#WHAT TF JUST HAPPENED HERE???

[aishangotome]

Elbert Greetia: Mad Love Chapter 22

Mad Love Chapter 21

♡———♡

Alfons: Taking a walk this late at night?

Elbert: Al...

I carefully got out of bed, trying not to wake Kate, and ran into Alfons, who seemed to have just returned.

Elbert: ...I wanted to escape from the lingering dream.

Alfons: Oh my... Your bad habit still remains.

As always, the twisted scent of alcohol and perfume he wore slipped into my body, shaken by the nightmare, and smelled sweetly like comfort.

Elbert: ...You've been out playing again?

Alfons: Ah ha! Do I look like I've been working hard?

Alfons: Well, never mind about me for now. More importantly––

Alfons: True to your "greedy" nature, you decided to reach for happiness? You look quite gloomy.

Elbert: I––

He traces his lips with his fingertips, wanting to erase the feeling of her cold lips from the nightmare where they kissed.

Elbert: Someday, I might kill her.

Alfons: ––Oh my, what a dangerous thing to say.

Elbert: Just being by her side made me happy.

Elbert: When she smiled, it was easier to breathe. I wanted to keep watching her forever.

Elbert: That should have been my wish, but I craved everything about her.

Elbert: Her outside, her inside... even her heart.

Alfons: ...Whether it's due to the curse of "greed" or an overly heavy love, it's a delicate matter.

Whether this was due to a curse or not didn't matter.

The fact was that I desired her enough to have such a dream, and that would surely torment her.

Elbert: ...Would being loved by me make her unhappy?

As when he asked if it was beautiful, he found himself asking Alfons.

Alfons: Well, I don't know.

Alfons: I don't know what answer you're hoping for, nor how she would respond.

Alfons: ...Why don't you just spill your desires?

Elbert: ...I can't. ...What if she gets scared and runs away?

Elbert: I would truly... really—

Just as he once did for atonement, this time for happiness, he would imprison her in these greedy hands.

Elbert: I don't want to make her sad.

Alfons: ...This is troublesome.

Alfons: I don't think Kate is as weak as you think she is.

As he left, Alfons' parting words did not erase the anxiety nesting within his heart about his desires.

-

The day Elbert left, I went to the entrance to see him off.

Kate: Have a good trip.

Elbert: .....

Elbert: Kate, come here.

Kate: ? Yes... What is it?

As I approached, beckoned by his hand, he gently pulled me closer and placed a light kiss on my lips.

Kate: L-Lord Elbert, in a place like this...

Elbert: Because it's a place like this... on purpose.

Kate: On purpose...?

I followed his gaze and saw William and Victor crossing the castle courtyard, perhaps returning from somewhere.

William glanced at us, and Victor waved.

(Wh-What...)

Kate: O-On purpose... to those two?

Elbert: ...I'll endure you not being blindfolded, so at least allow me this.

He whispered sweetly in my ear, and my heart pounded.

It's so embarrassing that my ears are burning, but I can't help but be happy to be loved so much by the person I love.

Kate: Y-Yes...

Elbert: ...Yes?

Kate: I allow it...

Elbert: ...Then, one more time.

Kate: The carriage is waiting...!

Elbert reluctantly removed his hand from my shoulder.

Elbert: ...Well then, I'll be back.

In the depths of his blue eyes, until the very end, there was a glimpse of the possessiveness I had seen last night.

-

The next day, during lunchtime, after seeing Elbert off.

Victor: Thank you for the report. It was very well written.

Victor: It clearly described how everyone in Crown upholds justice.

Victor smiled generously after reading the report I submitted.

Victor: And... it was lovely content that also conveyed the warmth of your gaze towards Elbert.

Kate: I'm glad... Thank you.

Victor: There are still a few days until our promised day...

Victor: But the fact that you brought this to me now means that your heart is already decided, isn't it?

Victor stared straight at me, as if peering into my heart with his jewel-like eyes.

(I feel like Victor can see everything that's happening in this castle.)

I even felt like this vast Crown Castle was in his hands.

Kate: ...Yes, Victor.

Kate: I want to stay by Lord Elbert's side even after the promised month.

Victor: Why is that?

(Why...)

The reason I came to this castle and faced forward without succumbing to sadness or fear was because of the kindness he showed me on the night of that first mission when Daisy's inn was attacked, trying to keep me away from sadness.

And then, I realized that he protected me but didn't try to protect himself...

I learned about his past, the tremendous kindness of carrying everything as his own sin, and his bottomless sadness.

(I...)

(More than anyone else, to that person who is sensitive to the pain and sadness of others...)

Kate: Because I want Lord Elbert to smile.

Kate: When he's happy, I want to laugh with him... and when he's sad, I want to be there for him.

Victor: ...Thank you for your wonderful answer, Kate.

Victor: When the promised month arrives, you can do as you please.

Kate: ...Thank you very much.

Harrison: You've changed a lot, haven't you?

Kate: Wah!? Harrison...? When did you...?

I turned around to the direction of the voice and saw Harrison, who had somehow arrived at the dining hall, and Alfons, who was resting his cheek on his hand and looking at us cheerfully, at the other end of the long table.

Kate: Could it be that you heard our conversation...?

Alfons: We heard it clearly, both Harrison and I. We were well-behaved and quiet.

(Oh, how embarrassing...)

(I thought it was okay to open up to Victor, but they heard everything...!)

Victor: Well, actually, I noticed halfway through.

Victor: But I wanted to hear your feelings until the end, so I kept quiet.

Victor: I'm sorry. Will your kind heart forgive this sinful me?

Kate: ...I can't blame you when you say it like that.

Victor: Ahaha, I'm sorry for being a bad adult.

(But still...)

Kate: What do you mean by "changed"?

Harrison: It's exactly what it means.

Harrison: You, who have been walking in a warm sunbeam, are going to continue living in the bloody darkness?

Harrison: I can't say it any other way than "changed."

Kate: That's... certainly true.

Harrison: ...While you still can, you should go see your workplace and your home.

Kate: Huh?

Harrison: Once you decide to live in the darkness, it's not easy to return.

Harrison: While you can still return, it's better to face your own heart properly.

(Face my own heart...)

I thought about Harrison's suggestion for a moment, and a certain place came to mind.

Kate: ...Actually, there was a place I wanted to visit.

Victor: Is that so?

Kate: Yes. ...But I can't go alone, so I need someone to accompany me.

Harrison: I'll pass, since El might resent me.

Alfons: That's heartless of you, considering you're the one who suggested it.

(Indeed, if Elbert finds out, I feel like he'll be very upset.)

(But...)

Kate: I don't think Alfons would be resented.

Kate: Could you accompany me tomorrow?

Alfons: ...I'm sorry, I have something to do tomorrow.

Victor: Oh! I just received a message from His Majesty,

Victor: He says that Alfons should accompany Kate on her outing!

Harrison: I've just witnessed a terrible abuse of power.

Victor: Huh? "I saw a cool queen's aide"? Harry, you really love me!

Alfons: ...I suppose there's no helping it. It's extremely troublesome, but I'll accompany you.

Alfons: I expect a decent reward, Kate.

(Reward...)

Kate: ...Is information about a delicious bakery okay...?

Alfons: .....

Alfons: You two really are a perfect match, you and Elbert.

-

The next day, I was in the city of London with Alfons.

Alfons: So, you want to see your home and workplace, and that's all?

Kate: No, actually...

I went to the post office to say hello and was able to talk to my colleagues for the first time in a while.

I was also able to see my house for the first time in about a month.

(I can't go back to the way it was, but I was happy then too.)

I remember the peaceful, modest, yet joyful life I had in all the nostalgic places I just saw.

And then...

Kate: ...Actually, there's one more place I want to visit.

The place we're heading to now is a place I must not forget.

Alfons: Your destination, could it be this place?

After buying flowers at a flower shop, we visited the inn where Daisy used to work.

Kate: I've always been worried about it in the back of my mind and wanted to offer flowers someday.

Alfons: Is that so...

Alfons: ...There were only nameless corpses, weren't there? You're quite a conscientious person too.

Kate: Me "too"...?

The way he phrased it bothered me a little, but Alfons went to the back door without a care.

-

Kate: Huh...?

As I stepped inside from the back door, which had once been filled with a pool of blood, the inn was so clean now that it was hard to believe a bloody incident had occurred there.

(The owner barged into the party to get the "painting of the sea," and then...)

(He should have been arrested and absent... who could have done this?)

I gasped when I saw something very familiar on the counter.

It was that frame with the pressed blue poppies.

Kate: Lord Elbert...?

(I saw him doing some paperwork these past few days....)

I couldn't believe it, so I looked back at Alfons.

Kate: Did Lord Elbert buy this place?

Alfons: Did you come here without knowing anything?

Alfons: You two have similar ways of thinking.

Alfons sat down on a table as if exasperated and looked around the room.

Alfons: He said he's going to rent this place out as a flower shop.

Alfons: Daisy, was it? Because he couldn't deliver flowers to her.

Alfons: And I think he also said something about whether you would smile if this place was filled with flowers.

Kate: ...!

Alfons: From now on, he'll probably buy everything that makes you happy.

(Elbert...)

His kindness warmed my heart.

The blue poppies blooming in the frame seemed to shine even more vividly.

After leaving the bouquet at the inn, we headed back to the castle.

Kate: Thank you again for accompanying me today.

Kate: I had already made up my mind, but...

Kate: I feel like it's become even more certain.

(Sad events like what happened to Daisy are still happening in the darkness of this country.)

(Knowing that, I can't truly return to my everyday life.)

If I close my eyes for a moment, the vivid blue poppies I saw earlier bloom behind my eyelids.

Kate: I want to face it with Lord Elbert. The events that happened at that inn...

Kate: And more than anything, I want to share the pain with that person who hates sadness.

Alfons: ...El's desires for you won't all be sublimated as purely as that inn.

(Huh...?)

His pointed remark made me frown involuntarily.

Kate: What does that mean...?

Alfons: The reason El left... was to take care of Jeffrey, who was targeting you.

Kate: Huh...?

Alfons: It seems William found out from the client list he obtained that Jeffrey was the one who ordered your kidnapping.

Alfons: It was his first offense, and only an attempt, so the police won't be able to pursue him.

Alfons: But... you already understand that Elbert won't let him get away with it, right?

(Elbert... Jeffrey...)

(So... that's why he told me not to follow him.)

Kate: ...Why are you telling me this?

Alfons: Because the spot you're standing on right now is a rather heavy crossroads to choose a path without knowing.

Alfons shrugged and laughed, then narrowed his eyes as if testing me.

Alfons: Elbert will surely continue to take the lives of many people.

Alfons: To protect you, to not let you be taken away, to not make you sad.

Alfons: To keep you smiling.

Alfons: To eliminate everything that threatens the happiness of the two of you, and to obtain everything that leads to the happiness of the two of you.

Alfons: There is no bottom to his "greed."

He said this without hesitation, the one who is probably closest to Elbert.

(I think what Alfons says is the undeniable truth...)

He has been greedily desiring "beautiful things" to atone for his sins.

That desire is now probably directed towards "everything" to be happy with me.

Alfons: Can you remain unbroken by El's side as he continues to commit the sin of greed?

Kate: I won't know until that time comes... that's my honest feeling.

Kate: If he intends to do something that would hurt even himself, I might try to stop him.

(I know it's selfish of me to think this way.)

(I know that by wishing for happiness and protecting it, Elbert... that kind person will also get hurt.)

I had probably been thinking about this all along, even before Alfons mentioned it.

Kate: But...

Kate: I'm... happy that Lord Elbert seeks happiness.

Every time Elbert showed his strong attachment to me, I realized how distant and fleeting love and happiness were for him.

So, to be able to respond to that obsession, I feel happy and blessed.

Kate: So...

Alfons: ...So?

Kate: So...even if Lord Elbert were to commit some grave sin in the future...

Kate: I want to accept Lord Elbert, along with that sin...

Kate: I want to love Lord Elbert.

Alfons: ...What a fool you are.

Gray eyes slowly approach.

(Huh...?)

At the moment when a complex and twisted sweet scent wafted strongly - my lips were stolen by Alfons.

.

.

.

.

.

Mad Love Chapter 23

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

[glitchgh0sty]

The artistic fuel is strong with this one TuŤ <3

Pfft- do I have a problem?… nah. The Transformers Mecha Pilot au has simply taken over an average sized portion of my noggin

Now you must excuse me as I go panic over the new Blurr chapter like a tfo adjacent Bumblebee on an sugar high

[iwasbored777]

Wolverine's reaction when Deadpool got Nicepool killed is one of the funniest moments to me. He knew that Deadpool could fuck things up but this was so huge that even Wolverine couldn't believe that just happened

[budd-ie]

“Mu Qing is too logical for his own good” is such a real problem that he deals with and as tragic as it makes his life I also think it’s really funny when someone is accusing him of something and instead of telling them to shut up or leave him alone the first thing he does is pull out the 95 fucking theses detailing every single thing wrong with their argument WITH historical evidence and additional considerations from scholarly psychology articles, MLA format works cited and completely annotated. It could use an editor and some bias correction, but he actually makes a pretty good point. anyways tgcf ace attorney au when

[fisheito]

*DEEP INHALE*

fine. whateever, . any other freaks wanna see an edit of yakumo in maid outfits? here

[stormshot-prime]

PEAK fiction today in Transformers #6

Like WHAT

[isatoru]

ok bro so i don't know how to make this post SDJFHSH and say hi hello i missed everyone without being awkward and facing cricket noises since it's been over a year since i’ve logged in LMFAO and ppl still following r gonna be like ??? but .... ASKDUSDL HELLO!!!!! 🙂‍↕️ to everyone that is still here ... <3

I MISSED YA'LL SM OMG ;---; i hope some of you still remember me so this won’t be too awkward 🙂‍↕️🙏

on that note!!!! i have returned because i have really bad gojo and isagi brainrot since rewatching/rereading jjk + getting into bllk

+ i have so many fics i have completed that i want to post !!! i have been cooking in isolation and after much needed self-growth and love in writing <3 ;v; (gojo, isagi, and nanami ones mostly lmaoo AND ALSO A SUKUNA SERIES I WANT TO POST) AND IDK WHAT TO POST FIRST LOL

also to the mutuals (that remain... <3) please do not be alarmed if u see me in ur notifs reblogging fics for my current faves and yapping in ur tags 🙂‍↔️ like in the next few days LMFAO i have been deprived of reading good fic for soooo long bruh and now im like. I NEED TO READ FOR GOJO AND ISAGI SO BAD…. i missed fic so bad...

would ya'll be chill if i posted writing out of the blue here lmao and changed my username ??... it wouldn't be too awkward ?? 🙂‍↔️ (for the username i will change it in a few days despite my impatience so i give everybody like a chance to get used to me being on their dash so it won't be too alarming LMAOO)

[hoshigray]

To conclude this week's leaks session, if such a fuckass plan was greenlit like this, then I'm not delusional to think that toji can come back for one last final frenzy

[definitelynotshouting]

Can I ask, since you mentioned agreeing 'even if under duress' - how did the Watchers convince Player Grian to join them in hunger au?

So take this with the specific grain of salt that ive never watched Evo directly (but have friends who have ((thank you wren)), so i know tidbits via osmosis from them), but my thought has always been that the riddles the Watchers gave the Evo Players were all tests used to measure cleverness and intelligence-- the whole point of them attempting to copy the mind of a Player into a Watcher larva in the first place was to try and avoid the insanely high infant mortality rate their typical juveniles go through, bc they dont understand their own limits enough to even know they have them yet. So they needed a Player they knew they could instruct and who would listen to them, and, well. Grian, for all he was rebellious and outright defiant of the Watchers, still solved their puzzles and only had to be punished once before he stopped trying to mess with them

What ive always pictured is after the dragon fight the two main elders of the Watcher colony finally revealed themselves to Grian properly-- i have this crystal clear image of the two of them hovering above and next to the central end island, looming over Grian, and like, these guys are big. HUGE. A good 5x bigger than the ender dragon itself, at LEAST. It would be hard not to feel insanely intimidated by that, honestly, especially when there are two of them side by side, blocking your entire view of the End from that direction.

Anyway picture that with the context of these two giant floating winged worms youve never seen before, who have demonstrated their powerful ability to manipulate code in a way you cant.... telling you that they have chosen you to become one of them. Thats an immense amount of pressure, both from flattery and fear, especially considering theyve punished you before for defying them. I like to think even then, Grian balked a bit, and while i dont have exact dialogue beats here, i know the Watchers continued putting that pressure on him (likely while leveraging his friendships too-- like ive always said, if Grian hadnt been chosen, BigB wouldve been, and i can absolutely see the Watchers offering to take him in Grian's stead) until he finally caved and accepted their "offer" of joining them.

Unfortunately, he didnt find out exactly what that entailed until it was far too late.

[opens-up-4-nobody]

...

[tradingjackbs]

Attempted to do a photoshoot for the one and only cosplay I'll probably ever do and. These are the only pictures I got that matter

[jemzstuff]

Thought about how Lupin the Third specials take place in whatever time it was when it was made and if I were to ever justify mentioning canon material but make them into present day. Very not thought out answer is timeline fkry

No I don't know how that would work but maybe the gang stole something that had time traveling powers and somehow the world just shifted. The gang are kinda freaked out but adapt kind of just fine but Zenigata is probably more freaked out than them and harder to adapt because haha old guy or smth

[pendragora]

Our fandom whines about the lack of nuance and critical thinking, but then fails to comprehend the complexity of human emotion when it comes to seeing something you like being ruined or executed poorly

[thatrobotkid]

On this day, 20 years ago, the RJ episodes, “The Yogmans Strike Back” and “Hookie 101”, premiered at 11:00pm, on the 4th night of the new “Fridays”

Fun stuff below! Click “keep reading” to view!

A couple of cels from “Hookie 101”. This is one of four episodes to have had cels sold

(From WorthPoint)

Unsold cel from “Hookie 101”. Looks like an unused cel too

(From Imgur)

I’ve shared this before, but rare “Hookie 101” cel with sketch underneath. Only cel to be sold like so, and check out the camera angle notes too! Even cartoons abide by those rules/angles as well! (Source WorthPoint)

Some “Hookie 101” cels with different layers

(From WorthPoint)

I’ve also shared this here before, but interior drawing of RJ’s house from “Hookie 101”

[yippie-madness]

can my mum please just act like an adult i cant deal with this

[snail-of-fire]

ophelia and ruby constantly steal jane's clothes, they're just so comfy and they do miss her a lot when she's at work for long hours.

yes this is yet another fanart for my OT3, this time i'm on domestic JR poly brainrot so.... here we are. it's sketches cause i got too lazy and tired to do anything else to do it so... sorry? ANYWAYS LOOK AT THEM!!!!!

jane and ruby both belong to the wonderful @lacunafiction

Bonus under the cut:

Jane got home late and fell asleep next to them (not the most comfortable though miss-back-pains 🙄)