#Malleus be dead too. Death from grief.

[avionvadion]

My brain decided it wanted to sketch something depressing, so here ya go! Sorry not sorry, lol. Eleanora's final death many years later and Malleus making an orchard/flowery tomb within the castle in his grief for his deceased wife.

From right to left, you got Aiden and Valerie, Valerie's presently unnamed kiddo, (She would one hundred percent be the first one to get married. Cassius is still very confused as to how he ended up at the altar but he isn't complaining, lol, unlike his poor dad who is panic attacking. R.I.P Sebek, his poor simping heart can't handle the fact his son is marrying a Draconia.) Melody, Ellis, and two unnamed Malleora twins. One has round ears like Ellis while the other has pointed.

I'm convinced at this point that dragon blood is just inherently and ridiculously strong and overpowers most other non-dragon genetics. Dragons are canonically rare, and we know from Raverne's name that he's most likely some type of bird fae (Crowley, I swear to gods if it's you there will be DEATH) so it's likely previous Draconias have married non-dragon fae, but their children are always dragons. Also, Malleus is his mother's spitting image, like damn.

Dragon genetics are strong.

But, also, I'm playing with the idea that it also determines how strong one's magic is. Aiden has the brown hair, so his magic isn't as powerful as Valerie, Melody, or one of the unnamed twin sisters'. However, his magic is stronger than the other unnamed twin sister and Ellis' as the unnamed twin sister has round ears and Ellis has neither horns nor pointed ears.

Uh, magic ranking wise:

Valerie

Melody

Unnamed Sister #1

Aiden

Unnamed Sister #2

Ellis

Sibling age order though: Aiden and Valerie, Ellis, Melody, Unnamed Twin Sisters.

[thatnonameuser]

I always have a spot for "Peepaw" Lilia, Alongside his war days self but I wonder what happens if the role of the Platonic!yandere turns.. Romantic? Reunion for feeling that living spark that he once had when he was young for his Childhood Friends.

What if he's not aiming for the young yuu that the younglings are hunting down, especially if he's also trying to be matchmaker for his sons... but A hidden older darling in Ramshackle that he stumbled upon while a potion/ Spell mishap? (Turning to a tiny bat, turning a ghost, teleportation, etc). 

Their child Yuu is out there, and Here they are recovering from– something? Where woes and common ground being a parent comes in play?

Before I begin, all the Lilia lovers out there. The reason I don't want to write Lilia as a romantic yandere for the MC in the yandereverse, is because Lilia is the equivalent of 70 in the TWST World and MC is at youngest 18. That's just makes me too uncomfortable for me to write.

But for an older darling, I can do that....

For this I'll be using Yuu for the MC, ____ is you. Also, the reader is the parent/older sibling of Yuu.

Lilia is no stranger to the craziness that comes out of one's love for their one true love.

It was much wilder in the olden days. Back when duels to the death were much more common. It's for the best the times have changed. The very last thing he wants to experience is having to pick between his boys should their fight for human Yuu grow out of hand.

Things have changed for the better these days.

But he wishes he'd made the decision to fight for Maleanor back when she was alive. The hole in his heart from that loneliness and grief has carved a hole in him that not even his fatherly love for Malleus and Silver can fill.

He's expected to die with that hole craving him clean through.

But it seems Maleanor didn't head back to stars just yet.

He was never one to follow the darling reincarnation belief after her death. All his years of travel during his search for information killed that belief dead, before it ever came to life. That was until he found you.....

He wasn't expecting to find you when he did. He wasn't expecting to find you at all.

In fact, he'd been following Malleus on one of his little walks dates. Yuu's rejection of his love was harsh, but Malleus was always so kind at heart. Poor boy always yearned for love. And he would get that love, all Yuu needs is a push, or rather a very harsh and painful shove.

That was his plan for the night. Go and nudge force Yuu in the right direction.

Malleus teleported back to Diasomnia, he'd calm his temper when he returned later.

And that's when it happened.

He'd known that besides Grim, Yuu wasn't the only one that lived in Ramshackle, but he was yet to see the other person. And now he did.

The foolish Yuu retreats back to the safety of their dorm. And an another one comes out.

And for the first time in four hundred years, his heart feels full again. He feels whole, at just the sight of them. That same pull that he'd felt back in his youth. That warmth and joy that's born from undying everlasting love. He feels two hundred years younger, like a weight was taken off his shoulders.

It seems his dove came back to him. And you've come back as something equally beautiful as you were before.

The little darling in your arms is frightened, "______...Why?! Why did he?" Oh, so that's your new name. ______, it's just as lovely as the last one.

"Sh, It's okay. You're going to be okay, Yuu." You hug them in your arms like you want to protect them from this big dangerous world. Far away from all the evils that threaten them. Aw~ Isn't that just the sweetest? Your parental love is just as strong as it's been all those years ago. So desperate to protect your children from the threats that try to steal them from your arms.

Well, it would just be cruel to do what he planned to Yuu now. It would just tear you to shreds to be separated from them.

Perhaps, he can use this to his advantage. You don't want to be separated, so he'll give you the option of staying together.

Wouldn't that just make you all a big happy family? Him, finally reunited with his precious dove again and one of his boys happy with their darling Yuu. It will mean he'll have to play peacemaker pretty soon but, after he convinces them to share, all will be well.

"Go back inside, Yuu. Arm yourself, stay with Grim and don't open the door until I come back. OK?" You're so protective, willing to send your loved one away and staying behind in the danger zone. The two of you are so much alike.

He doesn't mean to jump the gun, but it seems Malleus might even be reunited with his mother, all he has to do is make contact. Well, the younger darling is inside now, no time like the present.

"Hello there, little dove!" You jump out your skin in surprise at his sudden arrival, but he's expected that. He also expected the kitchen knife you try to drive into his face. He catches it with ease, he's grown up with your fiery little temper. You haven't changed a bit.

"You're wearing Diasomnia colours, are you Lilia Vanrouge?" You recognise him, why didn't he start believing in that idea earlier.

"Why yes I am."

"Are here for Yuu?"

"No, no, my precious dove. I'm here for you." Your face widens in surprise.

Now, that he's much closer he can see the difference between Yuu and yourself. You're a little older, by a few years at minimum. Still, you're quite young. He won't have to worry about your fragile human life ending so soon. Plus, this means he can leave Silver with some siblings.

"But-But I don't-I'm not-"

He shushes you, there's no need for this fear, this trepidation. "Dove. I've mourned you for so long. Now that you're back, I won't ever let you leave me again."

"But what about-"

"Don't worry, the little darling you're protecting will be fine. In fact, I think we'll be one big happy family."

[viviennevermillion]

ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ

❝ always there to warm you in the winter.... always there with shelter from the rain... always there to catch you when you're falling... always there to stand you up again... family...❞ — Lady & the Tramp 2

notes: i see chapter 7 part 4 did things to our puny little minds. part of @briarvalleyarchives "anthems of old" event. a short story about lilia, malleus and whom they've lost.

warnings: character death, major chapter 7 spoilers

The winter after the beloved princess had passed was a cruel and solemn one. The snowflakes would travel through the cold air of Briar Valley as they had done so many times in the years prior and hit the ground, melting into the ones that had come before; a fate that was all too familiar to the residents of the small nation. The war had left its scars upon the lands. Beasts had run rampant in the villages; destroying homes that had been carefully built with love and dedication. The caves in the mountains were stripped of their glamour, the crystals that had reflected the sunlight that would, despite all odds, break through the cracks, were stolen by beasts unfamiliar to the once peaceful home of the fae.

Because some beasts were not as easy to handle as the demon beasts that came from the mountains to wreak havoc in the settlements. No one knew that better than the fearsome General Vanrouge. From the moment Lady Mallenoa had entered her eternal slumber; with no amount of love able to wake her once more, it was as though winter never ended. Memories of times gone by would flash through his mind; the way they had played in the snow as children and the young princess would never go easy on him; using her magic to turn the previously innocent game into a battlefield of snowballs that left Lilia no room to fight back. It took centuries for him to be able to hold a candle to her power.

Now the snow was stained with the blood of his enemies. At the time, the general had never taken a moment to think about whether the Silver Owls he had slain had a family waiting for them at home as well. They had taken his, so they were undeserving of theirs. General Vanrouge had been consumed by the rage and bitterness in his heart, destroying all who dared stand in his path, for his heart now belonged to battle. This way, he wouldn't have to mourn the past.

He remembered vividly, always, the day they laid her to rest. It seemed as though the whole kingdom was present to say their goodbyes to her. Each citizen who attended the burial was dressed in black for this day, illuminated in the dead of night only by the candles they held as the princess was carried in a casket to her final resting place. The queen had placed a single rose on the ground that to Lilia seemed as though it had swallowed her. Lilia had walked up to the grave later when everyone had left. He thought of the egg still rested and protected within the chambers of the castle. "I promise, for as long as I live, no harm shall come to it. And not a day will go by....that I don't miss your smile", his voice cracked as the tears started streaming down his face. The seasons would go by and yet the cold never passed. Not when the sun would rise on the next day, not when it had risen a hundred years later.

General Vanrouge remembered how she had taught him to play stringed instruments, something he found boring and pointless as a child. Princess Mallenoa always had such a soothing voice. He remembered how she'd sit next to her egg with Prince Levan and sing a soft song to the unborn child. Now Lilia's heart sang without a sound; a quiet melody of grief and unrest. Her funeral was the last time he had allowed himself to cry. The numbness in his heart when he'd open his eyes in the morning didn't fade for decades, centuries even. These were lifespans in the eyes of a child of man; and they seemed to have forgotten all about the devastation they had brought to Briar Valley just a few hundred years later. But a soldier's heart never forgets. It never forgives. That was what Lilia thought at the time. Pain had made him heartless and his heart had been locked away for he feared the pain it held more than any foe on the battlefield. He only hoped, wherever she was now, that she had found peace.

How many times had he wished to feel again? To wake up in the morning and hear her pounding on his door, angry about something. It had annoyed him at the time. But she had been alive.

Yes, the seasons had gone by, yet eternal winter resided in the hearts of the people. But nothing stopped another day. Nothing stopped the inevitable; that the general's heart would thaw one day and spring would arrive in Briar Valley.

It was a miracle. At this point, the egg was more of a reminder of a future that would never be. A memory. Something to make one realize that the royal family would die with Queen Maleficia; the future of the kingdom as uncertain as it had been since the day the war ended. And who would blame anyone? It had been centuries.

But Malleus was spring.

He was the reason General Vanrouge shed a tear once more. One of relief and of love he thought he no longer had inside him. He had smiled when he first saw the little dragon fae with his eggshell on his small face. A smile he was sure the princess would have teased him for. After all, wasn't it him who had always said that he hated children? Who had refused to hold her egg when she had offered it to him? Yet in that moment, he couldn't help to do so. He had picked the little prince up and looked at the queen with the brightest smile she had seen on him in centuries. Tears were streaming down his face as the small fae was just looking up at him with awe and curiosity in his eyes. People say that when someone passes, in a way they are still with you. Lilia had always thought that this was bullshit, he had been far too bitter to notice. But in that moment, he realized that Mallenoa was all around him. He held her legacy in his arms. "She saved us once again, didn't she?", he had whispered quietly, wiping the tears from his face.

The little prince grew up healthy and not one bit less of a fire hazard than his mother had been. He grew up unaware of the bloodshed that had stained his beloved homeland when his egg had come into existence. Unaware of what his parents had sacrificed, of what Lilia had sacrificed, so that he could live and grow. But he had often wondered what it would be like if his parents were still around. Sometimes Malleus would sneak out of the castle, quietly observing the people in the village at the foot of the mountain in awe. He saw little children, not much older than him, protesting under tears because they didn't want to go clothes shopping for their uncle's 900th birthday as they were dragged by their parents' hand and promised their favorite candy if they would go along without making a fuss. He witnessed a mother explaining to her toddler what a bird was. He watched and listened as a father read his son a story on a bench by the fountain. Lilia had read him lots of stories before. But Malleus had always wondered what his father's voice would have sounded like doing this.

The prince spent most of his days alone in the castle. Lilia still had work to do and his grandmother was busy ruling an entire country as he would come to do one day as well. So as soon as Malleus had learnt to read, he would spend his time in the library, curiously exploring stories from a world beyond the castle walls; hoping that he would one day spread his wings to set off and see it for himself. Lots of the stories contained themes of family but few of the families looked quite like his. There was always a mother, a father and at least one child. Malleus would take the books and show it to his guardian, asking Lilia what his father was like and whether he would have taken him fishing like the farmer did with his son in the picture book. There was a flash of pain on Lilia's expression that Malleus had never noticed back then. "I'm sure he would have", the older fae had answered. The stories Malleus heard about his own parents were always short and vague. But Lilia had told him that they were exceptional people who would be proud of him if they could see him now.

Malleus had always wondered what having a father was like. He would get his answer when Lilia took a small human into his custody. Malleus was curious about the baby, always sneaking out to visit the cottage in the forest to see what his guardian was up to. At first he was pouting because Lilia was now giving most of his attention to someone else. But with time he had grown to care for the little child of man. Lilia seemed much happier now. Time had healed his wounds despite the scars of battle and loss never truly fading. He would arrive at the castle to do a task the queen had assigned to him and the prince would greet him to ask about how Silver was doing. Malleus was happy that Silver got to grew up with a father. He never fathomed that both of them could lose him.

The world was simple back then. It was just the castle, Malleus, his grandmother, Lilia and the little human he was raising and that Malleus would often play with or read to when Lilia had work to do at the palace. He couldn't ever have imagined going to Night Raven College and finding the world had changed so much from the one he read about in books. Or that his third year would mark his last with Lilia. That he would see Silver cry and grieve like this.

The world outside of Briar Valley was one he had always longed to see and that brought him many curious, but happy memories. He had learnt about the Halloween traditions of other nations and celebrated the holiday together with them. He had cooked a meal for the first time and the person he had served it to had enjoyed it. He had seen other countries and took part in their culture.

Even Lilia still found the school to be a place for new experiences. He had met a friend on this strange invention called the "Internet" and treasured that friendship despite never having met this friend in person. This online friend would often talk to Lilia in the chat, casually mentioning how he had obtained the newest addition of his favorite manga or played a game with his brother. Lilia would hesitate for a moment, recalling memories that seemed so long ago to him now.

"I had a sister... once."

He deleted the words before he had sent them. No need to bother Gloomurai with a sob story from his life that happened centuries ago. Little did he know that the stranger on the other side of the screen understood all about the struggle of losing a sibling.

Yes, Night Raven College was full of new beginnings for Malleus and his family. But it was the way of the world that nothing could truly last forever, tragic and unfair as it was. Nothing stops another day. Not even a sleeping curse or an overblot dragon. The spell laid waste to Sage's Island, and although the damage was way less than it could have been, the aftermath of it could still be seen everywhere one looked. Malleus felt ashamed of what he had done and Lilia was reminded of scenes from the war long ago.

But everyone joined together to help and rebuild what had been destroyed. Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy. Fairies and Humans.

"Seems as though we avoided the worst case, huh?", Lilia mused as he noticed Queen Maleficia, the dragon fairy who had raised him since he was a baby, standing next to him. The queen nodded and noted what a bureaucratical nightmare this whole ordeal would be despite all.

Lilia looked at the scene that was unfolding before his eyes. The fae who had come to the island to break through the spell and fight against Malleus's overblot were now helping the locals rebuild their houses with magic. The students would hand out meals to everyone who helped. The citizens were already planting new seeds in place of the trees and fields that had been destroyed. They would one day grow into an idyllic image of a peaceful home. Just as Malleus and Silver had grown into formidable people. The young prince had fallen further than he ever did before, but now the old general was certain that he could stand on his own feet at last. Both of his sons could. And the bat fae was glad that he could depart knowing this much.

"It seems the children of man truly know no rest when it comes to progress", the queen remarked, looking at the humans who fixed the fields beside the village and the fae soldiers who were assisting them.

"It appears so"

"What are they planting?"

Lilia looked at the rising sun, remembering the faith that Princess Mallenoa once had; that mankind and fae would one day live in peace and help each other grow. He had called it foolish at the time, mocking his sister's words by calling them a fever dream. Yet this was just another way in which she had changed his world, just as the little prince he raised had been. There was a smile on his face as he thought about how this day might just mark the beginning of the future the princess had envisioned.

"Hope."

[pandoa]

when you're gone

~where the prefect has died, and he is left to pick up the pieces they shattered~ ~how they cope with your death~

~headcanons~ ~twisted wonderland x gender neutral reader~

warnings: angst, death

if you think i'm going to sugarcoat anything you're dead wrong i am here for tears :>

on the outside, nothing about him seems to have changed. in the mornings, he still wakes up and goes to class. in the afternoon, he still playfully attends club meetings and meets up with his other friends at nrc. in the nighttime, he doesn’t even spare the lifeless walls of ramshackle a glance as he walks back to his dorm. he seems… normal. however, everyone around him can sense that something is wrong. through his fake laughter and sugarcoated lies, everyone around him can see that he incredibly misses you. you left a hole in his heart that he covered up well in thick, scarlet paint. his lies to his friends bring him a toxic kind of comfort. but his lies to himself bring him more pain as each smile suffocates him with every day that passes.

CATER DIAMOND, lilia vanrouge, KALIM AL-ASIM, ace trappola, rook hunt

he works. he works, and works, and works until every fiber of his body begs him to stop. he just wants to forget about you. why can’t he let you go? he misses you every minute of his day and every second of his night. you infected his mind like a haunting curse sent to bring him down, and so he chose to work. to take his mind off of everything you. to ignore the fact that your absence affected his grieving heart the way that it did. you were his greatest distraction, after all. but why deal with grief when there was a perfectly long list of to-do’s to complete right before him instead?

RIDDLE ROSEHEARTS, azul ashengrotto, jamil viper, VIL SCHOENHEIT, ruggie bucchi

he sits at your resting place a little longer than he should. most of the time, he is simply just sitting next to your grave, quiet and lost in his thoughts. when no other person is around, he talks to you. he speaks about his days, the latest shenanigans your friends have been stirring, the new shops that have opened since your passing, the inexplainable emptiness he feels whenever he turns around and remembers you won’t be there by his side like usual. he watches as the flowers around the cemetery bloom and wither with the inevitable work of time. on his days off from class, he stays by your engraved stone as the sun rises and sets, sitting beside you to keep you company. he dearly yearns for your warmth; however, he supposes the cold touch of your gravestone against the caresses of his fingertips was good enough. 

jack howl, cater diamond, EPEL FELMIER, ruggie bucchi, jade leech, LILIA VANROUGE, idia shroud, malleus draconia

he’s irrational. angry. rage seems to be the only thing on his mind. if you think he made livid choices before, then you clearly did not see him the day your death was announced. when crowley had confirmed that you were, in fact, dead, he couldn’t believe it. wait—no. he wouldn’t believe it. someone as strong as you couldn’t die so easily. he knew you all too well. and from that day on, he made it his mission to be the most difficult and obnoxious person to have ever set foot in twisted wonderland, regardless of the chaos he caused because of it. he doesn’t care if others are appalled by his actions. he doesn’t care if his actions caused by anger affect the people around him. fine! let them suffer! their agony cannot compare to the ache he feels, though. he may be blinded by his emotions, but what does it matter anyway? his heart was bleeding and it wasn’t fair. 

LEONA KINGSCHOLAR, floyd leech

he dreams of you every night. whether those dreams are joyful ones or replays of terrible memories, he dreams of it all. you cloud his mind like a never-ending mist, and he can’t seem to get rid of you. you were his star in the darkest shadows of the night. however all stars must burn out eventually, and it seems that you decided to burn out sooner than he thought. each new dream of his unlocks an unwanted image of you. images of you and him laughing along the sunlit pathways of his dorm. images of your precious face, rosy from something he just said. images of you and him together—the way it should have been. it’s to the point that he wishes he could sleep forever just so he can see the image of your face and the sweetness of your voice, even if only in his imagination. the moment he closes his eyes, he does not wish to wake up. he only wants to dream of you again and again until even he is sucked into the depths of death as well. 

riddle rosehearts, SILVER, azul ashengrotto, idia shroud, trey clover, rook hunt, malleus draconia

he doesn’t believe it. you couldn’t have died, you just couldn’t! what would happen to all the memories you made? the future the two of you would make together? the future you both had dreamed about? it was impossible. you can’t be dead. conflicted emotions boil within him as he convinces himself that you are still alive. that you are simply taking a short break from nrc and would return home to him soon. everyone around him is pained to see him being in such shambles—the innocence in denial was just too sweet of a spell. even as he watched your coffin descend six feet to the ground on that mournful day, he remained chained to the shackles of disbelief as tears began to stain his crestfallen face. 

deuce spade, epel felmier, kalim al-asim, sebek zigvolt

a/n: there was one point where i got so into imagining these hcs that i literally could not see what i was writing bc tears were streaming down my face 💀

[riddlerosehearts]

okay. so. overall i loved this latest twst update but there were a couple things i didn't 100% love and i'll talk about one of them in this post: the shroud parents being so nice and loving and helpful seriously threw me off last time they appeared because i thought they always seemed so emotionally distant before. both from how idia talked about them on occasion and how they never once appeared in his very lengthy, two-part overblot flashback, not when he was shutting himself in his room for 2 whole years or when he finished creating ortho--the only adults we ever saw were STYX researchers. so like, i'd always had the impression that they weren't necessarily The Worst Parents Ever but that they were just so busy with their work that they forgot to pay attention to their kids. and when they first appeared in book 7, it felt like they were behaving exactly how a lonely little robot boy who knew that he was "replacing" their dead son would want them to act, and even looked that way too with the daft punk helmets giving them a robotic look. it just seemed too good to be true imo.

after that update came out i had read a theory that said maybe malleus was so powerful that he could put even a robot to sleep, and that that was what we were seeing: ortho dreaming of getting to be a hero and save the day, and getting to have this perfect happy family. i loved that idea. i probably should've realized a twist like that wasn't going to happen when we still hadn't checked back in on ortho after so many months, but i just thought, and still think, that it would be so compelling if ortho wished to be loved and accepted so badly that some part of him deep down had become human enough to dream, or at least for malleus to be able to bring out that part of him. if his parents weren't so loving in reality and maybe didn't even fully accept him as their son, so he dreamt that they would--which is a heartbreaking thought, but i definitely would not have put it past twst to do that. i also just like... think it would be neat if the development ortho has been getting in events and vignettes, which heavily focuses on his growing sense of autonomy and how he's started to have his own desires outside of his intended purpose of just Being Idia's Brother, was given a little more focus in the main story.

anyway though. obviously that theory just got obliterated by canon! so i guess the most logical explanation for the discrepancy in the shroud parents' portrayal might be that they were too emotionally distant and focused on their work before, and remained that way for a long time after ortho's death, but eventually they "woke up" and realized they'd never really been there for their sons. losing one of them changed them for the better and now they really are that helpful and sweet. if their behavior seems too good to be true then it could be because they're trying their hardest to make up for the years they wasted, to be a proper family now. maybe they didn't accept ortho for the longest time out of grief and that's part of why they never appeared in idia's flashback, but they later decided that just because they can never truly regain or replace the son they lost, doesn't mean they can't treasure the one they still have and the one that they've gained. and i guess the shroud parents still fully accepting ortho and loving him as one of their own despite the tragedy that led them to become family, and despite the fact that ortho does not have the shroud family blood flowing through his (nonexistent) veins, would parallel the bond that lilia has with silver and malleus... oh. okay. i think i've kinda just talked myself into feeling better about this, actually.

[lvminisciel]

lost one's weeping

— what shall become of those who cannot handle the grief of loved ones?

tags: silver & lilia, angst, major character death

his father has been ill for some time now, and silver always make sure to stay by his side no matter what

thankfully all that's left of his college studies is his ongoing thesis, whereas he collected the samples already & can finish it without leaving his father's bedside

his father never minded if he leaves actually, if he still needs to attend classes— while silver would've chose to pause his studies to accompany his only family, of course his father will only urge him to 'not bother for this old man' and 'ill be fine, now go!'

sometimes during their lighthearted chats, father would tell him to take things easy, to take rests whenever needed

'dont push yourself too hard, dear, nobody's chasing u around!'

silver would put a thin smile at his father's remarks

but deep down silver knew. there's something looming between him and his father, and what was once used to be the two of them against the whole world, something was eyeing them ever since his father entered this ward- gaze dead-focused solely on his father, like a hunter waiting for the best time to snatch their prey. to take his father away from him.

the clock is ticking, tic, toc.

silver is racing against time, against all odds; but he'd do anything, 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 to win this race

not once did he leave the very same ward his father's in since months ago, if not for grabbing lunch or running his father's errands. he wouldn't. he 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵. even as his logic tried to compromise with his mind, that all living beings will surely depart someday, he cant stand the thought of it

after all, how wld he be able to live then? how is he supposed to function with the absence of his father, when his father is all he ever knew throughout his life? the air around him, his beating heart— everything around him morphs in the form of his father

he would cease to exist if it weren't for his father. heck, even if he did survive without his figure back then, he's 100% sure his infant self would rather be eaten by the wolves in the woods if it knew his father doesn't exist

it's his love that made him alive after all, and it always will be.

so when that fateful night when laughter filled the room after malleus & sebek's visit, when all had toned down, his father asked him if he could do him a favor

silver agreed of course, altho he dislikes the tense air that had seemingly built up in the room

father proceeds with a seemingly simple, yet for silver it sounded like something too inaccomplishable for a task:

silver sat still, unable to mutter a word

looking up to his father, he was welcomed by his gleeful smile; one he had always loved, one he would see everyday during the course of his life by far. one he knew he could always return to after a long journey, something to call home; one he couldn't bear the thought of losing

a stray tear fall

silver doesn't even realize he was crying, not until his father pulled him into a hug. droplets from his eyes seeped into his father's shirt, and only in the safe haven of his father did he starts to sob uncontrollably

that night, he was basked in his father's embrace once again- with pats and soft hums adorned his hair

he cried and cried and cried— until no more tears are able to fall

he sobs and sobs and sobs— until his throat runs dry and not a single voice escaped his mouth

he wail and wail and wail— yet no matter how hard he weeps, none of his sadness seemed to ease

the room was silent if not for silver's cries, and though his beloved son did not mutter a single word, he understood all the same

it's his son after all, and no matter how he would've loved to be with him forever, he had lived long enough for the curtain call

little did silver knew that it's not only him that is aware of its presence, of death lurking in the depths

lilia knew it all too well, all those times he spent at the battlefield wasn't all for naught

though he is, in all truthness, is practically amazed at how vastly different their meetings now

he used pester on how much time he should spent in this desolate world, why didnt it take him already, even begging it during meleanor's passing:

'take me with you. please.'

but now? oh, how time has changed.

how he tried to compromise with death for more time, at least until his beloved son's graduation, or even longer. a single second of time spent with his son is worth more than anything he had sacrificed all these years

yet death is but just to all kinds of beings. no compromises. no deal could be made, no pact could be signed. the time had been decided before ages even existed, and death had been anything but ruthless to ensure it intact

people view death as malevolent, but it's this unyielding nature that keeps the world in order

it's past midnight, and his son had long fell asleep. he's probably too tired from all those crying, lilia thought to himself, whilst still caressing his hair

determined, he decides to acknowledge the other being in the room; might as well chat for a bit before he departs

'we meet again! finally you came for me'

'.......'

'although this time i dont need to beg you to take me'

'.....that child'

'oh, you mean my child?'

'......he wouldnt be able to function without you.'

lilia stood still. a motionless glance as he gazed upon his son, he opens his mouth, voice barely above a whisper

'what do you see, dear reaper?'

a deafening silence ensues

‘even so'

lilia spoke calmly, breaking the silence

'i knew you would be as just to my beloved son, as you do to any other beings. wouldnt you lord reaper?'

'.......'

'he was a good son. and always will be'

'no matter how deep the wound of grievances are, im sure he'll find purpose. even if it's not always in the lightful manner, for he is blessed by the blessing of the night'

'but he will. survive. and when the time comes, we'll finally be able to spend another eternity together again'

a step closer. as lilia saw the forlorn blade of woe emerges beneath the reaper's surface, he hugs his son tighter into his embrace, murmuring a gentle promise with his warmest of smile

'may we meet again, under a lovelier dawn'

thus, the sky was cleared of its fog, along with a piece of life in it

[charonyx]

Crowley braninrot mess (not coherent) (all over the place)

Just to get thoughts out of the way, I want to analyze the Crowley card because this is definitely BIG (and I hope the rest of the staff may get their cards too). Fair warning, this is all speculation, theories and just whatever my brain is spilling out

So, THIS

My first thoughts were "Oh my gosh, really????", then I started to consider what this meant for the story, as in, why release his card NOW? Yes, this is an event card, but this is the first staff card and well this makes me suspicious of him coming into the main story. I mean, of course, he'd have to intervene somehow considering the suspicious smile he gives in the opening (which reminds me of Malleus' smile, but not getting into that, more people have analyzed that probably)

Anyway, his role will be made apparent, but I can't think of a way he'd organically waltz into Chapter 7 and become important right now. Which is why the Crowley = Levan theory would make sense where it would be this emotional meet up of a biological father that Malleus has never known and Lilia would have to deal with the fact someone he long thought was dead is right now playing the role of a goofy headmage. The thing though, is that I have a feeling that isn't where the story is going. Do I think they have something that's connecting them together? Yes, but there's something I can't quite explain that's preventing me from fully accepting the theory. Imma just try to write out (more) thoughts and try to digest my stance on things.

So, Malleus' conflicting thoughts on knowing his biological dad is alive, yet considering Lilia his real father since HE'S the one who took care of him, HE'S the one who had suffered hatred and rebuke trying to raise him and honor Meleanor's wish, spicy stuff.

Lilia's thoughts and emotional rollercoaster of knowing that one of his best buddies/Meleanor's partner/whatever relationship they had, is alive and hasn't considered contacting him, to reach out after grieving for his loss. Also spicy.

But also

The fakeout of a parent death. Many pieces of media do it, but I don't know if it feels right that Malleus gets to have a parent be fine and alive unless they make it tragic like Crowley has amnesia and doesn't remember anything about his past yet he has some sense of determination to keep going and find stuff out even if he's not sure why. THAT would be something.

There could also be a turnaround where Levan, a kind soul, fell into grief after his wife's death and has been trying to get her back/get her soul? that he places all his energy on that and places on an incompetent and silly act. As for his feelings for Malleus, there are multiple options. He either doesn't care for him, only cares for Meleanor and doesn't pay attention to him. This doesn't seem likely to be in Levan's character from what little we hear of how he was, even if he was suffering from heartrending grief. It could also be that he somehow knew Lilia, Baul and Maleficia were caring for him and he was certain his son was in good hands so he focused on other things (idk I'm just pointing stuff out). Could also be he thought his son died with Meleanor since he was out who knows where as a diplomat and got lost/captured/something that impeded his return (paralleling how Maleficient's plan for prince Phillip was to lock him up for 100 years and later release him once he's old and frail to save princess Aurora?). So, he never knew about Malleus' existence, never went back to Briar Valley and one day found his way to NRC where he later became headmage. And, seeing Malleus in his first year look identical to his late wife, he feels heartstricken to know his son survived and he had lost many important years in his development, so he would feel no connection to his biological father. Knowing that, he decides not to interfere, what would Malleus think of a father who was never there? A stranger claiming to be his father, yet feels his son would never accept him into his heart. It's too late.

While this could be in line with Levan's personality, it does seem a bit fanficy, especially the part I added with him seeing Malleus enter NRC. But this is speculation! So YEEHAW!

Now, how would Lilia, someone who spent so many decades with Levan, not recognize him right now? The only explanation I can think of would be he either 1) has a totally distinct personality that Lilia wouldn't even consider him at all, even if the hair color seems to be similar to Malleus' or 2) he's using glamour (although TWST hasn't shown people using glamour, it's a possibility) that would make it so Lilia doesn't recognize him

Also, his cane saying "RAVEN" is real interesting since it could be for NRC or his name being similar. Wild theory, but I feel like someone gifted him his cane, I don't think he was the one that engraved Raven onto it, at least, that's considering the latter option of it being his name.

I don't know, every time I try to think of Crowley's deal, thoughts keep popping up due to the possibilities of what he COULD be.

Anyways, this wasn't a concrete post or some genius "I'VE CRACKED THE CODE!!!". Just brainworms and thoughts I had to write out and make myself accept what I consider to narrow down future events. But TWST could throw a curveball, completely blindside me and I'll be gobsmacked. Who knows!

[katabaesis]

This is quite funny since I asked my twitter about it. But one of the things about 'tragedy around characters' and 'tragic stories' is like 'does the tragedy 'resolving' somehow cheapen the emotional journey'.

To be completely transparent I have 3 routes which I feel are narratively satisfying Leona does not need to continue to hang out in hell.

But also to be honest there are several routes in such that 'he never returns' is also satisfying. Especially since TWST has several characters who revolve around loss in different ways. Obviously Diasomnia and Ignihyde are kings of personal loss. Rollo can join the club (ok the real question is why was Azul then there too in that little clusterfuck hey azul do you have something to tell u-). Azul not wanting to lose what he had gained. Leona seeing his life as a constant L (+ratio). etcetc.

Trying to bring some of what TWST does into writing is pretty funny because Yana said it and a lot of the structure of TWST supports it in that it is about people with desires taking from each other. There is one pie and if you take a slice it is denying someone else their slice. Though the game does have a certain softness to it that I am not sure is narratively intended or something ca$h dollar motivated or michael mouse motivated.

One of the other things TWST does is the yoking of characters together. Ruggie-Leona. Jamil-Kalim. Azul-Floyd-Jade. Idia-Ortho. I think we can make cases for Vil-Rook and Malleus-Lilia as well as Lilia-Silver (and in book7 perhaps Silver-Sebek though if we're counting Silver-Sebek probably the Ace-Deuce-Grim-Yuu but both of these sets can be separated far easier than the others). These connected characters feed each others dynamics quite a lot. For better or for worse, in some cases.

So the biggest question with Leona being dead isn't for me 'is it narratively satisfying to bring him back' since him coming back doesn't solve any real problems but 'how much do I want Ruggie Bucchi's life to be really difficult.'

I am interested in seeing people's opinions on character deaths though because negative space is something I love so dearly in writing but both tragedy and un-tragedying your tragedy can feel quite cheap and the entire point of loss-grief for me is bittersweet so cheapening it always feels quite bad.

[octavi-nelle]

𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓

𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄!𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐗 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑

TW: S*icide, Death, Yandere themes, Abusive relationships, Toxic relationships, Abuse.

DO NOT READ IF UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ANY!!

𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐌 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒-

❥𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒

You were gone. That was the truth, and a cold, hard one at that. He was devastated and destroyed. Returning from his classes to find his prisone- I mean, partner, gone.

He was a wreck, grief following him everywhere he went. Was it his fault? No- it couldn't be, he was a perfect boyfriend. He fed you, gave you gifts, took care of you, and was kind- when you behaved. He if course had to discipline you, maybe- just maybe he went too far this time.

He didn't want to believe the truth, he didn't want to think that he was the reason you'd done it. He tried to push the thoughts to the back of his mind.

Would it be better if he joined you? Or were you happy away from him ? He hoped that you wanted him to join you. He wanted to feel you skin again, to be near your warmth. He wanted to lean into your touch, have you listen to his problems. Have you be there with him.

He would do anything to be with you again. Even if that meant death.

❥𝐋𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑

Leona was deeply upset, no matter how much he tried to seem prideful, it failed. He wasn't the prince he once was, he was more lazy than ever. He didn't have a reason to leave anymore, he couldn't see your terrified face when he'd return from class.

Everyone knew Leona was destroyed over the fact that his partner was gone, they'd left him.

Did they want to escape? He wouldn't let them. Not even death could help them escape his grasp, he'd find them in Heaven or Hell. They shouldn't worry for too long, he'd find them.

Predators always caught their prey, and once they did, they'd never let it go. It was the same with you, he'd find you.

And once he did, you'd come running back in fear. Besides, who'd miss the lazy second-born prince? Nobody, most likely. Even if they did he was aiming for you,nothing could get in his way.

❥𝐀𝐙𝐔𝐋 𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐎

Azul was angry, how could you leave him!? You were his. He made that clear when he'd captured you, did you think death could help you? You'd already signed your soul, even after death to him, stupid!

He could stare at your poor unfortunate soul all-day, he kept you inside a jar. Sure it wasn't as great as the real you, but it was still you.

He had the memories still, he didn't need to lose his calm and mature exterior. He still had you, he had your soul. He could still speak to you, even if you didn't answer.

Azul made sure that he would still have you, he knew something like this would happen. Azul is always a prepared man, he is a business man after all.

He can't afford any hiccups and won't accept and mishaps. So he wouldn't accept your cute but stupid attempt to escape him.

"Oh Y/N.. you won't escape from me, you poor unfortunate soul.." He ran his finger along the jar as he pressed his lips to it. It was you, your body or not, and that was good enough for him.

❥𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐌 𝐀𝐋-𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐌

This couldn't be happening! He'd given you everything you could've wanted, everything that appeared in ones dreams! Not even Jamil could fix this, and frankly, he had to fix all things that Kalim did not like.

Kalim was destroyed, devasted, and depressed. Nobody could save that sunshine that used to be inside, no more parties nor trips were held at Scarabia. It rained every day, always gloomy like him.

Nobody could replace you, it didn't matter who his father introduced him to, it wouldn't replace you nor change what happened.

Kalim couldn't join you if he wanted, he had too many responsibilities. He had to try and move on, everyone told him this was just a bump on the road he was taking, but it wasn't. You were one he truly loved, the one he wanted to marry and make his Queen.

Were you not satisfied? He bought you everything he could've thought out, maybe it was him. Even if he hated the fact, it may as well have been the truth.

He just had to accept it, is shouldn't be hard right? It was the hardest thing for Kalim. Maybe he should just abandon everything that he had on his shoulders and join you.

He'd figure that out in the future, but for now he had to try and deal with what had happened.

❥𝐕𝐈𝐋 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐍𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐓

Damnit! Damnit! Who did you think you were! His precious doll, snatched away by death themself. You made his mascara run and ruined his make-up and hair. He'd get you for this!

Vil couldn't believe this, you left him!? He should've left you, you potato! He tried to tell himself that you were nothing, worth nothing more than the ground he walked on, you were nothing but a potato compared to him. But not matter what he said, he couldn't ignore the fact.

He couldn't ignore that you'd left him, that you wanted to escape from him, the Vil Schoenheit. It was unbelievable, even if he followers said that you were nothing, that you had just made the biggest mistake of your life, he just couldn't accept.

His make-up became ruined everytime he put it on, he cried and cried. It was hard not to, thank God he didn't pop a blood vessel, that'd be hard to get rid of.

He was the not beautiful being in this world, but he was his ugliest without you.

❥𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐀 𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐃

No, no, no, no, NO! This couldn't be happening, not to him, right!? Right!? The Ignihyde Dorm Leader was an absolute disaster, he was a walking nightmare. His life had become a nightmare.

He'd already cursed himself for being unlovable and a terrible person for kidnapping you, but now? Oh God, you'd taken your life because of him, he understood, or at least tried to.

He really wanted to wake up from this dream, from this nightmare. He tried to surround himself with things he enjoyed but nothing could help him.

The candies he ate from the games he spent countless hours playing continuously. He couldn't get you out of his mind, sure he'd held you captive, but come on! He didn't deserve this, right? He didn't deserve to feel something this terrible.

He just wanted to be with you, he wanted to graduate and have you and Ortho by his side. But he knew he couldn't join you, he still had Ortho to care for.

Maybe he'd try something new, something to bring you back. Anything for you, anything to have you in his arms again.

❥𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐔𝐒 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐀

Malleus knew how short human lives were, so why did you end it so terribly short? Was it him? He wasn't sure what even happened.

He felt like something inside him just broke, like something had disappeared, vanished from him. Had you become a part of him perhaps..? He wasn't sure.

He wasn't sure of anything anymore, really. All he knew was that he wanted to run back into Lilia's arms and just have him comfort him. He wanted your arms, but Lilia's would do too.

He wanted to have your human warmth surround him again, he wanted to cuddle up next to you, even if you pushed him away. He wanted to feel your small lips peck onto his, he wanted to have you back.

Sebek had yelled and complained about how unworthy and ungrateful she was since they'd left the 'young master.' But all it took was one look from Malleus to shut him up.

Malleus wouldn't get over this, he'd make sure to find you again. No matter the cost, he'd find you, just you wait.

𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐌 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒-

✧𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐘 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑

Haha.. funny joke, now please get up. Trey can't take this, sure he'd captured you to call his, but please, please wake up.

Trey will bake you anything you want, he'll even feed you, just get off the floor. Get out of your blood. He knew he shouldn't have let you in the kitchen. Too many sharp objects, too many dangerous weapons.

He'll let you go to class again.. just get up. He'll be the boyfriend he once was. He just wants you back. He wants your kisses and hugs again, he wants to feel your small body crash into his.

He'll make sure to find you, he'll bake you whatever you'd like. You name it, he's got it.

Don't worry, you'll be one again.

(sorry I'm not very familiar with him and had no ideas.)

✧𝐉𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐂𝐇

What a surprise.. he usually enjoys this unexpected side of you, he's all for it. But this one isn't one he enjoys, at all.

Didn't you think about them at all? Come on, Floyd enjoyed your company as did Azul. And Jade loved it, why didn't you enjoy their company? Maybe you were just stubborn.

He mourned and grieved over your death, he tried to keep up his gentleman facade, but he failed at times. He especially failed around Floyd, and sometimes Azul. He wasn't the same.

Please come comfort this Eel again, let him enjoy what was once his room filled with your scent, that had you for him to come back to. Don't leave him alone like this.

He just wants you to pepper kisses all over his face, he'll take you hiking too if you'd like. He'll let you have a little sunlight too.

He has too many things to join you, he has Floyd and Azul, mainly Floyd. He wishes to just feel you next to him again, even if it's just silence, even if it just your body next to his. No words nor glances would be needed for him to know he's fallen again. Just come back.

✧𝐉𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑

Hey, answer him! He's your master now answer, why won't you even answer his Snakes Whisper? Y-you aren't truly dead, right? You didn't leave him behind right?

He's already had so many things taken away right off the bat, his freedom to do what he wants, his chance to be something greater than a servant, something better than this.

He promised he wouldn't get attached, that you were not his diamond in the rough. But you were, he couldn't help the attraction he felt, the love and desire towards you.

The one things he truly wanted was all his, but only for such a short time. He had his pride and joy snatched away, stolen like in the old tales of the Sorcerer of the Sand. How the Diamond in the Rough stole the lantern from him. Was this that? Was this how it felt to have something so important to you, something you craved, desired so deeply taken away from you.

Didn't you know how much he adored you? How much he needed you by his side? He's sure if you did you wouldn't have left him all alone like this.

But you did, that was the truth this time. One he hated so passionately.

𝐅𝐈𝐍.

Part two and three will come out later, I have reached max images. Sorry!

[wonderland-in-bloom]

if only

[malleus draconia x reader]

@geodraconia asked: Hey there ! Love your writing ~❤ Can you write a piece for Malleus and a s/o who dies protecting him? They both loved each other but never confessed it and were always struggling.

good angsty fics for a good rainy day. also i wrote the whole fic on paper cuz i didn’t feel like typing it out on my laptop. it just gives me different vibes lolol~

♡

THE grueling memories ate at him. it clawed at him. it hurt him, demanding to be felt. he would spend the cold, lonely nights leaned against the fence of the ramshackle dorm. the place where he and the love of his life first met. he reminisced on the bitter yet sweet memories of him and his love. why did he even go back to that broken down dorm even when he knew it was no longer abandoned? why did he even go back every night to meet the human who would soon steal his heart? why did he even help them when they were in need? why did he even fall in love..? his love’s soothing voice still rung in his ears. “malleus...” how his name would gracefully escape their lips and be heard as a blissful melody to his hears.

you were his world. and he was yours. he would give anything and everything he had to be able to have you be beside him once more. after all, he never got to say the three words to come out of his mouth. those three word beings a declaration of admiration and affection, “i love you”. tonight however, was different. tonight had been a night of dread. a night where he got reminded who’s fault it truly was that you were now gone. 

“malleus please listen to me! it’s all too suspicious! do you not see?” you pleaded him to stay. malleus had received a letter from an anonymous sender. the letter consisted of an invitation for him to meet this anonymous sender at 5 pm in an unknown location to malleus.  “(y/n), please. there’s a possibility it might be something important.” he replied. you didn’t agree with decision. you knew he practically had a target painted on his back. you knew the many enemies he had as it came with his infamous title. “it’s worrying! the letter told you not to take lilia, silver, or sebek with you! please! how does this not sound suspicious at all to you?!” you grabbed his hand, trying to pull him back and hopefully just make him listen to more of your words. he thrashed his hand and pulled it away from you.

“(y/n) why do you even bother?” although he didn’t raise his voice, you were able to tell from his tone that it was cold and menacing even. because i care about you, those words almost slipped out. “well...it’s because...” you really couldn’t answer. you really didn’t know what to answer. “if you don’t even have an answer then why should you bother?” malleus hissed as he left the room. tears pricked the corner of your eyes. your suspicions still stood and you took it upon yourself to run as fast as your feet could take you and chase after malleus. malleus stood there in an unfamiliar are which was a clearing surrounded by trees and a dark forest. he examined his surroundings while waiting for the anonymous sender to show up.

“draconia.” a hooded figure stepped out from the shadows and presented himself in front of malleus. he recognized him. of course he did. he would recognize that face anywhere. it was his fated enemy, a student from royal sword academy. “i want nothing to do with you.” he started to turn away before the figure cleared their throat. “this rivalry has to end.” malleus stopped in his tracks. “excuse me?” his rival stepped forward towards malleus. “this has gone on for far too long!” you popped your head out from the trees to be able to witness the scene unravel in front of your very eyes. “i propose peace. i want this rivalry to end. what good has this rivalry brought onto us? it has brought both our sides nothing but disaster. i want that to stop today. please. i don’t want to see anyone suffer.” 

the first thing that came up in malleus’s mind was you. he could imagine the smile on your face when he’d tell you how the rivalry had stopped. how happy you would be. now he felt guilty for treating you the way he did earlier. “so, what do you say? allies?” malleus hesitated. no matter how much he hated him, he wanted to do this for you. his precious (y/n). oh how you’ve made his heart gone soft. he turned around to gaze into his rival’s eyes. you couldn’t stop yourself from smiling. finally, the day arrived the stupid rivalry between the two of them was about to stop. while lost in your own thoughts, you could hear a click coming from a nearby distance to where you were standing. you were aghast to see the sight of many students from royal sword academy wielding crossbows with a red liquid coating the sharp edge of the arrow. you learnt well enough from professor crewel’s alchemy class, that the red liquid was one of the deadliest poisons which was able to kill anything, no matter how strong they were. an agonizing, painful death. 

your breath hitched as your body was filled with the rush of adrenaline. you realized that the signal was going to be when malleus and his rival would shake hands..! malleus had already extended his hand to shake hands. you took off running in their direction as fast as you can. however it was too late. the arrows were released and you didn’t have enough time to warn him. “malleus..!” you stepped behind him, shielding him from the incoming arrows. your back faced the tree-line as you slowly started to feel a sharp, hot, piercing sensation on your back. he failed to comprehend what was going on as when he turned around, your back was covered with arrows, piercing through your skin and coated you in a layer of dark red. “(y/n)!” he caught you in his arms. blood trickled from your mouth but alas you kept a smile. “b-before...i do ha..have an answer....for you.” it was hard for you to breathe, let alone talk. 

“i bo...bother...because...i...i care...about you, m..malleus!” it pained him to hear your words as you struggled to engulf large amounts of air as you could. it pained him to hear your usual sweet, alluring voice become so hoarse and lifeless. it pained him to hear you like this. a lump formed on the back of his throat, suffocating him. “no..no..! (y/n)! stay with me! please...” you felt yourself getting weaker and weaker, slipping away from life’s grasp by the second. “malleus...” with your weak, blood stained hands, you reached out to touch his face, for the last time. “i...i...i lo--” your eyes were struck with lifelessness as your hand grew limp, falling out of malleus’s reach and onto the ground. your final breath left your pale lips. you were gone. physically there but in all other aspects, missing. malleus had just witnessed his whole world crumble. tears streamed down his face. this couldn’t be real! this must be a nightmare! malleus held you close to his chest, sobs erupting from him. 

all those who wielded the crossbows retreated, afraid what would happen to them. malleus growled as his eyes glowed a dangerous green laced with malicious intent. “some alliance..!” green flames erupted and burnt everything around him, getting rid of his rival and al his goons in the process. there was no end to this flame, there was no end to this pain. there was no end to this grief. there was no pain to this guilt. lilia, sebek, and silver arrived moments too late as the three saw his suffering figure which cradled your dead body in his arms. if only he had just listened. if only he didn’t let himself but so full of himself. if only he was able to admit to you and himself that he truly cared about you. it’s all my fault. if i just listened to you, none of this would have happened. (y/n)...i’m so sorry my love. 

you were always ravishing in his eyes. both in life and in death. your body was encased in a glass coffin adorned with an array of flowers. malleus had cast a spell to prevent your body from ever decaying. even in your state, you still had a smile visible on your face. that was the same smile which you had when you parted with your love. malleus stood in front of your coffin placed in the middle of a secret garden he built just for you. in the past, he hoped that one day the two of you would spend time with each other in this secret garden of his, but now the circumstances were different. now one was lost in the depths of death while the other was roaming the living world however not feeling alive. “(y/n) my love...i’m so so so sorry.” he placed a blood red rose on top of your glass coffin. he bent down and kissed the coffin. “i’m so sorry. if only i wasn’t so dense. so stupid. so full of myself.”

“if only i realized sooner....things would’ve been different. if only i was able to tell you how much i love you. if only...”

♡

ok that was a tad bit angsty ehehehe. all that aside, i miss the comfort of writing in a proper notebook lol. i’ll make the drafts for all these fics in my book first i guess eheh

love, a♕

[letterstothemidnightsociety]

Alright, so if you've been following along with me, Supernatural season 3 starts out on a trio of episodes that are Really Fun, slides into some episodes that are Pretty OK, then takes a real nose dive into Bummersville. Hoo boy guys, I really hope that this season picks up. I mean, it won’t, but I can still dream. 2021 was maybe not the year to start watching this season. Fair warning.

The next three episodes for this season are just, like, real downers. First we get “Fresh Blood,” which, aside from the terrible title, starts out on a high note. Gordon (gross) somehow manages to catch up with Bela (HOW??) and threatens her if she doesn’t hand over the Winchesters. Bela, in all of her class and grace, won’t give them up because she has a high price point and Gordon is really lowballing her here. Just like, yes, ok, please stay forever, you’re amazing and I love you. And what a scene this is! You have two characters, one with a strict moral code (albeit one that allows for violence and winning at all costs) and the other with almost NO moral code, but an allegiance that can be bought with the best price and it’s such a fun back and forth until Gordon pulls out a gun. And then she pulls out her phone and just has Dean on speed dial and that’s maybe my fav part. Bela has run into the Winchesters twice and they maybe legit hate her but she’s very much like, oh yeah, my BFF’s the Winchesters, I love those idiots!

I love that we come back to this moment later in the episode when Bela, like, three days later, is like, Oh! I guess I should warn the Winchesters that some crazy guy is after them! She’s just so casual about it you kind of get the feeling that, even though technically Gordon was threatening her life, she doesn’t view him as A Threat. She gives the Winchesters a heads up just to be like oh yeah, you might want to watch out for this mild inconvenience, and she seems legit shocked when Dean freaks out. There’s this moment that plays across her face like, oh shit, did I...did I fuck up? And it adds a nice bit of depth to her character. She’s seems honestly worried, both for the lives of the Winchesters but also that Dean won’t like her anymore and that is just a charming bit of A C T I N G!

I am gonna miss her SO MUCH when she dies at the end of this season. WHY did we CANCEL HER???

But despite the fun beginning, this episode is about monsters and how people become monsters and how other people are probably the reason. Because our main baddie is a vampire who hunts to...well, listen if we look at the facts that he lays out in his monologue, it’s a little more tragic - he’s trying to replace the daughters that he lost hundreds of years ago, cool motive, still murder. In practice though, he goes around turning hot blonde coeds into vampires and then ?????? Who knows. I’d like to believe that this was a problem with the CW executives or maybe casting/directing and not with the writing, but it’s SPN and you really can’t be sure with anything. The fact is, this is a CW show from the early 2000’s and a lot of their extras are cast to type. And that’s maybe me exhibiting some girl-on-girl crime, but there are other episodes that did a much less blatantly gross job casting their extras/Very Special Guest Stars.

Anyway, the POINT of this guy is that he’s a monster because someone killed his daughter and he’s just been trying to fill that grief hole inside of him for centuries. This is not unlike Gordon, who ALSO has been trying to fill a grief hole that he’s had for decades, except he’s not killing people and resurrecting them as blood suckers, he’s just killing them. And then, when the Vamp decides to turn Gordon it’s a real sweet moment of comeuppance for like, a HOT second and then you’re like, awww dude, ya done f’ed up. That was a bad idea. You’ve made a HUGE mistake.

More importantly, our Vampire In Question finally runs into the Winchesters and get’s to say things like “I was desperate! You ever felt desperate? I've lost everyone I ever loved. I'm staring down eternity alone. Can you think of a worse hell?” and also “I just ... I didn't care anymore. Do you know what it's like when you just don't give a damn? It's like ... it's like being dead already.” and Dean’s v. much like, THIS IS TOO REAL ROY.

Sam may ALSO be feeling Too Real feelings because he is DONE dicking around with Gordon and honestly yes, I like this, this is good Sam development. It’s nice to know that Sam has a breaking point. And I admit I’m of two minds about this moment because 1) I love the idea of Dark!Sam this season and that maybe Sam’s decision to actually kill Gordon is just one step in that process but 2) I ALSO love the idea of Sam Lite finally having a breaking point and Gordon is IT. I don’t know which theory I like more in this scenario, but they are both good theories.

I think as much as this episode wants to draw parallels between the monsters and Dean (thank you artful editors), you can’t look at the “I’ve lost everyone I ever loved,” line and not think of Sam? Cuz he’s got one (1) person left in his life that hasn’t died horribly, so how desperate is he about to get through the end of this season? I’ve definitely been watching this season with eyes on all the ominous Dean foreshadowing, but the Sam foreshadowing is also there, just buried under the heavy weight of a thousand smulders and suicidal levels of denial.

And also, FUCK the tag on this episode! Guys, it is CUTE but it is also HORRIBLE. Dean starts teaching Sam how to fix the Impala and at first it’s all, “Oh! Adorable Brothers Being Brothers!” and I loved it but then I almost immediately hated it because you realize this is about making sure Sam can get along without him once he’s gone and Dean just accepts his own death with such casual ease that it’s just...INFURIATING!

This scene was rude and I HATE IT!

Cut to - “A Very Supernatural Christmas” Special!

Guys, I was so excited when I got to this episode. THIS is Classic Supernatural Shenanigans. Plus, you know a Holiday Special is the ultimate sign that this show has Made It, right? Or it could be a sign that they’re selling out, who knows, but I think we can say that at this point in the series, SPN is established enough to start having fun with their fans. That’s what this says to me. BUT THEN what we get is like...oh boy.

First - like, I’mma beat this horse to death, but what is WRONG with this FAMILY? John Winchester very quickly devolved into the sort of father that forgot about every single holiday and did not ever, even a little bit, make up for it. It’s not a surprise, but it kind of wrecked me seeing a flashback where Baby Dean is just so attached to a father who can’t be bothered to actually care for his children. I know he’s not in this episode because Jeffrey Dean Morgan was tied up in other projects, but the fact that John doesn’t show up at the end to button the flashbacks with a But then he DID show up for Christmas! just makes this plot line that more gutting. And despite Dean’s hero worship of their father, this is maybe the Christmas where Baby Sam stops believing in his own father. The only bright side to this is that it continues to enforce the fact that Bobby should have sued John for custody. Bobby should maybe STILL Sue for custody so that Dean at least would feel like someone wants him for once in his life, damnit.

And then we wrap this episode up with the Best Worst Christmas of all, because we see Sam start to...also?? accept that Dean is about to die? Cuz that’s what this episode is really about - Dean’s Last Christmas. And everything about that makes me ~ u p s e t ~.

So Sam decides to put his curmudgeonly grinchy attitude aside in order to make it a special day for Dean and ugh. UGH. UGHGHGHG. Season three is the worst guys, and I can’t believe I didn’t realize that until right this second now.

So let’s wrap this up with "Malleus Maleficarum", honestly an episode that is mostly forgettable until we get to, like, the last five minutes. Sure, witches and curses and selling your soul, woohoo whatever.

But then we get some real Ruby centric reveals and like, WHAT is happening?? First off, the scene where Ruby and Tammy have a moment is a real Moment. There is some baggage and tension here and it is heavy. And then Tammy drops the mic when she reveals that Ruby used to be human.

THEN, Ruby legit saves their asses by killing Tammy with a fancy magic knife. Ok, Dean does the actual killing, but Ruby brought the fancy magic knife. So between the hot and heavy tension with “Tammy” and her repeated attempts to keep the Winchesters alive, we’re left wondering what IS Ruby’s deal? I personally wonder how much of the show’s mythology the show actually has figured out at this point? Because interviews with Kripke definitely walk the line between “Oh we definitely have this whole thing worked out,” and “yeah, we’re sort of finding things as we go along,” which is maybe why it’s able to last as long as it does. More on that later.

Of course the big kicker is the final scene between Ruby and Dean. Dean is almost on board with Ruby at this point in the season, and much like his scene with the demon in “Sin City”, they share a kind of vulnerable moment together where Ruby admits that, yeah, she was human once and yeah, Hell will destroy you, body and soul, and yeah Dean’s worst fear will probably come true - he will become the thing he hunts, no ifs, ands or buts about it. And Dean knows that Ruby knows that Dean knows that there’s no way to save Dean from his fate, but they both agree that they can’t take Sam’s last ounce of hope away from him because, for both of them, Sam is their hope. Ruby and Dean both see the war happening around them and they know that with Dean gone, Sam’s maybe the last guy holding back the tide to save all humanity.

Which, honestly? Bull shit. Do you know how many hunters are out there? Neither do I, but this season seems to indicate that there are a LOT. We have barely scratched the surface on the hunter community and it’s a damn shame that they are all weirdo loners because there is a war going on. You know what works great in a war? An ARMY. Buncha mentally unstable, martyr-complex ijits who can’t put their differences aside for one damn MINUTE so that maybe, JUST maybe, the could actually defeat the evil they’ve spent their entire lives dedicated to fighting. And if Ruby and Dean wanted to help Sam, what they should probably do is get him plugged in to that community. I do believe that of all they backasswards, self-obsessed, painfully anti-social crazies out there, the Winchesters are THE WORST.

Listen tho, this was like, a solid scene between these two. Just a lot of work goin' into this and it paid off.

Anyway, back to the mythology for a hot second - This sort of loosey-goosey stumbling into your own world building is probably another one of those things that you’ll only really get in a show with this many episodes per season? It’s that room to play and experiment and just make stuff up as you go along. I think the slow drip method of releasing episodes ALSO helps in this scenario because you’re able to see what fans are reacting to in almost-real time. When viewers are binging episodes, I think you're less likely to see what specifically they’re reacting to and more wholistically they’re reacting to. And that’s not to say you won’t see those specific things that they like/love eventually, but by the time you get there, your season’s been produced in its entirety and you’ll have to bear that in mind for (hopefully) next season. But with SPN, they were writing and producing the show at the same time that some of the episodes were airing. That’s why they were able to make decisions on the fly, based on what fans responded to. And definitely by this point in the show, there was a sizeable and vocal fan base that made their feelings VERY well-known. We’re only in season three, but they’ve already had a number of con appearances and a pretty active online presence. That kind of feedback has got to be helpful, from a writing perspective, but it also allows for things like characters getting cut because nobody liked them for some dumb reason. BUT, if you’re fighting to stay on the air for 100 episodes or longer, responding to fan reactions is what’s gonna do it and that’s a fact.

[themonotonysyndrome]

I'm invested in the story between Lilia and Silver's parents. What made Lilia notice them? Did he try to hide them like Dumbledore hid the Potters? Did he set out to kill the attacks immediately or did he wait until he was sure baby Silver was safe before going? Did he actually behead all of the Seelie involved in the deaths of Silver's Parents, or did at least one escape? Do you think Lilia has nightmares about the whole event? Sorry for all the questions.

I’m so happy to hear that because I have several hcs in mind actually! 

In my hc, Lilia was granted downtime in between fight during the Courts War; as the General and the strongest Unseelie Far apart from the Draconia royalties, they need him to be on his top shape in order to win the war. So Malleus’s grandmother made sure Lilia have plenty of rest. 

So Lilia tentatively travels to territories that weren’t fairy cities and the like. He basically hops from different human villages after another until he stumbles across Silver’s parents - a young, newlywed couple who came from a long family of knights that served Princess Aurora’s family. 

The couple endeared themselves to Lilia and it wasn’t long before they became his first-ever human friends. They were wary of him first and Lilia actually respect them for that - after all, it’s so easy for him to fooled strangers with his handsome face. 

Lilia stayed with them right until he was to return to Draconia Castle but he would return once he was granted leave. It became a little tradition to the three of them. The couple would make sure to prepare a hot meal on the night that Lilia would visit and Lilia would tell them the stories that he listens to during his travels. 

They became a little family! And Lilia was so ecstatic that his friends were expecting a little one to join them soon! They were talks of making him their child’s godfather, discussing with him about names and etc. 

But as the General, Lilia leads a very unstable and dangerous life. Any battle could be his last. Any weakness would be exploited by his enemies. 

So you can imagine his utter devastation when Lilia’s informant brought the news of their demise and the hands of a group of Seelie Fairies. Lilia was too late to hide his friends. 

He immediately flew towards his friends’ house only to find a burned house, his friends’ bodies broken and dead. At that moment, Lilia froze and mourn. In anger, in grief - he knew humans have such a short lifespan, but to be torn away from them so suddenly, so quickly and so cruelly? It broke his heart. 

During his howling, Lilia suddenly heard the cries of a babe, somewhere in the forest. That snapped him back to his feet. He frantically flew to the source of the sound. 

Hidden amongst the bushes, that’s where Lilia first meet Silver. 

Lilia sob with relief. A remnant of his friends lives on! He swore he would do right by Silver in honour of them. 

Lilia quickly brought Silver to his living quarter in the Draconia Castle and tend to Silver. In a single night, he became not just a war General - he became a father too. It was a struggle - luckily he had some idea what to do because of little Malleus. 

And yes, after making sure that Silver is comfortable and secure in the castle, it wasn’t hard for Lilia to use the resources that was given to him to track down the culprits who murdered his friends. He absolutely made sure to stretch their deaths, making it long and painful and ‘gifted’ their heads right in the middle of the Seelie’s thrones. 

[thatnonameuser]

So… is cannibalism technically allowed if you eat your darlings heart because “you loved them too much that you wanted a part of them to be with you forever”

Darling murder is illegal in nearly every nation, but what happens after death. What happens after their one true love is gone from this world forever.

Some yanderes commit suicide, after their darling's death. But most get creative in their grief.

And to some, what better way to have their darling and their love forever, and ever, than to eat their heart.

The Queendom of Roses, the Scalding Sands and the Shaftlands are disturbed by the very concept. The love yanderes have for their darlings means that they should be safe from all harm, even in death. So the thought of consuming a part of them is just barbaric. So, Ace, Deuce, Trey, Cater, Riddle, Kalim, Jamil, Vil, and Epel won't.

But in the Sunset Savannah and the Coral Sea, it's a common funerary custom. It's meant to represent the idea that your loved ones never leave you, even in death. That they're waiting for you on the other side. As a result, Leona, Ruggie, Azul, Jade and Floyd would all do it.

Jack would if when you died, you left him all alone. If you had kids, he would still have a piece of you left behind and might not. But leave him completely by himself, then he will.

Rook absolutely would. A ceremony like that is absolument magnifique, la perfection incarnée. Rook romanticizes the whole ordeal, dressing you as a beauty in a glass coffin. A freshly sharpened knife never stained or tainted with another's blood will be used to sever the flesh from such a delicate organ. And it will be the most delicious thing he ever tastes.

Idia already has a till death and beyond tradition. The pomegranate. He doesn't need to rip your heart from your dead chest.

For the Briar Valley, it depends on the yandere. In this case, I think that in this case, and the canon episodes. Malleus would never given his very present issues with losing loved ones, and would spend the rest of his life trying to return you to life. Lilia would, he's lost many friends on the battlefield, keeping you with him forever by eating your heart feels in character. Silver and Sebek maybe, but for now, I'm not sure.

[blotspare]

@thornsraised​ : it's a guilt - driven decision when he dies in their place. it's spur of the moment and thoughtless, like it's the obvious and only choice ( which it is, in lilia's eyes ). it feels almost like atoning. malleus doesn't need his guidance no matter how much he thinks he does, and silver has grown into such a fine young man — so now lilia has to do what he can for yuu. "i love you," he tells them, and then he pushes them through the mirror to the school proper. it shatters easily beneath his gloved hand when he knows they'll be safe and unable to come back through to do something reckless. / there's an eerie calm when they circumvent the lack of a mirror and finally make it back, the chaos and damage done. lilia lies still and small and lifeless, pen gripped in his hand and his gem blackened and broken.

Yuu knows how the story ends / they think they’ve known for a long, long time.  Long before they found out about the plot that would see them made sacrifice, and long before Night Raven College.  For a moment they think that they must have learned with Takahashi and Nakamura, life constantly in danger / heart constantly in danger / small deaths in lieu of big ones but always knowing a big one might be there.  But maybe before that.  Maybe they were born knowing, or maybe the parents they can’t remember beat it into them too young to recall learning.  

But on some level, they realize, staring at the end, they must have known.  Even if they were angry when they found out, even if they were furious, it feels so obvious, now.  That they would die, violently, at the hands of those that love them.  They’re not afraid, or surprised, or horrified or grief - stricken the way they thought they would be.  What floods them instead is a sick kind of almost - relief.

The story ends.  Yuu doesn’t hurt this family.  Yuu dies for love, like they’ve always been meant to, like some part of them always knew they would.

But they can’t even die right.  That’s what they’ll think in the space between being saved and finding him again.  They can’t even die right, and what use is being loved if it just damns them to killing their family?  

But they don’t have time to think much of anything now.  It happens so quickly that they don’t truly process it until they fall out of the mirror and hit the ground — Lilia’s appearance, his gasped “I love you,” his hand reaching and pushing them out of the way and out of danger.  The mirror shatters behind them as they hit the floor and Yuu knows it’s shattered and there’s no going back, but they throw themselves back up against it anyway.  All the fear and surprise and horror and grief they’d been without floors them like blot in their throat, and they scream around the agony and sob as they beat their hands against the glass, feeling the part of CHILD LOCKED AWAY once more.  Knowing that this is how he saves them, knowing that this is how he loves them, knowing that this is how Lilia fixes the story he believes is broken and that Yuu believe is right.

Knowing that this is how Yuu hurts a better person.

He’s so small — it made them happy, once, how small he was.  But when they find him they hate it, because it makes it harder to imagine him breathing, makes him feel more broken and more dead and more gone.

They bolt to him, breathing is smoke and pain and breathing out nothing at all, and fall to his side.  Pull him into their arms.  Desperate, desperate.  The sobs that had fallen under control / faded to numbness because there’s work to be done / because Yuu knows that they can fix anything and everything / Yuu knows that they must / the sobs return and they’re serrated this time, lacerating their raw throat and battered lungs as they weep into his chest.  They’re so young.  They’re so young and they want their father.  They’re so young and they need their father.

“Lilia, Lilia —— tou - san, no, n - no, I told you!  I told you!  I fucking ———”  Their voice chokes out of them, sharp and worn and breaking like they are / like they already have.  “I t - told you that I didn’t want ———”

They’re so young and they need their father.  And he’s not the only one who’s willing to shatter good things.

For a long time, it’s just their breath and their sobs and him, too small and too still in their arms.  Eventually, though, Yuu knows they have to move, that they have to stop crying, that there are things yet to do.  “It’s okay,” they whisper, voice small, careful, tears tracking trails down their cheeks.  They keep babbling, whispering nothing at all, as they lift him into their arms.  He’s not very heavy, least of all when Yuu can’t feel at all; they scoop up his pen as they stand.  They try not to look at how broken the gem is, and they start back.  “It’s okay, tou - san.  It’s okay.”

They’re not thinking of Malleus or Silver losing a father, or Sebek a source of guidance.  They’re not thinking of stealing him from them because they can’t even die properly.  They’re selfish, and they’ve never been anything else, and right now all they care about is Lilia and the aching hole currently growing large in their chest, cannibalizing their heart.

“We’ll find Crowley, okay?”  

But they know how to make it stop.  Yuu is always so good at this, at finding impossible solutions.

“H - He can take us back.  It’ll be — easy.  He’s done it before.  I know he has.  We’ll r - rewrite it again.”  Their voice edges towards hysterical / manic; they grip him tighter, as though he can feel it, as though their touch might be a comfort, as though he’s just hurt and not dead.  “He’ll w - want to.  This still isn’t the r - right ending.  This time, I won’t ———”

I won’t know, or if I remember this I’ll pretend I don’t know.  This time, I won’t get close enough for you to love.  This time, I won’t break the story.  This time, I’ll die like I’m supposed to.

This time, I won’t kill you.

The sobs slur their words, but they’re smiling when they whisper, “This time, w - we’ll get the h - happy ending.”

[kinships]

strytells​:

             Lilia’s smile was a gentle one despite his expression turning into one of pure exhaustion- what really lied beneath the surface of usually gentle and mischievous features. He was tired… but he’d tell her the story since she asked.

       “….You’re familiar with the Thorn fairy, yes? …Her name was Maleficent, she was… wonderful, beautiful and quite the force to be reckoned with. In Briar Valley, we all remember the battles that took place be it against her, with her, or for her… but there was one in particular we all recall, one that I recall the most in vivid detail…” He looked up at the sky before closing his eyes and pulling a knee closer to him as he continued.

        “…It was in Lieu of Aurora’s 16th birthday, she had pricked her finger upon the spindle of a spinning wheel, cursed to an eternal slumber thanks to the work of Merryweather changing Maleficent’s curse from death to slumber… Philip was trying to get to her- true love’s kiss and all.” Green flames danced in his eyes the more he dove into his story, “It was a fight between man and fae, the ‘mistress of all evil’ as they dubbed her, I was far too late in assisting her but- I arrived in time to see her transformation into that of a dragon, only to be struck down by a sword to the heart…” Lilia closed his eyes as the hand holding his knee tightened, “…It was almost like a thousand waves overcame me at once, I tried to stand back up but… they just kept coming for me and it happened- grief, rage, sadness… all of that came out in an ugly display of an overblot. I only remember waking up after I took Malleus into my arms- I looked over my shoulder when I heard that little ‘Lili?’ and suddenly…” He was quiet before exhaling, dropping the tale and looking to Louise.

           Mal… would you ever forgive me for being late to assist you…?                  would she still be alive today if that were the case…?

          “I wouldn’t necessarily say you’re not skilled in anything- if you weren’t you wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be wasting my time but I see your potential- you love your friends, yes? That support you give them is all they could ask for, dead weight that is not.” He finally looked at her and brushed her hair out of her face.

     “It’s hard to change a mindset you’ve latched onto for so long, I do not expect your opinions to change overnight…but I would take to heart what your friends think of you, they love you for a reason. I’ve told someone before: ‘Fear controls us all, it’s how you react to your fears that helps you in the long-run.’“ A smile for her, his expression still hinting at an eternal exhaustion, “…Anyone would be terrified in your shoes faced with that predicament, it’s why I’m teaching you so it won’t happen again…~ So you can protect the people you care about and help them…~”

Louise listen with the utmost attention to his tale, feeling her own heart clench at the memory. She felt guilty for asking him, it seemed like a horrible memory. “You overblotted...because she got killed?” It made sense, grief was a strong emotion, and it seemed like the Thorn Fairy extremely important to Lilia, but just how long ago did she die that he still mourned her death? How old was Malleus? The more she learned, the more questions she had.

She wouldn’t ask him, in fear of reopening more old wounds.

“Love..is probably a strong word.” She mumbles, chuckling dryly. “Like I said, I doubt dynamics would change if I was gone.” They’d just have one less person tease about not having magic. She thinks. “I often wonder if the friendship is only one way, and they just tolerate me otherwise...

I don’t think I was ever suppose to be here, Lilia.” Honestly, she didn’t even think her love life was worth anything here, either. She glances over at him, before hiding her face and hugging her knees closer.

“If someone else overblots, what if I can’t protect everyone? What if Ace or Deuce get hurt because I couldn’t help them stop the person?” 

What if I make things worse?