Yagyuu. Jesus christ. WHY ARE ALL THE DEATH SCENES IN THIS MANGA ACTUALLY SO PRETTY AND STABS ME IN THE HEART??? that’s it. goodbye. im fucking out. im actually so upset rn. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME? 

---

In conclusion, and I should probably re-read what the characters say and not go off on memory because I’m about to get really deep. I really like how they phrased why they wanted to stop the branch of sin. That there are people just like Toya and Haito who, if they never found the branch of sin, could still probably lead respectable and okay lives. That there was a “them” in another universe that didn’t go down that road and that they want to be in the same universe as “them”. I know this sounds really confusing if you haven’t read the manga but going back to what I said about the parallel universe stuff. 

There was a universe where Toya and Haito didn’t rely on the branch of sin, that even without their talents from becoming a returner, they could still live a happy life given their own personalities and attitudes. It was kinda moving since in the beginning, Toya wanted a talent so badly and now that he has one. He’s realizing that wait, I don’t need a past life talent in order to live. Honestly, I hard relate to that because I totally agree with him. If you have a talent you can probably live a very happy and comfortable life that other factors wouldn’t matter if you just have that incredible talent. Thinking of it as a painter or artist, if you had actual god-given talent you wouldn’t need to worry about other factors since people would naturally seek that talent. So you end up comparing yourself to others and setting that limit on yourself. 

But that’s okay, it’s completely natural and I’m not saying it’s horrible if you do this. Fuck, I do this all the time. I’m not saying the manga is changing my life but it’s kind of refreshing that it get’s talked about since other adaptations of this just make the character super OP. I understand wanting to have that incredible talent, fuck who doesn’t? but you don’t need it in order to live earnestly in the bigger picture sense. Not everything you do has to be productive and honestly, learning to be okay with having fun is nice. Just being okay with who you are right now, even if it isn’t perfect in your eyes, you still have time to build upon yourself and your own talents but doing it for yourself. 

But I probably missed the point and I’m going way to deep haha. But I really enjoyed reading this and thank you once again to okita anon for the recommendation^^ I always love everything you send me and I’ll start reading the next one. If anyone else has any recommendations let me know!