#Shattered Souls otome

[eternallovestudios]

✧ This Time Revenge IS The Answer ✧

✧Summary✧

Celeste finds herself fighting for her life after enduring a betrayal that no one should experience.

As she nears her final breath, she is whisked away to a different world: Remoire.

Things are not as they seem, though. She’s not a mortal. Her past is as vast as the ocean. Her soul is fractured and barely holding together from the traumas she’s faced and forgotten. She must heal herself or even the tiniest tragedy could shatter her. But she’s not the only one who is broken.

Join Celeste as she fights not only to save her own life, but to change the lives of those around her. 

Will you traverse worlds, realms, and even time itself? Will you test your fate? Will you try again?

Shattered Souls is the third commercial project released by Eternal Love Studios, a game studio dedicated to bringing you worlds you can escape into and romances you will never forget. We specialize in otome games which are narrative-based interactive visual novels centered around romance with various characters.

💫Shattered Souls Demo & Kickstarter are now LIVE! Come goddess, vengeance is yours for the taking!💫

Trailer Credits Song: "Shattered Heart" Singer: Jiko Koe Written by: Korina Gattoc Composition by: Irene Chan Artwork: Salshaa9 Animations: Eternal Love Studio Animation Team

[digitalwavemedia]

My Soul is Shattering So A God Isekai'd Me To Another World - Shattered ...

[eternallovestudios]

Thank you for sharing the Kickstarter, Blerdy!!! We had a BLAST watching your stream!!! 🥰

Kickstarter Campaign for Dark Fantasy Indie Otome Shattered Souls is Live

[redflagfan]

I played the “Shattered Souls” demo, and you should too! (Mini review)

TL;DR: I am so excited for the full release of this this fun dark fantasy isekai otome game!

Shattered Souls is an upcoming game by @eternallovestudios. They just launched their Kickstarter and you can check out their short demo (one to two hours) on Steam or on itch.io.

In the words of the studio...

Celeste finds herself fighting for her life after enduring a betrayal that no one should experience.

As she nears her final breath, she is whisked away to a different world: Remoire.

Things are not as they seem, though. She’s not a mortal. Her past is as vast as the ocean. Her soul is fractured and barely holding together from the traumas she’s faced and forgotten. She must heal herself or even the tiniest tragedy could shatter her. But she’s not the only one who is broken.

Join Celeste as she fights not only to save her own life, but to change the lives of those around her. 

Will you traverse worlds, realms, and even time itself? Will you test your fate? Will you try again?

I played the demo, and I can't wait for more!

In this game, you play as Celeste - a mortal (?) girl determined to seek revenge, but also tied to seven different men (the romanceable characters). These are:

Marris: Literally God

Lance: The Actual "White Knight"

Shiro: Tsundere Demon Hunter

Ezra: Warrior Priest

Aizen: The Emperor

Karver: Childhood Best Friend

Eternal: ???

Basically, in the demo, you get introduced to Celeste's world and meet all these men. While this demo was short, it left me wanting more!

Here's what I liked:

The voice acting!! I love that this is a fully voice acted demo. It added so much to the game. Marris had me honestly laughing out loud!

The soundtrack! The music in this demo was beautiful. I can't wait to hear more of it.

The atmosphere! There was some tonal whiplash just in this demo, and I thought the devs did a great job of having me laughing but just a few minutes later, creating a dark, creepy atmosphere.

The art! Beautiful backgrounds and character design, especially on our MC, Celeste. She was so pretty I found myself just staring at her sprite the whole time!

And of course...the men! Seven is an ambitious amount of LIs, but I appreciated that each of them came off as distinct and unique. Plus, as someone who is a sucker for tsunderes and the childhood best friend trope, I can already tell who I'm going to go for first hahaha.

Basically, this game immediately sucked me in. I really enjoyed the world the demo set up and it left me wanting more - especially because there were a lot of questions raised that don't have answers yet. It feels like a lot of work went into building this fantasy world and I want more!

The writing is really good too and some of the lines were kinda silly, but the VAs said them with their chest lmao so it was good. I really liked the story. I feel like isekai is everywhere these days but this seems like it'll be something different from the usual.

I really recommend checking out this demo, and if you can, supporting the Kickstarter! I already have lmao. Please do because one of the stretch goals is a NSFW DLC.........

[hitoshitoshi]

The Fish That Bind [Rafayel x Reader]

Summary: How art captures a soul | How art betrayed Rafayel for the first time. Tags: Angst, Past Life Memories, Soulmates but not really, Abysswalker Rafayel myth lore.

Your highness took up art as a way to pass the time, but no matter how many muses you try to find, no matter how things you try to draw; people; animals; skies; plants— you always find yourself drawing the same fish. It's baffling, really—why that fish? The details of the fish always elude you though, it was like trying to remember a dream that was slipping away from you as you wake, but something about it tugged at your soul. You can't remember why, but every stroke felt familiar, like a lost memory that once meant everything to you. It was Rafayel's fish; the one he created with his Evol to follow you around. Though you could barely make out its silhouette in your mind, not even remembering why it was in your mind, it was the only thing that made your heart flutter—the only thing that kept you tethered to this thing—this feeling in your entire being that feels empty yet full when you draw that fish.

Your highness seeked out the finest artisans, mastering every technique they could offer, mastering everything yet your hand always returns to drawing that damned fish the way you only knew how to draw that fish. It was as if your very soul was guiding you, reaching out for something it refuses to forget even when your mind has already done so.

And then, in another life, you found yourself painting alongside Rafayel. He glanced at your canvas, and at that moment his heart shattered and soared all at once. The fish you've drawn was the same awkward, ugly, and pathetic fish your highness once sketched for him on the first birthday you spent with him in Lemuria—the horrible representation of his beloved Evol fish, yet in his eyes was a masterpiece—was in front of him once again.

But now, Rafayel stood there frozen, torn at the sight. His heart ached with a longing so deep it nearly broke him, because he knows—he knows it's you. The same soul he loved so desperately centuries ago. But you're not his highness. You're just his bodyguard, you're not his beloved bride from 800 years ago. How could he burden you with the weight of a love that spanned lifetimes? How can he dare to love you when he's no longer your beloved husband? How can he dare love you when you're—you're not—he couldn't even explain it himself in words if he tried to, how could he? But he could explain it with art. Though he’s forgotten much about Lemuria—the shimmering seas, the vibrant culture, the ancient language—one thing remains clear: Rafayel’s soul’s language was art.

But there was one minute detail that pulled Rafayel back to reality. The fish that you drew had a subtle difference—a detail that only his highness would remember. A heart right beside the fish's head—it was absent. That one detail changed everything. Your sketch was no longer a sketch of his fish but of a fish. His highness would always draw a heart beside the shaky lines and the uneven scales, but his bodyguard didn't. It was moments like this where Rafayel wished that an anchor was tied to him, keeping him confided to the sea—his home—but no. This anchoring feeling was one of dread and hopelessness. His connection to Lemuria, to the life he once knew; his tie his highness, no longer being there. Rafayel truly lost everything and was stuck at the bottom of an empty sea with no one to hear out his silent pleas.

A/N: I hope you had a reel-y good time. Get it? Reel? As in reel in a fish? Either way, it was inspired by the newest event that's about to release.

If you like otome games, including Love and Deepspace, you should join Linkon Lounge! A discord server that's LGBTQ+ friendly (only serving those who are 18+) where we all can share our interests, talk to roleplaying bots (Caleb, Rafayel, Zayne, Xavier, and Sylus), and have fun game, movie, and stream nights where we stream games and/or cards that we pulled that others want to see. It would be super fun to have you as a member of our server.

Click here to join Linkon Lounge!

Masterlist

[yurimother]

The 2023 Yuri Guide - Light Novels

Your ultimate guide to the best Yuri content with over 200 curated titles from every genre and medium.

Bloom Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka

• School • Drama • Romance

Saeki Sayaka has always been an old soul—serious and reserved, preferring to focus on her studies rather than make friends. Until, that is, a romantic confession from another girl in middle school turns her carefully ordered world upside down. Though none of her classes have prepared her for this, Saeki must now come to terms with her sexuality in this gentle, coming-of-age novel about grappling with first love, growing up, and relating to other people.

~Written by Hitoma Iruma, Illustrated and Created by Nakatani Nio~ Licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment

The Executioner and Her Way of Life

• Action • Fantasy • Isekai • Enemies to Lovers

When Menou, an Executioner of deadly interdimensional “Lost Ones,” encounters a Lost One named Akari who can cheat death, she sets out on a mission to kill the unkillable girl — but her newly stirring feelings might get in the way of her blade.

~Created by Mato Sato, Illustrated by nilitsu~ Licensed by Yen Press

Girls Kingdom

• School • Romance • Comedy • Master/Servant

All Misaki wanted was a free education. Instead, she accidentally lands an exclusive contract with the most prestigious girl in school... to serve as her personal maid! Misaki soon discovers that Amanotsuka Academy for Girls is no ordinary school—her classes are all about how to be a maid, too! Students who impress the school’s elite young ladies with their domestic service skills might be lucky enough to become a “Seraph,” guaranteeing them a job with an upper-class household after they graduate.

~Created  by Nayo, Illustrated by Shio Sakura~ Licensed by J-Novel Club

Girls’ Love of the Dead

• Horror • Mystery

When Mitsuki’s best friend suddenly dies, she decides to seek out the old abandoned building of their school, the Romero Private Academy for Girls. But when she meets her dear Rin again, there are quite a lot of reasons why the other girl doesn’t remember her…

~Created by Nanaoku Hoshii, Illustrated by Akiko Morishima~ Licensed by Manga Planet

I’m in Love with the Villainess: She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner

• Isekai • School • Comedy • Action • Fantasy • Romance • Enemies to Lovers

Claire François has it all: beauty, brains, and the blood of nobility. As the daughter of a high-ranking noble, she takes her status and the according responsibilities with utmost seriousness—even as the king threatens to undermine his realm’s stability with his visions of “meritocracy.” Claire is nevertheless prepared to take this societal change in stride, until one of the new commoner students at her elite academy, Rae Taylor, turns her life upside down. Everything about Rae confounds Claire, from her behavior to her intellect to her bizarre fixation on Claire herself. Little does she realize just how much Rae will change her world, and how much she’ll change Rae in turn.

~Created  by Inori, Illustrated by Hanagata~ Licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment

Last and First Idol

• Horror • Sci-Fi • Anthology

"Bye-bye, Earth! My idol activities here were so much fun!” A wannabe idol turned reality-shattering entity, existential isekai organisms, and a space opera about murderous voice actors… Award-winning author Gengen Kusano presenting an astounding collection of three harrowing existential widescreen yuri baroque proletariat hard sci-fi idol story has carved out a new legend in science fiction history! These high-concept stories are crammed full of horrific imagery and exceptionally detailed science that will leave your mind reeling.

~Created by Gengen Kusano~ Licensed by J-Novel Club

A Lily Blooms in Another World

• Isekai • Romance • Fantasy • Enemies to Lovers

Miyako Florence isn’t sad when her fiancé breaks off their engagement after two years. It’s all according to plan! Whisked into the world of her favorite otome game, Miyako frees herself from a dull noble to pursue her true soulmate: the game’s villainess Fuuka Hamilton. Proud Fuuka only has eyes for their mutual ex-fiancé! Miyako confesses her love to Fuuka and proposes that they run away together. Fuuka agrees on one condition: Miyako must make her say “I’m happy” in 14 days. With conniving nobles, strange diseases, and magical rituals pulling them apart, can Miyako win the villainess’s heart?

~Created by Ameko Kaeruda, Illustrated by Shio Sakura~ Licensed by J-Novel Club

Lily Clairet

• School • Slice of Life • Weak Yuri

A young girl is arguing with a cherry tree. That's a new one for Lily, who's managed to reach the end of her first year at high school without too much weirdness. Unfortunately for her, it's not long after solving this odd mystery that her untroubled life begins to unravel. Discovering an abandoned room at the end of the music department corridor, she finds that aside from it being utterly run-down, it's also devoid of its sole occupant: Sonata Sonoda, the missing journalism club president.

~Created by Kaye Ng, Illustrated by Rumikuu~ Independently Published

LOVELY! My Adorable Mamecchi

• School • Romance • Friends to Lovers

Everyone may have their eyes on the charming, prince-like Hikaru, but there's only one person Hikaru's got her eyes on - her darling childhood friend Mamecchi! But between Mamecchi's hot-and-cold personality and Hikaru's subconscious denials, this sure doesn't look like a recipe for success...when a certain repeat customer gets into Mamecchi's good graces, will Hikaru finally muster up the courage to confess to her first love?

~Kumako Nanbu, Hiromi Takashima~ Licensed by Manga Planet

The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady

• Fantasy • Romance • Comedy • Isekai

Despite her supposed ineptitude with regular magic, Princess Anisphia defies the aristocracy's expectations by developing "magicology," a unique magical theory based on memories from her past life. One day, she witnesses the brilliant noblewoman Euphyllia unjustly stripped of her title as the kingdom's next monarch. That's when Anisphia concocts a plan to help Euphyllia regain her good name-which somehow involves them living together and researching magic! Little do these two ladies know, however, that their chance encounter will alter not only their own futures, but those of the kingdom...and the entire world!

~Created by Piero Karasu, Illustrated by Yuri Kisaragi~ Licensed by Yen Press

ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword!

• Fantasy • Action • Horror • Master/Servant • Slow Burn

Flum Apricot was never meant to be a hero. Despite zero stats across the board and a power she can’t even use, she somehow finds herself included in a party of heroes. But Flum’s life hits rock bottom when the party’s renowned sage, Jean Inteige, decides that the useless girl is dead weight, and arranges to have her sold into slavery. Tossed to monsters to be feasted upon for her master’s entertainment, Flum makes the desperate choice to reach for a cursed weapon…and something new awakens within her. A grimdark tale about one woman’s blood-soaked quest to reclaim her life!

~Created by kiki, Illustrated by kinta~ Licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment

Sasayaki no Kiss -Read my lips.-

• School • Romance • Drama

Haruka has always lived in a soundless world. But not in her dreams, where she can hear her own voice - and the voice of the only other person in the dream with her, a beautiful high school student wearing an adorable, unfamiliar school uniform. Haruka knows this is just a dream, but why does a part of her think it's more than that? Is this girl she finds falling asleep in the park really the literal girl of her dreams?

~Created by Kumako Nambu, Illustrated by Akiko Morishima~ Licensed by Manga Planet

Seriously Seeking Sister! Ultimate Vampire Princess Just Wants Little Sister

• Comedy • Fantasy • Yuri Harem

Long ago, on the continent of Ephenia, there existed the feared tribe of vampires called “True Bloods,” whose great strength allowed them to reign supreme over all other tribes. However, a millennium has passed, and any trace of them has vanished off the face of the planet. That is, until the youngest and most talented royal daughter of the True Bloods awakens in the modern day.

~Created by Hiironoame, Illustrated by Siso~ Licensed by J-Novel Club

Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With a Mythical Sorceress!

• Fantasy • Comedy • Action

Tanya Artemiciov is a talented Mage-class adventurer who just got kicked out of her party by a sexist scumbag. So what's a girl to do? Go to the wasteland and blow stuff up of course! One small problem though: she inadvertently frees a mythical Sorceress named Laplace who was sealed away for the past 300 years… Surprise! Turns out this so-called "wicked" Sorceress is actually pretty cool. Laplace wants to start a party of her own, Tanya wants revenge, and the solution is obvious: team up. It's time to kick ass, kiss girls, and dismantle the patriarchy!

~Created by Ameko Kaeruda, Illustrated by Kazutomo Miya~ Licensed by J-Novel Club

Side-By-Side Dreamers

• Sci-Fi • Supernatural • Action • Fated Lovers • Love at First Sight

Unbeknownst to the common citizens, a battle has been unfolding between the Suiju, beings that possess people's spirits in the land of sleep, and the Sleepwalkers, who have the power to move about freely in their dreams. Saya Hokage, a high school girl who is unable to sleep due to insomnia, encounters Hitsuji Konparu, a girl who can put anyone to sleep as a “lover” in a dream. When Hitsuji's senpai sees potential in Saya, she ends up joining them and their group of Sleepwalkers on their mission.

~Created by Iori Miyazawa~ Licensed by J-Novel Club

Two Guns Under the Sheet

• Action • Drama • Enemies to Lovers • Shakaijin • Love at First Sight

All Aya wanted was a one-night stand that could take her mind off her lost love, but with Sakura, she may have finally gotten more than a one-night stand - she may have finally found "The One"! But before she rushes into imagining their future together, there's one uncomfortable question Aya has to face first - could it be possible that her beautiful new love is somehow related to the same organization she's bound by duty to destroy?

~Created by Kumako Nambu, Illustrated by Akiko Morishima~ Licensed by Manga Planet

Yuri Tama: From Third Wheel to Trifecta 

• School • Romance • comedy

Yuna Momose and Rinka Aiba were made for each other, and their whole school knows it. Between Yuna's princess-like elegance and Rinka's prince-like charm, all their classmates see them as the ideal couple. Yotsuba Hazama is no exception to that, but she is exceptional in another way: she's somehow managed to become fast friends with both of them! Having the whole school's favorite ship as her two best friends isn't exactly easy, though. Not only does it make everyone treat Yotsuba like a particularly obnoxious third wheel, it makes her feel like one too! Or at least it does, until one day, Yuna asks her out. And then Rinka asks her out too! And Yotsuba, whose social anxiety never seems to kick in until after she's already messed something up...says yes to both of them, without sparing so much as a single thought for the consequences. Oops! Now Yotsuba only has one choice: keep her accidental two-timing under wraps and make both of her new girlfriends as happy as she possibly can!

~Created by toshizou, Illustrated by Kuro Shina~ Licensed by J-Novel Club

Yuri Will Not Blossom at Work!

• Drama • Romance • Enemies to Lovers • Shakaijin

Just as Rikka thinks the matchmaking event she grudgingly signed up for can’t get any more dreadful, she runs into her colleague-slash-rival Yuri Kisugi. Using Rikka’s embarrassment as leverage, Yuri compels Rikka into helping her find the perfect candidate to marry. Rikka goes along with Yuri’s antics with the hopes it will lead her rival away while she climbs up the company ranks. But what happens when Rikka’s nurturing tendencies coincide with Yuri’s secret vulnerabilities?…

~Created by Mai Yanagawa, Illustrated by Ruri Hazuki~ Licensed by Manga Planet

Yurizen! Salon -Shirayuri’s Comforting Food Therapy-

• Shakaijin • Romance • Slow Burn

Was it fate that led to Miiko meeting Doctor Shirayuri that one rainy day…or was it just her cramps? Pâtissier Miiko works through little pains like the rest of us, but when her ailments begin to affect her work, there’s got to be something she can do about it. Enter beautiful, mysterious herbal medicine doctor Shirayuri, who might be the solution to Miiko’s problems – in more ways than one!

~Created by Kumako Nambu, Illustrated by Miso Higashikawa~ Licensed by Manga Planet

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[norel-ravenclaw]

Belle Accidentally Makes A Harem~

Fandom: Ikemen Prince (otome game)

Featured characters: Original 10

Genre: Poly Romance? Semi crack

Rating: 14+ suggestive references

Word count: 2100

Description: Belle (gender neutral) accidentally falls in love with all of the princes - and they each fall for Belle.

WARNINGS: | poly relationship | depression | neurodivergence | gender neutral reader |

They really didn't mean to.

One day they were working in a bookshop, and the next, an attractive asshole had a sword to their throat. Then they were kidnapped by another shady, attractive man. This belle may have trembled a bit, but not really out of fear. And then... well, one thing led to another.

First, it was Rio Ortiz.

You know the story - a kind rescue, teaching a lost soul to love life and to love people. This stranger with their books and kind words, sweet smiles, earnest efforts.

How could he not come to love such a transparent and golden heart? The first person to not want anything from him.

He wouldn't give them up for the world.

Next, it was Prince Leon.

After the incident at the festival, and then the unexpected trauma of being dragged into the dangerous and stressful world of grueling lessons and politics, the fourth Prince insisted on taking Belle out to help them relax. To make them smile again. And oh, did it work. Belle danced and drank and sang, and then ranted a bit. And damn if it wasn't the most adorable and... surprisingly wise bit of rambling he'd ever heard. Huh, Belle had more to them than he ever would have guessed at a glance.

And so by the end of the night, both a little bit tipsy, (pretending maybe to be a bit more drunk than they really were...) they shared a quick kiss before going to bed. A harmless thing; just a little kiss after a great date...

Until there was another. And then another. More blushes, more laughter, more teasing. More wise words and accepting expressions of support. Honesty, openness, hope for the future and love for the people. Ideas bled into what neither could deny they wanted to be plans. Until Leon could imagine no more perfect person by their side, holding his hand, his heart, his future, his hope. Him.

Next, it was Prince Clavis.

He attempted to kidnap Belle for a tour of the palace, and of course an introduction to the Leluchian Trap Series (tm). But, much to the lavender menace's shock and delight, Belle pickpocketed a vial from (one of his many) belts/pockets(?). A bit of sleight of hand and it was gone, with the promise that it would be returned the next morning on the condition that the Prince of Chaos would allow the poor little Belle to properly adapt to this extreme situation (take pity on their anxiety, you brute). And, being a gentleman, he couldn't refuse such an earnest plea.

But it wasn't until a couple weeks had passed that the panther was well and truly caught in their trap. This Belle proved to have a delightfully manic mind that produced the most amusing things. They shocked the whole palace with their easy avoidance of every trap. (Even shocking Chevalier, who watched as they purposely tripped a wire and caught the falling vial in their jacket before it could shatter and release its contents.)

They were a delight when drunk... until they weren't. Too honest. Cutting too deeply. Clavis had never felt so vulnerable, so enraged, so exposed. Every nerve alight with pain when exposed to the air - to the eyes of the perceptive Belle. Who then promptly began sobbing. Every instinct fought inside him as he knew they needed to get back to the palace safely, and... what's this? "I love you Clavis, stop treating yourself and everyone else so badly. Stop hurting yourself by pushing everyone away and hurting them too." His hand caressed their head as they sniffed and sniffed. Until he was sniffing too. Yep, time for a sleeping potion. He slung them over his shoulder and made his way back to the palace, cursing their honesty and feeling his heart tear at the thought of never having another fun conversation with them...

No, he couldn't let them go now. If Belle loved him, he would be sure to let them love him as much as their heart could stand...

Next, it was Prince Jin.

Clavis had said something about Belle defining being a lady/gentleman/gentleperson much the same way he defined being a gentleman. Jin soon found out what his brother had meant by that. Belle was not shy about what they wanted, about their sensuality. Their confidence and easy nature made them more and more attractive to him. Watching them eat, dance, laugh... Belle made him happy. He wanted to drink less because talking to them first thing before their lessons with Sariel had become his favourite part of the morning.

So when Belle bumped into him early one evening, their cheeks flushed, their fists clenched tight... He was ready and willing to help them... relive their tension~ (He was so willing, he helped relieve them of their voice come morning. Whoops.) They were so adorable, so sexy, so honest about their desires, Jin was tempted to break his rule of only once.

With every day that passed, that temptation grew and grew. As did his affection. Until he couldn't stand it anymore. Maybe just one more night would let him be done with this...

Next, it was Lord Sariel.

Everyone was singing Belle's praises. Even the ministers wouldn't shut up about them. How hard working, how kind, how thoughtful, fashionable, creative, sweet, fun, strong, admirable, wise.

His student was always earnest in their studies. Always fighting their fatigue to listen to his lectures. Diligently taking and organizing notes, pushing to read every book. All of this led him to favour his good little student.

But adding how adorable they were when he teased them, their fierce blush when they dared to teased him back~ He wanted to tease them more and more. Every time they looked tired, overwhelmed, depressed, discouraged, his desire to sweep them into his arms and turn their sighs and tiny groans of frustration into... something else. And so, bold Belle that they were, he decided to try with them.

Next thing he knew, he had a new submissive under his control. So obedient, so fearful and lusty and adorable... He broke every rule and took them to his bed. None of the ministers would dare steal so much of his pet's time now. His precious student that he was ever so proud of~ (Doing so good to keep reading while he... ahem.)

Next, was Prince Luke.

Belle had approached him early on, in the gardens, looking so overwhelmed. He pushed gently to know what they wanted, and finally they admitted that they selfishly wanted him to come to lessons with them... so they wouldn't have to do it all alone. Fail alone... They looked so small and helpless in that moment, the big bear agreed to hang out with them now and then.

Soon now and then became all the time. They seemed so happy when he got along with his brothers, when he helped them with their assignments and organizing notes. They were so happy to try honey recipes with him and sneak off to the gardens and abandoned guest rooms for naps and cuddles.

Soon cuddle sessions began in the evenings too, then... then a bath together. Then... He found himself wanting to protect them, their smile. They were so hopeful for the future, so full of good ideas and passion.

Maybe, just maybe, there was another way... A way that would let him stay with them and protect them forever.

Next, it was Prince Chevalier.

He was stunned into silence the first time Belle approached him. Demanding an audience. Demanding to know if he intended to honour the Belle system or seize the throne anyway. They didn't flinch meeting his eye. They... raised a brow when his sword again touched their throat? They... promised to be efficient in handling the questioning process, pointing out that only he himself could answer most of the necessary questions. ...And so he allowed them.

Each time they came with questions - in depth, well thought out - topics of humanity and morality arose. And Belle, looking far too young to have such certain opinions, stated philosophy like fact. Goodness - happiness - is the meaning of life. Therefore, the one rule of humanity is to never unnecessarily take away from the happiness and well-being of others. Love is the choices and sacrifices made for one's happiness and wellbeing.

...

Just like that, a single sentence, and a room full of books on the subject suddenly became unnecessary. Gathered so long to the point of distraction, and this stranger, this peasant off the street - they touched his neglected soul. And his mind? "Well of course it makes sense that you're like this. You seem to be lacking oxytocin, which causes... and... subsequently... Just like me."

...Oh. So that's why this Belle is so analytical. That's why they lack fear. That's why we get along. That's why... He's looking for them constantly, he's awaiting their next audience, he's wondering what they thought of the book he lent them. ...He's falling. Hard. Someone so practical and earnest, so honest and deeply compassionate, so strong and resilient, splendiferously passionate. Everything he isn't, everything he needs, everything he never knew he wanted. ...How foolish.

Next, was Prince Licht.

They had instantly recognized the shadows in each other's eyes. When you seem them every day, it becomes easier to spot in others. Belle turned up the sunshine, and Licht tried to avoid them. He didn't want to hurt them...

And Belle was desperate not to hurt him. But finally, they dared to offer - they understood the nature of such darkness. They could listen, or just keep silent company, or even tell them about the mind and trauma and what might help. So desperate to make it better somehow. And... it worked. Just a little bit. But when you're at the bottom of the abyss, a little bit closer to the light is never just a little thing.

And soon, everyone noticed his comments weren't quite as dire, his expression would soften more. Yves cried when he smiled and laughed at one of Belle's jokes. So did Nokto, behind closed doors. Miracle worker, angel - fallen or not.

Licht would join them in the gardens, for tea, for dancing practice, for a night in town, for a midnight mental health comfort session after nightmares. Once, he found them curled up in the garden with Luke, looking so small and distressed, he joined them, holding Belle close until the tears stopped.

He couldn't ever let them go now.

Next, was Prince Yves.

The capricious cat took a while to come around to the whole idea. A commoner? Sent to judge him? This was a nightmare. Everyone hated the half-blood prince from Obsidian.

But oh how quickly they turned his days into a dream.

They baked with him in the kitchen, helped him sew new clothes, took tea together nearly every day.

They were able to reach Licht, his beloved little brother. And that, more than anything, allowed him to open his heart to them. This commoner saw him, in spite of it all - his heritage, his tsundere nature, his position, his money. He was seen, and he was appreciated, trusted, liked.

He was terrified by how hard he fell for them.

Finally, was Prince Nokto.

Nokto had to be certain this meddlesome person wouldn't hurt his twin. But his investigation led to frustration. ...You know the kind. But more than that, frustration with himself.

This aggravating person saw through every wall, called him out on his maladaptive habits. It was infuriating. But more than that it was just depressing as hell. And yet, they stayed. After calling him out, they stayed and listened. Unlike all the others who came and went in his life, Belle didn't want anything from him. At least, not money or power or sex. They just... wanted him to be okay.

And it was that, finally, that got him to let down a portion of a wall to let them in. They were good for Licht, and they made Clavis more bearable, and even king highness. So, he let them approach more.

By the time he realized that now he was the one approaching Belle, it was too late.

And so, the one called Belle had accidentally won the hearts of the most powerful men in the country.

None of the men would relinquish their treasure... yet seeing the joy Belle had with the others... unexpected and unconventional thoughts crept in.

Until... someone made the suggestion - what if we share?

[multifandom-worlds]

On the Roof in the Rain

Genre: Angst/fluff

Rating: General

Word count: 2291

Warnings: Mildly dysfunctional family, feelings of inadequacy

Authors Note: This also does not reflect my feelings of Tony entirely, I don't hate the man lol

Thank you to @otome-and-fanfiction for answering all my kinda stupid questions. I love you.

Tags: @lokiprompts @holdmytesseract

“I’m sorry, okay! Is that what you wanted to hear?! I’m sorry I’m such a failure of a Stark!” You yell at your brother in the presence of several others, your partner Loki included. Tony was about to open his mouth to speak before you interrupted him - he would listen to you, one way or another. “No, you don’t get to talk. You have said quite enough already. You don’t get to sit here on your high horse and accuse me of bullshit I didn’t do! You don’t get to sit here and read off every single one of my mistakes when you aren’t perfect, either!” Tears prick your eyes as you blink them away, staring at your brother. His expression never changed, and that fact shattered your already crumbling heart into pieces. “I never wanted to be an Avenger; I did it to spend more time with my big brother. It’s clear to me now the only making us related is DNA and a last name; there is no more love here.”

“Starklette..” Tony began, his tone softer than before - clearly, what you said affected him, but you didn’t stay to hear what he had to say. Tony made his choice when he started criticizing you; you were no longer his younger sister; you were just another Avenger he could manipulate and form into a female version of himself. You shake your head, tears threatening to spill over as you turn around and high-tail it out of the conference room. There was only one place you headed - somewhere Tony didn’t know you had access to; The roof.

You picked the lock on the roof access door before quietly opening it and slipping through the crack. Stepping onto the expansive roof, the wind takes away tiny bits of your anger as it blows. You walk to the edge, resting your hands on the rails as you look out over upstate New York; the hustle and bustle of the city is a welcome distraction to your reeling mind. 

 How could Tony do that to you…? How could he be so blatantly rude to you in front of everyone?

You watch the busy city below you quiet down ever so as night begins to fall, and with the ever-darkening sky comes rain clouds threatening to break open. You welcomed the rain whenever it chose to fall, washing your free of the guilt that was slowly taking hold in your soul. Tony was only trying to help you, make you a better, stronger Avenger. Someone who could take control of his merry band of misfits once he was gone. But you never wanted that; you told him you didn’t want to be involved; you just wanted to live with him to be close to him again. 

Stand there in your quiet contemplation; the cloud opened up, showering you in a warm summer rain. You look up to the heavens, feeling the droplets of healing water splash upon your face, washing away the outer layers of grief you were feeling. 

“I figured I would find you here, enjoying the rain, no less.” The sound of footsteps accompanied the oh-so-familiar voice. You smile before lowering your gaze to meet the voice's owner, watching as he strides over to you.  

“To what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from a God?” You question, tucking away a wet strand of hair from your face. Loki smiles at your question, wrapping an arm around your waist, pulling you into his chest, and holding you securely to his body. “That was quite the speech you made down there; you moved quite a number of us, your brother in particular. He was speechless for a minute after you left. Well done, my love. I’m proud of you for saying it, finally.” 

You frown, hearing what Loki is saying. You never wanted to hurt him; that wasn’t your intention. You let your emotions take control. Loki, ever observant, catches your frown before his free hand finds your chin, tilting upwards slightly so he can look at your face. “You did nothing wrong, darling,” Loki began. “I’m proud of you for finally telling your brother how his actions have made you feel. You deserve to have your own life; you are not his replacement, you are your own person, and you have every right to be treated as such. Tony had no right to criticize anyone publicly like that, let alone you. I see how much of yourself you give to this team.”

Your eyes well up with fresh tears as you listen to his gentle praise, averting your eyes. “But I shouldn’t have said it in front of everyone else. I should go apologise….” Loki grips your chin gently, refocusing your attention back on him. “No, you shouldn’t go apologise for your feelings. What you said was the kick in the ass he needed to realize how he was treating you. I have tried to tell him countless times how his actions and words have affected you, but he never listened to me. I know Natasha and Wanda have also spoken to him about his treatment of you, but you saying it finally opened his eyes to how cruel he has been to you. He is the one who needs to apologize to you, my love. Not the other way around.” 

Loki watches as his words, mixed with the rain, wash away the rest of the anger from your soul, only to be replaced by another emotion: inadequacy. He drops his hand from your chin before pulling you in for a hug. You wrap your arms around her torso, burying your face in the wet fabric of his shirt. His chin rests on the top of your head as you sob, all the emotions finally becoming too much for you to bear. “Let it out, my Queen; I’m right here. I’m not leaving you. You’re safe.” Loki assures you, gently rubbing your back as you cry.

After what felt like hours but was likely only a few minutes, you pulled your face away from him, wiping at your eyes. “Why am I not good enough, Loki….? Why do I always fuck up so massively every time I go with you guys…?” 

Loki shook his head before silencing your words with a kiss. He effectively robs you of your ability to speak ill of the woman he loves more than anything. He pulls away before placing his finger on your lips, further silencing you. “I’m not going to allow you to speak so badly about the one I hold most dear, the one I would burn the city to smoulders to protect. My Queen, the one you so hastily labelled with ‘not being good enough’ has been led to believe by those she loves to think it true when it is far from it. You, sweetheart, are more than enough. You are not perfect, nor should you try to be. You are beautiful in your flaws. Those who expect perfection from you should first expect perfection from themselves; you’re only human; no one should expect you to be perfect, I certainly don’t. It wounds my soul when I watch you go above and beyond your limits for your brother's approval repeatedly.” Loki pauses, removing his finger from your lip before moving a strand of hair from your face. 

“I love you, my darling. No language in all the realms fully articulates my feelings for you. I wake up daily, blessed with the knowledge that you picked me.”

You look up at him quizzically. “But why do you love me? Why did you pick me over the thousands of people who throw themselves at your feet?”

Loki smiles before silencing you again with his finger. “My my, you’re a curious little one, aren’t you?” he chuckles before kissing your rain-soaked forehead. “I love you because you don’t throw yourself at my feet. You don’t worship me as a God; you treat me as you would a stranger on the street, with dignity and kindness. You saw me for the person I am; you didn’t see me as a monster when everyone else did. You chose to stand beside me even after learning all that I had done, all the innocent lives taken by my order alone. You argued my case, even when everyone was against you - you stood your ground, and because of that, I am free to love you as I please. I love you because you make all my problems and heartaches disappear just by being near me. You, my darling, are everything I didn’t know I needed in my life. I didn’t realize how much of myself was missing until Tony brought you to my cell in the final effort to get me to confess. As soon as I laid eyes on you, I knew I had found my person, my soulmate. The person who makes me whole. I craved you in those early days. I craved your touch, voice, and presence in my life.” 

You stare at him, heart so full you fear it may explode if he spoke anymore. “R-really?” You question, having trouble processing the fact that Loki, the God of Mischief, felt that way about a mortal like you. Loki chuckles before cupping your face in his hands, pulling you into a kiss that shatters worlds, burning with hundreds of unspoken words. He breaks the kiss, allowing you to breathe again before resting his forehead against yours. “Yes, really, now can we get out of the rain, please, my sweet?” You giggle before kissing him one more time. “Yes, we may.”

One second, you were on the compound's roof in New York, drenched from head to toe; the next, you were in Loki’s spacious entranceway to his home in Asgard. “Welcome home, Master Loki and Lady Laufeyson.” One of the maids spoke as she passed the soaked couple. “Thank you. Have some clothes laid out for us in the bedroom and fetch us several towels, if you may.” Loki ordered. You were always surprised by how gentle he was with his staff. While he did give orders, he was never condescending about it. He never acted as though he was superior to them; he treated them as any boss would treat their employees. 

The maid nodded as she hurried off to lay out some dry clothes for them. Loki holds out his arm for you, which you happily take. Together you walk through the home to the bedroom where two outfits lay, while simple in construction, hold a mastery of embroidery that you have not seen on Earth. Over the years of being with Loki, you became accustomed to being treated as royalty by the Asgardian people. You were Lady Laufeyson, partner of Loki Laufeyson; even if someone was opposed to you, they dared not try anything lest Loki catches word and deals with them himself. 

“You look exquisite, my queen, adorned in only the finest of Asgardian wares, as you should be.” Loki smiles, pulling you onto the bed and into his awaiting arms. After a few seconds of adjusting yourself in his embrace, you finally relax. “Thank you, my love. For setting my head right.” You smile. Loki tenderly traces the curve of your cheekbone before speaking. “I know what it’s like to feel as you do. For many moons, I was living in Thor’s shadow, always trying to prove my worth to Odin and Asgard as a whole. I acted much as you do now, going above and beyond in my attempts to prove my worth to my family.” Loki pauses to gather his thoughts, approaching the topic with utmost care to not undo all that he did on that rooftop back on Earth. 

“Much as you did, I lashed out. I believed only Frigga loved me. I didn’t know the love that Thor carried for me until I sat down and spoke to him, laying all my feelings out to him. I believe it is the same situation you and Tony are experiencing now. Your brother loves you, darling, of that I am sure. He speaks so highly of you when you are not present. He is often the first to jump to your defence should someone speak ill of you. I don’t know what possessed him to critique you the way he did today, and I’m sorry for not speaking up in your defence sooner. I was shocked that he would do what he did, as I believe the others were. Once you are ready to return, I believe you need to discuss it with your brother.” 

You nod, taking in his words and allowing them to settle fully into your brain. “Is he alright? Is he worried about me..?” you ask. Your question was quickly answered, “He is; however, he knows you are safe with me here in Asgard; I ensured a message got passed along to him to ease his mind regarding your whereabouts and safety.” 

“As for right now, my darling,” Loki spoke low in your ear, the first inklings of sleep present in his voice. The light grows dark, leaving only the faint light of the fireplace, casting a soft, warm glow over the room. “It’s time for sleep. You had a troublesome day, and you need your rest. Come.” 

Loki pulls you tighter into him, laying your head to rest upon his chest. He pulls the blankets over you, enveloping you in warmth as sleep takes hold. Loki runs his fingers through your hair, helping you drift into dreamland. The last thing you heard before succumbing to exhaustion was Loki telling you he loves you. “I love you, my Queen. Rest now; you’ve earned it.”

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

I may make a part 2 of their lives in Asgard. Maybe lol

[angrykittykrys]

Hey everyone! I have a Kickstarter link to share with you that is very, very important to me. It's for a game that I have been actively helping work on for a few years now.

Back in 2019 I stumbled upon a small fan project that ended up not panning out, but it led me to Korina. This amazing woman and I clicked immediately, and towards the end of that year she started working on what would end up being our company's first game: Glass Heart. For the first game the team was small, just three people: Korina, Solry (our artist at the time), and me. It was a labor of love and we were blessed to work with some voice actors who were just getting started then, but have become decently big names now (Patrick Mealey and Bradley Gareth to name a few).

We started work on Shattered Souls before we even released Glass Heart at the beginning of last year. It was so different from our first game, but also so much more fulfilling! Our team has grown to almost a dozen people now, and we all believe in this game and what this team can accomplish in the future.

Right now we have a playable demo and a dream! If you are interested in playing through a fantasy/romance/adventure visual novel with beautiful art, talented voices and a story that takes your breath away... Please consider checking out our Kickstarter and all the rewards we have to offer for everyone who is willing to donate!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. It means so much to me and our team at Eternal Love Studios!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eternallovestudios/shattered-souls-a-dark-fantasy-isekai-otome?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=Shattered%20souls&total_hits=11

[seirclys]

Estimation of og!Penelope's Regressions

Spoiler territory btw, if you haven't seen it from the title.

Part 2 here

This is why you shouldn't leave me alone with my thoughts.

This crack rabbit hole has been refined a bit more than the initial word vomit on the VADD Discord, so congrats! It's readable for you guys :)

It started off as a random thought, and oh god og!Penelope's life is basically a horror novel at this point—

This is based on my theory that every game round played in South Korea was an actual loop that Penelope went through. After all, you have to have regressed a particularly horrifying number of times for your soul to shatter into irreparable pieces.

We're starting off by approximating the number of people who played "Daughter of the Duke - Love Project". In total, the SK gamer population is approximately 35 million, with 73.4% to 75% of the players being female. A bit of early multiplication shows that the number of female SK gamers is approximately 26.25 million.

I wasn't able to find a percentage for the number of South Koreans that play popular otome games, but I'm going to hazard a guess. In South Korea, 31.7% of the population are single households.

That means at least that percentage of people play romance genre games. I'm gonna be generous and move it up to 60%, just because you're in a relationship doesn't mean you can't play video games. Also, we have to keep in mind the teenagers who play these types of games.

Now, for more speculative calculations.

The clock in chapter 1, when Siyeon starts hard mode, is shown to be at 1:10 AM. The clock shown at the end, when Siyeon falls asleep, also the fact that she said "dawn was approaching", means that she stopped at approximately 6:34 AM. The time elapsed in total was 5.4 hours, also 324 minutes. 324 divided by Siyeon's number of attempts, 76, has an average of 4.263 minutes per attempt.

Seeing as Siyeon beat normal mode on all five routes on her first day, especially considering she's not much of a gamer type, we can surmise that people started playing Hard Mode on the first few days after release.

I will be basing "Daughter of the Duke - Love Project" on Mystic Messenger, one of the most popular otome games. Looking at the game on Google Trends and narrowing it down to South Korea, the game's popularity peaked two months after its release.

Using this comparison, we can speculate that "Daughter of the Duke - Love Project" has come out for approximately 2 months at the time of the first few chapters, especially since Siyeon's friend said that "It's the game that's all the rage now", and that it had been in all the ads.

Digging a little bit, some people online say that they play visual novels(which "Daughter of the Duke - Love Project" can be classified into) for 2-5 hours per day. I'm going to give an average estimate of 3.5 hours.

In summary. Multiply the number of female SK gamers by the estimated percentage of otome game players. Then, multiply them by 3.5 hours, which is 210 minutes. That's the daily average. Multiply that by two months, give or take, for the amount of estimated time for "Daughter of the Duke - Love Project" to reach peak popularity.

Take that number, and divide it by the average number of minutes played for each loop. In the end, add 76 for Siyeon's attempts. Round that up to a whole number. 4779304.

If we were to calculate, og!Penelope would've gone through 4.779304 million loops. Round that up to 4.8 million.

My two original, random-generated numbers(500 - 50 million) were 4.2 million and 5.6 million. I would say that it(the calculated number) is a pretty conservative number in between the generated ones.

[twis-world]

HEYYO BROOOO

am big lilia lover. If u ok, pls do request. If not ok, I hope u get better, no pressure broski

-

Request is

Lilia with lover headcannons? Hehe.

IDK OK YOU DON'T HAV TO DO IT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO

also

If can

Villainess AU, cause I just love otome games villainess. Or anything related with otome games or manga! I don't care. I JUST WANT TO READ SOMETHING ANGSTY, AND THEN CUTE AND FLUFFY OR JUST CUTE AND FLUFFY PLS PLS PLS PLS

Pls 🙏🙏🙏🙏

I am so sorry but I'm not accepting requests at the moment, please be sure to look at the pinned post in the future to see if I am.

Rest assure though angst will be very prominent here, my number one goal starting is to shatter as many poor hearts and souls as possible.

Mercy is not an option...

[eternallovestudios]

The Shattered Souls Kickstarter and Demo are LIVE!

Thank you to everyone who has supported us in the first 24 hours! We're so excited to continue this journey with you! ✨🩷🫶

We are extremely proud of this game and cannot wait to share the whole story with you! Your continued support will help make this happen!

You can support Shattered Souls by:

✧Interacting with us! ♡ Likes, Comments, Questions, Reposts. We love talking with you! ✧ Sharing with friends! ♡ Have a friend that loves dark, fantasy, isekai romance stories with plot-twists, angst, and some spicy scenes? Share Shattered Souls with them! ✧ Fan Content! ♡ Art, Fanfics, Cosplay, Songs... We would LOVE to see it! Seriously, it makes our day. ✧ Pledging to the Project! ♡ We have so many different rewards and adorable merch items to give you as a thank you for your support.

Click the picture to learn more about Shattered Souls! This link will bring you to our Kickstarter page where you can learn about the characters, world, lore, and play the demo!

[violettduchess]

A/N: I am still writing Clavis but this was a nice break from that. I love writing kisses 💋

a short, detailed Napoleon kiss

Happy Birthday Sus Birthday Anon 🎈🎊

Marengo reference: Napoleon rode an Arabian horse named Marengo. Marengo famously carried Napolean through many battles; he was captured in the battle of Waterloo and sent to Great Britain. His skeletal remains are displayed at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London.

Word Count: 530

His explanation for the love that binds your hearts is simple: it is him and it is you. Two elements that belong to each other as the stars do to the sky, the ocean to the moon.

Natural is the way it feels when Napoleon cups your face in his powerful hands, hands that have held gleaming metal swords and Marengo's leather reins. Hands that have commanded the rise of an empire and unwittingly orchestrated its downfall. Those very hands slide across the skin of your cheeks, curve to cup the line of your jaw. They are soft as flower petals, elegant as the fleur-de-lis. 

He takes his time with you - after all, he has so much of it to spare. His eyes, empyrean green, caress every part of your face. He loses himself in the arch of your brow, the length of your lashes, the rise of your cheekbone. Every tendril of your hair is worth noting and remembering, the lay of it, the way it reflects light. Still holding your face in his hands, he drags his gaze down, away from the allure of your eyes, those pools of light he would gladly drown in, to the curve of your lips. And there he stays.

Your lips part in anticipation but he touches them only with his gaze, savoring the moment, a soul looking to the heavens just before it begins its journey. His own lips tilt upwards ever so slightly before he finally gives in, bending down toward you, closing the distance and pressing his lips against yours, divinity made flesh.

His hands are warm and steady, his fingers gentle on your face and jaw. He holds you, precious thing that you are, as still as his own lips on yours. You are frozen in time, two souls encased in amber, a dedication to lovers everywhere. And then he shifts, his hands moving away from your face, making separate journeys. One finds the back of your head, delving into the silken expanse of your hair. The other travels down to the small of your back where it holds you close, pressing you against him, protectively. 

And now his lips follow suit, moving over yours, fitting and refitting together, over and over. He is gentle, devout instead of demanding, always pausing for a breath then moving again. He travels for ages over the landscape of your mouth, a pilgrimage of the holiest order. One more breath, one more step. 

And then…..

Then he parts your lips with his tongue and the heavens shatter.

Now you taste him, a binary creature, both angel and devil. Only an angel would hold you so close, so reverent. Only a devil would set you aflame, burn you from the inside, desire like drops of fire flooding your veins. And you, worshiper of Eros, melt in his arms and revel in the blaze. 

Now he is commander and conqueror. He is master of all that he holds. A man who seeks to rule must never hesitate and he does not. He takes and he takes, your tongue into his mouth, your breath into his lungs. All that you are is now his. 

Capitulation feels like paradise. 

🔸

Tagging: @aquagirl1978 @atelieredux @alixennial @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @rhodolitesrose @somekidnamedkai @ikemen-prince-writers-posts @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @ikehoe @redheadkittys @themysticalbeing @dear-mrs-otome @firestar-otomeobsessed @curious-skybunny

[blerdyotome]

Gonna celebrate my birthday today (9/10) by playing Eternal Love Inc's Shattered Souls live on Twitch at 1PM ET!

Come thru for the stream and good vibes!!

[wingardium-letmefuckyou]

Like The Stars Miss The Sun In The Morning Sky (Mitsuhide x MC)

Summary: The irony is that sometimes when you are afraid to lose someone, you lose them exactly because of that...

Words: 1498

Warnings: break up, anxiety, but there is a happy ending

Notes:

These are going to be the longest notes I've ever written at the start of a fic... I had the honour to meet a man who reminded me lot of Ikesen's Mitsuhide. He was a wonderful, intelligent man who lived by his own principles and a delightful tease who could hypnotize me with his voice alone. He was so generous with his affections. He was also someone who worked so hard, who gave everything he had to help others at the expense of himself, his mental and physical health and his freetime. Sounds a lot like Mitsuhide no? I also had the honour to date him for a while and he made my life so much more interesting, wonderful and magical. But we do not live in an otome game and real life is shit sometimes. As if starting to date during a pandemic wasn't hard enough already there is also the fact that we're both damaged humans. I'm not an MC in a game and I have my fears, insecurities and past trauma's and I make mistakes. And neither is he a perfect love interest in a game, he's just as human as I am and he makes mistakes too. So yeah, this is me writing about my own heartbreak, about dealing with the pain and guilt of losing someone you were so afraid to lose. Because it hurts like hell, waking up every morning and realizing you (both) screwed up and someone you hold so dear is no longer part of your life. So if Mitsuhide feels a bit out of character, you know why.

I did give the story a happy ending, because it's a story and while real life doesn't always have a happy ending I felt like the story still deserved one. Let's spread more happiness and love in these horrible times. I hope that one day I get to the point where MC is stronger because of what happened to her, that would be a great happy ending for me. Slowly, step by step I'm getting there. And who knows... maybe... one day...

It was in that moment, when their gazes met and the universe shifted just a little and everything felt right and good and wonderful, that she realized she needed Mitsuhide in her life. And for a while, a blissful while, he was. Until he wasn’t. Neither and both were to blame, although she would blame herself for a very long time, letting the guilt eat at her heart and soul like a slow poison. Never really sure where she stood with Mitsuhide, she had grown insecure and anxious that one day he would leave her, slipping through her fingers. How ironic really, how her fear of losing him had led to exactly that. She had never meant what she said, never meant to sound ungrateful, never meant to blame him for her own insecurities. All she wanted to hear was that they were okay, that the fox was hers just as she was his. Fear can make you a monster, clawing its way out in venomous words while all the monster wants is to be soothed with love and reassurance.

And so she found herself as she was now, sobbing into Hideyoshi’s shoulder, hot tears burning a path on her cheeks. “I... I lost him...,” was all she managed to choke out. Hideyoshi was drawing soothing circles on her back, for once clueless about what to do to make his favourite chatelaine feel better. It was devastating to see her like that, curling up in herself in a futile attempt to keep the shards of her broken heart together.

Days went by and her heart stayed broken. She wanted to explain to Mitsuhide what had happened and make things right again. They could talk this out and continue their story, of that she was sure. If only he would let her. But Mitsuhide was in the middle of an important mission for Nobunaga, barely having hours left to spare to eat or sleep, let alone to listen to a scared and insecure girl. She would have to wait.

And wait she did. She would run into him at the castle from time to time, her eyes meeting his and longing for the familiarity of the way he had looked at her when they had been lovers. One day, she tried to stop him in the hallway, wanting nothing more than to simply ask him how he was doing. The question was well meant, she did still worry for him and his well being but for the first time in her life she saw panic in his eyes while he tried his hardest to get away from her as swiftly as possible. Needles went through her soul. The embers of hopefulness that had been smouldering brightly inside her diminished slowly as time went by and she started to realize that Mitsuhide had no intention of actually giving her a chance. The pieces of her heart that had been salvaged together with the glue of a fool's hope shattered again.

The other warlords did everything they could to distract her and make her happy. Masamune cooked all her favourites, Mitsunari was his sweetest and kindest self, Ieyasu let her pet Wasabi, Sasuke visited her more often and brought little trinkets, Nobunaga even shared his secret stash of konpeito with her. Hideyoshi, her dear best friend, was always there to listen to her and lend her his shoulder. Letting her speak out when her brain was running in circles, letting her cry when the pain was too much to keep inside. She felt like Mitsuhide had taken part of her soul, leaving her incomplete. Oh and she missed him… She longed for his teasing, for the ways he could make her shake with laughter and smile with glee. She yearned to hear him read stories to her like he used to, immersing himself in the act like a true performer. She wished she could tell him about her day and all the mundane things that happened to her and hear him do the same in return. She just wanted to hear his voice, that voice she had grown to love so much.

Time passed by, day by day and somehow she got accustomed to the feeling of constantly drowning. She was tired, so tired, but with the support of her friends she kept paddling, her head barely above the water. Until one day she found that she could swim. Not long or far but for just a moment the movements came easily and she went forward. The next day she tried again and she went forward and then the following day she did the same. Some days were easier than others, the water calm and gentle. Other days she could barely manage, feeling like she was trying to swim through a storm. But she kept trying, day after day. The mornings hurt the most, waking up when her heart and mind were at their most raw and vulnerable and realizing that Mitsuhide was no longer part of her life. But every morning she shouldered through, determined to face the day with courage and grace.

The warlords were relieved to see her ease into herself again, to see her smile and genuinely enjoy her life. Yes, she would indeed never be the same again but while she shone with a different light now, it was just as beautiful as it used to be. Like true kintsugi pottery, the gold that filled the scars in her soul made her who she was. Broken but mended and more stunning than before. She was human and perfectly imperfect.

She has stopped counting how long ago it was that she had last seen or heard Mitsuhide. While a small part of her would always long for him, he was no longer in the forefront of her mind, the pain no longer consuming her every waking moment. She cherishes the peacefulness of being able to concentrate on her hobbies and herself, to feel like she is living again. With utmost concentration she pulls needle and thread through the fabric of the kimono she’s making and almost misses the sound of the door sliding open. It is only when she looks up that she realizes who is standing in her room, her breath hitching in her throat.

 “Mitsuhide…”

 He kneels in front of her and while she used to pray for this moment in the past, she now feels oddly calm. No fear, no anxiety, just the certainty that whatever happens next she can handle.

 “What are you doing here?”

 “I… I miss you.”

 Mitsuhide looks at her, his golden eyes meeting her own. She can spot no lies in them, no deceit or teasing, only honesty and an open vulnerability.

 “You left me alone for a long time. No closure, no chance to work things out.”

 It’s an observation she makes, not an accusation. While it had hurt and cost her a lot to get where she now was, she could never bring herself to hate him or even be angry. That was not her way.

 “I know and I am sorry. I was afraid, afraid of the intensity of your love. Afraid that I could never answer it, that you would always love me more than I love you. Afraid that one day you would realize that and see that you deserved better.”

 The words baffle her. How would one start to measure love anyways?

 “You literally ran away from me when I tried to simply talk to you. Why?”

 She needs answers, needs to ask the questions that kept her mind burning for so long even if they do no longer.

 “Because it was so hard to stay away from you and if I had stopped to talk to you, if I had dared to look at you then I would not have been able to resist you.”

 Mitsuhide looks at his knees, at his trembling hands resting upon his legs. Then he looks at her again and he sees her, sees her for who she truly is. A phoenix risen from the flames.

 “I didn’t realize it at the time. I just thought I was too busy and that you would only give me trouble. I believed I had no time to help you or be what I thought I had to be for you. I was a fool, you never needed my help to begin with. I see now that I was wrong, I know that I wasn’t running from you, I was running from myself.”

 “Oh Mitsuhide... “

 Her hand reaches out tentatively to rest upon his own, the warmth of her skin seeping into his. She is no longer the same woman, no longer the frightened mouse that succumbed to anxiety. She is more, she is stronger. And she finally feels that she is capable of truly loving Mitsuhide, unconditionally and unafraid.

His eyes meet hers again and the universe shifts just a little and everything feels right and good and wonderful.

[sexysilverstrider]

I would love to see a you rank all the dating sim games you’ve played from best to worst!

hello hello! sorry for the late reply! i wanna reply this with a read more but i cant do it on mobile hhh BUT IM ON LAPTOP NOW HAHA lets do this :3c

take note that these are the otome games ive played so far. and when i say otome games, i meant actual dating sim games where the aim of the game is getting to your favourite characters good end in their route. so im excluding any non-main dating games like fire emblem and rune factory and the like. LETS BEGIN

FAFAR’S TOP 11 OTOME GAMES

11

TWILIGHT BLOOD

the only reason i downloaded this game was uhhh hot guys. the story was mediocre tbh. no voice acting. relies too much on sexy scenes with was fun at the first few chapters but then eh :// also if u wanna be a f2p it sucks coz they practically force u to pay to move on with the story and yeah....not worth it. 2/10

10

Love Story of Share House

made by HUNEX.CO, the games about mc moving to a share house with a bunch of hot dudes. The DreamTM. no voice acting but the characters are bearable. ive played the meganes route because thats who i am as a person and mr moustache man. latters route was okay. the story does have smutty elements so that surprised me tbh hahahha. its okay imo and u can be f2p to finish each route :) 4/10

9

My Horse Prince

can you BELIEVE this game got better ranks than the previous two??? its about mc wooing a horse. with a mans head. horses body. i cannot simplify this enough. the reason it beating the 2 games before is because it made me lose my shit SO MUCH i remembered tears coming out of my eyes coz this game is a fcking ride. mc has 1 braincell and its for the sexy horse man. f2p and im thankful for that. no voice acting and honestly im glad it doesnt. 5/10

8

Hatoful Boyfriend

a classic game. no voice acting. there ARE gijinkas and drama cds however outside of the main game. in the main game u get to date pigeons. actual pigeons. i believe this game was unironically enjoyable like 10-15 years ago. dont be fooled by the pigeons. some of their routes can be EMOTIONALLY NASTY. i cried at one of the pigeons. i lost sleep but its what i deserve. 5/10

7

Hakuoki

my first ever dating sim game!! hence the 3ds picture. full voice acting. it was p enjoyable and while i know the steam version covers most of what the 3ds lacks, i love playing the routes and this was the first game tht traumatized me at the sight of a bad end. sadly not a fan of the canon route despite me loving stoic emotionally guarded characters. i do enjoy the other routes and okita souji has my heart and soul i love and hate him. 6/10

6

Ephemeral

another game by HUNEX.CO. compared to the share house game, i ADORE this one. its surprisingly a sweet mobile otome game! f2p friendly! no voice acting, but they make it up with the story and characters. basically u got tsundere wolf. baby invisible man. yandere mummy. bastard but then gets soft to you vampire. guess who i love in the end. also sidenote the reason this gets higher ranks is the vampires routes alone (they have dating route AND lovers route all in one game) and also the invisible mans route broke me as a person. i hate it. so much. oh my god. 7/10

5

Amnesia

my second otomate/aksys game! when i found it its sold in google store i legit bought it and left my assignments to play flksdnfjdbf. full voice acting. VERY interesting stories. v intense stories too so its not fun playing at night lol sometimes. all the characters are loveable to each players ref. some of the routes do irk me which sucks coz i have to finish all in order to unlock the canon route. i DO love the canon character so its fine. this game is the game that introduced me to fear in a form of a toma. 8/10

4

Code: Realize

HONESTLY A GAME WHERE I LIKE ALL THE CHARACTERS LMAOOO!! all the routes are great and the full voice acting has me scream. a lot. also they have A LOT of post stories that are released internationally so it makes me love the characters (saint-germain) even more. i believe this is the game that actually made me love the yandere. so i gotta give kudos to that. the canon route is really lovable! the stories can be a mix of cute and angst so its a wild ride when i played it ;w;b 9/10

3

Ikemen Sengoku

honestly one of my fav and long-running mobile otome game!! the game is f2p but you need to be veeery patient to finish one route (in my case i sometimes am patient. other times im not). partially voiced. the best thing about this game is THERE IS A LOT OF CHOICES LMAOO n youre not obligated to do a route of a character youre not too keen. the characters are both lovable and stupid. the mc has 1 braincell and shes using it to helps these hot morons. sugitan is there. bfkdjbfdkj also the stories are smutty and its so goood i remembered screaming a lot. their stories range from funny to sad to angsty to romantic its a roller coaster ride. 9/10

2

Collar x Malice

i LOVE all the characters. i LOVE all the routes. i even love the villain of this series. which is why it gets number 2 in my book. the stories can get intense but when the cute romantic funny parts hit it hits you off guard and it just makes u laugh or scream or cry or all in 1. im a big kaji yuki fan so to finally get to play a game where kaji yukis character is in it just earns this game a top spot in my heart. a very special spot too considering his character is my fav character and route hehehhe! its sequel is coming out (n im getting it tmrrw eyy). love it so much! and the canon character is easily my 2nd fav character too! 10/10

1

Mystic Messenger

this game easily ruined my sleep schedule. at one point my body automatically woke up at 3 am at the single sound of a beep EVERY TIME. just to text some fictional characters. i even got out of class once to respond to jumins call. i hate this game. the games gameplay is so unique and fun and all the characters are very VERY lovable. i love all the characters and their routes. while the voice acting happens during certain cgs (full voice in all scenes in vs and saerans routes) it redeems itself with the amazing voice calls. i laughed A LOT whole playing this game. its absolutely amazing. did you know that i bawled in saerans route? bawled? as in cried in absolute anguish and sobbed nonstop? and stared at the blank screen????????? once in front of my own mother and again alone in the darkness of my own room? my heart was shattered in pieces and it literally felt as if the love of my life is gone for good. 11/10