#We're able to reach infinity.

[captainkurosolaire]

I've told you this before but you are an inspiration to me to keep going when I'm lost in the darkness. You're apologetically you and I admire that a lot. You're passionate about your projects and I will always be your biggest cheerleader to see you through to the end of Captain's story.

ANONYMOUSLY TELL ME YOUR HONEST OPINION ABOUT ME. I CAN’T REPLY, JUST PUBLISH.

[happilyhertale]

Driving home for Christmas – Modern Daemon Targaryen x fem!reader

Summary: Trapped in a sea of cars and having made no real progress in the traffic jam for hours, Daemon comes up with the idea of sweetening your waiting time.

Pairing: Modern Daemon Targaryen x fem!reader

Warnings: Smut; 18+; NSFW; Fingering; Sex (p in v)

Author’s note: English is my second language, please forgive me if I made any mistakes (:

Word count: 1.3 k

Other stories of mine

12 days of smuff

Looking out of the car window, you see nothing but a sea of vehicles stretching into infinity. A soft sigh escapes your lips; for hours you have been trapped in a maze of traffic, now you are shrouded in darkness amidst an unrelenting snowstorm. The melody from the loudspeakers fills the air, a harmonious barrier against the prevailing silence that otherwise dominates the interior of the car. A sideways glance reveals Daemon, whose thumb is tapping the steering wheel in time with the music. In his other hand he holds his mobile phone, his fingers gliding gracefully over the surface, lost in thought, just like you.

"If you hadn't been working so late, we wouldn't have got stuck in that traffic jam," you say quietly, but you have to smile.

Daemon raises his eyebrow and turns his gaze away from his mobile phone.

"Really?" he asks, "Don't you think we left so late because you hadn't found your perfect outfit by the time I got home?" he asks teasingly. You stick your tongue out at him briefly until your gaze falls on your body and you run your hands over your dress to smooth out the fabric, "It'll be all creased by the time we get there... It's not a sitting dress... and it's tight to boot..." you pout a little. But Daemon smiles without hesitation,

"You'll look perfect," he murmurs and leans over, gently kissing your cheek.

"And besides, I told you not to change until we get there," he adds.

You give him a warning look as he leans back again.

"No-one could have guessed we'd be stuck in a traffic jam for so long," you say petulantly.

"Sure... At Christmas... nobody's travelling," says Daemon with a slight smile on his lips. You stick out your tongue again and let your eyes wander out again – you see cars all around you, covered in snow.

Your attention is drawn back to Daemon as his hand suddenly rests on your thigh. It glides up gently, slips under your dress. You look at him and his eyes are literally bursting with desire.

"You should take your panties off..." he suddenly mumbles, letting his hand slide further upwards in the meantime. Your breath catches in your throat for a moment, "W-Why is that...?" you whisper.

His hand gently reaches for the inside of your thigh and you gasp slightly as he replies, "So that it doesn't crease as well"

He leans over again, gently kissing your neck. Your breath hitches again and you look out of the window. Everything is dark, but still the other cars around you make you nervous.

"Daemon," you gasp as his fingers suddenly reach your panties. His lips gently cup your earlobe until his teeth bite down softly. His fingers glide gently over the fabric, feeling it slowly become damp.

"Daemon... what if... what if someone sees us..." you whisper a little breathlessly. You bite your lip as his fingers increase the pressure.

"It's dark... and we're covered in snow... no one will see..." he whispers in your ear. You feel his warm breath on the back of your neck as you get goose bumps and you whimper slightly.

"... no one can see through our car windows and we certainly won't be able to drive on in time," he murmurs, kissing you again.

"Why don't we sweeten the wait... I'm sure my lap is much more comfortable than your seat... and can make you feel lovelier things..." he whispers.

You bite your lip harder as Daemon starts to pull down your panties.

"Don't underestimate the car seats... they have heated seats..." you try to whisper cheekily, but moan slightly as Daemon's fingers are between your thighs again, slowly gliding along your folds.

Daemon grins, "I think my lap is making you hotter," and with that, his fingers slide inside you. You whimper slightly and turn your head towards Daemon. Your lips collide with his and move in unison. Your arm wraps around his neck and you literally cling to him as Daemon leans back and pulls you towards him. You climb almost elegantly over the gear stick and take a seat on his lap. Your lips meet again and his hands are on your thighs, pushing your dress over your bum. He growls as his fingers slide between your thighs again, feeling your warmth, your wetness. You whimper against his lips as his fingers thrust into you and you sink your hips down. You're both breathing heavily and your fingers start to undo his trousers, enough to get his hot length out.

Gently, you bite his lip as you feel his hardness. Your fingers encircle it and let your hand move up and down. Now his soft moans fill the car interior as he leans his head back slightly. Your nose gently caresses his cheek until your lips find his ear and you begin to nibble on his ear as your hand slides up and down faster. You notice the smell of his aftershave and can't suppress a soft moan. His hard member is already twitching in your hand as you guide it to your entrance.

The tip of his cock slides gently through your folds and is soaked by your wetness. Daemon growls again and you watch his features as his brow furrows slightly. Slowly, you lower yourself onto him and he lifts his head slightly – he can feel your tightness, your warmth. You whimper slightly as you feel the familiar stretch. You lower yourself further and take him completely inside you.

Your bodies work almost automatically in unison as your hips begin their unique rhythm. You grind down on his lap again before he surges forward with a groan to kiss you. Your lips embrace in a messy and wanting kiss. He can't resist – his hands grab your bum, guiding you, moving you up and down faster. The inside of the car is now filled with your whimpering, which ends in a moan. Your pussy begins to clench around his cock and Daemon growls slightly as he feels his cock being massaged. His hand leaves your bum, almost automatically finds your clit and starts to rub it.

"Gods!" you moan loudly and Daemon leans forward, thrusting his hips towards you, working your clit with faster rubs. His lips find your soft skin and he begins to kiss you and nibble lightly on your cleavage. Your hands slide into his hair and you grasp it lightly as the pressure in your abdomen increases. Unable to withstand the pressure, you almost cry out. You breathe heavily and moan even louder as your thighs begin to tremble and you suddenly come. Daemon responds with a loud grunt as your pussy clenches violently around his cock and you come around him, your clenching walls milking the cum from him as he comes with you.

"Fuuuck..." he moans and squirts his seed into you. He holds you tightly, his arms around you as the power of your orgasm takes hold of your trembling body. Daemon thrusts deep inside you a few more times. Each thrust sends a shockwave through your insides and your whimpering continues until your movements slowly slow down and your heavy breathing fills the air as your moans become quieter.

You lean your forehead against his and try to catch your breath. Gentle kisses land on your nose and your lips curl into a soft smile as you press your lips gently against his. You reach for a handkerchief and place it between your legs to stop yourself soaking in his juices. You slowly rise and climb back into your seat. Just as you are sitting back in your seat and Daemon has pulled up his trousers, the cars around you suddenly start to move slowly. Daemon reacts and slowly drives off.

"Waiting time sweetened..." he mumbles with a smile.

"I guess I'll have to change after all..." you say, pulling the soaked handkerchief from between your thighs.

"I told you," Daemon mumbles and you give him a light punch on the arm.

@hoshi-miharu-blog @arryn-nyx @aemonds-eyeball @praline357 @melsunshine @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed @lauftivy @valeskafics @dreamlandcreations @hopelesswritergall @wetbitchlibrary @bl4ckph0enix @autumnhymns @fan-goddess @msmorningstaarr @aemondsbabe

[thisismeracing]

King of my heart | MS47 | part. 13

Pairing: mick schumacher x hamilton!reader (she/her)

Warnings: curse words, twitter environment, mention of food, not proofread etc, etc. Minors DNI!

summary: The media is getting enough content to make Yn decide to take a step back from social media and everything that can further expose her personal life. Besides that, she has to deal with ghosts from the past and the curious gazes of fans who start to connect the dots when enough data is gathered.

a/n: none of the pictures used are mine, they are all from Pinterest and other apps. everything else is made up by me and I do not give permission for it to be published on a different platform. I would appreciate it if those things could be taken into consideration 💛

a/n2: I tried some new tolls on this chapter (gossip websites and other social media profiles), so please let me know if you guys like it or if it was better the way I was doing it before.

a/n3: The angsty season is about to begin, so get ready!!! I have the next chapter almost ready, so we're gonna try something new: as soon as this chapter hits 100 notes I'm posting the new one.

ALSO, I'm really thankful for all the likes, reblogs, and comments on Komh, it means a lot and it motivates me to keep writing. Thank you, guys! *mwah* 💖💗

part. 12 | series masterlist | part. 14 | taglist

theofficialyn

liked by zendaya, lewishamilton, and others

theofficialyn recharging the energies with the fam 🤍

view all 4,496 comments

hammertim3 Forever thankful to you for feeding us some wholesome Lewis content 🙏🏾

mickshoemaker not to start drama or anything, but the first picture…and the sixth…am I the only one seeing Mick’s hands?

⤷ parisyn you guys are reaching, this is getting out of hand. just top

lewishamilton I love you to infinity, bitsy 🖤

swiftieeras Yn wearing skinny jeans is something else 😍

summerseasonf1 It’s so good to see them happy

roscoelovescoco I love’s spending’s time’s with you’s, aunties Yns 🧡🧡

user1999 why are the polaroids face down in the fourth pic?

⤷ mickceded because it's none of our business. y’all too curious

.📧

theofficialyn

liked by charles_leclerc, normani, and others

theofficialyn All tested and perfectly ready for the collection's launch on August. For more info visit ynthebrand.com

view all 5,204 comments

user0 These heels look lowkey ugly, and let's not even get on the unsafe portion

lewishamilton so proud of you ❤️

queenyn I loved how she went full mode on the colours, there are just enough options and they are all so pretty aaaaa

francisca.cgomes I am so ready for those boots to come out!!!! Loving everything, Yn 😍

⤷ hammermilton all the wags supporting Yn, brb I'm gonna cry

hater12 those green heels are horrendous 🤢🤢

user45 those are regular shoes, nothing much about them...I don't see why everyone praises Yn, honestly

user1 overrated.

huser99 🤮🤮🤮🤮

leferrariclerc We rarely get mickyn interactions anymore and I blame it on the lack of limits from some of you on the fandom 😭

⤷ schumini he doesn't even like her stuff anymore 💔

username3 Those all jeans outfit lmao you guys call it style? she dress as bad as lewis 🤡🤣

ynfrance whats up with all the hate?????????? Yn deserves better!

⤷ swiftieracing I think the haters finally were able to catch up with the news that she's lewis sister and so she got his fans but his haters as well.

⤷ verstopping I honestly don't understand why people hate on Lewis, much less on Yn now

taglist: @sachaa-ff @ferrariloverr @kenanlotus0 @mickslover @mellowpizzapuppy @dalsuwaha @formulakay3 @mishaandthebrits @iloveyou3000morgan @crimeshowjunkie

DRAMA IS ABOUT TO BEGIN AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Get ready for some angsty chapters <3

I have the next one almost ready, so we're gonna try something new: as soon as this chapter hits 100 notes I'm posting the new one. Let's do this, I'm excited (but also kinda insecure) about the next one, fingers crossed you guys will like it 😘.

[rei-ismyname]

SENTINELS #3 From The Ashes Review

For those of you who haven't been reading the series, the basic premise is that Chuck resurrected Larry Trask (son of Bolivar, inventor of the first sentinels) on Krakoa. His mutant gift is limited but very accurate precognition, he only sees days at most into the future but he doesn't know how to control his powers properly. After Krakoa fell, he returned to running Trask Industries and won a contract with Graymalkin prison. Alex Paknadel is writing the series after an excellent run on Infinity Comics.

There's Larry and his four 'sentinels.' Also Magneto, somehow.

Having ostensibly learnt his lesson from most of his family dying from the robots they created, he's running a paramilitary outfit with traumatized veterans and nanotechnology grafts, power armor, and augments. These are the Sentinels, and the tech requires all kinds of mood stabilisers, surgery, and psychiatric care - these people are hallucinating and having psychotic breaks all the time. His stated motivation is to prevent wars between mutants and humans, using his precognition to identify the most dangerous ones. So far they've captured Omega Red and Sebastian Shaw, but everyone involved is a mess - personally, mentally, professionally, financially. Sentinels is set in Post-Krakoa America (mostly) but it is not an X-Men book. It's not even a hero book. It's paramilitary horror with transhumanist themes. Larry believes he's protecting mutants and humans but he has constant flopsweat and is clearly out of his depth.

The Krakoa continuity is excellent

Issue #3 begins in media res, with Warden Ellis interviewing Drumfire about their most recent mission - capturing Fabian Cortez. Drumfire clearly has about as much respect for Ellis as I do, which is a nice touch. We're meant to try to sympathise with these sentinels, and showing tension with someone we know to be awful helps. The fuckhead doesn't even get her name right. The chain of command is a little confusing, but I don't remember the first two issues that well. The important takeaway is that while these people work together, there's tension and dehumanisation there. Ellis doesn't treat anyone with respect, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The fireteam boots down the door Cortez is behind only to find that he's healing a child. Cortez sucks, but he did experience some growth on Krakoa. That he's doing this altruistically isn't completely out of the question. So immediately their mission becomes complicated. A civilian's present, and Cortez isn't doing anything wrong.

This throws the team off so they run it up the line to Trask. He makes the (probably correct) assumption that Cortez' healing abilities were amped up through resurrection. He certainly died enough. Larry tells them to bring him in but Lockstep, the field leader, insists it's his call. Before he can make that decision a civilian grabs him, affording Cortez the opportunity to flee. He did want to abort, but the point is moot.

Ellis pressed Drumfire on her mood stabiliser usage and she lies that they'd been helping with her hallucinations. She refuses to discuss them, though Onslaught (who she's been hallucinating) is obviously not receptive to being stabilised. Lockstep/Hansen's tech/mind fizzes out and comms stop working so the team is on their own. They finally catch up to Cortez but he's face down in the dirt. Possibly dead. They didn't do it, though that they have to ask says a lot.

What's left of the fireteam runs into the last person a mutant hunter wants to see - Magneto. This clearly takes place after X-Men #3, as Ellis has intelligence on Magneto's medical woes, but for all we know it takes place after Raid on Graymalkin. It doesn't seem like how Magneto would act these days, or is able to act, but there he is. He's blocking bullets and throwing metal around, though he's less dramatic than I'd expect. I'm not going to speculate on whether it's actually him - the characters don't reach consensus and that's by design.

One of the difficulties with this book is telling the identically-dressed soldiers with similar names apart, not helped by personnel turnover. It's not Drumfire, so I just have to accept what I'm shown. It's most likely Voivod hulking out and attacking Mags - he's the most heavily augmented and as we'll see has some other secrets in that body. There are clearly mysteries afoot, so I assume it'll be revealed in time. However, these are our protagonists. There's something to be said for the interchangeability of their personhood, which just adds to the feeling of confusion and terror.

Mags, the scamp, drops a classic EMP blast - not a good time to be a cyborg. He not only gets away but takes Cortez with him. The team are in shambles, with Voivod speaking in binary and others unable to move. Ellis expresses surprise that they survived, but not concern.

The team is suspended with pay while they're being investigated, and Ellis still calls Drumfire the wrong name. She's surely taking notes or recording the interview, plus she'd have their records, so it's probably on purpose. We already know she sucks, but this scene does a lot for Drumfire. She's clearly miserable in a wretched work environment and nobody cares. I have no respect for the US military or sentinels, but I have sympathy for this broken person who's suffering with no support system. The hiring practices are clearly predatory, seeking traumatized people out and withholding medication unless they do as they're told.

Drumfire isn't cartoonishly evil like most mutant hunters have been portrayed, and considering the mutants they're hunting she probably thinks it's ethical. Everyone has been made to feel like they don't matter before though, and being dehumanised and dismissed by those who should be looking out for you is relatable (at least it is to me.) I'm invested.

Looks a lil bit like Scurvy?

We don't have full context for what Voivod and Trask are discussing, but Larry is clearly in over his head. He confesses his problems to someone he's supposed to be in a position of power over, but Voivod spits bile at him. He's clearly not happy as a guinea pig for whatever medical horror Trask is up to, and Larry feebly tries to regain the power by beating someone who can't fight back. His anxiety is palpable but his declaration of righteousness and good intent feels hollow. This is a man on the edge and he's taking these poor fucks down with him. They do seem to know each other well enough, I wonder if it's someone we know.

Yeah Trask has no power here. He's cracking up and hiding it poorly with pressure coming from every direction. Maybe he can take solace from Havok still wearing the weird gimp suit he designed in 1967. Sawtooth catches the end of the conversation plus Larry's appearance and makes that face up there - 'we're so fucked!'

The C plot involves Lockstep's son confiding in him that his mother has unmanageable Mafia Maggia debt. He resolves to do something about it and perhaps to snatch what little control and self respect he can from his trainwreck of a life. He gives the gangsters everything he has on his (ex?) wife's behalf, but they try to squeeze him further and push him around. It only takes up 3 pages but it's an effective development in line with what we've seen of him so far.

The issue ends with him using his augmentation/nanotechnology fuckery to kill them all. It's not presented as heroic or a good decision, rather the act of a desperate man at the end of his tether with only bad decisions available. He definitely enjoys it, though. It's easy to see how someone fluent in violence with abilities beyond regular humans might respond when pushed into a corner - after all, the military industrial complex is built on devaluing certain lives. Enemies, acceptable targets, guinea pig soldiers, mutants. It'd be dishonest to tell a story about it without going there, so it's both a grim character beat and a further exploration of the book's themes. Can you really do state violence 9-5 and be a good person? Can you even keep the violence to work hours? Nope, and the honesty is refreshing.

Marvel has been very pro-military and police for its entire publication history - less so in the X-books, but it's still absolutely there. It's a bold direction to take and a new kind of X-story. Sentinels is definitely focused on these things, but ultimately it's about people - as all good stories must be. I recommend it and feel confident in saying it's in the top tier of From The Ashes books right next to Exceptional X-Men.

[sokkas-secret-tunnel]

Atlantis is Beautiful in Ruins

Kaldur!Aqualad! x Demigod!Villain!Reader

MINORS DNI, 18+ ONLY Word Count: 560 Warnings: No warnings

"Oh, Kaldur! I'm bored! Come play with me!" You called as you dived into the water. The water always felt refreshing against your gills, especially after Robin threw his explosive Batarang you. The water healed you and made you more powerful.

"I won't let you get away!" Kaldur dived in after you, leaving his team to deal with yours. Kaldur was Atlantean meaning he was incredibly fast in the water, but not as fast as you. Kaldur started using his light-up tattoos to try and find you. "You can't hide."

You snuck up behind him in the murky water, "Sure I can," you whispered in his ear before swimming away.

"I will find you," Kaldur started swimming in the opposite direction from where you were.

"I hope you do!" You called while swimming in front of him. You were so fast that all Kaldur was able to see was a blur before you disappeared again. "I have a surprise for you, that is if you can find me."

"I will find you, and you and Ocean Master will pay for your crimes against Atlantis!" Kaldur kept his head on a swivel, trying to catch a glimpse of your movement.

"You always say that, but as soon as we're alone you let me go," You snuck up behind him again wrapped him in a hug, and kissed his cheek. "I think you're a big softie who actually likes play fighting with me."

Kaldur spun in your arms to face you, "Maybe I do." A few chaste kisses were shared between you two before Kaldur pulled away. "I assume you have your escape route planned."

"I'm always prepared," your hand starts to fidget with the strap that holds his water-bearers. "How much time do we have left?"

"I think my team is better than yours." Kaldur wore an uncharacteristic smirk.

"And why's that?" You pout.

"They've been waiting on me for the last five minutes." Kaldur pulls you closer for one last kiss, "Stay safe."

"You too." You say as you watch Kaldur swim to the surface and rendezvoused with his team.

You made your way out of the murky river easy enough, it was only a mile from your location to the open ocean. River water was fine, but ocean water is where you thrived. Once you hit the sea you swam to Infinity Island to meet with your mentors, Ocean Master, and the rest of The Light. You met Ocean Master and Ra's al Ghul when you reached the shore.

"The young heroes captured the rest of the squadron, where they'll be transported to Belle Reve, as you requested." You knelt in front of The Demon's Head, "I await further orders."

"You have done well, I'm pleased with your work." That was a high compliment from Ra's al Ghul.

"I assured you of their capabilities, did I not?" Ocean Master wadded into the sea. "Ra's has another mission for you, do me proud." With that, Ocean Master swam away to play house with his unsuspecting brother.

"How was young Kaldur'ahm?" Ra's asked nonchalantly like he was asking about the ocean temperature.

Feigning ignorance was futile, "He was fine," answering honestly was the best option.

"Not even attempting to lie?" Ra's smiled a little, "You have learned well. Stand." as you stood, Ra's turned inland. "Your next assignment is Santa Prisca."

[helloescapist]

Hi! I have a question with your 'within reach' fic. If you we're going to write a sequel to it anytime soon... Will the sibling remember who they are? And I assume they got amnesia or the demon attack was so traumatic, they just sort of forgot. So does that mean if they will ever remember, they will also recall the traumatizing experience. I think Shinobu will not like that and will probably will just keep a close eye on them but not tell hem they're related. But if they do remember, how will it affect Shinobu? Will she still go with her infinity castle plan? Sorry for many questions. I'm just intrigued with the premise.

Hi anon!

The Within Reach was such a wonderful ask, wasn't it? So grateful to the original Requester! When I write, I typically write a profile so to speak, but I also like to leave as many details to interpretation as I can. I love readers being able to just escape from reality, if only for a little bit, and even carry it with them as they go through the mundane aspects of life-- like continuing the story line while they do the dishes or something. To hear I left you with so many questions makes my heart so happy, and that you want to hear more. 🥰

Within Reach, Fleeting| Shinobu Kocho

Word Count: 4337

Setting: Shinobu Kocho x gn!reader (sibling fic!/reader is a lost Kocho Sibling/Sound Hashira’s tsuguko).

Content Warning(s): spoilers pertaining to the Infinity Castle Arc and Shinobu’s background. Mentions of blood/gore, loss, death, hurt, eventual comfort.

Summary: death follows battle, shattered amongst the inner sanctum of the Infinity Castle. Corpses discarded to the death, the faint scent of lotus flowers that give way to the chill of the air, the fleeting scent of wisteria out of reach. Slipped through your fingers as your conscious begins to fade. The weight of forgotten memories brought to life, anchored to your soul, dragging you beneath the depths, and threatening to drown you in the past.

A/N: the reader of this series utilizes the breath of Hogaku (folksong). The concept is continued in the sequel, and it felt fitting to utilize the well known children's song Chouchou for this pieces. For more information on this children's song, and it's translation, visit here. Read Within Reach.

Iron seared your nostrils, rattled your bones and racked upon the curve of your spine. Suffocated your throat, choked upon sobs that threatened to spill from your soul. Marred flesh. Scoured its rage, flayed the mid-section of your neck, rattled the throat bones and threatened their structure. The knot of your free hand pressed into the fine lines, the flesh of your knuckles whitening as the sweat creased your brows. Each breath strangled and mangled sickening clots that formed in the middle section of your throat. Gagged and strained, the rattle of your shoulder bones as they met your ribs, the tremble of your blade numbly clutched between creased fingers stiff as the grave that threatened to claim you. The quiver of your knees beneath a tattered uniform. Liesons littered across the black motif, the reminiscence of the slayer motif. Shards of ice snagged upon the unraveled fabric. Luminescent in the unfamiliar light flickered in hues of crimson and mulled wine purples of bruising flesh. Shallow breathing rumbled in your torso, eliciting a sickening crunch of bones that danced amongst the inner sancta. The delicate floral scent that met the splatter of your blood across the Japanese cypress; its once proud symbolism tarnished as the blood that stained its grain. Crumbled beneath the weight of your knee as it folded despite the will that clung to your features. The tremble of your dagger clattered amongst the floor as your nails began to cling to your neck.  The sickening scent of floral carried upon the blades of ice that poisoned the air, littered the ponds and marred the petals of lotus. Discarded bones that hummed of century horrors, disciples discarded and mangled. Mere corpses left for display and satisfaction. Lavish pillows delighted of a monster danced upon false deliverance. Blood that claimed the waters and disbursed amongst the disruption of the stillness of the haunting chill that crept upon the pillars. Snuck across the desolation, trembled over ice and blood. Maneuvered across intricate pillars and mocked upon the stained holiness of a depraved deity shattered to the winds. Taunted the hire being that savored disparity and offered synthetic deliverance. Pillaged forgotten corpses in favor of tracing along the outline of your petite figure threatened to collapse. The husk of winter that quivered along your spine, settled at your shoulders, and curled its deafening fingers along the contours of your neck. The ghost of its touch landing upon the lining of your jaw. The scourge of your throat, mangled and spattering blood between clenched teeth as your eyes fought to trace upon the shattered porcelain skin, trembled at the blood that danced upon the butterfly pin. The edge of the tsuguko’s hair mangled and dripped upon sweat, and the clip of blood-stained irises that drowned amongst the wave of purple robbed of innocence, of home, and abandoned amongst the pillage of Doma’s domain. Chouchou chouchou.  The ache of your heart as her hand reached for your own, your body unwilling. Despondent, and refusing your whims. The shake of her eyes, the tears that traced along the scratches across her cheeks, the strain of her lips that threatened remorse choked upon blood as your paled form met the cypress and plunged into darkness.

Drowned amongst the depths of a void that called upon your features. Robbed of light, numb as the night. Echoed of shadows, of robbed childhood memories. The touch of your mother’s face once bright and delighted as the smile that met the smallest of achievements of your child, overlapped amongst the blood rattled upon her bones. Her plum eyes, horrified and clutched to your form, a haunting memory forced from your conscious summoned by the sickening crunch of the Insect Pillar’s spine beneath the clutch of the Second Moon’s desires. The rattle of his smile savoring the ache of your features as your subconscious had clutched upon your consciousness. Recollections of warmth, a home decorated in laughter and touched upon the love of parents. Fiercely protected by a mother and father until their bitter end.  The smug delight of Doma’s purr warmed by the familiar physical resemblances between Lady Kocho, and yourself. The horror that marked upon her face, the fear reflected in her plum eyes as the caught upon your own, the form of her sorrow touched upon her lips, “Run.” Na no ha ni tomare. The laughter of matcha tea in the early mornings, and the sputter of recent rumors amongst the grocer, your father’s chuckles delighted by the antics of your mother’s return from her shopping. The small hum of a smile that touched upon your eldest sister’s lips warm and affectionate as Shinobu’s plum eyes met the height of her brow, having been drained from assisting the matriarch upon her daily trip to the grocer. Mumbled of idle chatter, insistent disruption, and greeted all those she could, as annoyed at the small hands that met the ends of her kimono. Your fingers tugging excitedly upon the frays of her inner linings to her dismay as you chortled on and on, shaking the meticulously placed strands from her bun over the insistence if she had snagged you a dumpling from the food stall. How quickly she snapped in those days, agitated and worn out, and threatened to swing upon you. The tears that formed upon your face as the youngest, seeking refuge from your elder sister, and how easily she would offer consoling, and the gentlest of scoldings. The puff of Shinobu’s cheeks indignant to your prodding, and the ruffle of Kanae’s long graceful fingers through the depths of your brow, coiled through raven hair that met fuchsia strands. Lighthearted recollections, of childhood laughter, and familiar songs burned upon the overlap of your mother’s plum eyes void of life, the shatter of blood that met the highs of her cheeks. The clamor of her skin beneath your small pudgy fingers that touched upon the met of Shinobu’s features claimed as your mother. The depths of wisteria that stained your flesh, left your eyes heavy and burdened with tears.

              Your heart called upon the souls of the lost, alone, and lost in this hopeless land. Free of physical anguish, the flecks of iron that left your features as the chill a distant memory of life. Of battles and daggers, practically nonexistent amongst the folds of the depths, the tremble of your lips as your small hands met your large eyes. Caught upon tears, the loss of blood now replaced by choking amongst your sorrows. Ravaged by the loss, the break of your voice returned in the dark free of the vengeful would, a slash that threatened to wretch your trachea forms your being, falling just short of your larynx. Possessed upon the target of your throat, far too quick to have caught on to the methods of your breathing technique dissipated to the void. Na no ha ni aitara. Realized in the clutch of your gritted teeth and the tears that rolled from your cheeks, the dry rasp of a sob, “A-ane.”

              “Aren’t you a little old for this?” The fond exasperation painted upon her tone, tucked a hidden smile as her plum eyes traced your form, the pucker of her cheek. Her gaze jerked away feigning disinterest as your eyes widened at the sight of her. Warm, and welcoming despite the gloom that echoed amongst the environments.

The joy that threatened to touch upon your heart as delicate fingers met soothingly at your scalp. Tender in their regard, working distant familiar etchings through your hair with the faintest of a giggle that echoed upon your heart. The faint touch of sunshine that touched your soul, tender and encouragingly as the words met your ears with harmonious reminiscent. “How you’ve grown,” affectionate captivated in her eyes and threaded through her words. Sakura ni tomare. Large lavender eyes that creased through thick eyelashes, the faint scent of cherry blossoms weaved through luscious long hair, breathtaking in her gentle embrace. Kanae’s love untouched by the grave, warm and tender as the day you had lost her. Unbothered by the indignant snort offered by Shinobu as her tugging lips betrayed her ploy annoyance. “You’ve done so well.”

“Looks like a sniveling brat to me,” Shinobu teased. Her voice, snuggly and familiar. Unlike that fateful day in which you had witnessed the shatter of the Insect Pillar’s mask. The tuck of disinterest and forced softness absolved in the small giggle of her throat as she gently elbowed you. Her antics so distant and yet close as though you had stepped through time.

  To a humble home with noisy neighbors, warm bedding, and the scent of tilled garden soil. The years between nonexistent in the closeness of siblings now, and yet despite the security of the moment, it all felt fleeting.  Slipped between your fingers as Kanae wiped the tears from your eyes. Whispered kindnesses, and praises, and underlining goodbyes despite your protests. The ache of your breast as she parted her fingers from your touch, your elder sister’s smile soothing regardless of the distance or the pain its presence elicited in your bones. “Death has not come for you today, little one. There is someone who needs you.” Sakura no hana no hana kara Hanae. The steps of her zorii echoed upon the stillness of the darkness, each step threatening to suffocate you before she paused, beckoning Shinobu to her side with the faintest of pride evident.

“Right,” a mumbled fallen into silence. Your tears soothed into place though threatened to rekindle; the plat of a hand slapped into your skull. Harder than intended, the fold of nails that racked your scalp. Attempted pacifying fallen short and awkward. Her gaze caught over her shoulder, affectionate and trembled as a genuine smile touched upon her lips. Lit of her face, and revealed her years, the youth that had been robbed form her and the life she was to live. The weight of responsibilities left in her care, abandoned ached into her features and yet, she felt light. The smile caught upon her lips, curled and warm. Knowing, and secure, accepting death that awaited. Eighteen, and lost to the night and yet, hope that kindled in the heat of her gaze. “Take care of them for me…” The shake of her hand pressed from your brow, caught upon your cheek and smiled, landing upon your shoulder. A stern glimpse before a small laugh danced upon her features. Her hands danced upon a fragment of metal between your fingers. Your eyes dropped, traced upon the butterfly clip clasped between your fingers.  Echoed your heart and rang through your bones as her hand pushed you backwards. Forced your form through the dark back into the light, “see you soon.”

Tomareyo asobe.

Light filtered through the window blinds, sheer sheets echoed through the wind and caught upon the breeze that crept through the cracks in the window. Greeted the morning sky the warmth of blue, envied visons of gentle yellows that welcomed the faintest shades of forget-me-nots that touched upon the clouds that pillowed through the morning sky. The rattling of charms amongst the breeze drowned out by the agitated shaking of buzzing, the small frame of a kappa alarm vibrated through the nightstand. Ached against the wood grain breaking the silence of slumber and eliciting the ruffle of bedding. The fold of white sheets touched and rustled as your hand emerged from the sheets tapped into the alarm. Fallen half hazard, lazily and without precision. The slumber is still marked upon your features and unable to make sense of your surroundings. The crack of the bedroom door, rumbled, the doorknob shook in a tight grip at the snarl that met your ears, “Get up!” Hallowed and annoyed. The knot of her temple began to throb, visible by the neatly folded hair that had been meticulously styled into her favorite butterfly clip. Your older sister’s plum eyes tracing your unresponsive form, unbothered to hide her frustration at your lack of dress, “We’re LATE.”

              “Get ooout,” your yawned. The touch of your bed head sticking up odd ends, unable to manage a better comeback as her fist clutched your doorknob, and her teeth gritted with annoyance at the plushie that flung through the air. Split the otherwise pause of the morning, intended to shoo her nagging from your doorstep. Drawn upon the opposite. Her school uniform tucked and maneuvered indignantly over your bedding. The realization of her rage encroaching having sobered you from your sleep, the flip of your form off the bedding in a scurry to be free of the tangle of sheets as you slipped across the wood floor narrowly dodging her swings. The fling of her skirt, careless as she pursued you through the hallway. The pound of your socks against the home’s wood floors. Tracked throughout the home, landing through the stairs as you stumbled to safety, desperately slipping through to the kitchen as your sister dodged attempted interventions, thrown decor in your panic and leaped over the furniture. Her annoyance coming to a head to discover your successful emersion into the kitchen. Tucked into the skirts of your elder sister’s school uniform. Her long black hair temporarily folded over her back, the apron secures at her hips and the met of your hands upon her waste as you peeked over at your opponent. The touch of a knowing grin, and tongue peeked through lips daring her to take another step.

              The warmth of the moment, and the greeting of fried eggs that touched upon the giggles that greeted your elder sister’s laughter. The touch of a spatula caught between her long, graceful fingers as the other dotingly caught in the ends of your disheveled bedhead. Her lavender eyes delighted in the warmth of a nosy breakfast with squabbling siblings in a life full of peace, knowing all too well the threatening flick of Shinobu’s wrist. Intending you as her target, familiar to the light, and devoid of the nightmares of the past. Bathed in the laughter of siblings, and squabbles of petty natures, hers to claim, and hers to delight in as the touch of your arm around her waste leaned into your touch.

Asobeyo tomare.

Within Reach, Fleeting Headcanons

I intended for the reader of Within Reach to have been 3 or 4 years of age when the tragic experience happened as the memories for this area tend to be fuzzy, yet still obtainable for some. I went for a sort of Rapunzel like the Disney version where she realizes she is the lost princess, to reflect on the reader. Their breathing style utilizing folksong from their native region, a butterfly motif on the hilt of their dagger and even their final form, Fifth Form: Chouchou.

The memories were there, painted in small touches upon your person. The natural way your eyes followed the Insect Pillar during training. The way you could not help the way you found her in the crowd, and the way you felt an undeniable ache within your breast. Practically suffocated by an unfamiliar draw.

Little butterfly motifs that decorated the hilt of your blade, your violet eyes snagged upon the emblem as your fingers traced it. It had been selected on a whim; you had told yourself. Convinced yourself that your natural attraction to the design was coincidence.

Yet, when she had tended to your scraps following your sparing match with Muichiro, her eyes had not left your features. Practically etching every line into memory, why you could not place, nor could you comprehend the way a smile had met her lips when she had found the scar on your cheek. As though it was familiar and… safe?

You were familiar with the overall appeal of the Insect Pillar; Shinobu was nothing if not cordial amongst the ranks. Though whispers that her smile would tug with a combatant patient, a past of aggression frequented the Butterfly Mansion, but though there had been so much affection with the way that others presented her.

And yet, there was a knot in your stomach when you met face to face with her smile. As though tugged the edges on your cheeks, forced and strained. Miserable façade of kindness, of softness that portrayed the motions rather than sincerity a smile should present. You did have the basis for this opinion that had formed, but still it had formed.

As uncomfortable as a knot in your stomach as she conducted her performance. Snagged at the brow of her delicate features. As though she was conducting some inner battle that you could not comprehend, and that moment had haunted you.

As the nightmares in the night. The ache of fear, deep into your being. The depths of night struggled to combat a figment of the mind, a demon you had not met in this life combatted and determined to rob you of your security. The scream of a woman, the life faded from her features. The shatter of her voice, the crackle that left her bones and shook you from your slumber. Bathed in sweat, and nails that roamed your scalp. Always grappling with a figment of a past you had not understood.

A past that haunted you and followed you amongst the waking hours. The faint ghost of the Insect Pillar’s influence not far from reach. Always within grasp, kakushi under her care pushed to care for your wounds immediately. Mizunoto determined to follow where you lead—in fear of the oddly kind threat the medic had uttered in the shadows. Her positioning attempted to combat any potential hazards to your life.

Initially, Uzui attempted to ignore her intrusion. The unhanded tactics entertaining for the retired shinobi. Adorable really, he had found the entire ploy mere child’s play. In part, Shinobu had been aware how delicately she had dared to cross into another Hashira’s business, and for the most part, she often found herself unable to combat the intrusive impulse. Daring to stray into his borders without reason or thought--- burned herself through the late hours, her crow not having reported your return to the Sound Pilla compelled her to wandering to the region you had trailed off onto in a recent mission.

Intercepted by the Sound Pillar himself, his knowing smile cocked to his head. Oh, he had noticed long before that something had been off with the poison-wielder. Time from time, he would intentionally probe her if only to chase a minor high of lethal dosage, but it was not until it became increasingly a threat to your progress. An overtly protective sister far too willing to deny the corps code, and interject herself into your missions. From a protective stance, he had allowed it, entertained how adorable it had been that she had attempted to stray under his radar. Creative, she had conducted a number of unique approaches to dodging his presence, but experience had triumphed over novice.

Shinobu had done her best to quip a smile upon being discovered; she wasn’t a fool. The Insect pillar had accepted that it was only a matter of time before she had forced Uzui’s hand. His silence having been little more than a temporary allowance to  meddle born of entertainment for the shinobi, but upon the approach of drawing the demonic forces out, she had tread too far.

Doubted the retiree Hashira’s devotion to the corps, and questioned his intentions with his own tsuguko, threatened the code that had bound the both of them to service. He had known, for how long Kocho could not determine, but the weight had been carried in his words alone. Just as her voice had met his beneath the moonlight. The weight of her plum eyes was fierce, and yet, at peace with her decisions. Underlined secrets in her speech that the Sound Pillar could not ignore. The resignation of the older man’s decisions, and the quiet of her voice.

“I leave them in your care.”

The weight was more than he could bear, and yet, Uzui did not push. Nor did he dare. The painful smile that met her departure. Mournful of a past he did not wish to revisit, her resolve leading to far heavier implications.

Kocho had become aware that the Sound Pillar had intended for you to undertake his duties, his title, and his claim. More so, when you had offered your participation into the Infinity Castle, Uzui had praised your willingness, and felt assured that you would survive which was what had sent her into guard.

 Her intrusion into your missions had become less noted, a silent agreement that the Sound Pillar would send word should you find yourself in a dangerous situation. Their communication was more amicable, if not built on the quite understanding that Uzui would not disclose, and Kocho would not press.

Neither coming forth with the information, Uzui was content to allow Kocho to manage her private affairs as she saw fit and shield you from the past. Ushered the burden, and dutifully confined herself to burying the secret in the vials of congested wisteria poison. An oath to protect her younger sibling was carried to the grave if only to give you a normal life.

Kocho greeting death had not been the easiest for her—she was terrified upon realizing that you had entered Doma’s domain. The sight of Kanao, and you left to the Second Moon’s wrath was nothing that she had anticipated and filled her with dread. She prayed from the parrels between life and death that you could hold out as she had instructed her tsuguko.

And upon seeing you in the inbetween—hear heart ached at the joy that hearing you whisper for her brought her.

You remembered her.

You had lived.

Kanae as the older sister often takes the biggest route and role in caring for you and Shinobu. Her tendencies to care for you remain steadfast. She has taken an active role in both of your lives, and I believe carried her past life into her present.  I think she’s in touch with herself enough that she would always remember.

With Shinobu coming in at a dependent terms--- likely something that threatened your safety such as a school bully in your youth would awaken her past life. Her protective streak over you will only increase.

As will her teasing. I mean, it’s an older sister’s duty, and she will not hesitate to continue.

But following the retrieval of her past memories, her tongue and actions will be that much more lethal to those who dare tread into your safety and threaten her peace.

She has been known to make school bully cries, and chase them through the neighborhood and slam them into the ground, attempting to wail on them until Kanae intervenes.

As an older sister in the modern era, Shinobu picks up little treats from time to time, but she will never admit that they are from her. She’d rather you think your parents picked it up, or that Kanae happened upon the trinket.

She is for the most part, quite. It’s not that she is not involved in your life, or indifferent to your interests. It’s that she enjoys her own anatomy, and her space. More so, she is known to become agitated if you interfere with her day to day. She expects respect, and the space between the two of you. She feels that there is an unspoken amount of trust between the two of you, but at the same time, she has little tolerance for disruptive behavior to her schedule. If you share a room, learn to clean after yourself because you can expect a number of spats that potentially turn physical between the two of you. As siblings often do.

Most of her responses are fairly direct and to the point, as they always are.

Things like expressing you’ll take the last pudding will be met with a simple, “Mmhmm.”

Inner jokes will become common place, especially when dealing with noisy neighbors, or extended family. Giggles over these shared inside jokes will be a regular part of your interactions, and a rare moment of peace between the two of you. Because truthfully, you are siblings, and especially when you are younger you will experience back and forth more, but as you grow older there will be such a strong foundation of love and respect between the two of you, no one would ever guess you used to butt heads regularly.

As for Kanae, she is dutiful. With busy parents, she takes an active role in caring for the two of you. She’s happy to act as a peace keeper, and provide breaks as necessary. That’s not to say from time to time she’s not drained--- she definitely is, but thankfully Shinobu is capable of detecting when these moments are taking place and will take you to the park, for ice cream, or small little bonding excursions to give your elder sister time to herself.

She has the enact ability to determine the exact moment that things have taken a turn, and can often act as an intervention as necessary--- really, she’s going to have to learn to allow the two of you to have your spats. It’s necessary for all of you. She has to learn that she does not have to be “mom” and allow you two to learn to navigate your interactions.

She’s so committed though, and she has such an open affection for the both of you that she often packs your lunches. Pleased to give as much to your bentos as she can. Cute little octopus sausages, flower cut grapes, she is committed to spending the time to make sure that it is enjoyable and nutritious, and yet, somehow ohagi has still snuck its way into your lunchbox. Shinobu. She goes out of her way to track your school calendar, and makes the extra care to show up to every event even the smallest of plays.

Shinobu thinks you make the dumbest duck in a play she has ever seen. Not that she saw it.

Kanae happily waits by the school gate, eager to pick you up in your mother’s place. Your grin as you greet her only brightened by the sight of Shinobu tucked behind her. The small touch of a blush on the tip of her ear as you vibrate with joy, your hand finding the both of theirs as you stroll home.

[characteranalysiscentral]

Inside the mind of a genius; an analysis of Inanimate Insanity's Test Tube

Abstract:

Test Tube, the resident brainiac of her seasons. Immediately showing up and showing off in her first episode of season 2, this scientist is much more than meets the eye - with the creation of Bot to her infamous line “everyone sees me as a brainiac, but it looks like I still have a lot to learn,” Test Tube could very well be one of the most dynamic characters of Inanimate Insanity!

Who is this character?

At her core, Test Tube is a scientist. She devotes everything to her field, and has been constantly shown to mix science with real-world situations, giving her the title of ‘The Nerd.’ Her first interaction with anyone on-screen was a sentence only the stereotypical scientist character can say: “Well, this seems rather peculiar. I’ve never been on a competition before!” (S2E1: Breaking The Ice). The very next time she speaks, it's to share a definition of ‘ice breakers’ - “Guys, ice breakers is a relative term for a way of bonding for two people that have never met.” (S2E1: Breaking The Ice). This gives her the ideal role in the competition, someone people can rely on for a definition and a potential helping hand. This, of course, doesn't last long, as her enthusiasm in her field isn't exactly infectious. She's called annoying by her fellow contestants, and some have gone as far as to downright ignore her if she starts talking. Her prominent social anxiety makes itself known when talking to people that don’t share her interests; she adapts to this and consequently calls her own social inability her ‘specialty’. Beyond that, she's shown on many occasions to get annoyed or even reach a literal breaking point if she's wrong or if something doesn't go as planned, making her not only a nerd, but a perfectionist. (Is it obvious why she's my first? We're basically the same!)

What is this character’s role?

To many of her fellow contestants, Test Tube is viewed as obnoxious and irritating due to her strange behaviours - muttering to herself, edging away from situations she finds undesirable, and even slipping away at random times to her “secret” lab under a Dr. Fizz machine. However, her role in season 2 specifically goes farther than it seems. In “Marsh on Mars,” she's able to construct a usable rocket in a matter of minutes, and in “Hatching the Plan,” she builds another one with the help of the other contestants. While she was shown to be helpful here, it's clear that with her other creations, she's quite secretive and possessive. (Hence the very secret lab.)

In “Alternate Reality Show,” Test Tube’s personality is more dynamic and shown more than other episodes. Her perfectionist behaviours specifically are almost amplified around Lightbulb, as she often takes out anger and frustration on the other throughout the episode. Even near the very beginning, there's annoyance shown when she scribbles out the ‘secret’ in her sign. Her mood quickly changes, though, when Microphone puts down her time machine. Once again showing her dynamic expressions, once Lightbulb enters, she rips up her board and glares frustratedly at the rest of the people in the room. (Sidenote, very unrelated: Lightbulb coughing up Baxter. That is all.) Once Test Tube, Lightbulb and Baxter are on the other side of the portal, Test Tube immediately seems fascinated by her own doing; her creation worked exactly how it was meant to, and her excitement is very obvious. Throughout the episode, she's shown to be excited about different things in between her spontaneous bursts of anger. At a point in the episode, as Test Tube is being cornered by Salt and Pepper in II Infinity, what was at one point anger seemed to dissolve into a fear when she spoke, saying that “when I hear that phrase, it's almost like I'm home! ...Which I'm not. This isn't my home.” (S2E12 Alternate Reality Show).

After that episode, she's shown to be more open about her interests and talking with others, expressing in the Invitationals that “there's only so many problems that have simple equations, but there's so many more that have impossible, unspeakable solutions. But... I want to solve them anyway.” (S3E7 Best Served Cold). Over the course of her seasons, Test Tube is shown to not only have a large development, but new bonds and an enthusiasm not only in her field but her friends as well. (How nice!)

What are these characters’ principles?

Test Tube's principles show often through her actions and how she interacts with people, a main one being that (especially after S2E12 Alternate Reality Show) she believes every person is an individual. She's admitted to her own faults within this, especially with the creation of Bot. This is another one of her moments that's shown in S3E7, when she explains to Cabby that it isn't right to expect people to act how she writes them to be, to then apologise to Bot for expecting them to act like Bow.

Along with that, she also has a strong conviction in decisions that she believes are right, almost to a fault. In her elimination episode, S3E10 I Am Chocolate, she's dead set on eliminating Cabby no matter what, even going as far as to comment on her ego where it doesn't make much sense; “She can’t be serious over there, giving up her immunity to SILVER? The EGO on that one! Ugh…she’s gone next” (S3E10). After Balloon argues with her over it, she shuts down, merely saying that it's “her fault.”

Overall, as a character, Test Tube is intelligent beyond comparison. Not only that, but she's analytical, strong in her beliefs, and loyal to what and who she knows to be right. Her bonds with her fellow contestants left an ever-present mark on the competition, and the way she changed during it is unforgettable.

(check out our playlist based on this analysis and follow the blog for more!)

[equalseleventhirds]

heyo, the motw podcast i'm part of (formerly once upon a monster of the week, recently renamed welcome to reddington) is currently recruiting players and gms for its sister twitch show, continuity errors. knowledge of the podcast (or the previous season of the twitch show) is not required; as the name suggests, continuity is... malleable.

the high concept of the entire CE show is that characters are wandering between universes (and between game systems/game masters), and shenanigans & adventures ensue. last season was a little bit sliders; this upcoming season will take place on a weirdly dimensional train. ....yes, a little bit infinity train, no, not quite infinity train, but we do all love a fucked up train, don't we? also multiple game systems, also weird universe-hopping shenanigans, also.... or is that just me?

applications can be found here, and they close in about a week, so please do apply!! gms would need to run one game, and players would need to participate in at least three of the total six sessions planned (more always welcome ofc). the final schedule will depend on player & gm availability; we're flexible and down to work with what you're able to do.

this would be a volunteer show, as unfortunately we can't afford to pay anyone for this, we're just hoping to have a good time playing games together. i in particular want to help introduce people to some new and fun game systems with new and fun people to play with!

if anything in the application is a barrier to you (equipment, gaming experience, timelines, etc) send me a message and i'll chat with the production team! as noted this is purely volunteer and mostly for having fun, so we'll be as flexible as possible to help you join us. (some things won't be possible, but we'll at least see what we can address.)

ETA (for clarity): this casting call ends on April 30, 2023. also while we may play motw for one of the games, the plan is to play with a whole bunch of different ttrpg systems (different one each session); as noted this is a sister show to the motw podcast, and runs a little differently than the podcast does.

ETA2: applications extended through May 1, 2023. GM applications in particular are low, so very encouraged! feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or if you'd like help with your application!

[doledition]

hm. pessimist robin theme song 'sinking boat' by infinity song. it sounds as angelic as robin is portrayed in game...kind, loving, ever giving, classic girl next door. sinking relationship w pc, realizing that pc isn't the person they idolized...

robin giving up on whatever dream they had of escaping bailey. they know their place is in the orphanage. there's no saving any of the orphans- but they can try to make life in the orphanage better. 'they major on the minor notes...'they bring happiness into a dismal situation.

'why should i worry about rocking a sinking boat...it's all going in flames and we're dancing in a cloud of smoke...'oh robin....idealism naiveté ignorance...when simply it was a certain nihilism, an understanding of their doom, that leads robin to interact w the world without wanting to change it.

pc raising robin's confidence could be them fighting back against this form of nihilism, showing them that hope and the ability to fight back is within reach. it's confidence yes, but it's also an excitement, a knowledge- that they can climb out of the rubble of the past. they can become something, someone, *stronger*.

of course, then we have the whole 'oh no robin finds out you're a skank' plotline. robin! robin! pc is a WHORE robin! pc is JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IN TOWN robin!

(yes, me and my Gay fellows ascribe to the 'robin has a madonna/whore complex'. one of the only good things to come out of freud's mouth). hmm...perhaps returning to the thesis of this song, knowing nothing can be changed, but trying to fight back as hard as they can in an attempt to make pc 'safe', to be able to idolize them once more? which can lead into some of their 'unhealthier' aspects in pc and robins relationship (such as the insistence on sex)

many thoughts. however regardless give this banger a listen it's Very Good

[hazbinextgeneration]

Demon Bride Ch43 The Things Between Us

Secondly Ok everyone! Time for the poll results! And the votes are-

Aizetsu: 33 votes

Sekido: 6 votes

Urogi: 10 votes

Karaku: 2 votes

And the winner is Aizetsu!! Thanks to everyone who voted!!

Warnings!! Douma and Enmu ARE their own warnings. Possibly some innuendos.)

You were so happy to spend time with Rui if given the choice between him and Douma. You couldn't get out of there fast enough. Zig zagging this way and that down random halls speed walking before quickly diving behind one corner and pressing your back against the wall dragging Rui with you. Ever so slowly you perked just enough out to look down the hall from where you came from..and sighed in relief seeing no one but a few confused servants there. And more importantly no Douma. Thank the GODS he didn't follow you. Good gods that experience was unsettling to be in. You weren't expecting Douma to literally show up early in the morning on your doorstep and try to ...to...woo you?? It felt more as if he was trying to convince someone to make an investment in a business than swoon a woman. What was he thinking?! ...Maybe he wasn't? He seemed so arrogant ignoring you despite stating he heard everything you told him. You didn't know what it was exactly about him..but it didn't really scare you, at least not a whole lot. It was more of a really unsettling feeling and a feeling you had to be weary around him. 

You were pulled out of your thoughts by a tugging on your sleeve. "I want to go to the book store today. One of the students at school mentioned it to me. I want to go somewhere for once."

... Actually that sounded like a good time to get out of here. If Douma was running around here then it'd be a good idea to leave while he was. But...you still didn't know where everything was. How could you take Rui to a bookstore if you didn't even know where to begin without getting lost?

"L-Lord Douma."

You froze... slowly turning your head back towards the corner.... You moved towards the edge and slowly looked out. Guess who was right there at the end of the hallway? At least three women servants were gathered around a rather tall individual who smiled down at the fancily dressed servant girls casually fanning himself with a golden fan. All three looked frozen in...shock maybe? Did they feel unsettled by him too? A hand of his reached out to the middle girl and tilted her frozen head up.

"Yumi...You look so beautiful since I last saw you. Such lovely jawlines and soft skin.~" He sighed deeply. "I heard you're getting married soon. You're husband is so lucky." 

He removed his hand making the middle girl blush deeply under her make up and her two friends giggling and squealing next to her.....Nope. The rumors about him were right. You deadpanned at the sight and frowned. What was wrong with this guy?

"W-What are y-y-you doing here, S-Sir?"

"I'm going back to my room to rest before my meeting with Hairou about security issues in the Infinity Castle. However I was also visiting my beautiful fiance?~ She's such an interesting character.~" you grimaced at his words used to describe you. 

"She's one really lucky woman," one lady swooned staring at Douma starstruck.

He chuckled again. "She is.~ In fact I'd say her luck is right around the corner." Rainbow irises tilted towards the end of the hall-

You snapped back around and Rui yelped as he was quickly yanked along with your running feet. CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP!! THIS GUY WAS A LUNATIC!! You could faintly hear boisterous laughter of a man as you ran and it sent a cold chill down your spine. You had to get out of here..But how are you-.... THAT'S IT!! Your feet steered back towards your room but the long way around.

"Mother, why are we heading back to our rooms?" Rui easily was able to keep up with you.

"We're not going to our rooms!" You smiled. "We're going to someone else's."

Rui tilted his head curiously but otherwise didn't complain about it. A few hallways and confused stares from servants later you stood in front of Daki's room panting from running and ramming your knuckles into the sliding door. Over and over and over again until a flurry of angry stomps came from the other side and you stood back as the door S L A M M E D open so hard it shook the frames and there she was in all her tired morning glory.

"W H A T-"

DAKI paused. ..And you fought the urge to not instantly laugh. She stood there with another one of those mud mask things dried on her face, her hair in messily placed curlers, her surprised eyes blinking tiredly, and a robe tied around her body. It looked like she just literally woke up. 

"Hi, Daki! Is Gyutaro here?" You greeted with a smile and wave.

...She slowly and tiredly blinked again processing what she was looking at before frowning. "Yes. He's dead asleep the lazy ass." She then yawned a hand rubbing her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"This is Rui." You pulled the child in front of you making Daki blink down at him. "You might've seen him at the meeting with me. He's got the day off from school today and I brought him to meet you both."

"...Huh?"

"He's my son." The shock was instant on Daki's face. Looking between you then Rui before looking back at you. "I wanted to introduce him to the ones trying to court me. He's already met most of the others so this would be a good time to know you both too."

Daki's has dropped. Looking shocked between you and Rui over and over again like a gold fish before a wide smile broke out on her face and she honestly squealed. "ILL GO WAKE HIM UP IMMEDIATELY!! DON'T GO ANYWHERE!!"

The door was then slammed back shut leaving you two standing there silently... before Rui looked up at you. "Why do I need to meet these people?"

"Because you're going to meet them eventually and I want your opinion on them all." That was one thing you wanted in this if and only IF you picked anyone, they had to prove to be a good provider for Rui. As a father and as a person. Rui seemed to get along well with Kyogai, Kaigaku, and especially Akaza. Enmu...Not so much but he seemed to at least tolerate him. But you had no idea what he'd do with everything else. This would be a good way to get away from Douma and get Rui's opinion on the siblings."If you're going to have a father dont you want to meet everyone who might be a father to you?"

Rui stared at you... before back at the door. "How many fathers are you trying to get me?"

You blinked. "What? Rui. You don't have lots of fathers. I just want your opinion on the ones courting me is all."

Rui paused before his eyes widened. "You mean I can have as many fathers as I want!?"

You did a double take at Rui's awestruck face. Like he just witnessed a miracle. "What? Rui, I didn't mean it in that regard-"

"I can have more fathers in my life than anyone else!" He went on thinking more and more about it. "So many birthday gifts. Father would be the best one of course but it never occurred to me that I could have the most powerful family in the world!" ....He nodded."Very well. We will see who's worthy and who's not." He blinked. "Mother, why are you hiding your face?"

You pressed your face into your hands and hid your face. "Rui...No. I just wanted your opinion on who's trying to court me. I never said I was marrying anyone let alone more than one!" 

"Ah! Then it's up to me to decide how many fathers I have! Very well. I shall help you in securing a suitable amount of fathers for me. It's very considerate of you to give me this task-" He paused as you thumped your embarrassed face into a wall. "...Mother?"

You had a feeling you goofed again and would have to explain it to him later. From inside the room and much shuffling about and cursing from Daki as she ran about and assumedly woke her brother up from where he was sleeping. 

"WAKE UP!!....I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE TIRED!! GET THE HELL OUT HERE!! SHE BROUGHT HER CHILD TO MEET YOU!! THAT MEANS SHE SEES YOU AS A CANDIDATE FOR HER AFFECTIONS!! DO YOU KNOW HOW HUGE OF A STEP THIS IS?!......GET OUT OR I'LL MAKE YOU!!"

You heard her yelling at Gyutaro most likely but strangely enough you didn't hear Gyutaro's voice at all. Guess Daki's yelling was too loud for you to hear him. 

"Go answer the door! I can't answer the door looking like this!"

"Didn't you just did?"

"JUST DO IT!! And don't let them see me until I'm dressed! I'm not going out looking out like this!"

There was a man's voice grumbling finally heard from the other side of the door before footsteps approached and a moment later the door slowly slid open again only this time revealing a grumpy man's face. Gyutaro's face. Said demon looked tired but then his yellow eyes widened in surprise at you standing there smiling at him. Looking you up and down- Then stopping at Rui who also blinked at him. 

"Gyutaro!" He jumped looking at you again as you smiled widely. "Hi! I hope this isn't a bad time."

....He slowly blinked again. "You...came back? To see.." A hand pointed at him. "Me?"

"Of course I did, and for good reason. Gyutaro, this is Rui." Your hand patted Rui's shoulder. "He's my son." Gyutaro snapped back to you. ''Adopted son. I brought him here to meet you both and to go out today."

"Go...out?" Eyes widened more. "To-... Together?"

"Yes. We haven't been on that shopping trip yet remember? It was kind of interrupted by Sakura. I was thinking maybe we'd all be able to go out today and Rui here can get to know you better." It'd also give you a chance to get out of you're able to find an exit somewhere in here. "Only if you're interested in it. I understand if you do-"

"NO!" You jumped from his shout but he quickly back tracked. "I-...N-No. It's fine. I just.. wasn't expecting you to want to go with..." He didn't answer that sentence.

"Why wouldn't I? I think you're a wonderful person to be around, and you saved my life at least twice and I want to repay that back even just a little." You chuckled as he stared. "And you're pretty cute.~ Can you blame me for coming back?"

"I-IM NOT CUTE!!," He squawked a red hue coming over his face.

"Uh...Yes you are. That's why I'm going to kiss every single one of those markings on your cute face."

He blanked as you giggled. "...What? AH!!" He jumped as two hands nearly grabbed his cheeks. Falling backwards and landing on the ground with a thud and scrambling back as a giggling figure approached. "N-Nonononononono!! Get back, get back!!" 

The figure didn't and giggled again as the powerful Upper Moon Six... squawked a sound out that sounded like a dying Turkey and fled...to safely hide behind his younger sister...who squealed as she was literally picked up by her shoulders in the middle of putting on make up and held out like some shield between the flustered demon and giggling woman.  

"Brother, what are you doing?!"

"Keep back! She's trying to attack me!"

"No I'm not." You leaned left- He shoved Daki to the left between you two. "I only want to kiss his cute face. He needs more love."

"THE HELL I DO!! AH!!" You leaned right and Gyutaro again shoved Daki between you both. "BACK! BACK Y-Y-YOU VILE WOMAN!!"

"She's trying to kiss you?...Let her!" Daki barked looking over her shoulder at him. 

"WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU ON?!"

"The side that gets you a wife! Now get over there and pucker up!!" She grabbed her brother by his arms and began trying to wrestle the yelping man towards your giggling form. "THIS IS A GOOD SIGN!!"

"LET THE HELL GO!!"

Rui was still standing still watching as they fought each other while you giggled at them.. before tilting his head and calculated something. "....He seems to make her happy, and comes with an Aunt....I will consider this fact as I go forward."

Eventually you stopped and allowed the siblings to calm down enough to allow Daki to get herself ready. And by that you meant painstakingly doing her hair and makeup and nearly taking an hour to decide what to wear and then taking another twenty minutes to do YOUR hair after insisting that you couldn't go out with your bed head. All the waiting put you on edge. What if Douma happened to come by? With his connection to the siblings they might let him tag along or something. Thankfully he didn't and you were able to get them out the door with little trouble. Hopefully by the time you get back, Douma would already be gone again. Right now you could focus on spending some time with Rui, and looking for an exit without trying to attract a lot of attention to you. With Rui holding your hand and Daki dragging you by the arm excitedly, you all left the same way you went last time you were out although with all the shifting buildings and rooms it was hard to tell. 

"Where are we going?," You asked as Daki continued to pull you along.

"To my favorite stores of course!," She squealed excitedly eyes wide in the promise of getting a whole lot of things she probably wouldn't use more than once in her lifetime. "This is perfect! There's so many places I want to go! There's the clothes store, Yuma's Hairpins and Galore- OH!!" She looked back to her brother whom already looked exhausted. "Can we go to that one place where they measure you for custom jewelry fits?"

Her brother sighed tiredly. "You're the one leading the way."

That seemed to satisfy his sister enough as she continued to babble to herself something about fitting a custom anklet for herself since she didn't have one of those yet. However you blinked behind you at him. 

"Hey. Isn't there somewhere you'd like to go?" He hummed at you. "It wouldn't be fair for us to just go where Daki wants."

He blinked surprised you'd ask that before shrugging. "I don't really care where we go. I'm not really one to hoard useless objects. I never want anything anyways."

"You must want to go somewhere. How about a sword smith? He might be able to sharpen your sycles."

"I don't need any smith. My blades never need sharpening."

"Alright. How about a clothes store? You might like some of their  clothes." He grunted in annoyance. "Well...What about a black smith? Maybe you can find a new sycle?" You only got the same response. Well this was awkward. You were starting to run out of places that Gyutaro might be interested in going. "Well..." You carefully eyed his body. "..Well you can pick where we have lunch then!"

He turned to you lifting a brow. "What? Food?"

You nodded "We haven't eaten yet so you can pick where we eat! It's only fair since we're kinda dragging you everywhere."

He opened his mouth... before turning away. "Tch. Fine. If it'll make you stop nagging me about it."

"Whatever! We're going to MY favorite spots first!"

"But I wanted to go to the book store, and a toy store!"

Daki glanced back to Rui. "We can go after I make a few stops. I've been waiting longer than you have."

Rui looked back up at you. "Is she always this stubborn?"

Gyutaro snorted when Daki snapped him a look and you just smiled at her. Eventually she dragged you four along to your first stop which wasn't surprisingly a clothing store. Daki practically gushed and squealed as she dove head first into the maze of displayed fabrics and dresses. You Right behind her. It was maybe one or two hours of Daki just literally throwing anything she didn't like away from her (those poor ladies who worked there) or trying on something every two seconds before grabbing you and practically forcing you into anything she thought would look nice on you. You were surprised to find most of the dresses that she forced you into weren't something you'd trip over or something too tight. You could probably run in them if you wanted despite them obviously being expensive fancy looking. Did Daki actually listen to your opinions on dresses? Gyutaro only looked on boredly and by the end of it all he was forced into carrying four giant bags of dresses for his sister. Rui also managed to find something he liked rummaging around-

"Mother, I want this." He held up at least three kimonos that was white with spider web print..just like..every other outfit he owned.

Whatever made him happy. You carried Rui's and your items (which Daki INSISTED you get) to not burden Gyutaro with them. From there it was pretty much a predictable run through. A store that sold shoes. A store that sold hair pins. A jewelry store- You hadn't seen so much sparkling diamonds and gold and silver and pearls and rubies and other things in your life. Each and every store Gyutaro looked on boredly and just stood there watching his sister coo over everything and of course force you to try things on.

...He nearly went red when she smiled at him face lit up. You...we're having fun with his sister? That was good. Right? He didn't think anyone other than him or Douma could tolerate Daki's personality. But she seemed to genuinely like it when Daki forced a ruby studded choker around her throat before forcing a mirror into her face..and she smiled. Before looking at him..and also smiling.

Bu-BUMP

Oh no-

"I want that one." He blinked as a voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Oh. It was just the kid. He was pointing at one cabinet with glass doors used to display what looked like mainly bracelets. His pale hand pointed at one near the middle. A beautiful pink pearl bracelet. "Give it to me."

The store front, an old lady, just stared at him. Ah. She must've been the one he was looking at. She stared at him with a confused face. "Um... Young Sir, you are aware these are women's bracelets correct?"

"They don't have labels. Give me it. I want  that one."

"Sir. That is a woman's bracelet made to be worn by a woman around a woman's wrist specifically." She frowned narrowing her eyes. "Which means it would be most unbecoming of a man to wear such an item. What would your parents think if they saw you in it?"

The kid stopped and stared at her..then looked over his shoulder at the two women too busy shopping to notice. "... They'll be fine with it."

"What will others think about you or your parents then? It'd be a bad stain on their reputation if they allowed their son to wear such things," she chastised with a sneer at the boy who visibly flinched at the words and yellow eyes glanced at them both. "What would happen if you ruined their status in society b-"

"Get the dam bracelet."

Both were silenced surprised that another raspy voice spoke up and turned to find almost sickly yellow eyes staring daggers right back at her. "I-... W-What?"

"Did I stutter?" She didn't move. "GIVE HIM THE FUCKING BRACELET!!"

The angry shout had the woman squealing in fright and running back into the wall and the other people in the dam place turned their eyes towards the noise instantly including two familiar faces. However strangely the boy didn't flinch and just stared at him then at the woman whom fearfully scrambled at the cabinet the door squeaking wide open. Shaking hands grabbed the pretty pink pearl bracelet and little eyes widened in awe as it was delivered to him on a silver platter. The tiny perfectly round beads feeling cool in his pale hands as he all but held the bracelet before looking back at the tall angry demon whom snorted at the woman.

"Scary father could strike fear into others for me....Yes. That's good," Rui mumbled quietly before the older demon snapped down to him.

"What?"

"Nothing but observations." Rui continued to stare in awe at him. "Very helpful ones for my family. You'll fit in."

Gyutaro blinked. "...Eh?'

"BROTHER!!" "Gyutaro!! Rui!!"

Both looked up as two women stared at the demons. Uh oh. Looks like he would be getting an earful.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

He was lucky to avoid his sister making a scene in the store by you insisting that you all just gather whatever Daki wanted and leaving to the next store which just so happened to be where Rui wanted. So everyone could calm down. Luckily Daki was satisfied with just putting everything on 'Douma's Tab' and skidaddling onwards. You weren't sure where these stores were but thankfully Daki seemed to be an expert on shopping enough to lead the way when asked and to a small book store you all went. It looked similar to the small library you had back in your village only there was many more scrolls and books lying about. Rui was like a child with a new puppy. You couldn't ever remember seeing him light up and smile so fast before taking off between the shelves and out of sight. You blinked ... before slowly walking around and viewing at everything around you.

"What's so fascinating about a bunch of books and dusty scrolls?," Daki asked looking bored already at the shelves around you.

"If you want you can just wait with Gyutaro until we're done here. It's only until Rui's finished looking  around." 

She mumbled something but pouted and poked at the books on the shelf. You smiled and continued on your way around the place glancing at titles. Some were ones you didn't understand some were ones you did. A Guide To Poisonous Plants. To Join A Cloud. Historica Demonca Vol. 7. One Hundred Ways To Cook Grasshoppers-

You paused... Blinking widely as a book cover was shoved into your face by paled hands. "Look Mother. I want this one!"

You blinked again registering the book in front of you before reading the book cover in front of you. "White Rose And The Creature and Other Fairytales Of Romance and Adventure?" Quite a mouthful of a title. "Where'd you get this?"

Rui pointed at a random shelf. "Between the books on hunting deer and practical uses of rocks." Well ..that was a strange place to find a fairytale book. "I want it! Please!"

"Well..I suppose so. As long as you take care of it!"

Rui seemed delighted to be getting what he wanted and he ran off to grab a few more books he wanted. You found a few you found interesting too. A few romance novels and one or two books on edible wildlife. If you ever got out of here they might be useful for traveling and living in the woods. You weren't sure how long you were in that store, but if you thought Rui went bonkers for the books then you had to literally drag him by the collar out of the toy store. The place was beautiful. Many trinkets and expertly carved out toys lined the shelves with painted faces or stitched up from beautiful cloth. Rui kept on grabbing and grabbing and grabbing things to the point you had to stop him before he tried to leave with the entire store. In short he only left with two toys max.

"But Mother! I want that plush tiger!" Rui squirmed in your hold as you deadpanned dragged him away. "And that music box and that wind up horse-"

"You're going to have to earn those before you can get more young man," you said pulling him along. "If you keep up your good grades and behave yourself then you can come back."

"But it's not ffffaaaaiiiirrrr!!" He pouted frowning. "I don't want to wait."

You groaned again. Being a mother was hard work. Gyutaro almost laughed at the entire scene. Now this definitely reminded him of someone else who acted like a spoiled brat too.

"Well I'm hungry. Let's eat! We've been walking around all day."

"That's a good idea." You turned to Gyutaro. "So where are we eating?"

He paused blinking at you. "Eh?" 

"You're picking where we're eating at." You smiled. "After all, I'd love to eat with you." He blinked as you tilted your head at him. "Do you know anyplace?"

"I-...Um.......Food?"

Smack! Daki groaned facepalming herself as her brother just dumbly looked at you before she inhaled. "I remember this really great place that cooks meats right before your eyes. Remember?" Gyutaro let out an 'Oof' as his sister sharply kicked his left leg. "Douma brought me there to celebrate my first successful mission as a Kizuki." Her brother stared at her. "It's a REALLY nice place to EAT."

"Huh? OH! yes." He pointed at Daki. "T-That place!"

"Great! Where is it?"

"It's..Uh..Well I mean-"

"It's just to the right of here past the candy store."

"Yeah! There!"

"Great!" Oh dear gods he almost fainted right then and there when you looped an arm around his. "Lead the way!"

"T-T-The way? I-.." he just stared at your pretty face. "...Who are we talking about?"

"Oh for Muzan's sake!" Daki threw her hands up in defeat and walked off in the direction of the place. "Just follow me."

You did. Gyutaro nearly sweating himself to death and his face lighting up a bright pink as you leaned your head on his arm. Oh be still his beating heart. Daki lead you all to a massive moving building and you literally had to jump onto the moving platform attached to the storefront just to get to the door. These demons sure had a strange home. You weren't sure you were ever going to get used to living here. It only made you miss the outside even more. But.. otherwise you weren't complaining. Your senses were attacked by the smells of juicy meats and spices of all kinds and there in the middle of the entire place was a massive open fit full of hot burning coals, and skewered over it was two massive pigs with miniature skewers of chicken or fish varying around them. Around the massive room was other demons eating but all stopped and stared wide eyed as you all walked in. Well you couldn't blame them you guessed. Between Daki's beauty and Gyutaro's looks you supposed there would be a few stares sent their way. However you couldn't tell that most looks were actually on..

You.

An employee greeted you, offering to show you four to a table Daki immediately pointed at the one right next to the meats. You guessed she was really hungry. You and Rui made no objections to following them as you walked in the quiet place now your mind on the promise of food for your empty stomachs. 

"Is that her?" A whisper asked catching the perked up ear of a particularly skinny demon. 

"Yes. She's a lot smaller than I thought she would be." Another whisper answered.

"I'll say. But she's rather.... alluring. I can see why so many men would want her to themselves. I certainly wouldn't mind having her as a wife."

"Yes. So Beautiful...Do you think she would accept other suitors?" He felt his hands ball into angry fists.

" I could try my luck. I have more of a chance surely than the creature she's clinging to-"

"*HHIIISSS!!*"

Everyone practically jumped as Gyutaro snapped his head behind him and hissed rather loudly shutting down anymore conversation those two men were having and stared at him in horror. Before a soft hand gently tugged him along still growling and baring teeth at everyone.

"Here, Gyutaro. Come sit by me. You'll be calmer with food in your stomach."

In the end you just might've spared those demons' lives.  As soon as you four sat down, plates of food were descended upon you from all sides probably in an order to please a Kizuki Lord and Lady. However you were a little concerned about Gyutaro's lack of appetite while eating. Despite the massive amount of food being placed in front of you all Rui and Daki seemed to be the only ones digging out bigger pieces while he just picked out bits and pieces. There was also another thing. If Gyutaro picked up something Daki showed interest in something he wouldn't take anything or make a move until his sister picked as much as she wanted picked off which left little for him. It happened with a chicken. Then another dishes. Then a rather large tray of dumplings.

"Gyutaro." He hummed looking at you as Daki again grabbed another dumpling off the tray he held out for her. "You're not eating anything and letting Daki take all the food." Daki stopped halfway through eating another one as they both looked at you. "You're not going to get enough food if you don't eat anything."

They both seemed surprised by your blunt observation but Gyutaro hummed. "She needs it more. Food's precious and there was times when there wasn't enough to go around. She needed it more than I ever did."

"But.. don't you two have access to all the food you want now?" They both just...stared at you.

"I-..." He looked back to the plate he held. "It's... always been this way." But flinched when you gently grabbed his hands and pushed the plate back to him. 

"Gyutaro. Eat. Don't deprive yourself of food anymore. Eat. Ok?" He nearly passed out when a hand grabbed a dumpling from the plate and held it up to him. "Here. Start with this and eat until you're full. For me?" He continued to stare until his jaw dropped in shock and the dumpling was placed inside before gentle hands closed the jaw and ran across his mouth gently. "There. Now you have to start taking care of yourself. How are you supposed to care for someone else if you don't care for yourself?"

His face burnt a red as he continued to stare at you.....Gods. Was this what it felt like to die?  If yes never let him leave this moment!! 

After a while it was time to go back. Back following Daki all the way back to the Kizuki Dwell with arms full of bags and stomachs full of food. Rui happily examining the pink pearl bracelet around his wrist and fiddling with the giant plush bear he managed to make off with out of the toy store. It was a really good day, and most importantly absolutely no Douma! You just hoped he wouldn't be around when you got back. 

"Thank you for showing me around. I really had a nice time, and I'm sure Rui did too." You smiled at Gyutaro outside of his room.

"Uh.." Daki gave another kick to his leg. "Ow! Uh!...I meant Y-Yes. Nice day! Good."

You smiled again. "It's getting late. Rui has school tomorrow so I should probably get him to bed. I'm happy to spend time with you and Daki. Let's go out again sometime. This time maybe I can decide where we go."

"Um. Sure. O-Ok."

"Good night, Gyutaro. Make sure you eat your fill from now on. Ok?"

"Yeah."

He mumbled out watching as you turned with a smile on your face. Walking away and taking Rui with you disappearing around a corner. A hammering in his chest and tightness in his heart he was sure Daki could absolutely feel. Perhaps...this wasn't too bad after all. You made it back to your room and almost had to fight Rui to sleep as he didn't want to go to bed after the fun day he had. However he changed his tune when you threatened to not read him anymore stories from the books, he got quiet real quick and almost dove into his room to his bed. At last...peace and quiet. You didn't spot any exits but you did however not have any interactions with Douma again so that was a plus. With a triumphant smile, you climbed back into you bed and sighed as sleep slowly took you into it's embrace. Safe from empty rainbow irises.

Oh. How fate loved to toy with you.

The next morning you had no problems with waking up when Rui was sent off to school again. Just smiling and contently getting up from your bed when all good feelings were whisked away as something jabbed your side under the covers. Annoyed, you fished your hand under the blankets until you plucked it out but nearly dropped it as soon as you saw it. Sitting there in your hand was a beautiful lotus bloom hair comb. The same one Douma gave you. You sat there stunned looking at it. What the- WHAT WAS THIS DOING HERE!? You gave this back to Douma! What was it doing IN YOUR BED?! You must've not noticed it because you were really tired last night. Purple eyes looked up and stared stunned at what they saw. A perfectly wrapped pink box stood in one corner of the room pushed aside. What the- Why was THAT still here?! You thought he would've taken the box with him!! Why did he leave it here?! Didn't he take the hint you bluntly said?!

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!

You paused in the middle of throwing the comb as a couple of loud knocks came from the door making you pause and blink. ...No way that was Rui. He was already off to school. Maybe it was one of the servants coming to deliver your breakfast or maybe it was one of the siblings or Enmu? That had you perking up and walking over to the door as the knocks continued. The door slid open and you peered out...only to blink as you met the red shirt covering a toned chest and looked up at two rainbow irises.

"Ah.~ Good mor-"

SLAM!! 

The door was slammed shut right in his face as he blinked...and closed his mouth. "...-ning." More loud knocks were heard as he knocked again. "My darling fiance.~ Dearest!~ Oh my darling, please open the door.~ I have a wonderful meal waiting for us in my room. You'd love the view. Let us talk and discuss why you're so cranky all the time. You'd find me super helpful like everyone else does."

There was silence inside the room .. before footsteps approached and he smiled as the door was slid back open- Something hard was shoved into his chest he fumbled about to catch the pink box and he blinked at the now slightly smashed in box in his hands. Before he looked back up to your scowling, tired face- Something else hit his chest just above the box, before it tumbled down to thud onto the floor by his feet. A lotus flower smiling up at him. 

SLAM!!

The door was once again slammed shut in his face without even a word and leaving him to stand there holding the box in his hands. Silence rang out as he just stared at them both blankly, tilting his head confused....she still didn't like what he got her? But he made sure to pick them very carefully this time AND with other women's help. Huh. ...Did he come at a bad time again? He thought surely if he let her sleep in and get plenty of rest she'd be less cranky. Was it something someone else did? He should find out the exact problem.

"Darling, if you were unhappy with the gifts then you should've said something." More knocks tapped on the door. "We can discuss what you'd really like me to grace you with if you'd just open the door." The door was slid open and he poked his head inside. "Dear?..Where did you wonder off to?"

Down the hallway a different sliding door slowly and quietly slid open just enough for you to poke your head out. Douma seemed confused by your sudden disappearance and entered your room. Once he fully walked inside you slowly slid out of the doorway making sure to close it behind you to cover your tracks and turned to quickly tiptoe run your escape down the hallway. Thank the GODS Rui's room was connected to yours! All you had to do was slip into his room and exit out his door leading out into the hallway. Wasn't a perfect plan but it was enough for you to get away for now. Quickly you ran around the corner and down another hallway trying to put as much distance between you and Douma as possible. What the hell was that guy doing back here?! Couldn't he take a hint?! What if he was already chasing you?! Against better judgement you peered behind you-

"AH!!"

You collided with something hard but also soft-ish causing both you to loose your balance and fall to the floor. Someone else stumbled back but didn't fall. Instead the other person blinked as you groaned on the ground.

"Oh my. What a pretty fall you took.~ I do hope you didn't hurt yourself too much.~"

You blinked looking up and staring into familiar teal eyes. "Enmu? " you sighed. "Am I glad to see you." You pushed yourself up from where you fell down and brushed yourself off. "What are you doing here?"

"I just returned to grab a few things before I check my railways. I'm in charge of them you know, so as such I have to be sure my little worker ants of Conductors and workers are doing well in my absence." He tilted his head at you. "What are you doing here so early? You're usually still in your room."

"Uh.." you glanced behind you. Still no signs of Douma but that didn't mean he wouldn't be here any moment. "I was.. Looking for you actually." You looked back to him calmly.

He seemed to perk up at this. "Oh. Did you perhaps have a question about your blood?~ Or perhaps you're experiencing another change in your body you wished to tell me?~"

What he wasn't expecting was for you to grab his shoulders, narrow your eyes, and in a serious voice say- "Take me with you."

He blinked. "I beg pardon?"

"I want to spend time with you. Take me with you to see your trains. I haven't really ridden on one until Kaigaku made me so it'd be nice to just see what they're like." You saw him perk up with a hum. "Besides...you said I need to lower my stress levels. I'm not going to do that cooped up here. So let me go with you."

He seemed to think about that for a moment before humming and looking at you. "Well...I shouldn't really take you out of the Infinity Castle..but if you promise to stay with me and come back later then I can make an exception just this once."

"Done! I wouldn't leave Rui behind anyways!" You nervously looked behind your shoulder again. Douma could show up any moment. "When are you going?''

"Well I was going to drop off a few things at Master's lab first, maybe take care of some paperwork. I suppose I could wait until I get back to do those things but they're pretty important. I don't think-"

"We're going now!"

He again blinked at you. "Begonia. You don't seem to realize how this works." You narrowed your eyes. "I don't have any other choice."

"Oh I disagree."

"You don't understand again. There's no way you can ma- HHHAAAAHH!!"

He squealed out as you leaned down and just did what you usually did back when something needed to be moved back in your village. Just throw it over your shoulder and move it. Which was literally what you did to Enmu. He squealed finding himself thrown over your left shoulder and your arms gripping onto his legs before you stomped off down the hall quickly. Immediately his face lit up a red.

"We're going NOW...Hm." You gently went up and down on your knees a few times weighing him on your shoulder. "...Wow. You really are lighter than you look....Enmu?"

His face burnt a red as he maniacally giggled. "If it's wrong for a woman to sweep a man off his feet then never let me call myself a man again.~"

[bihanarms]

Chapter 9: Bound by Silence

Here is Chapter 9, hoping you still enjoy it. We're getting close to the end! Apologies for any mistakes, and feel free to share your feedback as always.

"Move faster if you don't want to lose sight of me." Krauser commanded.

I don't give a damn, (Name) thought to herself, though she refrained from uttering the words aloud. They had been trekking through the island for almost an hour, and she was struggling to keep up. The landscape consisted of constant ascents, obstacles, and rocky terrain, and of course, her companion made no effort to assist her. Even though he had warned her beforehand, the journalist had reached her limit. An hour of walking alongside a soldier who maintained an unyielding pace while she was still recovering from her injuries, an hour with a man who only spoke to her to issue orders. Well...at least he was no longer trying to kill her. Nevertheless, she doubted she would ever be able to trust him. "I thought you were used to the field" he jeered once again, as if their current predicament was an everyday occurrence.

Finally catching up to Krauser after scaling a ledge, she retorted, gasping for breath, "Should I remind you of what I went through just a few hours ago? Well, whatever..."

"If you say so. Either way, I warned you—I don't have time to waste, sweetheart." 'Sweetheart'...Go to hell. She simply couldn't stand him.

The young woman stood up, catching her breath, while her "comrade" had already advanced several meters ahead of her. She vaguely surveyed her surroundings. The night was pitch-black. In the distance, she could make out heavily guarded buildings, protected by what seemed to be half-human, half-monstrous soldiers. She considered herself fortunate that Krauser had chosen to circumvent them, preventing her from being attacked and avoiding drawing any attention. God, I’m so tired..

.

Suddenly, (Name) felt her hair being yanked forcefully as she was seized by an infected soldier. A surge of anger and profanities surged within her as Krauser seemed to have vanished from her field of vision. That son of a bitch.

She fought back as best she could, attempting to break free from the soldier's grip, thrashing with ferocity. Finally, with a desperate effort, she managed to escape the soldier's hold.

However, before she could catch her breath, another soldier, approaching from behind, poised to strike her with a deadly axe. Time seemed to stretch into infinity as the weapon bore down on her, menacingly.

She didn't have time to react, to draw a weapon from her bag or dodge the blow. It was too late. Was this how it was all going to end? Instinctively, she closed her eyes and raised her arms to protect herself as she heard the sound of the blade sinking into flesh.

.

Wait?

She felt no pain.

Slowly, she reopened her eyes to find herself face to face with an imposing, muscular figure standing nearly two meters tall. "Krau-Krauser?" (Name) stammered in shock.

"Stay back." he commanded.

She immediately obeyed, keeping a certain distance as he remained standing in front of her, his hands gripping the infected soldier's, the axe lodged in his lower abdomen. Yet, he showed no signs of pain.

.

With a swift motion, he snapped the enemy's neck and abruptly pulled the axe from his lower abdomen, still unfazed. (Name) was astonished to see Krauser save her for the second time. She was completely bewildered by this man. Why was he acting this way?

Meanwhile, he remained stoic, apparently immune to pain. He turned to the young woman and asked if she was okay. Did it truly matter to him? Unable to find the words, she remained silent, still in shock from the situation.

"Cat got your tongue?" he asked, slightly aggressive. "We need to keep going."

Without waiting for a response, Krauser turned away and continued on his path. (Name) stood motionless for a moment, gradually regaining her composure after the dramatic event. However, she couldn't help but notice Krauser's evident wound. She decided to address it, calling out to him before approaching and taking her bag off her shoulders.

He abruptly halted and responded in a curt tone, "What's the matter?"

"You're injured, let me have a look." she said with concern in her voice. Indeed, even though he concealed any pain on his face, the wound he had sustained was bleeding profusely. She finally found something to dress the wound in her bag, approaching him. However, he abruptly stopped her by firmly gripping her wrist. "I don't need your help, put that away." he declared firmly.

A silence hung between them as (Name) refused to avert her gaze from the towering man. Her eyes expressed unwavering determination, and her voice took on an authoritative tone. "You have no business playing the lone wolf. Let me take care of this." Despite the mystery surrounding Krauser's motivations for saving her narrowly on two occasions, it was clear to her that she had to repay him in some way, despite the peculiar atmosphere that lingered between them.

Krauser hesitated for a moment, then gently released his grip on her wrist. "Do as you wish, but be quick." he replied somberly.

.

(Name) gently took hold of his t-shirt and lifted it slightly, revealing the toned lower part of his belly adorned with scars. His wound was now exposed. Carefully, she placed her hands on his skin to disinfect and clean the injury. With each touch, Krauser winced slightly in pain. "Sorry if it hurts." she apologized.

The wounded man said nothing, unable to resist analyzing (Name)'s features that he had never truly noticed before, too preoccupied with the desire to kill each other. It was the first time her face was so close to his, and it was on this occasion that he noticed the beauty of her features, even with all the dirt covering her.

He found it amusing to see the seriousness in her expression, as she genuinely seemed concerned about his injury.

As the young woman finished wrapping his lower belly with a long bandage, she raised her eyes and finally met the gaze of the injured man.

Their faces were now inches apart, creating an atmosphere charged with electricity.

God, that’s some beautiful blue. (Name) thought, now immersed in the gaze of the former major, surprised to find that his eyes, usually filled with aggression, were now devoid of any hostility.

As they locked eyes, a new wave of tension settled between them. Their gazes delved into each other, the silent exchange prolonging the moment. It was as if the outside world faded away, making room for an inexplicable connection. (Name) felt disturbed by this strange feeling emanating from their closeness. It was as if she was rediscovering the man standing in front of her.

Meanwhile, Krauser remained silent, continuing to study (Name)'s face with great attention, still captivated by her delicate features and unique beauty, while her hands still delicately rested on his lower abdomen.

The young woman felt unsettled by this strange sentiment emanating from their proximity and suddenly regained her composure without finding the right words. She stammered, "I'm done." Stepping away from Krauser, she distanced herself, stating that it was time to continue their journey. What-just-happened?

The now tended man kept silent, simply rising to his feet to follow her, as if this silent exchange had also stirred something within him.

.

The tension lingered in the air as they resumed their march, their footsteps resonating in the tormented landscape that surrounded them. Emotions swirled in (Name)'s mind as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. Impossible for me to feel anything for this guy. Doubts and questions crowded her thoughts. Or is it really-impossible? But for now, she chose to keep silent.

.

Suddenly, Krauser broke the silence, his gaze abruptly turning towards a distant point. He seized the opportunity to quickly inform (Name) of someone's presence on the horizon, one of the individuals he was supposed to eliminate. A glimmer of excitement mixed with determination shone in his eyes as he pulled out the sample he had retrieved from his back pocket. Holding it tightly in his hand, he gazed at the sample with unsettling intensity. (Name), concerned about the turn of events, took a deep breath before asking him with a worried voice, "What do you plan to do with this sample?"

He abruptly interrupted her question, responding with a cold and determined tone, "Originally, I was supposed to deliver this sample to Wesker. It contains a strain of the dominant species of the virus, but now, I don't care. I'm going to inject it to become more powerful and crush that rookie down there."

She felt her heart tighten at Krauser's decision. It really tightened. Until now, all of the major's dubious decisions had left her indifferent, and she cared little for the person accompanying her as she had only felt disgust towards him before, but she couldn't explain exactly why it had changed.

With a voice filled with concern and conviction, she insisted, "Krauser, you can't do this. You must not succumb to temptation. I know you're better than that, you have more worth than becoming a mere instrument of destruction. You have to stop all of this."

He stared at her with a mixture of frustration and anger. "Because it matters to you? All of a sudden? Stay out of this."

The young woman sighed, sadness evident in her breath, but she didn't let herself be discouraged and took a deep breath. "Jack, please... Don't do this." She took the risk of using his first name for the first time, having discovered it in the documents she had read earlier. "I know what I said earlier-"

He looked at her, bewildered, emotions swirling across his face.

He finally turned away, resigned, and quickly injected himself with the sample. "Wait for me here." Then, without a word, he leaped away with animal-like agility to distance himself and continue his hunt.

.

(Name) remained motionless, her gaze fixed on the spot where Jack had disappeared. Her mind was tormented by a mix of anxiety, sadness, and anger. Above all, she felt a profound sadness, no more judgment, no more disgust. How far would this man go? Was he broken to this extent? She found herself hoping that there was still something left of him.

Damn it, these events are really taking an unexpected turn. I don't know what to think anymore.

Finally, she sighed and crouched down, waiting for the man's return. "I have no choice but to wait for you, in any case."

[pridepages]

Intimacy

I finished Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender. I have thoughts...

Here there be spoilers!

People crave closeness.

We can pretend all we want that we're just fine alone, but some part of us is always calling, reaching out, yearning to clasp hold...

So why is it so incredibly fucking hard?

How is it that we spend so much of our lives trying and getting it wrong?

Maybe it's because intimacy is alchemy.

Books have a way of getting in our heads, and that's what happened when I read Kacen Callendar's Infinity Alchemist. It felt like the right way to start the school year, considering "the original spark of Infinity Alchemist was rejection...specifically, the rejection of trans people by another author who wrote about a magic school."

Okay, sign me up. I'm here for trans magicians, or as we call them, alchemists. Ash Woods, our transman protagonist, is out to prove his credentials in a world that gatekeeps magic.

He crosses paths with nonbinary icon Ramsay Thorne, an alchemic prodigy with a dark past. Ramsay agrees to illegally teach Ash alchemy in exchange for help on a quest: to find the fabled book of the source and thereby restore the Thorne line's good name.

If Ash is the courage, and Ramsay the brains, all we're missing is the heart. Enter Callum Kendrick, the military brat with a heart of gold. Together, they'll save the world...and fall in love with each other.

Yes, all three of them.

I'm not going to spend anymore time on the plot. Boy meets companions, grows into his powers, achieves grand destiny...I've seen it all before. What really got my brain spinning was the polyamory.

Look, I'll be the first to admit that's not usually my thing. I just didn't get it. I couldn't really understand how three people could share their hearts, their bodies, their trust in ways that left no one wanting and everyone enough.

But, then, I've struggled to share my heart with one person.

I've been away for a while. And part of that was getting caught up in meeting someone new. Someone I wanted to share the parts of myself I've kept behind glass. So I gave my heart away in little pieces, hoping she would treasure them...

It took me a while to figure out I wasn't getting anything back.

Every time I'd try to get closer, I got pushed away. At first, I accepted that. Because boundaries need to be respected. Because I figured she just needed more time...

More time didn't solve anything. And when dared to ask for more than crumbs of affection, I watched her brush all the little pieces of my heart off her hands. All my insecurities were thrown in my face. My feelings, my concerns, they weren't listened to.

“Do You often make a habit of telling people what they think and how they feel?”

When Ramsay called Ash out, I had to stop. Put the book down.

Because I got it.

This is what I'd missed.

For so long, I thought intimacy meant sharing my body, my trust, and my time. While they are all parts of it, they're not enough. They need one last alchemical spark--

Intimacy needs connection.

Ash figures this out reflecting on a lackluster sexual encounter: “he still had emotions and thoughts that were his own, separate from his friend’s—and in a way, that was what made the experience even more uncomfortable and unsatisfying.” The key is the distance, the separation. “Though Ash and Tobin had shared a bed and touched each other’s bodies, Ash had still closed himself off emotionally. He still hadn’t felt safe enough to be vulnerable.”

But vulnerability is terrifying. The word itself means making yourself weak.

In the real world, we don't have magic to bypass human limitations. Ash and Ramsay are able to commune on a spiritual level. Unable to edit, they cannot hide behind pretense or omission. They cannot fumble words or misunderstand. They see each other's memories, dreams, hopes, fears, and ambitions. They experience each other firsthand.

Without the ability to see into someone else's heart and mind, we have to take the risk. And what if you choose the wrong person?

Maybe that's part of why monogamy is so persistent.

I'm not trying to downplay the social forces of economics, religion, etc in creating and forwarding the narrative of One True Love. But as society has evolved, monogamy has become less and less necessary.

So why is polyamory still so rare?

Well, what if it's because making yourself vulnerable to one person is scary and the idea of being that open to more?

Terrifying.

But what if we stopped thinking of it as weakness?

“It isn’t as if we should only feel attraction and love for one person,” Callum points out. “I’ve never understood it, this expectation that people should only love one other at a time…Energy is infinite, and love is energy, so love has the potential to be infinite, too.”

In a world where most people have more than one partner over a lifetime, we've already debunked the idea that love is limited to one. So why not more than one at once? Love is not just infinite--it's multidirectional.

Look, I'm not saying it's for everyone.

But if you're willing to leave your heart wide open--

Well, you never know how much room you have until you start letting people in.

[echantedtoon]

Demon Bride Ch43 The Things Between Us

(Warnings!! Douma and Enmu ARE their own warnings. Possibly some innuendos.)

You were so happy to spend time with Rui if given the choice between him and Douma. You couldn't get out of there fast enough. Zig zagging this way and that down random halls speed walking before quickly diving behind one corner and pressing your back against the wall dragging Rui with you. Ever so slowly you perked just enough out to look down the hall from where you came from..and sighed in relief seeing no one but a few confused servants there. And more importantly no Douma. Thank the GODS he didn't follow you. Good gods that experience was unsettling to be in. You weren't expecting Douma to literally show up early in the morning on your doorstep and try to ...to...woo you?? It felt more as if he was trying to convince someone to make an investment in a business than swoon a woman. What was he thinking?! ...Maybe he wasn't? He seemed so arrogant ignoring you despite stating he heard everything you told him. You didn't know what it was exactly about him..but it didn't really scare you, at least not a whole lot. It was more of a really unsettling feeling and a feeling you had to be weary around him. 

You were pulled out of your thoughts by a tugging on your sleeve. "I want to go to the book store today. One of the students at school mentioned it to me. I want to go somewhere for once."

... Actually that sounded like a good time to get out of here. If Douma was running around here then it'd be a good idea to leave while he was. But...you still didn't know where everything was. How could you take Rui to a bookstore if you didn't even know where to begin without getting lost?

"L-Lord Douma."

You froze... slowly turning your head back towards the corner.... You moved towards the edge and slowly looked out. Guess who was right there at the end of the hallway? At least three women servants were gathered around a rather tall individual who smiled down at the fancily dressed servant girls casually fanning himself with a golden fan. All three looked frozen in...shock maybe? Did they feel unsettled by him too? A hand of his reached out to the middle girl and tilted her frozen head up.

"Yumi...You look so beautiful since I last saw you. Such lovely jawlines and soft skin.~" He sighed deeply. "I heard you're getting married soon. You're husband is so lucky." 

He removed his hand making the middle girl blush deeply under her make up and her two friends giggling and squealing next to her.....Nope. The rumors about him were right. You deadpanned at the sight and frowned. What was wrong with this guy?

"W-What are y-y-you doing here, S-Sir?"

"I'm going back to my room to rest before my meeting with Hairou about security issues in the Infinity Castle. However I was also visiting my beautiful fiance?~ She's such an interesting character.~" you grimaced at his words used to describe you. 

"She's one really lucky woman," one lady swooned staring at Douma starstruck.

He chuckled again. "She is.~ In fact I'd say her luck is right around the corner." Rainbow irises tilted towards the end of the hall-

You snapped back around and Rui yelped as he was quickly yanked along with your running feet. CRAP CRAP CRAP CRAP!! THIS GUY WAS A LUNATIC!! You could faintly hear boisterous laughter of a man as you ran and it sent a cold chill down your spine. You had to get out of here..But how are you-.... THAT'S IT!! Your feet steered back towards your room but the long way around.

"Mother, why are we heading back to our rooms?" Rui easily was able to keep up with you.

"We're not going to our rooms!" You smiled. "We're going to someone else's."

Rui tilted his head curiously but otherwise didn't complain about it. A few hallways and confused stares from servants later you stood in front of Daki's room panting from running and ramming your knuckles into the sliding door. Over and over and over again until a flurry of angry stomps came from the other side and you stood back as the door S L A M M E D open so hard it shook the frames and there she was in all her tired morning glory.

"W H A T-"

DAKI paused. ..And you fought the urge to not instantly laugh. She stood there with another one of those mud mask things dried on her face, her hair in messily placed curlers, her surprised eyes blinking tiredly, and a robe tied around her body. It looked like she just literally woke up. 

"Hi, Daki! Is Gyutaro here?" You greeted with a smile and wave.

...She slowly and tiredly blinked again processing what she was looking at before frowning. "Yes. He's dead asleep the lazy ass." She then yawned a hand rubbing her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"This is Rui." You pulled the child in front of you making Daki blink down at him. "You might've seen him at the meeting with me. He's got the day off from school today and I brought him to meet you both."

"...Huh?"

"He's my son." The shock was instant on Daki's face. Looking between you then Rui before looking back at you. "I wanted to introduce him to the ones trying to court me. He's already met most of the others so this would be a good time to know you both too."

Daki's has dropped. Looking shocked between you and Rui over and over again like a gold fish before a wide smile broke out on her face and she honestly squealed. "ILL GO WAKE HIM UP IMMEDIATELY!! DON'T GO ANYWHERE!!"

The door was then slammed back shut leaving you two standing there silently... before Rui looked up at you. "Why do I need to meet these people?"

"Because you're going to meet them eventually and I want your opinion on them all." That was one thing you wanted in this if and only IF you picked anyone, they had to prove to be a good provider for Rui. As a father and as a person. Rui seemed to get along well with Kyogai, Kaigaku, and especially Akaza. Enmu...Not so much but he seemed to at least tolerate him. But you had no idea what he'd do with everything else. This would be a good way to get away from Douma and get Rui's opinion on the siblings."If you're going to have a father dont you want to meet everyone who might be a father to you?"

Rui stared at you... before back at the door. "How many fathers are you trying to get me?"

You blinked. "What? Rui. You don't have lots of fathers. I just want your opinion on the ones courting me is all."

Rui paused before his eyes widened. "You mean I can have as many fathers as I want!?"

You did a double take at Rui's awestruck face. Like he just witnessed a miracle. "What? Rui, I didn't mean it in that regard-"

"I can have more fathers in my life than anyone else!" He went on thinking more and more about it. "So many birthday gifts. Father would be the best one of course but it never occurred to me that I could have the most powerful family in the world!" ....He nodded."Very well. We will see who's worthy and who's not." He blinked. "Mother, why are you hiding your face?"

You pressed your face into your hands and hid your face. "Rui...No. I just wanted your opinion on who's trying to court me. I never said I was marrying anyone let alone more than one!" 

"Ah! Then it's up to me to decide how many fathers I have! Very well. I shall help you in securing a suitable amount of fathers for me. It's very considerate of you to give me this task-" He paused as you thumped your embarrassed face into a wall. "...Mother?"

You had a feeling you goofed again and would have to explain it to him later. From inside the room and much shuffling about and cursing from Daki as she ran about and assumedly woke her brother up from where he was sleeping. 

"WAKE UP!!....I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE TIRED!! GET THE HELL OUT HERE!! SHE BROUGHT HER CHILD TO MEET YOU!! THAT MEANS SHE SEES YOU AS A CANDIDATE FOR HER AFFECTIONS!! DO YOU KNOW HOW HUGE OF A STEP THIS IS?!......GET OUT OR I'LL MAKE YOU!!"

You heard her yelling at Gyutaro most likely but strangely enough you didn't hear Gyutaro's voice at all. Guess Daki's yelling was too loud for you to hear him. 

"Go answer the door! I can't answer the door looking like this!"

"Didn't you just did?"

"JUST DO IT!! And don't let them see me until I'm dressed! I'm not going out looking out like this!"

There was a man's voice grumbling finally heard from the other side of the door before footsteps approached and a moment later the door slowly slid open again only this time revealing a grumpy man's face. Gyutaro's face. Said demon looked tired but then his yellow eyes widened in surprise at you standing there smiling at him. Looking you up and down- Then stopping at Rui who also blinked at him. 

"Gyutaro!" He jumped looking at you again as you smiled widely. "Hi! I hope this isn't a bad time."

....He slowly blinked again. "You...came back? To see.." A hand pointed at him. "Me?"

"Of course I did, and for good reason. Gyutaro, this is Rui." Your hand patted Rui's shoulder. "He's my son." Gyutaro snapped back to you. ''Adopted son. I brought him here to meet you both and to go out today."

"Go...out?" Eyes widened more. "To-... Together?"

"Yes. We haven't been on that shopping trip yet remember? It was kind of interrupted by Sakura. I was thinking maybe we'd all be able to go out today and Rui here can get to know you better." It'd also give you a chance to get out of you're able to find an exit somewhere in here. "Only if you're interested in it. I understand if you do-"

"NO!" You jumped from his shout but he quickly back tracked. "I-...N-No. It's fine. I just.. wasn't expecting you to want to go with..." He didn't answer that sentence.

"Why wouldn't I? I think you're a wonderful person to be around, and you saved my life at least twice and I want to repay that back even just a little." You chuckled as he stared. "And you're pretty cute.~ Can you blame me for coming back?"

"I-IM NOT CUTE!!," He squawked a red hue coming over his face.

"Uh...Yes you are. That's why I'm going to kiss every single one of those markings on your cute face."

He blanked as you giggled. "...What? AH!!" He jumped as two hands nearly grabbed his cheeks. Falling backwards and landing on the ground with a thud and scrambling back as a giggling figure approached. "N-Nonononononono!! Get back, get back!!" 

The figure didn't and giggled again as the powerful Upper Moon Six... squawked a sound out that sounded like a dying Turkey and fled...to safely hide behind his younger sister...who squealed as she was literally picked up by her shoulders in the middle of putting on make up and held out like some shield between the flustered demon and giggling woman.  

"Brother, what are you doing?!"

"Keep back! She's trying to attack me!"

"No I'm not." You leaned left- He shoved Daki to the left between you two. "I only want to kiss his cute face. He needs more love."

"THE HELL I DO!! AH!!" You leaned right and Gyutaro again shoved Daki between you both. "BACK! BACK Y-Y-YOU VILE WOMAN!!"

"She's trying to kiss you?...Let her!" Daki barked looking over her shoulder at him. 

"WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU ON?!"

"The side that gets you a wife! Now get over there and pucker up!!" She grabbed her brother by his arms and began trying to wrestle the yelping man towards your giggling form. "THIS IS A GOOD SIGN!!"

"LET THE HELL GO!!"

Rui was still standing still watching as they fought each other while you giggled at them.. before tilting his head and calculated something. "....He seems to make her happy, and comes with an Aunt....I will consider this fact as I go forward."

Eventually you stopped and allowed the siblings to calm down enough to allow Daki to get herself ready. And by that you meant painstakingly doing her hair and makeup and nearly taking an hour to decide what to wear and then taking another twenty minutes to do YOUR hair after insisting that you couldn't go out with your bed head. All the waiting put you on edge. What if Douma happened to come by? With his connection to the siblings they might let him tag along or something. Thankfully he didn't and you were able to get them out the door with little trouble. Hopefully by the time you get back, Douma would already be gone again. Right now you could focus on spending some time with Rui, and looking for an exit without trying to attract a lot of attention to you. With Rui holding your hand and Daki dragging you by the arm excitedly, you all left the same way you went last time you were out although with all the shifting buildings and rooms it was hard to tell. 

"Where are we going?," You asked as Daki continued to pull you along.

"To my favorite stores of course!," She squealed excitedly eyes wide in the promise of getting a whole lot of things she probably wouldn't use more than once in her lifetime. "This is perfect! There's so many places I want to go! There's the clothes store, Yuma's Hairpins and Galore- OH!!" She looked back to her brother whom already looked exhausted. "Can we go to that one place where they measure you for custom jewelry fits?"

Her brother sighed tiredly. "You're the one leading the way."

That seemed to satisfy his sister enough as she continued to babble to herself something about fitting a custom anklet for herself since she didn't have one of those yet. However you blinked behind you at him. 

"Hey. Isn't there somewhere you'd like to go?" He hummed at you. "It wouldn't be fair for us to just go where Daki wants."

He blinked surprised you'd ask that before shrugging. "I don't really care where we go. I'm not really one to hoard useless objects. I never want anything anyways."

"You must want to go somewhere. How about a sword smith? He might be able to sharpen your sycles."

"I don't need any smith. My blades never need sharpening."

"Alright. How about a clothes store? You might like some of their  clothes." He grunted in annoyance. "Well...What about a black smith? Maybe you can find a new sycle?" You only got the same response. Well this was awkward. You were starting to run out of places that Gyutaro might be interested in going. "Well..." You carefully eyed his body. "..Well you can pick where we have lunch then!"

He turned to you lifting a brow. "What? Food?"

You nodded "We haven't eaten yet so you can pick where we eat! It's only fair since we're kinda dragging you everywhere."

He opened his mouth... before turning away. "Tch. Fine. If it'll make you stop nagging me about it."

"Whatever! We're going to MY favorite spots first!"

"But I wanted to go to the book store, and a toy store!"

Daki glanced back to Rui. "We can go after I make a few stops. I've been waiting longer than you have."

Rui looked back up at you. "Is she always this stubborn?"

Gyutaro snorted when Daki snapped him a look and you just smiled at her. Eventually she dragged you four along to your first stop which wasn't surprisingly a clothing store. Daki practically gushed and squealed as she dove head first into the maze of displayed fabrics and dresses. You Right behind her. It was maybe one or two hours of Daki just literally throwing anything she didn't like away from her (those poor ladies who worked there) or trying on something every two seconds before grabbing you and practically forcing you into anything she thought would look nice on you. You were surprised to find most of the dresses that she forced you into weren't something you'd trip over or something too tight. You could probably run in them if you wanted despite them obviously being expensive fancy looking. Did Daki actually listen to your opinions on dresses? Gyutaro only looked on boredly and by the end of it all he was forced into carrying four giant bags of dresses for his sister. Rui also managed to find something he liked rummaging around-

"Mother, I want this." He held up at least three kimonos that was white with spider web print..just like..every other outfit he owned.

Whatever made him happy. You carried Rui's and your items (which Daki INSISTED you get) to not burden Gyutaro with them. From there it was pretty much a predictable run through. A store that sold shoes. A store that sold hair pins. A jewelry store- You hadn't seen so much sparkling diamonds and gold and silver and pearls and rubies and other things in your life. Each and every store Gyutaro looked on boredly and just stood there watching his sister coo over everything and of course force you to try things on.

...He nearly went red when she smiled at him face lit up. You...we're having fun with his sister? That was good. Right? He didn't think anyone other than him or Douma could tolerate Daki's personality. But she seemed to genuinely like it when Daki forced a ruby studded choker around her throat before forcing a mirror into her face..and she smiled. Before looking at him..and also smiling.

Bu-BUMP

Oh no-

"I want that one." He blinked as a voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Oh. It was just the kid. He was pointing at one cabinet with glass doors used to display what looked like mainly bracelets. His pale hand pointed at one near the middle. A beautiful pink pearl bracelet. "Give it to me."

The store front, an old lady, just stared at him. Ah. She must've been the one he was looking at. She stared at him with a confused face. "Um... Young Sir, you are aware these are women's bracelets correct?"

"They don't have labels. Give me it. I want  that one."

"Sir. That is a woman's bracelet made to be worn by a woman around a woman's wrist specifically." She frowned narrowing her eyes. "Which means it would be most unbecoming of a man to wear such an item. What would your parents think if they saw you in it?"

The kid stopped and stared at her..then looked over his shoulder at the two women too busy shopping to notice. "... They'll be fine with it."

"What will others think about you or your parents then? It'd be a bad stain on their reputation if they allowed their son to wear such things," she chastised with a sneer at the boy who visibly flinched at the words and yellow eyes glanced at them both. "What would happen if you ruined their status in society b-"

"Get the dam bracelet."

Both were silenced surprised that another raspy voice spoke up and turned to find almost sickly yellow eyes staring daggers right back at her. "I-... W-What?"

"Did I stutter?" She didn't move. "GIVE HIM THE FUCKING BRACELET!!"

The angry shout had the woman squealing in fright and running back into the wall and the other people in the dam place turned their eyes towards the noise instantly including two familiar faces. However strangely the boy didn't flinch and just stared at him then at the woman whom fearfully scrambled at the cabinet the door squeaking wide open. Shaking hands grabbed the pretty pink pearl bracelet and little eyes widened in awe as it was delivered to him on a silver platter. The tiny perfectly round beads feeling cool in his pale hands as he all but held the bracelet before looking back at the tall angry demon whom snorted at the woman.

"Scary father could strike fear into others for me....Yes. That's good," Rui mumbled quietly before the older demon snapped down to him.

"What?"

"Nothing but observations." Rui continued to stare in awe at him. "Very helpful ones for my family. You'll fit in."

Gyutaro blinked. "...Eh?'

"BROTHER!!" "Gyutaro!! Rui!!"

Both looked up as two women stared at the demons. Uh oh. Looks like he would be getting an earful.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

He was lucky to avoid his sister making a scene in the store by you insisting that you all just gather whatever Daki wanted and leaving to the next store which just so happened to be where Rui wanted. So everyone could calm down. Luckily Daki was satisfied with just putting everything on 'Douma's Tab' and skidaddling onwards. You weren't sure where these stores were but thankfully Daki seemed to be an expert on shopping enough to lead the way when asked and to a small book store you all went. It looked similar to the small library you had back in your village only there was many more scrolls and books lying about. Rui was like a child with a new puppy. You couldn't ever remember seeing him light up and smile so fast before taking off between the shelves and out of sight. You blinked ... before slowly walking around and viewing at everything around you.

"What's so fascinating about a bunch of books and dusty scrolls?," Daki asked looking bored already at the shelves around you.

"If you want you can just wait with Gyutaro until we're done here. It's only until Rui's finished looking  around." 

She mumbled something but pouted and poked at the books on the shelf. You smiled and continued on your way around the place glancing at titles. Some were ones you didn't understand some were ones you did. A Guide To Poisonous Plants. To Join A Cloud. Historica Demonca Vol. 7. One Hundred Ways To Cook Grasshoppers-

You paused... Blinking widely as a book cover was shoved into your face by paled hands. "Look Mother. I want this one!"

You blinked again registering the book in front of you before reading the book cover in front of you. "White Rose And The Creature and Other Fairytales Of Romance and Adventure?" Quite a mouthful of a title. "Where'd you get this?"

Rui pointed at a random shelf. "Between the books on hunting deer and practical uses of rocks." Well ..that was a strange place to find a fairytale book. "I want it! Please!"

"Well..I suppose so. As long as you take care of it!"

Rui seemed delighted to be getting what he wanted and he ran off to grab a few more books he wanted. You found a few you found interesting too. A few romance novels and one or two books on edible wildlife. If you ever got out of here they might be useful for traveling and living in the woods. You weren't sure how long you were in that store, but if you thought Rui went bonkers for the books then you had to literally drag him by the collar out of the toy store. The place was beautiful. Many trinkets and expertly carved out toys lined the shelves with painted faces or stitched up from beautiful cloth. Rui kept on grabbing and grabbing and grabbing things to the point you had to stop him before he tried to leave with the entire store. In short he only left with two toys max.

"But Mother! I want that plush tiger!" Rui squirmed in your hold as you deadpanned dragged him away. "And that music box and that wind up horse-"

"You're going to have to earn those before you can get more young man," you said pulling him along. "If you keep up your good grades and behave yourself then you can come back."

"But it's not ffffaaaaiiiirrrr!!" He pouted frowning. "I don't want to wait."

You groaned again. Being a mother was hard work. Gyutaro almost laughed at the entire scene. Now this definitely reminded him of someone else who acted like a spoiled brat too.

"Well I'm hungry. Let's eat! We've been walking around all day."

"That's a good idea." You turned to Gyutaro. "So where are we eating?"

He paused blinking at you. "Eh?" 

"You're picking where we're eating at." You smiled. "After all, I'd love to eat with you." He blinked as you tilted your head at him. "Do you know anyplace?"

"I-...Um.......Food?"

Smack! Daki groaned facepalming herself as her brother just dumbly looked at you before she inhaled. "I remember this really great place that cooks meats right before your eyes. Remember?" Gyutaro let out an 'Oof' as his sister sharply kicked his left leg. "Douma brought me there to celebrate my first successful mission as a Kizuki." Her brother stared at her. "It's a REALLY nice place to EAT."

"Huh? OH! yes." He pointed at Daki. "T-That place!"

"Great! Where is it?"

"It's..Uh..Well I mean-"

"It's just to the right of here past the candy store."

"Yeah! There!"

"Great!" Oh dear gods he almost fainted right then and there when you looped an arm around his. "Lead the way!"

"T-T-The way? I-.." he just stared at your pretty face. "...Who are we talking about?"

"Oh for Muzan's sake!" Daki threw her hands up in defeat and walked off in the direction of the place. "Just follow me."

You did. Gyutaro nearly sweating himself to death and his face lighting up a bright pink as you leaned your head on his arm. Oh be still his beating heart. Daki lead you all to a massive moving building and you literally had to jump onto the moving platform attached to the storefront just to get to the door. These demons sure had a strange home. You weren't sure you were ever going to get used to living here. It only made you miss the outside even more. But.. otherwise you weren't complaining. Your senses were attacked by the smells of juicy meats and spices of all kinds and there in the middle of the entire place was a massive open fit full of hot burning coals, and skewered over it was two massive pigs with miniature skewers of chicken or fish varying around them. Around the massive room was other demons eating but all stopped and stared wide eyed as you all walked in. Well you couldn't blame them you guessed. Between Daki's beauty and Gyutaro's looks you supposed there would be a few stares sent their way. However you couldn't tell that most looks were actually on..

You.

An employee greeted you, offering to show you four to a table Daki immediately pointed at the one right next to the meats. You guessed she was really hungry. You and Rui made no objections to following them as you walked in the quiet place now your mind on the promise of food for your empty stomachs. 

"Is that her?" A whisper asked catching the perked up ear of a particularly skinny demon. 

"Yes. She's a lot smaller than I thought she would be." Another whisper answered.

"I'll say. But she's rather.... alluring. I can see why so many men would want her to themselves. I certainly wouldn't mind having her as a wife."

"Yes. So Beautiful...Do you think she would accept other suitors?" He felt his hands ball into angry fists.

" I could try my luck. I have more of a chance surely than the creature she's clinging to-"

"*HHIIISSS!!*"

Everyone practically jumped as Gyutaro snapped his head behind him and hissed rather loudly shutting down anymore conversation those two men were having and stared at him in horror. Before a soft hand gently tugged him along still growling and baring teeth at everyone.

"Here, Gyutaro. Come sit by me. You'll be calmer with food in your stomach."

In the end you just might've spared those demons' lives.  As soon as you four sat down, plates of food were descended upon you from all sides probably in an order to please a Kizuki Lord and Lady. However you were a little concerned about Gyutaro's lack of appetite while eating. Despite the massive amount of food being placed in front of you all Rui and Daki seemed to be the only ones digging out bigger pieces while he just picked out bits and pieces. There was also another thing. If Gyutaro picked up something Daki showed interest in something he wouldn't take anything or make a move until his sister picked as much as she wanted picked off which left little for him. It happened with a chicken. Then another dishes. Then a rather large tray of dumplings.

"Gyutaro." He hummed looking at you as Daki again grabbed another dumpling off the tray he held out for her. "You're not eating anything and letting Daki take all the food." Daki stopped halfway through eating another one as they both looked at you. "You're not going to get enough food if you don't eat anything."

They both seemed surprised by your blunt observation but Gyutaro hummed. "She needs it more. Food's precious and there was times when there wasn't enough to go around. She needed it more than I ever did."

"But.. don't you two have access to all the food you want now?" They both just...stared at you.

"I-..." He looked back to the plate he held. "It's... always been this way." But flinched when you gently grabbed his hands and pushed the plate back to him. 

"Gyutaro. Eat. Don't deprive yourself of food anymore. Eat. Ok?" He nearly passed out when a hand grabbed a dumpling from the plate and held it up to him. "Here. Start with this and eat until you're full. For me?" He continued to stare until his jaw dropped in shock and the dumpling was placed inside before gentle hands closed the jaw and ran across his mouth gently. "There. Now you have to start taking care of yourself. How are you supposed to care for someone else if you don't care for yourself?"

His face burnt a red as he continued to stare at you.....Gods. Was this what it felt like to die?  If yes never let him leave this moment!! 

After a while it was time to go back. Back following Daki all the way back to the Kizuki Dwell with arms full of bags and stomachs full of food. Rui happily examining the pink pearl bracelet around his wrist and fiddling with the giant plush bear he managed to make off with out of the toy store. It was a really good day, and most importantly absolutely no Douma! You just hoped he wouldn't be around when you got back. 

"Thank you for showing me around. I really had a nice time, and I'm sure Rui did too." You smiled at Gyutaro outside of his room.

"Uh.." Daki gave another kick to his leg. "Ow! Uh!...I meant Y-Yes. Nice day! Good."

You smiled again. "It's getting late. Rui has school tomorrow so I should probably get him to bed. I'm happy to spend time with you and Daki. Let's go out again sometime. This time maybe I can decide where we go."

"Um. Sure. O-Ok."

"Good night, Gyutaro. Make sure you eat your fill from now on. Ok?"

"Yeah."

He mumbled out watching as you turned with a smile on your face. Walking away and taking Rui with you disappearing around a corner. A hammering in his chest and tightness in his heart he was sure Daki could absolutely feel. Perhaps...this wasn't too bad after all. You made it back to your room and almost had to fight Rui to sleep as he didn't want to go to bed after the fun day he had. However he changed his tune when you threatened to not read him anymore stories from the books, he got quiet real quick and almost dove into his room to his bed. At last...peace and quiet. You didn't spot any exits but you did however not have any interactions with Douma again so that was a plus. With a triumphant smile, you climbed back into you bed and sighed as sleep slowly took you into it's embrace. Safe from empty rainbow irises.

Oh. How fate loved to toy with you.

The next morning you had no problems with waking up when Rui was sent off to school again. Just smiling and contently getting up from your bed when all good feelings were whisked away as something jabbed your side under the covers. Annoyed, you fished your hand under the blankets until you plucked it out but nearly dropped it as soon as you saw it. Sitting there in your hand was a beautiful lotus bloom hair comb. The same one Douma gave you. You sat there stunned looking at it. What the- WHAT WAS THIS DOING HERE!? You gave this back to Douma! What was it doing IN YOUR BED?! You must've not noticed it because you were really tired last night. Purple eyes looked up and stared stunned at what they saw. A perfectly wrapped pink box stood in one corner of the room pushed aside. What the- Why was THAT still here?! You thought he would've taken the box with him!! Why did he leave it here?! Didn't he take the hint you bluntly said?!

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!

You paused in the middle of throwing the comb as a couple of loud knocks came from the door making you pause and blink. ...No way that was Rui. He was already off to school. Maybe it was one of the servants coming to deliver your breakfast or maybe it was one of the siblings or Enmu? That had you perking up and walking over to the door as the knocks continued. The door slid open and you peered out...only to blink as you met the red shirt covering a toned chest and looked up at two rainbow irises.

"Ah.~ Good mor-"

SLAM!! 

The door was slammed shut right in his face as he blinked...and closed his mouth. "...-ning." More loud knocks were heard as he knocked again. "My darling fiance.~ Dearest!~ Oh my darling, please open the door.~ I have a wonderful meal waiting for us in my room. You'd love the view. Let us talk and discuss why you're so cranky all the time. You'd find me super helpful like everyone else does."

There was silence inside the room .. before footsteps approached and he smiled as the door was slid back open- Something hard was shoved into his chest he fumbled about to catch the pink box and he blinked at the now slightly smashed in box in his hands. Before he looked back up to your scowling, tired face- Something else hit his chest just above the box, before it tumbled down to thud onto the floor by his feet. A lotus flower smiling up at him. 

SLAM!!

The door was once again slammed shut in his face without even a word and leaving him to stand there holding the box in his hands. Silence rang out as he just stared at them both blankly, tilting his head confused....she still didn't like what he got her? But he made sure to pick them very carefully this time AND with other women's help. Huh. ...Did he come at a bad time again? He thought surely if he let her sleep in and get plenty of rest she'd be less cranky. Was it something someone else did? He should find out the exact problem.

"Darling, if you were unhappy with the gifts then you should've said something." More knocks tapped on the door. "We can discuss what you'd really like me to grace you with if you'd just open the door." The door was slid open and he poked his head inside. "Dear?..Where did you wonder off to?"

Down the hallway a different sliding door slowly and quietly slid open just enough for you to poke your head out. Douma seemed confused by your sudden disappearance and entered your room. Once he fully walked inside you slowly slid out of the doorway making sure to close it behind you to cover your tracks and turned to quickly tiptoe run your escape down the hallway. Thank the GODS Rui's room was connected to yours! All you had to do was slip into his room and exit out his door leading out into the hallway. Wasn't a perfect plan but it was enough for you to get away for now. Quickly you ran around the corner and down another hallway trying to put as much distance between you and Douma as possible. What the hell was that guy doing back here?! Couldn't he take a hint?! What if he was already chasing you?! Against better judgement you peered behind you-

"AH!!"

You collided with something hard but also soft-ish causing both you to loose your balance and fall to the floor. Someone else stumbled back but didn't fall. Instead the other person blinked as you groaned on the ground.

"Oh my. What a pretty fall you took.~ I do hope you didn't hurt yourself too much.~"

You blinked looking up and staring into familiar teal eyes. "Enmu? " you sighed. "Am I glad to see you." You pushed yourself up from where you fell down and brushed yourself off. "What are you doing here?"

"I just returned to grab a few things before I check my railways. I'm in charge of them you know, so as such I have to be sure my little worker ants of Conductors and workers are doing well in my absence." He tilted his head at you. "What are you doing here so early? You're usually still in your room."

"Uh.." you glanced behind you. Still no signs of Douma but that didn't mean he wouldn't be here any moment. "I was.. Looking for you actually." You looked back to him calmly.

He seemed to perk up at this. "Oh. Did you perhaps have a question about your blood?~ Or perhaps you're experiencing another change in your body you wished to tell me?~"

What he wasn't expecting was for you to grab his shoulders, narrow your eyes, and in a serious voice say- "Take me with you."

He blinked. "I beg pardon?"

"I want to spend time with you. Take me with you to see your trains. I haven't really ridden on one until Kaigaku made me so it'd be nice to just see what they're like." You saw him perk up with a hum. "Besides...you said I need to lower my stress levels. I'm not going to do that cooped up here. So let me go with you."

He seemed to think about that for a moment before humming and looking at you. "Well...I shouldn't really take you out of the Infinity Castle..but if you promise to stay with me and come back later then I can make an exception just this once."

"Done! I wouldn't leave Rui behind anyways!" You nervously looked behind your shoulder again. Douma could show up any moment. "When are you going?''

"Well I was going to drop off a few things at Master's lab first, maybe take care of some paperwork. I suppose I could wait until I get back to do those things but they're pretty important. I don't think-"

"We're going now!"

He again blinked at you. "Begonia. You don't seem to realize how this works." You narrowed your eyes. "I don't have any other choice."

"Oh I disagree."

"You don't understand again. There's no way you can ma- HHHAAAAHH!!"

He squealed out as you leaned down and just did what you usually did back when something needed to be moved back in your village. Just throw it over your shoulder and move it. Which was literally what you did to Enmu. He squealed finding himself thrown over your left shoulder and your arms gripping onto his legs before you stomped off down the hall quickly. Immediately his face lit up a red.

"We're going NOW...Hm." You gently went up and down on your knees a few times weighing him on your shoulder. "...Wow. You really are lighter than you look....Enmu?"

His face burnt a red as he maniacally giggled. "If it's wrong for a woman to sweep a man off his feet then never let me call myself a man again.~"

[k0k0-library]

Obey me! Random shit at 12 am that's not 12 am because I said so >:)

Third realm, let's goooooo. Human realm. " but LID, We know the human realm we're humans-" SHUSH! Let my brain rot hunny. (Why am i literally having a fight with myself...)

3. The Human Realm

I'm going to start this one with maths, calculus. Or a reinterpretation of a well-known theorem. Lagrange's theorem. Say we have earth P, then this means that there exists earth P' with or within reach of R-to-the-power-of-infinity. So there's a huge soup of universes in the multiverse. And multiverses into omniverse. And omniverses sandwiched in between The Celestial Realm and the Devildom. The rule of the co-existing universes was set that there cannot exist two universes that are the exact same within the same multiverse. Multiverses are, by extension of this rule, different by at least a spec of stardust.

Talking about the human world of the game (we are in the universe in which it is viewed as only a game, sadly), things are quite different from what we know.

First, the existence of humans began before angels and archangels were created. To be more exact, these humans were in their 1400-1500 A.C. when Lilith decided to make the first approach to humanity. People were not living in a lie, because Mephistopheles was the one who tricked Adam & Eve into eating the apple. Which btw, it's not an apple, it's tears shed by the Ze Schebrach when they were slain. Yes... there were so many that it is enough for each and every universe to have them. Damn, The Creator(s) didn't have mercy-

Second, as we can tell from some of the interactions in both the main story and some event stories, angels were allowed to visit the human realm in this universe. But why...? This is the oldest yet universe, the first if you will, and therefore everything was experimental. The Creator(s) were very kin to know rather or not humans and Celestials can live in harmony together and as known from the very beginning of the humans' existence... they can't.

Humans are very unpredictable and therefore they are not allowed to be in contact with elements from either the Devildom or The Celestial Realm, or there would be consequences (ThE rEBeLiOn). Celestial objects enchant humans with new abilities, closest to those of even archangels. Imortality being one of them. (Does this mean Lilith's boyfriend is still alive-). Devilish objects make humans see the real world, the real suffering that was behind their creation and in most cases, those humans who came in contact with these objects commit suicide or turn against their own kind.

As stated before, humans cannot enter that easily in The Celestial Realm, at least not anywhere except what we know as Heaven. It is like a simulation of a garden, peaceful. Yet, some humans believed that if they entered Heaven they should be able to get to enter other divisions of the realm as well. For exaple, here are a few humans that are known to do so with or without completing the Trial of Souls in The Great Hall: Solomon, Aurelius, Luke, MC.

This also goes for the Devildom, there is a special subdivision where humans are "kept", but unlike the Celestial Realm, demons do no mind humans roaming around their realm as much (this is also the reason why The Devildom started the exchange program in the first place).

As there is not much to say about the human world for now, I'll be leaving it here... edits, oh edits, let down your words (rapunzel rapunzel let down your hair)

[lucianalight]

Apparently a lot of fandom and the Loki show itself believe that Frigga's death was Loki's fault. I decided to rewatch tdw in case I've missed sth and it was a good decision since yes I have had forgotten some details.

Let's see what the movie shows us.

The Dark Elves could sense the Aether activating. That was what woke them up. And they also knew its location and the fact that it was on Asgard and they knew the convergence was close.

"You will become darkness. Cursed to this existence until it consumes you. Until then no power our enemies possess can stop you." Malekith to Algrim

The Kursed was indestructible by any power the Asgardians possess. None of the weapons, Elvish or Asgardian work on him not even Mjolnir(only their own elvish made weapon that Loki cleverly activated destroyed him). He could bring down the protective shields on prisons which was built of the same material that could protect the palace. So no matter how many guards was on his way he could still reach his intended location.

The reason Algrim could get into Asgard in the first place was because of Asgard's incredibly weak and stupid security system that relied on 1 (one) guy who couldn't see Dark Elves or Jane(or probably anyone who uses infinity stones, or simple invisibility tech or magic).

The reason Algrim could get into the dungeons under Asgard's palace with no one noticing he is carrying a weapon inside a wound in his body, is again the same weak security system and an apparent indifference toward their prisoner's health.

Speaking of the prisons, where are the dungeons located?

Here, deep under the ground. And there are stairs.

Oh look another set of stairs.

Which leads to the only way in or out of the dungeon.

A set of stairs that from the pov of anyone who wants to get out, they should turn left. Look at the only one direction that the guards running in to join the fight.

Anyway stairs, stairs everywhere. Remember these because we're coming back to them.

Now let's see the events from Loki's point of view. There's an explosion in one of the cells. A creature Loki has never seen before(or probably didn't even know existed), is bringing down the cells' shields one by one without any effort(sth as far as we know Loki can't do himself) and Asgardian weapons don't work on him and he can kill anyone with a simple touch. He is definitely a threat. The kind of threat Loki's been dealing with during his time with Thanos. So he goes for an intimidating posture. A look that says I am dangerous and a threat on a whole other level than these scavengers. A look that means trouble and Kursed understands it very well . Loki's Asgardian looks and his different luxurious cell adds to his hesitation and suspicion in freeing Loki. And he doesn't risk it.

It is at this point that Loki says "You might want to take the stairs to the left". Alright which stairs? The stairs that are the only way out of the dungeons and Algrim should have turned left to get out no matter what?

"Maybe there was a secret door somewhere in the dungeon."

Ok how? Look at the structure of dungeons. It's a long tunnel above a deep empty space. There's literally nothing there.

Or maybe Loki meant these stairs? Alright then where? Right or left?

And after that? and after that? Did what Loki said meant Kursed should have kept turning left on each set of stairs to reach the security room where the protective shield control was located? A room that is clearly located far from the dungeons on the ground level because you can see the light of the day.

Or Do you mean the room was located right at the left of dungeons' door? And right beside Frigga's chambers? That doesn't make any sense. Let me remind you how massive that palace actually is.

"Maybe that was a path with less guards so Kursed could move around easier?"

No? He is leaving a trail of bodies in his path because no one is able to harm him. And most of the guards are either busy with the prisoners or defending the palace and city.

Moreover at that point, Loki had no idea that this is anything but a prison break. He had no idea that the palace was under attack because it hadn't happened yet. There was no sound of impact or the building shaking. Not until after Kursed was long gone. So Loki didn't even have any reason to send Kursed to that room so he can take down the shield.

The way I see it what Loki says to Kursed is an attempt to get free. Loki's telling him that he knows the palace. That Loki can be an ally if Kursed frees him. At the same time he doesn't give him any useful information.

Also notice that at first Loki is not worried and doesn't care what's happening around him. Not until he hears and feels the building is shaking. Not until he hears the guards saying that the throne is under attack. That's when he stands and looks around and tries to listen to what's happening.

(And I think part of that indifference in the beginning is because of the trust he has in Thor. That Thor wouldn't let anything terrible happen to their mother. One of the many reasons their fight in the boat is heartbreaking. Loki accusing Thor of letting Frigga die. The brother who Loki always looked up to, failed. Thor telling Loki that he wasn't even there. The brother he never thought would leave his side was now far away. It's also their shared grief and guilt. Neither of them were there to prevent Frigga's death.)

So how could Kursed find the room and Frigga's chambers easily in that massive palace? The same way they knew where to find Asgardians and their prisoners to get into Asgard without Heimdall noticing. They were an ancient race. Older than Asgardians. They had better tech and weapons and quite possibly prior knowledge of inner working of Asgard. Moreover as I mentioned earlier they could sense the Aether. That's how Malekith and Kursed found Frigga and Jane.

"But what if it was what the movie intended to portray? That it was Loki's fault?"

Well in that case they should start watching their own movies and make what they intend to show, not asking the audience to accept sth that isn't shown and doesn't make any sense.

But even then, even if Loki gave Kursed any notable info, Frigga's death still isn't Loki's fault. Loki's involvement is just a cog in the wheel of a series of events that end up with that result. It's the butterfly effect, not the cause and effect. Which is actually one of the main themes of the movie. The convergence. The nine realms separated but once in a while the borders between them thins and they align perfectly so whatever happens to one happen to all others. Just like how we are living individually but our choices can cause a chain of events that affects a lot of people. So at the end of the day we're all connected. Like the convergence that connected the realms to each other.

[writingfish]

A snippet on Stephen sending Wong back in time. Why? I have no idea. I just wanted Wong to say he hates the phrase "this is the only way".

---

Green slipped through his fingers. Around them, the star forge around them crumbled. Gaps opened up in the floor, shining with multicolored light.

"You did the spell wrong," Wong yelled. He was gripping onto a chunk of wall. Light from a gap was trying to drag him in. Rocks rolled along the floor, falling into the gaps. The universe groaned, a sinking ship.

He reached for the green. It solidified briefly under his fingers before turning back to mist. He growled at it, trying the spell again. Time slipped again. The cracks widened.

"I did it correctly," he yelled at Wong. "It's just not working. There has to be something else, something we're missing."

Wong ducked as a large bar of metal careened over his head. It crashed into the wall, breaking it open. Beyond was cold space. Air started to leave their space, rock, tools, and metal going with it. Immediately, Wong summoned a shield. He did the same. It would keep air in, but not for long. They wouldn't have to worry about it, not with the way reality was shattering all around them.

He tried the spell again. This time, the entirety of Time slammed into his mind. The birth of the universe, the vibrant middle, and the soon-to-be-end. There was nothing beyond reality cracking. Their universe was colliding with another and both of them would end up gone.

He destroyed a universe, they had said about his other other him. All of them were the exact same, trying to save everyone but failing each and every time. Wong would have known what to do, would have done better…Wong, who was still here.

The gap at his feet had widened into a chasm. Wong was still clinging onto the wall - what grip strength - and looking back at him with face of utter calmness. Wong had always been like that. Calm, when everything was breaking apart. He was always steady, even now clinging onto rock.

Time slammed into him again. An idea germinating and blooming in a few seconds. He could reverse it. Reverse it like he had done in Hong Kong trying to reverse damage to the Sanctum. There would be consequences, there always were. But, with the way space and reality were shattering around them, he wouldn't live long enough to experience them.

Finally, some part of him thought.

He looked at Wong again. Wong's eyes widened and he shook his head.

"No," he yelled. "Whatever you're thinking, no!"

"This is the only way," he said, reaching for Time again. Green surrounded him as he made the near-forgotten motions of the reversal spell he had used in Hong Kong. Time unspooled, blood dripped from his nose, his hands jerked. The spell held steady.

He fed it the parameters. First, somewhere safe, some when safe. Second, a point in time far back enough that the infinity stones still existed. Time struggled against him. He gripped it tighter. The surrounding world was gone, engulfed in green. The third parameter, knowledge kept, remembered. It would do no good if Wong didn't remember what had happened. He wouldn't be able to fix things then.

"Stephen!"

He turned back to Wong. He was trying to crawl his way over, struggling against debris and the holes in reality.

"This is the only way," he repeated and finalized the spell. Time surged, flowed backwards in a violent rush. A chasm opened up beneath him. He fell.

"I hate that phrase," Wong said and let Time take him away.