#Which also nothing in the game suggested that she said that because that implies that she KNEW she was gonna die after fixing Fodlan

[childofaura]

So, I’m playing through the Fallen Forging Bonds revival and I just noticed something.

In Rhea’s event, Seteth said something about Sothis forbidding all attempts to resurrect her. Was that ever actually in the main game, like actually stated or confirmed out loud?

Like I get that IS and FEH in general has a fetish for Edelgard, but making Rhea out to be more of a villain seems really unnecessary. I love Rhea and I absolutely agree that she’s flawed as a character (which makes her more tragic, which makes her character that much more interesting), but adding that “Sothis forbade it! Look how awful she is” feels like overkill. Just stick with the implication that it was wrong because she’s toying with life and keeping secrets from Byleth and Jeralt because they deserve to know, don’t try to further vilify her with new non-canon information. Especially when, in Three Hopes, Sothis has no qualms over controlling Byleth and even tells them she can take over their body whenever she feels like it.

[taniahylian]

Vertin and Esperanto

So, first of all, there'll be spoilers for chapter 7 of reverse 1999 under the line. If you haven't finished it, I suggest you to come back to read it after you do.

Alright, here we go.

First, let's talk about the incantation Marcus recovered from Isolde's mind, the one Arcana spoke.

It's an incantation in a language that, Ulrich said, Laplace has no records of. Literally, Enigma argued that decoding it in 24 hours was impossible precisely because they didn't have the language or any clue as to what it could mean.

And yet...

Vertin can read it. Naturally. As if it was her first language. And not only that, she also adds that the incantation that unlocks the suitcase is in the same language.

And what language is it, you ask? Well, irl it's Esperanto.

However, it's doubtful that the foundation would've no records of Esperanto, so it's only logical to assume that this language doesn't exist in the game in the same way as it does irl. In fact, it's likely the original language of arcanum. However, knowing it's Esperanto, we can get some in-game clues about it.

There are mainly two ppl who use this language. The first is Vertin. Now, we don't really see her cast many incantations, but the few she does cast are in Esperanto.

Why is this relevant? Well, because it seems most arcanists cast incantations in their native language. Sonetto uses italian, Kaalaa uses Hindi, Sophia uses Greek, etc. What's interesting is that, even though Sonetto has resided in the Foundation since she was very young, and speaks English fluently, she still uses Italian. Maybe because arcanum only works if it somehow connects with the arcanist's own roots, or something like that.

This implies Vertin's native language, aka mother tongue, is... Esperanto. But who taught it to her? Was it her mother? Is there any character that naturally speaks this language?

Well... yes, there is.

When Vertin agrees to joing Manus Vindictae in chapter 2, Arcana is pleased and says the following:

However, although the text translates it to English, what she actually says out loud is bonvenon hejmen, which is, you guessed it, Esperanto.

And this isn't the last time she does it. Later, in the same chapter, when Vertin is reunited with her team and is about the leave the manus, Arcana says this before teleporting away:

Again, the text translates it, but what she actually says is "adiaŭ", which again is in Esperanto. What's interesting, however, is that in these two ocassions she's not using incantations, but simply speaking... kind of implying it's her native language.

Now, Arcana is a very ancient being, I think we can easily deduce this. Not only that, but her name is very similar to arcanum/arcanists. And she even speaks about how the the "first magic circle" came to be, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's somehow related to the origins of arcanum.

So... what if Esperanto is the original language of arcanum? Maybe that's why powerful spells, like the storm immunity ritual, are in this lost language. Although it's not the only one.

That's right, the teleportation arcane skil, Aferoj Around, is also in Esperanto. Not only that, but it's described as "an advanced arcane skill" both times it's mentioned.

However, what's interesting here is that the Foundation and Zeno know this skill. In fact, they even have a number for it. So, how could they not know the language of the storm immunity ritual? Well, I lied. Because the only reason Laplace had the correct pronunciation and spelling of the storm immunity incantation was because of paper sent to Lucy by the "White Marble House", which seems to be an independent and very important faction within the foundation, of which we know nothing about.

But that's a theory for another time. For now I'd just like to conclude saying that I think Vertin's mother taught the language to her (or maybe she was born knowing it somehow?), wether her mother is Arcana or someone else with great knowledge of arcanum (personally I think Bessmert), or maybe even both.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think!

[looking-for-wisdom]

the “ex-something” character in disco elysium is so interesting to me because what we finally learn about the true Dora from harry’s dream sequence & conversations with the 41st precinct initially undercuts the first impression you get as a player. We learn things that makes it seem like Harry should be over her leaving. Specifically, the fact that she and Harry were never actually married and that it has been six years since she left.

Everything we’re told about Dora needs to be taken with a grain of salt, since it primarily comes from Harry. He’s an unreliable narrator and, if we had her perspective on things, there would surely be more to the story. But even with that said, I feel reasonably confident that the player’s first impression — that whoever this ex is did some damage even beyond typical breakup heartbreak — isn’t completely wrong.

We know a few things for certain. Harry was a gym teacher before they met, and Dora was the reason he joined the RCM. We can also do the math to figure out that they were together for around 12 years. Married or not, that’s a serious relationship. There are implications that Dora might have been pregnant at some point.

Dora’s family was wealthier than Harry’s, but they struggled financially when they were together. They had to rely on her parents for support.

Harry is a grown ass man who is responsible for his own choices. None of this changes that. But the way he is starts to make more sense when you consider that it wasn’t just their breakup that was traumatic. Their relationship itself seems unhealthy.

Harry clearly likes working with kids. Kim actually points out how he is easily able to connect with Cuno and the other teens in Martinase. With that in mind, I imagine he probably liked being a gym teacher. But we learn that Dora encourages him to join the RCM to do more for the greater good. Again, Harry had to agree to this — she didn’t force him to quit at gunpoint. But it rubs me the wrong way that, shortly after they start dating, she implies that his work isn’t fulfilling or important (probably patently untrue in an area where kids won’t necessarily have stable home lives). And, more than that, she suggests that joining the police is the solution.

Granted, we’re told there’s a lot of crime in Jamrock. Maybe it is as simple as her thinking law enforcement helps prevent that. But given the political tones of the game, which intentionally critique cops and the moralist forces they represent? I think it’s notable.

Speaking of which. The class difference between Dora and Harry has to be thematic. So much of the game discusses the struggle between the working class and the bourgeoisie. There’s an inherent power dynamic there. It’s her parents who are consistently paying their bills and keeping them afloat. She has an out that Harry doesn’t. Money won’t be an issue for her when they split, but Harry will be left without any support. Regardless of whether she intentionally held this over his head, this game shows that even without meaning to, the capitalist system harms the poor. That strain must be felt in their relationship, and could cause a lot of damage over 12 years.

All this to say: their relationship clearly wasn’t some fling. And, if Harry is to be believed, the blame for things falling apart was largely placed on him: working to much, not bringing home enough money, not being enough. But even if Dora wasn’t actively manipulating him and he came up with all of this on his own, I think the facts still point to a dynamic where he was made to be small in the face of a woman who came from more. Their backgrounds create an imbalance where Harry was always going to feel the flaws in their relationship more acutely. He starts with little, and gives up much of what he does have to pursue something better for the both of them. But when that isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, he’s the only one left with nothing. She can leave the country and start over.

It makes sense, to me, that he might not have recovered from that in six years. Especially when that rock bottom feeling seems so permanent that he isn’t trying to get better so much as numb himself enough to exist another day.

That doesn’t mean he isn’t responsible or that he’s exempt from having to get his shit together. The game very clearly illustrates that everyone will turn away from him if he doesn’t. But it does complicate his character a bit more than “got left by extremely bangable woman, proceeds to make the lives of everyone around him worse.”

[fluentmoviequoter]

Hey, I just got another idea: Deacon introducing his new girlfriend to his kids over dinner and game night.

But from the point of view from one of the kids (as a little challenge😊)

- 🥰

This is such a cute idea! I wrote it from Lila's perspective (1st person POV) and it was certainly a challenge; I haven't written 1st person in a while. I hope it turned out alright, and thank you for the request and the challenge, I enjoyed writing this! Please let me know what you think and enjoy! :)

Warnings: slight angst, fluff, I imply that Annie is dead but I think you could read it differently. bad writing?

Word Count: 2.2k+ words

EDIT: Part 2 Here

A/N: Writing from Lila's POV was harder than I thought it would be, but I kind of like how it turned out for some reason? Feel free to send feedback or constructive criticism; I admit that this isn't my usual writing style but I'm open to suggestions for improvement!

Picture from Pinterest

Masterlist Directory | Deacon Masterlist | Request Rules & Info

The Kay Princesses

Dad has been smiling more. Matthew thinks it’s because his friends at work are doing a good job, but I don’t know if that’s it. Sometimes, when Dad gets home after work, he isn’t smiling, but then he looks at his phone and gets all smiley. Maybe Dad likes his new phone. Or he found a new game!

“Hey,” Dad says as he opens my door. “Ready for dinner?”

When we walk together, Dad always holds my hand or carries me. Today, he tosses me over his shoulder and makes me laugh. Whatever it is that makes him happy, he's more like he used to be.

“Before we eat there’s something I need to talk to you about,” Dad says as he puts me in my chair. “So, a few months ago I met a girl.”

I knew it.

“She’s… she’s amazing. We’ve been getting to know each other and doing fun things. But she and I think it would be nice for her to meet you.”

“Are you replacing Mom?” Matthew asks, crossing his arms. (I want to kick him. Can’t he see Dad is happy?)

“Not at all,” Dad says, smiling at Matthew. His face changes as he adds, “If you don’t like her, then nothing else will happen. Okay?”

Matthew nods, but Dad’s smile is gone.

“Dad? Is she like mom?” I ask.

“Kinda. She’s also smart and beautiful, but she’s different.” His smile is back. “She likes different things, she talks differently. But she is going to love you guys.”

“We might not love her,” Matthew grumbles.

Dad takes a funny breath before tapping the table and walking to the kitchen to get dinner.

“Stop being mean,” I tell Matthew.

“He shouldn’t be talking to someone else. She isn’t Mom and I don’t want her around.”

“She’s not replacing Mom,” Samuel says. “Dad said so.”

“Well, he is. If they’re dating and they get married, then she’ll be our stepmom, meaning replacement,” Matthew says meanly.

“Dad said he’d stop seeing her if we wanted,” I remind him. “But we should meet her first. We might like her.”

Matthew rolls his eyes, which makes him look weirder than usual, and nods. I’m excited to meet her because if she makes Dad smile, she must be extra special.

“Here you are, Samuel,” Dad says when he sets Samuel’s plate down. “Matthew, Princess Lila.”

“Hey, why is she a princess but I’m just Samuel?” Samuel pouts.

I laugh at him, and Dad says, “Why am I not King Dad?”

“Wait, can I see a picture of her? What’s her name?” I ask.

Dad tells us her name, and it’s pretty. Then he shows us a picture of her, and she’s as beautiful as her name.

“She looks like a princess!” I say.

“No, she doesn’t. Princesses wear big dresses and crowns,” Matthew argues.

I want to kick him again, but Dad smiles at Matthew and puts his phone away.

✯✯✯✯✯

Matthew and Samuel are in my room with me when she gets here. I watch out the window as Dad opens her car door and squats to talk to her. 

“I’m going to meet her,” I tell my brothers.

“Dad will introduce us,” Matthew grumbles.

I don’t listen to him, so I walk down the hall but stop when the door opens.

“What if you’re wrong?” she asks.

Dad closes the door and laughs. “I’m not,” he answers. His voice sounds different, happier.

“They’re going to hate me, David.”

Dad laughs again, and I peek around the corner. His arms are around her, and she’s leaning against him.

“They’re not. Everything will be fine.”

“I just want them, and you, to be happy,” she says quietly. “Even if that doesn’t include me.”

“Hey,” Dad says, the same way he does when I’m sad or after I get hurt. “I want you here. I’m happy with you. And the kids? The kids are going to love you.”

“Even Matthew?”

“Especially Matthew.”

She laughs at that, for some reason, before she steps back from Dad.

“We’ll be right back,” Dad whispers. He steps around the corner and stops when he sees me, shaking his head and smiling. “Go say hi.”

While he goes to my room, I step out and wave at her.

“You must be Lila. You’re even prettier than your dad said,” she says. She’s kind, like Dad said.

“I am Lila. My dad says that you’re smart and beautiful and going to love me and my brothers.”

“Well, he’s right about the last thing.”

“How did you meet my dad?”

“We just ran into each other one day. He was working and I was nearby.”

“Can we be on a team for game night? I haven’t been on an all-girls’ team in a while.”

She smiles, which makes her even prettier, and says she would like that. My brothers come back, and Dad introduces everyone to each other while I sit beside her.

“Why do you like my dad?” Samuel asks.

“He’s really good to me, and for me. I think he’s the best guy I’ve ever met.”

She looks at Dad while she talks, and he smiles at her. I like her. She doesn't treat us like little kids, and I like that.

“Why do you want to replace our Mom?” Matthew asks.

She looks at Dad before she answers. “I don’t, Matthew, I promise I don’t. Your dad has told me about your mom, and she sounds amazing.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

“I want to be with your dad and try to make him happy like he makes me happy.”

“By replacing my mom,” Matthew says as he gets up and walks away.

She looks up at Dad, but they’re not smiling anymore. Dad raises a hand and nods before he follows Matthew. I put my hand in hers, and she looks over at me.

“Do you love my dad?” I ask her.

Her smile returns as she says, “I do. More than anything.”

✯✯✯✯✯

Dad hugs her tightly on the porch before she leaves. I stand beside the window so I can see and hear them.

“If they don’t want me here, I understand. They’re the most important things in your life and they shouldn’t be uncomfortable or upset. I understand if you don’t want me to come back and we can be friends, right?”

“That’s not going to happen. We’ll work through it. Lila loves you.” That’s true. “And Samuel thinks you’re great. Matthew, uh, Matthew just needs some time.”

“I get it. Take all the time you guys need. You’re worth waiting for, Deac.”

They get quiet, and when I look outside again, Dad holds her while they kiss. He pulls back and wipes her face. I think she’s crying.

I decide to help Matthew with his time and walk into his room.

“We need to talk.”

“You always need to talk,” he says.

“Why don’t you like her?”

“You wouldn’t understand, Lila.”

“Who says? You won’t let me try.”

Matthew sighs and rolls away from his comic book to look at me.

“No matter what they say, even if she isn’t a replacement, she’ll end up in Mom’s spot. And I don’t want that.”

“Why not? She’s nice and she loves Dad and he loves her.”

“What are we doing?” Samuel asks as he comes in and sits beside Matthew.

“Talking about Dad’s girlfriend. Matthew doesn’t like her,” I answer.

“She’s nice, and super fun,” Samuel says. I nod and look back at Matthew.

“I never said I didn’t like her,” Matthew says quietly. “I just don’t want her to replace Mom.”

“She can’t replace Mom. They’re so different. It would be like another Mom, not a new one.”

“She even said that she can’t replace Mom and wouldn’t try to. She wants to make Dad happy, which involves us being happy,” Samuel explains. Matthew and I look at him, confused by his wording. “That’s what she told me,” he adds.

“So, you do like her?” I ask.

“I do,” Matthew says quietly. “I’m just scared.”

“There’s nothing to be scared about. Dad loves us and would never do anything without telling us or making sure we’re okay. That’s why he brought her to meet us. You should give her a chance.”

Matthew nods and stands up. “Let’s go talk to Dad.”

We walk together to the kitchen, where Dad cleans up after dinner and game night.

“Dad, can we talk?” Matthew asks.

Dad dries his hands as he nods and waves his hand toward the couch. When we all sit down, he sits on the table in front of us.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

I look at Matthew because I know he’ll answer the question. “We like her,” he admits, “and I’m sorry for being mean.”

“It’s okay, bud. This is a big change and you’re allowed to have questions and need time to think,” Dad says, putting a hand on Matthew’s leg.

“Is she coming for game night again?” Samuel asks. “Because I want to be on her team this time.”

“No, I do, she’s good,” Matthew argues.

Dad laughs and pats their knees. “If you want, she’ll come for two game nights so you can take turns.”

We nod together, and Dad smiles. She said she wants to make Dad happy, but I think she already is.

“Thank you for meeting her and being open to new things, guys. It was very grown up of you.”

“I didn’t get to tell her she looks like I princess,” I remember.

“You can tell her next time, munchkin. Maybe she’ll even play dress up with you… if you ask really, really nicely.”

That sounds amazing. I can’t wait to see her again. Maybe getting a new mom could be even better than I thought.

✯✯✯✯✯

I can hear Dad talking after he tucks me in. Dad says her name, so I must check if she’s back so soon. Creeping down the hallway, I realize I can only hear Dad.

“I told you Matthew would like you. He just needed to figure out that you’re not trying to replace Annie,” Dad says. “They really, really like you; they want you to come back for game night so you can be on Samuel and Matthew’s team next time.”

He’s quiet for a while before he asks, “Are you crying?” And then, “Are you sure? Because even when you said no it sounded like you were.”

Dad laughs like he used to, but a little different. I guess that’s how the whole thing works: he’s happy but differently than before because you’re different, and now he’s different.

“I told you they’d love you,” Dad says, “just like I do.”

They really do love each other. Dad made a good choice, and we did too.

✯✯✯✯✯

It’s finally game night again, and Dad and Matthew have decided to treat it like a “do over,” so they’re acting like they haven’t met her before. I think that’s funny, but I’m glad that she’s coming back either way. I’m by the window watching for her while Dad and Matthew set up the board game.

“She’s here!” I tell Dad.

He thanks me and then walks to the door. Matthew follows him, and I turn to watch. Dad opens the door and smiles.

“Hey,” he greets, a weird tone he only uses for her breaking through. “This is Matthew.”

Matthew shakes her hand, and they smile at each other.

“Nice to meet you,” Matthew says. “Sorry about before.”

“No apology necessary, Matthew. It’s very nice to meet you, too. Your dad has told me lots of good things about you.”

“Really? Like what?”

“He said you’re really good at tonight’s game. So, I was wondering if you’d want to be on my team? I need a lot of help.”

“Sure!”

Matthew leads her to the table where the game is and shows her where he’s sitting. Dad looks at me and winks.

“Dinner first, Matthew,” he says as he walks by. He drags his hand across her back as he passes her. He never did that with Mom, but she isn’t Mom.

“Will you be on my team next time? I get to choose the game next week,” Samuel tells her.

“I’d love to!”

While we eat dinner, she answers our questions and asks us some too. She tells us about where she’s from, her job, her favorite food, and (my question) who her favorite princess is.

“Who is your favorite princess, Lila?” she asks.

Dad smiles at her every time she asks us a question. By dessert, it feels like we’ve known her forever. She agrees to come over just to hang out with me, and I feel great; I stick my tongue out at Samuel, and he laughs at me.

“You take the first turn and I’ll watch,” she whispers to Matthew when we start playing his favorite game.

She watches him and asks him a few questions, then watches Dad as he takes his turn.

“Hey, when do I get to be on your team?” she asks Dad, smiling at him.

“You’re always on my team,” he answers, winking at her.

“Gross,” Matthew whispers.

His eyes widen, and he apologizes quickly before she and Dad start laughing. She tells him it’s okay and asks for his help with her turn. When she’s not talking to us, she looks at Dad.

As he walks her to her car, he kisses her, and spins her around. She’s always been pretty like a princess, but Dad loves her enough to treat her like one, too.

[sea-owl]

Omg you're an Effie fan!!! Me too!! Don't know what is it about the district 12 escort that screams I will go down with my victors! But I will do it wearing heels! and that's just so iconic! Girl will compromise her capitol citizenship for the rebellion but she draws the line at ugly having ugly haircuts

I love mama Effie! She said these are my babies and I WILL be sticking beside them with my maybe husband.

One of the things that I love about Effie is that she is not team capitol or team rebellion by the time we get to Mockingjay, hell we even see it in Catching Fire with her suggesting and producing gold tokens for each member of the team. She has firmly planted herself with her victors and these two political groups can go burn for all she cares. Which I think speaks so much to her character, who has been brainwashed since she was a child to see these games as nothing more than entertainment, but she also has this empathy that we see when she creates this almost maternal bond with Katniss and Peeta.

We also see this when Plutarch visits Effie in her room in district 13. It's implied that while Effie does have the freedom to move about like Haymitch does, she refuses until she's essentially told that Katniss is awake and they're moving forward with their plans with her. That's when Effie joins in on the plans because she knows Katniss is going to need her and she'll be damned if she's not there for her.

But that doesn't mean she's going in that ugly jumpsuit. Effie was modifying those while waiting for her baby to wake up. She also had to make sure her headscarf would stay on because like hell is anyone seeing her without something covering her head.

I also headcanon that Effie was also pissed they only got Katniss out of the arena as well. Katniss and Peeta were both Effie's victors. If they could get one, why couldn't they get both? I also headcanon that between her, Haymitch, and Katniss during that time period, they first got Peeta back she was the one he would let get close and she was with him while he was at the Capitol healing while Haymitch watched over Katniss in district 12.

[animentality]

saw your post about redeemable durge and gortash and how they are different. And my two cents is that pre amnesia durge was way beyond redemption, there is just so much necrophilia, cannibalism and mass murder you can do before it forever stains you haha xD It is like finding some old demented man that used to do warcrimes, you can jail them, but they wont fully understand why they are there. anyways, love durge and gort <3 thank you for your posts. Hopefully larian gives us option to rule with gortash at some point. there seems to be some hints of that happening in game files.

you know, I said something similar once.

but I don't know now.

the game is pretty liberal in terms of presenting villains as sympathetic and capable of redemption.

Astarion might've been forced to do some awful things, but he still has the weight of thousands of souls on his head, doomed to an eternity of hunger. wyll was mizora's lapdog, and he was absolutely going to kill poor Karlach, who did nothing to deserve it. his guilty reaction implies he might've done this before.

gale's desperation for mystra's approval and power resulted in him getting that orb in his chest, which could've detonated at any moment, killing like... I don't know. it could kill a damn netherbrain, right? so it would've been able to flatten at least a city. that's a lot of deaths at his hands, and for what?

nothing. his own ambition.

Lae'zel and Shadowheart of course serve evil cults.

I'm not saying it's the exact same, because they've definitely all been coerced in some way.

but it allows for some ambiguity, doesn't it?

let's even look at outright villains.

you can tell Ketheric that he's still redeemable. he even falters when you suggest it.

and while Orin was never going to redeem herself, I mean fucking look at Sarevok and her mother. she was a product of incest already, which was absolutely disgusting, and then her own mother tried to kill her as a child, for the approval of Bhaal.

and then Sarevok tells you to kill her!!! his own daughter/granddaughter (yuck).

she desperately wanted his approval, and Bhaal's approval, and when you confront her with the truth, she's forced to turn into the slayer before she can even contemplate what it means to her.

I just.

I know Gortash is awful and if he existed in real life, I would absolutely kill him. he's on Joseph Mengele levels of fucked.

I wouldn't even need a trial, he'd be like Hitler. just shoot him in the head.

but since it's a game.... I can say that they presented him in an oddly sympathetic light, just like the villains, just like our morally gray heroes.

nubaldin boasts about how he used to bruise his knuckles on his face. Karlach, who is his chief victim for the audience's understanding, even says that it makes sense.

it doesn't excuse what happened to her of course.

but it explains it.

so... anyway I've rambled too long.

I admit that amnesia is really the only thing that redeems the dark urge.

but consider that I also said that Gortash is actually less evil than them from the start.

and they kind of balance each other out, in that way. you could even call them equals.

they could both have redemption, if only they both sought it.

[ihavethedreamies]

From Afar | What the Heart Wants (1)

Qian Kun & Nakamoto Yuta (NCT)

Rating: Suggestive (18+) MDNI

Nothing explicitly is said or done, but sexual interactions are implied.

The beginning of this story has the reader underaged, but nothing happens or is implied to happen before she turns 18.

Word Count: ~14.2k

Pairing(s): Kun x AFAB!Reader x Yuta, the primary pairing is Kun x Reader, but it's kinda both for the first part.

Genre: Reader-Insert, Altered History AU!, Royalty AU!, Plot! (wow), Fluff? (not for sure that's what to call this), not quite smut (yet), Angst (but angry)

!!There are mature themes discussed…if that much isn't clear you should probably leave now!! MDNI!

Warnings: She/Her pronouns used, Arranged Marriage (ish), Harems/Multiple Wives (more fiancées…), Bullying (see Caution), Some Swearing, Borderline Misogyny/Sexism (you'll see, not from the boys, just like…society), Favoritism, Love Triangle, Jealousy, Pining, One-Sided Crush/Infatuation (or is it?)

Caution: This story is a bit darker than my normal stuff. There isn't bullying throughout, just one intense scene. It's not in a school setting, but I do want to warn anyone reading this that it could be triggering. I'll be real and admit that there is definitely toxicity here, and I know that's what it is, I try to be realistic with my stuff. There is also a part where the reader has a severe allergic reaction, so if that is something that is hard for you to read, be aware. Please let me know if you think I need to add in any more specific warnings or cautions.

Author's Note: This is based off of a dream I had while I took a nap a bit back. I changed some details because what happened in the dream was a little too unrealistic. But, most of it is pretty much the same. I have a lot of Kun dreams, but most of them I can't write a story with because there are weird cross-overs with my real life and often the video game Mass Effect (lol), so…

P.S. Kun is my Ultimate Bias and so…I held back for so long of going down the rabbit hole because I knew I wouldn't be able to crawl out once I did. I am working on another much longer series so that's why I don't have much posted for him yet since I want to get it mostly done before I post any of it.

P.S.S. The reader has a bad allergy to coconut, which is one I have. So, it might seem a bit extreme with her reaction to it, but I know from personal experience how bad I can be with it. I haven't had the same thing happen though.

I split this into two different parts because I hate reading a long story, and then the app or page somehow gets closed, and then you have to scroll to find your spot… The second part is just smut, literally just the smut part, but it was so long I needed to separate the two parts.

Part 2: Up Close (Smut)

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Your life seemed to end before it really began. Things like harems for royalty and royalty itself should be in history books and old stories, not modern times. Yet here you were. Historians often talk about how much different the eastern world might look had Japan been successful in taking Korea nearly 100 years prior. Would they have ruled East Asia rather than the Korean Monarchy? Would China be its own country still? Siam? All you knew is that if World War II had gone much differently, you wouldn't be in the situation you were.

In order to keep the commoners and everyday folks of each country of the Korean Empire in line, the Emperor would marry a noblewoman from each land, therefore forming his Harem. When he was a prince, he had his little group of girls that followed him around and did everything with him, almost like some kind of harem anime or even American dating show. One would be picked to be his 'main wife' and the rest were concubines. That's what you were. Well, almost. You were 'in training' to be a possible concubine or wife. The king had five wives, and a son with each woman. The eldest was Taeyong, from the king's first Korean wife; then Prince Yuta, whose mother was Japanese; third born was Prince Kun, from a Chinese mother; second youngest was Prince Ten with a Siamese mother. His birthname was not used very often since most people didn't know how to pronounce it, and finally the youngest Prince was Prince Doyoung. His mother was Korean as well and since he was the youngest, he had the least responsibilities. Not necessarily in a bad way, but he was quite lazy and didn't go out very often. Each prince had a symbol that then was used to name his girls. Taeyong's was a rose and so his girls were The Petals. Yuta's was the Cherry Tree, so his girls were The Sakura. Kun's was a Bear, and his girls were The Ursas. Ten's symbol was a cat and his girls, The Tabbies. Finally, Doyoung's symbol was a rabbit, so his girls were The Bunnies. The name he chose somewhat showed how little he cared for formality. It was too much effort, and he was actually considered the best prince to follow. None of the princes were bad, though, it was simply that Doyoung was the least strict, and there were less rules overall. Taeyong's group was the most prestigious since he was the Crown Prince, and so it was hard to stay in The Petals.

Many different things could make a girl leave or get kicked out. It was pretty easy to get kicked out actually, but most of the time it was by the other girls. Jealousy and competition were rampant, but if sabotage or cheating was ever even just suspected, you were out. Each prince got their initial set at the age of eighteen, and the girls would be at the most two years younger, never older. So, when Prince Yuta hit the proper age, they sent out the search committee. Your father had told you as a little girl that he would never, no matter how much money was offered, let you go. Unfortunately, he didn't get to make the decision because he passed two years prior. Your mother couldn't manage the family estate and business well either, so she remarried, and of course your stepfather was more than willing to hand you over. You never learned how much he was paid, but you knew, to him, it was more than you were worth.

There were always five girls, two from Korea and one from China, Japan, and Siam as well. When you were escorted to the royal palace, you looked up at the tall arch allowing entry onto the grounds. Due to historical preservation laws, no one actively lived in the palace, but there was a modern campus built for the royal family. The guards let the fancy black car you were being escorted in through and it continued down the road past the elegantly preserved palace. Finally, after nearly five minutes of driving, the vehicle stopped in front of what appeared to be an extremely fancy hotel. You were told the main estate was further into the campus and was where the King and Queen lived with the Concubines. Where you were to live was where the princes and all of their entourages lived. Shakily, you got out of the car when it came to a stop, the heels of your black Mary Jane's clicking on the stone pavement. Your suitcases were removed from the trunk, and they went off to your room as you were led down the opposite hallway. Looking around at your surroundings, the building felt less like a royal residence and more of a luxury apartment building, there were even a few restaurants. Finally, after a long walk in very uncomfortable shoes, you were told to enter a large ballroom and you stood in line with what seemed to be twenty other girls. That was a surprise, you thought for sure you had already been chosen. While you wanted to pray you wouldn't be chosen, you also feared being sent back to your stepfather. Your soft yellow and white dress was probably just as expensive as the other girls’ but seemed much plainer. Standing straight, trying to remember your etiquette training, the line of girls all did the same, stiffening when a door on the other side of the ball room entered. At least, you thought it was a ballroom. There was a stage on the opposite wall and that was it. No tables or chairs, nothing. You felt the girls to your left and right turn their heads to try and see who entered, but you just stared ahead. The three people that entered stopped in the middle of the room, a bit to your left since you were toward the end of the line. The other girls were whispering, and curiosity took over and your eyes flicked to look at them. It was a servant, most likely since he was in a butler's outfit, a man in a business suit, and who you assumed to be the prince. He was beautiful, and that was an objective fact. His dark brown hair was longer, hitting his shoulders and he had it tied back into a half-ponytail. He was not dressed like a prince really; he had on a black T-shirt or tank top with a soft-looking grey sweater over it. He was in jeans and sneakers, and you looked down at your dress, then at the others. You were sixteen, but you felt like a little girl then, with your high-collared, long-sleeved white button-up with a yellow sundress over top. Though, it seemed he preferred casual, and you were the closest to that. His stance was casual as well, arms behind his back, leaning his weight on one leg as he lightly swayed, looking over the line of girls. The servant cleared his throat, and it was like some kind of primal instinct took over, and you placed your hands together over your stomach, and bowed low. No one else did. Panic set in when you realized this, hearing the other girls whispering. Now too nervous to stand back up, you pressed your lips together, but stayed bowed.

"It seems she was the only one raised correctly." A new voice, a woman's, cut in and you heard another person walk in. The woman stopped in front of you, and you only saw the bottom of her dress and shoes, she was dressed in the traditional dark green and blue hanbok.

"You may look up, dear." She prompted and you straightened, looking up slightly at the much older woman. Her hair was graying at the roots, but she was still quite beautiful. Her hair was tied back in a bun with a simple wooden pin and you swallowed under her sharp gaze.

"Prince Yuta, please come here." Her tone changed, and she bowed, stepping to the side and you froze as he left his original position and strode over to you. He stopped before you and you dropped your gaze. Don't look at his face. That was clearly something no one else learned and you were a bit worried about that, though, his handmaiden seemed pleased with you. Didn't mean he would be.

"How old are you?" His voice was soft, deeper than you thought it would be.

"Sixteen, your highness." Your hands still rested over each other, flat against your stomach and you tried not to flinch when his finger went to your chin. He lifted your head, but your eyes stayed down, no matter how badly you wanted to look at his face better.

"Look at me." He prompted and you obeyed. He was even more attractive up close, more handsome than you thought, still pretty. He tipped his head and a similarly pretty smile spread on his face.

"Her."

After that, you were quickly whisked away.

"What will happen with the other girls?" You asked the maid that was taking your measurements after you reached some sort of dressing room.

"He will pick the other nine and you will begin training." The same older woman from before entered then and you nodded jerkily, trying to process everything.

"Training?"

"It seems you have begun on etiquette already, unlike the other girls. That will help. Ten girls will start and after your four years the final five will graduate up. You will all learn everything you need to, to be a good woman of the royal family and possibly a future princess."

"I see." The same maid began holding up different swatches of fabric next to your face, flipping through different colors. Seemingly making a decision, the maid nodded to the head handmaiden, and you stepped off the small pedestal you had been set on.

"Let us go child, I will escort you to the dormitory."

 ~*~*~

Over the next four years, as you were told, you trained. Ten girls all lived in a four-bedroom apartment, three in two, and two in two. It was miserable. You really didn't mind the training and tutoring itself, it was the clique-like mentality the girls had even within the dorm. Let alone in the other training groups. You felt like an outlier the whole time but staying quiet and laying low helped. You yourself were not bullied, but you weren't friends with the other girls either. Not in any of the groups. Prince Taeyong's girls were a few months ahead of your group and the other three were not even a year younger. The eldest prince was only about four months older than Yuta, and he was only a month, maybe two, older than Kun. The youngest were each a month after. It seemed the King had gotten to work quickly…

For the first year you almost never saw any of the princes, not even Yuta. It seemed the first year was really used to weed out girls, and that was when some of the original twenty made a return. If one of the ten got kicked out or left, they replaced her. That was not what you expected at all, but it seemed you were relatively safe. You only got one demerit over the first year, and it was minor. The rules were strict and after your first dink you never messed up again. What did you mess up? You forgot to put in your earrings before the morning check.

After the second year, you would have more interactions with Prince Yuta, and sometimes the others. That was when you first met the third-born Prince. Kun. Your eyes widened when you saw him, it was like some kind of rose-colored filter hung around him. He was…perfect. You weren't sure exactly what drew you to him so heavily, but it was nearly backbreaking, the weight of your crush. It didn't help that your infatuation was with the completely wrong prince. Most of the girls were good at staying loyal to their boy, and if they weren't, that was grounds for expulsion. It was your first true hinderance and possible snare. The only one, really. Luckily, he wasn't around too often in the second year. For no reason, really, you hated the girls in his group. They were so incredibly fortunate in your eyes and didn't realize how much so. Was Yuta bad? Not in any way, shape or form. He was extremely sweet and kind, generous…but he wasn't Kun. To you, that was his greatest sin. Your obsession was a bit worrying, honestly. Though the girls were given a therapist they could talk with, she was there for things like homesickness and anxiety. Not near yandere-levels of love for a Prince not their own. Okay…it wasn't that bad, but you feared that if your mind ever got too weak, if you broke, it would be that bad. When third year rolled around… It got so much worse. The princes did a lot of things together and if a girl made it to year three, then she got to as well. On the new year of year three, the girls remaining were the final ones. One could leave, but she wouldn't be replaced. So, what most often happened, is the gaggle of fifty girls would each take turns with which five would go on an outing with their prince. What killed you about those, was when you were picked, and Kun would be there. It was hard to keep your wistful stares off of him and you prayed he would stick near Yuta for as long as possible, so you could look at him all the more. He was what most considered to be the handsome one among the half-brothers. Taeyong was what the girls defined as cute-hot. Could be either. Yuta was handsome-pretty, Ten was just pretty and Doyoung was just cute. Kun was handsome to the rest, but to you he was also the cutest, prettiest, and hottest. He was by no means buff, but he was able to build the most muscle tone out of all of them and you couldn't help but stare when his pants were just the right amount of tight around his thighs. When you finally got close enough to really look at him the first time, you cataloged every little feature you could. Especially the beauty mark under his right eyebrow.

~*~*~

You were truly a goner when you attended a causal tennis game the princes were engaging in. Doyoung sat off the side with his girls, and they were literally playing some kind of board or card game instead. You sat with the four other Sakuras on a bench, not even watching the tennis ball fly between Yuta and Taeyong's rackets. You were staring off into the distance, messing with a stray string at the top of your knee-high socks. If the head handmaid saw it… Wrapping your finger around it tight, you yanked to try and pull it away, the elastic tightening with each tug. You were so preoccupied with your sock that you didn't even hear the warning call, but something thunked against the back of your head. You yelped, falling forward off the bench, managing to catch yourself with your hands, but you scraped your knees up badly on the court-floor.

"Hiyomi!" Yuta immediately called and was at your side. You weren't even sure if you would have known he was calling you if he had said your real name. You hadn't heard it in such a long time.

"Good job!" Ten shouted sarcastically and you heard another come to your side.

"Hey, you okay?" Yuta helped you sit up a bit, letting your rest your forehead on his shoulder as he looked at the back of your head.

"I'm so sorry, Hiyomi." Your body froze when the other person's voice seemed to speak right in your ear and another hand rested on your upper back.

"Does it hurt there?" You hadn't even realized Yuta had pressed on your neck at the base of your head. He must have taken your sudden rigidity as a pain response. Carefully, slightly, you turned your head so you could glance out of the side of your eye, through your hair, at a red shirt. Only one of the princes was in a red shirt that day. You were sure your face turned about that same shade when you realized the other boy so close to you was Kun, and that the hand on your back was his.

"Hiyomi?" Yuta prompted again and you flinched back to reality.

"Uh, no." Your own hand came up to run over your head, wincing as you felt the small bump forming under your hair. The hand left your back and you felt Yuta move your hair so he could see where you pressed. You gasped when Kun's hand came back, his fingers gently running over the bump.

"She should probably go to the infirmary." The younger prince decided, and Yuta hummed in agreement.

"I'm so sorry, Hiyomi." He apologized again, and even though it was your alias, hearing him speak your name twisted your insides around.

"I-It's okay." You were too scared to lift your head as Yuta helped you stand, knowing that if you met Kun's gaze then you would fall back to your knees.

"Come on, sweetheart." Yuta wrapped an arm around you so he could lead you toward the building and you felt the glares of your team boring through you. It was evident even before then that Yuta favored you, and it made the girls mad. You never made more of an effort to woo him like they did, you just lived your life naturally, and that seemed to be what appealed to him.

"I guess the nurse isn't here right now." Yuta had helped you sit on the edge of one of the two cot-like beds and then he kneeled in front of you.

"Do you mind if help with your knees?" He had noticed the scrapes, and you shook your head with a hum, and he left to get the first aid kit. It was then you really felt the pain in your head, but you hadn't even seen stars, so you doubted you had a concussion. The tennis ball hadn't been going that hard, it had bounced on the court before it hit you, slowing it down pretty good. When the prince came back, he cleaned the scrapes and you winced at the sting. He was so gentle and put ointment on as well before the band-aids. As his thumb smoothed over the bandage, he opened his mouth to say something, but the nurse decided to return right then. He went back out to the tennis court as she looked you over and she suggested you rest for a bit, there was no concussion evident, but you did still get hit in the head.

You had managed to drift half-way to sleep, and you somewhat registered hearing the nurse step out, and someone not too long after coming in. It was a different person for sure, they weren't in heels, and you wondered if it was the head handmaid. Flittering your eyes open when you felt them move to your bedside, you jerked in shock.

"Sorry, did I wake you up?" You tried not to panic, eyes falling quickly to the white logo on his red shirt. You were allowed at that point to look at Yuta's face, but you weren't sure about the other princes. Plus, if you did, you might just explode.

"N-No." You shook your head against the pillow and shuffled under the light blanket. Fuck. You tried not to wince when he kneeled down so he could meet your gaze. He smiled. You were done for.

"Sorry, I really didn't mean to let the ball hit you. I tried to go after it, but I'm not very fast." Kun huffed bashfully and you just gaped. Speak! Say something, stupid!

"I-It's okay."

"Can you tell Yuta you're not mad at me? He looked like he wanted to kill me." You knew the look. Yuta was definitely the scariest of the brothers.

"Y-yes." He sighed in relief at that and stood back up.

"I should probably go before you get in trouble for me being in here." He huffed in annoyance and then waved as he left the little infirmary. You were truly and royally, ironically, screwed.

~*~*~

Of course, it got worse through the third and into the fourth year. All the teams had been narrowed down to the final five, the girls that were weeded out were essentially turned into the reserve team. You didn't know what that meant until after you graduated. And you did. You were in the final five for The Sakuras, the little junior harem of Prince Yuta. You were also the forerunner, the informal leader despite being the youngest, but you were the least popular. Out of all twenty-five girls, they all either hated you or didn't care to acknowledge your presence. To them you put in very little effort to get to your rank, well, how you ranked to Yuta. In actuality, you put in the most effort, and had no demerits and never had to make up in any of your training. All of the other maknaes, the youngest, were the favorites of the other girls. Not you. You didn't fit the cutesy, sweet image you were supposed to it seemed. The graduation wasn't going to be until April. Because the princes were so close in age, they decided to just do everyone at the same time, and that just made the internal competition even worse. Though, your favor with the head handmaiden granted you a privilege. Early information. You knew things before anyone else, you were warned. That's how you saw it anyway. It seemed that there would be another year of training after graduation. Everyone was of age by then, which meant the sexual teachings started. It had to wait till you were finally assigned to your prince, since he would head your 'studies'. You were to learn what he liked, how he liked it and so on. It was a rumor by that point, and many girls were unbothered by this. It made sense and they were okay with it since they would be future wives anyway, and some were even looking forward to it. You didn't hate Yuta, not anything close. You did like him, but… You decided then that you had to give up on the younger Prince. You were Yuta's, and that was final. You also learned that the girls that fell through the cracks more or less joined a brothel, modern day gisaeng for the princes and their friends. Not only did the girls graduate in April, so did the princes. And that meant everything changed. You wouldn't say that they turned into scoundrels, but finally they were more-or-less unrestrained, so they let loose. Parties. Drinking. Sex. Lots of it. You never asked about the other princes, not wanting to learn that your beloved prince had fallen into debauchery as well. Their personalities hadn't changed, they weren't abusive or even rude, but they turned into animals. You heard that Ten and his friends had full orgies with his girls and the extras. You knew when Johnny showed up that something utterly filthy was about to go down.

Taeyong seemed to be more restrained, but he was somewhat selfish. He didn't want to share his Petals, but that didn't mean that it wasn't just as naughty what happened in his quarters. Doyoung preferred more low-key engagements, but just because there was only one girl in his bed didn't mean they weren't going at it for hours on end. The only first-hand knowledge you had was with Yuta. Obviously. Honestly, you seemed to be corrupted more and quicker than the other girls. It was one of the few times you felt like you could be yourself, not constantly worried about doing and saying the right things. It was a good outlet as well for all the emotions you pushed down and hid. You were open to most things, mostly because Yuta was by no means selfish. You preferred the more carnal and kinky acts honestly; you weren’t sure you could ‘make love’ to him. The only thing that first gave you pause was when he asked if you would be okay with two of his friends joining. No other girls, just the three guys and you. It was a bit scary at first, and you wondered if your future husband had some sort of fetish, but his reasoning shocked you.

"You let me do whatever I want, Hiyomi. I want to spoil you." He spoke between kisses along your neck, your shoulder exposed from where his shirt had fallen over it. Yuta wasn't that big for a man, but he was bigger than you, his clothes baggy on your body. If you asked him, he probably would be okay with just one wife. And it would be you. You wished it wasn't though. Even with the comparatively few interactions you had over the years with Kun, you had hopelessly fallen for him, and you were content to pine after him in the distance for the rest of your life. That was better than nothing at all.

"W-which friends?" You shivered as his fingers ran over your back under the garment you had on, one finger slipping under the waist band of your lacey panties.

"Jungwoo. Mark?" His arms wrapped around you and pulled you down further into his lap, his hard cock straining against his pants. It seemed the thought alone turned him on. Those two? That was fine. Most of the princes' friends were shared, but Yuta was the closest with the two he offered. It made sense. It was odd at first to think about it, but if you weren’t sleeping with Yuta out of love, then it wouldn’t be too much different with them. And, based off what you knew the other girls did, it was actually relatively mild.

"You don't have to, sweetheart." Yuta nuzzled under your ear, and you sighed.

"That’s fine." It became a somewhat regular occurrence. And, as far as you knew, the other girls were not in a similar arrangement. But they knew, or at least, knew parts. This made them hate you more, they saw it as favor. It was one thing for a prince to indulge himself in three women, it was another for one woman to get ravished by a prince and his two friends. That was the ultimate sign of favor, you were good enough to not just get solo access to Yuta whenever but get the same treatment from his two just-as-attractive friends. The other girls knew, but they didn’t realize it was a common thing, just once in a blue moon. You didn't talk about it, because you knew how the others would be with it, and it honestly made you want Kun more. Somehow. Even with three men only wanting to please you, you wanted more… Not more, just someone else. 

~*~*~

You had a close call though, you almost got found out. There was some big event that the princes were having, some formal party. It wasn't a drunken orgy or anything, almost like some kind of game night with all their friends. All of the girls went as well, it was supposed to be childish fun. You hated it. Not minding cuddling up with Yuta, you hated doing it with all the girls glaring at you. Mostly the other four in your group, because it made his favor toward you all the more obvious. You managed to get through the night, taking the chance to watch Kun without restraint when they decided to start some karaoke. He was the second-best singer after Doyoung, but none of the brothers were slouches. Some of their friends were pretty good themselves, could have been their jobs. It wasn't you ogling him while he sang that gave you away though. And, either fortunately, or horribly, Kun was the one that noticed. The guys were all taking random pictures together, and you stood at the side watching, honestly enjoying the random things they were doing. At some point Kun ended up sitting on the floor, holding up his closest friend, Chenle, so he didn't fall off of Jeno's back where he stood. You covered your mouth and giggled, eyes flicking to Kun as they tried to hold the pose for the picture. His eyes flashed to meet yours and you felt yours grow wide. He smiled, straight at you, and not the sweet one he normally gave at formal events or to diplomats and other public figures. It was a smirk, and it was the sexiest thing you had ever seen. You knew your face was once again red as a cherry, you could feel the heat leaving your skin. You quickly avoided his look; hand going to try and cover your face as you slipped away from the crowd and toward the restroom. You splashed cold water on your face, then met your own frazzled gaze in the mirror. Taking a few deep breaths, you moved to leave but heard voices in the hall, so you halted.

"You know that Jingxian girl is a bitch, right?" The voice was familiar, but quieter than you were used to, so you almost didn't recognize it was Chenle.

"That's harsh." Another person replied. Renjun?

"It's true." That was Yangyang.

"Wait, was she the one who threw her soup at that maid while they were in Europe?" Renjun asked.

"Yeah. She also apparently pretty much stole some girl's necklace that she liked when she went to Japan with…I think her name is Eiko?" Chenle replied.

"Kun-ge told me that she had taken some book from one of Yuta's girls and threw it in a fountain. It was signed or something. He made her replace it and she had to pay like a million won." Your arm jerked away from the handle then. Yuta told you a maid had done it on accident…

"Was it the quiet one he got the leather satchel for?" You shook your head a bit in shock. Yuta got that for you…you thought.

"He told me he tried to get Yuta to let him have her in the beginning, but he said no." Chenle continued, and their voices faded as they continued down the hall. Your head was swimming and your heart had started to race again. There was nothing you could do if all that was true. You were Yuta's, and that was final.

~*~*~

There was a final straw for the other Sakuras though. At it would be their downfall it seemed, and they only fell because they weren’t careful when trying to push you over the edge first.

You were in the lounge, the area big enough to easily accommodate all of the girls and let them have all kinds of fun. Your favorite place was on the top bunk, of essentially a bunk-couch. Instead of a bunk bed, there was a nice soft couch with a wooden loft over it, and another couch on top with ladder-like staircase to get you up on. That was your favorite place. It was removed from the central conversation-pit-like area where most of the girls gathered. They would play drinking games and tell all sorts of lurid stories and secrets, while you would sit under the dim light of a lamp and read.

"Hiyomi, come here!" The girl that called you, Eiko, was the second eldest of your group. She was the only one that was actually Japanese herself, but even then, she was given a different name. You each were granted one from Yuta himself, you weren't even sure he knew any of your real names. Your birthnames didn't matter anymore.

Sighing, you reluctantly put your bookmark in your novel and trudged over to the group. Not everyone was there, Ten's girls were probably off getting drunk and defiled, and three of Taeyong's were with him abroad. Sitting down gently in an armchair, you smoothed your skirt down as you did and stiffly rested back.

"We're playing truth or dare." Of course they were.

"Okay?" They never invited you to play anything or do anything with them unless they were forced to. The competition had gotten much worse lately. As the Princes all approached the grand age of 25, they would finally choose their main wife. You were in the lead, to no one's surprise, but to everyone's chagrin. Yours included. You shot a quick glance at Jingxian. She was the forerunner of the Ursas…Kun's favorite seemingly. She was refined, elegant, beautiful. To many she was kind, sweet, but she was cold to you. She was never rude in person and as far as you know, after the book incident she didn't do anything. That was better than cruel though. She was close with Eiko, and you assumed that was why she disliked you so much, since Eiko cared so little for you. You didn't associate much with any of Kun's girls, but still you hated them. No, that wasn't the right word, you envied them. The worst thing was, you knew that Jingxian didn't love Kun. Just like you didn't love Yuta. She was enamored with Taeyong. Well, maybe not him, but his status. He was the crown prince, which would mean she could be queen if she was chosen. You weren't sure who else knew this, but you knew it was grounds for her to be more-or-less banished. If you really wished, you could out her, and get her kicked out, but what was the point? That wouldn't help you any, and there was no point in lashing out at her out of jealousy. That would make you just like all the others.

"Come sit here." Eiko was being way to friendly, which made you way suspicious. You followed her prompt though; you were the youngest after all. There was an empty soju bottle in the middle, the girls clearly having finished it off earlier.

"I'll start." One of the Petals started; her name was Anjeong. She spun the bottle, and you held your breath, only sighing gently in relief when it landed on Eunhwa, the eldest Bunny.

"Truth or dare, unni?"

"Hm." Eunhwa tapped her finger on her chin, "truth."

"How big is Prince Doyoung's cock?" She prompted and the girls chattered with curiosity. You zoned out then, knowing how this whole thing was going to go. Your eyes drifted to watch the gas flames in the fireplace. As you glanced back at the bottle as it was spun again, not even hearing her answer, your eyes passed over Lumei. She was the maknae of the Ursas, and you hated her the most. You could have been her; she was only about a month younger than you. She didn't seem to notice your glare and she giggled when the bottle landed on her when Eunhwa spun it.

"Truth or Dare, Lumei?"

"Dare!" She decided quickly and Eunhwa looked thoughtful for a second, looking around. She smirked and cast a devilish look at Jingxian before looking back to Lumei.

"Show us what Prince Kun's favorite position is." You wondered if they noticed you go still. Completely. You couldn't show a reaction, you didn't want to let any of them know your secret. They would use it to assassinate you. Jingxian scoffed at the question, over-dramatically.

"I don't think she's can." She grinned coyly, taking a sip of her wine and Lumei sent her a playful sneer.

"Honestly, I can't really show you, because I myself can't do it. But…" Lumei looked around and then climbed onto the couch behind her. She sat on it backwards, knees on the back of the couch, back to the cushion, her head hanging over the edge, hair flowing to the floor. She opened her mouth wide and just sat there a second, the other Ursas giggling. Your jaw clenched, eyes stinging, but you still didn't move.

"Her gag reflex is too sensitive." Jingxian pressed on her throat, and she hacked, sitting up to catch her breath around laughs.

"I can't even open my mouth that wide…" Mianyu mumbled, and the girls chattered and giggled. Your tongue ran over your lips, and you pondered if you could. You were all too familiar with that position Lumei mimicked, and at first you had been disgusted at her pose. But now you would enjoy it with Yuta more, you could imagine Kun instead. Like you often did. Your gag reflex was practically nonexistent, whether it was genetics or a fluke, it had always been that way.

"Okay!" Your eyes flicked to the bottle as Lumei spun it, still giggling, clearly tipsy. You sagged in relief when the bottle landed on Aikiro then. She was your biggest rival…in her eyes anyway. She outright despised you, she felt she should be the favorite just because she was the ‘leader’. Okay…whatever.

"Trush or dare?" The Ursa maknae hiccupped and you wondered if the blood going to her head made her drunker.

"Truth." She leaned back against the couch she sat in front of, sending a wry look your way. What did you do? You rolled your eyes and looked back at the fire.

"How many times have you done it with Yuta, and Jungwoo and Mark?" she asked, and silence fell over the group. Your eyes widened a bit, but you didn't look back to the group.

"You idiot!" Mianyu slapped the back of Lumei's head, and she yelped.

"What?" Aikiro nearly growled.

"W-well. I mean, everyone knows that Yuta invites them over a lot. Jinyu said…"

You felt four heated gazes fall on you and you licked your lips, looking slowly back at everyone else. Your eyes flicked to Jinyu who was staring at the floor, zoned out.

"What do you mean, a lot?" Aikiro looked back at Lumei who shriveled under her glare, pressing closer to Jingxian.

"E-every Friday." She replied. Before you could look back to your fellow Sakuras, you flinched as Aikiro stormed over, dumping her wine all over your head. You exhaled in shock, closing your eyes to prevent the alcohol from running into them.

"You fucking bitch! You told them? I bet you brag about it." You grit your teeth, reaching for the nearby tissue roll, but Eiko snatched it from your reach, her own drink joining. The fruity scent of whatever kind of pre-mixed cocktail she was drinking stung your nose and your hair started to drip.

"H-hey!" Gyuri, the kindest one there, the maknae of Doyoung's bunnies, tried. She really did try, but… You winced and grunted when a hand grabbed the back of your hair, yanking your head back so were forced to look up at the owner. Keiho was the oldest, out of all the girls actually, but she was the most cruel. She was the most two-faced as well. Your eyes flicked to her drink, expecting her to dump it on you as well, and your face fell. It was a bottled pina colada. Coconut. Everyone knew you were super allergic to it, couldn't even eat anything made in the same factory as coconut products.

"Hm, I wonder if you would like the taste of this?" Keiho took a sip before looking at the label on the bottle and she let go of your hair just long enough to let Eiko take over.

"Wait, Keiho-" Mianyu stood then, trying to go forward. Before she could get very far though, Jinyu grabbed her wrist, halting her. No one but you seemed to notice Gyuri slip away from the group and out the door. You prayed she was going to get help. Your heart was pounding, you were scared, legitimately. This wasn't a joke, not a game anymore. They were seriously out to hurt you. Keiho swirled the bottle a bit, and let it tip slightly, a drop falling from the mouth and landing on your cheek. It didn't take any more than five seconds for your skin to start itching, and the girls around you could see the skin already starting to redden, following the path of the drop before it landed on the floor. You tried to wiggle free at that point, out of Eiko's grip, but the final Sakura, Yumi, sat behind you in the chair, holding you in place. She giggled, leaning down to whisper in your ear.

"Should I tell them about Kun?" Her voice was so soft you almost didn't hear her. You froze then, eyes wide, looking toward Jingxian.

"She knows too, you know." Yumi whispered and then you saw the other woman smirk. The other girl still didn't let Mianyu go and help you. Aikiro kneeled then, joining Yumi in restraining you, her hand going to your face and pressing on your cheeks to force your mouth open. A tear fell from your eye, and you tried to shout, but Eiko's hand left your hair and landed on your throat. Not enough to cut off your air, but in just the right spot to silence you. Keiho swirled the drink again and was just about to tip it again, but she hesitated. Why? Your eyes met hers and she seemed to realize how bad it would be to do what she wanted, seeing the raising red welt on your face from just a drop. It wasn't like your tongue and throat would slowly swell shut, it could shut your body down faster than anyone could get help.

"Don't be a fucking coward." Jingxian snapped, slamming her wine glass down onto the side table so hard it sloshed from the glass. She snatched the bottle from Keiho, and she tipped it-

The sliding door slammed open, the loud noise startling her. The girls all looked in horror at the door, and you watched in terror as the bottle fell from her hand, the alcohol splashing onto you, and a swig or two fell into your still open mouth. You choked, trying to spit the liquid out, your mouth already burning, and the girls let you go as Yuta stormed into the room and straight to you.

"Hiyomi!" You spat more out, nearly tempted to force yourself to throw up…if you even could. Your mouth and face burned, your skin and eyes itched, and tears fell from your eyes as your head grew foggy. You were already wheezing, and Yuta was at your side immediately. A second person landed on your other side.

"Sit her up." You let Yuta move you, slumping back into him and watching blearily as the nurse brought the EpiPen down and injected the medicine into your thigh. You felt some relief at the moment, and you grew tired quickly but your breathing was still shallow. The nurse went ahead and injected the second shot and your body seemed to get enough relief that it wanted rest then.

"Hiyomi!" A third voice hit your ears and you blearily looked to see someone else dash in, heading for you as you fell unconscious.

 ~*~*~

You awoke to the sound of beeping, and distant voices. You blinked to clear your vision and it was clear you were in a hospital. You cringed, looking down at the IV in your arm…You really preferred it in your hand. You felt like you couldn’t bend your arm, and they had put it on your dominant side to boot. Groaning, you adjusted in the bed, your body and head felt heavy. The voices got louder; you could recognize one was Yuta's.

"They did it on purpose, everyone knows how allergic she is to coconut."

"I'm not saying what they did wasn't bad, but are you really okay with getting rid of your entire harem but Hiyomi?" It was another man, a voice you only ever heard in person once. It was the King.

"Father, if I had to pick only one wife, ever, it would be her. She was going to be my main wife anyway. I think having five of them is ridiculous anyway."

"Yuta-"

"I'm not the heir, anyway, so why does it matter?" You didn't hear a response if there was one.

"What about Jingxian and Jinyu?" Jinyu? She was there, but she hadn't done anything that you remembered.

"Get rid of them." Kun's voice was clear. And sharp.

"Didn't you tell me Jingxian was most likely your choice?"

"Not anymore."

"Jinyu too, then?"

"Wasn't it her idea?" Silence.

"Yuta, did what those six tell you not matter?"

"What?" Kun asked then, confused. You strained to hear Yuta's response.

"Yumi. She…she told me that Hiyomi likes you." Finally, your prince spoke. You heard the beeping of your heart monitor increase and felt it in your chest.

"Your highness, I found it!" A maid's voice joined, and you furrowed your brow, listening.

"There's a lock on it." What?

"Just snap it off." Your mouth went dry. Your journal. How'd she know about it? You were more than careful. Or so you thought.

"Did Miss Janyeon have the key to her lock box?"

"Yessir." Fuck. But, if the King requested, it wasn't like she could refuse. That was it. You were out. At least you didn't die.

"I knew all this." Yuta's soft voice was loud in your ears and your breath hitched. What?

"You did?" Kun and the King asked at the same time.

"She's careful. But I know her too well by this point."

"Why didn't you say anything?" the King prompted.

"She was mine, that's all I cared about. It was selfish, but… It is a bit worse than I thought." Yuta huffed.

"What do you want to do, Kun?" Their father moved on.

"It's up to her." It was hard to read his tone, and even in the other room, you could feel the tension rise just by the lack of response from Yuta.

"She's mine." His tone was harsh, you had only heard him angry one other time. Right before you passed out. It felt like minutes of silence passed.

"If that's what she wants." Kun spoke finally.

"I think we owe her a decision, since she went through such an ordeal. It’s impressive she kept it hidden so well, and didn't ever act on it, or act out against the other girls. I might not be around much, but your mothers are, and they tell me everything. She's brave and strong for all the shit the other girls put her through. For now, let's keep it hidden we all know, let her choose her next actions without interference. If she chooses Kun, what will you do Yuta?"

"If you love something, you gotta learn to let it go." His defeated tone made your throat clench. You didn't want to hurt him, you really cared for Yuta. You also knew that your feelings for Kun were borderline insane, if not straight-out irrational. It was infatuation, you weren't allowed to get close enough to him to call it love. You were starting to realize then, that it was probably Yuta's doing. Especially if he knew. Maybe that was why he kept you at his side if the others were around, you thought it might be to protect you from the other girls…

"That's a lot different than what you said three years ago."

"Fuck off."

"Yuta, if you allow her to choose Kun instead, you won't have anyone. It would look bad on me." their father pressed.

"If she leaves me, I'll abdicate." You gasped at that. Yuta was second born, even if he wasn't the crown prince, he was closer to the throne than anyone else. He was right after Taeyong, which would put him in a high position when the eldest became King.

"Yuta-"

"If Kun ditches his girls. If Hiyomi chooses you, you can only have her. She deserves the world, and you better fucking give it to her." You closed your eyes, a tear leaving your eye as you made your own decision. No matter how desperately you had wanted Kun the last four years, Yuta was willing to risk everything for you. You couldn't let him do that.

"Would it look bad for the third-born to have one wife?" Kun asked then and you clenched your jaw, the beeping on the machine picking up. You glanced at it, not sure how to read the numbers, worried if you got any more emotional it would set it off.

"I'm going to tell you boys something that no one else can know. Doyoung already requested that he only marry Gyuri. He's tired of dealing with the girls' drama. Ten doesn't care much for an actual marriage to anyone. Taeyong is willing to have the harem if he's king, since it was the deal for the imperial alliance. He already chose Sooyoung to be the crown princess. I remember when I was your age, all of the crap the girls did to each other, the backstabbing, the gossip. The only girl I've seen that hasn't played into any of it was Hiyomi. Even your mothers love her. If she chose Yuta, what would you do Kun?" More silence.

"If that's what she wants-"

"What the fuck do you want?" Yuta spat.

"Honestly? I want to take her from you. I have for years. I know you said, father, to let her decide without us interfering, but… I'm not going to just sit by." The King sighed so hard that you heard it, your head was spinning trying to process everything.

"If she feels safe with it, I want to bring those six to her. Make them apologize. Hiyomi can decide if they will simply be expelled or if she wants to press charges legally." Your mind ran rampant in that moment. The king was letting you decide? All of your hurt and anger, resentment, jealousy; everything bubbled inside.

"I will have someone speak to Mianyu and Lumei as well. I have a hard time believing they had no part to play, or at least that they didn't know." The king finished and the conversation died, and you assumed they left. A door opened and you realized they had been in the room next door, sharing the wall that was behind your head. Your own door started to open, and you partially shut your eyes, pretending that you just woke up.

"Miss Hiyomi?" A woman spoke a nurse entered, with Yuta behind her. No one else.

"Yes?" You opened your eyes more, continuing the act.

"Do you know where you are?"

"The hospital." You hadn’t hit your head, why wouldn’t you know?

"It was good the nurse had those EpiPens ready, you had a very quick and severe reaction. We're going to keep you here overnight and if all is good, you can go back tomorrow." The nurse smiled and then left after taking note of your vitals, leaving you with Yuta. He sat in the chair next to your bedside, taking your hand in his.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like crap." You admitted and he couldn't help but sigh with a defeated smile.

"I would think. Do you want to talk about what happened?"

"Could I have some water first?"

"Oh!" He got up and went to get what you requested, probably from a vending machine or something. You hated tap water… Yuta returned, and he helped you sit the bed up more as you took a swig from the bottle. You noticed his brow furrow, and his thumb rubbed over your cheek, it must have been a bit red still.

"What happened, (Y/N)?" You nearly choked, luckily you hadn't taken a sip.

"W-what?"

"(Y/N)." He reiterated and you closed the bottle, lip quivering a bit. It had been so long since you heard that name…

"I didn't know you knew my real name." you whispered.

"I shouldn't. But I asked." You had a hard time meeting his eye, so you just rested back, eyes closed.

"I was stupid. I was just reading, and they invited me over to play truth or dare." You huffed in annoyance, "I was suspicious immediately, but I went along with it. I…" You didn't want him to know you heard their conversation, or that you knew he knew about your feelings for Kun.

"I hadn't even been picked, but Lumei asked Aikiro about…about Jungwoo and Mark." You finally looked at him and he nodded, realization painting over his worried expression.

"It was clear that only I get the…privilege." You weren’t sure what else to call it.

"Aikiro got pissed and so she dumped her wine on me. Eiko dumped her cocktail on me and they with Yumi held me while Keiho threatened to make me drink her pina colada." His brow instantly furrowed, anger clearly taking over. But he was the quiet, scary angry type.

"Keiho hesitated, so Jingxian grabbed it from her and decided to do it herself…" You shivered a bit, feeling angry yourself. You never felt so mad. Sad, upset, hurt, frustrated? Yes. Not anger, not the rage you felt taking over.

"What about Jinyu?"

"Jinyu?" You played along. Yuta sighed.

"Apparently it was her idea. We decided that those six need to go. Father wants them to apologize first. He said it was up to you if they get expelled or if you want to get the police involved." You knew all of that already, but you were able to put on a bewildered expression.

"I can decide?" Your prince didn't say anything, and you wondered if he was thinking about his willingness to let you decide about him, or Kun.

"Yes, of course."

"What…what about you and them?" He didn't look at you and you wondered how he would word what you already knew.

"I only need you." He told you softly and you tried to hide your wince.

"Will you meet with them? You don't have to."

"No, I want to hear them apologize. And I want to tell them they're expelled. And I want to press charges." You turned your determined gaze to Yuta; he had never seen you look so harsh. But it made him smile.

"Good."

~*~*~

The doctors determined you were good to be discharged the next day and when you got back to the Sakuras’ dorm, it didn't look any different. You then remembered you wanted to be the one to tell them they were expelled, so you got to. The rest of them weren't in there, but there were maids scurrying about in their bedrooms, packing up their stuff.

"Hiyomi!" You turned as the head handmaiden came in and her hands went to your face, looking you over.

"You poor child." She sighed after you told her in detail what you went through.

"I'm sorry I had to help them find your diary." She pulled the journal out of the top of her hanbok, the lock had been broken off.

"It's okay." You took it from her, "did you look at it?"

"No, child. I know how to respect someone's privacy." You nodded in thanks, and she left to attend to other duties and so you entered your own room. Nothing had been touched, at least it seemed that way, but you still checked. Finding everything was in line, you got changed into something a bit more formal for the rest of the day. Looking in the mirror, you put on the brown and black plaid jacket that matched your skirt. Adding the beret of the same pattern, you pulled it further back, then readjusted your thigh-high socks. After, since you had about an hour to kill before you were supposed to confront the girls, you rummaged through your things. Many of your nicer accessories and little trinkets were from Yuta. Your mind went back to the conversation you had overhead nearly three years prior. Plucking the familiar book off your shelf, you looked over it, the spine was wrinkled from many read-throughs and the signature was in a slightly different spot than the original. It was your favorite book, and it made sense why Jingxian targeted it, but how did she know? Probably Eiko… You then looked at your leather satchel, you used it constantly, and you had nearly forgotten that apparently, Yuta hadn't got it for you. Did Kun really get it instead? Or did he suggest it? Get it for Yuta to give you? You didn't know. The other little gifts started to leave a sour taste in your mouth, making you wonder if he had lied about any of the rest. Your glass paperweight in the shape of a cat went missing, and supposedly a maid found it in your laundry, so he brought it back. A set of manga you liked had a limited edition only sold in Japan that he got for your birthday. But…he hadn't been in Japan when they were on sale. Kun had been though. Letting your thoughts loop into the negative, you gathered all of your gifts, minus the bag, and piled them on your desk. The bag was a practical item, so it was allowed some grace, but you wanted to ditch the rest for some reason. Why did you feel so mad at Yuta? It wasn't like he did anything wrong, technically, he just continued to act like he didn't know about your feelings for his half-brother.

"Lady Hiyomi?" A soft voice called after a knock on your door. A younger maid had come to escort you to a sitting room where you were to meet with the girls. Swallowing the few nerves you had, surprisingly, you followed after her and entered the room. It was empty, no one else was there-

"(Y/N)." You startled, only noticing Kun as you got further into the room. He was sitting on the couch under a window, and you wondered why Yuta wasn't there. He looked gorgeous as always; his hair dyed a dirty blonde and slightly wavy, and he had on a navy and white letterman jacket.

"(Y/N)?" If Yuta wasn't supposed to know your real name, how did Kun? That didn't matter, you were there with him, alone. And he was coming toward you. That's when you got nervous, and you gripped your hands together to hide their quaking.

"Yuta told me. I…I needed to show you something before everyone else gets here." He pulled his phone from his back pocket, and you glanced up at his face to see his clearly upset expression. He tapped on the device, and you heard an audio recording start.

"Can you help me or not?"

Yuta?

"I can, but what's in it for me?"

Was that…Jinyu?

"I'll make it so you can leave. Get out of here." "What do you want me to do?" "Come up with the plan yourself but figure out a way for the other four Sakuras to get expelled." "Can't you do it yourself?" "Not without a reason. Public image and shit. I really don't care about the rest of them, I just want Hiyomi. Can you do it?" "Probably. You wanted me to drag Jingxian too, right?" "Please. She's gotten on my last fucking nerve. She has to know about Hiyomi and Kun, why else would she be such a bitch?" "I know that's it. What was the last thing she did again?" "Something petty, poured bleach on her favorite dress. I got her a new one and she didn't even notice, but…" "How many things have you replaced?" "Like seventeen or something crazy. Those are just the ones she doesn't know I did, too." "You know, if you weren't my cousin, I wouldn't do this." "Bullshit, you know that's not why. We're only second cousins." "I'm serious, Yuta. I couldn't care less about the others." "Even Kun?" "Kind of hard to like your future husband when you're a lesbian."

It was clear there was more to the recording, but he cut it off. You were silent for some time, trying to process everything you just heard. You stumbled and Kun quickly pocketed his phone and reached out to stabilize you, then led you to the couch.

"Did…did Yuta know what the plan was?"

"I doubt it. But…it still was partly because of him." You slumped against the back cushion, resting your cheek on it, mind swirling. Your hat fell from its place, and you just pulled it all the way off.

"W-what do you make of it?" You needed more information; your emotions were so turbulent you couldn't even decide for yourself what to feel.

"Well…I know Jingxian was such a bitch because I like you." He just straight out admitted it and your body froze, your default response. He must have noticed the jolt you gave as your body stiffened and his hand went to your chin, prompting you to look up at him. Being so close to him, it took your breath away, he was even more stunning up close. And his eyes were so gentle and warm, not the same sharp heat you normally got from Yuta.

"Honestly, early on I tried to get Yuta to let you go, so I could have you instead, but he refused." Kun sighed, then huffed with dry amusement, "I'll admit I'm a little crazy when it comes to you."

"Birds of a feather…" You mumbled and he let your face go and you just slumped against the couch again.

"You know how Yuta gets you two presents for your birthday?"

"One's from you, huh?" You guessed accurately it seemed.

"How-"

"A few years back, I overhead your friends in the hall. They said that you made Jingxian replace my signed book. I know my bag was from you. Looking at it now, those gifts make a lot more sense. They would be so different from each other. Yuta would get me a pretty set of earrings and a necklace, but then there would be a full book series. Or instead of nice shoes, it would be a galaxy print. The year-long pass to the planetarium?" Kun was more of an intellectual than Yuta for sure, he was the only one of the princes that went to college. That was part of the reason you liked him so much, he was more similar to you than anyone else there. You knew that even with the restricted amount of time you had around each other.

"How did you get that recording?" You asked when it seemed he was struggling to find a response. He glanced up at you, head still bowed, dirty blonde bangs falling over his brow.

"Jinyu sent it to me with a caveat. She made me promise that you wouldn't press charges against her. She doesn't mind the expulsion, would welcome it…"

"Did you know that she was…?"

"Yeah. She told me early on."

"Yes, it was her idea, but… Yuta prompted her, and if you promised her that, I'll respect it." Your expression hardened then, so quickly it made Kun raise his brow in surprise.

"I can't believe him. I know…" You swallowed hard, "I guess he did it because he loves me. Or that might be what he says, but for all this time…" You exhaled hard through your nose, brow furrowing.

"Yes, I want to get back at the girls even past kicking them out, pressing legal charges. They put me through so much shit for so long…And I shouldn't be this mad at Yuta, but… I want to get back at him too." Your last sentence was much quieter, you felt ashamed of your rage toward him, but that recording just bubbled everything over. You looked up then, fully to make eye contact with Kun.

"I just…I don’t know how. Help me?" The other prince hummed, leaning into the back cushion himself, looking pensive.

"I shouldn't be as sadistic as I want…" Your phone alarm went off then, meaning the others would be coming rather soon.

"Think on it, I'll go with what you plan." You told him, standing to adjust your clothes. Stepping over to a mirror, you put your hat back on, fixing your rumpled hair as well. The king was coming too after all. As you primped, Kun stepped up behind you so you could see him in the reflection as well. He wasn't any taller than Yuta, but that did still put him nearly a head taller than you since you weren't in heels. You gasped, watching his arms wrap around you from behind, his cheek pressing against the side of your head. The black fabric of his sleeve smelled amazing, like him of course. Your heart started to beat so hard you were sure he could hear it, maybe even feel it where his chest met your back.

"Tell me, what does Hiyomi mean? Do you know?"

"Something with sunlight and beauty." You had learned Japanese in your training, but that didn't mean you knew name etymology. Yuta had mentioned it before though.

"How do you like Yuhua?" You assumed it was something similar…was he already thinking of picking a different name for you? Honestly, it was the next best after your birthname.

"Perfect." You whispered and nearly whined when he pulled away abruptly, the door opening not even thirty seconds later. Your posture immediately corrected itself, and you bowed your head as the King entered, followed by Yuta, then the six girls were escorted in by a few of the royal guards. Though, they looked more like federal agents…

"Sit." One of them ordered and the clearly dismayed girls followed. There was still evidence of mascara running and their faces were blotchy and red. They weren't in their fancy clothes either, having been dressed in clothes similar to the uniforms worn as trainees. Plain pleated skirts and button ups with a cardigan. For once, you weren't the plainest dressed one in the room, and you felt more smug than angry looking over them.

"Come here, child." The king prompted and you stepped to his side at his prompting, head still bowed to avoid looking at his face. You didn't notice the glare Yuta had sent Kun's way when he realized he had arrived there early. And that he had access to you without your prince being there as well.

"Tell them, Hiyomi." He motioned with his hand, and you turned to face them fully. They were clearly shocked by your cold gaze, and your eyes met Jinyu's. She looked significantly less nervous, and it was clear she was putting on an act.

"Expel them, please, your highness." The five other girls had various reactions, all forced down and if glares could kill, Jingxian would succeed in her mission.

"Of course. Now, you six. Apologize." The King's tone was hard, and the girls shakily stood and moved to face you. They clearly didn't want to do what followed, but they had little choice. They fell slowly to their knees, and bowed low, foreheads on their hands pressed to the floor. You barely registered the clearly scripted words they spoke, and you turned to look over your shoulder at the princes. Your gaze first went to Yuta, and it was clear he had no idea that you knew everything. He gave you his classic smile, but it just pissed you off then. You then looked at Kun and he gave a subtle nod.

"Jinyu can go." You then noted and the King was curious why you only let her go, but he allowed it. He knew there was something unspoken since Jinyu seemed to sag in relief as she left.

"We'll tell them the rest, father. Would you mind leaving us to it?" Kun stepped forward and his father turned to look back at him. They exchanged something unspoken through their gaze.

"Very well." He nodded and he left along with the guards, who stayed stationed outside the door as it closed.

"Hiyomi?" Yuta stepped up closer, but you ignored him, going to where the girls had sat back down. The other Sakuras looked a bit more nervous, but Jingxian was steaming. All of her hard work over the years, desperate to get whatever wealth and power she could, gone. The sneer she shot you pissed you off, hand flying up without thought, smacking her hard enough to snap her head to the side. She just sat there, not looking back at you. Not sure what to say to them, you turned and looked at Kun who was in the same spot, a little behind his slightly older brother. A smug look fell on his face, and he stepped around the other prince, shedding his letterman-style jacket and laying it on the table. You wanted to swoon as he rolled the sleeves of his white button-up, so they bunched above his elbows. Paired with his watch and the ring he had on his index finger, it was so little, but so hot. Yuta must have noticed how your expression changed, recognized it even, but you knew it was different than anything you gave him.

Kun sidled up next to you and he raised a brow, silently asking if you were ready. You nodded so slightly, with a tiny hum and you gasped as his hand grabbed your chin. The move was a bit rough, but your gasp was of delight, not fear or shock. His eyes were still warm, and he had the sexy grin back, your thighs twitched along with your core.

"You know, it’s a shame that only Yuta could get a girl so good." His grip softened, and he cupped your jaw instead. The room was so quiet you could hear Jingxian's jaw clench and made her teeth grind against each other. Kun's face was so close to yours that you felt his breath on your lips.

"Kun, what are you-" Yuta started, coming closer.

"But it's also a shame that she got stuck with him." His tone was incredibly patronizing, derisive and you just took the chance to bask in his presence and attention as he pulled his phone back out, stepping back slightly. He still had the audio clip paused where he left it off before, and you saw then it was half-way through.

"At least you only have to deal with one guy. He also knows. I have to get it up for four other sluts I couldn't care less for."

 The four other Sakuras gasped, and your eyes flicked to look at Kun's phone, but his hand at your jaw turned you back to focus on him. It was hard to get mad with the following audio while looking over him, so close to you. You didn't even care to look and see what Yuta's expression was. He had frozen, just behind his half-brother, almost scared to move.

"Viagra?" "No, I just pretend they're Hiyomi. Hard to do though. Eiko's so fucking annoying and won't shut up. Sounds like a bad porno. Aikiro still doesn't know what the fuck she's doing even after training for a year and more. Yumi has no stamina and is selfish to boot. Keiho-"

Your eyes flicked to the phone again, waiting for him to finish. It seemed he paused to take a drink or something, because the audio kept progressing.

"Keiho is a fraud. She thinks I don't know that she goes to Ten's little orgies or whatever. I know she's slept with half of the guard too."

All the girls looked at Keiho then, her cheeks that were bright red with anger were now horribly pale.

"She acts like she wants stuff vanilla, loving. I know she can only get satisfied with two cocks in her."

Kun shut it off then, only a few seconds left but you had heard enough. How dare he criticize Keiho when he was the one that brought his friends in to fuck you at the same time? Did he think it would be flattering that he only thinks of you when he's with the others?

"Hiyomi-" Yuta tried to start, and you wanted to push around Kun, smack his stupid pretty face. But you trusted the other prince to come up with the best thing he could. He already tore down the girls, that much was obvious from their faces and the devastated looks they sent Yuta.

"Despite his supposed love for you, sweetheart, it’s a shame you don't feel the same." Since it wasn't directed at you, and it would still be incredibly hot if it was, the smug sadistic grin he had riled you up all the more. Kun hummed, prompting you to respond and he chuckled at the dazed look you had.

"No, I don't." It was like he was some kind of drug; your thoughts were foggy, and you needed more of him. He had taken out the girls, they looked like all the fight had been ripped from them, slumped on the couch. It had hit Yuta too, but not enough, not yet. Though, Kun needed to finish Jingxian first.

"Do you know how hard it was for me? From the moment I saw you, I wanted you. The only reason I was going to choose Jingxian was because I hate her. I couldn't live with myself if you weren't my wife, my princess, but I didn't want to hurt the other girls. They didn't deserve the hurt like her. She's a horrible human being and she seemed all the worse compared to you, (Y/N)." Hearing him say your real name again did it, you were head over heels in love with him and you thanked whatever higher being finally graced you with something good. All of the shit you had put up with came to the best moment of your life, knowing Kun wanted you just as badly as you wanted him. Even if you both knew it was crazy, even sick; at least you could be lovesick together. The final hit to the girls, hidden from Yuta since Kun blocked you from his sight, was the extremely gentle kiss he pressed to your forehead, followed by him gently brushing his nose over yours.

"Guards, take them to the police." The prince let your chin go, just enough so he could step back so as not to shout in your ear. The door opened and the suits came in, quite literally hauling the girls away, Jingxian now just as broken as the others.

"Only one left." You whispered when Kun came back to you. He shifted where you stood with a hand on your lower back, making you visible to Yuta then.

"Show him you're mine." He told you and it seemed your minds were linked. At graduation, each girl would kneel before the prince and swear their loyalty, almost like being coronated. You sank to your knees, but you looked up at him instead. The normally practiced display of reverence for a girl's monarch was corrupted by the desire you looked at him with, and he you. You were submitting to him as a man, not as a higher-up, nor a prince. He grinned when your hands gripped his belt, not moving to remove it, but the implication was clear-

"You fucker." Yuta shot forward, hand burying in Kun's shirt and yanking him away from you. You flinched back as Kun was pulled away and you quickly stood as the brothers stared each other down.

"You lost, Yuta. Move on, she's mine now. Ready to abdicate?" You flinched back with a gasp, hands covering your mouth as Yuta's fist moved toward his brother's face. Kun deftly moved his head the little bit he had to for the blow to miss.

"Wait!" You tried to weasel your way between them before the elder landed a punch on the younger. Even though they were the same height, Kun was bigger, Yuta had a hard time gaining any kind of bulk and he looked like a twig next to the other prince. While he wasn't the most muscular man you knew, he was outright perfect to you, and it was clear he was strong because Yuta barely budged him with his tug on his shirt, he moved with the pull. That was beside the point… You got back at Yuta, what happened was enough, you could tell by the hurt etched into his face. Your anger had immediately dissipated, a better solution hitting your mind. Neither of them knew you had heard the full conversation the day before, but that didn't change that you had.

"Don't abdicate. You already are losing your harem, but you told Kun to only have me, right?" Both men were clearly shocked that at your words and you took the chance to shove Yuta off, standing in front of Kun, clearly in a show of protection. Like you could really do anything…

"Y-yes." Your prince's voice was soft and rough. He didn't deserve how much you really wanted to wreck him. Your rationality had kicked in, logic taking over, he was already defeated.

"We’ll tell the press that the other four turned against me because I didn't want to be involved with you. Turn it on me. You take the three from Kun, and I go to him. You're second born, you can't just give up those rights-"

"(Y/N), I don't want to be a prince without you as my princess." Your chin quivered a bit at his tone, his eyes glassy.

"And I don't want to be a princess without Kun as my prince." You countered. You needed to break his heart for him to let you go. You didn’t turn to look at the other man even though Yuta's eyes flashed to look over your shoulder.

"Take the other three, add two more from wherever, do whatever. Wouldn't you rather move on and find someone else than love me and know I don't feel the same? If you love something let it go? Do you think I want to be restricted to you, when I love someone else?"

"You love him?" You didn't respond to his question. It wasn't the real definition of love, it wasn't that pure, but you had some twisted loyalty to Kun that you never did for Yuta.

"Do you love me?" You pushed back. You weren't sure, it seemed somewhat like you were a trophy, a luxury item that he might adore, but…

"You're supposed to be mine." He didn't answer the question. Not directly.

"You don't love me, I’m just your favorite. You liked that I didn't fight the other girls tooth and nail just to get your attention. You liked the challenge. If you really cared you would have told me all the shit that Jingxian did, and the others, I'm sure. You never even bothered to learn who I was, getting me pretty, girly things. You played up the romance but never did anything I liked with me. I might have been in your bed the most, but I wasn't in your heart."

"And you were in Kun's?" Yuta nearly spat, not trying to defend himself, because you were right.

"What's her favorite thing?" The man behind you cut in and you turned to look at him. You didn't answer, genuinely curious if Yuta knew, because he never acted on it…

"Books."

"Wrong. Space. She goes out at night to watch the stars. All her books are science-fiction. Her favorite sweatshirt is of the milky way and if there's ever a special event at the planetarium, she's there." How did he know all of that? The other prince was silent, clearly not sure what to do or say next. His eyes went back to you, and you couldn't meet his look, and stepped closer to Kun.

"Favorite animal?" Kun continued.

"Dogs-"

"Goats. She just can't have one as a pet, she asked. The keychain on her bag is a goat. So is the plushie she takes with her on out-of-country flights. She tells people she likes dogs because it's more accepted.”

"Her favorite color is dark purple because it looks like the night sky. She loves snow but hates rain. She's the only girl fluent in all four languages. She hates moths and loves fireflies." He kept going and you wondered how he knew all that. Though…it was all things that were more or less common knowledge, things your friends knew. It wasn't creepy, just observant, and it should be things Yuta knew. But, based on his face, he really didn't.

"He loves planes. He took lessons to learn to fly one. He loves cats but doesn't have one because Lumei is allergic. He wears a lot of black and white, but he always uses a blue pen because he likes blue too. He hates cold weather; he knows how to cook, and he even is scared of butterflies." You smiled softly, realizing all the things he knew about you, you pretty much knew about him as well. It was things you overheard while near him or figured out by watching him from afar. After an uncomfortable silence, you finally looked up to meet Yuta's gaze.

"I'll go talk to father. I'll… if you ever break her heart, I'll fucking kill you." The prince exhaled, seeming to get some kind of closure and he stepped closer, reaching for you. Midway though, his hand stopped, and his eyes flicked to the side, at your earrings.

"They're moons." He noticed.

"Yes." Your voice was quiet, and the prince dropped his hand, cast one more look to his brother, and left. Watching him go was…a relief. You thought you might feel something else, be a little sad, or hurt, but you just felt at ease. As you turned to face Kun once more, he was already there, his hands at your jaw and he pulled you to him, kissing you so hard your teeth clashed against his. The force of him pulling you into him knocked your hat off, falling to the floor. You whimpered, hands holding his wrists as you try to meet his fervor. Your butt hit the table when he turned you with his leg wedging between yours. One hand left your jaw to cup the back of your head, blunt nails scratching your scalp. The other hand found its way to your waist, then his arm snaked around your middle, helping you up to sit on the table. Kun finally pulled away, both of you panting and your dazed eyes met his sharp ones.

"Fuck." He sighed, leaning forward and resting his forehead on your shoulder. His hands rested on the table, holding him up so he didn't rest his full weight on you, and he stood there for a while. You pressed your cheek to his soft hair, basking in him finally being so close to you. Slowly, you brought your arms up, shaking, and wrapped them around his shoulders. The hug was quickly returned, Kun enveloping you back, and you pressed your face into his chest. With your ear over his heart, you closed your eyes, listening to it beat, soaking in the scent of his cologne. Neither of you really wanted to pull back, but never-the-less did so. He took your hands in his, bringing them up so he could kiss them.

"I need to talk to father as well, sweetheart," his hand cupped your cheek, thumb rubbing your soft skin, "wait for me."

Due to formalities and legalities, you weren't Kun's right away. Because of all the rules, you both were moved into a guest house more or less, still on the royal campus, but not one of the official palaces. You had to wait for nearly a week as the ministers convened, trying to figure out what the hell to do. Taeyong remained the heir and was the only one that kept the harem as promised. Yuta didn't abdicate, but he didn't rebuild his harem either. He ended up moving to Japan then, becoming the ambassador for that part of the empire. Kun adopted most of his roles and rights, and it was well received by the public that he wanted to marry for love instead. He wasn't the heir, so the ministers didn't mind too much. Ten had some of his privileges revoked when it was revealed how debaucherously he was living, but he didn't mind. Doyoung too gave up his harem, minus Gyuri. A lot of things changed fast, but it was welcome. Finally, once everything was official, you stood in the middle of the foyer of your new home, watching people mill about as they moved the final things in. Looking around, you startled when someone snuck up behind you, hugging you.

"It's done, sweetheart." Kun nuzzled behind your ear, and you bit your lip, giggling.

"Once everyone leaves, I'm going to take you, since your mine now."

Part 2: Up Close (Smut)

Master-Master List

NCT Master List

[safeworksrender]

Recently finished another 100% Social Link playthrough of this game and took *a lot* of screenshots and clips along the way.

These are just some of the lines that resonated with me (though I don't just love the game for it's narrative. I think it's tremendous from a gameplay perspective as well, especially since Reload fixes all the gripes I had with the original on PS2):

Mutatsu's monologue about the idea of constantly working hard for a lifestyle that we'll barely get to experience really hit me on a personal level, and I'm sure it's something that a lot of "Nine to Five" or "paycheck-to-paycheck" workers can relate to as well. In a way, it doubles down into my belief that it's never about the destination and always about the journey (as corny as it may sound). Also, I just absolutely love this social link in general (I laughed out loud at Mutatsu's suggestion to have Makoto go bald)

Shinjiro confessing to Makoto that his life is pretty much nothing but a ticking time bomb is a very obvious foreshadowing of his eventual death on 10/4. Still, I also found it gut-wrenching because it finally made me realize that he probably didn't want to return to school as he knew he would never be able to fulfill the promise he made with Akihiko and Mitsuru during the early days of S.E.E.S. He was either going to die at the hands of Ken or Strega, or die from the side effects of the suppressants that he took

Akinari's perspective on what ultimately gives our lives meaning is very powerful and I feel like it's something that a lot of us younger folks can learn from. We live in a day and age where a lot of people don't consider their lives to be worthwhile unless they reach a certain amount of fame or wealth, but it's important to remember that life is and always has been about the little things that we get to experience along the way (at least that's what I believe)

Mitsuru telling Makoto that she needs him in her life just a couple of days before his death is obviously a real gut punch. But the reason I like this line a lot is because I think it perfectly encapsulates the fact that she isn't the stoic character that she is presented to be in the early to mid stages of the game. She ultimately just needed someone to see things from her perspective and lend her an ear to vent out her frustrations about her sheltered upbringing and lifestyle (which is implied just a few lines before this one, as she teases Makoto about the fact that she would not have anyone else to lean on when she needs to vent about her problems)

With all that said, I can write a whole essay about the many little things that I enjoyed so much about this game (and the idea is quite tempting), but I don't think any sane person would want or care to read that.

[inposterumcumgaudio]

Promised I'd do Victoria Byng for @axxloe too so.

I don't have any specific thoughts about her in the way that I did General Byng and Reg Cutty because I feel she's actually pretty well explored in the game and mostly understood by the fandom. Nonetheless, here's a laundry list of Victoria miscellanea.

Though her strikebreaking activities are treated neutrally by the narrative as a necessary action, it does make her a tool. Which, if you're on the ball, you know this because her entire DLC is about realizing she's a fkn tool.

I don't think anyone questions that Verloc is a psychopath who takes delight in drowning people for fun, but again, the people telling us that he's a psychopath are Sally and General Byng. So if we are eyeing that notion suspiciously, it may then be possible that - at least from Verloc's perspective - he actually has a valid reason to hate Victoria as much as he seems to. What is it? There's nothing in the lore that specifically points to anything large enough to merit that. She does call him Tony and we know from other places he not only hates being called by his first name but insists upon his honorific being used... but you can't really tell Victoria Byng how to address you, can you?

Being called Tony would be annoying, but probably not enough to be delighted that the Joy supply saboteur turns out to be her. Moreso I think this points to something that a lot of people miss when being told about who has the power in Wellington Wells. Verloc is said to be a law unto himself on the Holm of Uskglass, but whatever power he holds only extends to that one island. He still has to answer to General Byng and Victoria. And they do put the screws to him about showing progress whether it's viable or not. Maybe to the detriment of Verloc's other interests.

While you can bet Verloc hates being called Tony and I implied in my stories that doing so was a deliberate subordination tactic on Victoria's part, I actually think Victoria only did it because she thought it made her more approachable and that it was the culture of Haworth Labs to be so familiar. She recalls Haworth as "never one for ceremony" and she calls him Harry in her quest notes, suggesting she probably called him that in person too. It would have been awkward to be so formal as to call Verloc by his title when his boss was fine being on a first name basis. Tony is obviously a step further than Anton would have been, but maybe that was supposed to be a nudge. That is, if Verloc had actually called her Vicky back, even spitefully, she wouldn't have minded. She calls herself Vicky in her own thoughts. (Interestingly, when she calls herself that it's spelled "Vicky" in the subtitles, but when she's imagining her mother calling her that, it's spelled "Vickie".)

While her father strives to be on top of the pyramid and to wield his power over his subordinates, Victoria goes to great lengths to make herself seem very Of the People. She lives in the Village rather than the Parade. She isn't exactly hiding from the rest of society the way a lot of the other notable characters in the game seem to be (Nick Lightbearer, Dr. Faraday, Dr. Verloc, Jack Worthing, General Byng to an extent). Indeed, she organizes public activities quite frequently. Victoria's motivation in all things is to appear as much a common Wellie as anyone else, fancy clothes and mansion notwithstanding. That Wellies in her DLC feel comfortable approaching her on the street to make idle conversation (even though she probably looks like hell) is something she's worked to imbue in them. Obviously this is informed greatly by her being visibly Other and her desire to negate that, but it's also part of what she's come to think of as her duty and her power in the town. The people of Wellington Wells do listen to and follow her (as they have since she was quite young) and she uses this - she believes - to their benefit. Indeed, she's more a post-war English ideal in that way than practically all the Actually English people in town. She's had her shoulder to the wheel the entire time.

One of the few personal items General Byng keeps in his safehouse is a drawing Victoria did as a child. He's quick to cut her loose when called out for having been looking out for himself, but it may not be as easy a decision as it seems to Victoria in that moment.

Indira had one too. And we see it right as Victoria realizes that she had to make a choice about how Victoria should feel about her moving forward. Parallels! And perpendiculars!

And lastly...

Christian Louboutin has only just been born the previous year (to say nothing of Wellington Wells' policy of isolation) and yet she's got the red bottom shoes. But if she had a favorite designer and the ability to shop them, it'd be Hermès all the way.

[p5x-theories]

P5 Collab Chapter 5 Summary

(last updated 11/4/24!)

Usual disclaimer: Please keep in mind this game still has no official English translation, so this summary uses a mix of what happens visually, what I understand of the Japanese dialogue, and Google translate for the Chinese text, in order to get the broader picture here. This will be focused on summing up everything that happens overall, without getting into a line-by-line translation.

Contrary to this blog’s name, this post is going to have as little speculation as possible, and stick to confirmed facts.

This post will cover the fifth chapter of the P5 Collab, also called the “Spaceship Chapter”.

Part 5-1

This chapter picks up almost immediately after the end of the Pyramid chapter. Mona says he understands (implying the group started to explain what happened in the Pyramid to Mona and Noir, in the brief time between chapters), and Closer tells them they were in a place that looked like Oracle's Palace. Cattle determines that, because Noir and Mona are here, it's now obvious that their next course of action is to steal the Core from this place as well.

Closer asks what Mona meant when he said they were waiting for them, and he explains that if they hadn't waited here for the rest of the team, everyone else wouldn't have been able to proceed from here, since Noir's the key to the big door they're standing by. Soy asks what that means, and Noir just confirms this is true, thinking it was nice of Mona to suggest they wait for everyone. She then introduces herself again as Noir, saying it's nice to meet everyone.

You can watch some of this part fan-translated to English here.

Noir apparently heard about them, and the alliance formed between their two groups the previous times this happened, from Mona and Joker. Closer reassures her that they'll work together again, and says it's nice to meet her. Noir, somewhat hesitantly, agrees. Queen notices this and asks what's wrong, and Noir reveals she's nervous, since she just joined the Phantom Thieves. Wind says *she's* new, too, so she understands how Noir feels, but she should just try to relax. Closer enthusiastically adds they're already like friends, and then realizes Joker isn't here and asks about him. Noir, also confused, says he was just here, where'd he go...? A voice comes from somewhere, announcing "I'm here!", and Wonder, recognizing the voice, asks where Joker is. Cattle calls out, spotting Joker above them on top of one of the shelves lining the wall. Panther wonders what he's doing up there, and Soy greets him, suggesting he join them. Joker says nothing, and Wind, meeting him for the first time, double-checks that that's *really* Joker, asking why he isn't speaking. Joker chuckles, then announces right now he's not Joker, he's Beauty Thief! (Doing the pose Haru did when *she* first introduced herself as such.) Noir is shocked, and Closer wonders in disbelief if Joker's really a girl (Beauty Thief in Japanese is "Bishoujo Kaitou", or "Beautiful Girl Thief"). Skull explains he's referencing Noir's entrance, and Oracle berates him for explaining the joke because that's embarrassing, while Soy, also shocked, says Joker seemed so serious he almost couldn't tell it *was* a joke. Queen somewhat awkwardly says he's probably trying to make Noir feel less nervous by making a joke. Fox, hearing this, wonders if he should also be Beauty Thief, then? Wonder thinks something similar, and they stand together, both doing the pose. Oracle, unamused, tells them this isn't a competition. Joker finally jumps down, and says it's good to see Wonder again. The player can double-down on the Beauty Thief joke, to which Joker exclaims "You're also one...!" They both do the pose again, pointing at each other, and Skull behind them grumbles that neither of them really are. Noir, slightly annoyed, complains about all this talk of Beauty Thief this and Beauty Thief that... *she's* the real one!!

Cattle declares that everyone's here now. Mona comments there's strength in numbers, but even though they have two navigators, they'll have to be careful to avoid attracting attention. The group nods, and Panther adds that everyone will have to stop shouting about being Beauty Thief. Joker looks away and says "... okay...", and Skull mutters that he sounds so unwilling. Noir, smiling, thanks Joker, because now she doesn't feel so nervous. Mona announces they'll all steal the core together! They proceed through the big door.

They explore the outer areas of this place, familiar from the original Okumura's Palace, and find Noir's enough to unlock most doors for them out here. Eventually, they reach an elevator to take them further.

Part 5-2

Cattle senses the Core from the center building in this area, and Fox comments it doesn't actually seem that far away. They proceed in that direction, occasionally running into guards along the way.

Part 5-3

Still heading towards the center building, they manage to reach it in this part, Soy noting that they made it. Cattle says the Core already feels close, and Fox suggests they head in, then.

Part 5-4

Inside the building, Fox frames the view with his fingers, while Soy comments that this looks like a factory. Fox agrees, and says they should keep going.

After a bit of exploring, they encounter a door that can't just be opened by Noir; it must be locked some other way. They run into a Corporobo (it appears to be a MDL-CH, but then becomes a MDL-WKR in battle) which attacks them for "being lazy" and not working. When they beat it, it drops a Staff ID keycard.

After the fight, they look out the window down at the factory, and Closer notes that a lot of robots are being produced here, and she saw a lot of broken ones as well. Soy adds that even though they're machines, the slave-like treatment of them is uncomfortable. Wind, alarmed, asks if these robots represent real people in the real world. Noir, downcast, explains that they're all employees of her family's company, as the owner of the real version of this Palace is her father.

Wonder and his team react with surprise, and Cattle speculates that this means the careless way robots are treated here represents Noir's father's attitude towards his staff. Soy says it's rough that she has to change her own father's heart. Noir, still looking a bit down, says it's fine, as she's made up her mind. Her father used to be respectable as the head of the company, but now he only thinks about the company's interests, money, and politics, rather than the employees and customers themselves. Even his own daughter is just a tool to further his own distorted desires.

Wind seems to react to this. Noir continues that she used to think being the daughter her father wants was the right thing to do, but after befriending the Phantom Thieves her mind changed. Wind thinks for a moment, then speaks up that she's had a similar experience, though she says it wasn't as painful as Noir's situation. Both at home and at school, she only thought about fulfilling her responsibilities for the sake of others, and forgot about herself. She can somewhat understand Noir's feelings, because especially when you're alone, it's easy to get lost. Wonder adds that they're here for Noir, too. Panther agrees; Noir's not alone anymore, and she can talk to them about anything! Fox assures her it's not bad to rely on others. Noir thanks everyone, saying she's happier now.

Off to the side, Closer and Soy turn to Wind, and Closer reminds her that all of that goes for her, too. Wind shouldn't try to take on everything by herself. Soy agrees; if she has any problems, she should talk to them, especially since they're always meddling in stuff anyway. Wind thanks them both.

Mona, addressing the others, says they're the Phantom Thieves of Hearts! Besides being good at stealing, they need to cherish the bonds between them, too. Closer hears this, and turns back to the group, surprised that they have a whole name for their team. Soy clarifies that they also call themselves the Phantom Thieves, but never specific what kind of phantom thieves they actually are. Cattle suggests the "Phantom Thieves of Desires", since it sounds like it's "plated with gold", but Wind awkwardly warns him that could give the impression of excessive desires, with a negative connotation. Cattle is alarmed by this, while Wonder thinks to himself about what they should be called.

Queen mentions that there's no point in discussing this here (presumably because they're all going to forget), and suggests they move on. Before they do, Wind clarifies if the other group is currently undertaking the Palace this place is based on, and Noir nods, warning them that there may be dangers here that they don't know about yet. Fox adds that they don't know where the real Palace's Treasure is yet, either, so they can't use that to guess where the Core here is.

Mona points out that they have both Oracle and Wind here, plus his amazing nose, so finding the Core should be a piece of cake anyway! Cattle, annoyed, says his sensory abilities are way better than just Mona's nose, so he shouldn't overlook them! Noir cuts off the argument, reminding them they're all working together here, so they should get along. Both mascots are frustrated, but begrudgingly agree. Fox notes that this makes another excellent composition- framing it with his fingers- and calling it "Brotherhood and Self-Discipline". Mona tells him not to give it a weird name, and Cattle says he's had enough, and they should move on.

Using the keycard to unlock the door, they head out onto the factory floor. Similar to the canon Okumura Palace, they discover they can overclock the mechanical arms on the assembly line to break then, then use them as bridges.

They reach another locked door at the other end of the assembly line, this one requiring a much higher-clearance keycard to open. Noticing a commotion with some Corporobos down on the stopped assembly line, they ambush them, looking for a better keycard.

After the fight, however, Closer and Skull are dismayed to discover that these Corporobos had the same kind of keycard they already got from the first one. Wind theorizes they'll need to find and defeat a more powerful enemy to get a higher-clearance card.

Closer then notices that the end of the conveyor belt has a portal, which Wind guesses takes whatever passes through it to another area. Cattle realizes a new area could have stronger enemies, and suggests they try heading through.

Part 5-5

As expected, the portal takes them to a completely new area. Skull asks how they're supposed to find stronger enemies, and Oracle says she detects several special robots around here. Tapping the air in front of her (with an effect similar to when she uses Necronomicon's skills, so likely utilizing it here as well), she shows the others what appears to be a security camera feed from two different rooms: one contains a MDL-AM with some MDL-CHs, while the other has a MDL-AM and a MDL-DM. Her guess is that one of them will have what they need.

On their way there, they also find an Intermediate Staff ID keycard, which helps them proceed further. They discover after fighting the robots Oracle detected, however, that finding the Intermediate Staff ID keycard made fighting these robots a waste of time, as all they had were Intermediate keycards as well. Luckily, a group of Corporobos marching through the facility opens a door they weren't able to get through earlier, and they can still sneak deeper in.

Part 5-6

Noir stops, and comments that although it's a space station factory, the whole building does feel in line with her father's sense of style. However, she hopes she can make him more aware of what he's been doing to Okumura Foods. Wind notes that that sounds like Noir's father runs a food company, and Skull confirms with a grin that he owns the famous Big Bang Burger chain. Closer repeats "Big Bang Burger...?", and all of Wonder's team looks confused. Skull, now confused as well, asks if they seriously haven't heard of it, and Panther mentions there's a Big Bang Burger in Shibuya. Noir clarifies it's a burger restaurant with a space theme.

Wind, still sounding a bit thrown-off, says that her father also runs a food business, but she's never heard of Big Bang Burger. It occurs to Closer that they do have a Boom Bang Burger, but Panther says she's never heard of that. Noir proposes that maybe, in Wonder's world, Big Bang Burger doesn't exist? Wonder nods.

Hearing this, Cattle speculates that maybe, although similar, the world that they're from is an entirely separate world from the one Joker's team is from. Queen repeats "another world", clearly thinking, as Cattle continues to say that, although they supposedly live in the same city of the same country, the details seem different. "This is commonly known as a parallel world... A world that branches off due to a certain choice." Queen mutters that that might be why details like a store name would change. Oracle says she understands the idea logically, but it almost seems too unbelievable to even be possible. Closer wonders if that means her school doesn't even exist in their world. Soy says that this topic is so crazy it's making his head hurt, and Skull agrees.

Queen points out that, if they really are from different worlds, that raises the question of why they were brought here together. Cattle's less sure about this part, and adds that the parallel worlds theory is just his own speculation.

Wonder notices that everyone seems confused, and can either ask everyone to calm down, or say it doesn't matter if they're from parallel worlds. Joker agrees; even if they're from separate worlds, they've still been working together and trusting each other. Similarly, Panther smiles and says it's not a big problem anyway, while Fox mentions that it's because of these meetings that they were all able to bond, and Queen decides there's no point in continuing to discuss it, thanking Joker for bringing that up. Closer adds that she doesn't really get this complicated stuff, but she's really glad she got to meet all of them, and Soy expresses an appreciation for their help and the chance to meet so many unique people.

With that, Wind suggests they continue on, since their goal right now is still to steal this area's Core. Wonder nods, and Noir says they'll do it together!

As they continue to explore, they start finding some of the remote-controllable robots from Katayama's Palace, and use them to help navigate the area. They eventually reach and defeat a MDL-GM, which drops a Senior Staff ID keycard.

Fox comments that they'll be able to open the door in the factory now, and Oracle manages to use one of the consoles in the room they're in to shut off the security blocking their portal back.

Part 5-7

They head through the portal and return to the conveyor belt, which is still stopped (though the Corporobos are gone). Closer complains that she's starting to get tired from all this walking around, and Skull agrees, suggesting they take a break here since they've still got a ways to go. Oracle seems to be lost in thought, so Wonder asks her about it.

Oracle turns the group, and admits she's still been thinking about their conversation earlier (about being from parallel worlds). She points out that they weren't just taken to each other's worlds, but to a place that isn't part of either of their worlds. While the overall areas resemble Palaces she's seen, there are sometimes shadows she doesn't recognize (ones from Katayama's Palace), so it feels like elements from both worlds' Palaces are mixed together in these places. Queen realizes that's true, and matches up with the place they were stuck in last time this happened as well.

Insisting this couldn't happen on its own, Oracle says she's started wondering about who's behind all this. At Panther's confusion, Cattle clarifies that that would mean they were brought here for a particular motive, though he admits that while he had the same thought, he felt it was a bit ridiculous. However, Oracle asserts that if the reason for all this was just to make them meet, it'd be much easier to simply bring one group to the other world. Instead, they've been specifically brought to an entirely different place, and once they leave, they're forced to forget about it. So she's sure there's a reason, but she's having trouble figuring out what that reason could be.

Wind considers this, and she's not sure how it connects exactly, but mentions that there was also something in the pyramid that neither of their groups had seen before: those murals. Could that be a hint? Everyone else reacts with surprise, and Queen agrees that if these places are supposed to combine both worlds, then anything entirely new to all them must have a meaning. Oracle adds that if it really was referencing the three kleshas, then those might be their lead.

Fox draws a connection between those negative emotions, and desires, and asks if he recalls correctly that desires are being stolen away in Wonder's world. Wonder confirms this is the case, and Mona points out that their own world is full of desires. Skull grumbles in agreement that it's all horrible adults with selfish desires. Closer, taking the thought a step further, wonders what it means if they're mixing one world that's lacking desires, and another that's full of them. Noir suggests that maybe it becomes "complete" somehow, and Wind wonders who it becomes "complete" for. Oracle summarizes: is the situation here that someone who's able to benefit from this wants to combine both their worlds?

She then shakes her head, becoming a bit sheepish, and says that feels like fantasy, because that's not something humans can do. Fox agrees that you'd need power akin to a god to do something like that.

The group drifts off into discussion, and Joker asks Wonder what he thinks about all this. The player can choose either "Could it be that...?" or "That's impossible...". At least upon picking the former, Joker hums, and turns slightly away.

Panther, looking slightly surprised (or motivated?), says they've been chatting for way too long, and they need to keep going. They get off the conveyor belt, and explore the rest of the factory area before finally unlocking the door using the Senior Staff ID keycard.

Part 5-8

The portal takes them to an airlock, where Closer is shocked to see outer space, wondering if the Palace really contains outer space within it, and then if they're really going to have to go out there. Oracle tells her it'll be fine if it's just for a few seconds, but reminds her to hold her breath. Noir immediately does so, and Mona awkwardly says there's no point in holding her breath right now. Releasing the breath, Noir realizes he's right, and says that was kind of stupid of her, but Wind laughs lightly, and says they'll head out when everyone's ready.

With that, the group proceeds through the areas connected by airlocks. Before long, they reach an elevator.

Part 5-9

Mona and Cattle sense the Core, not too much further ahead now.

However, as they proceed, and fight some shadows, a red light begins to flash, and there's an announcement that security measures are being activated. The group watches as the door in front of them (the one the camera is looking through in the above screenshot; the light blue lines are on the edges of the door) shuts, and Cattle grumbles that they'll have to find another way in there.

They do so, reaching the lift up to the spacecraft with the Core. Soy is shocked, while Oracle excitedly asks if that's a real UFO. Cattle ushers them onward.

Part 5-10

You can watch the entirety of this part roughly fan-translated to English here.

The group walks into the room, and sees a humanoid figure sitting in a floating chair. While the body resembles Shadow Okumura, the head inside the helmet is just a black void with a yellow/white smiley face. It mutters (distorted like a Shadow's voice) that it wasn't easy, but "we" finally got the power to create this place, and the foolish humans coming to interfere are just digging their own graves. Skull, grinning, says this must be the boss, and Soy wonders what it just muttered. The figure mutters about being ignorant, then points at Wonder, calling him a bastard, saying it's all his fault and asking if he knows what'll happen if he takes the Core (the camera pans to show the Core is a model UFO kit). Wind wonders if it's talking to Wonder, while Closer is confused why this one's acting differently from the others. Wonder can reply either "I have no idea", "I don't want to know at all", or "I'm going to steal the Core!". (Notably, the figure's text box seems to be labeled as "Moha" as well, like the sphinx? I suppose I'll call it Moha as well for the sake of having a name to refer to it by, but I'm not sure if one of them will be named differently in the official English release.) Moha shouts about ignorant humans being unforgivable, and Wind warns them something's coming as the boss fight begins. It continues to shout insults before doing anything, then summons Corporobos to defend it, similar to Shadow Okumura. After they fight through the initial stock of Corporobos, Moha angrily reveals its true face (a boarlike head, very similar to the sphinx Moha), and summons more, including a MDL-ED. Once this wave is taken care of, they can attack Moha directly, and it only takes one hit before it's down. After the fight, Moha slumps in its chair in disbelief, but then weakly reaches forward for the Core, saying it can't let them extinguish "the light of salvation". Cattle repeats this, wondering what it means, but then everything shakes, and Oracle shouts that it looks like the ceiling is going to fall. Wind calls for Wonder to grab the Core, and he does, but then lingers as the others run off, looking at Moha. Wonder's thought bubble says "Rescue...? You want to save us...?" As the ceiling crumbles, Moha starts to be sucked out into space, and Wonder, closer to it than the others, starts to feel the pull as well, running towards the group. Moha shouts at him to not even think about it- Wonder's coming with it! Then it fires a grappling hook (/arm? It loosely resembles Shadow Akashi's mechanical arm/tentacles) at Wonder's back, pulling Wonder towards it. Joker shouts back that he won't let it, and throws his own grappling hook to catch onto Wonder's front. The two struggle for a moment, each trying to pull Wonder towards themselves, before Joker pulls out his gun, shooting at Moha's hand/that end of its grappling hook. It releases Wonder, but Joker's grappling hook falls as well, and Wonder starts to be pulled upward by the vacuum of space itself, before he tosses his own grappling hook past Joker and pulls himself back. Joker helps him up, and asks if he can run. Wonder nods, and the entire group flees the room.

In a hallway elsewhere, the group stops, Wonder (and Oracle in the background) catching his breath as Wind checks on him and the others watch. Skull comments that was close, and Fox agrees, as Wonder thanks Joker. Joker says he was just returning the favor from last time, but he's glad Wonder's okay. Wonder promises to return the favor again next time, and Joker chuckles, saying he'll look forward to it. Wonder and Wind stand up, and Wind says she's also glad Wonder's okay, but they're not safe yet. Behind them, Oracle warns them they'll all get sucked out into space if they stay here. Cattle and Mona take their cue, switching to vehicle form. Before getting in, Panther laments that their goodbyes have to be rushed this time, but she hopes they'll meet again! Closer says they absolutely will. Noir says she thanks "The Phantom Thieves From Another World" from the bottom of her heart, and bids them farewell, as everyone else waves to each other. Now in the cars, Queen accidentally incites Mona's competitive spirit by urging him to go faster, and Mona gleefully zips past Cattle. Closer exclaims about how fast Mona is, and Cattle announces he's determined not to lose, zooming after him. The camera cuts to the inside of the Cattle car, where Closer wishes they weren't saying goodbye here, since she still wanted to talk more with Panther and the others. Soy replies that it can't be helped, since they'd get sucked into space otherwise. Wind wonders what's going on with these places, and Closer says it still isn't clear, but it was refreshing to see everyone in the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Soy agrees that their positive desires feel like they ignite him. Wind feels that it gives her courage to know there are other phantom thieves out there resisting, too. Cattle asks Wonder what he thinks, and either way Wonder expresses hope towards meeting them again. Soy declares that as long as they're still phantom thieves they will, and Closer says they should come up with a name like "the Phantom Thieves of Hearts" before next time! Cattle repeats "'the Phantom Thieves of Hearts', huh...", and then Closer exclaims that she sees the exit. Now standing back in front of Shibuya station (where they started at the beginning of the Pyramid Chapter), Riko and Motoha are disoriented, and Shun wonders what they were just talking about. Ruferu's head also feels fuzzy, but he recalls they were going to take Riko to Mementos. Riko realizes he's right, and apologizes for forgetting. Shun recalls this as well, but says he feels like he's forgetting something, and Motoha adds that there's a sense of loneliness, but warmth in her heart, too. Wonder thinks to himself that he feels like he's just been to the Metaverse with everyone, then notices something, and pulls it out of his pocket. As he looks at it, he thinks he feels like he owes someone a favor, though he doesn't remember the details. Shun asks what he has in his hand, but Wonder just shakes his head, and Shun thinks it's getting weirder and weirder if *none* of them know what's going on. Riko reminds them they should be going, and Motoha excitedly asks Wonder to activate the MetaNav.

Though it's not shown in a close-up during the cutscene, the item description for the real-world Core describes it as a "UFO model box with a dam pattern".

[crushedbyhyperbole]

Bewitched

Pairing:  Bucky Barnes x Original Female Character (First Person Bucky POV)

Summary:  After a poker game ends in victory for Bucky, one of his team mates doesn't take it lying down. Wanda Maximoff is a sore loser and seeks revenge in any way she can, which leads to an unexpected encounter between Bucky and the illustrious Dr Veronica Edwards, in the form of a Maximoff-aided vision.

Bucky has only just realised that he no longer dislikes the woman but this encounter ramps that all the way up to eleven. Things that are seen can't be unseen and things that are felt will be realised.

Words:  4.3k

Note:   Part four of Muscle Memory.  In this we see a more confident Bucky who is starting to find his way through his new life, learning things about himself and others and also about what he wants.  It's just an excuse for some smut really. Sorry about the shitty banner but I hope you enjoy ;)  Comments, likes & reblogs are very much appreciated

Warnings:  Smut, voyeurism, coming untouched, mind control, dub con - it's very mild and pre-implied that Wanda can't make Bucky see things he doesn't want to see.

***18+ content - this content is created for adults - minors do not interact***

Bucky Barnes MasterList  

Wanda Maximov was a sore loser.  Ever since I beat her at a friendly low(ish) stakes poker game here at the compound the other week, she’d been trying to get revenge.

The Scarlet Witch had apparently been trying to read my mind during the game.  Maybe I was impervious, or maybe it was too fucked up in here for her to get anything from me but she’d been unsuccessful and had huffed like a teenager afterwards.

“If I’d known Metallica over there was going to clean all the ladies out, I’d have suggested playing for clothes instead.”  Stark had said out of the corner of his mouth; a joke that was meant for everyone to hear and to be a suggestion for next time.

“He cheated.”  Wanda exclaimed for the umpteenth time.  “He used his abilities to tell if I was bluffing.”

“Love,” Vision tried to calm her, “he can’t help it if your poker-face left nothing to the imagination.”  He smiled softly as Wanda slapped his shoulder, too hard to be just playful.

Vision still hadn’t mastered many facial expressions; a smirk was beyond him at this point.

“If it makes you feel better, you can take the money.”  I offered.  Funny though Vision’s comment had been, I could tell she was raging inside.

“Money can’t buy pride.”  She huffed as she left.

I mouthed the word ‘sorry’ to Vision before awkwardly scooping up my winnings of $1791.

Later I would donate the money to one of Pepper’s charity recommendations; the little princess foundation.

Since that night, Wanda had been trying to haze me by drinking my beer, eating my snacks, and even deleting my recorded tv programs from the Teevo.  The only problem with that was that I didn’t really record anything and she only succeeded in pissing Steve off because it was his stuff that she canned.  This made her more annoyed.

“I forgive you for drinking my beer.  And I’m sorry about the poker.”  I said when Steve and I had confronted her about the Teevo.  “If I’d have known it was so important to you I’d have backed down.”

That hadn’t helped at all.  She’d raged out and tried to tap me with her power.  When it didn’t take properly she stormed off again, leaving me feeling dizzy and a little nauseous.

“She’s getting benched until she sorts her attitude out.”  Steve grumbled.  “I can’t have loose cannons out there on mission when we could all be fighting for our lives.  She’d be a liability.”

“That’s probably a little harsh.  I’ll just tell her I cheated.  It’s far easier than the alternative.”  I gave him a reassuring smile.

“She tried to read your mind, what’s that if not cheating?  All you did was read the signs in her body language.  The super-soldier serum doesn’t enhance perception, Buck.”

“I know that, but I’ll take one for the team on this.  She’s an asset but she’s lost her way.  I know what that’s like more than anyone.”

“You’re a good friend, Buck, always were.  That’s one thing that will never change.”

Despite me agreeing that I cheated, and telling everyone else that she was right - I’d cheated, she still wouldn’t drop her vendetta.  She behaved nicely to my face but behind my back she was like a snake in the grass.  She figured out that she couldn’t fuck with my mind like she wanted, couldn’t make me see things I didn’t want to see, but she could do it to everyone else.

“What was that you just said?”  Sam said to me when we were going through schematics for a target building in the next day’s mission.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Nah, nah, nah, I heard you.  You called me bird-brain.”

I searched his face for any sign of a joke but all I caught was the slight red mist that tainted the whites of his eyes and I knew what was going on.  Christ!

It carried on like that for another day or two after the next day’s mission, so I decided I was just going to stay in my room until it was time to do my job.  But soon I had people knocking on my door or calling me at all hours of the day and night, asking my why I’d shouted for them or why I’d called them and hung up.  I was getting frustrated.

After that I’d taken to sleeping in one of the Escalades I’d park in various places around the compound, only coming inside when I needed to eat, train or shower.

It was one of those nights I saw her.  Veronica.  Asleep on the sofa in the communal lounge.

I’d come in to grab a quick meal, sneaking in through the glass doors of the spacious first floor lounge.  It was easy for me to scale up onto the roof-top patio and let myself in silently with my keycard.  I spent decades being a ghost, a shadow seldom seen, that part of the training hadn’t gone away.

The light was low and rosy with a flickering starkness from the muted TV.  She lay stretched out on the 4-seater, one leg bent, knee against the backrest, and the other laid out flat.  She had one hand tucked behind her head and the other hung loosely over the edge of the seat cushion where her book had fallen from her fingers and lay crumpled on the floor.

Her hair cascaded over the arm rest beautifully and her long lashes flickered against her cheeks as she dreamed, her lips slightly parted.  She looked so serene.

It only felt like a moment that I stood there watching but as I took the opportunity to look at her without the scorn of her scrutiny, to really see her, I noticed things about her that I’d never paid attention to before.  She was stunning.

What the fuck, man?  You suddenly realise you don’t hate her and now you’re making the ‘goo-goo eyes’?

Her legs were smooth and graceful, the skin lightly tanned and almost glowing with inner radiance.  The light grey sports shorts she wore showed them off perfectly, the black trim around the edge where it clipped up at her hip gave way to a sliver of white underwear.  The waistband of the shorts sat low on her hips and the way the fabric bunched between her legs showed the perfect v of her mound.

God damn!

My heart quickened.  I shouldn’t be staring like this but she looked divine and honestly I had never had the opportunity to see her this way, relaxed and unguarded.

Jesus Christ!

Her belly button was a delicate oval peeking underneath the white of her vest, stomach smooth like her thighs and also lightly tanned.  The white fabric was a little loose over her ribs but stretched tight across her breasts which were… holy fuck!  Glorious.  They were larger than they seemed, parted slightly as she lay there braless.  The slight outline and soft peak of her nipples so painfully obvious to me.

I felt my groin tingle as pressure began to build.  What the hell was I thinking?  I was going to spontaneously combust.

Mentally shaking myself, I made a move toward the kitchen; my goal had been a meal and then right back to the Escalade.  I set my eyes on the kitchen and clenched my jaw.  I had to go.

One step.  One small movement to sidestep the sofa that had put me at Veronica’s feet.  That was all I managed before a sensation of proximity at my shoulder told me I’d made a grave mistake.

I felt the jolt, like I had many times before.  It was like a puff of air against the skin of my temple, but it penetrated and seeped into my head, settling like ash over my consciousness.  All the other times I’d managed to shake myself loose before Wanda’s mind tap had taken hold but this time I’d fucked up.  Big time.

The scarlet smoke shrouded my vision and the only thing that pulled me through was a heavenly sigh that deepened into a soft moan, and I swear it pulled on my cock so hard I almost stumbled forward.

Blinking rapidly to clear my eyes, I let the dizziness dissipate.  That had been a close one.

There was no sign of Wanda when I scanned for her.  Stretching my senses outward yielded nothing, there was just me and the sleeping woman on the sofa.  Veronica.

She moaned lightly in her sleep, a hint of sexual need lay in the sound and it made my cock twitch in my sweatpants.  Her back arched a little, pushing her breasts up further, stretching the fabric of her vest until I could see her nipples as slightly darker rounds beneath the sheer white vest.  They were achingly hard, like my cock.  I watched her hand slip up over one breast, fingers circling the bud through her clothes.

Holy shit!

I knew I shouldn’t stay to watch but I was fucked if I wasn’t rooted to the spot, my erection begging for attention.  Screwing my eyes shut, I tried to will my legs to move but they wouldn’t obey.  Maybe I needed more time to come down from Wanda’s mental touch, she’d almost got me this time after all.

Panicking a little because I knew I couldn’t get caught here like this, my heart thudded in my chest, making more blood pump straight to where it was most definitely not needed.

“Bucky…”  Her sigh kickstarted my adrenaline, making my eyes fly open.  It had been so soft, barely a whisper but it had hit me like a sucker punch.

I watched in disbelief as her other hand snaked down into the front of her little shorts, covering the smoothness of her mons, fingers teasing lazily.

I moaned then, low and guttural, stirring her from her sleep.  Her eyes fluttered open and she sighed deeply, relishing the sensations she was creating.

Shit!  I needed to run, get the fuck out of there before she fully came to and realised I’d been watching her, but my legs… Fucking traitorous things!  Thighs of betrayal.  Feet like cement blocks.  They wouldn’t move.  It was like when HYDRA had given me the first damn arm and I’d struggled to integrate with it; it had seemed to have a mind of its own.

She focused on me but instead of shock and horror, a sultry smile curled her lips and she blinked slowly.  My hand was gripping my crotch through my sweats half to cover my obvious arousal and half to create friction.  She flicked a glance down my body before closing her eyes again and resuming her finger play.  She definitely noticed.

Oh my god!

After a few panicked and torturous moments watching her tease herself, and me along with it, I slipped my hand into my pants and gave myself the long slow stroke I craved, sighing with relief as I did.

Veronica was looking at me again, watching me loosely stroking under my pants as she did the same, eyes moving between my face and the rise and fall of the clothing over my crotch.

It felt amazing, exciting even, having someone look at me the way she did then, lust-filled and wanton.  My cock was solid in my hand, the tight feeling grew as I slowly built my pleasure from the heavy pressure between my hips.

She bit her plump lower lip, catching it in her teeth and drawing her lips up into another seductive smile.  She knew exactly what she was doing to me, she knew she was wrecking me without even laying a finger on me.

“Mmmmmm.”  She moaned a little louder and ground her hips as her fingers circled quicker.  “Bucky!”  She gasped, pinching her nipple hard through her clothes.

“Jesus!”  I throbbed so hard even my asshole clenched.

If I wanted nothing more for the rest of my life it was her.  To touch her, kiss her, and bury myself in her so deep I’d get lost forever.

“Show me….”  She sighed as if she read my mind.

So I did, sliding my sweats down under my tightening sack, letting my cock bounce free and the goddess before me grinned, she actually fucking grinned, eyes flashing with desire.

How is this even real?

“Do you want me, Bucky?”  She sighed erotically as she spoke, sending a spark of tingling pleasure across my scalp and down my spine where it ignited something in me that was long forgotten.

“I’ve always wanted you.”  The admission was new but it felt right.  So fucking right.  “I just didn’t see it.”

I saw it now though, laid out in full.  The soft adrenaline and serotonin peaks every time I saw her, that uneasy feeling in my gut - it was attraction.  Each memory of her was a map back to that one sensation that I felt so strongly now I knew I always had; I wanted her, badly.

I had been stroking myself throughout that little realisation and she had been touching herself too.  Her eyes were locked on mine until suddenly she gasped and cried out softly, closing them lightly against the pleasure she’d felt.

“I want you too.”   Her face was flushed and she looked more beautiful than anything I’d ever seen.  “But we can’t.”

“Boyfriend?”  Was all I could say, the lump in my throat making my voice no more than a croak.

She nodded slowly, biting her lip again as she watched me fucking into my own fist.

“I’m starting not to care too much about that, doll.”  And just like that, forties Bucky was right there, all confident and suave.

Fuck me, I’m going to hell for this.

She clawed at the neckline of her vest, dragging the material down under her perfect breasts, baring them for me as if she wasn’t tempting enough already.

I hadn’t even touched her yet and I was ready to pop.  The singing of my nerves was too much and embarrassingly I started to come.

Shit, no!

I fell to my knees, gripping the base of my cock fiercely in a futile attempt to stave off my oncoming release but –

“Ahhh, holy fucking hell, Vee…”  I moaned as I came, hunched forward with one hand braced against the floor and the other squeezing my cock in a death grip.

It was as exquisite as it was guilty and as if seeing me come undone was enough for her, she cried out, back arching in her own release.

My god she looked divine, all flushed and glowing and… just wait a goddamn minute!

What did I call her?  Vee?  I never call her that.  I don’t even like that name on her.  Then what the…?  Oh, fuck my life!

My anger flared as I pushed against my own consciousness.  None of this was real but I’d been so absorbed in what I was feeling that I hadn’t seen it for what it was.  I was stuck in Wanda’s mind fuck, literally.

When I thought I’d avoided her mind tap it had all been part of the process, to lure me in, make me think I was safe.  She’d really suckered me with that one.

It took a few seconds for me to come me back to myself.  Dizziness and nausea kicking in the second I refocused on the real world.

I was on my knees by the sofa, clothing intact but a sticky sensation inside my underwear.  Christ I’d actually come untouched like a fucking teenager.  That was more than a little embarrassing but there were more pressing matters.

Panicking, I glanced at Veronica.  She was still there on the sofa sleeping restlessly now, looking like she had when I’d first seen her there only the flush of her skin was unmistakeable.  She subtly rolled her hips, grinding against some imagined thing between her thighs and Oh Jesus Christ!  The light grey of her shorts was darkened with wetness; proof of her arousal.

She sighed in her sleep, hand trailing over her hip, fingers slipping into the waistband of her shorts.  And fuck me if I wasn’t getting hard again.

I bolted.  My feet obeying me without question.  Food forgotten, I slipped out of the communal area silent but watchful; Wanda had to be around here somewhere.  I headed for my room.

What the hell had she done to me?  Putting shit like that in my head.  It was one thing to prank someone but this was something else.  What if I’d have raged out?  Hurt someone?  I was only just starting to trust myself and get my shit back together, the last thing anyone around here needed was to have to contain a regressed Winter Soldier.  What if I’d hurt Veronica?

Fuck!

What had she been doing there in the first place?  She didn’t live on site but it sure looked like she was staying the night, what with the little shorts and vest and all.

I slammed the door to my room, hard.  I didn’t much care if I woke people up.

I saw her again in my mind’s eye, flushed and aroused, and touching herself.  Oh come on, that wasn’t her, that was Wanda’s mind fuck.  But Veronica had really been aroused, and I’d just left her there in the communal area.  What if someone else found her, she’d be so embarrassed.

“FRIDAY?”  I said, breathing like I’d ran a circuit of the compound.

“Yes, Sergeant Barnes?”

“Can you put the volume on the TV in the lounge?  Loud enough to wake Dr Edwards?  I don’t think she’ll want to sleep on the sofa all night.”

“No problem!”

“Oh, and FRIDAY?”

“Yes Sergeant?”

“Don’t tell anyone I asked you.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

I could practically hear the wink in her tone.  It was still unnerving how human she, it, sounded.

The shower was cold.  It needed to be.

I’d made a mess in my briefs but that wasn’t the most disturbing thing.  Now that I’d had the mental image of Veronica, Dr Edwards, all hot and lusty and so fucking beautiful, I couldn’t get her out of my head.

I felt restless and agitated, almost giddy.

Jesus, what are you, twelve?

As furious as I was with Wanda, I had to admit to myself that I was also happy?  Her little prank was unorthodox but somehow it had connected a piece of my broken emotions to the person who sparked it.  It felt right even if it was wrong to feel that way.  I could deny myself the urge and deny myself the act but as long as I knew what I was feeling and could give it a name, I was ok with it.  Baby steps.

There was a knock at my door.

Shivering and feeling strangely alive I wrapped a towel around my waist and left the bathroom, trailing wet footprints across the floor.

There was a little excitement growing in my gut but also a healthy dose of dread.  What if someone had seen me in the lounge with Veronica.  I didn’t do anything wrong, but still…

I opened the door to Steve, and Wanda.  The Scarlet Witch had the sense to look thoroughly ashamed of herself and Steve looked furious.

“Sup?”  I pitched for nonchalant and landed somewhere near perky.

Steve raised an eyebrow.

“Everything ok?”  He glanced around my room, as if expecting to see someone else.

“Yeah.”  I beckoned them in before hunting out one of the complimentary bathrobes that I never used.

“You know why we’re here right?”

“I reckon so.”  My eyes never left Wanda’s but she wouldn’t look at me.

“Go ahead.”  Steve nudged Wanda gently with his elbow.

“I’m sorry for what I did tonight.  I know things could have gotten out of hand and someone could have gotten hurt.  I wasn’t thinking.”

“What exactly did you do, Wanda?”  I was mad at her but I kept my face as relaxed as possible, which was to say I was scowling.

“I used my powers on you.”  She had tears in her eyes.

“Tell him everything.”  Steve said sternly.

Oh god, no, don’t say that shit out loud.  I thought, panicking.

“Wait a sec-“

“I tapped your mind right down to your base emotion, to draw out your trauma.  I tried to hurt you Bucky, and I’m sorry.”

There was something dark in her eyes.  Did she know what I’d seen, what I’d felt?  Had she put it all in there?

I took a step back, huffing a breath out through my nose.  “You see what I saw?”  My heart was pounding.

She shook her head, looking at the floor; a lie.

Well fuck.

“I’m sorry.”  She gasped.  “I didn’t know there was someone else there, they kind of got hit with a bit of my power and I was so worried you’d…”  She trailed off as the tears began.

“Hurt them?  Yeah, I could have.”  I bit out.  “It was a pretty shitty thing to do, Wanda, and all over a stupid game of poker.  You couldn’t just drop it after I lied and told everyone I cheated you?”

I paced, gradually getting more frustrated.

“You know what, just go.  I’ll talk to you about this some other time.  Right now I just wana sleep on something that’s not a damn car seat, alright?  No more harassing me.”

She nodded.

“Ok, get outa here.”  I flapped my hand towards the door without looking at her.

I quizzed Steve nonverbally with a stern look.

“Vision brought her to my room, concerned.”  Steve said once the door had closed after her.  “He said she came to their room, upset because she thought she’d triggered you.  She hadn’t realised there was someone else in the room until it was too late.”

“Yeah, it was Dr Edwards.”  I said with an annoyed sigh.  There was no point in saying I didn’t know.  “Is she ok?”

“Yeah she’s fine.  She fell asleep on the sofa but was awake when I got there, she was just taking herself off to bed actually.”

To bed?  I raised an eyebrow.  So she was staying at the compound tonight after all.

As if reading my question on my face he continued.

“She’s staying here a while.”  He rolled his eyes as if the story was tedious.  “Boyfriend issues.”

“Right.”  I tried not to put too much thought into it.  “She say anything about getting tapped when Wanda got me?”

“I asked her if she was ok and she just said she’d had a weird dream, wished me good night, took her book and went off to her room.”

I nodded.  Weird dream, huh?  I bet.  If it was anything like mine then she was bound to be pretty confused right now.  In the grand scheme of things, sharing a wet dream with her was better than sharing one of my other dreams.  There’d have been nothing but pain, horror and torture for both of us if that had happened.

“Well that’s something.”  I said, distracted.

“Are you sure you’re ok, Buck?  I mean, stripping you down to your base emotions had to be traumatic.  Do you wanna talk about it?”

“I’m good.”  I smiled weakly.  I mean I was, and I wasn’t, but it wasn’t what he was thinking.  “It wasn’t as bad as you think.  I don’t think she got that deep anyway, it was mostly recent things I saw, not the HYDRA stuff or the torture.  It was nothing like my nightmares.”

Steve nodded thoughtfully, not quite allowing himself to feel relieved.

“Don’t worry about me Steve, I’m doing better.  I don’t want people to think I’m just going to flip a switch and regress back into him.”  I snorted ironically.  My thinking on this really had changed over the last few weeks.  Now I didn’t doubt myself so much things were better.  “Just… Whatever Wanda’s deal is, that needs to be sorted out.”

And then there’s the matter about what she saw when she was meddling in my mind.  I had to know.

“Yeah about that.”  Steve said cringing.  “Vision said it’s hormones.”

“She’s…?”  I made the ‘round belly’ gesture.  That was a shock.  I guess I never thought about the possibility before.  That Vision could-.

“Oh hell no!  She’s not pregnant.”  Steve said the last word through a grimace.  “Her inner moon-goddess is on the hunt.”  He finished, all hush hush as if even hinting at the words ‘period’ and ‘horny’ in the same sentence was the worst thing in the world.

I laughed hard.  Steve was such a kid sometimes.

“Christ, man.  I was right back in school with ya there for a second.”

His goofy grin warmed me inside and I broke into another snickering laugh.

“Get outa here, punk.  This old man has got a whole lot of sleep to catch up on.”

Leaving me alone with my thoughts probably wasn’t the best thing to do.  Without the distraction of another person in the room, all I could think about was Veronica.  I stretched out on my bed in a pair of jockey shorts and closed my eyes.  Of all the things to have visions of as you fall asleep, a beautiful, semi-naked woman is definitely not the worst.  If it came to a choice between dreams of my past or erotic dreams of a woman I’d only just realised I didn’t hate, then I knew which one I preferred.  Guilty feeling or not, I’d go with the girl.

As I drifted towards sleep I heard an echo of her sighing my name.  Smiling, I surrendered my mind to the night.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Super 125

Life comes at you fast.

Man, Vegeta Blue looks way better than Goku Blue. I just want to see Goku get to UI again so we won’t have to put up with this teal color anymore.

Anyway, last time Gohan sacrificed himself to eliminate Dyspo.  Now, on the bench, Beerus gives him an attaboy, and at first he calls him Goku’s son, then he corrects himself and calls Gohan by his name. 

Gohan stands up and bows to Beerus in appreciation.  Everyone stands up an claps for the show of respect... is what I would be saying if this were happening in front of a wrestling crowd.  The Mutal Respect Pop is always a classic.  Well, I’m marking out for Beerus and Gohan, even if this group is just sitting on their hands.

Oh, right, Goku spares a moment to mark out too.  Everyone who says Goku is a bad dad is a big poopie-head.  He’s in the middle of a hellacious battle with an unstoppable opponent for the fate of the universe, and he still can’t help but check out his son getting a compliment. 

Anyway, let’s move on to the real meat of this story, which is Top fighting 17 and Frieza.  Staring off, Top is just fighting 17 alone, and he can’t get past 17′s force field.  It’s interesting, because this arc has done a lot to cement the idea that 17 is a green force field specialist.  It’s not his only trick, but he does this one a lot in the Tournament of Power, and it’s clearly meant to be his unique thing.  Meanwhile, I don’t think we ever see 18 do it, even though a number of video games give her a pink force field, implying that she has the same ability. 

Anyway, 17 returns fire when he gets the chance, and Top can’t get clear without eating a hit.  From the bench, everyone wonders what 17 is up to, since this appears to be a stalemate.  18 suggests that the stalemate might be the point.  17 won’t tire out, so he can literally do this for the rest of of the tournament.  If he can keep Top pinned down, he can run out the clock and Universe 7 will win, since they have four fighters on the stage and U11 only has two. 

This is the first real talk of Universe 7 trying to leverage that advantage.  We never learn for certain if 17 is seriously considering this, although he probably likes the idea of shaving some second off the clock, if nothing else.  After all, Goku tried to ring-out Jiren with misdirection instead of power last episode, so the desperation seems to be setting in with these guys.

But it’s all for naught, as Top manages to see a pattern in 17′s shots and gets clear without being hit.  Then he does something really extreme...

Yeah, drink it in, folks, it’s Top’s mouth.  Not a big fan of this.

Top sets up a beam struggle with 17 and seems to have a clear advantage, until who should happen along but...?

Frieza’s here, and he’s going to enjoy shooting Top in the back while he struggles against 17. It’s an impossible situation for Top, and Frieza’s savoring every moment.

Finally, Top is overwhelmed, and Frieza takes some more time to gloat.  He’s really laying it on thick considering he only met this guy less than an hour ago.  It kind of makes me question all the stuff he said to Vegeta on Namek.  There’s an implication that he was genuinely hurt or at least offended by Vegeta’s betrayal, but now I get the sense that he just plays mindgames with everyone, even when they’re already beaten down.  I’d use Top as an example of this, except...

...Top isn’t down, and he’s far from beaten.

He begins to power up, and it’s so impressive that everyone starts to notice...

Even Jiren is like “So, he’s finally made his choice,” or words to that effect. 

From the bench, Belmod explains everything.  Top isn’t just the leader of the Pride Troopers.  He’s also a God of Destruction-in-training.  This was a weird time to reveal all of this, since up to now the show really hadn’t addressed this process.  Whis and Beerus have occasionally mentioned the notion of Goku or Vegeta replacing Beerus as Destroyer some day, but neither Saiyan wants the job, so it never really goes anywhere.  Top is the first guy to demonstrate this in practice.  So now we see that the Hakaishin aren’t immortal, and they replace their dead with other mortals who have undergone special training to ascend to godhood.  This is why Beerus has an angel guide, Whis.  Once upon a time, Whis must have trained him the same way Top was trained, and then Beerus took the job and continued to need Whis to show him how to do it properly. 

The manga spelled all this out before the Tournament of Power, when Belmod introduced Top as his successor.  Also the manga had Belmod explicitly state that he was planning to retire soon.  I kind of wish the anime would have given us the same information.  As it is, it just seems like Belmod is training other Destroyers for no real reason.  

As far as the timing goes, I can see why the anime chose to wait.  They introduced Top as Kahi’s “bodyguard”, which is a clever way of hiding Top’s true potential to the competition.  Not that they expected Top to pull this off during the tournament, but they were aware of the possibility.  So it’s a great twist.  The problem is that they never explain why Top has been preparing to take the role.  It just sounds like they snuck a god on the team without telling anyone. 

I think the narrative is fairly clear, though.  Whis had said that there were rumors of a mortal defeating one of the Destroyers, and that almost certainly had to be Jiren, who must have beaten Belmod at some point.  And maybe that defeat convinced Belmod that it was time to hang up his clown shoes.  He probably offered the job to Jiren, who must have declined, so he asked Top, who accepted. 

From the way Belmod and Khai describe it, it sounds like Top learned how to tap into this Destroyer power some time ago, but he never truly embraced these abilities until now.  And Top himself declares that he no longer fights for justice, as that concept no longer has any meaning for him.  Instead, Top says he now fights for the survival of his universe, as he has become an arbiter of what shall be and not be.  So it’s kind of like he had to let go of his mortal life as a Pride Trooper to get this power-up. 

It seems like the only one who doesn’t understand the gravity of this development is Frieza.  His ki blasts simply vanish when they hit Top, because he’s wrapped a field of destruction energy around him like armor.   Then Top shoots a big ball of destruction energy at Frieza, and he still laughs it off, because he easily neutralized a similar attack back in Episode 95.  He thinks this will be just as simple.

Yeah, it doesn’t go so well for him.

There’s a big explosion and even the spectators have to shield their eyes.

The sky even changes color, which is great because I was getting sick of that green background.  Actually, this may have nothing to do with Top, since the last time the Null Realm changed color, it was when the tournament was half-over.  This might be another response to the timer.

The blast wrecks a huge chunk of the ring.  I don’t seem to have a good shot of the aftermath, but I’m pretty sure half of it is reduced to rubble.  I guess that doesn’t matter much, since there’s only six people using it.  Half the space is still plenty.

With Frieza MIA, 17 can only try to carry on the fight as best he can. This time when Top uses his Justice Flash, 17′s barrier begins to shatter.  Even his conventional ki attacks are stronger than before.

Fighting back is useless, since energy blasts don’t even slow Top down anymore.  They’re just obliterated against the destruction energy around his body.

Hiding is nearly impossible, since Top can just destroy all the obstacles in the ring and come straight for his target.  It’s suggested that if you tried to punch Top in this state, you might lose your arm. 

But Frieza still comes back to try again.  He’s dropped out of Golden mode, but he still survived the Destruction Energy Top fired at him.  My guess is that Frieza was able to neutralize it like he did in Episode 95, but it took a lot more out of him this time around, which is why whole ring didn’t get annihilated.  And yet he still acts like Top isn’t any big deal.  I don’t know if Frieza is just delusional here or he’s just so used to being like this that he doesn’t know how to be desperate or worried.

Top doesn’t mind taking a moment to show him.

Yeahhhhhhh, crush his dumb little head!  Grape juice for everyone!

Well, actually Top explains that he can’t destroy Frieza, since he would just get disqualified for that.  But when he tries to chuck him out of the ring...

17 spoils the shot, and Frieza lands in some crevice somewhere.  So he’s still in the tournament, for whatever that’s worth.  So is 17, although his prospects are looking mighty dim...

I mean, he was having trouble with this guy at the start of this episode, and now the situation’s only gotten worse for him.  What’s he gonna do now?

Here’s KISS with “Heaven’s on Fire.”

[imogenkol]

Pairing: Imogen Kol (oc) x Bix Caleen Word Count: 2,941 Rating: Mature (18+) Warnings: casual sex implied, jealousy, possessiveness Tags: Repressed feelings, angst Read it on Ao3!

Summary: A former Imperial Inquisitor struggles with the deepening feelings she has for a mechanic from Ferrix.

Imogen Kol sauntered into the salyard as if she owned it. The cold, misted breeze of Ferrix blew through the elegant wave of her light brunette hair. Scrappers paused to watch her pass by like they always did when she paid the planet a visit. Their fear rippled through the Force to prickle at her senses and she hid a smirk. Perhaps it was the look in her stormy gray eyes – the perpetual scowl that creased her brow. Or the way she carried herself. Nothing else about her stood out, she made sure of it. Her mechanical leg had been hidden by dark layers of clothing and knee high boots. No one had ever seen her touch the blaster at her hip, much less wield the blood-red saber hidden in her tattered cloak. Yet they all knew exactly how dangerous she was. Her pace turned casual just to bask in it a little longer.

Following the distinct sounds of crackling sparks, Imogen found the mechanic right where she expected her to be. Bix crouched beside a suspended engine, face hidden behind a welder’s mask as she tinkered with the massive piece of machinery. Imogen took the opportunity of distraction to silently wander around her workshop. She picked up random spare parts or inspected tools with varying disinterest, taking her time and sneaking glances at the other woman.

“Do you have my parts?” she finally asked.

“Do you have my credits?” Bix replied like she knew Imogen had been there the entire time. She didn’t even bother to look up.

Her smirk may not have been hidden this time, but luckily Bix was too busy to notice. Imogen enjoyed the snarky game they played with each other – the challenge the mechanic always presented her without the trepidation everyone else showed. “You know I do.”

Bix straightened and pulled her mask off. Her dark hair had been tied back in a couple of messy braids, though a few loose strands fell over her tanned features. An apathetic expression met Imogen, which only privately amused the bounty hunter even more. “Then follow me.”

Imogen did as she was told, trailing close behind as Bix led her out of the garage. “You kept me waiting.”

“Moving contraband takes time,” Bix said plainly, as it was a sentence she’s had to repeat several times in the past.

“This is a salvage yard,” Imogen grumbled. “How will they miss a few extra parts?”

Bix threw her an annoyed look. “You don’t want circuits and regulators, you want combat modules modified to be installed in a custom yacht. That kind of order can tip the wrong people off.”

“I also requested a new microvalve.”

“At my suggestion because yours is defective. It takes time to gather a bundle of Imperial-grade parts without getting caught or –”

“Alright, I get it,” Imogen snapped.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get what you pay for,” Bix assured her.

They arrived in a musty storage room where countless large containers overflowing with scrap were placed and stacked seemingly without any rhyme or reason, but Bix knew exactly which bin to approach. She flipped open the lid and nodded at its contents.

“Everything’s in there. Let me know if it’s to your liking.”

Imogen stepped forward to inspect the parts she intended to purchase. Bix hadn’t been lying, she’d get exactly what she paid for. Imperial tech was top of the line and the brand new shiny parts reflected the pompous arrogance of the Empire. If they wouldn’t settle for less than pristine equipment, then why should Imogen? Especially since they’d been pestering her more often. She would make that their problem now.

The sound of an intruder caused Imogen’s head to snap in the direction of the whooshing door. A man with close cropped light brown hair and stubble entered the room, his longing gaze immediately locked on Bix. “Oh, there you are.”

Bix didn’t look half as irritated at the interruption as Imogen. “What do you need, Timm?” she asked. “I’m doing business.”

Timm eyed Imogen, but shrugged off her glare. Fool. “A few of us are gathering at Cavo’s later to watch the pod races. I was wondering if you wanted to join. There’s bets going around.”

Bix nodded. “Sure.”

“Fantastic. See you then,” Timm said with a much too fond grin for Imogen’s liking before leaving the two women.

“He likes you,” Imogen stated flatly.

“I know.”

She studied the mechanic’s face at the sound of her lightened tone. Bix’s features softened every so slightly in the direction of the door. Disgust boiled in Imogen’s chest as her upper lip twitched. “Do you like him?”

Bix’s rich brown eyes met Imogen’s. She studied her sharp features, the scowl creasing her brow, and eventually flicked her gaze down to her lips. The mechanic’s mouth flashed the briefest smirk – so quick and subtle that Imogen would have missed it if she blinked. “I thought Jedi weren’t supposed to have attachments.”

Every muscle in Imogen’s body suddenly coiled with rage. “Careful,” she whispered dangerously.

Bix took that as a challenge and invaded Imogen’s space. “There’s no such thing with you.”

“I haven’t been a Jedi for fifteen years.”

“You still have that lightsaber on your belt.” Bix reached a hand out towards her waist.

Imogen snatched her wrist hard. “It is not a Jedi weapon.”

Bix stared into the steel cold eyes of a ruthless hunter, yet she didn’t so much as flinch. “No, you used it to kill Jedi. But you’re not an Inquisitor anymore either. So, why keep it?”

If she still had any claim to that occupation, this line of questioning would have caused Imogen to cut the mechanic down without a second thought. However, just like the constantly shifting circumstances in the galaxy, Imogen changed as well. She utilized unpredictability to not only survive as long as she has, but to thrive. No matter how bold Bix became, Imogen realized she preferred her alive.

“Your credits are on my ship.” Imogen’s tone became calm and measured as she released Bix from her grasp. “I’ll pay you extra if you help me install the parts.”

“Don’t bother.” Bix glanced down at Imogen’s mouth again. “I’ll do it for free.”

“Free? ” she asked incredulously.

“What, you think I’d let you do it? After your botched job last time? The Huntress is as much mine as it is yours for all the work I’ve put into it. It kills me to see what you do to her while you're away.”

The implication that any of Imogen’s efforts were less than perfect stirred her anger once more. “If you dropped everything and ran to the other side of the galaxy, I’d be able to find you in less than a week.”

“Exactly,” Bix remarked and turned her back on the former Inquisitor. She shot a beckoning look over her shoulder, utterly unbothered by the simmering expression that pierced through her. Imogen followed again. “You’re good at hunting. I’m good at fixing ships. Let’s not get our roles mixed up.”

When she started in the Bounty Hunters’ Guild, Imogen rolled with a gunship just slightly above scrap. The guns jammed. The hull creaked. The tracking modules were inaccurate. She traded it in for scrap the first chance she got. One of her higher end bounties owned a space yacht – modest than most and perfectly unassuming. It took a few years, but with Bix’s help, she managed to customize it to hold bounties, cargo, and both defensive and offensive capabilities.

Colored a silver chrome with red accents and nothing but sleek angles and graceful wings, the ship had been dubbed The Crimson Huntress.

Whenever Bix did work on the ship, she refused to let Imogen do much other than pass her tools. Relinquishing control of her property provoked Imogen’s ire more than anything else, but the mechanic had a way of disarming her. Perhaps it had something to do with the view Imogen got to sit back and appreciate. Watching the deft confidence of Bix’s hands as they switched wires and attached screws admittedly fascinated Imogen. That and the loose strands of hair that Bix gave up on brushing back a while ago. They caressed her cheekbones and just barely brushed the corner of her mouth.

“You know I don’t like it when you watch me work,” Bix complained without looking up. “It’s distracting.”

“You should be grateful. I can be a lot more distracting than this,” Imogen quipped. She reached out from several feet away and flicked her fingers. An invisible force plucked a soldering tool out of Bix’s hand.

Her eyes rolled with her head as she snatched it out of the air. “Do you want me to get this done or not?”

“I’m in no rush,” Imogen answered nonchalantly. “But you do have a very important pod race to get to, don’t you?”

The condescending remark caused Bix to toss her tools down on the floor of the ship with a few metal clangs. A devious smile came across Imogen’s face as she watched the mechanic advance towards her. Their lips crashed into each other in a sudden and fervent cadence. Like always, it sent Imogen’s mind spinning and awakened a craving that utterly consumed her. A craving she felt the first moment she laid eyes on Bix. It tugged at her impulses and desires in a similar way to the Dark Side – only, surrendering herself to the temptation of this woman didn’t turn Imogen into anything other than herself.

Bix abruptly pulled back to hiss “This is the last time, you hear me?”

“I’ve heard you every time you’ve said it,” Imogen mused. Her hand came up to caress Bix’s cheek, her thumb charting a course from one lonely freckle to another. Then her fingers slowly dragged down to the woman’s neck where her hand wrapped around her throat. Imogen gave her a gentle squeeze. “But that one sounded like an order.”

“I’m serious this time,” Bix told her with uneven breath as she reached for Imogen’s belt.

Imogen hummed and pushed her against the wall she had been working on. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you go to Timm after we’re done.”

The weapons belt clattered on the floor next to the discarded tools. “He’s sweet.”

“How boring,” Imogen murmured and turned Bix’s head to expose her neck.

If Imogen had to give up her mechanic to a man, then she’d be sure to leave her mark. With a persistent, possessive hunger, she parted her lips and planted them on the spot where Bix’s pulse drummed the hardest. Imogen pressed herself into her and raked her teeth across the sensitive skin, relishing the quiet whimper that graced her ears. Bix had her own methods, plunging an assertive hand down the front of Imogen’s pants. The two of them writhed in tandem with each other, their shared noises of pleasure filling the cabin of the ship.

Some time later, they found themselves sharing space on the ship’s comfortable cot, totally spent. Imogen silently admired the marks she left on Bix’s tanned skin. The most noticeable formed just above the base of her graceful neck. Imogen never considered herself affectionate, but she couldn’t stop from reaching out to brush the back of her fingers down the slope of Bix’s neck and across her shoulder. It felt odd to indulge in such a candid touch, but Bix released a hum of satisfaction that filled Imogen’s chest with a slightly warm sensation.

But Bix’s gaze seemed determined not to meet Imogen’s. “You didn’t answer me.”

“About what?” Imogen asked.

“The lightsaber.”

Imogen’s eyes drifted to where it sat on the floor still attached to her utility belt. Its sleek handle caught the light, beckoning its wielder to put it to grim use. “It’s an effective weapon.”

“It’s a beacon,” Bix corrected. “For someone who likes to hide, you sure do make a name for yourself.”

“It’s a delicate balance.” Just like everything else, Imogen thought. Light. Dark. Shadows. Exposed. Wrathful. Merciful. Whatever suited her needs. Whatever she felt like, really.

Off in the distance, a bell rang to signal the end of the work day. Bix finally stirred out of the cot to retrieve her few stray articles of clothing. “I need to finish up here.”

“Or I could get a room at the hotel,” Imogen suggested as she propped her head up on her hand. A huge part of her believed Bix when she said this would be the last time. It dawned on Imogen as she watched the mechanic prepare to leave her that she actually hated the concept. And she wasn’t one to surrender anything easily. “I’ll go to Cavo’s with you. I may have credits I could burn on bets, not that I’d lose.”

Bix scoffed humorlessly and shook her head, still refusing to look at the other woman.

Imogen’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“If you wanted me to be yours, you should have asked a long time ago, Imogen.”

Here she thought only force users could sense intentions. Imogen scowled deeply and got to her feet, her movements measured. “What are you talking about?”

“Someone showed interest in me and you now can’t stand it,” Bix accused as she shrugged her vest on. “For the first time, you’re jealous. Instead of admitting to it, you want to act like you own me.”

“So what? You’ve never had a problem with that before.” Imogen grabbed her belt from the floor and strapped it back into place on her hips. Having the saber where it should be fortified her confidence. “I have never forced you into anything.”

“No. You haven’t. I’m admitting that.” Bix closed the distance between them, finally piercing the bounty hunter with an intense stare. Imogen went as still as the statues she used to pass by in the Jedi Temple as a child. “You know what I see? I see someone tripping over the roots of their past while trying to run from them.”

The ship rumbled with Imogen’s fast rising fury, but her voice was eerily calm. “You do not know me.”

Yet again, Bix stood unfazed when faced with one of the most dangerous individuals in the galaxy. “I know you better than anyone alive, I bet. You want more than this? Take it. And be honest about it.”

Imogen got the impression Bix wasn’t only referring to herself. Jedi. Inquisitor. Bounty Hunter. No matter how many titles she claimed, Imogen still felt a void within her. In fact, the emptiness seemed to grow more vast in her chest over the years. As a child, fear governed the void, and it was fear that allowed others to control her. Once fear got too tedious, Imogen replaced it with rage and learned that the more she stoked the fire of fury, the more she could control fear – not just her own. But the void remained. Always remained.

Did she want more? Yes.

She studied the mechanic from Ferrix. Bix’s eyes were as rich and warm as darkly brewed caf. Her smooth-skinned features decorated with a sporadic sprinkling of a few beauty marks. Full lips pursed in the stubborn glare Imogen had grown so familiar with. Something akin to pain pinched Imogen’s gut as she realized she couldn’t recall what her genuine smile looked like.

Yes. Imogen wanted her, too.

With the most gentle touch she was capable of giving anyone or anything – more gentle than even she thought she could be, Imogen reached up and rested her hand against Bix’s cheek. Miraculously, the glare gave way to parted lips, and a delicate breath graced Imogen’s skin. She finally allowed herself to feel the warmth seeping into her palm. That warmth traveled up her arm and into her chest. For a single heartbeat, it felt like the void shrunk the smallest amount.

“You don’t want this,” Imogen whispered softly.

“You’re wrong,” Bix replied, her hand carefully wrapping around Imogen’s wrist like she feared the other woman might disappear.

Imogen loved to take. Whether it was money, ships, bounties, or lives. Taking was second nature to her by now. The Jedi forced her to give everything she had up until the moment she plunged her blade into her own master. She never thought to give willingly. She didn’t know if she had it in her. Bix had a puzzling emotion in her expression that took a few moments for Imogen to decipher, but she soon saw the vulnerability on display for her. That is what giving is – surrender. Weakness. These were utterly foreign notions to Imogen.

Maybe she could try for the sake of her desire. Maybe that would finally reduce the emptiness.

She tilted Bix’s head down enough to place a chaste kiss to her forehead. Imogen held them there to soak in the sensations of such a strange form of affection. She found she liked everything from Bix’s scent to the heat against her lips.

The void hadn’t grown smaller, she noticed. It was filling up.

Imogen took a deep breath and pulled back to rest their foreheads together. “Finish up your work here… and then you will never have to see me again.”

“Imogen,” Bix gasped. The hurt in her voice cut through the former Jedi more than expected.

She needed this very moment to understand it. Imogen couldn’t bring herself to give any more than she could bring herself to take from the mechanic. But she had it in her to be willingly selfless for the very first time in her life. Just this once. Imogen broke all contact with Bix and stepped away. “You’ll thank me later.”

[todayisafridaynight]

SORRY in advance for the long ask pleeease take your time and take care, I hope you feel better + get to have a good time at the con or hanging out with your dad :( It means the world to me that you enjoy my stuff though! It did take me a while to notice you were even following me (hence. @ing you on a post you'd already seen gdjfshld) but we got there eventually...

Definitely definitely was expecting to see more of Infinite Wealth at the summit… since the tweets mentioned character introductions but didn't specify for which game, I was under the impression we'd at least be introduced to the as-yet-unidentified voices in the trailer. Gameplay would've been HUGE to include too 😩 I guess it makes enough sense though, since it's not The Upcoming Release...

I shall bide my time. I have no idea what to expect from fall summit (as intended). But if it's going to be a seasonal thing, I figure a potential "winter summit" is the latest it could be to show us gameplay for something that's suppsed to be an early 2024 release, if not just putting out trailers or other showcases and stuff independently.

LEGIT THOUGH IT JUST MAKES IT SOUND LIKE KIRYU IS LYING TO SOUND COOL GDJSKGLDS which is also Arakawa-esque… "maybe I felt like impressing an idiot kid"… If nothing else, I feel like I'll enjoy the dynamic they're going for with those two. Specifically casting Kiryu as a "big brother" figure rather than a father figure also makes me WEEP because the only "aniki" Ichi's ever had is Jo. So it's like... from Jo to Joryu...

Also I just really like the acting choices by the mocap actor for Kiryu, I feel like we've never really seen him move that… casually? His mannerisms also 100% make him look like he's lying lol like there are multiple "tells" it's so funny

I glossed over the proposal (because I expected that to be the main topic anyway, being the only dialogue scene we got) but I completely agree with everything that's been said, basically. Reverse chick magnet for life… but I do expect there's more to it than meets the eye because summit is pretty focused on "generating buzz," so the fact it feels so out of place is probably what they were banking on.

Because like, on top of everything mentioned, Ichiban is portrayed as an entirely passive participant in the romances in 7, and IIRC for Saeko and Eri he wasn't really even fully aware they were into him. So for him to not only be the one to propose but bomb so hard a seasoned hostess (as Kiryu points out in JP)--who'd rather be groped than subjected to Weird Shit--blew up at him and there was fallout from Adachi and Nanba is a huge deviation from how he's portrayed.

It's also kind of like, to me, the translation says something a little different than what was actually being said; Ichi's emphasis wasn't really on the fact she rejected him (implying he expected her to accept + placing more importance on his own feelings vs hers), but the fact she "chewed him out" (implying he should've known better in the first place than to ask).

Of course, he's apparently planning on trying again so he is hoping she'll accept eventually, and the general tone of the interaction suggests he should've known better regardless, but both say something slightly different about his characterization in this scene to me. There's also TL weirdness with Ichi saying Kiryu seems like a good dude rather than just… him explaining that he doesn't mean anything bad by saying he doesn't seem like a ladies' man, which is a bigger mistake but less consequential, I guess.

There's also Saeko's line from the original teaser, "You say that like you're proposing," so it would seem she's already caught off guard (i.e. not taking it seriously yet) and not too thrilled with the idea (provided it's the same convo). I don't really have much to go off of, but if they are in a relationship, I can only assume either she's made it clear she doesn't want to get married or his proposal method was just That Bad, or they're not in a relationship.

In the latter case all I have to pull from is other media with characters who are somewhat like Ichi, but it made me think of times I've seen characters propose for legal or financial reasons or etc. and get Totally Owned, and I'd honestly find that a believable Ichi Situation… Ichi thinking like 50 steps ahead and not explaining himself properly and just Making Saeko More Mad… I'm just musing, though.

Yokoyama and co. were--if I heard right--being pretty cagey about whether they ARE in a relationship in the first place though, which strikes me as odd compared to RGGS' openness about Kaito's ex in the Lost Judgment DLC. So… definitely not beating the red herring allegations just yet, at any rate. Especially when said DLC involves a fake-out on a proposal lmao

Putting all that aside since we can't make any definitive statements anyway, I AM going to make the definitive statement that literally every single design in Gaiden so far is indeed drippy as hell.

such is the cruel fate of being shadowbanned on this webbed site I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream etc etc ( ╯-╰ ; ) but we did get there! and i very much do enjoy what you post :]

if there's nothing for fall summit (though i'm going to hope a lil there will be since that's what. three months from now) then there'll definitely be something for winter summit. if the idea is that there's more of a focus on gaiden since its release date is sooner, then it's fair to assume- with that logic- the winter one'll have the bulk of LAD8 news and demos. either way, im excited for both to see what both of them bring us !

ignoring the elephant in the room of the proposal thing, i also really liked the vibe of it all (and ive also been trying reeaaally hard to make a joke connecting jo and joryu since that's also a bit i enjoy) (❁´◡`❁) i did like that lowkey feel and just the casualness of the atmosphere and the slight awkward/uncomfortable-but-not-overly-offended-and-even-minorly-comedic energy from kiryu lmao. cant ever go wrong with having a scene that's there to slow everythin down a bit, and it does help set up a kind of homely/familial vibe ♪(´▽｀)

i dont need to comment any more on the proposal thing either LMAO everything ima say i been repeating for the past. X asks 😩

and with that. yeah everyone looks FIRE as hell in gaiden (EXCEPT nishitani ima be 100%.... idk the loud primary colors aren't doing it for me.... points for the nails and hair though) 😩

[mitigatingacademics]

{10.08.23}

Productivity:

LSAT Trainer: Lesson 27

Focus was not good tonight*, I'm not a huge fan of the Trainer's approach to Logic Games, and this took way longer than previous lessons...so we moved right on along to other things.

Reading:

Finished Law Man: Memories of a Jailhouse Lawyer (🎉)

Review/Notes to follow.

How to be Sort of Happy in Law School -- Finished Section 2

I seem to be enjoying this more now that I'm reading it for what it is rather than what I hoped or expected it to be.

*The reason my focus was worse tonight than the past 3 nights is because I have much better access to social media in the accounting office than at the baggage desk.

It's not rocket science. I allowed Twitter to be a distraction.

In many ways I found the range of hot takes on the Israel situation almost impossible to look away from.

Spouted with equal confidence from those whose resumes include experience of foreign policy advising to the federal government to those Fox News informed individuals who couldn't find the areas in question on a map if their lives depended on it.

One that sticks with me is the medical doctor (sir, no one needs your opinion on this issue) who described the statement of an apparently Palestinian U.S. Congress woman as 'disgraceful' because she suggested that killing of all civilians, regardless of affiliation, is tragic.

How is that disgraceful?! 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

It seems somewhat distasteful to call others out for nothing more than failing to condemn to death those you personally have decided are in the wrong even if they just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, does it not?

Do no harm?

Yikes, dude.

Then there was this...

...which got me more riled up than I'd like to admit.

Liz never told anyone that she's anything other than exactly what she is.

These kind of 'gotcha' posts directed at liberals (this guy's base!) whom they refer to as 'Liz stans' are a perfect example of why people like me (I used to self identify as a Socialist, ffs) no longer feel completely comfortable thinking of themselves as part of the Left.

Why would you do this? What are you getting out of it?

How does shaming the folks likely to vote the way you hope people will vote actually benefit you?

Some people do manage to be surprised by unhidden reality.

I remember seeing a comment on one of Liz's Tweets, way back when she was still campaigning, from someone that 'found out about her' and wished she hadn't donated to her.

Like...do you just throw money at people that say one thing you agree with without looking any further into it? ...and if that's the case, is that not your own fault? 🤦🏻‍♀️

I say this as a registered Democrat of over 20 years that also donated to Liz, knowing that she has many questionable inclinations.

The difference is, I had a complete understanding of what I was doing...and wouldn't have complained publicly if I'd had regrets.

It's no one else's responsibility to make you consider what is right in front of your face.

I mean...

🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

You don't get to come for Liz for being exactly what she told you (repeatedly) that she is.

That said, you can also educate people without shaming them.

(This is especially true if you're hoping not to alienate said folks.)

I also find this Tweet offensive in how it seems to imply that the "revelation" being referred to requires a specific response.

Like, "Oh no, she's demonstrating the values she always claimed to have...guess I'll have to stop supporting her now!"

"There could be no other possible reason for continuing to support a person with **insert controversial pov.** ...would be incongruent with liberal thought." 🤨😑 🙄

This is how liberal influencers push folks away.

I don't need you to think for me, friend.

👑 is problematic as fuck. I ❤️ her anyway.

I also still vote blue on most issues.

Stop working so hard to piss me off. 😂

[catboyebooks]

continuing the investigation in komaeda's room. nanami suggests they check to see if there's anything stashed under the bed, since people often hide things under their beds. hinata thinks "yeah, like porn" but checks anyway. no porn, but there's a plastic shopping bag containing a gas mask and rubber gloves. they look like pretty legit equipment, likely obtained from the military base.

for the sake of being thorough hinata looks around under the bed some more and spots what he thinks is a piece of paper, but it's actually a round piece of aluminum foil. the two of them don't put it together right away but i'm near-certain this is the seal that would have been on the poison bottle.

komaeda also has a bookcase in one corner, and nanami tells hinata he should go through it himself because what if there's private boy stuff in there or something. i take it this is also why it was up to hinata to check under the bed. while sorting through the books looking for anything that might be a clue, hinata comes across the hope's peak files komaeda received from beating the final dead room. though he didn't question it at the time, hinata now doubts that this file was solely about him, especially now that he sees it's a pretty hefty volume. he also hopes komaeda might have been lying about him not being talented.

as soon as hinata starts looking through he sees that komaeda was indeed lying — there's stuff about everybody in here, not just him. he flips through till he finds his profile thinking maybe he's got a talent after all, but nope, his profile clearly says "reserve course." hinata starts angsting about his talentlessness all over again, and also wonders why he's the only reserve course student here on the island.

nanami notices him going through the file and asks to see it. she finds her own profile and comments that it's disappointing, there's nothing in their profiles that gives them a hint as to what memories they're missing. she thinks these must have been written before they actually started classes at hope's peak. nanami seems to be implying it's a waste of time going through the file more closely, which, yeah, i bet there's stuff in here she doesn't want hinata to be seeing. hinata suddenly notices something, though — looks like a particular classmate of theirs has his info missing from this file. there's nothing in here about a byakuya togami.

monokuma shows up just then to laugh at them and ask hinata if he thinks twogami is the traitor based on the missing info. hinata says, well, it's not just that. he was in a previous killing game too, wasn't he? seems a lil sus. monokuma says hinata's drawing the wrong conclusions and he'd better actually read the file if he wants to figure it out.

looking through it another time, hinata stumbles on a profile that's mostly blank. no photo and question marks left in most of the information fields, just a talent listed, "shsl imposter." monokuma confirms at this point that the "byakuya togami" they knew was a fake. the profile is deliberately mostly blank because the imposter has no identity of their own (and i may as well use they/them, because their gender identity, if they have one, isn't known — this more or less explicitly comes up and now i'm recalling why nonbinary twogami headcanons were popular. it does seem to be essentially canon actually.)

hinata feels a bit betrayed at the realization that "togami" lied to them, but nanami says the imposter didn't really have a choice because, well, being an imposter is their talent. she says having a talent can be restrictive, because if you're recognized as being skilled at a particular thing, you're expected to do said thing whether you want to or not. monokuma backs her up and says hinata's lack of talent is actually rather liberating in that sense. (hinata isn't happy to hear this from him.)

i know this post is getting super long and i'm sorry but there are two other things of importance here. first, about the bit back in chapter 1 where twogami alluded to having a dark past, making one think he's talking about the dr1 killing game: monokuma doesn't seem to actually know what imposter was talking about there (nor care) but figures that having no identity of your own probably sucks, so maybe that. tl;dr it was a red herring. second, about the identity of the traitor. monokuma says one of the student profiles is a fake he created, since there were only meant to be fifteen of them on this trip, and there's no way they could tell which profile is fake just by reading the file. nanami asks if that means komaeda wouldn't have been able to figure it out either and monokuma replies "...probably."