#Theme: Unconditional Love

[crimescrimson]

The Cage Family & Comforting Injured Loved Ones

[xielianlover2]

I want to talk about unconditional forgiveness and how crucial it is for Xie Lian to have someone who offers it to him with no strings attached.

Throughout Xie Lian's life, he experiences numerous falls from grace, each one more devastating than the last. He goes from being a beloved crown prince and a renowned god to a figure of scorn and bad luck. The weight of his past and the suffering he has endured often make him question his own worthiness and ability to protect others.

Which is why, for Xie Lian, Hua Cheng's forgiveness is a lifeline. Knowing that there is someone who believes in him, no matter what, allows Xie Lian to forgive himself and move forward. In a world where divine beings are often portrayed as infallible, we see by the end, that pretty much every god has their own flaws and that even those with immense power are not immune to making grievous errors in judgment.

I think Hua Cheng’s forgiveness also symbolizes a deeper, transformative love. It’s a love that goes beyond mere acceptance; it’s a commitment, a promise, a vow to stand by Xie Lian no matter what, and that's what makes his love so rare and beautiful. It's such a stark contrast to the judgment Xie Lian has faced from his people and other gods. While his own friends basically turned their backs on him, Hua Cheng remained his most loyal and devoted believer. His cheerleader, for a lack of better words. Hua Cheng embodies the truest form of compassion– understanding and embracing someone wholly.

Hua Cheng's love and acceptance allow Xie Lian to feel seen and understood in a way that no one else has ever provided. This kind of forgiveness is not about overlooking mistakes or pretending they didn't happen; rather, it's about recognizing the entirety of a person's journey and choosing to embrace them regardless.

Hua Cheng's acceptance allows Xie Lian to be vulnerable about his deepest fears and struggles. It also gives him the ability to ask for something he needs for himself:

"All right... don't say any more. I get it... but... but don't be like this, all right? San Lang? I... I've borrowed so much spiritual power from you that I haven't repaid. And I'm not done telling you all the things that I wanted to say; there's still so much. It's been so long since anyone listened to me talk. Won't you stay? Don't.. don't do this. I won't be able to take it. Twice, it's happened twice already-I really don't want there to be a third time!"

In this moment, Xie Lian’s plea reveals how extremely isolating his life has been. He has been perpetually misunderstood, and I believe that even before his first ascension, he has always felt profoundly alone. Throughout his life, Xie Lian has been surrounded by people who either see him through the lens of his past or view him as a mere symbol; a divine god, so therefore flawless and someone beyond approach. It strips away his humanity and the complexities of his true self, unable to be seen as a person with real feelings and imperfections. Even his Feng Xin and Mu Qing put him up in a pedestal, and no matter what happened, no matter how understandable it was, everyone still left him in the end.

Then, to have someone say they understand his everything, from his wisdom to his foolishness, and then also wholeheartedly support him and unconditionally love him? That they never, ever left him, that they've always been there, constant and unchanging in their love, in their devotion? That must have felt life-changing to him. Something groundbreaking and pivotal.

He is essentially begging for the one person who understands him completely—and who accepts him unconditionally despite everything—not to leave him. When Xie Lian begs Hua Cheng to stay, it is not just a request for physical presence but a desperate need for emotional reassurance and acceptance. For Hua Cheng is Xie Lian's safe haven where he can express his deepest fears and unspoken desires, a place of solace and affirmation that he has long been missing from everyone else.

[zellink]

salvation

[ravenw1ngs]

Hey guys is now a good time to tell you I’m working on a 3-part series of qTubbo-centric fics that are a) half a character study, b) mostly canon compliant with some divergence around Purg 2 for ✨reasons✨, and c) focused heavily on family themes and Tubbo’s many issues?

[gorelesbian]

the guilt of having mommy issues while having a mother who loves me more than anything is actually gonna kill me one day

[squeakadeeks]

finally drew the actual antagonist for stitch in the ditch!! (Stitch, Seam, and Husqvarna arnt actually evil, they just have an opposing perspective and solution to the tears in reality) But Brother is 100% through and through the bad guy.

He's the one that started the rips in the patchwork world to make his own personal kingdom, and commands the oose, which are monstrous balls of lint and loose thread created by the fraying edges. He is objectively the greatest stitch witch of all time, and was also responsible for creating Stitch and Seam...but he sucks so bad they quit and want nothing to do with him now.

[the--firevenus]

"Baby I just killed a man"

[ichthyorelationships]

ideas: i didn't really think of him being underwater but they deserve to have drama by crying there too so i just think you could say something about the composition being denser than water or w/e. proteins

i'm always like good thing he didn't try to exit asap via swimming in ciao alberto But What If He Did lol. just swim Somewhere else along the coast, maybe panic about [money??] & whether somehow this ruins school for luca, whether he can get in touch w/o it being On Sight b/w him & all marcovaldos, consider just kind of trying out other places, traveling after all...fascinating considering the other povs on the issue like: now there's the paguros to sympathize w/a kid vanishing, luca however in a somewhat more novel position there, giulia's throwback to alberto being a bit perplexing lmao, kind of thinking the best massimo could do is have a prewritten letter for luca to give to alberto If Possible, conveying something like i know you didn't set my livelihood on fire on purpose but even if you did i'd want you to stay. and luca in a position to do all of "maybe give the island fun facts so someone can check if he's there" & "wait & hope alberto can/does get in touch" & "have a lot of feelings"....not even the context of what this drawing is about necessarily, just tacking it on here anyways. ahead of time i went "heh now i Know they're gonna have it get little Real here b/c it's really about alberto wanting the security of feeling he can 'earn' a sustained relationship" then the short cleared & i was lying completely dead on the pavement

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor x MC – S2 CH 39 (Eng Translation)

“If the person speaking is you, I don’t need any other explanation.”

“Stop time for me, Victor.”

Do remember to read S2 CH 38 prior to this: Here!

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

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Context before the split routes] ✧

With the help of a little girl, MC is currently in a time-loop, allowing her to use the extra time the loop grants to her advantage -- i.e., trying to break the rules of the world using the power of the QUEEN, Evol energy, and the dark matter of the universe.

Each spilt route allows MC to obtain the information she needs to do her final showdown.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Victor Split CH 39 - 1.1] ✧

Regarding the current situation, “time” is a factor of vital importance that must be identified.

According to the clues at hand right now, at the moment when the countdown ends, the two space-times should completely overlap, thus reaching the so-called “point of destruction.”

Even if I have sufficient energy, I still need to correspond to that particular time––

That critical point in time is clearly the key. Perhaps, I can begin with that.

Immersed in thoughts, I breathe out heavily. Looking at the high-rise buildings in the distance as they gradually bathe in the twilight, I suddenly think about Victor.

He pulled a gun on me before on the skywalk, transferring me to the BS Hall;

And then he gave me the black box through Zehn, handing me the prerequisite to enter the Black Cabin according to my will.

Although he hasn’t explained to me the motives for all these arrangements, through an ineffable feeling, I firmly believe that Victor is changing something in his own way.

If our purposes coincide, then Victor must need the information I know. Likewise, his power will help me as well.

With this thought in mind, I subconsciously take out my phone and dial Victor’s number.

But after a long time, there’s still no answer on the other end of the phone.

MC: Where could he be…?

As I mutter to myself in distress, I suddenly think of something and lift my feet in the direction of the BS Headquarters.

The last time we parted on the rooftop, Victor was carrying out an operation with the people of BS.

Right now, the BS Headquarters is most likely where I’ll be able to find him.

As I think about this, I can’t help accelerating my pace. Very soon, the towering BS Building enters my line of sight.

Preparing myself to face several cross-examinations, I draw a deep breath and lift my feet onto the steps.

But unexpectedly, the building, which has always been heavily guarded, is now empty, and no one is in sight. The only sound in the huge space is the echo of my disarrayed footsteps.

MC: What’s going on here…

Somewhat at a loss, I scan the surrounding. At this moment, I hear what seems to be voices coming from the depths of the hall.

My heart shudders. I cautiously forge ahead following the voices, faintly hearing a few vague words, “...still not connected yet…,” reaching my ears.

The light is obscure, and the corridor is a bit gloomy. As I prudently walk forward, I suddenly see a beam of light reflecting at the end of the hallway.

I advance cautiously, and through the daylight cast by the dome, I can see the dark red curtains hanging down and the seat in the center of the hall.

–– Once again, I’ve returned to the place where I had once been crowned as QUEEN.

It’s only that compared to when I left not long ago, there are a lot more figures in the hall right now. Although the sound of conversations can be heard from time to time, the atmosphere is somewhat solemn.

And those gloomy eyes land on me instantaneously the moment I show up. The immense sense of coercion causes me to hold my breath subconsciously.

I can already spot a few unfamiliar faces in the crowd.

Thinking back to the last time we met and how Victor said he would weed out the rotten parts of BLACK SWAN, a vague conjecture emerges in my heart as I look at those figures in the shadows.

It seems that he has indeed made BS go through rebirth, forming it into a new force in his hands.

Amidst the stares, I calmly straighten my shoulders and surpassing through the cracks between the shadows, I find Victor’s figure.

His head is slightly lifted, and he seems to be gazing over the hall.

Following his gaze, I find a faint golden arc floating in mid-air underneath the dome.

…isn’t that arc of light from the gate of the Black Cabin? How did it suddenly appear here?

Seemingly having already made a judgment in his mind, Victor slowly, very slowly glances in my direction, his gaze revealing a faint sense of oppression.

The instant he sees that it’s me, a trace of surprise plays across his slender eyebrows, and then it’s cast off by a moment of realization.

He doesn’t seem surprised that I’m here.

Taking a deep breath, I lift my foot and walk towards Victor under the attentive gazes of everyone.

As I draw closer to him, his stern eyebrows become increasingly clear on my horizon. In those serene eyes, which are as deep as a pool, I seem to detect a hint of deeply hidden exhaustion.

My heart tightens involuntarily. I suddenly can’t resist the urge to step forward, stroke away that tired complexion, and ask him about what on earth has happened.

But the constantly dwindling countdown above my head is reminiscent of a hanging sword that will fall at any moment, silently alerting me.

I clench my fists, trying hard to calm my emotions.

…Victor led these people to gather here, so that means he must be working out a strategy. In any case, now is not the time to pour out my heart.

I exhale softly, meet Victor’s indifferent gaze, and open my mouth in a steady tone.

MC: Knowing how precious everyone’s time is right now, I’ll get straight to the point.

MC: BOSS, I came looking for you to do a negotiation.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly becomes heavy. Out of the corner of my eyes, I even see someone’s Evol brewing white light.

It seems that so long as Victor gives the order, they will launch attacks on me at any time.

The arc of light from the door of Black Cabin hovers silently in the middle of the hall, and I can almost hear the sound of restrained breathing.

A while later, Victor taps his fingertips on the armrest, not gently but not heavily either.

Victor: Go on.

I tighten my fists a little, speaking every word after measuring them.

MC: I have some information about the overlapping worlds which I can share with all of you.

MC: In all likelihood, this will be a great help to what BS is planning now.

MC: Of course, if we reach a partnership, you guys can also use the power of CORE within me. 

Several people next to Victor lift their eyes imperceptibly. Evidently, these words have hit right on the sore point.

A little more confidence suddenly brews in my heart, and then, I hear Victor speak.

Victor: In the situation at present, even if I refuse to do the so-called negotiation, you won’t be able to retreat from BS in one piece.

Victor: I don’t seem to have the need to do things that are unnecessary.

MC: Since I dared to come, I naturally have the means to escape.

MC: You and I are both very pressed for time. So, we don’t need to waste our breaths on this, am I right?

I look at Victor in neither servile nor overbearing manner, my tone not wavering in the slightest.

Victor raises his eyebrows, the corners of his lips faintly arching up into a curve. Then, he opens his mouth unhurriedly.

Victor: What’s your condition?

MC: I don’t have any conditions. BOSS can give me whatever he wants.

MC: After all, I also need as much information as possible to find the answers I want.

Victor gazes at me with an expression that’s hard to decipher, his tone carrying with it a vague sense of oppression.

Victor: The power of BS is not to be used so easily by outsiders.

Victor: The clues you have are not sufficient to be treated as a bargaining chip with BS.

This rejection seems to appear out of the blue. I open my lips, speaking subconsciously.

MC: I still––

Victor: I don’t need the power of CORE either.

Victor: I made that point very clear on the skywalk.

MC: …

Along with these words, Victor’s eyes look away from me coldly and seem to inadvertently and rather suggestively skim over the hall.

I subconsciously follow his line of sight. The moment I see the arc of light, my heart suddenly stirs.

MC: Even if BOSS doesn’t need CORE, I have the power to help you guys.

MC: There are some things that only I can do, isn’t that right?

I straighten up slightly and lock eyes with Victor meaningfully.

Although he still doesn’t say anything, the light in those eyes seems to be a little more affirmative.

The air lapses into a stalemate. I hold my breath, waiting with clenched palms. Victor shoots me a glance and finally nods.

Victor: In that case, tell us. What’s the information you’ve got?

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Victor Split CH 39 - 1.2] ✧

MC: The sky over this world is now covered with a massive string of countdowns.

MC: As all of you can see, there is now a static “special Loveland City” that is overlapping with ours.

MC: Even though the world is now static in a relative sense, just like the overlapping zones at the beginning, the time hasn’t stopped.

MC: Right now, it’s like we are all sitting on a fast-moving train.

MC: Though entirely unaware of it, it’s incessantly running toward the abyss. The train will collapse at the boundary point, and time––

MC: The moment when the countdown ends, the entire world will be completely overwritten, and the static space-time will start afresh.

MC: The hovering comet in the sky will then resume its motion, falling downwards.

The air of oppression is a little suffocating. I pause before continuing to speak.

MC: According to the stimulation-based calculation, this is how the world is originally set to end.

MC: Everything will come to an end at 19:17.

The room lapses into silence, and one can almost hear the sound of restrained breathing. After a while, Victor speaks.

Victor: And how long do we have before the countdown ends.

I speedily look up at the sky overhead. Against the obscure light and shadow backdrop of the hall, the digits are beating coldly and in a regular pattern.

MC: ...it’s now -43:13:10.

Victor’s figure freezes slightly, but his expression doesn’t give away any surprise.

While I’m a little puzzled, a rustling noise suddenly comes from before me.

A tall, short-haired youth stares into the for a moment with a tight frown on their face before stepping forward and opening their mouth.

??: It seems that the situation is indeed about the same as what we deduced.

From the side, another woman wearing glasses also turns around soon after and walks over to the door in a swift and decisive manner.

??: That being the case, there’s no point in wasting time.

??: We’ll leave first.

As soon as her voice falls, several figures of different sizes start walking out of the hall in tacit agreement. The short-haired youth also nods to Victor and leaves at a brisk pace.

Startled, I watch as less than half of the figures in the hall disappear in an instant. Victor doesn’t intend to stop them and indifferently turns his gaze to me.

Victor: Go on. What’s the solution you have in mind?

I hesitate to withdraw my gaze and open my mouth in a measured tone.

MC: …I have obtained some information.

MC: At the moment of overlap, I will need to use power far beyond the ordinary to change the already fixed course of the world.

MC: Only CORE won’t do. I will need to draw support from a lot of other forces as well.

MC: I will need to make them act simultaneously at that point in time to enable the world to break away from its original trajectory.

MC: Although it may necessarily not be successful, it’s a gamble I must take.

My restless trailing note disappears quietly into the air. Victor’s eyes flicker slightly, and after a while, he suddenly speaks.

Victor: All right. BS has received your message.

Victor: The door of the Black Cabin will be opened now.

With these words, Victor unhurriedly walks beneath the arc of light. Then, he turns sideways and looks at me.

Stunned, I sweep my gaze across the crowd standing in the hall and speak with some uncertainty.

MC: Right now?

Victor: What else? Or do you need me to give you time to mentally prepare yourself?

MC: …

I draw a deep breath and catch up with his footsteps despite so.

Although I’m not clear on what Victor’s intention is for asking me to do this, after all, he is the one who gave me the key to Black Cabin.

And since the negotiation has been reached, my next call is to use the power of BS.

With this thought in mind, I carefully take out the black box and grasp it in my palm with rapt attention, holding my breath.

With previous experience, the process of mobilizing the power is much smoother. Soon, a familiar warm current circulates around my body, and a vague feeling of strength leaps into my chest.

The field of view in front of me suddenly brightens a little, as if there are specs of light constantly converging.

I lift my eyes and see the faint arc of light gradually magnifying into a bright radiance, and the outline of a door of light slowly emerges in the air.

Victor raises his head, gazes quietly at the door of light for a moment, and then turns to look at me.

Victor: BS will honor its commitment, as promised.

MC: …I’ve got the words of BOSS. I’m relieved.

Victor seems to chuckle softly, his gaze sweeping over the fluorescent colors surging behind the door of light. I hastily open my mouth.

MC: So, BOSS, tell me what you think about this information.

Victor releases a “Mm,” lifting his chin lightly in the direction of the corridor.

Victor: [voice finally drops to the “Victor-softness”]  Let’s go for a walk outside.

I freeze for a moment, realizing the next second that he seems to want to speak to me alone.

I shoot a glance across the entire hall and nod, taking the lead in walking toward the corridor and organizing the words in my mind.

But what I haven’t noticed is that Victor seemed to slow down his pace inadvertently.

The sound of footsteps in the corridor gradually fades away. Only at this moment does Victor lifts his eyes and catches up with the girl’s pace.

The moment before leaving the corridor, he glances behind him and opens his mouth in a quiet voice.

Victor: [even softer]  You can continue.

—

They are walking on the street. Seeing people stopping to take photos of the static comet and resuming their strides, MC is musing about how people naturally start to accept the anomalies after a certain period.

At this moment––

??: Mom–– this is delicious. It’s so delicious!

A young and tender voice suddenly drifts from behind me. I turn my head and see a mother with her young daughter in her arms, coming towards us.

She strokes her daughter’s head tenderly, seemingly not noticing us. The child smiles and tries to lift the cake to her mouth, and as she is brushing past us, the kid’s hand suddenly tilts.

The identical scene took place in Souvenir before the comet descended, and I can’t help but be shaken to my soul.

–

[Tidbits]: MC is referring to S1 CH 37 Victor’s route btw~

–

Just as it appears that I’m about to be rubbed by the cake, my arm is suddenly pulled, and I’m brought to the side by Victor.

MC: …!

The young mother pauses in her footsteps uneasily, asking apologetically how I’m doing. I hurriedly wave my hand.

MC: It’s all right. I’m fine.

Victor sweeps his eyes over me up and down, speaking lightly.

Victor: [to the mother]  Watch the road.

The young mother nods her head, apologizes, and leaves with her child in her arms.

Looking at their carefree and untroubled figures from behind, I sigh unconsciously, only to hear Victor suddenly speak.

Victor: [more like a whisper]  I seem to have seen this scene before.

I freeze for a moment, turning my head around vigorously to look at Victor.

Shifting from the figures of the mother and child, he is gazing thoughtfully at the stars in the sky, but his expression shows a trace of certainty.

…could it be that the overlapping phenomenon, which exacerbates fluctuations, also has an impact on memories?

Or is he simply stating a point of view on the overlapping of worlds?

However, at this moment, I’m still incapable of saying anything. After a moment’s hesitation, I only purse my lips.

The noise of traffic drifts faintly from a distance. Feeling how silent I am, Victor glances at me.

Victor: If you can’t destroy the box, there will be nothing else left to be done.

Victor: Regardless of what form the cat in the box takes, it won’t matter at that point.

–

[Tidbits]: To clarify, Victor’s whisper earlier was about his memories, which he states later too. And here, he is talking about Schrödinger’s cat theory.

–

He makes this statement speciously, and I purse my lips in bewilderment.

MC: …box? Cat? What does it mean? Is it related to the plan you’re working on now?

Victor doesn’t answer my question.

He turns his head and simply looks at the comet in the sky again, changing the thread of discussion.

Victor: According to your reasoning, to prevent the overlap between the two worlds, it would take an extreme amount of energy.

Victor: This is something even beyond the scope of the Space-Time Bureau to resolve.

Victor: So, whatever you plan to do, there is one thing I can tell you with certainty.

The giant comet hangs in the sky as if it’s ready to come down at any moment. But the reflection it casts on Victor’s back is unable to cut down his drive for even a little bit.

Victor: The moment the countdown ends, that one instant is not enough for you to solve the problem.

My heart can’t help but sink a few notches along with these words.

MC: It means there is no possibility of solving this…

The air seems to sink into silence. Following this, Victor gazes at me for a long, long time, and then he smiles abruptly.

This smile is wrapped in an explicable depth of meaning, as if it depicts the faith and pride of simply putting one’s all into a fight when faced with desperate straits.

Victor: But I can elongate that instant.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Victor Split CH 39 - 1.4] ✧

MC: …!

My eyes widen slightly, and I’m just about to speak. But Victor reduces his pace and stops in front of a building.

I subconsciously follow his gaze. A gray, towering church stands against the backdrop of the night, as though overlooking the turmoil of everything.

Victor stares at it quietly for a moment. Soon after, he lifts his feet to mount the steps.

Victor: Let’s go inside and have a look.

Victor raises his hand as he speaks, pushing open the closed door.

–

I follow his steps. As we draw nearer, we find that the solemn church is now completely empty.

There are only a few black crows perched on the dust-covered benches, combing their feathers peacefully. I glance around and sigh softly.

MC: …it seems that everyone is a bit apathetic to the crisis. No one is coming to pray.

MC: If people learn that the world is about to perish, I’m afraid they won’t have the heart to come here even more.

Victor shakes his head. By the time he opens his mouth, his voice has regained his characteristic forever calmness.

Victor: On the contrary, this place will be packed with people at the time.

Victor: When despair reaches the pinnacle, and powerlessness becomes apparent, one can only hope and pray.

Victor: Churches, temples… they will desperately long for a pair of hands that can pull them out of the abyss.

Victor: Whether it comes from the gods, or some other unknown forces.

The intense colors of the night filter in through the glass windows, silently projecting into this spacious and empty space. The fine specks of dust quietly float in the air.

I close my eyes, and I can almost see the scene of this place being flooded with prayers and the sound of cries. My heart suddenly indescribably feels a little sour.

If there really is a god in this world who can save all this, perhaps I will also fall to my knees in despair, praying for a stable tomorrow for myself and my loved ones;

But the unceasingly approaching countdown above my head doesn’t allow me to immerse myself in this delusion.

There is nowhere else to place my hopes but in myself. The only thing I can do right now is to grab hold of the only opportunity I have.

I breathe out softly, and after a moment, I incline my head to look at Victor’s side profile.

MC: The thing you said just earlier… what did you mean?

Victor gazes fixedly into my eyes and speaks in a profound tone.

Victor: I meant it literally.

Victor: At the moment when the countdown ends, you need to use the power to change the ending of the world’s destruction. But a split second of time may not be sufficient to sustain you to get it done.

Victor: I don’t precisely know the basis of your action, but I trust your judgment.

Victor: I can pause that instant for you and elongate your time.

Victor: Make good use of it and strive for more possibilities.

MC: …!

My eyes widen slightly. Just as I’m about to speak, I’m interrupted.

Victor: I know you’re looking for the power to change the course of the world.

Victor: But that’s the extent of what I can do for you now.

Victor’s voice seems a little softer than in the past. Realizing something, I shake my head.

MC: That’s enough. After all, the responsibility of finding that power falls upon the CORE.

I pause as I speak, looking into the deep colors of his eyes, and speak one word at a time.

MC: Victor, actually… I’ve already begun my actions to this end. We’re in a time loop right now.

MC: I used someone else’s Evol to extend 48 hours before the countdown ends.

MC: This will buy me as much time as I need to prepare for the requirements.

Victor listens to me quietly, and after a while, he perks up the corners of his lips.

Victor: Reasonable and good response.

Blinking, I gaze at him with a bit of playfulness.

MC: That’s all? And here I was, hoping you could give me some guidance.

Victor: [even softer than before]  Dummy.

Along with this word, a large, warm, and powerful hand gently lands on my head.

Victor: [sighs helplessly]  You’re already doing very well.

Victor: I have a far less clear grasp of the truth than you do, and I will not be able to respond to it any better than you.

Victor: Over the years, I have heard my own voices in my head, but I don’t have any memories related to them.

Victor: I have also faced many situations that cannot be explained by common sense.

Victor: I had already put together the approximate picture in my mind. And now, as the overlap constantly intensifies, the complete image is gradually becoming clear.

MC: …!

I can’t help but freeze for a moment, suddenly thinking of something.

Regardless of whether it was the first time I met Victor in this restarted world or the time I ran into danger in the hospital, I indeed heard Victor’s voice in my mind.

–

[Tidbits]: Refreshing the callbacks – Victor is referring to his flashbacks throughout S2 (both in the story and R&S), and specifically S2 CH 4, CH 25, CH 31~ And MC here is specifically referring to their reunion 4 years ahead of time– “Meeting in the past date” and S2 CH 4.

– 

It turns out he has detected something is amiss with this world since such a long time ago?

I purse my lips, but feel Victor running his fingers through my hair, as though giving me a kind of reassurance.

Victor: All the existence that worries you now, I will make it end with that ending.

Victor: Don’t worry about it. Just go do what you want to do.

Victor: You can do it.

Victor’s tone is calm, and it reveals a certainty.

Beginning from the moment we met, even though he’s been vaguely aware that I’m shouldering some secrets, he still chose to trust me.

He chose to be part of my strength and my confidence.

A slight sourness surges into the rims of my eyes. I look into his eyes and nod slowly.

MC: [tears in eyes]  …Mm, I will do it.

–

[Anika’s Notes]: dropping it bc why not–– the music for this part is his 5th birthday BGM, so you can imagine how deeply this hits~ ;-;

–

As if in response to my words, the church bells ring out suddenly, reverberating loudly in the spacious and empty hall.

Given a scare, the crows resting on the benches suddenly fly up, their pitch-black feathers slowly floating down along with the long, coarse cry.

The crisscrossing light and shadow of the glass windows shine on Victor’s body, and the tender colors also reflect in that pair of serene eyes, reminiscent of a beautiful dream.

Although this moment is brief, it’s enough to give me the encouragement to move forward.

I look up at the time above my head–– it’s already time for this cycle to end.

I withdraw my gaze and speak softly to Victor.

MC: Victor, I’m going to restart this period of time.

MC: There are still some things waiting for me to figure out.

Victor doesn’t say anything more. Like the countless goodbyes before, he only looks at me gently and nods.

Victor: [gentlest of the voices to exist]  Go.

I answer a soft “Mm.” But suddenly thinking of something, I open my mouth with hesitation.

MC: But when time reinstates, you won’t remember anything that happened now.

MC: [pouty]  The promise you made to elongate time for me, will it still be valid at that time?

Victor seems to curl the corners of his lips into a smile. He takes a step closer in my direction and lifts his hands, bringing me into his arms.

Victor: [gentlest of the voices to exist]  On this matter, you don’t ever need to harbor doubts.

Victor: [gentlest of the voices to exist x2]  As long as you find me before that moment arrives, I will honor my promise.

His reassuring scent seeps into every breath I take. I hug the person in front of me back and speak in a muffled voice.

MC: [still pouty]  So when that moment comes, do I have to explain the situation to you from scratch again?

A very soft chuckle drifts to my ears.

Victor: [gentlest of the voices to exist x3]  No need.

Victor: [gentlest of the voices to exist x10]  If the person speaking is you, I don’t need any other explanation.

Apprehension, hesitation, restlessness…

All the haze lingering in my heart dissipates at this moment in the ringing of the church bells, and in the warmth of this man’s arms.

I take a deep breath, look up into his eyes, and make my promise as I utter it word by word.

MC: Victor, the answer you want to know will surely drop at that end.

MC: Even if I’m unable to achieve it this time, I will keep striving until the moment it happens.

Victor: Mm, I believe that.

I lift the corners of my lips and gently let go of my grip on his coat.

MC: Victor, see you later.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [CH 39-3] ✧

[Note]: Players have to complete all 5 split routes to reach this stage.

MC thanks the little girl for her help. Then, she contacts the other boys via phone call (Lucien, Helios, Gavin) to let them know about the information she ultimately has, so that they can continue as planned.

Then—

MC runs for the BS Headquarters—

—

The door of light of the Black Cabin still stations there quietly in the center of the hall. Probably Victor is still carrying out his plan.

Time ticks by second by second. There is very little time left in the countdown, but my heart is exceptionally tranquil.

If hard work is said to be the backbone behind any success, then what I’m carrying now on my back is in no way simply my solo effort.

The countless figures who have advanced on different paths, sparing no effort, are what have given me the unbounded motivation to have the courage to face the future.

The next second, Victor walks out of the shadows along with the twelve main gods.

He stands at the head of the crowd with a fully concentrated gaze, the light descending from the dome outlining his solemn and proud expression.

He stares at me. The moment our eyes interlock, I see a trace of pacifying reassurance streaming through his eyes.

I steel my mind and stand on the high platform of the throne, looking at everyone with a calm expression.

MC: I am BLACK SWAN QUEEN.

MC: Stop time for me, Victor.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

⏳ Victor’s Split Route (CH 40): Here!

[Heads-up from Anika]: will highly recommend reading / revisiting Victor’s S1 CH 37 split route, and “Meeting in the Past Date” as preparation for the split route ahah—— ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ

—

[averygayplant]

Those of you who are somehow simultaneously Ninjago and The Magnus Archives fans, how does it feel to know that Harumi is in fact not an avatar of the web, but the corruption?

[llycaons]

truly do find 'perfect' sweet little kids who exist to be cute and protected extremely boring to the point of aggravation but alluka DOESN'T fit that description because she's been neglected and isolated her whole life, she is soul-bonded with a horrifying (to many) and nearly omniscient being, she is endlessly sweet and loving to really only one person, and she STANDS UP TO that person when he hurts someone else she cares about!! she may not have a lot going on but her character and personality contrasts her situation so much to make it really striking. and I'm a sucker for close brother/sister relationships!! so sue me!!!

[featherymainffins]

You can think about Fate...but at a price (depression)

[flexorcyst]

i boxed this guy and beat him so i took him out to lunch and now we are a bonded pair forever

[nthflower]

My take on russian doll season 2 is life can be shitty and bad with almost no good things in them but still it's also your creator and never ever you are be able to change this and it's okay. And future is unknown but if you wanna live you need to accept things will happen and you have also like past have no control over them. You can hope or not it doesn't matter you are not future you only moment. Do your best and live future when it's becomes moment and leave past behind.

For example for Nadia ; trauma fucked her life and it was terrible and she had absolutely no way to take it back but also person who she was created by this trauma and if she did changed this in the past there were a completely new Nadia would be created and she will never archive her momentary being so instead of being stuck trying to change something unchangeable in the past or ignoring it she is gonna accept it and move on.

She will live in the momentary her because it's the only moment a person actually live and do a change have a choice. Past is gone and future is unknown both is unliveable for her. Only moment. No trains to future and trains to back repeats and repeats with no change in direction all in same lines.

And for Alan; like Agnes said it doesn't matter what happened to lover German boy that I forgot his name. It's gone. And he couldn't change it but it's okay it happened. And he should stop thinking about future afraid of doing mistakes, mistakes are living. And just accept you can't know future it's impossible, knowing it is limiting instead move and see. Do choose and then live in the bad or good consequences it's still matters anyway because only moment matters.

[hymenopuscoronatus]

30 March 2024

god, will i fall in love one day?

of course my child

will they love me?

he doesn’t answer

- mantis

[ofyorkshire]

flor.ence + the ma.chine got me insane in the brain about the tragedy of barry james anderson loving barry gannon again.

there's no healthy way to turn it around. their relationship was inherently abusive regardless of how "kind" gannon was, if not for the obvious, then for the fact that gannon was using bj's desperation for connection to convince him to turn over blackmail information on yorkshire's police and wealthy elite. he put an already vulnerable person into an even more vulnerable, dangerous position because he was the only kindness bj had, and maybe it wasn't gannon's intention to get bj wrapped up in his messes, but he had to know it was a possibility. they were dealing with powerful business moguls, law enforcement, and politicians who could make so-called "undesirable", forgotten people like bj disappear if they wanted.

and yet bj still loved him with all the devotion of a believer loving a saint. even after it must have been apparent that he was being used, even after it led to bj almost being killed and then hunted for knowing too much, for being far too close to the hornet's nest that gannon (and then eddie dunford, because of gannon) poked, he didn't blame him. instead he blamed himself for not going to this stupid man's funeral, because he was afraid, and he felt ashamed of that fear.

i just!!!!!!!! raghghhh

it hurts, not because bj deserved barry gannon, or that they "should" have been together (he didn't, and they should not have even begun), but because bj loved and still loves a man who carelessly put him in the crosshairs. and for what? for his tabloid-esque articles that no one at the post even wanted to publish? for some fantasy of being the guy who blows the whistle on the entire police force? what did he expect to come of that? believing what he did about the police, did he really think that no one would get hurt? c'mon.

and despite all of it, bj doesn't think he was good enough to be loved in return. that's this poor boy's takeaway. granted, the belief that he is some unlovable thing is not solely gannon's fault, that mostly falls on laws' shoulders. but gannon took and weaponized bj's love. and that didn't help. it really, really didn't help.

"bj loved barry," bj said. "really loved him."

what a tragedy that is.