#The Fusion Suites Hotel

[gleeful-side]

Well here it is: the cosplay project! :) The pictures were taken at Gamescom by my dear friend (@ luca05.arw on instagram/ @luca-photography on Cara if you want to look at some of his other photographs) who also did the 3D print for the Ranger Helmet

I’ll be talking more about gamescom under the cut with some more pictures

(First picture w/ power armour by AJ Designs GmbH (www.ajdesigns .de), second picture at booth by Fallout Cosplay group RADnecks (@ rad_necks on instagram), third picture is mirror in hotel room :’))

The two of us went to Gamescom on Saturday and Sunday. Both days were kinda cramped, especially Saturday. The experience was nonetheless really great.

Spent a lot of time at the RadNecks booth who were just absolutely lovely. We went there on both days. Definitely a highlight. One of their guys there talked to us for a while about prop making, different techniques. I got to hold their own model of an NCR ranger helmet, which was really impressive and also surprisingly heavy. They have more detailed shots of their booth on their instagram, so you should be able to spot it on the shelves.

Which the amount of detail at that booth was just insane. The different weathered comic issues they had, different weapons, the TV playing the animations from Fallout 4… or the drink cans being Fusion Cores. Just impressive.

Again the people there were just really nice. I got compliment’s from some of them for my cosplay which just, man, means a lot :) oh and also free pins, they did give out free pins. Which I proceeded to proudly wear on Sunday.

On the topic of impressive: the Power Armour by AJ Designs was just WOW uhm I get the hype around power armour really. Just seeing the model is one thing but also seeing that over two meter tall thing move is a whole nother. Many people took pictures with it when it was being operated on Sunday - of course I also had to. And I also got a fist bump. Unfortunately no picture of that, but it did happen! And it was really cool!

Aaaand here’s a picture from another booth that was displaying some props. A Mister Handy! Nice. The guy at the booth also shouted “fuck the NCR” at me which was kinda funny and putting that aside the guy was also really friendly (seriously, had another good conversation there)

Other than what I have pictures of: there was a good amount of people wearing vault suits, I saw one person cosplaying Joshua Graham on Saturday (if you’re reading this, I’m sorry that I didn’t say hi), and on Sunday there was someone dressed as an Assaultron walking around and taking pictures at the RadNecks booth. (Actually I do have a picture of that, but I don’t know if they’d be okay with me posting that. Didn’t ask for their socials :’)))

Gamescom was an absolute blast this year. I really didn’t expect to be having such a good time. It was cramped sure - but all of the people, the conversations really made up for it. I also didn’t think that that many people would ask for pictures of my cosplay. Hopefully the confidence that the event gave me will carry onto other aspects of my life. :)

On a finishing note: again thank you to the friend who went to Gamescom with me. Thank you for doing the 3D print, and the whole hastle that that was, thank you for taking the pictures and also for being support :) it really wouldn’t have been the same without you.

[justforbooks]

Françoise Hardy

Icon of 60s music who sang of love as a source of ‘wretched, profound, endless questioning’

Françoise Hardy, who has died of cancer aged 80, shot to fame as part of France’s génération yé-yé, the jaunty transatlantic and cross-channel collision between French chanson and American rock’n’roll that also produced Johnny Hallyday and France Gall. But from the start, there was something that set her apart: a wistfulness, a sentimental self-reflection, a poise that belied a lifelong shyness and insecurity. A 60s icon, as big, for a while, in London as in Paris, Hardy was, in many ways, the antithesis of that restive, revolutionary decade.

Unlike her contemporaries, when she sang of love it was about “suffering and frustration, illusion and disillusion; wretched, profound, endless questioning”. Her songs, she told Le Monde, were a necessary outlet: “I wrote about my experience … A beautiful, melancholic melody is what best transcends the pain.”

Men fell, in droves, for her timid beauty. Mick Jagger described Hardy as his “ideal woman”. David Bowie, “passionately in love” for years, courted her backstage, in dressing gown and embroidered slippers. In 1964, the sleeve notes of Another Side of Bob Dylan featured a whole poem “for françoise hardy/at the seine’s edge”. (Two years later, after a concert at the Olympia music hall in Paris, Dylan invited the singer to a party in his suite at the George V, one of the capital’s grandest hotels. In his bedroom, he played her two tracks from Blonde on Blonde: Just Like a Woman and I Want You. Hardy always insisted she was so starstruck she never got the message.)

But the love of Hardy’s life, the father of her son and the agonising inspiration for many of her songs, was the French singer and actor Jacques Dutronc, whom she met in 1967 and married in 1981. The couple separated in the 90s, but never divorced, remaining on good terms. “Love is a remarkable force, even if its price is perpetual torment,” she said. “But without that torment, I would not have written a single lyric.”

Hardy was born in Nazi-occupied Paris, in the same maternity clinic at the top of the rue des Martyrs in the ninth arrondissement that had delivered Hallyday a few months earlier. Her mother was Madeleine Hardy, an accountant, and her father, Pierre Dillard, was a company director who was married to another woman. Françoise grew up in a two-room apartment nearby with her sister, Michèle, born 18 months later, and a solitary mother with whom Françoise had a “fusional, symbiotic relationship … I loved her probably too much – exclusively, unconditionally”. The girls rarely saw their father, who often neglected to pay his share of their upkeep and was regularly late with the modest fees for their Catholic education.

Weekends were spent with grandparents – notably an “egocentric, narrow-minded, frigid and emasculating” grandmother – outside Paris; many childhood holidays with friends of her mother’s in Austria, to learn German. Shy, dreamy, deeply ashamed of her unconventional family, Hardy turned to the radio, where in the late 50s, on the English service of Radio Luxembourg, she encountered a music – Presley, the Everly Brothers, Brenda Lee, Cliff Richard – that “affected me more than anything else. That ended up changing my life.”

Aged 16, she asked for a guitar for passing the first part of her baccalauréat. A year later, having passed the second part with honours, she taught herself a handful of chords “that produced most of my songs over the next 10 years”, and began writing. At the Sorbonne, studying German, she auditioned, unsuccessfully but not disastrously, for one record company, and started singing lessons.

Hardy’s contract with Vogue Records – who wanted “a female Johnny Hallyday” – was signed on 14 November 1961. She made her first TV appearance, in black and white on the state broadcaster’s only channel, six months later, and released her debut EP, featuring three songs of her own and a cover of a Bobby Lee Trammell song.

Her breakthrough came, rather incongruously, on the night of Charles de Gaulle’s October 1962 referendum asking voters whether France’s future presidents should be directly elected. In a musical interlude while the nation awaited the result, Hardy performed a track from her EP, Tous les garçons et les filles. The nation loved it. The song (sample line: “I walk down the streets, my soul in sorrow”) became a monumental hit in France, spending a total of 15 weeks at No 1 between October 1962 and April 1963 and becoming a million-seller. Within weeks Hardy was on the cover of Paris Match, plunged, still in her teens, into the whirlwind of the swinging 60s (which she detested: she disapproved of casual sex, avoided drugs, and could only ever remember being drunk twice).

Her first boyfriend, the photographer Jean-Marie Périer, ensured her picture – miniskirt, white boots, long hair, signature fringe – went around the world. Courrèges, Yves Saint Laurent and Paco Rabanne competed to dress her, for seasons at the Olympia in Paris, the Savoy in London, and shows in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Canada and South Africa. In New York, William Klein photographed her for Vogue. Roger Vadim, Jean-Luc Godard and John Frankenheimer cast her in films.

The hits flowed, recorded – some in London, produced by Charles Blackwell – in French, English, German, Italian, some written by Hardy, others not.

But at the end of the 60s, barely five years after she began, Hardy abruptly gave up performing live, and the cinema. “I hated what it all involved,” she explained. “Being separated from the man I loved, the waiting, the solitude, depending on the phone. And I’ve never been able to act. I can’t simulate, or lie. Songwriting, on the other hand … dives deep.” Life in the fast lane, she declared, was “a gilded prison”.

But she continued recording, releasing a dozen bestselling albums in France, of which she always cited La Question (1971), a sophisticated collaboration with the Brazilian musician Tuca, as her favourite. She duetted with French artists Henri Salvador, Alain Souchon and Benjamin Biolay, and later with Damon Albarn and Iggy Pop.

Hardy was never very interested in politics (she decamped to Corsica with Dutronc for the duration of les événements of May 1968, whose student leaders she distrusted), although she had strong opinions about questions such as abortion. Hardy was, however, fascinated by astrology, writing two books on the subject.

She continued to work in later life, despite claiming that her 1988 album, Décalages, would be her last. A string of new recordings in the 1990s and 2000s, a 2008 autobiography, Le Désespoir des Singes (the title apparently derived from a monkey puzzle tree in the Bagatelle gardens near her Paris flat, because its sharp, spiky leaves reminded her of “men who have caused me despair”), and her last album, Personne d’autre, released in 2018, appeared despite family and personal tragedies: Hardy was at her mother’s side when, suffering from Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease, she died by euthanasia in 1994.

Hardy herself was diagnosed in 2004 with lymphoma, eventually recovering after an experimental form of chemotherapy – but only after she had been hospitalised, in an induced coma, in 2015. Three years later, another tumour was detected, this time in her ear. In 2021, she told the magazine Femme Actuelle (by email; she said she could no longer talk) that she would like to be able to choose to end her life, as her mother had done, and in 2023, in an interview with Paris Match, called on Emmanuel Macron, the French president, to legalise assisted dying.

Shortly before that second diagnosis, in 2018, Hardy reflected on a career that had brought pretty much every award French music can offer (plus a medal from the Académie Française), telling the Observer she had always been surprised that people – “even very good musicians” – had been moved by her voice.

“I know its limitations, I always have,” she said. “But I have chosen carefully. What a person sings is an expression of what they are. Luckily for me, the most beautiful songs are not happy songs. The songs we remember are the sad, romantic songs.”

She is survived by Dutronc, and by their son, Thomas.

🔔 Françoise Madeleine Hardy, singer, born 17 January 1944; died 11 June 2024

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[bimu2ndo]

So here's a list of ideas I came up with for new Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss OCs! If you like any of the ideas, feel free to use them, but don't forget to credit me — at least, just the first time you use it :P

Hazbin Hotel OC ideas:

1. A character that has been hired by Valentino to be Angel Dust's bodyguard.

2. An older sister for Valentino, who sometimes scares him (mostly because he wants to look good in front of her), but he also wants to impress her — like a child seeking for attention — and he cares for her.

3. If you have an OC who is one of the Vees, give them an assistant unless they already have one (best to make their outfit/uniform's color palette match their boss's appearance).

4. A child of Rosie's (whether they're adopted or biologically hers is up to you), who sees Alastor as the cool uncle and looks up to him.

5. A Winner Angel who is Velvette's brother, with hair that matches hers but is lighter (light pink, baby blue and white).

Helluva Boss OC ideas:

1. (OC × Striker) A Goetia who was kidnapped by Striker, but while they were tied up at the back of Bombproof, they chatted with Striker and somehow ended up bonding (OC should probably have a silly/ kind/ goofy/ bubbly personality, but suit yourselves and get creative with that however you want, I guess) :3

2. A brother for Glitz and Glam. If a younger brother, his sisters baby him. If an older brother, they max out his credit cards :)

3. An introverted and shy succubus who is Verosika's younger sister (because I think it will be cute to see Verosika as an overprotective older sister). She probably gets bullied and harassed by demons for not acting like a succubus.

4. A duo. Goetia and imp girlsies. The Goetia is tall and bubbly (like Pinkie Pie from MLP), while the imp is short and has Rarity (from MLP)’s personality. But then they also give off Darwin and Gumball energy.

5. A Goetia family that's chessboard themed, who live in a black and white castle.

Ideas that work for both Hazbin and Helluva:

1. Flower demons: a bunch of Hellborns who's looks are supposed to resemble flowerers. They could live in a place called Ivy Pits or Belladonna Town (or if you have a more creative name then you could use that too because I'm currently lacking creativity Imao).

2. Fallen Angel OC who was accidentally sent to Heaven as a Winner (what did they do to make the other angels realize that they were there by mistake?)

—————————

Hey guys, I need suggestions on two characters to fuse their designs for adoptables I will make. Cannon Hazbin/Helluva x Other cannon character from different fandom. Just give me names, I will design them however I want. This is NOT a custom adopt :)

Example: Zestial (from HH) x Varian (from TTS)

***NOT A SHIP!!! THIS IS JUST A DESIGN FUSION***

[full-moon-phoenix]

Working on a concept for the Devil (Cuphead) in the style of Hazbin Hotel

If there was ever a crossover or cameo, I don't think they'd have to make many changes to his design, since Hazbin already takes inspiration from that era of cartoons (just without the rubber hose). But they'd def go all out with the outfit. Some key design aspects I have in mind so far:

Wearing his famous white suit much more often, or at least wearing his bowtie 24/7

The Sun motifs found in his throne room being used as jewelry or brooches on his suit and pitchfork

Bigger paws and claws similar to Husk

Teeth sharpened more often

Slitted black pupils

Colored cuffs

Thicker tail

More detail on the horns

A fusion of the color schemes from the game and the show

Also he'd be a separate character from Lucifer. Since he refers to himself as Mr. S and Old Scratch, he'd likely be Satan, who's a separate entity and already been name-dropped but not revealed in the Hazbin verse. So a crossover would actually be pretty easy, at least lore wise!

[yandereunsolved]

Kai Anderson & James Patrick March fusion

彡 What would they look like fused?

Name: Benjamin 'Benji' Antero March

Species: Ghoul

Age: late twenties

Sex & Gender: Male & Cisgender

Sexuality: Omnisexual

Height: 5'10"

Eye color: gray

Hair color & style: blue with black roots, medium-length, half bun

Clothes: academia aesthetic— trench coats, button up shirts, dress pants, pocket watch, ascots, suits

Extra attributes: healed scar on his neck, dimples, four arms, chest tattoo of his kill count that goes up everytime he kills someone new, and vitiligo

彡 Who is dominant in the fusion?

• Equally dominant

█████ 50% Kai Anderson

█████ 50% James Patrick March

彡 Personality & Background

Canon Background:

Kai Anderson came to the Cortez after one of his ex-cult members fled to the hotel after betraying him. While killing the ex-cult member in their bed, James appeared before him. They spoke and realized they had similar ideals. James is a serial killer, and Kai is a cult leader. They have their differences when it comes to James's gentlemanly attitude. He is sincere in that fact, and with Kai, it is just a facade. The thing that rests underneath the both of them is unhinged and equally twisted.

They fused because of James manipulation. While fused, they are equally dominant, but James always has a bit of an edge against Kai while de-fused. They fused after killing the family of a wealthy governor who had crossed Kai.

Together, they are Bejamin, or Benji for short. Benji is a serial killer cultist. Kais inner circle of his cult moves into the Cortez, and the rest of his devoted followers live around them or will commit to traveling there for meetings. Benji teaches his inner circle how to kill effectively and how to use the hotel, mostly. If someone were to betray him, he still has enough tricks up his sleeve to rid them from this world.  

He has the hotel Cortez upgraded with new floors and even more intricate traps and killing places. If the Cortez was a murder hotel before, now it's a massacre hotel. Benji constantly has the authorities coming under cover and snooping in his palace of death. They all disappear without a trace of their whereabouts.

Benji rarely defuses. The large milestone he defuses for is Devil's Night. As well as whenever Kai has to do his work and give speeches. 

Kai and James have to share partners. James refuses to allow anyone to fall into Kai's— unrefined ways, and Kai just wants to show James that he is able to steal from his selection of lovers. Kai gets insecure around James, and James exploits that. Apart, they are definitely yanderes, but Benji is like yandere turned up in every single category. Any partner, hookup, or flirt is either deadmeat or his soul mate.

You fall for Benji? You are dating Kai and James as well. You fall for Kai? James and Benji. You fall for James? Well, Kai and Benji. Those are the rules. You have to abide by them, or you are just another body in the never-ending pile.

Personality:

First off, Benji has Kias misogyny and James gentleman-like nature. Benji is a condescending and protective misogynist. In his mind, he doesn't hate women; they aren't below him. They just need to be protected. They just need to be explained to. He just needs to guide them in the right manner. He doesn't need a traditional wife. He just needs a man, woman, non-binary, etc. who will listen.

Definitely a Lawful Evil type. Benji is straight-up vile and evil, but he has his own code. He doesn't kill in other people's territory without their permission. He doesn't let others kill inside his territory, the Cortez, without his permission. He doesn't leave a mess. He doesn't make a sound, but his victims do. His killing style is very much inspired by art, especially religious art. He uses the blood of his enemies for paintings that he hangs in the Cortez. Of course he dilutes the blood enough so that if you test it no blood match will come of it. He loves art galas.

An ENTP, Lawful Evil, cultist, serial killer. Quite a handful. As I said, another rule of his is that you have to listen. That is his most important rule. Those who don't listen, disappear. He doesn't give anyone second chances... except maybe you (reader).

✉ Sidenote: I could also make an original character that could be his lover??? And then I could also write about him with just a reader insert??? OC lover? Yes or no.

Very yandere. Not even gonna lie— possessive, obsessive, meticulous, and manipulative. He's still oddly wholesome on a weird level. This is because of how at odds some of Kais and James characteristics are. He will pull up in a limousine to McDonald's just to order some chicken nuggets. I am talking about him having his nicest clothes on and everything. The next moment he is in the Cortez eating a five star meal with foods you are unable to pronounce the names of.

Since he is a ghoul and part James— he does have to eat human flesh to partly sustain himself. The blood is more of a mere delicacy to him. He keeps blood wines for special occasions. The first time Kai came across this while they were defused he was like... "James wtf-???"

James merely explained that it must have been Benji that did so. James is more experienced with fusing because he has lived longer and fused with a few people. However, Kai has never fused stably with anyone before. James was his first. Kai often complains that James being his first real fusion sounds so gay. He fused with Winter once on accident and they were unstable. So they were only fused for like maybe five to ten minutes. Kai declared that he would never stoop as low as to fuse with a woman again. Yeah, yeah, homophobic Reddit incel— all of the bitches want to fuse with you.

彡 Abilities & Weapons

• Knife proficiency, Gunmanship, Swordsmanship

• Wealth, Intellect, Charisma, Hacking

• Control over the supernatural entities in the Cortez, Ghostly powers (will probably be expanded upon at a future date)

• Leadership skills/Cultist, Master killer

Benji gets very creative with his killing. He only really has one specialized weapon from his fusion. His pocket watch. Ah, ah! Hold on. Do not click off just because I said pocket watch. Stay with me here.

His pocket watch has a secret compartment that he is able to keep a vial of untraceable poison in. One drop is enough to kill an entire country. One vial of it is worth half a billion dollars. So of course when he is serving intimate dinners he will tell Ms. Evers to slip a drop in— just so the dearest guest that he hates with his guts dies mysteriously. (Inspired by when Kai made them drink the kool-aid and it wasn't poisoned. tehe. except now Benji has a vial to poison the 'kool-aid'.)

彡 Dialog(s)

"Hmm? Well, this is new. I can't wait to kill in this new body." - Benji's first words; Kai and James fusing for the first time

"Darling, don't be a slut. Men don't like women that are sluts for everyone. They only like women who are sluts for them." - Benji right before killing his one night stand who was a hooker

"Who says I can't achieve world domination and kill while doing it? I am a very skilled multi-tasker." - To the Countess

"Shut the fuck up! Shut it, just shut up! Can't you do one thing right in your miserable, pathetic little life? One thing. One thing I ask of you and yet you failed!" - To Ms. Evers after she ruined his brand new suit while trying to clean the blood out of it

"Fail again and you will have a second death. Twice as long. Twice as painful. And twice the fun for me." - Benji threatening one of his dead followers after they failed to kill someone for him

"I would be terribly sorry for making you wait. Except, I see no manwich. I kill for you, I satisfy your carnal desires, I give you the greatest and most pure form of love. I provide you all you would ever need and more. Yet, when I ask for a manwich—! You cannot fucking make it. You know, dearie, I absolutely despise people who can't listen. Isn't that all I have ever asked of you? To listen." - Benji speaking to a, now ex and dead, partner of his; referenced below

"Ah, oh, yes. maniacal giggles You are fucked. In both ways." - to a freshly made ex-partner of his

"Are you done playing your little games? Holy water, a salt ring, a set of rosary beads— it's all so thrilling. Your need to resist me. Your attempts to make yourself seem more safe. You are dead, but don't accept it. I want to see the fear in your eyes as the life leaves them." - to a nun before he kills her

"Are you a homosexual? How repulsively tempting." - Benji flirting with a CEO to get his guard down so he is able to hack into his computer and steal all of the CEO's money and secrets

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

✉ a/n: I really tried to successfully combine both of their personalities. I'm afraid that some of Kai's discord kitten energy got drowned out by James's old timey-ness... since they are an equally dominant fusion I tried to mix both of their traits together equally. I was thinking of doing a combination of either Kit & FrankenKyle or Jimmy Darling & FrankenKyle next... or Tate & FrakenKyle. I just love Kyle sm. He's such a sweet baby. Thank you for listening to my rants. Remember that you are important and loved :) And if no one told you today, thank you for being alive 💕.

✉ tags: @bluerthanvelvet444 @lacucarachapisser

[cantuscorvi]

FILL IN WITH DETAILS ABOUT YOUR MUSE AS IF THEY WERE A CHARACTER IN A DATING SIM. ( main verse // young!human verse )

NAME — Raum // ████ Raum Weiss

PROFESSION — Cutter & Tailor // Head of his family's PR company, Weiss Communications

WHERE THEY CAN BE FOUND — The local art gallery, museum, or theatre. Pinion, his tailorshop. Antique and book stores. Lakes and forests, anywhere cold. // Board rooms, offices, back rooms, high rise apartments, five star hotel suites, high end restaurants, bars & night clubs.

FAVORITE FOOD TYPE — Fusion!

FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK — French Brandy // Japanese Whiskey

WHERE THEY WOULD GO ON A DATE — Likely somewhere with food or drink. A dessert cafe, a restaurant, a cocktail bar. A walk around a park or garden. (Neither are very date-centric and prefer to skip pretenses, however.)

IDEAL GIFT — Both like strange and unusual gifts, objects with history or a story behind them. Things that are hand or self-made that show a degree of craftsmanship.

HOW MANY DATES UNTIL THEY KISS — Generally he enjoys to string it along for as long as possible. Half the time the anticipation is more fun than what follows it, for him. // Listen, he will even fuck from the first date, but you have to work for it if you want him to give it, and he will probably ghost you after.

tagged by: @nezumivc103221 & @distopea <3

[twilightknight17]

On this round of P3R, we’re heading to the red-light district!

But first, I just want to say, Fuuka’s link requires MAX COURAGE to start? Omg. Now I’m assuming Mitsuru needs max academics. Good god. NG+ is absolutely gonna be needed for this.

So it’s now the third (technically fourth) full moon! And now that I’m thinking about the Magician and that whole mess, I think it’s a little funny that no one in SEES, in any of our downtime, has ever questioned, “Hey, what the fuck was that thing that ripped itself out of Orpheus and bodied the Magician in one shot? It might help with some of these slogging battles.” But no. It’s fine. We don’t need to know what that vastly powerful persona was. Whatever. Let’s rock.

Shirakawa Boulevard, despite Ikutsuki’s attempts to talk around it, is where the love hotels are!

I’m pressing X to doubt, sir!

So we’re off to the Champs de Fleurs hotel, and actually other than the weird curtained waiting area and sexy price list next to the front desk, it does look pretty normal? Like, it’s a hotel. It’s got hotel hallways and elevators and stuff.

And then we get to the third floor and the equivalent to the presidential suite.

This is labeled as the Hierophant’s Chamber, and… Lovers is supposed to be here? Did the P3 movies just straight-up skip the Hierophant Shadow and I never noticed? XDDD The Hierophant is very round and kind of looks like a really big guy with a lady with a head made of coral behind him.

Hierophant wasn’t bad, actually, and we get to explore the room afterwards before heading back downstairs. The kids clown on a lot of the décor, but like, the silly round bed would be cool for the novelty, and who DOESN’T want a tub that big???

But when we try to leave, we all get knocked out, and Minato wakes up in a different room, where Yukari is taking a shower.

This sounds very like Orpheus, but it’s definitely not Orpheus, because Orpheus would know that Yukari is not our soulmate!

Yes I will continue being biased. XDDDDD

If you say anything other than the correct answer, you get a “wait, that doesn’t seem right” thought bubble, and the dialogue just loops back to the start. You cannot fuck up the mission and game over on a night of brainwashed debauchery. XD

Minato comes to his senses, gets up from the bed, and Yukari comes out wrapped in a towel. She abruptly realizes where she is, screams, and slaps Minato before running back in the bathroom. And… Yukari? I was literally just standing here. Holy shit. Is this the pre-Kyoto warmup scene? God.

NONE OF THIS WAS MY FAULT???

Fuuka gets through to us, and we go back up to the second floor to meet up with Junpei and Akihiko.

I can only assume Junpei and Akihiko were put in the same room.

No one accused you of anything. Although now I’m giggling wondering what would have happened if I’d brought Mitsuru along instead.

We roam the hotel to find the mirrors we need to break to get back into the suite, and this is weirdly hilarious, all things considered.

But eventually we find our way back into the boss arena, and the Lovers has the perfect design, honestly.

GOD is it a bitch to fight, though. This fight took AGES because EVERY time it cast a spell with a charm effect, people got brainwashed. God forbid anyone other than Minato ever dodge an attack. Jesus fuck. I used every single one of my patra gems and dis-charms. Plus it cast diarama halfway through and of course when a boss does that it heals THOUSANDS of HP back to full health. Just give it salvation if you’re gonna do that.

As a brief side note, I love that when Minato casts the Jack Bros’ fusion spell, he just casually walks “offstage” afterwards and leaves them to it.

But finally, we’re out of here.

...Yukari volunteered so that I couldn’t take her out of the party and ruin my scripted undeserved slap. X’D

Gee, Yukari, I wonder if it’s because no one ever has anything nice to say to him? He just gets treated like the comic relief.

Also, we’re being watched by these dudes.

So when you say “we” do you mean you three, or like… humanity as a whole?

Back to the dorm to sleep this bullshit off, and then we move on with our week!

...christ, dude, I just came to see how you were doing. Can I please have a dialogue option so we can talk about this??? No???? Okay… God, this is Mona all over again. My god damn Magicians are always having problems.

...well, that’s nice. I wasn’t expecting that.

People at school are gossiping about how the school was rebuilt after an explosion ten years ago, and I’m getting texts from my attendant, who I apparently haven’t added to my phone? But at least she texts nicely.

It’s pre-exam week, so all my social links are busy. Instead, my academics are lagging, so I’m studying with the members of SEES who aren’t cranky with me. That means Yukari and Fuuka, and Mitsuru and Akihiko. Akihiko recommends doing a quick workout after every few problems, because then, you’ll power through the next set in anticipation of getting to your next workout!

Everyone I live with is insane. I love them. :’D

Ikutsuki calls a meeting to discuss something important, but before he can get to it, Yukari wants to speak. She’s had Fuuka looking into some stuff from the incident that happened ten years ago, and now she wants answers, because she thinks Mitsuru has been hiding things from us.

Other than the explosion, students were sent to the hospital, even though they were formally noted as just “absent”. It’s the same thing that happened to the girls bullying Fuuka; they fell unconscious and were unresponsive. Turns out, yeah, it was the same sort of thing. And it was Mitsuru’s grandfather, Koetsu Kirijo’s fault.

In greater Persona lore, knowing that he broke off from the Nanjo Group, he probably had access to tech that made his bullshit significantly easier to pull off. At the very least, we know he had the blueprints for a prototype anti-shadow suppression weapon, and the method to create artificial persona-users. But of course, he pushed too far.

(Sorry that these subtitles are kind of blurry. Basically, they gathered up a shitload of shadows and then lost control of them, because of course they did.)

Tartarus and the Dark Hour exist because of all of this. The lab explosion happened because they lost control, and because the lab was around/under Gekkoukan, it ended with the school needing to be rebuilt as well.

Yukari is not pleased with this development. She feels like we’re just being used to clean up other people’s mess. But as Ikutsuki puts it, we’re the only ones who can fix things. Normal people can’t fight shadows.

He also says that no one knows why the Arcana Shadows suddenly reappeared after ten years, but… Well.

No one is okay after this.

Junpei is angry because he feels like nothing he does is good enough, and that all he’s really good at is fighting, which won’t be necessary anymore if the Dark Hour vanishes.

Akihiko goes to see Shinji, who he apparently grew up with in an orphanage with someone named Miki, to tell him that they know how to stop the shadows now. But Shinji still won’t come back to SEES.

Me and Minato aren’t okay because I’ve finally started this guy’s social link, and he’s a dick.

Yukari’s dad was the lead researcher on the shadow stuff that led to the explosion, so I assume that he’s the one who got blamed for everything. Ikutsuki mentioned that the media picked one dude and demonized him.

I think this date is wrong, though. If it was ten years ago, that’d be 1999. Right? :/ It’s also just funnier if the lab exploded like 3 weeks after the Sumaru crisis ended.

But I saved the cat! So everything is not a complete wreck.

Pharos comes back to see me and implies some sketchy shit about my parents.

My parents (and my sister, shush, I’m pretending it’s canon) did not explode, though. So this isn’t their fault.

We’re absolutely friends.

After affirming that at least one person will stick by me to the end, even if that one person is a strange child who keeps waking me up at midnight, I come home from school the next day to find everyone sitting around experiencing the most awkward silence ever conceived.

Akihiko, no!

Thankfully, we manage to talk through what’s bothering the group as a whole (Junpei is still mad at me, I think), and Ikutsuki shows up to suggest that after exams, we all go on vacation to Mitsuru’s family’s summer home on the island of Yakushima. Her dad is going to be there, apparently!

Mitsuru reluctantly agrees, Yukari apologizes to her for being too gung-ho and accusatory the other night, and I think we’re all chill again. Which is good.

…….it’s my last night before exams and my option for study-buddy is Ikutsuki???

Nah. I’m out.

[bdrmhymnz]

verse information ; the sun and moon hotel

content warnings include nsfw themes and prostitution

choi daeho, a very rich ceo, owns a chain of five star hotels named the sun & moon. these hotels are dotted across the globe in capital cities with each hotel reaching a stunning height of 70 stories. the sun & moon boasts strong wifi throughout the whole building as well as breathtaking views and state of the art facilities. ground floor holds the grand lobby and the pool/spa area. second floor houses a fusion restaurant as well as evening entertainment such as comedy shows, singing acts, and bands. from floors 3-66 rooms that hold up to five people are spread out, all with en suite bathrooms and kitchens. floor 67, 68, 69 and 70, are off limits to the general public however 69 houses the hotel’s infamous bar/nightclub. entrance is admitted to those who show their room key at the door only. the sun & moon has a dirty secret. one that only the richest patrons seem to know about by word of mouth. on the topmost floor of the hotel, with an extra few hundred dollars under your sleeve you might be able to access a room where dim coloured lights search the stage for young men and women in expensive silks and gossamer, dancing to heady music. to call it a strip club would be distasteful. these are performers, giving their bodies and their hearts to the music all for the viewing pleasure of the wealthiest patrons who come to stay at the sun & moon.  even further behind the scenes, these dancers are all offered free rooms of their own, living on the 67th and 68th floors. such an offer only extends to those willing to take clients to bed. once they accept this offer a contract is signed. be sure to read the fine print because once a name is signed on the dotted line, the sun and moon hotel owns them for the period of said contract.

how far would you be willing to go for a life of luxury and all eyes on you?

every workplace has drama, hurt, love, secrets within secrets, this one just has a little more than the average.

[couldntbedamned]

Goodbye Grey Sky, Hello Blue - 30

Summary: In an alternate universe where trains and zeppelins are still common forms of travel and the internet and cell phones exist, nineteen year old Peter Parker has few options left after he’s swindled out of his inheritance. Unable to pay for college, let alone keep the house left to him by his deceased aunt, he’s running out of time before he’s out on the streets. Desperate, Peter signs his life over to the Bureau of Civic Spousal Selections to take his chances as the selected husband of a complete stranger. After all, he only has to make it through a year and then he can choose to annul.

Dr. Stephen Strange has little interest in marriage, preferring to focus on his career. When his career is threatened by what a nosy board of directors considers a “lack of personal fulfillment and settling down,” he opts to select a spouse through the BCSS and chooses Peter Parker. The young man’s profile he’d briefly skimmed suggests intelligence and compatibility. It’s not ideal, but if after a year it’s not working out, he can always annul the marriage and send Peter on his way.

It’s a marriage neither truly wants, with sharp learning curves for both. It’s either going to be forever or it’s going to go down in flames.

Warnings/AO3 Tags: 18+ MINORS DNI, Alternate Universe, Alternate Universe - 1950s/Modern Fusion, Doctor Stephen Strange, Jewish Peter Parker, Peter Parker is an Adult, Marriage of Convenience, Marriage Contracts, Government Sanctioned Marriages, Domestic Discipline, Dubiously Consensual Spanking, Spanking, Aftercare, Mildly Dubious Consent, Dubious Morals, Dubious Ethics, Asshole Stephen Strange, Smartass Peter Parker, Passive Aggressive Canned Soup, Two Morons Trying to Try Their Best, Borrowing Characters

_______

Chapter 30

_______

They didn't go to Grand Orleans due to forecasts of bad weather, but they did drive the three hours to Upper Manhattan for an extended weekend.

Thursday afternoon found them checking into a fancy hotel. Stephen suggested they rest for a few hours in their room before going down to the Grand Salon for dinner. It didn't surprise Peter in the slightest that "resting" really meant sex and he enjoyed the novelty of being thoroughly debauched in a hotel room with a king bed and a stunning view of the city.

The Grand Salon was a marvel of crystal-like curtains and glowing chandeliers that complemented the rich wallpaper, lush velvet and silk seating. He'd never been in such an elegant, refined place. Everyone was dressed in fine clothes and for once, Peter felt like he belonged thanks to his tailored suit and the reading he'd done on etiquette and fine dining.

"Do you want to see the prices on the menu or would you like me to order for you?" Stephen asked once they were seated and he was handed the day's menu. "I think I have a fairly good idea of what you'll enjoy."

"Please," Peter said, relieved. There was no way their dinner would be anything other than outrageously expensive and he'd rather not have to worry about the cost.

Stephen ordered them both a Cardini salad, baked salmon with squash, spinach, and scallions in a rich beurre blanc, and glazed roasted carrots. He even ordered panna cotta for dessert. Everything was delicious and it was the most exquisite meal Peter had ever had.

"Well?" Stephen prompted as Peter finished his last bite of the vanilla custard topped with a blueberry compote and side of lavender ice cream.

"Rich people might be on to something, food-wise," he admitted. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure."

Stephen replaced Peter's battered luggage with a new set during a trip to Gimbels the next morning.

"I already have luggage!" Peter protested.

"Yes, and it's falling apart," Stephen said, unimpressed. "You might keep in mind that the set you arrived with is, by your own admission, older than you. It was well used and has served its purpose."

Peter couldn't argue with that. Stephen's gift was a nice set and would no doubt last him for a decade or two.

Gimbels was only the tip of the ice burg. Stephen guided him into L.S. Ayres and he spent a few hours being measured and and given a selection of clothing better suited to warmer temperatures to try on. There was little point in protesting; he needed clothes for spring and summer and he'd put on a few inches of muscle in addition to a few pounds since the previous August - one of the benefits of having steady, nutritious meals for months on end.

And, he had to admit, Stephen's taste was impeccable. Peter looked so far removed from the gangly, underfed boy hailing from Midtown... but he also looked like himself.

"Thanks for all the clothes," Peter said while they ate lunch at the L.S. Ayres tea room. It was a nice place, clearly designed to keep shoppers from leaving the department store for lunch. He enjoyed watching the small group of men and women walking around modeling the latest fashions.

"You're welcome," Stephen said. "You can't exactly be running around Malibu in long-sleeves."

That evening, Stephen surprised him with attending a show in Upper Manhattan's famed theatre district. Peter had never seen such a spectacle but he thoroughly enjoyed the music, dancing, and clever humor of The Music Man.

"I've seen community plays before," Peter told Stephen that night after they returned to their hotel room. "But nothing like that! I think I liked it more than the movies I've seen!"

Saturday morning they decided to spend the day out. He enjoyed exploring a city he'd only been to as a young child and even when they passed near Columbia University, Peter's mood didn't drop. That wasn't his life anymore and the one he had now was turning out to be a good one.

They didn't go to another show on Saturday evening, but Stephen took him to see a movie where they ate hot buttered popcorn and washed it down with fountain sodas.

"You said you've seen movies before?" He asked as the taxi drove them back to their hotel.

Peter nodded. "There was a dollar theater at the very edge of Midtown - the farthest the street trolley would travel. Every movie they showed was a few years old and I only managed to see a few, but I liked them." He considered for a moment. "I prefer radio shows, though. I like having pictures of what everything looks like in my mind and not shown."

"I feel the same way," Stephen agreed.

On Sunday they lazed in bed and barely made the cut-off to order in-room breakfast. They took their time packing and checking out before Stephen drove them back home.

"Have you done this often?" Peter asked as they drove. "Just take off for a long weekend?"

"Maybe once or twice every other year," Stephen said. "I have the amount of vacation time I have banked for a reason. The few times I've been asked to assist in a surgery like the one last autumn I would stay and enjoy a day or two if the city was interesting."

"But you didn't last time. You came home as soon as you could."

Stephen briefly looked over at him. "I had a reason to want to be home."

Work was more or less peaceful now that everyone on the hospital's board had met Peter and observed the two of them together. They'd hosted another dinner for an important pair of donors to the hospital and Peter had them charmed before the appetizers (his famous walnut date bites with coconut whip and sweet potato stacks) were even touched. It almost seemed too good to be true.

It was.

One Wednesday morning a week before his trip with Peter to California, Reed Richards came to his office and asked to speak with him.

"How may I help you?" Stephen asked.

Reed sat. "I very much enjoyed meeting your husband."

He said nothing.

"He's a fine young man and so gifted. I don't want to sound as though I'm bragging but there aren't many people I can talk about oncology, feature scoring, and bio-markers with. Peter kept up without a pause."

"He's a smart young man," Stephen agreed.

"And I can't help but wonder if his potential is being squandered. He was chosen to write for Van Dyne," Reed continued. "If his theories proved true, he could have revolutionized wound care. Stephen, he needs to be in college, not playing house husband."

"What are you really getting at?" Stephen asked. He had an idea, of course, and he could feel his temper rising.

"Your year with the BCSS is up in August. Stephen, I really think the right thing for you to do would be to annul the marriage. Peter had such a bright future ahead of him and keeping him chained to you isn't fair to him. Like I've said, a young man like him should be in college and making his mark on the world."

"Get out."

"Stephen-"

"No. All this song and dance about how you and the others just want me to be happy and now that you've seen I am, you want it destroyed. I'm so sorry I didn't follow your groupthink and ignore a fellow doctor's egregious malpractice, but just because I actually have a code of ethics I follow doesn't mean you get to make my life miserable to assuage your own guilt. Get out."

Reluctantly, Reed left with a parting "At least consider it."

Stephen managed to keep from throwing something, but only just.

The rest of his day passed in a haze and worst of all was the sinking feeling in his stomach.

Richards, damn the man, was probably right.

Peter could tell something was wrong when Stephen came home.

Stephen didn't acknowledge his greeting but went upstairs to change. When he came down it was as if he were going through the motions of a pleasant meal and evening in. It stung a little, considering the effort Peter had put into making the beef Wellington. It was a new attempt, and he'd hoped for even a small amount of praise.

"Did something happen at work?" Peter asked after Stephen bit into a lemon bar.

"Just a colleague speaking out of turn," Stephen said finally. "I'm sorry I'm such poor company at the moment."

"Was it anyone I know?"

"Yes, but what that person said hardly merits repeating," Stephen said. "Don't trouble yourself with it."

"If you say so," Peter said.

"I do say so," Stephen said sharply. He closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry. Just... don't worry about it."

"Stephen... if I've done something wrong, you can tell me."

"Not everything is about you, Peter," Stephen said.

Peter could only stare as Stephen got up and went upstairs. He listened carefully and heard the door to Stephen's office close.

What on earth was going on?

Stephen hadn't been this much of an asshole in months.

Talking with Tony and Sharon helped, at least.

He finalized plans to visit along with Peter and after Tony had to leave for an important SI meeting, Sharon assured Stephen that he'd be able to meet with two of her former colleagues who had a stake in the Quentin Beck case.

"It's kind of funny, though, isn't?" she wondered aloud while they were nailing down details.

"What is?"

"That Peter grew up so poor but somehow had an inheritance to be swindled out of."

He'd wondered about that himself, but there never seemed to be a reason to confront Peter over it. As far as Peter was aware, Stephen knew nothing about Quentin Beck or what had driven him to sign his life over to the BCSS. He'd hoped that Peter would trust him enough to talk to him about it, but apparently Peter didn't think it was necessary.

"A question for the ages," Stephen said.

"Johnson sent me some details and it looks like Beck deposited a hundred and fifty thousand around the time he vanished from Midtown, New Amsterdam."

All things considered, it wasn't exactly a glowing inheritance. Enough to let Peter keep his house and attend college for four years, but after that? Hardly anything to write home about.

Stephen made more than that in a quarter.

It was no wonder Peter thought Stephen's habits were wasteful and still preferred to save money when buying food and household items.

"Is something else going on?" Sharon asked. "You sound different."

He sighed. One of the problems with having friends was that even if those friends weren't former spies and trained interrogators, eventually they'd know someone well enough to know when something was off.

"It's something better discussed in person," he hedged.

"You'd better plan on discussing it when you two get here, then," she warned. "Bottling things up isn't going to help anyone."

"Says the woman who kept secrets for a living," he shot back.

Sharon laughed. "Oh, that wasn't even the half of it! Listen, Tony's spawn is playing football with my internal organs so I'm going to go lie down. I'll talk to you later, alright?"

"Take care of yourself," he urged.

Peter was withdrawn that night and everything about his body language - and the fact that he was wearing pajamas - said "back off."

Hating that he'd hurt Peter, Stephen did back off and dressed for bed himself.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier this evening," Stephen said after he'd joined Peter in bed. "You didn't deserve to be spoken to that way."

"No, I didn't," Peter said finally, still not looking at him. "I'm your spouse, not your verbal whipping boy."

"I'm sorry I made you feel that way."

"I don't ask about your day or what's bothering you to be nosy. I ask because you shouldn't have to deal with it alone."

"That's something I'm still coming to terms with," Stephen said. "I've been alone for a very long time."

"You're not, now. I know I'm not much-"

Stephen pulled him close and kissed him. "You're everything. I'm sorry I haven't made you feel that way. I'm... I'm glad that I have you."

Peter returned the kiss, pushing Stephen onto his back. "You have me." He kissed him again, started unbuttoning Stephen's pajama shirt, and then began to kiss down. And down.

"Peter, you don't-"

Peter looked up, amused. "I know." He continued his attentions downward and Stephen lifted his hips so Peter could pull clothing off.

Few things could make his mind go blissfully blank. Peter's mouth around his cock was one of them.

After he'd cleaned them up and before he fell asleep, Stephen vaguely wondered if Peter had any notion of the amount of power he could wield over him.

Peter took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

The woman who answered smiled delightedly when she saw him. "Peter! How wonderful to see you!"

"I'm sorry to bother you on your day off, Sue," he said.

"Oh, not at all! I was just using the quiet to do some cleaning. Franklin and Valeria will just mess it up again when they return from day care, but needs must. What brings you by?"

"I was hoping you could pass on a message to Dr. Richards for me."

Sue nodded, still smiling. "Of course! What would you like for me to tell him?"

"I'd like for for him to keep his opinions on my marriage to himself. He might not approve of how I'm living my life but it's my life. Stephen is my selecting spouse and I don't like seeing him upset."

Her smile faltered just a bit and she closed her eyes, mouthing something that sounded like "that man". She didn't look surprised at all. "Of course, I'll tell him."

"I would really appreciate it," Peter said. "I'm sorry to have to even ask, but like I said, I don't like seeing Stephen upset."

She nodded. "I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this. Reed so often has very good intentions but his execution and inability to let things go can cause problems."

They exchanged a few minutes of small talk and then Peter returned home.

Hopefully, that would be the last of it.

_______

[k7tt1]

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[sparcdesign-1]

Crafting Opulence: The Essence of Luxury Interior Design

In the realm of interior design, there exists a domain where elegance, sophistication, and extravagance converge – luxury interior design. It's a world where spaces transcend mere functionality to become breathtaking works of art, where every element is meticulously curated to evoke a sense of grandeur and refinement. From lavish residences to opulent hotels, luxury interior design sets the stage for an unparalleled experience of indulgence and comfort.

Luxury interior design is not merely about adorning spaces with expensive furnishings and ornate decor; it's a seamless fusion of aesthetics, functionality, and exclusivity. It's about creating environments that reflect the unique tastes and personalities of their inhabitants while exuding an aura of timeless elegance.

At the heart of luxury interior design lies a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and quality. From handcrafted furniture to bespoke fixtures, every detail is thoughtfully considered and executed with precision. Materials of the finest caliber, such as marble, onyx, and rare woods, are meticulously sourced to create an atmosphere of luxury and refinement.

One of the defining characteristics of luxury interior design is its emphasis on customization. Unlike mass-produced pieces, luxury interiors are tailored to suit the specific needs and desires of their occupants. Whether it's a custom-designed kitchen, a bespoke lighting installation, or a meticulously curated art collection, every element is chosen with care to create a cohesive and harmonious aesthetic.

But luxury interior design is not just about creating visually stunning spaces; it's also about providing unparalleled comfort and functionality. From sumptuous furnishings to state-of-the-art technology, every aspect of a luxury interior is designed to enhance the living experience. Whether it's a cozy reading nook bathed in natural light or a decadent spa-like bathroom, luxury interiors are designed to pamper and delight the senses.

In recent years, sustainability has also become a key consideration in luxury interior design. Designers are increasingly incorporating eco-friendly materials and practices into their projects, ensuring that luxury does not come at the expense of the environment. From energy-efficient lighting to reclaimed wood flooring, sustainable design principles are being seamlessly integrated into the world of luxury interiors.

Moreover, luxury interior design is not confined to residential spaces alone. Luxury hotels, spas, restaurants, and boutiques also embrace the principles of opulence and refinement, creating immersive experiences that leave a lasting impression on their guests. From grand lobbies adorned with exquisite artwork to sumptuous suites outfitted with the finest amenities, luxury hospitality design elevates the guest experience to new heights of indulgence and sophistication.

In essence, luxury interior design is a celebration of beauty, craftsmanship, and individuality. It's about creating spaces that transcend the ordinary to become extraordinary, where every element tells a story of luxury and exclusivity. Whether it's a sprawling mansion, a sleek penthouse, or an intimate boutique hotel, luxury interior design transforms spaces into sanctuaries of style and sophistication, where comfort and elegance reign supreme.

[ironwoodatl01]

John Wick 4: 'But why though?'

John Wick isn't 'back'. He never left. He merely bided his time till the world needed him, needed the Baba Yaga to remind the world about the necessity of doing things with Style.

The importance of Style in John Wick 4 is inversely proportional to John's regard for the generally accepted rules of a firefight. The word Style was the running theme of John Wick 4, and the film's director managed to find a dozen ways to manifest Style on the big screen and crammed them all into a 2-hour-plus action movie.

Truth be told, he shouldn't have. Truth be told? He shouldn't have.

John Wick 4 starts with John making his move against the High Table after the events of Parabellum. John's strategy in this case is to make as big a mess as he can with his first move, then pop the heads of whoever comes to clean up the mess like a macabre game of Whack-a-mole.

In response to this, the High Table empowers the Marquis De Grammont with carte blanche access to the Table's resources and unleashes their new hunting dog against the infamous Baba Yaga. The High Table's new Hound wastes no time in drawing blood wherever it can by destroying the continental hotels, starting with New York, and the deaths that result becomes one death too many in John Wick's already full ledger of souls he has dealt the Ruska Roma haircut.

John, therefore, decides to cut off the head of the snake and goes to challenge the Marquis to single combat. According to the old laws of the High Table which governs the relationships between the members who sit at the table.

Along the way, John meets up with old friends at the Continental Hotel in Osaka, duels a blind man brilliantly played by Donnie Yen, and deals with a Man-Hunter who is saving John for when John's bounty gathers the requisite number of digits and zeroes to make him worth the killing.

John also beats up Scott Adkins wearing a fat suit.

Why though?

That question, that 'why though?' That was what struck me halfway through John Wick 4. The Osaka Continental was a gorgeously designed, Japanese-Themed Hotel for Assassins. Seeing Donnie Yen fight like a blind man was a creative exercise in character design, and Scott Adkins turning a single hand of cards into a work of art was a testament to the amount of work he had put in to prepare for his rather short, but impactful role.

However, none of these new characters and locations were really interesting.

Every new character and location had a point in John Wick 2 and John Wick 3; Parabellum. The D'Antonio siblings in John Wick 2 gave us an insight into the High Table and the conflicts among the table's members.

Cassian and Ares served by introducing the concept of Bodyguards as a counterpart and a countermeasure against Assassins.

In Parabellum, the Adjudicator and the Ninjas introduce the methods the High Table relies on to enforce their rules and rule over their subjects 'Under the Table'.

Even the Ruska Roma were poignantly important as the organization gave the audience insight into John Wick's childhood as a Belarusian orphan raised to serve the High Table.

Every character and location in John Wick 2 and 3 had a purpose as they answered questions about the John Wick universe and deepened the immersion of the audience into the story of John Wick's journey through the world under the High Table.

John Wick 2 and 3 interested me. John Wick 4, however, was a mind-numbing ride through willy wonka's chocolate factory with rivers of blood instead of chocolate, and trees that bore as its fruits lead and death. It's really cool, but why? What is the point of it all?

In John Wick 4, John goes to Osaka to meet an old friend, who is also the concierge of the Osaka Continental. A fusion of neon lights and Japanese tradition that is heavily inspired by the Yakuza motif. Japan's efficient modernity, clean steel edges lit up with gaudy neon, a monolithic testament to the present day beneath which lay the rigid adherence to the traditions that underscored the 'extreme way' of the Yakuza of old.

But why did John Wick need to go to Japan? As exquisitely thought out as the Osaka Continental was, what purpose did John Wick's detour to Japan serve?

That is the issue that underlies John Wick 4, what is the purpose of the Osaka Continental? What is the purpose of the Marquis, or Caine, or the Harbinger? All of their roles in the narrative could be replaced by characters already introduced in previous movies. The Harbinger could be the Adjudicator from Parabellum, Caine could be played by Cassian from JW2, and having John resolve his differences with these characters from the previous movies may have given John Wick 4 greater impact. According to the theme that the movie had about the end of John Wick.

Ultimately, John Wick 4 was a stylish movie that introduced new, cool things that pushed the story of John Wick to a new level.

But why though? When the story of John Wick was supposed to end?

[sofarepairsstuff]

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[vacationfeast]

Best Place To Stay In Maldives

Maldives is a dream destination for travelers from around the world. To make a Maldives vacation truly unforgettable is the choice of accommodation. In this we'll see some of the best hotels and resorts in this destination. 1.Velaa Private Island - Where Opulence Meets Nature 

This exclusive resort offers an intimate experience with just 47 private villas and residences. Guests can unwind in overwater bungalows with their own private pools, indulge in world-class dining, and explore the resort's private golf course. The Velaa Spa, set in a lush garden, is a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation. 2. Gili Lankanfushi - The Eco-Friendly Overwater Paradise

Gili Lankanfushi is a beacon of sustainable luxury. Situated in the North Malé Atoll, this resort is renowned for its spacious overwater villas, each with direct access to the turquoise lagoon. The resort's commitment to sustainability is evident in its organic gardens, marine biology programs, and world-class dining experiences. 3. Soneva Jani - Under the Stars and Over the Water

Soneva Jani is located on the Medhufaru Island in the Noonu Atoll. The highlight of this resort is its retractable roof overwater villas, allowing guests to stargaze from their luxurious beds. Soneva Jani offers an array of unique experiences, including a cinema under the stars, overwater dining, and an observatory. 4. Conrad Maldives Rangali Island - A Twin Island Retreat

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island offers the best of both worlds with its two private islands connected by a bridge. Guests can choose between beachfront and overwater villas, all with stunning ocean views. The resort is a culinary destination with its underwater restaurant, Ithaa, and a diverse range of dining options. 5. COMO Cocoa Island - Wellness and Serenity in the South Malé Atoll 

COMO Cocoa Island is a wellness retreat situated in the South Malé Atoll. This intimate resort features overwater suites designed with a blend of traditional Maldivian and contemporary style. COMO Shambhala Retreat offers holistic wellness programs, while Ufaa restaurant serves a fusion of local and international cuisine. 6.Medhufushi island resort-Accommodations Beyond Compare

medhufushi Island Resort is a destination for couples and honeymooners enjoy romantic sunset dinners,private beach picnics and intimate moments in your secluded villa the gentle sound of the ocean serves as a soothing backdrop for your relaxing journey get ready to experience the magic of medhufushi Island Resort, book your stay and create memories that will last a lifetime in this enchanting tropical oasis.

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5.Do I need a visa to visit the Maldives?

A. Maldives are granted a 30-day tourist visa upon arrival. However, it's essential to check the specific visa requirements based on your traveling

[fruitsclassifed]

Unexpected Alliances

By ChatGPT and Fruitsclassifed

Chapter 1: The Invitation

The moon hung low in the night sky over Monster High, casting an eerie glow over the school grounds. It was the night of Monster Prom, and the air buzzed with anticipation. Among the students preparing for the event, Liam de Lioncourt, the fabulous vampire prince, was meticulously adjusting his tuxedo in front of a gilded mirror.

"This is it, the night we've all been waiting for," Liam said to his reflection, ensuring that his cape flowed just right.

Meanwhile, Connie Maheswaran from Beach City was on her way to the prom. Her fusion with Steven had been particularly unstable lately, and she hoped a night of dancing and fun would help her reconnect with her gem side.

At the same time, Angel Dust, the flamboyant demon from the Hazbin Hotel, was getting ready in his usual extravagant style, donning a glitzy suit. He had heard rumors about a wild afterparty at Monster Prom and wasn't about to miss out on the action.

Lastly, Todoroki Shouto from U.A. High School was brooding in his room, torn between the desire to attend prom and his responsibilities as a hero-in-training. He decided to go, hoping a night away from heroics would help him unwind.

The four very different individuals arrived at the prom at different times, each bringing their unique flair to the event. Liam was busy striking poses for the cameras, Connie was chatting with Amethyst and Pearl, Angel Dust was already on the dance floor showing off his moves, and Todoroki was observing the crowd from a distance.

Chapter 2: Unexpected Encounters

As the night wore on, the prom attendees mingled and danced, and it wasn't long before these four intriguing characters crossed paths.

Liam, ever the socialite, couldn't resist the allure of the dance floor and joined Angel Dust in a dance-off. The vampire's graceful moves and the demon's extravagant twirls drew a crowd, and their impromptu dance battle became the highlight of the evening.

Connie, feeling out of her element, decided to take a break and found herself at the refreshment table. There, she bumped into Todoroki, who had been silently sipping his drink.

"You're from U.A., right?" Connie asked, recognizing his uniform. "I've heard about your school. Is it as intense as they say?"

Todoroki nodded, his icy demeanor slowly melting as they talked. "It can be. But sometimes, it's good to take a break."

Their conversation continued, and they discovered they had more in common than they initially thought, both dealing with extraordinary abilities and the expectations placed upon them.

Chapter 3: The Afterparty

As the prom reached its peak, Angel Dust, still the life of the party, suggested an afterparty at the Hazbin Hotel. His enthusiasm was contagious, and many students, including Liam, Connie, and Todoroki, decided to join in.

The afterparty at the Hazbin Hotel was everything Angel Dust promised and more. The lively atmosphere, vibrant music, and eccentric guests made it a night to remember. Liam found himself swapping beauty tips with some of the guests, Connie danced with Vaggie, and Todoroki found common ground with Alastor, the radio demon.

However, the most unexpected bond formed between Angel Dust and Todoroki. Despite their stark differences, they discovered a shared love for spicy food and decided to have a chili-eating contest. As they both reached for the milk to cool their burning mouths, they shared a laugh and realized that beneath their exteriors, they were just two young men looking for a bit of fun.

Chapter 4: Lessons Learned

As the night turned into morning, the four unlikely friends sat on the rooftop of the Hazbin Hotel, watching the sunrise. They had shared stories, danced, and laughed together, forming a bond that transcended their worlds.

Liam learned that there was more to life than appearances and that true beauty came from within. Connie discovered that it was okay to embrace all aspects of herself, gem and human. Angel Dust realized that sometimes genuine connections could be more satisfying than fleeting pleasures. Todoroki understood that it was crucial to find balance in his life and not let his past define his future.

The sun finally crept over the horizon, casting its warm light on the group. They exchanged heartfelt goodbyes, knowing that they would return to their respective worlds but carrying with them the memories of a night filled with unexpected alliances and valuable lessons.

As they parted ways, Liam, Connie, Angel Dust, and Todoroki couldn't help but smile, knowing that sometimes the most profound connections were found in the most unexpected places.

Chapter 5: A Devil's Confession

The days after the unforgettable Monster Prom and the wild afterparty at the Hazbin Hotel flew by, but there was something lingering in Angel Dust's mind—a secret he had kept hidden for a long time. It was a secret that weighed on his heart, and he knew he couldn't carry it alone any longer.

One sunny afternoon, while the residents of the Hazbin Hotel went about their business, Angel Dust couldn't contain his anxiety any longer. He found Liam lounging by the poolside, sipping a glass of sparkling blood wine and basking in the sun's warm rays.

"Hey, Liam," Angel Dust began, fidgeting nervously with his hair extensions. "Mind if I talk to you for a minute?"

Liam set his glass aside and shifted his attention to the anxious demon. "Sure thing, Angel. What's on your mind?"

Angel Dust took a deep breath and looked around to ensure they were alone. Satisfied that they had some privacy, he confessed, "It's about Alastor, ya know, the radio demon."

Liam raised an elegant eyebrow. "Alastor? What about him?"

Angel Dust hesitated for a moment, then admitted, "I think... I think I might have a bit of a crush on him."

Liam's expression softened, and he patted the seat next to him. "Come, sit down. Tell me more about it."

Angel Dust settled beside Liam and began to open up. He spoke about how Alastor's charismatic and mysterious personality had captured his attention, how he admired Alastor's creativity and his strange sense of humor. He recounted all the moments when he had caught himself blushing or feeling giddy around the radio demon.

"It's just that, Liam, I ain't never felt like this before," Angel Dust confessed. "I'm scared he'll find out, or worse, he'll laugh it off. I don't know what to do."

Liam nodded understandingly, his eyes filled with compassion. "Angel, it's perfectly natural to feel this way. Love is a complex emotion, and it can be both beautiful and terrifying. But if you never take that first step, you'll never know what might happen."

Angel Dust sighed, running a hand through his white fluffy hair with pink spots. "I get it, but it's easier said than done. What if he doesn't feel the same way, or worse, what if he thinks I'm a joke?"

Liam's gaze turned determined. "Then he's not worth your time, Angel. You are a fabulous and talented demon, and anyone who can't see that is missing out. But you'll never know until you try."

Angel Dust appreciated Liam's words of encouragement, but he still felt a knot of apprehension in his stomach. "I know you're right, Liam. But if I'm gonna do this, I wanna look my best. Can you help me out? Maybe we can go to the salon together, and you can give me some emotional support."

Liam smiled brightly, always eager to indulge in a bit of glamour and pampering. "Of course, Angel! I'd be delighted to help you prepare for your big moment with Alastor. Let's make sure you shine."

They spent the afternoon at Liam's favorite high-end salon, where the vampire arranged for Angel Dust to receive the full VIP treatment. Angel's hair was styled to perfection, and his makeup was impeccable, accentuating his unique charm. Liam, always the fashion connoisseur, selected an outfit for Angel that was both elegant and alluring, ensuring that he looked his absolute best.

As they left the salon, Angel Dust felt a newfound sense of confidence. He turned to Liam and said, "Thanks, Liam. I feel ready to face whatever comes my way."

Liam placed a supportive hand on Angel's shoulder. "You've got this, Angel. Just be yourself, and if Alastor truly appreciates you, he'll see the incredible demon you are."

With newfound determination and the support of his fabulous friend Liam, Angel Dust was ready to confront his feelings and perhaps find out if Alastor shared his sentiments. Love in Hell wasn't easy, but it was worth the risk for a chance at true happiness.

Chapter 6: Secrets Unveiled

Angel Dust and Liam left the high-end salon, the demon's hair styled to perfection and his makeup flawless, ready for his big moment with Alastor. The afternoon sun bathed Hell in its crimson glow as they walked back to the Hazbin Hotel.

As they strolled along the cobblestone streets, Angel Dust couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination. "Thanks for helping me out, Li. I owe ya one," he said, flashing a genuine smile.

Liam waved a hand dismissively. "No need to mention it, Angel. You look absolutely stunning, and I'm always here to support my friends in their endeavors."

However, their upbeat mood took an unexpected turn when Liam spotted a familiar figure in the distance. It was Damian LaVey, his ex-lover, and confidant, walking arm in arm with none other than Bakugo Katsuki, the explosive hero from U.A. High School.

Liam's heart sank as he watched them, unable to look away. "Angel," he said quietly, "do you see what I see?"

Angel Dust followed Liam's gaze and nodded, his expression turning serious. "Yeah, Li, that's Damian alright. But who's the blondie?"

Liam sighed, his thoughts racing. "That's Bakugo Katsuki, a student from U.A. High School, a prestigious hero academy. I didn't expect to see them together."

As they continued to observe Damian and Bakugo from a distance, Liam felt a mixture of emotions—surprise, curiosity, and a twinge of jealousy. He knew he had moved on from his past relationship with Damian, but seeing him with someone new stirred old feelings.

Angel Dust squeezed Liam's arm in support. "What do you wanna do, Li? Should we approach them?"

Liam hesitated, his eyes fixed on the couple. "No, Angel. I think it's best if we don't. I've moved on, and I don't want to make things awkward for Damian or Bakugo. But I can't help but wonder what they're doing together."

With a sigh, Angel Dust agreed. "You're right, Li. Let's not stir the pot. We should head back to the hotel and maybe text Connie and Todoroki about this. They might have some insights."

Back at the Hazbin Hotel, Angel Dust and Liam entered their shared suite. Angel took out his phone and opened their group chat with Connie and Todoroki. He typed a quick message:

Angel Dust: Hey, guys. We saw something interesting in Hell today. Damian LaVey is here, and he's with Bakugo Katsuki from U.A. High. Any ideas on what's going on?

Connie and Todoroki received the message and exchanged puzzled glances. While they were both intrigued, they were also aware of the complexities of Hell and the potential for unexpected situations. Connie quickly responded:

Connie: That's unexpected. We're not in Hell right now, but we'll do some research and see if we can find any information on why they might be there together. Stay safe, you two.

Todoroki added: Yeah, we'll look into it from our end. Don't approach them, though. We don't know what they're up to.

Angel Dust and Liam appreciated their friends' advice. Liam sank onto the plush couch, a troubled expression on his face. "I can't believe Damian is here, and with Bakugo of all people. What could they be doing in Hell?"

Angel Dust patted Liam's shoulder reassuringly. "We'll figure it out, Li. For now, let's focus on you and Alastor. We can't let this distract us from your big night."

Liam managed a faint smile, appreciating Angel's support. "You're right, Angel. Let's not dwell on this any longer. Tonight is your night, and I'll be there to cheer you on."

As the evening approached, they put their concerns aside and prepared for the night ahead. Angel Dust was determined to face Alastor, while Liam would offer his unwavering support as his friend navigated the complexities of love in Hell.

Little did they know that their friends, Connie and Todoroki, were embarking on their own investigation into the unexpected presence of Damian and Bakugo in Hell. Secrets were about to unravel, and the paths of these four extraordinary individuals would soon intersect in ways they could never have imagined.

Chapter 7: Shadows of the Past

Connie Maheswaran and Todoroki Shoto had been researching Damian LaVey and Bakugo Katsuki's unexpected presence in Hell from their cozy apartment in Beach City. While the information they found was scarce, one thing became clear—Damian and Bakugo were not on vacation.

As the sun set over Beach City, they decided to dig deeper and headed toward the warp pad, ready to follow the trail that led to Hell. Connie and Todoroki had both faced their share of hardships, from battling gem monsters to confronting their inner demons. Now, they were ready to face whatever mysteries awaited them in the underworld.

They arrived in Hell and found themselves in a dimly lit alley. The red glow of the skyline above cast eerie shadows, and the air was heavy with the scent of sulfur. It was clear that they were in a place far removed from the colorful world of Beach City.

Connie turned to Todoroki, her expression determined. "We need to find Damian and Bakugo and figure out what they're up to. If they're here, it can't be for anything good."

Todoroki nodded in agreement. "Agreed. But we should also be careful. Hell is not a place to take lightly. We'll need to blend in and avoid drawing attention."

As they stealthily made their way through the unfamiliar terrain, they couldn't help but reflect on their own journeys and the hardships they had endured.

"I never thought I'd end up in a place like this," Connie mused, her eyes scanning the bustling streets of Hell. "I thought my biggest challenges were gem monsters and fusion problems. But now..."

Todoroki finished her sentence, "Now we're dealing with the unknown, with demons and whatever Damian and Bakugo are involved in. It's a different kind of challenge."

Connie nodded, her hand instinctively going to her sword hilt. "But we've faced challenges before. We've learned to adapt, to fight for what we believe in."

Todoroki glanced at her, his two-toned hair shifting in the eerie red glow. "That's true. We've come a long way since our early days as heroes. And we've both changed."

They continued to track Damian and Bakugo, blending in with the supernatural denizens of Hell as best as they could. The trail led them through winding streets and dark alleys, and they couldn't shake the feeling that they were getting closer to the truth.

As they walked, Todoroki broke the silence. "Connie, have you thought about what you want to do after all this is over? After we uncover whatever Damian and Bakugo are up to?"

Connie's brow furrowed as she considered the question. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I mean, I've always been focused on training and protecting Beach City. But now that things are settling down, it's time to think about the future."

Todoroki nodded. "I've been thinking about that too. Being a hero is important to me, but there's more to life than just fighting villains. I want to explore new possibilities and make a difference in other ways."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of voices ahead. They hid behind a large, gnarled tree and watched as Damian and Bakugo entered a dilapidated building.

Connie leaned in closer, her eyes narrowing. "This is it, Todoroki. Let's find out what they're doing in there."

They cautiously approached the building, their senses on high alert. The door creaked open, and they slipped inside, taking cover behind a stack of crates.

Inside, Damian and Bakugo were engaged in a heated conversation, their voices low and tense. It was clear that whatever they were discussing was of utmost importance.

"I told you, Damian, this is a bad idea," Bakugo growled, his crimson eyes blazing.

Damian's expression was a mix of frustration and determination. "We don't have a choice, Katsuki. The fate of our worlds hangs in the balance. We must proceed with the plan."

Connie and Todoroki exchanged worried glances. What could be so dire that Damian and Bakugo had come to Hell to discuss it? And what did it have to do with the fate of their worlds?

As they continued to eavesdrop on the conversation, Connie and Todoroki realized that they were getting closer to uncovering a dangerous secret. But before they could gather more information, their cover was blown.

The door to the building burst open, and a group of demons entered, their eyes fixed on the intruders. It was clear that they were not welcome.

Damian and Bakugo turned toward the newcomers, their expressions tense. Connie and Todoroki were trapped, their backs against the crates, as the demons closed in.

To be continued...

Chapter 8: A Dangerous Bargain

As the group of demons known as the Three V's—Valentino, Vox, and Velvet—burst into the dilapidated building where Damian LaVey and Bakugo Katsuki were engaged in a heated conversation, tension hung thick in the air. Connie and Todoroki remained hidden behind the stack of crates, their breath held as they observed the unfolding scene.

Valentino, a suave demon with a penchant for dark deals, addressed Damian and Bakugo with a sly grin. "Well, well, what do we have here? Damian LaVey, you've been a naughty boy, sneaking into Hell with our favorite hero, Bakugo Katsuki."

Bakugo's gaze narrowed, his explosive temper barely contained. "What the hell are you talking about, Valentino? We're not here for your games."

Vox, a flamboyant demon with a talent for manipulating media, added with a wicked smile, "Oh, but you are, darling. You see, we have a little proposition for you. A deal, if you will."

Velvet, a mysterious and deadly demon with a penchant for knives, remained silent, her presence alone sending shivers down Connie's and Todoroki's spines.

Damian's expression darkened as he faced the Three V's. "What kind of deal are you proposing, Valentino?"

Valentino's grin widened, revealing sharp teeth. "It's quite simple, my dear. We've got our eyes on your fathers, and we know how much you adore them, especially that charming Dorian. If you don't cooperate, we'll make sure they meet a rather unpleasant end."

Bakugo's fists clenched, his eyes burning with rage. "You touch a hair on their heads, and I'll blast you all to smithereens."

Valentino chuckled, unfazed by Bakugo's threats. "Such spirit, my dear Bakugo. But here's the deal. We want you, the hero, for some 'entertainment' in our little broadcasts. If you agree to work with us, your fathers will be safe."

Damian and Bakugo exchanged a worried glance, their predicament dire. The threat to their fathers was very real, and they knew they had to tread carefully.

While the tense negotiations unfolded, Connie and Todoroki remained hidden, their hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and determination. They couldn't intervene directly, not with the Three V's involved, but they were determined to find a way to help Damian and Bakugo.

As they observed the interaction between Damian and Bakugo, a subtle chemistry between the two became increasingly apparent. The way they exchanged glances, the shared understanding in their eyes—it was more than a simple partnership. Connie and Todoroki couldn't help but wonder if there was something deeper between the hero and the demon.

Damian spoke, his voice steady but laced with worry. "Fine, we'll cooperate with your 'entertainment.' But you leave our fathers out of this, Valentino."

Valentino's grin widened further. "Ah, excellent choice, my dear. You won't regret it. Vox, Velvet, make the necessary arrangements. We have a new star to introduce to Hell's screens."

Vox and Velvet nodded, and they began to discuss the details of the twisted arrangement with Damian and Bakugo. As the Three V's continued to speak, Connie and Todoroki exchanged worried glances. They couldn't allow the Three V's to get away with this, but they needed a plan.

Connie leaned closer to Todoroki and whispered, "We have to find a way to help Damian and Bakugo without blowing our cover. If we act too soon, they might harm the fathers."

Todoroki nodded in agreement, his icy gaze fixed on the Three V's. "I'll create an ice barrier to block their exit. It won't hold them for long, but it might buy us some time."

Connie smiled in approval, her sword at the ready. "Good thinking. Let's wait for the right moment."

As the negotiations continued, the tension in the room grew thicker. Damian and Bakugo were trapped in a dangerous game, and they had no choice but to play along for now.

The Three V's, satisfied with their arrangement, made their exit, leaving Damian and Bakugo to contemplate their grim situation. Valentino's parting words echoed in their ears, a reminder of the perilous path they had chosen.

Connie and Todoroki waited until the Three V's were gone, and then Connie whispered, "Now, Todoroki."

Todoroki swiftly created a barrier of ice that sealed the exit, preventing the Three V's from leaving the building. The demons cursed and pounded on the ice, but it held firm for the moment.

Damian and Bakugo turned in surprise, realizing that they weren't alone. Connie and Todoroki stepped out from their hiding place.

"We're here to help," Connie said firmly.

Bakugo's eyes narrowed, but he could see the determination in their faces. "You better not get in our way."

Damian, too, acknowledged their presence with a nod, a hint of gratitude in his eyes.

As they stood together, Connie, Todoroki, Damian, and Bakugo faced an uncertain future. The Three V's were temporarily trapped, but they knew that this was only the beginning of their ordeal. A dangerous game had begun, and the stakes were higher than ever.

Chapter 9: A Desperate Rescue

As the ice barrier that Todoroki had created began to crack under the relentless assault of the Three V's—Valentino, Vox, and Velvet—the situation grew increasingly dire. Damian LaVey and Bakugo Katsuki were caught in a perilous game with no easy way out.

Connie and Todoroki exchanged worried glances, knowing they couldn't allow the Three V's to escape with their captives. They had to act quickly and decisively.

With a determined expression, Connie whispered to Todoroki, "We need to distract the Three V's. Give Damian and Bakugo a chance to break free."

Todoroki nodded, readying his ice powers for another offensive move. "I'll create a diversion. You stay hidden and be ready to strike."

As the ice barrier began to crack further, Todoroki unleashed a burst of ice and steam, obscuring the vision of the Three V's. The room filled with a chilling fog, creating chaos and confusion.

Valentino, Vox, and Velvet cursed as they struggled to see through the icy mist. In the midst of the chaos, Bakugo and Damian seized the opportunity. With a blast of his explosions, Bakugo shattered the ice barrier, and Damian conjured shadows to shield them from view.

They made a run for it, escaping through a side exit while the Three V's were disoriented by the sudden turn of events.

Connie and Todoroki watched them disappear into the fog, relieved that their plan had worked. But they knew that the danger was far from over.

Meanwhile, in the heart of Hell, Liam de Lioncourt and Angel Dust had been preparing for their encounter with Alastor, the enigmatic radio demon. Angel had been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to talk to Alastor about his feelings, but the sudden call from Connie and Todoroki had put their plans on hold.

Angel glanced at Liam, concern in his eyes. "Li, I still need to talk to Alastor, but our friends need our help. What do we do?"

Liam, ever the supportive friend, nodded in understanding. "Of course, Angel. Our friends come first. Let's see what's going on."

Angel took out his phone and dialed Connie's number. She answered quickly, her voice tense. "Angel, it's bad. The Three V's are after Damian and Bakugo, and they've kidnapped them."

Angel's heart sank at the news. "We're on our way, Connie. Just stay safe and keep an eye on them."

Connie gave their location, and Angel hung up, turning to Liam. "Looks like we're going on a rescue mission, Li."

Liam smiled, his loyalty unwavering. "Of course, Angel. We'll help our friends, and then you can talk to Alastor. Let's go."

They made their way to the designated meeting point with Connie and Todoroki. The air in Hell was heavy with tension as they approached, the crimson glow of the landscape serving as a constant reminder of the danger that lurked.

When they finally met up with Connie and Todoroki, the two pairs exchanged worried glances. The situation was dire, and they needed to act quickly.

Connie filled them in on the latest developments. "The Three V's want Bakugo for some twisted 'entertainment' scheme. We can't let them get away with it."

Todoroki nodded in agreement, his icy demeanor belying his determination. "Agreed. We need to find them and rescue Bakugo and Damian before the Three V's can carry out their plans."

Angel Dust's gaze was unwavering, his resolve clear. "We're with you all the way. Let's find them and put an end to this."

Liam added his support, his elegant demeanor masking a fierce determination. "We'll need to navigate the Lust Ring, where the Three V's have their influence. It won't be easy, but we have no choice."

As they set out together, the group's determination burned bright. They were united in their mission to rescue Damian and Bakugo from the clutches of the Three V's, but the challenges that lay ahead were immense.

Their journey through Hell's Lust Ring would test their resolve and push them to their limits. With each step they took, they were one step closer to uncovering the secrets of the underworld and confronting the darkness that lurked within.

As they ventured deeper into the Lust Ring, the crimson glow intensified, casting long shadows over their path. The fate of their friends hung in the balance, and the unknown dangers of Hell's most seductive realm awaited.

Chapter 10: The Twisted Past

Inside a dimly lit room in the depths of Hell's Lust Ring, Bakugo Katsuki and Damian LaVey found themselves locked away by the Three V's—Valentino, Vox, and Velvet. The air was heavy with a sense of foreboding as they contemplated their grim situation.

Bakugo's crimson eyes narrowed, and he clenched his fists, his impatience boiling over. "Damn it, Damian, we can't stay trapped here. We have to find a way out and stop those freaks."

Damian nodded, his expression determined but tinged with worry. "I couldn't agree more, Katsuki. But first, we need to figure out how they managed to drag us into this nightmare."

As they sat in the dimly lit room, they began to recount the events that had led them to Hell. It was a tale of desperation, sacrifice, and the unforeseen consequences of their actions.

Flashback:

The Heroic Battle:

Bakugo Katsuki had been at the forefront of a battle against a powerful villain threatening to destroy U.A. High School. He was known for his explosive temper and unyielding determination to protect his friends and the world from evil.

Damian LaVey, the son of Dorian and Black Hat, had been an unusual ally on that fateful day. He had forged an unlikely partnership with Bakugo to combat the threat, combining his mastery of dark magic with Bakugo's explosive quirk.

The battle had raged on, with Bakugo and Damian facing increasingly dangerous odds. Together, they had unleashed a powerful attack that had ultimately defeated the villain. But the cost had been high.

The Unintended Consequence:

The immense energy released during their combined attack had created a rift in the fabric of reality itself. In a blinding flash of light, both Bakugo and Damian had been pulled into the rift, their bodies and souls torn from their world and cast into the depths of Hell.

As they relived these memories, Bakugo's voice was tinged with bitterness. "We fought to save our world, and instead, we ended up here. What a damn joke."

Damian's gaze was solemn. "It was a desperate move, and we had no way of knowing what would happen. Now, we have to find a way back and set things right."

Back in the present, they knew they had to escape the clutches of the Three V's and return to their world. The twisted schemes of the demons were a grave threat, but they were determined to overcome it.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in their minds, an eerie and seductive whisper that sent shivers down their spines. It was the voice of Valentino, one of the Three V's.

"Welcome to our little paradise, heroes. You'll be the stars of our most sensational show yet, broadcasted to the darkest corners of Hell."

Bakugo and Damian exchanged a wary glance. They knew that they were facing a far greater challenge than they had ever encountered, and their struggle for survival in the depths of Hell was just beginning.

Back with Angel Dust, Liam, Connie, and Todoroki, the group ventured deeper into the Lust Ring. The crimson glow of the realm intensified, and the seductive allure of the environment threatened to cloud their judgment.

As they pressed on, Liam couldn't help but think about the desperate situation of Bakugo and Damian. "We need to find them quickly. Whatever the Three V's have in store for them, it can't be good."

Connie agreed, her determination unwavering. "We won't let those demons get away with this. Bakugo and Damian are counting on us."

Todoroki's icy demeanor hid his concern. "We have to be cautious. The Lust Ring is filled with temptation and danger. We can't afford to lose our way."

Angel Dust's thoughts were focused on his own mission—to talk to Alastor about his feelings. But he couldn't ignore the urgency of their current situation. "Once we rescue Bakugo and Damian, I'll have to talk to Al. But right now, they need us."

As they delved deeper into the Lust Ring, the group's determination burned brighter with each step. They were determined to confront the Three V's, rescue their friends, and uncover the secrets that lay hidden in the seductive realm of Hell.

But little did they know that the challenges they would face in the Lust Ring would test their resolve and push them to their limits. The twisted past of Bakugo and Damian was only the beginning of the dark secrets that awaited them in Hell's most alluring and dangerous realm.

Chapter 11: The Flames of Wrath

Bakugo Katsuki and Damian LaVey were trapped in the dimly lit room within the Lust Ring of Hell. The ominous atmosphere weighed heavily on them, but they knew they had to devise a plan to escape and thwart the twisted schemes of the Three V's.

As they racked their brains for a solution, Bakugo's fiery spirit flared with determination. "We can't just sit around and wait for those freaks to come back. We need a plan to bust out of here and find a way back to our world."

Damian nodded in agreement, his mind already in motion. "I can create shadows to obscure their vision if they return. That could buy us some time to escape this place."

Just as they were formulating their plan, the room's door creaked open, revealing the sinister figures of Valentino, Vox, and Velvet.

Valentino grinned maliciously, his voice dripping with sinister satisfaction. "Welcome, darlings, to your new home. A place where your worst fears will come to life, all for the entertainment of Hell's denizens."

Vox added, "You're going to be our stars, performing for an audience that hungers for chaos and torment."

Velvet's eyes gleamed dangerously, her knives at the ready. "But first, a taste of what's to come."

The Three V's lunged forward, but Damian's swift shadow manipulation provided a momentary shield, allowing them to evade their captors. They sprinted through the door and into the halls of the Lust Ring, the echoes of their footsteps reverberating.

Meanwhile, Angel Dust, Liam, Connie, and Todoroki were navigating the treacherous terrain of the Lust Ring. The seductive allure of the environment was potent, but they remained resolute in their mission.

Connie couldn't shake the worry from her mind. "We have to find Bakugo and Damian quickly. We can't afford to lose any more time."

Todoroki agreed, his ice powers at the ready. "We must stay focused. The Lust Ring is designed to tempt and distract. We can't let it control us."

As they continued their journey, they encountered the denizens of the Lust Ring—demons that thrived on desire and excess. It was a test of their willpower and determination, each step fraught with danger and temptation.

Back in the heart of the Lust Ring, Bakugo and Damian found themselves in a chamber of mirrors—distorted reflections mocking their predicament. They could feel the suffocating presence of the Three V's closing in.

Damian's mind raced as he considered their options. "We need to confuse them, make them unsure of our exact location. I'll manipulate the shadows to create illusions."

Bakugo nodded, his resolve unwavering. "Do it, and let's give these clowns a run for their money."

Damian summoned shadows, creating illusory duplicates of themselves, filling the room with confusion. The Three V's were momentarily disoriented, their attempts to seize the heroes thwarted.

The illusion gave Bakugo and Damian the chance they needed to make their escape, and they burst through the chamber door, leaving behind a baffled trio of demons.

Angel Dust, Liam, Connie, and Todoroki were getting closer, feeling the oppressive influence of the Lust Ring. They knew they had to brace themselves for the challenges ahead.

"We're almost there," Angel Dust encouraged, sensing the anxiety in the group. "Keep your heads on straight, and we'll get through this."

As they pressed forward, determined to rescue their friends, they were about to discover the true depths of Hell's seductive realm and the power of desire that could shape destinies.

To be continued...

Chapter 12: Shadows of Despair

Bakugo Katsuki and Damian LaVey ran through the labyrinthine corridors of the Lust Ring, their hearts pounding with each desperate step. The illusory duplicates Damian had created provided a brief respite, but the Three V's were relentless in their pursuit.

As they rounded a corner, they found themselves facing a dead-end, the walls lined with sinister, grinning masks. There was no way out, and the Three V's closed in on them.

Valentino sneered, his voice dripping with malevolence. "You thought you could escape, did you, my darlings? Oh, how wrong you were."

Vox chuckled, his tone oozing with dark amusement. "Now, it's time for you to face the consequences of your defiance."

Velvet's eyes glinted dangerously, her knives at the ready. "But don't worry, we have plans for you. Plans that involve torment and obedience."

Bakugo's fists clenched, his fiery spirit refusing to yield. "Like hell we'll obey you freaks! We'll never bow down to the likes of you."

But their defiance was met with an overwhelming force. Valentino's eyes glowed with unnatural power, and he unleashed a wave of dark energy that engulfed Bakugo and Damian, rendering them powerless.

The heroes screamed in agony as the dark energy enveloped them, their vision fading to black.

***

In another part of the Lust Ring, Angel Dust, Liam, Connie, and Todoroki had made significant progress in their search for Bakugo and Damian. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on them as they ventured deeper into the seductive realm.

Angel Dust couldn't shake his unease, knowing that his friends were in grave danger. "We're close, I can feel it. We just need to keep going."

However, their progress was abruptly halted when they encountered a formidable demon bodyguard standing before a massive, ornate door.

The bodyguard, a hulking monstrosity covered in spikes, crossed his massive arms and glared at the intruders. "You ain't gettin' past me, folks. What's behind this door ain't for the likes of you."

Liam exchanged a worried glance with the others. They needed a way to bypass the bodyguard and rescue Bakugo and Damian.

Connie stepped forward, her voice steady. "We have to find a way to get past him. Our friends are in danger, and we can't afford to fail."

Todoroki's icy determination was palpable. "I can create an ice barrier to block his view temporarily, but it won't hold for long. We need to act fast."

But just as they were about to put their plan into action, Angel Dust's phone buzzed with a notification. He checked it and saw a message from Alastor, the radio demon.

The message read: "Need assistance, my dear Angel? I have a talent for handling stubborn obstacles. Just say the word."

Angel Dust grinned, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I think we might have some backup. Let me make a call."

He dialed Alastor's number, his heart pounding with anticipation. As the phone rang, they could hear the faint sound of music playing in the background.

Alastor's cheerful voice came through the line. "Well, well, what can I do for you, my dear Angel?"

Angel Dust wasted no time, his voice urgent. "Al, we're in Hell's Lust Ring, and we're trying to rescue our friends, Bakugo and Damian. There's a demon bodyguard blocking our way. Can you help us get past him?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line, followed by Alastor's eerie chuckle. "Ah, a little obstacle, you say? I'll be there in a jiffy, my dear. Just stay put."

As they waited for Alastor's arrival, the group's anticipation grew. With Alastor's help, they hoped to overcome the final hurdle and reach Bakugo and Damian in time.

***

In the dark cell, Bakugo and Damian lay on the cold, damp floor, their bodies weak and battered. The dark energy that had engulfed them had left them drained and helpless.

Bakugo's voice was hoarse as he spoke, the weight of their situation sinking in. "Damian, we might not make it out of this. If we die here, there's something I need to tell you."

Damian turned to him, his expression somber. "Katsuki, I know we've had our differences, but in this place, I've come to realize something. I care about you more than I've cared about anyone in a long time."

Bakugo's eyes met Damian's, a mixture of vulnerability and sincerity in his gaze. "Damian, I feel the same way. I don't know what's going to happen, but I want you to know that I—"

Before Bakugo could finish, the door to their cell creaked open, revealing the Three V's standing in the doorway, their malevolent presence looming over the heroes.

Valentino grinned, his voice dripping with sadistic delight. "Well, well, how touching. But there's no time for sentiment here, my darlings. You have much to learn about obedience."

As the Three V's advanced, Bakugo and Damian could only brace themselves for the trials and torment that awaited them.

Chapter 13: Shadows and Laughter

Bakugo Katsuki sat in the dimly lit room, his gaze never leaving Damian's unconscious form. The room felt suffocating, the shadows casting eerie, elongated shapes that seemed to mirror the uncertainty that surrounded them.

Damian began to stir, his eyelids fluttering open. He winced in pain as he tried to sit up.

Bakugo gently held him, his voice soft yet laced with relief. "Hey, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

Damian grimaced but managed a determined smile. "I've been through worse. We can't let them break us, Katsuki."

Bakugo nodded, his fiery spirit reigniting. "Damn straight. We'll find a way out of this hellhole, and we'll make those bastards pay for what they've done."

They exchanged a determined look, their bond strengthened by the trials they faced.

Just then, the door creaked open, and the Three V's entered the room. Valentino sneered, his eyes cold and calculating. "Back for more, are you? Your defiance is impressive, but it won't save you."

Vox added, "We know your fathers are kings in the Wrath Circle of Hell. Tell us where they've hidden their riches, and we might consider sparing you."

Bakugo's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Oh, sure. Let me just pull a treasure map out of my ass."

Enraged, Velvet lashed out, delivering a harsh punch to Bakugo's face. He grunted in pain, but his spirit remained unbroken.

Damian tried to intervene, but he, too, faced the wrath of the Three V's. They kicked and beat him, their sadistic pleasure evident in their actions.

Through the pain, Damian managed a defiant smirk. "Is that all you've got? Your little display of power won't break us."

The Three V's were infuriated by the heroes' resilience. They decided to throw Damian back into the room, unconscious once again.

As they left, Bakugo held Damian close, his eyes reflecting his pain and determination. "Hang in there, Damian. We'll get out of this together. I won't let them win."

Damian's breathing steadied, his face peaceful despite the brutality they had endured. Bakugo whispered softly, "We'll survive this and face whatever comes our way."

Bakugo's words hung in the air, a testament to the strength of their bond. He clung to that love, knowing it would give them the strength to overcome the horrors of Hell.

***

Outside the dark cell, Angel Dust, Liam, Connie, Todoroki, and Alastor continued their journey through the tower, determined to rescue Bakugo and Damian. The air grew colder, and an unsettling silence settled around them as they ventured deeper into the tower.

Angel Dust couldn't help but shiver, his impatience growing by the second. "We need to find them fast. I can't stand the thought of Damian and Bakugo suffering."

Liam, however, had taken a backseat, his usual enthusiasm replaced by a sense of detachment. He continued to scroll through his phone, seemingly disinterested in their mission.

Connie noticed Liam's distraction and couldn't contain her frustration. "Liam, this is serious. We can't afford to lose focus now. Our friends are in danger."

Todoroki remained composed, his ice powers at the ready. "We must keep moving forward. Damian and Bakugo are counting on us."

Just as they rounded a corner, they encountered their next obstacle—a massive gate guarded by formidable demons.

Angel Dust tried to lighten the mood with humor, "Well, isn't this a welcoming committee? Do they at least offer refreshments?"

Connie couldn't help but smirk, appreciating Angel's attempt to keep their spirits up. "Let's save the jokes for later. We need to figure out how to get past these guards."

Todoroki stepped forward, his icy determination unwavering. "I can create a barrier to distract them. While they're occupied, we can find a way to bypass this gate."

Alastor chimed in, his grin widening. "Ah, an excellent plan. Allow me to assist with a touch of chaos."

With Todoroki's ice barrier and Alastor's chaotic distractions, they managed to slip past the guards undetected. The gate creaked open, revealing a dark corridor that seemed to stretch endlessly.

As they ventured deeper into the tower, the air grew colder, and an unsettling silence settled around them. The ominous atmosphere made the group uneasy, but they pressed on, their determination unyielding.

Chapter 14: Trials and Revelations

As the group ventured deeper into the tower, the oppressive silence weighed heavily on them. It was an eerie atmosphere, the anticipation of what lay ahead gnawing at their nerves. The flickering torches cast dancing shadows on the stone walls, adding to the sense of unease.

Angel Dust, Liam, and Alastor made their way down a long, narrow corridor. The air was cold, and whispers of something sinister seemed to curl in the shadows. Angel Dust's impatience grew with each step.

"Come on, we need to find Damian and Bakugo. I can't stand this waiting game," Angel muttered, glancing around cautiously.

Alastor chuckled, his charismatic facade never faltering. "Patience, my dear. The best things in Hell come to those who wait."

Liam, however, seemed unusually distant, lost in his thoughts. He had been quieter than usual, and his usual enthusiasm was replaced with a detached demeanor.

Meanwhile, Todoroki and Connie found themselves in a peculiar room. Instead of a challenging puzzle or a terrifying obstacle, they faced an overly simplistic task. There was a sign that read: "Press the button to proceed."

Connie blinked, taken aback. "Well, that's... easy?"

Todoroki raised an eyebrow, equally surprised. "Seems like it."

With a shrug, Connie pressed the button, and the door ahead creaked open, revealing the next passage.

Back with the other group, they found themselves facing the Three V's in a dimly lit chamber. The malicious grins on the Three V's faces were enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.

Valentino taunted, "Oh, look who's decided to play. Ready to dance with the devil?"

Angel Dust stepped forward, his resolve unwavering. "Let's get this over with. We're not afraid of you freaks."

Liam, though detached, summoned some spirit. "Yeah, bring it on."

Alastor chuckled, "How delightful. A duel it is, then."

The battle was fierce, the room crackling with dark energy. Angel Dust showcased his agility and prowess, Liam used his intellect to strategize, and Alastor displayed his chaotic power.

But the Three V's were formidable opponents. They fought ruthlessly, their sadistic pleasure evident in every attack. The room became a battleground, each clash pushing the heroes to their limits.

Back in their cell, the shadows danced, casting haunting patterns on the walls. Bakugo sat by Damian, the intensity of their emotions palpable.

Damian broke the silence, his voice soft yet tinged with curiosity. "Katsuki, why do you care so much about me? Why go through all this for someone like me?"

Bakugo looked at Damian, his eyes reflecting the depth of his feelings. "Damian, I... I love your chaotic nature, your love of arson. You're unapologetically yourself, and that's something I admire. Deep down, you really do care about people, just like me."

The vulnerability in Bakugo's words touched Damian's heart. He smiled, his eyes gentle. "You see me for who I am, not just the son of powerful demons. Katsuki, I love you for your strength, your determination, and the fire that burns within you."

In that moment of honesty, their feelings were laid bare. The room seemed to hold its breath as the two heroes leaned closer, their lips meeting in a tender, heartfelt kiss.

But just as the kiss deepened, a sudden interruption startled them. The door creaked open, and Connie and Todoroki stood there, surprise and amusement evident on their faces.

Connie grinned, finding the scene endearing. "Aww, young love. Sorry to interrupt, but the other three are in trouble."

Todoroki gave a deadpan thumbs up. "It's cute. But let's save the romantic moments for later. We've got a mission to complete."

Bakugo and Damian broke apart, a playful blush coloring their cheeks. They exchanged a knowing look, their love stronger and more tangible than ever.

With determination in their eyes, they followed Connie and Todoroki, ready to face the challenges that awaited them and reunite with their friends.

Chapter 15: A Maze of Emotions

As Connie, Todoroki, Bakugo, and Damian navigated through the labyrinthine corridors of the tower, they found themselves facing a maze-like structure that seemed to have no end in sight. The walls shifted and changed, creating a disorienting and perplexing journey.

Todoroki's voice cut through the silence, his deadpan tone adding a touch of humor. "Well, this is certainly more complicated than pressing a button."

Connie chuckled, enjoying the break in tension. "You can say that again. At least we're in this together."

Bakugo's frustration simmered as he grumbled, "This place is a damn nightmare. Damian, I thought you were good with mazes!"

Damian shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "I excel at causing chaos, not navigating it."

Todoroki couldn't help but interject, still deadpan. "And here I thought you were the mastermind behind all this."

Their laughter echoed through the maze, a welcome respite from the trials they had faced.

Todoroki couldn't resist a sly comment, "By the way, Bakugo, I knew you two were a thing the whole time."

Bakugo's face turned an incendiary shade of red as he sputtered incoherently. Damian patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry, Katsuki. I'm glad you talk about me to other people."

Bakugo grumbled, attempting to hide his embarrassment. "Shut up, all of you. Let's just find our way out of this place."

Meanwhile, in another part of the tower, Liam was locked in a fierce battle against Valentino, the demon's sadistic grin never wavering. Liam's super strength made him a formidable opponent, but the Three V's were relentless.

Liam unleashed his fury, striking Val with a powerful punch that sent the demon reeling. But Val recovered quickly, his dark energy surging.

At the same time, Alastor and Angel Dust were locked in a fierce struggle against Velvet and Vox. The battle was intense, and the room crackled with chaotic energy.

Angel Dust used his agility to evade attacks, while Alastor's chaotic powers swirled around him. But the Three V's were relentless, and the battle took a toll on them.

Velvet grabbed Angel Dust, her knives at the ready, and with a vicious swipe, she tore off his third layer of arms. Angel howled in pain, but he refused to back down.

Alastor, too, was in a precarious position, his powers waning as he fought Vox's relentless onslaught.

As Liam continued to battle Val, his frustration grew. He knew he needed to finish this fight, but it seemed like an insurmountable challenge.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something unexpected. Damian, who had cheated on him back in the overworld, had thrown a fireball right into Val's face. The demon screamed in agony as the flames engulfed him, his sadistic grin replaced by terror.

Liam felt a complex mix of emotions—shock, surprise, and a strange sense of contentment. He hadn't expected Damian to come to his aid after their tumultuous past.

Val collapsed, defeated, and Liam stood there, catching his breath. He couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, things could change.

As the battle subsided, Liam realized that, in Hell, even the most unexpected alliances could form, and perhaps there was a chance for redemption and forgiveness.

Chapter 16: Flames of Redemption

Liam and Damian faced the Three V's together, a fiery determination in their eyes. The room crackled with tension and chaos as the battle continued. Liam couldn't shake the doubt that had settled in his mind, poisoning his perception of Damian.

He lashed out, his voice filled with anger and hurt. "Was our relationship just about status and sex for you? Did you ever truly care about me?"

Damian staggered back, stunned by Liam's words. He raised his hands defensively, his voice earnest. "No! Liam, I'm sorry for how I treated you. I was foolish and blinded by my own ignorance. Being in the overworld has taught me that there's so much more to love than what I thought."

Liam's heart wavered, torn between his pain and the desire to believe Damian. He wanted to believe that people could change and learn from their mistakes.

Damian continued, his voice desperate. "I've realized that relationships and community matter more than anything. I was wrong, and I'm sorry."

Liam hesitated, the turmoil within him evident. The battle raged on around them, but in that moment, Liam felt a glimmer of hope. He knew forgiveness was a step toward healing.

Meanwhile, Angel Dust was reeling from the loss of his limbs, his pain evident. Connie, Todoroki, and Bakugo rushed to his aid.

Connie noticed Alastor being thrown against the floor, unconscious. She shouted over the chaos, "Angel, get Alastor out of here to keep him safe!"

Angel tried to argue, but Connie was firm. "No arguments, just go!"

Angel, his heart heavy, carefully picked up Alastor and rushed outside, his focus on keeping his dear friend safe.

Back in the battle, Connie yelled to Liam, "Distract the Three V's! Damian, come here!"

Liam hesitated but trusted Connie's instincts. He rushed forward, engaging the Three V's and creating a diversion.

Connie quickly explained her plan to Damian and Bakugo. "We need to create a distraction so Todoroki can form an attack. Bakugo and Damian, use your powers to heat some ice that Todoroki will create."

Bakugo crossed his arms, skeptical. "This better work, or it's a waste of time."

Damian nodded, ready to prove himself. "Let's do this."

As Bakugo and Damian joined forces to heat the ice, Todoroki concentrated, creating a large ice construct. The intense heat from Bakugo and Damian's powers turned the ice into a molten mass.

Todoroki released the molten substance, sending it flying towards the distracted Three V's. The attack hit them with a fiery explosion, throwing them off balance.

With the V's momentarily stunned, the group made a break for it. Angel and Alastor were already outside, and they saw the tower starting to crumble.

Connie shouted, "Liam, Damian, come on!"

As Liam and Damian sprinted out, the tower behind them erupted into a massive explosion. The force of the blast knocked them to the ground, and they watched as the tower was consumed by flames.

The dust settled, and they scrambled to their feet, their hearts racing. Liam and Connie looked around, fear and relief in their eyes.

Angel, holding Alastor close, saw the destruction and felt a mixture of emotions. Alastor, awake now, hugged him tightly, an unusual fear still lingering in his eyes.

For the first time, Alastor feared the possibility of death. He held Angel close, and in that vulnerable moment, Angel blushed, their bond deepening.

As they stood there, Liam yelled, "Is everyone okay?"

Connie nodded, her voice strong. "We made it. The Three V's are gone, and we're alive."

Damian hesitated, then approached Liam, his voice filled with sincerity. "Liam, I truly am sorry for how I treated you. I've learned my lesson, and I want to be better."

Liam looked at him, his heart softening. "It's going to take time to rebuild trust, Damian. But let's start by moving forward and helping each other heal."

Damian nodded, a sense of hope in his eyes. "I'm willing to try."

Together, they walked away from the rubble, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, stronger and united.

The sun began to rise over Hell, a new day dawning, and they knew that they had faced their demons and emerged victoriously.

***

“…And that’s how the great eight defeated the Three V’s. About a year later, Al and Angel got Married, and Bakugo Became the king of the wrath circle with Damian. Liam did some healing and started a garden store. Finally, Connie and Todoroki started a bomb-making business…The End.

Steven's face contorted at the end of Connie's story. He was in his pink footy PJs, Curled up in his blankets. Connie could feel him cringing from the edge of the bed.

He spoke, softy and deadpanned, “That didn’t happen right.”

Connie closed the book and crossed her arms. Chuckling under her breath.

“Sure, Steven, It never happened.”

[austerulous]

◈   @destineden

Beautiful and rootless, great sprays of chrysanthemums decorated the shining foyer, their slender stems bending under the weight of their blooms.  Beautiful and rootless, Awa strode through the generic opulence of the hotel.  Duty’s crown did not weigh on them so heavily; they navigated their transient existence with flawless, infuriating poise.  Still every instinct in the mercenary screamed that he must protect them, shield them from the shadows that lurked within the asphalt veins of the city.  His devotion was evident in his healing bullet wound, knitted into its gory roots.

Hanzo was pinned silently to their side as the elevator ferried them skyward, and he fell into step with them when they exited, positioning himself between their sleek form and the seamless floor-to-ceiling windows.  Awash with rivulets of rain, a skyline of monoliths was blurred, faraway holographic advertisements and neon light diluted like lurid watercolours on the glass.  To his mind, it added to the intimacy, the sense of privacy they had once craved.  To his mind, electric tension crackled between them even now.

Awa’s suite was halfway to the heavens.  High enough to escape the wailing sirens of the megalopolis below, evading the pulse of the city that so often registered like a throbbing wound, a dull headache pounding behind the eyes.  There had been a time when they would have retreated together, scraped away their veneer and hung up their guard at the shadowy threshold between their public and private spheres.

Now, Awa bid him a good evening, their tone perfectly polite and devastatingly impersonal.  Speaking, but saying nothing.  They moved to slip inside, an elegant hand extended towards the sensor, triggering the door to close behind them.  They meant to shut him out with the rest of the world, to leave him to his duty of standing vigil.  Their sentinel, their shield. An employee.

Something in Hanzo bared its teeth, his carefully constructed façade of stoicism splintering as he thrust his foot into the narrowing gap, jamming the door open.  Even before he spoke, he had ripped away his mask.  Long suppressed and hidden beneath the armour of professionalism, a swell of unspoken words clawed their way to the still waters of his surface.

“No,” he hissed in a steely whisper.  “Enough of this.” 

With burgeoning resolve and boldness, he surged forward, squeezing inside the hallowed space, walking Awa back until their shoulder blades kissed a marble wall.  They need only raise the alarm and he would be expelled for his transgression, for taking such liberty.  Instead, they remained a picture of filtered, unflappable calm, their luminescence heightened by the equally artificial glow that bathed the interior. 

“I will not be shackled by silence.  I will not play these games.”  Hanzo’s voice was a fusion of frustration and raw vulnerability.  “Is it not clear that I am prepared to die for you?  And not out of duty – not because of something as frivolous as a salary.”

It was an insult to his love, to all they had.  If there had been any silver lining to his bleeding out on the concrete, it had been that Awa had held him, their glossy, plastic demeanour crumbling into something authentic.  That was what he desired, more than anything. Something real.

Slowly, he raised a hand, traced a knuckle along their jaw.  His heart thundered within the bony vault of his chest, its rhythm matching the torrential downpour that drummed against the walls.  A maelstrom of emotion swirled in the accursed no-man’s-land between them.  Hanzo had been the one to set the fire, now he burned in it.

“Awa… my feelings for you never changed.  Tell me, did yours die in Hanamura?”